Music Events in Chicago

Yonder Mountain String Band, a driving force in roots music for nearly three decades and a key player in the progressive jamgrass movement, kicks off a new chapter with Nowhere Next. Featuring original songs inspired by lived experiences, people, and places that have shaped them, the album is a mix of bluegrass, indie rock, and country with soulful, funky grooves that call for a good time. Their 11th studio album follows the Grammy-nominated Get Yourself Outside (2022), adding depth and momentum to Yonders rich musical legacy.Nowhere Next showcases the musical talents and collaborative writing efforts of founding members Adam Aijala (guitar, vocals), Dave Johnston (banjo, vocals), and Ben Kaufmann (bass, vocals), alongside multi-instrumentalist Nick Piccininni (mandolin, banjo, fiddle, vocals), a five-year veteran whose contributions as a singer and instrumentalist shine throughout the record. Together, they co-wrote nine of the eleven tracks, artfully blending their unique perspectives and vocal ranges to give each song its own distinct character. Coleman Smith (fiddle) makes his studio debut, adding a vibrant layer that complements the bands overall dynamic. Grammy-winning Dobro legend Jerry Douglas brings his signature style to three standout tracks: Here I Go, Wasting Time, and Didnt Go Wrong.Balancing nostalgia and innovation, Nowhere Next captures the essence of Yonders journey, transitioning from reflective storytelling to adventurous, genre-defying excursions. Tracks like Leave the Midwest, Cruisin, and The Truth Fits highlights their gift for narrative, while Nowhere Next, Here I Go, and Wasting Time reveal their capacity for the unexpected. Come See Me, Second Hand Smoke, and Outlaw nod to tradition with a touch of country that complements the bands signature style. The album also pays homage to Yonders storied past, breathing new life into two classics from the Yonder catalog, River(written by Yonder Mountain String Band) and Didnt Go Wrong (written by Shawn Camp and Billy Burnette), reaching back over two decades.Produced by Yonder Mountain String Band, Nowhere Next brings together the unique voices and visions of each member, where their contributions resonate with a shared openness. This collective synergy forges a powerful bond within the band, making each track feel both grounded and alive with their connection. Edgy, heartfelt, and full of surprises, Nowhere Next stands out as one of Yonders most compelling albums yet, inviting listeners to experience the band at their most vibrant and unrestrained.

Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM / 21+ Play on, theres no such thing as better days, Damien Jurado sings on Roger, the sweeping wash of a song that opens Reggae Film Star, his 18th full length album and second release from Jurados own Maraqopa Records label. But as he enters his 25th year as a recording artist, its clear these are, at the least, very good days for Jurado on the creative front. In these 12 songs, which evoke half-recalled dreams and overheard conversations, the cosmic rushes headlong into the autobiographical and specific moments on the clock fade from past to future to scenes set only in the eternal now.Playing out like a backlot documentary filmed on the location of an unnamed TV or film setmaybe a sitcom taping, or perhaps its a low budget science fiction B-movie, or could it be a talk show?the album is populated by performers awaiting call times, camera operators praying for their shot, and studio audiences rapt with anticipation. The stars here eschew glitz and glamor. Instead, they wander grocery stores and parking lots in the verdant Pacific Northwest and the desert Southwest, looking for payphones and a sense of purpose.Produced by Jurado with multi-instrumentalist Josh Gordon and recording engineer Alex Bush at Sonikwire studio in Irvine,CA, Jurados home away from home and musical headquarters, the records compositions are among the most musically rich in his vast discography, encompassing romantic AM gold, 60s psychedelia, driving rock s unmistakable voice, at once intimately present and ghostly, grounded in the here and now but capable, at any moment, of drifting off into the divinatory. Following threads established by 2021s The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania, the album sees Jurado embracing his auteur era, penning vignettes that arrive with little fanfare and depart quicker than you might suspect, only to linger long after they wrap.Seeking a skeleton key to decipher the action is beside the pointJurados songs are worlds meant to be lived in, not picked apartbut on the beatific single What Happened To The Class Of 65? the singer imagines himself as both the viewer and the viewed, the eye behind the camera and its subject. This emotional and spiritual transference animates Reggae FilmStar. Like a masterful director, Jurado offers motivation to the listener, staring unblinkingly from the mise-en-scne in your mind. Look into the camera, he commands on The Day Of The Robot, One more time with anger/And sadness/I believe you.A quarter-century in, Jurado remains gripped by his visions and driven by an unmatched creative drive. Reggae Film Star is one of Damien Jurados finest works to date, a stunning new feature from one of indie rocks most cinematic figures. Here on this sound stage, you are the camera, you are the scene, you are the setting, and you are the viewer. Please try not to blink.