Windy City Smokeout kicks off a weekend of beer, barbecue, and bands representing both new faces in country music and some old favorites; tonight’s 9 PM headlining set by Willie Nelson and Family, his longtime touring and recording group is a great chance to see a master at work–accompanied by at least one actual Nelson […]
Tag: Willie Nelson
Posted inMusic
Willie Nelson offers end-of-the-road life lessons on First Rose of Spring
Melancholy shoots right out of the gate on Willie Nelson’s new full-length, First Rose of Spring. The album opens with its title track, a sweet but ultimately tragic love song by a trio of stalwart Nashville songwriters: Allen Shamblin (Bonnie Raitt), Marc Beeson (LeAnn Rimes, Blake Shelton), and Randy Houser (who hit number two on […]
Posted inMusic
Haley Fohr of Circuit des Yeux on music with the integrity of a gold watch
Current musical obsessions of Circuit des Yeux mastermind Haley Fohr, interdisciplinary artist Mikel Patrick Avery, and Reader music critic Peter Margasak
Posted inBlogs
Our antiweed governor better take note: downstate is also going to pot
Governor Rauner again comes out against legalizing recreational marijuana in an interview this week.
Posted inMusic
Willie Nelson is still very much alive on his new God’s Problem Child
If Willie Nelson is approaching death, he sure isn’t acting the way you’d expect someone to behave when afterlife is imminent. At 84 years old, he’s still releasing an album a year (sometimes two, as he did in 2016 with the tribute LPs Summertime and For the Good Times), smoking a ton of weed (while […]
Posted inMusic
Danielle Sines of Impulsive Hearts on a 16-year-old who cowrote a doo-wop hit
Current musical obsessions of Impulsive Hearts front woman Danielle Sines, CHIRP codirector of features Amelia Hruby, and Reader music editor Philip Montoro
Posted inMusic
Jason Molina’s long dark blues
Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. front man Jason Molina produced a prodigious catalog of stark and heartbreaking music. Then he disappeared.
Posted inBlogs
Reader’s Agenda Sat 7/12: Great Bull Run, Tour de Fat, and Willie Nelson
What’s on the Reader‘s Agenda for Saturday, July 12
Posted inMusic
FitzGerald’s 33rd annual American Music Festival
The American Music Festival’s best lineup in a decade features old standby Billy Joe Shaver and rising stars Zoe Muth and John Fullbright.
Posted inBlogs
Chicago’s Eyes & Ears Entertainment is helping Juicy J Stay Trippy
The local digital marketing company is behind a highly addictive flash game inspired by Juicy J’s penchant for poppin’ bandz.
Posted inNews & Politics
The Reader’s second annual awards for political “achievement”
The year in politics: the Reader‘s second annual awards for political “achievement”
Posted inFilm
Artist on Artist: Honky-tonk torch carrier Dale Watson talks to local country journeyman Lawrence Peters
Artist on Artist: Honky-tonk torch carrier Dale Watson talks to local country journeyman Lawrence Peters
Posted inBlogs
12 O’Clock Track: Willie Nelson, “You Show Me Yours (And I’ll Show You Mine)”
Willie Nelson turns puns into tearjerkers
Posted inBlogs
The unstoppable Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson, who performs tonight and tomorrow at the Paramount Theater in Aurora, keeps trucking as he nears his 79th birthday.
Posted inBlogs
The year in music: best albums that aren’t from this year
Vintage Detroit garage soul, early dancehall, and more