What’s an Epsom? Dare we ask this Springfield-based experimental and adventurous trio consisting of Scott Faingold (vocalizations, lyrics), Steven Sgro (noises, guitars) and Tim Harte (drums, drums, drums)? The band began in May of 2012 when the former drummer of NIL8 and local roustabout, Gary “Walnuts” Swaggerty communicated to Faingold these fateful words: “We need […]
Chicago
Posted inOpinion
Did Lisa lie?
“Ask her,” Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan told a Sun-Times reporter last week. The journalist wanted to know why Madigan’s daughter Lisa would consider running for governor knowing that the father had no plans to step down as Speaker. So I tried to ask her. But I didn’t get very far. Attorney General Lisa Madigan, […]
Posted inMusic
Phil Yates
Based out of Burlington, Vt., singer-songwriter-guitarist Phil Yates spent time in Los Angeles and Chicago, then Columbia, S. C. and once upon a time lived in a little burg called Springfield, Ill. After attending high school here, he split town and now teaches mathematics at a college in Vermont, while making music he describes as […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Coogler and Jordan honor memory of Oscar Grant in Fruitvale Station
When he heard the news of the tragic death of Oscar Grant, aspiring filmmaker Ryan Coogler knew he had to act but was unsure how to go about it. “I’m from the Bay Area and things like that just don’t happen there. He was a young man, he was one of us and I couldn’t […]
Posted inMusic
Rockin’ Johnny Burgin Band
The blues speaks to all and Rockin’ Johnny knows the language better than most. The Chicago-based singing guitarist plays the blues with an edge, not over the top or in your face, but in the groove and to your soul. Johnny came on strong in the 90s playing all over with everybody, then took a […]
Posted inOpinion
Rauner moves some numbers in gov bid
Back in early February, not a single person picked Bruce Rauner’s name in a Paul Simon Public Policy Institute poll of likely Republican primary voters. Other polls taken since then have shown the retired financier Rauner in the low single digits in his bid for governor. But Rauner has been dumping money into downstate TV, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Epic scope, intelligence save Z
Beset with an ending that had to be reshot over seven weeks at great expense, causing the release date to be pushed back, which only contributed to its already skyrocketing cost, World War Z has been plagued with no shortage of problems. Burdened with a budget somewhere between $170-200 million, the film has quickly gone […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Getting some crispy chewy
“What I really miss are crispy things, chewy things,” sighs my sister-in-law. “Things like pizza or pancakes. Kris is a former model. Now in her 50s, she’s still drop-dead gorgeous. She lives in a warehouse-turned-studio/event venue/home with her (also drop-dead gorgeous) children and photographer husband. It’s directly across from Oprah’s studio, on a strip of […]
Posted inMusic
From Perkins to Presney
John Michael Presney spent the better part of the last two years on the road in the first national touring production of the Tony award-winning musical Million Dollar Quartet portraying the “father of rockabilly,” Carl Perkins. The Rochester native, talking to me by phone from poolside in Tucson, Ariz. as he prepared for his final […]
Posted inMusic
Josh Catalano and The Dirty Thoughts
A stalwart on the local music scene in performing, writing and recording original, rocking American music, Josh Catalano (guitar, vocals, songwriting) formed The Dirty Thoughts in 2011 with former Damnwell Betters bandmates Patrick Miller (drums) and Jordan Laier (guitar, keys, pedal steel, vocals), then added Keith Voegele (bass, vocals) of the nationally renowned St. Louis-based […]
Posted inOpinion
A state divided on guns
A new statewide poll shows a majority of Illinoisans favor concealed carry. But an overwhelming majority in every area of the state also say it’s OK with them if Chicago and Cook County police have additional authority over who gets to carry in their own jurisdictions. The Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll of 1,284 likely […]
Posted inOpinion
Cartoonish charades at Statehouse
Nobody ever really knows what’s going through Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s head except for Madigan himself. So, the actual purpose of two highly choreographed gun control and pension reform debates last week ordered up by Madigan weren’t completely clear to anyone. That’s by design, of course. Madigan prefers to keep people in the dark […]
