Oral History: Chicago's 1990s Alt-Rock Explosion

[Beltmann]

Good read at the AV Club: "A great time to be alive and own a guitar": Chicago's 1990s alt-rock explosion

 

This era of Chicago alt-rock was formative for me. How can it be that it's already time to reminisce? Wasn't all of this happening last week?

 

The piece also contains minor Wilco connections, as Lounge Ax is mentioned and at one point Joel Spencer of Menthol says, "I remember being at Lounge Ax and Jeff Tweedy showing up with his son, and we were sound-checking, and he came up and asked [drummer] Colin [Koteles] if he could let his little boy get behind the drums for a second. Colin’s like, 'Sure.' Even though we weren’t friends with him, I think he knew who we were. There just wasn’t any weirdness. It was all supportive.”

[PopTodd]

Makes me hyper-nostalgic. I really do miss those days.

My favorite under-the-radar band from that time was The Flavor Channel. They were amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvThB8_EBig

[NoJ]

Great article! I was fortunate to have experienced Chicago's rock scene before, during and after it hit its high water mark. Wicker Park/Ukrainian Village were hotbeds of activity because rent was cheap. Friends of mine had a big place on Damon that was turned into a bar called Wild Cherry when they moved out. Material Issue was playing everywhere around town. I must've seen them 10 times over a year or two. Batteries Not Included, Club Stodola (?), Caberet Metro/Smart Bar, Lounge Ax, Gingerman, Urbus Orbus, Milk of Burgandy, Hot House, Fireside Bowl, Bluebird, Empty Bottle. I saw so many concerts that didn't require a ticket. Just pay $10 bucks at the door. The Slugs, Poster Children, Eleventh Dream Day, Tourtise, Gastor del Sol, Sea and Cake, Red Red Meat, US Maple. Yes, even Liz Phair. Saw her first big show at Metro-she was petrified. Oh man, good times.

[tinnitus photography]

Tar, the Jesus Lizard and all things Albini.

 

that is all.

[jff]

"I remember being at Lounge Ax and Jeff Tweedy showing up with his son, and we were sound-checking, and he came up and asked [drummer] Colin [Koteles] if he could let his little boy get behind the drums for a second. Colin’s like, 'Sure.' Even though we weren’t friends with him, I think he knew who we were. There just wasn’t any weirdness. It was all supportive.”

 

The one time I played at Lounge Ax, the same thing happened, minus Jeff.  Jeff wasn't there, but Sue and Spencer were. This was in 1997, so Spencer was a toddler, but sure enough, he wound up on my drum seat and started playing away.