Chicago Rock City

What's up with Chicago? They just hosted the Pitchfork music fest and Lollapolooza is this weekend...

Just secured travel and tickets to attend Touch & Go Record's 25th anniversary celebration. I've been waffling for a long time about this since we have a mag deadline the week before, but got assurance from ad man Kiyoshi that we're going to pull it off so I went for it.

In case you live in a hole, the lineup is amazing, balancing older bands like Scratch Acid, Negative Approach, and Big Black with newer ones like Ted Leo, Black Heart Procession, and Pinback. Somewere in between are Three Mile Pilot, Girls Against Boys, and our pals in Seam.

What? No Meatmen?


Nonetheless, three days and a boatload of bands for 35 bucks isn't bad at all, especially when you've got good friends to crash with. I've never attended a multi-day thingy like this before. Never made it to Yo-Yo-a-Go-Go or even Coachella. I only went to one day of the US Festival.

Showtimes don't start until 4:00, so maybe we'll even see some sights... It would be a shame to spend that many days in Chicago in front of a stage.