Bear Claw, Mint Mile, Rented Rooms, Nonagon at Beat Kitchen

Amy and i had dinner with Justin and Jill before the show, which was nice.

Jonas Friddle & the Majority, Tangleweed at Old Town School of Folk Music

The Selecter, Crombies at 1st Ward / Chop Shop

Goose Island 312 Urban Block Party

I vaguely remember the opening bands being pretty good. Did I see them both, or just Beach Slang? Who knows!

The Aggrolites were great, but the crowd wasn't into them. The music between the Aggrolites and Against Me was the perfect punky reggae party. And, of course, Against Me killed it (helped by the fact that they played a Clash song - Train in Vain).

This was a great show - too bad I went by myself :(

The Specials, The Far East at The Concord

Body Futures, Nonagon at Frank's Power Plant

At the relatively last minute (found out about the show the day before), i rode the motorbike up to Milwaukee to see the Nonagons.  I missed the opening band (dunno who they were) because i missed the exit and ended up driving through downtown Milwaukee.  And, of course, i was running late as usual.

The bar had a nice logo.  Spent most of my mental energy at the show re-designing it for our house.  Nothing will ever come of that, but i gotta think about something, right?

Nonagon and Body Futures were great.  Apparently Body Futures have a new record that is imminent.  I'll have to get that.

I met an old friend of Johno's, Alan, who seemed alright.  And he didn't seem to hate me either.

We saw a coyote in the parking lot after the show.  That's 2 urban* coyote spottings in the last month, for those of you scoring at home.

I caught some rain on the way home, but don't worry - i dried off before i even got home.




*I'm calling Wheaton 'urban' for this purpose.  And for this purpose only.

Petrillo and OUT at Township

I missed the opening band (Small Awesome?).

Petrillo weren't really my cup of tea, but they were having fun and everyone else there seemed to like them.   So i assume they'll be my favorite band 5 years from now.

Speaking of which, OUT might be my favorite band right now.  Well, i sure do like them a lot.

Hungry Man headlined, but i left early and didn't see them.  I felt a little guilty, but Annie, Christy, Johno and Tiny all left early too.  Or maybe that should make me feel more guilty, i dunno.

The bike ride home with Johno and Christy was very nice, but there was no stop at Jeri's (or any other late-night snack stop).

Eddie Palmieri at Millenium Park

A perfectly pleasant evening picnicking downtown.  I picked up banh mi for Amy and I on my bike ride down.  I got to bike over that crazy windy "new" bridge.  Amy and i also strolled over it to gawk at the climbing wall.  I also showed her where i broke Jonah.  Oh, there was some salsa music too (we even saw folks, mostly old or young, dancing).

PRF BBQ at Township

I had a lot of fun at this show.  A lot of times these shows turn into a slog to get to the music i like.  That was most definitely not the case here.  Was it the company?  Dunno.  Was it the awesome bands (none of whom i really knew beforehand)?  Dunno.  Was it the vegan smoked seitan sammiches?  Dunno.  Maybe i was just in a festive mood for a change.

I stopped at Jeri's Grill on the way home with Annie, Ize and Tiny.  For those of you scoring at home: yes, that was two nights in a row.  We had the same kind waitress, but there was clearly a different cook working the grill.  The hash-browns with giardineira were good, but not as good.

Either at the show or when i got home, i bought a bunch of musical highlights:  Burned or Buried, Motherfucker, OUT and the entire Cell Phones discography (which came on a thumb drive that looks like a hotel key - i got #10 because #13 was taken).

PRF BBQ at Township

Langford is awesome and hilarious.

I like Lonely Trailer even more now than when i watched them almost 30 years ago down in Champaign.

I think Champagne Jerry may have been a joke i didn't get.

I liked Body Futures and Goddard enough to order music (and a boss Goddard t-shirt) when i got home.

Tiny and i biked to Jeri's Grill (the place i thought was just called "Ham on the Bone" for the longest time) on the way home.  The waitress was nice and the hash-browns with giardiniera were excellent.  I bought a t-shirt.

Nonagon, Hungry Man, ifihadahifi, Lardo at Livewire

Was hot and tired for most of the show.  Watched Hotel Transylvania (2?) during at least a couple of the sets.  The sound was off, but it looked pretty good.  The bands provided a lovely soundtrack for my own personal silent movie.  The bar tv switched to White Chicks and then some new Nightmare on Elm Street, both of which rather effectively moved my attention back to the stage.

Lardo was great.  I would have bought a CD, but all they had were LPs, and i was on the pedal bike without bags.  Probably could have bought it and sent it home with Johno, but i do that too often...

The bands ran late, so Nonagon went on after they were supposed to be done.  So they played a quick set.  Closed with Revolution Blues.  I like that song.

the rutabega, Stomatopod at Township

This was Christy's 50th birthday party. It was a lot of fun.  I ate a whole bunch of some kind of dumpling or something (samosas, maybe?).  It was good to catch up with Jay and Diana.

Nonagon et al at Township

Did i miss Haymarket Riot?  I think i might have - i tend to show up late to these things.  [EDIT - i just noticed i have a Haymarket Riot cd, and it's darn good; leading me to believe that i did, in fact, see them and liked them so much that i bought a cd.  That sounds right.]

Knife the Symphony are a good bunch of guys and i like their music.

Maple Stave are great.  Finally picked up one of their CDs.  Why did i wait so long?  And how long will i wait to get more of their stuff?

I sure do like the Nonagons.

Was this the show that we went to get pizza afterwards, and all i got was fries, only to discover on the way out that they had vegan pizza?  Actually, i don't think it was.