Beyond the Lens

“You know you’re in the West when you get to the Badlands. [I photographed] a Christian group; they came to this point to watch the sunrise. I saw them and thought it was strange, this bunch of people hanging around in the middle of nowhere. That’s what I was attracted to-that, and the landscape. But … Read more

Breaking Wilco News

Wilco is coming to Millennium Park!

I know, I know; like you, I just crowded into the park to see The Decemberists, and it stunk because there were too many people. But consider this: Like the Tori Amos show a few years back, they are going to sell tickets, which will control the crowd. I can attest that the Amos show was pleasant—even on the lawn—and way more fan-friendly than The Decemberists show last week.

So, here are the details…

Happy Birthday, Metro

It was one of those nights for the books. After catching a great show Saturday by the Redwalls at the Sheffield Garden Walk, I headed over to Metro’s 25th anniversary party, held at the Smart Bar. The invite-only party was thrown for Metro friends and alumni-people like Peter Katsis, one of the spot’s first bookers … Read more

Street Style at Pitchfork

After pledging my entire weekend to Pitchfork three years in a row, I consider myself a pro. I know where to set up camp and get the best sound. I know that you need to stuff Charmin in your satchel because the LepreCans run out on the first day. And I know that Pitchfork, in particular, is the best place to witness veritable street style. At one point during the weekend, a friend from New York even turned to me and said, totally unprompted, “Chicago has waaaaay more hipsters than New York.” So true. Here were some of our favorites, photographed by Maria Bianco. PLUS: What the critics said

Q & A with The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy

It’s a musical experiment on the grandest of scales: Tonight the Portland-based rock band The Decemberists sit down with 82 classical musicians from the Grant Park Orchestra to play an hour-long set in Millennium Park. Pre-concert, I chatted with The Decemberists’ lead singer, Colin Meloy, who collaborated with classical composer Sean
O’Loughlin on the arrangements.