Alternafest at Montrose Saloon

Jo and I rode over after a loooong hot day. We caught a little of Moonhole's "The 90s Greatest Hits," but mostly hung outside with Tony and Robert.

Nonagon were, as usual, great. Despite Tony trying to rewrite their songs on the fly. Twice.

We hung out for a minute, but then left early so I don't think we caught any of the Sinkers.

Summer Circus at Metro

I've wanted to see Bite Me Bambi for a while, and now I finally have. They were super fun.

For Suicide Machines set, Jo and I stayed in the middle almost at the DJ booth. Unbeknownst to me, Metro has a fence in front of the stage now - "almost at the DJ booth" was basically in the pit. So that was fun. 

Fishbone played a short set and weren't great by Fishbone standards. So, unbelievably great by anyone's else's standards. Glad I was right by the pit for dancing room for that.

Less Than Jake still leaves me cold. I mean it's horn-driven power-pop/pop-punk/90s-ska, so I should love it. But I do not. We left early.

Stopped to buy swag on the way out. Got Fishbone's new record (!), but Bite Me Bambi weren't around - I settled for picking up 2 Suicide Machine records (one for each of us - we have yet to decide whose is whose). I ordered the BMB record on the internet machine when I got home.

Catbite, Rodeo Boys, Something To Do at X-Ray Arcade

Drove up with Jo. Liked openers Something To Do so much that we bought some records. Jo liked Rodeo Boys; I appreciated them (they did seem like swell folks), but I wasn't that into them. Catbite killed it. Closed with Sound System.

Nonagon, Mayor for Life at Color Club

 Jo and I walked to the show. We got sausages at Wurst Behavior first, so we missed the first band. The sausages were good, but too expensive for regular visits.

Hinds at Thalia Hall

Nonagon, American Motors at Illuminated

 A Tuesday night show?!? Outrageous.

Of course it was fun. Never heard of the openers and at first they weren't my jam. Then they found a groove I liked (provided the perfect soundtrack to the black and white horror of The Invisible Man on the TV). I bought the record.

Nonagon had fun, and it showed.

PRF BBQ at Workshop 4200

 Jo and I grilled vegan brats for lunch for the shindig. Of course, I made way too many.

Evil Twin at the Bookclub

Riina's band!  It was hot.  Weird to be at a show with a bunch of kids who I saw grow up.

Altars 'headlined,' but Amy and I didn't stick around.  I think most everyone else did.  Jo said they were great.  Amy left the Spark on, AC running, for the entire show.  I guess that's an 'advantage' of an electric car.

Lollapalooza in Grant Park

Finally made it to Lolla after the fiasco in 1991. We (Johno, me, others most assuredly) were supposed to meet my sister Jen at the Hinsdale oasis, but we had to return a UHaul and were running late (yes, I'm always late). We got there and waited hours playing hacky-sack before giving up and going home. Turns out, she was there but headed to the venue (Tinley Park) to wait for us outside the gate. When I talked to her the next day, she was cheesed because she missed a bunch of the show waiting for us. Why she waited for us in the wrong place, I still don't know.

Anyway... My memories of this show are pretty hazy. I know we saw Social Distortion.

Ingrid tells me we saw Gogol Bordello. I believe her.

Em brought a friend maybe from summer camp (?) who went by BJ(?). I guess the name wasn't problematic for 11 year olds... Em, he and I went up close for Green Day. We could feel the pyrotechnics. This was back when Jo didn't like live shows, so she and Ian stayed in the back and did whatever those two weirdos did back then. I doubt they even watched the show...