Concerts: 2004 - 2009
2004
Augustana - Schuba’s, Chicago IL
Can’t remember how I discovered them, but really loved their first record.
Counting Crows / Old 97’s / They Might Be Giants- Grant Park, Chicago, IL
Taste of Chicago, 4th of July show. Always a mess, but I was 24, it was fun.
Gomez - The Vic, Chicago, IL
I like these guys more in hindsight, but my band at the time wanted to go.
Ryan Adams / Jesse Malin - The Riviera, Chicago, IL
This was a bad crowd show. Jesse was solo, Ryan was with the Cardinals playing songs from Cold Roses and Jacksonville City Lights that weren’t out yet. People talked loud, turned their back to the stage and made it hard for the rest of us to hear. We took my sister-in-law for her birthday.
Marah - Schuba’s, Chicago, IL
We could walk to Schuba’s, I loved that. Marah was a lot of fun.
The Damnwells - Schuba’s Chicago, IL
Another band I was listening to for a long time and was happy I got to see them in a small venue like Schuba’s.
2005
Stereophonics / Augustana - The Metro, Chicago, IL
Language. Violence. Sex. Other? Was the album the Phonics were supporting. I didn’t love it as much as You Gotta Go There to Come Back but they had a new drummer now (Steve Gorman of the Black Crowes was their drummer the last few times I saw them, Stuart was there early on).
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - The Metro, Chicago, IL
Went with my dad to this one. BRMC is always a good show.
2006
Bob Dylan / Merle Haggard / Amos Lee - Chicago Theater, Chicago, IL
This was a birthday present from my soon-to-be wife for my birthday. It also happens to have been Merle’s birthday. He sang “Happy Birthday” to himself. Bob was a bit of a mess, behind the keys all night, but he played a lot of Blonde on Blonde and Blood on the Tracks so I was happy about that.
Chris Isaak - House of Blues, Chicago, IL
Always a good show. Never disappoints.
Dwight Yoakam - Park West, Chicago, IL
Always a good show. Never disappoints.
Ryan Adams - Chicago Theater, Chicago, IL
Always a good show. Never disappoints. Sorry, some of these artists I’ve seen a few times.
The Pretenders - The Riviera, Chicago, IL
I love Chrissie. I wish I’d seen them sooner, but better late than never. She was amazing.
2007
Billy Joe Shaver / Chris Knight - Fitzgerald’s, Berwyn, IL
Two great songwriters. God broke the mold when he made Billy Joe. I won’t even repeat his between song banter.
Loretta Lynn - Coronado Theater, Rockford, IL
Another legend. She was long in the tooth by then, but again, so grateful I got to see her. Funny, beautiful, talented woman.
Neko Case - Chicago Theater, Chicago, IL
Voice of an angel and her first few albums are insanely good. She lost me after Fox Confessor. I don’t read much Russian literature.
Pat Green - Joe’s, Chicago, IL
Legend. Everywhere he goes is a party.
Drive By Truckers (Acoustic) / Ryan Bingham - Park West, Chicago, IL
I believe this was right after Isbell quit the band. Met Ryan Bingham after the show. Nice guy, quieter than most I’ve met.
Social Distortion - House of Blues, Chicago, IL
Always a good show. Never disappoints. Well, never changes either, don’t figure I’ll see them again at this point, though I saw them quite a few times after this show.
Wade Bowen - Joe’s, Chicago, IL
First time seeing one of my favorite songwriters. Lost Hotel tour. He would only get better.
2008
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club / Band of Skulls - Riverside Theater, Milwaukee, WI
Clark and I drove up for this one.
Lollapalooza - Grant Park, Chicago, IL
Bloc Party / Blues Traveler / Brand New / Dierks Bentley / G. Love & Special Sauce / Gnarls Barkley / Gogol Bordello / John Butler Trio / Kanye West / Lupe Fiasco / Mark Ronson / MGMT / Radiohead / Rage Against the Machine / Stephen Malkamus & the Jicks / The Gutter Twins / The Ting Tings / The Toadies / The Whigs
I actually worked at Lollapalooza this year, selling beer. We could leave during the day on break, which is how I saw Dierks Bentley, but not at night, which is why I’ve seen Rage Against the Machine and Kanye West and didn’t see Nine Inch Nails or Wilco. Seeing Radiohead and getting paid for it made up for everything.
Jamey Johnson - Joe’s, Chicago, IL
Incredible songwriter and performer. Great show.
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson - Park West, Chicago, IL
I skipped my LSAT class to go to this. The Aussies don’t make it over here that often and I still love that first album they made together when they were married.
Robbie Fulks - The Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
I actually opened this show for him. Benefit for Project Peanut Butter. Great performer, helluva nice guy.
Tori Amos - Pritzker Pavillion, Chicago, IL
I left early and took the train home. The teenage queen in front of me shrieking every thirty seconds was too much for me.
2009
Warrant / L.A. Guns / Enuff Z’nuff / Adler’s Appetite - Seat Geek Stadium, Chicago, IL
My friend CJ was the former road manager for Warrant and got us into this 80s night.
Billy Joel / Elton John - Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
CJ was also friends with Elton’s tour manager, so we had great seats for this and he treated me as my going away gift. We might have drank too much.