LouieB

I suppose someone should say that the Wilco Ensemble is at this event I think. Frankly don't be surprised to see some of Wilco in the crowd perhaps. Also TG and I went to the Hideout last night and caught the Jon Langford and the Burlington Welsh Male Chorus doing a rehersal type show. It was a very fun time and will be pretty entertaining for the hour they perform. It will be Langford on guitar with bass and drums as the chorus singing back up and probably the chorus, singing a bunch of their own material as well. The Chorus is about 35 guys, many older, from Canada and they are really

I wasn't there, so you will have to get the final word from Sam, but Tim Tuten of the Hideout said it sounded alot like a typical stump speech. LouieB

Yea, you just can't say shit anymore....(I was going to post this, but actually this article is more indepth than the one in the Trib.) LouieB

You have missed all the Eagles hate here over the years, but I think they wrote pretty good radio fare myself. Meanwhile Elton John's body or work is monumental even into the 80s. LouieB

Well it is like every other part of our lives I guess (I am feeling cranky like Jesse Jackson or something....), but it just seems so weird. But then again I can't stand the House of Blues either.... LouieB

There is really no conspiracy here...just Jesse being a cranky and bitter old guy. LouieB

Not to start some shit here...but I am not sure how Billy Joel is that much more brilliant than some of performers who get a ton of hate here(Phil Collins, The Eagles...). They are all pretty much pop songwriters with their good (and bad) moments. (Can we talk about how great Elton John is?) New York State of Mind is a great song by the way. And I like Billy's later do-wop type stuff as well. (How about his former wife getting divorced AGAIN too.) Allentown is a great song as well. LouieB

Yea I suppose.....casinos are certainly bailing out state government's budgets so I guess they can get any performers they want. Still seems kinda cheezy, but in the long run I guess they have more money than most promoters.... LouieB

I was at the Patti Smith show as well and it was a great night after the Mekons and Richard Thompson played. I am fine with obscure acts (actually that is what the University of Chicago Folk Fest has always excelled at, but that is a different story and different crowd.) I am sort of with you about the frat crowd, but the frat crowd has infiltrated nearly every fest here in Chicago and you have to sort of ignore them. I don't mind obscurity one bit and like I said, it is quite possible that some of the acts will be great, but it doesn't hurt them to host a relatively big name headliner one

They ain't old at all...I got my 40th reunion invite this year. I have never been to one before and I am not starting now... LouieB

Well okay....so I guess you are saying that African Americans don't know what to do and how to run their lives and that they need Barak to tell them?? Actually most people in the black community DO know what needs to be done I think. The real issue here is that Jesse is pissed that Barak has taken over his role in telling the black community what it needs. If it isn't coming from him it is talking down to them. Both have the same message essentially, but I am sure Jesse feels his message is more authentic than Barak's. There is no disagreement from me that it was a tacky comment (remembe

Yea, but Aretha is clearly an oldies act (one that can still sing the hell out of a song however). Her playing a casino/racetrack is not much of a shock. LouieB

Nothing wrong with Billy Joel.....I know the guy is starving so I sure am glad to see they are getting the guy some dough. LouieB

I was going to say that... LouieB

Well exactly....and the Bottle Rockets, as much as I love them, are a much smaller band than SP and have struggled for the last few years anyway. See below... Ask Billy.... There is also alot of difference between playing a casino in a big city like KC (or Vegas, Tahoe, etc.) than playing Hammond if you ask me. Prince did Vegas and he is an act of the same caliber as SP (someone can argue this, but for argument sake go with me...) Journey and Cheap Trick are pretty much nostalgia acts although CT can still kick ass. The Smashing Pumpkins were one of the biggest indie/alt rock g

I saw him there too, great stuff. That's what I mean, this is just too lame. (Was that the first year? Heck I can't remember, but I recollect that it was a couple years later, but then again he might have been there a couple times too.) LouieB

Wow, no shit...another old timer.... LouieB

Poor old cranky Jesse. I suppose it is no less funny than the Father Pflegger gaff. Neither are very humorous upon some reflection although both do contain some truth. LouieB

We have a bird named Sky. I have a friend who changed her name to Rain Sky. LouieB

I don't know for sure, but that sure sounds pretty entertaining if it is. (Gawd I hope not...... ) LouieB

Jeez man..what time is it where you are? Don't take me so seriously......the Handsome Family thread was more for my benefit than yours since I got on a jag of playing them the other day. But don't miss checking them out none the less. Not unless you really don't like sort of weird and slightly disturbing country/folk/roots type stuff...then go for it. LouieB

I would go see the Pumpkins at the Lincoln Park Zoo; some pretty hip folks have actually played those gigs and I hear they are fun. By contrast a casino (I admit I gambled last weekend at an "Indian Casino" near Seattle and had a blast), is just plain pathetic. Reading about Elvis playing Vegas is totally depressing (see the Guarlnick bio for all the gory details) and really mostly it is about the money when you play a gig like that. Zoos and county fairs aren't far behind but at least those kinds of gigs cater to families and others less likely to go to clubs or concerts. Casinos are some

Main Stage Saturday.12:55 p.m.: Special Music By Special People 1:30 p.m.: The Astronomer 2 p.m.: Unibrow 2:45 p.m.: Grupo Miel 3:45 p.m.: Jon Langford and the Burlington Welsh Male Chorus 5 p.m.: David Davis and the Warrior River Boys 6 p.m.: Charro with Jorge Duran (in the park) 6:30 p.m.: Slavic Soul Party! 8:15 p.m.: The Mother Truckers Main Stage Sunday 12:55 p.m.: Midwest Invitational Fiddle Contest 2:15 p.m.: Martin Olivares y Los Vencedores 3:30 p.m.: The Iguanas 5 p.m.: Les Primitifs du Futur 6:30 p.m.: Dobet Gnahore 7:45 p.m.: Yaneida Rivera and Michael Reyes 8:15 p.m.: Kinky The

Okay so I am not a Smashing Pumpkins fan or anything but when I read about this it kind of makes me sad. I mean I know lots of musicians play Vegas for big money and the many oldies/classic rock/country artists of the past make a decent living playing casinos and other sorts of lame venues, but somehow this really strikes me as weird and upsetting that the formerly biggest group from Chicago and a million record selling group like this has gone so far downhill that this is an event of massive proportions. I mean if I were a fan I think I would find it even weirder. I don't know. LouieB

Huh? I figured your Dylan obsession was over by now... LouieB