Chicago Acoustic Underground Podcast

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Episode 557 - Lovely Quinces Apr 21, 2014

Show notes

Hailing from Croatia, Dunja Ercegovic released her first songs to public in late 2012. under the Lovely Quinces name. "Wrong house" started a huge buzz in Croatia in February 2013., and many shows soon followed. Lovely Quinces played around 20 shows in Croatia in spring/summer 2013. Debut EP "No room for us" was released on September 20th 2013. to rave reviews, includes 5 songs and is available digitally worldwide. Lovely Quinces opened a show for Kurt Vile The Violators in Zagreb in June, played with Omar Torrez in Zadar in July, opened a show for Tame Impala in Slovenia in August, played on the bill with Skunk Anansie and Triggerfinger at Spancirfest in late August and opened a show for Morcheeba in a sold out 2,000 cap venue in Zagreb. Played her first international dates in October including Waves festival in Vienna, KME festival in Cagliari, solo shows in Chicago and New York, and 6 shows at Indie Week festival in Toronto. Sold out her first solo headline club shows in Rijeka and Zagreb in November, and is now confirmed for SXSW in Austin, Texas in March 2014. Lovely Quinces will continue to promote "No room for us" EP in the first half of 2014. with more regional and international dates.

Episode 556 - The Usual Mistakes Apr 17, 2014

Show notes

THE USUAL MISTAKES formed in January of 2005 with the meeting of charismatic frontman/rhythm guitarist Phillip and killer lead guitarist Bob aka 'Slaphead'. The two began honing their craft in venues across Illinois as they searched for the pieces to complete their sound. Their search was completed when Myron, a rockin' groovin' bassist, and drummer/vocalist extraordinaire Billy joined the band in 2007 and 2010. The band has seen several lineup changes since then, but found its soul in 2013 with the addition of extraordinary guitar player Kevin. Since 2005, the band has been jammin' in venues from intimate coffee houses to large clubs and theaters. Previous venues have included: the Beat Kitchen, O'Malley's, Red Line Tap, Champs, Charlie Horse, Chant, Miska's, Avenue Wine Bar, Q Billiards, appearances at Homewood Fest, appearances at Hyde Park Fest, and many many more. "The Usual Mistakes have taken the Midwest acoustic scene by storm, doing the 'FUnKIN' ACOUSTIC' and rocked out 'Rhythm Groove' shows. Winning over every crowd, with their fun, upbeat performances. Getting rave reviews and showing music lovers a different side to acoustic music. The Usual Mistakes are currently performing every chance they can. These guys truly love to play!!!

Episode 555 - Andy Metz Apr 07, 2014

Show notes

"Andy Metz" is the stage name for the Seattle-born and Chicago-based musician, Andy Metz. Andy grew up in the historic neighborhood of West Seattle, where he began his interest in music at a young age with forced piano lessons. He later gained an appreciation for said piano lessons, which helped him learn to play the guitar with all the grace of a baby falling down a flight of stairs. While attending Bush School for High School, Andy began recording music that ranged from rock to hip hop to something else over the course of six CDs released from 2001-2003. He quickly realized that vocal lessons probably wouldn't hurt, so he took a few of those and a few guitar lessons before embarking on his first tour known as "college." Andy spent his freshman year at St. John's College (not to be confused with St. John's University or any school you've ever heard of) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. While there, he wrote and recorded songs based on Ancient Greek literature called "Great Book Songs." During this time, Andy also formed rap duos with Parker Reddington (Rhyme and Recreation), Andrew McClure (Whale Shark) and Ben Althouse (The Metaphorics). For the remainder of his undergraduate degree, Andy transferred to DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, where he continued to record and release albums while performing at open mics around Chicago, such as Lucille's (doesn't exist anymore…not my fault), Duke's, Red Line Tap and Hidden Shamrock. Andy also performed in the crazy far-off cities of Beijing, China and Santiago, Chile. Andy remained in Chicago to receive his Master's in Urban Planning and Policy at The University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC), and since his graduation, he has formed the rap duo, 8090, with Seth Williams and the rock band, Hero Monster Zero, with Ryan Birkett, Chris Stell and Jesse Walk. Andy currently works as a transportation planner for a prominent transit agency in Chicago (you'll never figure out which one), while writing, recording and performing around the city with Hero Monster Zero, 8090 and sometimes by himself…sigh. If you have any suggestions for what comes next, email me at: Andy@AndyMetz.com.

Episode 554 - Humphery and McKeown Apr 06, 2014

Show notes

Humphrey-McKeown started off on a summer day in 2006 when singer/songwriter/producer Tom McKeown asked a group of musician friends if any had an interest in creating original music together. In the crowd that day was singer/songwriter/poet Heather Humphrey who saw this as an opportunity to take her fledgling songwriting to a new level. The two set out at once in combining Heather's words with Tom's music; to create something neither had done in the past. It was a fusion of some very dissimilar styles…yet it worked. Tom McKeown grew up in the Chicago area and has learned to play many instruments since his first guitar at the age of 10. He's travelled the Midwest as singer/songwriter for the hard rock group Haze and progressive rock band Damascus. Since that time he has worked as a session musician/vocalist and built a studio to further his experimentations in audio production. His trademark is the unexpected chord and arrangement. Heather Humphrey comes from New York where she grew her roots deep in musical theater. At an early age she developed a passion for deep, heart-felt words combined with memorable melodies. Heather has a never-ending stream of new lyric and melody ideas. She also has one of the most identifiable alto voices in music today. Heather can sing the most beautiful soft ballad one minute and break into an angst ridden rock song the next. So what happens when the progressive meets the show tune? Surprisingly, Humphrey-McKeown sounds like neither. Their style is filled with influences, yet none are readily identifiable. They have melted their own individual tastes into something that is wholly organic and original. Their motto; "live, learn, create…repeat" sums them up pretty well. They write about life; the ups and downs, the triumphs and trials. Real life; Real music. Humphrey-McKeown has written music for hire, played wherever/whenever they can, and focused on recording for publishers. Even with the wide variety of styles they work in, their songs are instantly recognized as unmistakable "Humphrey-McKeown."

Episode 553 - Luna Blu Apr 01, 2014

Show notes

Luna Blu… Is an eclectic collection of influences: Nan Mosinski's folk-rock, singer-songwriter style, when combined with bassist Jeff Ashcraft's classical training and goth-metal tastes, Paul Bata's solid, polished, and intricate rhythms, guitarist and backing vocalist John Bouris' complex, progressive rock leanings, guitarist Jeff Howatt's expressive classic rock blues riffs, you get a sound that is uniquely its own and can only be described as.... Luna BluI have known this band pretty much since it's inception. I am so pleased and excited to present this latest version of the band. The addition of Jeff's brilliant Cello adds so much to this already great band.

Episode 552 - Matt Gandurski's Grit & The Doubleknit Mar 24, 2014

Show notes

Matt Gandurski of Northside Southpaws, Majors Junction, and CAU Alumni got in touch with me back in January and told me about a new project that he started called Grit The Doubleknit. I am sure that I have forgotten one or two other projectsMatt Told me to expect something very different and perhaps just a bit irreverent. In his words, " four-piece mired in growl and spook". For example, they perform with a burlesque troup, Burlesco! at Honky Tonk BBQ.Grit and The Double Knit does their thing while Chicago's most talented burlesque dancers shake it for one and all.So, check out this very creative band and enjoy their music. I know I did.

Episode 551 - Emily Earle and Tom Whall Mar 18, 2014

Show notes

EMILY EARLE (OF THE VOICE) W/ TOM WHALL After leaving an indelible mark during a successful run on season three of NBC's The Voice, and earning high praise from the likes of CeeLo Green and Blake Shelton along the way, the rest of America now knows what her fans learned long ago-Emily Earle is one of the most uniquely talented and genuine singer/songwriters to come along in quite awhile. And she has only just begun.Earle, a Colorado native, was writing, singing and performing long before her smooth vocals caught the ear of Green on the popular primetime television show. Her rise to national prominence, however, has modest beginnings that have helped shape the relatable image she enjoys today. Emily's first creative ventures were the short stories and poems she crafted in elementary school. Though simple, these written works reveal a fearless youngster who had something to say to the world. Little did she know that these creative expressions would be the foundation for an eventual career in songwriting.Emily picked up a guitar for the first time during her teenage years, doing so out of necessity. Told she could not audition for her high school's year-end concert unless she was able to accompany herself musically, Earle promptly went home and taught herself Buddy Holly's "It's So Easy" on the instrument that night. Emily aced the audition the next day and has been playing guitar ever since. As Emily came to realize that music was the only thing she truly wanted to do with her life, the poems and short stores eventually gave way to songwriting. And some of her earliest songs were born out of her experiences as a peer counselor in high school: "I started writing songs specifically because I wanted give a voice to people who felt stuck or couldn't speak up for themselves," she says. "It was my hope that the people who were hurting others would hear what I had written and would think twice before doing so again." After cultivating her talents during three years at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Emily set out for New York City, where she further honed her one-of-a-kind style by playing Gotham's subways and some of the city's top venues.Influenced by a diverse array of artists such as Sheryl Crow, Joni Mitchell, and Hall Oates, she likens her songwriting process to painting, whereby simple words are transformed into emotions by adding melodies and rhythms much the same way a drawing evolves with the addition of colors and textures. Buoyed by her growing experience and confidence, Emily served notice that she is a rising star when she auditioned the iconic Johnny Cash song "Ring of Fire" (https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/emily-earle/id561849095) to secure her spot on The Voice. Now living in Nashville, Emily Earle continues her musical journey every day. In addition to her national television appearances, she has also performed on stage in Las Vegas with CeeLo Green and The Muppets, toured with her uncle (legendary American singer/songwriter) Steve Earle, and has had her work featured on AmericanSongSpace.com. Emily's New EP News From Colorado is now online for streaming For more about Emily Earle go to http://www.EmilyEarle.com TOM WHALL: www.tomwhall.bandcamp.com

Episode 550 - Dann Morr & The Dashing Bastard Sideshow Mar 12, 2014

Show notes

Dann Morr is a Chicago-based songwriter and musician. Since the 1990s he has been a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist in the folk-rock group Wells-next-the-Sea, indie-rock/power-pop outfits The Carlisles, Analog Radio, and High Energy Physics, as well as bassist and backing vocalist for a number of other Windy City artists including The Cheetles, Mooner, Kerosene Stars, Kevin Lee, Phil Angotti, Eric Howell, and Tom Daily. After more than twenty years of recording and performing as a band member or side man, Dann is currently working on his debut solo album, Shouting Into the Wind, to be released in 2014.

Episode 549 - Please, Please Me (corrected, added missing 10 min.) Feb 28, 2014

Show notes

It's safe to assume a band named the Please, Please Me leans toward the unusual. But a trio whose instrumentation consists of guitar, cello, drums and glockenspiel? That's downright curious. Odd, even. And yet, there's nothing odd about the carefully crafted indie-pop lead vocalist Jessie Torrisi, drummer Agustin Frederic and cellist/backing vocalist Alissa McClure create on their new EP, Shake a Little Harder. Unique, yes, and full of sonic moods that swing from playful and sexy to pensive and longing. But the oddest element of this Austin band's musical existence just might be the puppet that wound up in the video for their Kickstarter campaign - and helped them raise $12,656 to record with producer CJ Eiriksson (U2, Fastball, Blue October).This is their second appearance on Chicago Acoustic Underground. I love this trio, and I am certain that you will too.

Episode 548 - Jacob Mau Feb 15, 2014

Show notes

Jacob Mau came in to record a show back in October. This thin almost frail young man belies all preconceptions as soon as he begins singing his incredible thoughtful and hopeful slices of life. Jacob is a previous winner of the Uncommon Ground annual Singer/Songwriter contest. As you listen to these songs coming from Jacob's upbringing in Kankakee County, Illinois it will become apparent why he won that contest. Please enjoy the show and be sure to catch him live, soon.

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