Hound Dog Taylor is a major influence on my musical tastes. This was not by my choosing, but rather due to my parents love of slide guitar and the blues. They would often go to see him at clubs on the South Side and had many, if not all, of his records.

Taylor was known for his electrified slide guitar playing roughly styled after that of Elmore James, his cheap Japanese guitars, and his raucous boogie beats. Relatively unknown outside of Chicago, he rose to national acclaim after becoming the first artist to record with Alligator Records. Taylor also inspired a young protege named George Thorogood.

*Click to full post for sound clip*


This weekend a group of us are heading to Milwaukee to see the Farm Aid concert! I’m sure that most of you recall the first Farm Aid concert back in 1985, it was first organized by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on their land. – I can clearly remember watching it on TV with my sister and talking about it at soccer practice. – Well, they’ve continued on for the past 25 years (Dave Matthews joined them in 2001) and have raised over $37 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture. A cause that has come to the forefront in recent years, they’ve been focusing on fostering connections between farmers and eaters by growing and strengthening local and regional markets and working to get family farm food in urban neighborhoods, grocery stores, restaurants, schools and other public institutions in addition to providing immediate and effective support services to farm families in crisis.

More than just an all-day celebration of music, it will also celebrate family farmers and good food. The concert will feature HOMEGROWN concessions—family farm-identified, local and organic foods.The Farm Aid Village will also showcase hands-on activities that give concertgoers a chance to meet farmers, learn how family farmers are growing good food, protecting our natural resources and connecting us to our roots. They’re also calling on concertgoers to bring non-perishable food items with them to the concert for a food drive that will benefit Milwaukee’s Hunger Task Force.

It’s going to be a good time for a great cause. Can’t wait!

We all know how much I love listening to the blues. Far and away my favorite music genre, it must be growing up in Chicago and listening to all my parents Hound Dog Taylor albums. I thought I’d share a little of one of my favorite bluesmen, John Lee Hooker. A singer-songwriter and guitarist, he rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally closest to the Delta Blues. He is thought of as creating his own unique genre of the blues, often incorporating the boogie-woogie piano style and a driving rhythm into his wicked blues guitar and singing. Here is one of my favorites: John Lee Hooker’s rendition of “One Bourbon, One Scotch, and One Beer.” Enjoy.

(Go to full post for sound clip.)

1.The Hives-Introduce the Metric System In Time, The Hives
1. Broken Drum (Remixed By DNTL), Beck
2. Ordinary World – Above and Beyond Remix, Aurora Feat Naimee Coleman
3. No Me Vayas A Enganar, Omara Portuondo
4. Agua De Beber, Astrud Gilberto w/ Antonio Carlos Jobim
5. Stay Together, N*E*R*D
6. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Elton John & Kiki Dee
7. Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray, Patsy Cline
8. You Surround Me, Erasure
9. Elektrobank, Bachman-Turner Overdrive
10. Just Like California, Old 97’s
11. Life Goes To A Party/ Jumpin’ At The Woodside, James Horner
12. Get It Together, The Beastie Boys
13. Billie Jean, Michael Jackson
14. 5 Months, 2 Weeks, 2 Days, Louis Prima
15. E-Pro, Beck
16. Welcome To The Jungle, Guns’N’Roses
17. Hold Up, The Raconteurs
18. The Most Wonderful Girl, Lords of Acid
19. B.O.B, Outkast
20. I Will Survive, Cake
21. Black Betty, Ram Jam
22. Sandwhiches, Detroit Grand Pubahs
23. Go Square Go, Glasvegas
24. Hypnotize, The Notorious, B.I.G.

Today is the 30th anniversary of the release of The Blues Brothers. This movie is my top all-time favorite. I can watch it repeatedly for hours, quote every line, sing every song. One of the highlights of my wedding reception was having EVERYONE going nuts on the dance floor while the entire 12min 46 sec rendition of “Sweet Home Chicago” played.

While this movie showcases talented comedic actors and fantastic rhythm and blues musicians, it also brings to life the cit of Chicago itself. From the over-the-top car chases on Lower Wacker Drive to the finale crashing into in the Daley Center, this movie brings Chicago home to me. Having been in exile for most of my adult life from the city I love, I will always identify myself as from Chicago and will always think of it as my “Sweet Home.”

Thanks, Jake and Elwood. 


Friday I went down to the Chi to visit Roz and go to see Devotchka and Gogol Bordello in concert. Such a great time! Both have strong Eastern European musical influence. I’ve seen Devotchka in concert back at Lollapalooza ’08. They are the main reason I wanted to go to the show. I mean they include an accordion, sousaphone, and theremin, what more can you ask for? . . . How about a cirque du soleil-like performer doing crazy poses hanging from a silk curtain? Insane! Gogol Bordello is a bit different, taking that gypsy influence and infusing it with punk. More energy, but not as lyrical. The crowd was WAY into it though, very entertaining to see people crowd surf to a violin/accordion battle. Bizzaro bit was the back up dancer wearing a mid ’80’s outfit doing Jazzercise routines. Girl was on crack, yo.

The show was phenomenal. Just as good as I could have hoped for. We got to the Aragon a little late due to Cubs traffic, so we missed MGMT. I am not really a fan, so no biggie there.

Our timing was perfect, because as we walked in, Beck was just starting his set with Loser. 
He then went on to jam his way through most of his top-tier songbook. I was impressed by the comprehensiveness of the show’s set list. I feel that he captured the essence of all of his albums, while at the same time blending them so fluidly.

I would post more, but I am still letting it all sink in. Plus, I am a bit sore from our simultaneous robot dancing.