March 8, 2014 Flogging Molly at the Aragon (Concert #9)

 It's the annual Flogging Molly Green 17 Tour. I have gone to this show just about every year for the past ten years. I have loved this band since I saw them open up for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones many years ago. Unfortunately, the band announced tonight that this was the last Green 17 tour.

Tonight my sister-in-law Kimmy is going to the show with our friend/sister-in-law Patty. We met at Armour Square Park and walked to the Red Line.

We had a very tasty dinner at Pizzeria Rustica on Sheridan just south of Irving Park. We split a Margherita Pizza for an appetizer, then I had a shrimp and mushroom pasta in a cream sauce...a heavy cream sauce...don't get me wrong...it was very good...but not what you want to eat before a night of drinking and dancing. We got to the Aragon before the doors opened, so we walked up Broadway to the Fat Cat bar to have a beer instead of waiting in the cold for the doors to open. We passed the long closed and long rumored to reopen Uptown Theater on the way.

An unannounced opening act hit the stage as we walked up the stairs of the Aragon. They opened with a 2 Tone version of The Munsters Theme Song. I recognized The Crombies as soon as I saw them. Chrissy & I loved them at Riot Fest last fall. These guys are a Chicago band that mixes ska, rock and 2 Tone music. Great live act that almost forces you to dance while they perform their catchy songs.

The next band was The Drowning Men from Southern California. It's hard to describe this band. I guess indie rock best describes them. They have their own type of sound. Sorry for lame review, I really did enjoy listening to them. But truth be told, I was getting really pumped up for Flogging Molly. The energy on the main floor at the Aragon was making me think that this was going to be something special tonight...

...and it was. Flogging Molly never disappoints. I probably have seen them over a dozen times and can't remember a bad show. Tonight was an exceptional show because the band and the crowd were having a great time. We were just past the main mosh pit at center stage. Whenever a fast song was played, complete mayhem...moshing, dancing and singing along. A slow song had everyone with arms across shoulders swaying and singing along. The singer Dave King has perfected being a performer with stage presence. In between songs he told stories, thanked the crowd, goofed on people and called us "bastards" every chance he could. Every member of the band plays the songs amazingly...doesn't matter if it is a furious punk song or a slow thoughtful song...this band can do no wrong. Except for not playing "Rebels of the Scared Heart". Sorry FM, but it is one of my favorite songs.

Flogging Molly mixes Irish folk music with a punk attitude. I've said this before about bands that I like but if you enjoy going to concerts and checking out bands...Flogging Molly is a must see band...

...and trust me on this...get up front and jump into the mosh pit for a few songs...I think I jumped in for the second song of the night...it was a bit surreal because I watched the kids jumping around during "Wailing Wall" with a smile on my face and then "No More Paddy's Lament" started and all of a sudden I was in the mosh pit. At least that's how it seemed to me...and I loved it. Of course after one song I had to leave because I could barely stand. But once I caught my breath I jumped back in several times during the show. During the encores I was back in for "Black Friday Rule" and "Seven Deadly Sins" then I sang the finale, "If I Ever Leave This World Alive" with my arm over Patty's shoulder so she could hold me up. Thanks Patty for singing along with me and for being there to keep me from falling.

I was gonna ask if you enjoyed the show, but after seeing that smile...I had my answer.

It was all smiles on the street after the show. We walked down to Wilson & Broadway to grab a slice of pizza before jumping on the Red Line.

Armour Square Park had an eerie snow covered glow at one in the morning and a perfect half moon above it.

This might be the coolest concert swag I ever bought...my own Flogging Molly Laundry Bag. Actually I did not buy it...Thanks Kimmy.

March 4, 2014 Fat Tuesday at Bartlett's with Gerry Hundt (Concert #8)

Chrissy saw that Bartlett's in Beverly Shore was having a Fat Tuesday party. So we decided to head out there for some good food and old school blues music.

Besides their regular menu, Bartlett's had a special Fat Tuesday menu with Cajun specials and New Orleans drink specials. We decided to enjoy both and grabbed a table right next to where Gerry Hundt was setting up. Chrissy ordered a Hurricane and I settled on a New Orleans Strawberry Daiquiri. 

Over the course of the night we sampled most of the Fat Tuesday menu...Southern BBQ Shrimp, Gumbo, Shrimp Pork & Sausage Jambalaya, Cornmeal Crusted Oysters...my favorite of the night, a wedge salad and Andouille Sausage Corndogs with a Berry Tart for dessert. So the food was a great start to feeling like we were in New Orleans...

 ...and the fantastic music performed by the extremely talented Gerry Hundt really made us feel like we were in a juke joint down south celebrating Mardi Gras in the 1950's.

Gerry mixed old blues with some original songs with a few New Orleans Mardi Gras favorites. I believe he was playing a acoustic steel guitar which he finger picked masterfully. He also added harmonica to several songs. He was very entertaining all night...

...he even got the crowd to sing along. Chrissy loved his version of "Iko Iko" because she could actually understand all the words when he sang it. I highly recommend checking him out if you love the blues. He plays around northwest Indiana regularly.

 If you are ever out at the Indiana Dunes we definitely recommend stopping at the place with the beer guzzling deer on the sign.

I took this picture from Barlett's Facebook page. I just wanted to thank the friendly and professional wait staff at Bartlett's for a great night of food and music.

March 1, 2014 Adam & Matt Melt Faces at J.J. Kelley's (Concert #7)

After the Blackhawks trounced the Penguins in the snow at Soldier Field, I headed out to see my friend Adam Balcazar perform at J.J. Kelley's. Adam & I have had lots of long & deep...OK maybe not that deep...conversations about music. We agree on quite a few bands and he loves Dave Matthews Band the same way I love Bruce and the E Street Band. That's probably due to the over twenty year difference in our ages than about musical tastes. Anyway, Adam has written some really good songs over the past few years and tonight he sounded really good performing them. He mixed in a few covers...Frank Turner and DMB that I recognized and Margo & the Nuclear So and So's that I did not know but really liked. But I thought he really shined when performing his own songs...they seemed to mean more to him.

Here he is during his second set which is when a female fan left the following note on his monitor...

...the ladies just can't resist a man with a guitar.

This is Adam's friend Matt Hess. Adam says Matt & I would get along because he is a music snob. Apparently insinuating that I am too. In my defense, I like all types of music if it is played well, if not, all types of music can suck. I thoroughly enjoyed both of Matt's sets. He had no problems telling the crowd to fuck off...I'm pretty sure he knew most of the crowd, but if he didn't, I think he'd still do the same. He also sang covers and originals. Since I wasn't familiar with most of the covers I had a hard time deciding which it was...unless he told us. I think he said since you don't know this song I'll say it is an original...which made me laugh. Then he announced he was gonna play an Archers of Loaf song. Then said no one here knows them but you should...so go home and look them up on the internet. I have at least five of their albums and I recognized "Web in Front" immediately. Maybe I am a music snob...LOL...maybe I just love good music.

It looks like Adam photobombed Matt on this shot. Adam seemed to have more of a singer/songwriter style and Matt definitely seemed to have more of a punk rock style. I enjoyed both of them.Matt combined his punk attitude in his music with a punk attitude toward the crowd. When I told Adam that Matt reminded me of Andy Kaufman if he had been a musician...Adam said Matt would like that description. If these guys had CD's to sell, I would have bought them. 

February 23, 2014 Do or Die with The Dropkick Murphys at the Riviera (Concert #6)

Another bitterly cold night in Chicago but I am heading to the city for a Sunday night concert with one of my favorite bands, The Dropkick Murphys. I first saw these guys about fifteen years ago when they were the opening act for another Boston band, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. I've lost count of how many times I've seen them in concert but it is always a good time. 

First we had tasty Italian dinner at Osteria Via Stato. Then we took the Red Line up to Lawrence Avenue.

Unfortunately we missed Skinny Lister because we got there at 7pm which was the announced show time but they were just finishing their set. Oh well. So while Lucero set up, the house lights were on at The Riviera. I really enjoy seeing shows here so don't take this the wrong way...I say this as a compliment...the Riv is a glorious shithole. The perfect place to see the Dropkick Murphys.

I am sure it was a beautiful place when it was built in 1917. But nowadays it is a great place for a rock and roll show...dirty, grimy and damaged in a beautiful way.

Lucero is a Nashville band that combines country, punk, blues and rock in what lead singer Ben Nichols describes as bohemian tradition. I'll agree with him. They band sounded great. It took a while for me to get used to Ben's deep raspy voice but he won me over the more songs they played. He has a Springsteen songwriting style with characters that aren't perfect and stories that don't always end well. Basically real life stories...of course I enjoyed hearing the melodic truth being sung to me. This is why I hate missing opening acts, you never know when a band will impress you enough to become a new favorite.

So the DKM hit the stage with a new video screen and tons of great images to the Chieftains song "A Foggy Dew".

Then they surprised everybody by ripping through every song on their first album, Do or Die.

It was complete bedlam with a huge mosh pit right in front of us at center stage. It was during the nonstop early Dropkicks punk songs barrage that I disappointed myself. I stood there watching the mosh pit but did not jump in...damn it looked like fun...I thought to myself, "C'mon you pussy. The album is called Do or Die. What's it gonna be?"...I almost jumped in several times but couldn't pull the trigger...since I couldn't do, I guess I die...it was a sad moment for me. Damn this being old sucks way more than I thought it would. By the time they got to "Barroom Hero" I was pogoing and singing along and enjoying the show again.

Since the last song on Do or Die is traditionally the song that the band invites all the male fans on stage they decided to play "Skinhead on the MBTA" as the last song of the first set. They also played "Takin Care of Business" mixed with "American Band" & "Blitzkrieg Bop". 

Then they cleared the stage and immediately started the second set which included their hit songs. The energy never left the room. I am a firm believer that everyone should attend a punk show at least once in your life. The mayhem mixed with the music always puts a smile on my face. Tonight was no exception, I jumped around and sang all night long...so did everyone around me...and every so often I looked into the mosh pit and was glad to see those kids having a great time. Sure I complain about being old but being a kid nowadays can't be easy either. I'm glad punk music still means something to them. By the time the band invited the ladies on the stage for "End of the Night", we were over 90 minutes into a full on musical assault that seemed to satisfy most of the crowd including me. Ken Casey even teased the crowd about our baseball teams, his Red Sox won the World Series...then he congratulated Chicago for the Blackhawks beating his Bruins for the Stanley Cup...and he even held up a fans Hawks jersey during the show.

With a stage full of females dancing and singing to end the show...the band members had to jump up on the amps to play their instruments. This was a great show by a band that has matured without getting old. On the subway platform we talked music with a group of kids as we huddled under the heat lamps waiting for the train...to steal a phrase from The Who...the kids are alright. 

Thanks to Patty for being the first person to go to a show with me this year. Here we are on our way home after a fun night out. Hey Patty, "Let's stop for a cold one on the way home"....

February 22, 2014 Hard Working Americans at Park West (Concert #5)

Up until tonight, all the shows have been a spur of the moment decision for me. I bought tickets for the Hard Working Americans when I first heard that Todd Snider was fronting a new band. I've been a huge fan of Mr. Snider ever since his first album, Songs For The Daily Planet back in 1994. It was clever songs like this one that got me hooked...

The Hard Working Americans released a CD of mostly cover songs last month. I've been listening to it non stop since then. I love bands that write and perform their own songs. But I also enjoy listening to bands cover songs by artists they love. Whenever I see a band perform, I look forward to a cover song or two just to see if I also like those songs. Anyway, I headed to the big city on another frigidly cold night to see HWA.

 Here's their video for the great Hayes Carll song, "Stomp & Holler".

I decided to have dinner at Stanley's Kitchen & Tap before the show.

It was in the bar that I met Sven and his friends from Traverse City. They came down for a weekend of music and drinking. He had seen Josh Ritter the night before at the Fourth Presbyterian Church. After talking music for awhile, they headed to the show and I enjoyed a really good shrimp po'boy with mac & cheese. Then I headed across the street to the Park West. I caught the opening act, Turbo Fruits from Nashville. They had a garage / rockabilly style that I really wanted to like but something kept me from really enjoying their set. That said, there were a few songs that I really liked. Like this one...

For those not familiar with Todd Snider, let me just say he loves his marijuana. And so do his fans because Chicago's no smoking laws were completely ignored by many people stand with us near the stage.

To be honest, there was a fog machine on stage but whenever the spotlights hit the crowd...there was usually smoke drifting up toward the stage too. Enough of that, this band was fantastic. The band sounded great. They mixed blues with rocking country and good old fashion rock n roll. I wasn't the only one who wished Todd's vocals were louder because several people kept asking them to turn up the vocal mic. Not surprisingly, I bumped into the guys from Michigan in the middle of the standing room section at center stage. We all agreed that they put on a great show with  quite a few amazing solos by Neal Casal on guitar and slide guitar. Todd Snider is always an  engaging entertainer as a solo act and tonight was no different. I also thought it was pretty cool how he left center stage for the solos so the spotlight could be on the other members of the band. If you enjoy talented musicians playing well written, thoughtful songs, some thought provoking, some just for fun...you should pick up their self titled CD.

I also recommend any or all of Todd Snider's solo music. He is an amazing songwriter and a fantastic storyteller. He also has a mellow fuck you attitude to his songs. What I mean by that is he very politely explains in a song why your way of thinking is ridiculous....here's a perfect example...

....and another of my favorite Todd Snider songs for you to enjoy.

February 16, 2014 The Pop Punk Show at Centennial Lanes - Concert #4

It's mid February and I've only been to 3 shows so far. Every week I check out various sources for shows around Chicagoland. I wanted to see Old Fox Road last night in Crown Point, IN but I couldn't because I had to finally finish my Christmas Letter. So when I saw they were playing an all ages show in a bowling alley in nearby Tinley Park, I decided check out this show. It was put on by John from Evolution Music and was advertised as a pop punk show. I figured I would be the oldest person there...I was...but who cares...I wanted to check out what passes for punk music in white suburbia in 2014. The show was in a room that is probably used for  parties at the bowling alley. So what...it kind of looked like a basement with the cinder block walls...a perfect place for some punk music.

I missed the first two bands and walked in on Eric Kyle Lyday playing acoustic guitar. Not exactly the punk mosh pit show I was hoping for. But he sang a few original songs that had a feel bad vibe that is sort of punk. He sang a bit monotone but had a real good voice for the type of songs he played. He seemed to cut his set short, probably due to the small crowd of very young people not really into his songs. But they did politely clap after each song. You can check him out on ReverbNation.

Next up was a band called Dead Split Egos. This was a straight up punk band and they had the moves and the sounds. The singer was standard punk, he spit out the lyrics. I thought the bass player was really good. They tried hard to be punk and succeeded for the most part. Then they covered a Black Flag song and had the merch guy, Ian come on stage and sing. He immediately pushed his way into the crowd and tried to get people dancing. Then they ripped through the song with a fury not seen earlier, sorry not sure which Black Flag song it was but they cover My War on their CD. If anyone would have moshed I would have joined in. 

This song was so damn good, I bought both of their CD's because this was exactly what I was hoping to see. Now, don't get me wrong. They sound like a young band that needs to perfect their craft and I was happy to hear the political songs which is what punk is supposed to be. But I enjoyed their set...

...which ended with the lead singer/guitarist diving over the drummer and flattening the drum set.

I love the title of this CD. It is so 2014 and 1977 at the same time. After listening to their CD all week, I am beginning to really like this band.

I stayed behind the kids who stood right in front of the bands. So it was hard to get good pictures. This is Ryan Rumchaks. I really enjoyed his performance. He falls into a mix of pop, punk and rock with good vocals and something rare in young bands, stage presence. He is also a very good songwriter. I also enjoyed listening to his CD, Decades.

I apologize for the shitty picture of Dylan from the folk punk band, Old Fox Road. I loved this band before they even began playing. A stand up bass, an acoustic guitar and a sax player. They stood in front of the mics and asked everyone to please refrain from talking during the songs. They played without mics or amps...a fully acoustic set. Once they started playing I was very glad I ventured out to see them tonight. The songs were great lyrically and musically. They had the crowd clapping and stomping along and made jokes about being "punk with all the wrong instruments". Dylan also made me laugh when he introduced a couple of songs as "love songs that will never happen". They ended their set with the bass player riding his instrument across the stage as he continued to play. I joked with Dylan afterwards that I've never seen a band that has two really cool shirts for sale but no music. They have a CD coming out in early March. I highly recommend this band.

This band, Sudden Suspension were definitely the crowd favorite of the night. Most of the kids were singing along to the chorus on their songs. They were really good at playing suburban punk. Both the guitarist and the bass player sang songs and they had really good stage presence with lots of self deprecating humor. I loved their slogan of "Beanies and Teen Angst". If you want to know what a band that grew up listening to Green Day and Blink-182 might sound like, check out their CD. One thing I noticed about all these bands is that they are all over the internet. Whenever I googled any of them, I found their music on various sites. It really is a great time for music fans and hopefully for the musicians too. Once again I ask everyone to support live music whenever you get a chance. This years 50 shows project has been fun so far.