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Music, Chicagoans of Note Jan 21, 2021
Steve Walters, artist and screen printer at Screwball Press

“I named my business Screwball Press with no thought that I’d still be working at this 30 years later. . . . I didn’t want the name to suggest that I knew what I was doing.”
- By Salem Collo-Julin
- Tags: Chicagoans of Note, Steve Walters, Screwball Press, screen printing, gig poster, Lounge Ax, Coctails, Burgoo, silk screen, Jon Langford, Ajax Records, Red Red Meat

Music, Music Feature Oct 22, 2020
If enough of us celebrate Independent Venue Week, we might have one next year too

To complement IVW's live programming, the Reader has rounded up some favorite stories about Chicago music venues past and present.
- By Jamie Ludwig
- Tags: Music Feature, Independent Venue Week, Chicago Independent Venue League, CIVL, National Independent Venue Association, NIVA, Billy Helmkamp, Sleeping Village, Robyn Mineko Williams & Artists, Sen Morimoto, Califone, Lincoln Hall, Audiotree, livestream, COVID-19, CARES Act, pandemic, Ricky Rat, Reggies', Afro Fusion, Promontory, NIVA Emergency Relief Fund, Aragon, Blue Note, Carol's Pub, Empty Bottle, Exit, Green Mill, Hungry Brain, Lounge Ax, Medusa's, Metro, Mutiny, Palm Tavern, Rosa's Lounge, Taste, Taylor Street Tap, La Mere Vipere, O'Banion's, Oz

Music, Gig Poster of the Week Apr 1, 2020
Plants love DeBarge on the gig poster of the week

Actual gigs are on hold, of course, so the Reader wants your posters for fantasy concerts!
- By Salem Collo-Julin
- Tags: Gig Poster of the Week, bands, concert poster, concerts, coronavirus, COVID-19, fundraiser, gig poster, gig poster of the week, gig posters, gigs, Lounge Ax, music venues, musicians, plants, quarantine, record stores, singing

Music, Music Feature Aug 15, 2019
Video
Cheer-Accident celebrate 20 albums as a beacon of prog-rock absurdity

With the new Chicago XX, their third full-length in three years, these indefatigable weirdos have hit a hot streak late in the fourth decade of their career.
- By Monica Kendrick
- Tags: Music Feature, Cheer-Accident, Chicago XX, Martyrs’, Bobby Conn, Akosuen, Thymme Jones, Jeff Libersher, Dylan Posa, Chris Block, Todd Rittmann, Phil Bonnet, Alex Perkolup, Small World, Dumb Ask, Introducing Lemon, Fades, Putting Off Death, Gumballhead the Cat, Cool Clown Ground, Dot Dot Dot, Brise-Glace, Filet of Nod, Lounge Ax, U.S. Maple, Enduring the American Dream, Lovely Little Girls, Skin Graft, Cuneiform, Complacency Records, Jamie Fillmore, Fred Kreuger, CAN TV, Video

Music, Music Feature Jan 23, 2019
Why won’t City Hall fight for Chicago’s homegrown music scene?

The Chicago Independent Venue League shouldn’t have to push back against the Live Nation handouts in the Lincoln Yards development—but the city doesn’t protect its own treasures.
- By Mark Guarino
- Tags: Music Feature, CIVL, Chicago Independent Venue League, Sterling Bay, Lincoln Yards, Rahm Emanuel, Live Nation, the Hideout, Katie Tuten, Music Venue Trust, Mark Davyd, agent of change, TIF, tax increment financing, Katie Tuten, Metro, Smart Bar, Gman Tavern, Thalia Hall, Empty Bottle, the Promontory, Subterranean, Beat Kitchen, Schubas, Lincoln Hall, Sleeping Village, the Whistler, Martyrs’, Brian Hopkins, alderman, Sarah Hopkins, Ticketmaster, C3 Presents, Ari Emanuel, George Lucas, Amazon, House of Blues, Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, Aragon, Subterranean, Kingston Mines, Allstate Arena, Community Development Commission, Cortland/Chicago River Tax Increment Financing district, Chicago Plan Commission, Music City, Night Mayor, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, DCASE, Mark Kelly, Year of Chicago Theatre, Robert Gomez, Chicago Music Commission, Cultural Policy Center at the University of Chicago, Amy Terrill, Music Canada, Lounge Ax, Julia Adams, Juicebox, See Chicago Dance, Bronzeville Echoes, Choose Chicago, Rick Carney, Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, AACM, Eighth Blackbird, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Jazz Institute of Chicago, Music Commission, Red River Cultural District, Lori Lightfoot, Susana Mendoza, Toni Preckwinkle, Amara Enyia

Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Dec 18, 2018
Video
The forgotten story of the self-described ‘butt-ugliest band in Chicago’

Weirdo roots band the Dysfunctionells, fronted by Rich Krueger and Vernon Tonges, got closest to fame when they backed Peter Stampfel of the Holy Modal Rounders in the mid-90s.
- By Steve Krakow
- Tags: The Secret History of Chicago Music, Dwain Story, Rich Krueger, Richard Krueger, Dysfunctionells, Vernon Tonges, Oliver Steck, Russell Clark, Vence Edmonds, Vencent Edmonds, Jim Becker, Sheffield’s, the Charleston, Lounge Ax, Double Door, Beat Kitchen, Jimmy’s Woodlawn Tap, Peter Stampfel, Holy Modal Rounders, Fugs, Not in Our Wildest Dreams, Joundiced Pursuits, Lula, Life Ain’t That Long, NowThen, Gary Lucas, Robbie Fulks, neonatologist, University of Chicago, Video

Music, Music Feature Dec 6, 2017
Slideshow Video
The Third Coming of the Jesus Lizard

On the eve of their latest return home, the band talk about why they chose Chicago—and how they became its most beautiful noise-rock monsters.
- By Kevin Warwick
- Tags: Music Feature, Jesus Lizard, the Jesus Lizard, Metro, reunion, David Yow, Duane Denison, David Wm. Sims, Mac McNeilly, Blue, Shot, Down, Liar, Goat, Head, Pure, Inch, Touch and Go, Corey Rusk, Pitchfork Music Festival, All Tomorrow’s Parties, Primavera Sound, The Jesus Lizard Book, Fly on the Wall, 7 vs. 8, Puss, Nub, Seasick, Capitol Records, Steve Albini, Tar, John Conroy, Joe Shanahan, Lounge Ax, Julia Adams, Mike Greenlees, Rainbo Club, Humboldt Park, Leo’s Lunchroom, Jim Kimball, Tomahawk, Denison/Kimball Trio, John Forbes, Mount Shasta, Slint, King Kong, Exit, Brendan Murphy, Rapeman, Scratch Acid, Cargo Cult, Rey Washam, 86, Phantom 309, Quimby’s, Gary Held, mpty Bottle, Ken Vandermark, Edge of the Looking Glass, Martin Atkins, Bangkok Bangkok, Pegboy, Didjits, Rifle Sport, Flour, Dreamerz, Czar Bar, John Herndon, Casey Rice, Dan Koretsky, Doug McCombs, Stacy Sargent, Rick Rizzo, John Haggerty, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Billions Corporation, Kaleidoscope, Foodworks, John Brannon, Negative Approach, Michael Gerald, Killdozer, U.S. Maple, Slideshow, Video

Music, Music Feature Apr 20, 2016
An oral history of the Empty Bottle

Staff members and musicians share stories of the venerable nightclub in this excerpt from The Empty Bottle Chicago: 21+ Years of Music / Friendly / Dancing.
- By John Dugan
- Tags: Music Feature, Empty Bottle, oral history, Curbside Splendor, John Dugan, John E. Dugan, The Empty Bottle Chicago: 21+ Years of Music / Friendly / Dancing, Miss Alex White, Hot Machines, White Mystery, Damian, Bobby Conn, Bobby Conn & the Glass Gypsies, Conducent, Jay Ryan, Bird Machine, Dianogah, Hubcap, Uzeda, Bedhead, Chisel, Chicago Stone Lightning Band, Idful Music, Brad Wood, Red Red Meat, Liz Phair, Tortoise, Veruca Salt, Big Star, Metro, Alianna Kalabba, We Ragazzi, Brian Case, 90 Day Men, the Ponys, Acteurs, Disappears, Boys Life, C-Clamp, Bruce Finkelman, Lustre King, Craig Ackerman, Lounge Ax, Damian Kulash, OK Go, Lonesome Organist, Allison Hollihan, Atombombpocketknife, the Mono Men, Estrus, Melisa Young, Kid Sister, Bruce Lamont, Yakuza, Led Zeppelin 2, Bloodiest, Corrections House, Ken Vandermark, Bob Pollard, the Strokes, Guided By Voices, Black Lips, Matt Williams, Chris Anderson, Chris Saathoff, the Red Lights, Mike Gebel, City Pages, Skeletonwitch, Bob Johnson

Music, Music Feature Dec 22, 2011
Andrea Jablonski, the doom-metal bassist

'My first show, I totally sucked the biggest I-don't-know-what and was terrified out of my mind'
- Tags: Music Feature, People Issue 2011, Andrea Jablonski, doom metal, Ukraine, Poland, Rabid Rabbit, Lounge Ax, The Drapes, The Dishes, Camaro Rouge, Chances Dances, Ladyfest, Mike Tsoulos, Hideout

Music, Music Feature Jul 1, 2010
The House That Fred Built

Tenor-sax giant Fred Anderson and the community he sustained
- By John Corbett
- Tags: Music Feature, Fred Anderson, Velvet Lounge, Steve Lacy, Hamid Drake, Peter Brotzmann, Tortoise, AACM, Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, Chicago jazz, Lone Prophet of the Prairie, Peter Kowald, tribute, memorial, obituary, Fred Hopkins, Kidd Jordan, Marilyn Crispell, HotHouse, Empty Bottle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music, George Lewis, Bill Brimfield, Douglas Ewart, Lounge Ax, Birdhouse, Ken Vandermark, Foundation Church Coffee House, Vision Festival, Hideout

Blogs, Bleader Oct 19, 2009
The Chicago History Museum Wants Your Lounge Ax Stuff

The Chicago History Museum wants to document the history of the storied Lincoln Park club, and it needs your help.
- By Peter Margasak
- Tags: Music, Post No Bills, Lounge Ax, Chicago History Museum

Blogs, Bleader Aug 6, 2009
The Schubas Empire? Step One
- By Miles Raymer
- Tags: Crickets, Music, Schubas, 3 Penny, Lounge Ax, Greg Kot, Lincoln Hall, clubs, music venues

Music, Music Review Jun 24, 1999
Breaking Away
- By Anders Smith-Lindall
- Tags: Music Review, Rock, etc., Lounge Ax, Jeff Tweedy

Music, Music Review Sep 4, 1997
In Mod We Trusted
- By J.R. Jones
- Tags: Music Review, Rock Etc, mods, Mod Night, Craig Ziegler, Cabaret Metro, Jeff Lescher, Green, Dag Juhlin, The Slugs, Lounge Ax, The Who, Franc Roddam, Jeff Burk, No Cigar record label, compilations

Music, Music Sidebar Apr 18, 1996
Lounge Ax Seeks Schulter in a Storm
- By Bill Wyman
- Tags: Music Sidebar, Hitsville, Lounge Ax, Eugene Schulter

Music, Music Sidebar Apr 11, 1996
A Cloud Over Clubland
- By Bill Wyman
- Tags: Music Sidebar, Hitsville, Lounge Ax, music venues, noise complaints, Sue Miller, Julia Adams, Winston Mardis, Charles Bernardini, PPA licenses, Public Place of Amusement licenses, zoning

News & Politics, Our Town Jan 18, 1996
Parents in the Crowd

Dingle's Jeff Gramm figures this is the first and maybe last time his father will watch him rock
- By Ben Kim
- Tags: Our Town, Phil Gramm, Wendy Gramm, Jeff Gramm, Lounge Ax, Dingle

Music, Music Review Dec 8, 1994
Big Boys Do Cry
- By Peter Margasak
- Tags: Music Review, Rock, Etc., Lounge Ax, American Music Club, Mark Eitzel, Ass Ponys, Chuck Cleaver

Music, Music Review Oct 6, 1994
Don't Believe the Hype
- By Peter Margasak
- Tags: Music Review, Rock Etc., Veruca Salt, Lounge Ax, Liz Phair

Music, Music Review Jun 23, 1994
Gold Diggers of 1994
- By Warren Sentence
- Tags: Music Review, Rock Etc., Lounge Ax, Tindersticks, Stuart Staples

Music, Critic's Choice Feb 1, 1990
Material Issue
- By Bill Wyman
- Tags: Critic's Choice, Material Issue, Lounge Ax, Avalon Niteclub, Jim Ellison, Ted Ansani, Michael Zelenko

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“I named my business Screwball Press with no thought that I’d still be working at this 30 years later. . . . I didn’t want the name to suggest that I knew what I was doing.”

To complement IVW's live programming, the Reader has rounded up some favorite stories about Chicago music venues past and present.

Actual gigs are on hold, of course, so the Reader wants your posters for fantasy concerts!

With the new Chicago XX, their third full-length in three years, these indefatigable weirdos have hit a hot streak late in the fourth decade of their career.

The Chicago Independent Venue League shouldn’t have to push back against the Live Nation handouts in the Lincoln Yards development—but the city doesn’t protect its own treasures.

Weirdo roots band the Dysfunctionells, fronted by Rich Krueger and Vernon Tonges, got closest to fame when they backed Peter Stampfel of the Holy Modal Rounders in the mid-90s.

On the eve of their latest return home, the band talk about why they chose Chicago—and how they became its most beautiful noise-rock monsters.

Staff members and musicians share stories of the venerable nightclub in this excerpt from The Empty Bottle Chicago: 21+ Years of Music / Friendly / Dancing.

'My first show, I totally sucked the biggest I-don't-know-what and was terrified out of my mind'

Tenor-sax giant Fred Anderson and the community he sustained

The Chicago History Museum wants to document the history of the storied Lincoln Park club, and it needs your help.

Dingle's Jeff Gramm figures this is the first and maybe last time his father will watch him rock

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