SCENE AROUND CHICAGO

FEATURES MATCHING FALL COLORS

2009-10-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

SHOES TO FURNITURE ...

2009-08-28T12:46:00.000-07:00

KEEPING IT LIGHT

2009-05-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

Everybody's Working for the Weekend (NEW PAGES)

2009-05-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

COLORFUL THREE DAYS

2009-05-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

SOUPY SAILS: Joel McHale Comes to Indiana

2009-05-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

Oh Joel McHale, how I love thee. Let me count the ways.
OK, maybe not.
But let me promise to keep my standing date with you each and every Friday night. At 9 p.m. on E! is where I know you will be. As will I.
As host of “The Soup,” a reality-based clip show, McHale has surpassed former “Soupers” Greg Kinnear, Hal Sparks and Aisha Tyler in the laughs department.
And it’s the search for snickers that brings him to Hammond this weekend.
I have to be honest and say I am not sure what to expect from McHale’s show, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino.
McHale has had me in tears many a time while watching “The Soup,” so I do hope for big laughs.
But I also wonder how his short spurts of comedy will translate into an hour-long stand-up act.
“It’s Miley!”
Born in Rome, McHale spent his formative years in Seattle, where he graduated from the University of Washington in 1995.
It was during his time in college that McHale started performing as a member of the improv comedy group Unexpected Productions.
Following graduation, it was on to L.A.
You know, where dreams happen.
Over the years, McHale has appeared in bit parts on several television shows such as “CSI: Miami,” “Will & Grace” and the NBC improv show “Thank God You’re Here.”
He also frequently touts his role in “Spider-Man 2.”
No, he didn’t play a superhero or villain. He had an exciting role as a bank manager. Come on though, it’s Spider-Man, right?
But it is with “The Soup” where the comedian has left his mark on pop culture.
“Sanjaya ...”
Since 2004 the funnyman has been coming into living rooms sharing sublime and silly snippets from television shows.
From Ann Curry’s “Good morning, good morning everybody, good morning” on the “Today Show,” to Stains, the pup that’s mesmerized by food on “It’s Me or the Dog,” McHale’s staff at “The Soup” has an inane talent to find the simplest yet extremely insane television clips. Ever heard of the shows “I Love Toy Trains” or “Dutch Oven Cookin’ with Cee Dub”?
Yep, I hadn’t either. But I dig them now.
“Chicks, man.”
As McHale awaits his next big film role in Steven Soderberg’s “The Informant” with Matt Damon, the married father of two will still be cracking the jokes.
Not only on stage in theaters and comedy clubs all over the world, but also on the small screen.
And he and I will continue our budding relationship.
Every Friday night.

RECENT PAGES I LIKE

2009-05-01T14:23:00.000-07:00

OLD OKKERVIL REVIEW

2009-04-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

Okkervil River commands stage at The Metro
It felt like a family affair Tuesday night as Black Joe Lewis & The Honey Bears and Crooked Fingers opened for Okkervil River at the Metro in Chicago.
All three bands showed their unwavering support for the others in many ways. As the openers, Black Joe Lewis, rocked out midset, Okkervil River's drummer Travis Nelsen made a surprise onstage appearance. His instrument of choice? A tambourine.
The second act, Crooked Fingers, all sported Black Joe Lewis T-shirts. The saxophone duo from Black Joe played a couple of songs with Okkervil River, even helping them close out the show. Three very different bands. Three very different lineups. Three very different sounds. Yet, it all worked together.
With influences ranging from James Brown and Wilson Pickett to Howlin' Wolf, Black Joe was the biggest surprise of the evening. The eight-piece band, fronted by 26-year-old Austin, Texas, native Joe Lewis played a mix of R&B and soul. The set felt like something straight out of famed Chicago Blues club Kingston Mines. A throwback to sounds of the '60s, the multiracial band's music was pure magic, made even more spectacular by the members' on-stage antics. At one point, the band, sans Lewis, danced their way to the ground, continuing to play their instruments from the stage floor.
The vibe was completely different for the next act, Crooked Fingers. The Seattle-based band, led by lead singer Eric Bachman, tends to have a rotating lineup. Tuesday night, there were just four on stage – Bachman on guitar, Elin Palmer on violin, Miranda Brown on bass guitar and drummer Tim Hussman. Playing their last night in support of Okkervil River before launching their own tour Wednesday night at Shuba's in Chicago, the group played several songs from their newly released album, "Forfeit/Fortune."
Continuing a trend of noise as music, the band relied on feedback and looping to add extra depth to their songs. Palmer's violin and Bachman's interesting vocals combined to create a scattered yet solid rock performance. When Hussman's drum kit began to fall apart midset, it was the drummer from Black Joe that came to his rescue. It was just a continuation of their support for one another.
By the time headliners Okkervil River came to the stage, the anticipation from the crowd had reached a fevered pitch. Chicago has become a home-away-from-home of sorts for Okkervil this year. With four shows in six months – opening for the New Pornographers in April, Lollapalooza in August, an after-show at Schubas and Tuesday night at the Metro – the band has garnered quite the following in the Windy City.
Touring in support of their newest release, "The Stand-Ins" Okkervil chose just a few songs from the 2008 album and reached way into their repertoire for the rest. Lead singer Will Sheff's tangy, raw vocals and acoustic guitar talents added to his showmanship on stage, and it was evident he was simply being worshipped by the crowd.
Okkervil River's multifaceted sound was on full display during the show. At times the feeling ran from "Big Band" to full-out rock show, to somewhat country and back again. It was some old favorites, including "For Real" from the band's 2005 release "Black Sheep Boy" that got the crowd moving.
But it was during the encore where Sheff really shined. Coming out first alone, guitar in hand, Sheff asked the crowd for any requests. It was "Red," from the band's 2002 release "Don't Fall in Love With Everyone You Meet," that emitted the largest response.
The crowd stood transfixed for the next five minutes as Sheff played a flawless, soulful version of the tune. As the full band came out to play one more song, a hush fell over the crowd as they waited to rock out.
By 1 a.m. Okkervil had more than done its job. The band simply left fans wanting more.

GOING GREEN (In the kitchen.)

2009-04-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

Giving up at least some meat better for your body, the planet
I’ve been helping the planet for years, and I didn’t even know it.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I make a conscious decision to protect our environment every day. Between the reusable bags, the recycling, lack of consumption and driving my car only to work – walking or taking public transportation for everything else – I do my part.
I even plant a tiny garden on the back porch of my Chicago apartment.
What I didn’t realize is that I was doing more that I knew.
Years ago, I made the choice to give up red meat and pork. Mostly for health reasons, although the latter came after a visit to a pork-processing plant in college. (I can still hear the pigs scream.)
The switch was a good one. I have lost and kept off a lot of weight.
Selfishly great for me. But as I learned recently, even better for those around me. Why?
A pound of beef requires around 12,000 gallons of water to produce, compared to 60 gallons for a pound of potatoes.
Twelve-thousand gallons of water. For ONE pound. That’s enough meat for just four servings of tacos.
Let’s be generous and say the average family of four only eats beef three times a week.
Over a year, that is more than 1.8 million gallons of water used just to produce 156 servings of protein. And we haven’t even added side dishes.
Yes, as I have been told time and time again, giving up meat is not for everyone.
But gogreen.com recommends that if you are a meat eater, try cutting out a serving each week. Every little bit makes a difference.
A few weeks ago, I contemplated giving up poultry, fish, dairy and eggs as well. Yes, me. A V-E-G-A-N.
Again, it is mostly for health reasons. The more weight lost, the healthier, right?
It was through my research on veganism that I realized just how much the food we eat has an impact on our planet.
And it made the switch even easier.
Now don’t get me wrong. I haven’t gone 100 percent vegan, and know I would die if I never allowed myself cheese again.
As I told my friend Shawn yesterday, I’m working more on a 90/10 split.
I am smart enough to know that eventually I will crave sushi, and break down and go. Even if I do pair my sweet-potato tempura with a little spicy tuna roll.
I have also learned to listen. My body let me know I needed protein Saturday after a day of running around, so I ate a chicken breast.
That was the only time in a week that I had any animal product. Not too shabby, huh planet Earth?
As I count down the days for the Vandergriend Farmer’s Market in Lansing to open — or my colleague Phil Potempa to start bringing in veggies from his farm — I’m just buying what I need from area grocery stores. Organic, of course. All in all, it hasn’t been that bad.
I already feel better, lighter.
Greener.

RECIPES
Vegan Pesto
1-1/2 cups fresh basil
1/3 cup olive oil
1 cup pine nuts
5 cloves garlic
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a food processor until nuts are ground. Pesto should still have texture and not be completely smooth. Add more salt and pepper to taste. The pesto can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Serving suggestions: Toss with warm pasta and enjoy as a side dish, or add some cooked or raw vegetables to make a meal; use as a dip for vegetables, crackers or pita chips; top a whole-wheat tortilla or pita with some pesto, cheese – vegan or otherwise – and your favorite vegetables. Cook at 400 degrees for about 7 minutes until the cheese is melted, and presto: pesto pizza. The kids will enjoy this one as well.

Creamy Broccoli and ‘Cheese’ Soup
1/2 white onion, chopped
6 cups peeled and chopped broccoli florets
3 cups vegetable soup stock
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
3 Tablespoons olive oil
3 Tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour
2 cups plain rice milk
1/3 cup nutritional yeast or 3/4 cup shredded vegan Cheddar cheese
Fresh ground pepper
Directions: Add onions, broccoli and stock in large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until tender. With a slotted spoon, remove one cup of broccoli florets. Set aside. Place remaining broccoli, liquid, parsley, thyme, rosemary and salt in blender and puree until smooth. Set aside. To make the “cheese” sauce: Heat the olive oil in the soup pan. Add the flour and cook on low for a few minutes. Stir in rice milk with a whisk, bring to a boil, then simmer until thickened, stirring constantly with the whisk. This is important — otherwise your sauce will be lumpy. If that happens, blend it or put it through a sieve. Stir in yeast flakes or cheese until blended through. Stir in broccoli puree and florets. Adjust salt if needed, and grate pepper in to taste. Heat gently, don’t boil. Serve immediately.

Quick and Easy Guacamole
1 large ripe avocado
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 cup salsa
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
dash salt to taste
dash cayenne, chili powder or taco sauce
Directions: Mash avocado with a fork until almost smooth, or until desired consistency. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until well combined. Let sit in refrigerator for 1/2 hour to allow flavors to meld. Serve with organic blue-corn tortilla chips for a truly sustainable experience.

Come Out to Play?

2009-04-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

NBC's 'Parks and Recreation' has some viewers on the edge of their seat in anticipation, parks departments simply on edge
Thirty minutes of Amy Poehler each week?
Although it doesn't cure the withdrawal symptoms I still face from her absence on "Saturday Night Live," I guess it's a start.
And while I don't think "Parks and Recreation" will garner Poehler laughs like she got on Weekend Update, I, at least, hope for uncomfortable giggles.
You know, think Michael Scott from "The Office."
Cringe.
Except this time, NBC is taking you out of Scranton, and right into the heart of Indiana.
Pawnee, Ind., to be exact.
Never heard of it? You can learn all about this fictional city with an obvious raccoon infestation at PAWNEEINDIANA.COM.
Located 90 miles from Indianapolis, Pawnee is being touted as the "state's seventh-largest city."
"My guess would be that they chose Indiana because it is seen by Hollywood as a nondescript, middle-America state," said Costa Dillon, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore superintendent. "It has no national image to play off, so they can use it as a generic place"
OK, I am a little excited about it being set in Indiana. But parks and recreation?
Really?
"I think they chose parks and recreation because there is a certain mindset among some people that this is not a serious profession," said Dillon. "I find this disconcerting. We have staff with professional degrees including Masters and Ph.Ds. It is incredibly naive to think that park management is a job for amateurs."
Nor for comedy.
If you haven't heard about "Parks and Recreation" yet, the premise is simple.
The show, from Emmy Award-winning executive producers Greg Daniels ("The Office," "King of the Hill") and Michael Schur ("The Office," "Saturday Night Live"), is a mockumentary that looks at the exciting world of local government.
The new half-hour comedy will examine the mundane but necessary ways that people interact with their government, and ask why it's frequently so complicated – as everyone knows from standing in line at the DMV, applying for home construction permits or trying to get the city to fix a pothole – NBC says.
The cameras follow Leslie Knope (Poehler) a mid-level bureaucrat in Pawnee's parks and recreation department.
In an attempt to beautify her town, Leslie takes on what should be a fairly simple project: Help local nurse Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones, "The Office," "I Love You Man") turn an abandoned pit into a community park.
Seems funny enough.
The mockumentary style has already drawn drone comparisons to "The Office." Some critics have simply said it is the same show, different setting, different lead.
Variety's review this week said that "Daniels and Schur provide the show with moments of dry wit, and Poehler certainly has acting oblivious down to a wide-eyed science. Yet there's no escaping that this feels like 'Office Lite,' thrown together as a vehicle for the star rather than out of any grand inspiration – just as the format appears arbitrarily chosen for its compatibility to the Dunder Mifflin gang."
But Jones doesn't think the comparisons are actually that broad.
"What's similar about it is the documentary style. That, and the interviews and stuff. You get the sense of two camera crews. There's one that's following me and my cause, and one following Amy and her rise through government." Jones said.
Being panned by critics across the country could be a good thing for actual parks and recreation departments.
I received a forwarded e-mail Tuesday afternoon from Jodi Rudick, president of the ADvisors Marketing Group. According to her bio, many consider Rudick to be the park and recreation profession’s most innovative marketing and publicity expert.
"More than likely the show will amplify the blunders and 'idocracy' of park and recreation leaders and staff," the e-mail said. Rudick is hoping to help departments cut off comparisons to the show from the start.
As in: "No, there are NO speedbumps on the slides ..."
But not everyone is worried there will be negative fallout from the show.
"It's a sitcom. Its purpose is to poke fun and satirize government and civil service," Dillon said. "I would hope that viewers would be wise enough to recognize situation comedy is not a documentary."
And I can't wait for the fun-poking to start.
With high hopes, my DVR is already set for a series recording.
I am ready for giggles.
Uncomfortable or not.

'Brothers at War'

2009-03-18T10:01:00.000-07:00

This is a page I did promoting a new documentary "Brothers at War." It is also the first etc. page for Saturday, which allows our readers to plan their weekend.

"BROTHERS AT WAR" is an intimate portrait of an American family during a turbulent time. Jake Rademacher sets out to understand the experience, sacrifice, and motivation of his two brothers serving in Iraq. The film follows Jake's exploits as he risks everything – including his life – to tell his brothers' story. Often humorous, but sometimes downright lethal, "BROTHERS AT WAR" is a remarkable journey where Jake embeds with four combat units in Iraq.

PAGES I LOVE

2009-03-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome New Times ...

2009-03-03T14:12:00.001-08:00

This is the first etc. for The Times of Northwest Indiana. We've switched to a smaller paper width, and the print edition was revamped some.

GREAT SCOT! I'm Already So High on TV's Craig Ferguson, He Can Do No Wrong

2009-03-02T10:43:00.000-08:00

Craig Ferguson. Oh, that naughty monkey.
Now the host of "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," the actor once was most known for his role as Mr. Wick on the "Drew Carey Show." But it is as Matthew Stewart in the 2000 independent British film "Saving Grace" where I came to love Ferguson.
"Saving Grace," which also stars phenomenal British actress Brenda Blethyn, is the story of a suddenly widowed woman who must figure out how to save her home.
Thankfully, she has a pot-smoking gardener (Ferguson) and a plan.
Now, before you go and get the wrong idea, this isn't your average drug-cultivating, trafficking story. Think less "Blow," more "Calendar Girls."
Co-written by Ferguson, the film is actually a wonderful, tug-at-your-heartstrings comedy about an unlikely friendship, love, secrets and, of course, marijuana.
I was in love with the film immediately after watching it. But my affection was solidified after learning that my little brother had loved it and recommended it to the toughest critic out there: Mom.
Smart, witty, wonderful Mom. Not your average arts critic – but a critic of a different kind. A child of the '50s. Church-going, kind; I can count on my hands the number of times I have heard her say a cross word. Doesn't drink, doesn't smoke ... you get the picture.
My mom? Liking a movie about D-R-U-G-S? Gasp.
She still talks about "Amazing Grace." (Her title, not Ferguson's.)
Yes, a Scottish actor/writer made my mom love a movie about dubbage. Classic.
And it is with "Saving Grace" that I realized what I loved most about that wily Scot.
Funny to a fault, the man has quite a heart.
I still remember the Monday following Britney Spears' mini breakdown in February 2007. (You know the one ... shaved head, umbrella attack.)
Television hosts all over the country – from Jon Stewart to David Letterman – had a field day with the story.
But not Ferguson.
He instead took the time to celebrate the 15th anniversary of his sobriety. And to offer Spears best wishes for recovery.
That has stayed with me longer than any joke could have.
It really demonstrated what a stand-up guy Ferguson was. Instead of taking a cheap shot at a girl who was hurting, he spoke life, and I still appreciate him for that.
For almost a decade he has been on my radar, and I am truly looking forward to seeing Ferguson's standup at the Venue next week. He's made me laugh out loud through television and film, so I am expecting great things in person.
But if not, no worries.
I'll just put on "Saving Grace" and continue to love him.
He's already got my heart.

Maybe We're Just Not All Into Each Other

2009-03-02T10:36:00.000-08:00

"He's Just Not That Into You."
Those six words seemed to set off a light bulb in women several years ago.
Was it really that simple?
Dating liberation.
A better title would have been "Just Get Over It."
Trying to find a partner in the 21st century is a daunting concept of sorts. Times have changed.
Men and women are closer than ever on so many levels: friends, jobs, social status, power ... Especially the power in finding a compatible mate. (See, maybe SHE's just not that into YOU.)
But, in a time when divorces are just as common as engagements, why is dating still so important?
(And not to mention, neurotic.)
Singletons are always looking.
Work. Missed Connections. eHarmony. Churches. Dog parks. Coffee shops. Bars. Friends of a friend of your uncle's cousin.
You meet someone you fancy. A date is arranged, a new dress is bought, flowers are (hopefully) brought. He's nervous. You're nervous. But soon, the uneasiness passes and you realize you are actually having fun. "He's interesting, kind of cute and really nice," you think to yourself. "Maybe ..."
But that is where the trouble begins. It is the perceptions and projections that come along with relationships that screw things up so badly. In our minds, we've already imagined the outcome: A happy, fairytale ending.
On a recent – and really great – blind date, my suitor and I shared the best first kiss I had ever had. He seemed really interested, and I was left wondering if maybe I was wrong not to feel more. "I'll call you. I had a great time. We really need to get together again soon," he said as he walked away from my apartment door.
Flash-forward 24 hours later, and I had wasted a whole day reliving the kiss over and over again in my mind. The truth was, it wasn't really him I was interested in per se. But, because I have been raised in a society where the act of partnering is the norm, I began to imagine what it would be like to see him again. Our relationship. Our happy ending.
But we're all smart enough to know what "I'll call you means."
The Urban Dictionary gives the literal definition to this sentence as "I will never call you. Ever."
And to my shock, but little dismay, he didn't.
I will give him credit, though. I did receive an e-mail. You know the one: "You are a really great girl, I just don't want to lead you on."
One more frog, I guess.
Maybe if I had read all of Greg Behrendt's "book," I would have known he would never call.
I doubt it though.
One thing Berhrendt fails to remember is that everyone is different. Every situation is different.
The only thing all of us a single people have in common?
Hope for that ride off into the sunset.
But don't set that fairytale in stone yet.
There's always, "Hey, we need to talk ..."

SOUPER BOWL

2009-03-02T10:26:00.000-08:00

Forget chicken wings and beer – for this year's big game, serve up piping bowls of goodness

Sunday's forecast is calling for a high of 33 and snow.
Down. Set. Soup.
Ah, soup.
Just saying the word brings about a feeling of warmth.
Velvety, smooth, simmering soup.
This year for the Super Bowl, ditch the chicken wings.
Hang up that phone. No need to order pizza.
Chili is nice, but why not do something different to satisfy the hungry football fans in your house? Super-easy Chicken-tortilla Soup is a crowd pleaser. Spicy, with a hint of lime, this one-pot delight is filling and bursting with flavor.
Serve with shredded Mexican cheese, tortilla chips and sour cream for a full meal.
Want to feel a little more upscale watching the Arizona Cardinals take on the Pittsburgh Steelers? Serve bowls of piping hot Creamy Cheese and Herb Soup and hot, crusty bread. Add a main course of chicken from the grill and steamed vegetables. Your guests will leave satisfied, not stuffed.
Soup can be a versatile meal every day. Start by making a basic chicken broth, and then the sky's the limit.
Can't you just hear the crowd going wild?

Super-easy Chicken-tortilla Soup
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds boneless/skinless chicken breasts
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 14-1/2-ounce cans petite chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped cilantro, divided
8 ounces frozen corn kernels
1 lime, juice and zest
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 package chicken fajita seasoning
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less to suit your taste)
2-1/2 cups tortilla chips, lightly crushed
Salt and pepper
• Set stove to medium heat. Add olive oil to large saucepan. Add onions and garlic, saute for 2 minutes.
• Add chicken breasts and cook until no longer pink on the outside.
• Turn up heat to medium/high, and add black beans, tomatoes, corn kernels, half the cilantro, lime juice, fajita seasoning, cayenne pepper and broth.
• Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, and let simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
• Add tortilla chips, remaining cilantro and salt and pepper to taste.
• Simmer, uncovered for 20 more minutes until heated through.
• Garnish with chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, cilantro and lime to serve.

NATALIE BATAGGLIA PHOTO | THE TIMES OF NORTHWEST INDIANA

Glenn's There, Doing That

2009-03-02T10:07:00.000-08:00

Multifaceted drummer from
Wilco showcases solo skills
Glenn Kotche is a busy man.
Solo artist. Drummer for Wilco, Loose Fur, On Fillmore. Collaborator to many. New father of one.
Speaking to him recently as he waited to board a plane for a taping of "The Colbert Report" in New York City, Kotche, 38, talked about the whirlwind of a year he's having – both professionally and personally.
It's for his main gig with Wilco that Kotche is most known. Since joining the Grammy-winning group in 2001, the band has released one live album, "Kicking Television," and three studio albums, "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," "A Ghost is Born" and "Sky Blue Sky," with another in the works.
"We just finished a month in the studio," Kotche says. "We will be recording more while we tour, with the album ready for release next summer."
But this tour isn't like most. Instead of being the headliners, Wilco has to settle playing second-fiddle to legendary rocker Neil Young.
"We all grew up listening to Neil Young," he says. "It's a an honor."
The group will join Young on the second leg of his current tour beginning Nov. 29 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The jaunt concludes Dec. 15 with a two-night gig at New York's famed Madison Square Garden. Wilco recently performed at Young's Bridge School Benefit alongside other bands such as like Death Cab for Cutie, Cat Power and Band of Horses.

THE PAST
It's all a world away from Roselle, Ill., the suburban Chicago town where Kotche grew up. P
laying drums from a young age, Kotche was a member of the drum line in the Lake Park High School marching band. After high school, he was recruited by the University of Kentucky, where he earned a bachelors degree in music performance. Since graduating, Kotche has continued to progress as an artist, even passing his knowledge on to others for a while.
"I was teaching full-time when I joined Wilco," Kotche says. "But Wilco is not like most bands. We never take long breaks away – rarely more than a week or two off. Then, with my solo projects and stuff, I'm just too busy to teach right now."
It's one of Kotche's solo projects that has him on stage in Chicago this week, playing Tuesday night with eighth blackbird. The show at Harris Theatre for Music and Dance has been billed as "Indie Classical Meets Indie Rock." The show consists of a solo performance by Kotche for the first half of the evening, followed by eighth blackbird and Kotche performing together.
"It's going to be a cool show. I'm really excited," Kotche says. "I have always been interested in their kind of music. I saw (eighth blackbird) play a show in Chicago and was really impressed with their sound."
Together, Kotche and eighth blackbird will debut "Double Fantasy," a new piece by Kotche based on "Fantasy on a Shona Theme" from Kotche's most recent solo record "Mobile."

THE FUTURE
But it's not just in his professional life that Kotche has seen change this year. In June, he and his wife, Miri, welcomed a daughter, Vivian Rosina.
At just 4-months-old, Kotche sees no pressure for his daughter to follow in his footsteps as a musician. Instead, he hopes Vivian takes after his wife.
"She's a bioengineer and the brains of the family," he says.
Either way, it's never too early to expose her to dad's line of work – or a passport. The family will travel to Tokyo this month where Kotche plans to record with Jim O'Rourke. Kotche, O'Rourke and Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy perform together as Loose Fur. The group has no albums in the works at the moment, but Kotche says there will be.
"It may take a while, with schedules and all, but we will release something else."
As will On Fillmore, the jazz duo he comprises with Darin Gray. The pair already has an album in the can and are just looking for a new label. Kotche won't have a whole lot of time to fret over its release. Ongoing collaborations with the Kronos Quartet, Andrew Bird and, as always, Wilco, should keep his mind occupied.
After all, he is a busy man.

JUST A FEW GROUPS KOTCHE PERFORMS WITH:
WILCO: Lead singer Jeff Tweedy, bassist John Stiratt, multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone, guitarist Nels Cline and keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen – recently spent a month in their Chicago loft laying down tracks for the next album, expected to be released in summer 2009.

LOOSE FUR: Kotche joined forces with Sonic Youth's Jim O'Rourke and Tweedy under the moniker Loose Fur. The trio first convened in May 2000 to prepare for a Tweedy performance at a festival in Chicago. Tweedy was offered the opportunity to collaborate with an artist of his choosing, and he decided to work with O'Rourke. O'Rourke brought Kotche to a rehearsal session, and the trio recorded an album's worth of songs. They have released two albums, 2003's "Loose Fur" and 2006's "Born Again in the USA."

ON FILLMORE: Kotche and upright bass player Darin Gray formed the group in the summer of 2001. The duo has released several albums, including "On Fillmore" and "Sleeps with Fishes." The pair has laid down tracks for a new album, but is in the process of finding another label.

ANDREW BIRD: From Andrew Bird's New York Times blog: "I recently spent another week at the Wilco loft playing with percussionist Glenn Kotche of Wilco and Todd Sickafoose, a brilliant upright bass player from Brooklyn. I just thought, let's put us all in a room and see what happens. These guys are some of the most virtuosic, thoughtful musicians I know, in keeping with my vow to only make music with really good people." What we worked on was a "separate project than his upcoming studio release," Kotche says. "More instrumental. I have no idea what is going to happen with him." (The album is included in the deluxe edition of "Noble Beast."

KRONOS QUARTET: Kotche collaborated with the Kronos Quartet on a piece written for them titled "Anomaly." The arrangement premiered at the San Francisco Jazz Festival in October 2007.

Kotche, eighth blackbird shine in Chicago
(A review of the October show at Harris Theater in Chicago.)
When Glenn Kotche and eighth blackbird opened their Tuesday night show in Chicago they kept it simple. With Kotche leading the way, the seven musicians stood in a semicircle each taking their part of Steve Reich's 1972 arrangement of "Clapping Hands."
Obvious instruments used? Their hands.
It was an attention-grabbing way to open the show, as audience members sat mesmerized by the tune.
The event at Harris Theatre for Music and Dance was billed as "Indie Classical Meets Indie Rock."
And that it was.
The pairing of Grammy-winning group eighth blackbird – Tim Monro, flutes; Michael J. Maccaferri, clarinets; Matt Albert, violin and viola; Nicholas Photinos, cello; Matthew Duval, percussion; and Lisa Kaplan, piano – with Kotche, drummer for Wilco, was pure genius.
The different styles merged together to help create hours of driving music. Kotche looked like a man possessed during his first solo piece, an arrangement of Reich's "Music for Pieces Wood."
But it was with "Monkey Chant" that Kotche truly shone.
The song, from Kotche's most-recent solo album "Mobile," is set against a 15-minute film by Nathaniel Murphy.
"The 'Monkey Chant' movie is an enhancement to the song," Kotche said. "It lets the audience into the music more."
In addition to a normal drum kit, Kotche uses a modified set-up, including springs and cricket boxes, in a loose retelling of the monkey army's battle story from the Hindu epic tale "Ramayana."
It was the cricket boxes that provided a laugh later in the evening, as their chirping could still be heard as eighth blackbird's Kaplan performed Kotche's arrangement of "The Corner."
"Can't forget to cover the crickets," Kotche said after Kaplan was finished. Otherwise they will drive us all crazy."
Following the intermission, Kotche and eighth blackbird appeared together again, this time on a darkened stage.
As they began to play Kotche's arrangement of "Individual Trains," a new film by Kotche and Murphy flashed on the screen.
The film was created from overlapping images of Chicago, downtown shots and ones from Kotche's Albany Park neighborhood.
Late in the show, eighth blackbird debuted "Double Fantasy," a new piece by Kotche based on "Fantasy on a Shona Theme" from Kotche's most-recent solo record "Mobile."
The seven closed the night with Louis Andriessen's "Worker's Union," originally written for an ensemble of brass instruments.
Following the show, Kotche and eighth blackbird held a "backtalk" session, answering audience questions. When asked why Kotche chose to work with eighth blackbird, his answer was simple: "They know each others' musical personalities so well," he said referring to the group. "For me it gives me a lot more options."
eighth blackbird's praise of Kotche was also to the point: "Glenn was such a joy to work with," pianist Kaplan said. "So easy-going and fun."
Just like his music.
• CHRISTOPHER SMITH PHOTO | THE TIMES OF NORTHWEST INDIANA

Obama's Victory Captured Forever in Time

2009-03-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

There are moments in life one never forgets.
The sites, sounds and even the smells surrounding the occasion – good or bad – can stay with you always.
There are events I have witnessed, mostly from afar, that will remain with me forever.
The earliest being the Space Shuttle Challenger. Home sick from second grade that day, sometimes I can still feel the pillows I was lying on in front of the TV.
There was the Berlin Wall, the L.A. riots, the Oklahoma City bombing, O.J.'s not-guilty verdict, 9/11.
Most are heavy recollections. Most are unfortunate. Then, there is Tuesday.
Ah, Tuesday.
Like most Americans, Election Day 2008 will place high on my list of days to keep.
Starting off the day in the voting booth, surrounded by strangers, yet feeling like you are all one.
The anticipation of the morning. "Did you vote?" "Did you vote?"
The afternoon, as the countdown started. Polls would be closing soon, which way would Pennsylvania go? Ohio?
Tuesday night, I was one of the hundreds of thousands of people in Grant Park when the contest came to an end.
We had been watching election results on giant screens – cheering with each positive result, booing at states like Kentucky, Louisiana.
At 10:01 p.m., CNN called it.
Barack Obama was our next president.
The first cheers were tinged with disbelief. No one could quite believe what they were hearing. But it was true. Wolf Blitzer relayed it again.
Barack Obama is our next president.
I will reflect on that moment, and the following hour, forever.
Strangers laughing, screaming, hugging one another.
Black. White. Hispanic. Young. Old. Gay. Straight. Male. Female. Foreigners.
Americans.
Everyone as one.
Each step I took, someone else would scream "Obama!"
People were running around, celebrating the change that had just come to our country. Shouts of "Yes we can" resounded as Obama made his speech.
Walking back to the train, on Michigan Avenue, was really when it all sunk in.
I joined those dancing in the streets to the sounds of policemen, cabbies, citizens honking their horns in glee.
A small band – tuba, drums and all – belted out "As the Saints Go Marching In" as it crossed the intersection.
And it hit me.
Hope.
That was all people needed. The feeling of knowing anything is possible.
And it is. This small-town Mississippi girl witnessed it Nov. 4, 2008, on the streets on Chicago.
It is a moment I will never forget.

Music's digital divide actually a good thing for the resurgence of vinyl

2009-03-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

"Do you have any more Beatles records?"
That is one of the top questions asked of Dylan Posa of Reckless Records in Chicago. Followed closely by "Where else in the city can I buy records?"
For real music collectors, gone are the days of compact discs. Digital downloads may be great for the iPod, but remain flat and intangible.
Unlike the eight-track that died long before, music on vinyl has survived, and in the "everything-at-our-fingertips era" has actually begun to thrive.
Vinyl records – especially full-length LPs that helped define the golden era of rock – have become mainstream once again.
"We've always supported and carried vinyl, but every generation seems to pick up on it anew," Posa says. "Lately though, it does seem like we've got more people actually interested in the format, as opposed to treating it like a fad."
There is an ambiance vinyl exudes. In addition to the music, it's the packaging, the purity and even the skips, crackles and pops that are all part of the experience.
"We have people who buy vinyl for the sound, people who buy for the collectability, people who buy for nostalgic reasons, people who buy for the cover art," Posa says. "I think people are finally appreciating the whole package that vinyl offers."
When iPods were released by Apple in 2001, record companies and critics alike began to hint at the decline of music sales outside of the Internet. Why would customers frequent a store that only sold something they could get with the click of a button from the comfort of their own home?
Music stores across the country have succumbed to the switch to digital. According to Rolling Stone magazine, overall compact disc sales plummeted 16 percent in 2007 – and that was after seven years of near-constant erosion.
The resurgence of vinyl may be the final nail in compact discs' proverbial coffin.
Many artists – including indie darlings Ryan Adams and My Morning Jacket – are now putting out new releases on vinyl. Most come with a download code for the digital album, giving the listener a best-of-both-worlds opportunity to have the album for the artwork and purer sound, and the mp3 files to download to their iPods. Usually for just a few dollars more than the digital album would cost at iTunes, and the same price or cheaper than the CD.
Even online giants have jumped on the record bandwagon. Last October, Amazon.com introduced a vinyl-only store and increased its selection to 150,000 titles. Alternative rock, followed by classic rock albums, have been its biggest sellers.
But it is not only on the Web where good music can be found. Most thrift stores in the region and Chicago have records for sale – most for $1 and less. The low cost has afforded young people the sounds of Elton John, James Brown and yes, even Yes.
"At our location, we sell a lot of 'classic rock' – Beatles, Pink Floyd, (Jimi) Hendrix – on vinyl," Posa says. "(Even) '80s metal is making a comeback after being marginalized for so many years."
Most of the consumers weren't even around when this music was born. But vinyl continues to bring them to yet another generation.

Spending $3 Never Felt So Good

2009-03-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

My record player was a integral part of the introduction I had to music.
I am old enough to remember dancing to New Kids on the Block, Tiffany and Richard Marx's 7-inch singles. (Don't judge my taste in tunes back then, I was 12.)
But, like most of people of my generation, compact discs – and later mp3s – became my main source of music.
Fast-forward two decades, and I have come full circle.
Vinyl is again where it is at.
The sound, the feel, the scratches, the bumps. There is something about listening to tunes on my Crosley Traveler Turntable that transports me back in time – even if I am listening to something released three weeks ago.
Everyone has favorite songs, favorite albums, favorite artists. I now have favorite vinyl.
Here is just a sampling:

Cat Power "You are Free": This album was a Christmas present from my friend Jake – before I even bought a turntable. He had heard me talk so much about wanting to switch over to vinyl, he made this purchase to spur me on. One of Cat Power's best albums – although not "The Greatest." Chan Marshall's earnest, lovelorn 2003 release got me through until I could afford to supplement my collection.
Carole King "Tapestry": I didn't listen to this album for a few weeks after I bought it at Shake, Rattle and Read, just doors down from my home in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. At only $3, I knew the record was not going to be in the best condition. Boy, was I wrong. I played it for the first time when friends gathered to celebrate my birthday. "I Feel The Earth Move," "You've Got a Friend" and the rest play clear and quite perfect. One of my favorite purchases, but not the cheapest.
Andrew Bird "The Mysterious Production of Eggs": I am still on the waiting list at several record stores for Andrew Bird's 2005 masterpiece. No matter where I looked – including some Web sites in England, which is funny considering Bird is from Chicago – I could not find a copy. That can be the tricky thing about vinyl, as only so many copies of any record are produced. I went ahead and placed a back-order order though insound.com. Almost four months later, to my great pleasure, it was waiting for me one day when I got home from work. Unexpected and well worth the wait. May want to call Reckless Records and take my name off their list, huh?
Okkervil River "Black Sheep Boy": I found out three days before that one of my favorite bands, Okkervil River, was the opening act for the New Pornographers. As much as I love them, I couldn't pay $50 to listen to them play for half an hour, as I'm not a big fan of the headliners. I live two doors down from The Riviera, and met some friends outside for a chat after the show. I could see workers inside the venue breaking down the merchandise stand, and ran in to buy "Black Sheep Boy." Didn't even have to go to the concert and walked away with a souvenir. "Don't Fall in Love With Everyone You See" and their newest, "The Stand Ins," also sound excellent on vinyl.
Elton John "Honky Chateau": My friend Jake – the same one who got me all started n- came to stay with me for six weeks this summer. While wandering around one day, he stumbled across a thrift store that sold used records for 90 cents. I enjoyed listening to the Jerry Reed and Hank Williams he bought as well, but it was "Honky Chateau" that really excited me. So much so, that when he finally made plans to go back to Alabama, he left Elton John with me as a thank-you. A 90-cent record may not sound like much of a gift, but knowing it was hard for him to leave it with me is priceless.
"Breakfast at Tiffany's": I had always dreamed of owning a version of Henry Mancini's "Moon River" on vinyl. Imagine my delight when I stumbled across the soundtrack at the Brown Elephant Thrift Store in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. I grabbed that and five other $1 records, including some old Tanya Tucker – I am from Mississippi, by the way – and a cast recording of "Guys and Dolls." Had I known before going to the counter that it was half-price day, I would have grabbed more. Total? Six records for $3.11. Can't beat it.
Wilco "A Ghost is Born": OK, I admit it, I am a huge Wilco fan – even if only after three years of absorbing all of their music it feels like Classic Rock to me now. (Thanks again Jake.) "A Ghost is Born" is the only Wilco album I have yet to purchase on vinyl, mainly because it is my favorite. The CD was the soundtrack to my move from the South to Chicago almost three years ago, and it got me through a lot. (Thanks Jeff Tweedy and Glenn Kotche.) Noise never sounded so good.
Elliott Smith "Figure 8": "Figure 8" is the last album Elliott Smith completed before his untimely death. The 2000 album was re-released on double vinyl in 2008. Most fans have a personal favorite of Smith's albums, and this one is mine. It was the first "new" record purchase that I made. "Everything Means Nothing to Me" highlights Smith's own fight with depression, and "Can't Make a Sound" remains a haunting anthem. A must-have for anyone who appreciates American singer-songwriters.

There are many more albums I could talk about – Ryan Adam's "Easy Tiger" on orange vinyl, which Iron & Wine track sounds best – but I guess I work for The Times of Northwest Indiana, and not Rolling Stone.
Either way, if anything piques your interest, check it out.
Happy listening.

Oprah Plus Olympians Equals One Big Party

2009-03-02T09:30:00.001-08:00

If anyone could pull it off, it would be Oprah Winfrey.
The feat? Gathering more than 170 Olympic medals winners together in one place.
The prize? One heck of a season opener for the talk-show queen.
On Wednesday, 7,000 fans of the big O's "Oprah and the Olympians" gathered in Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion to pay homage to the United States' most recent sporting heroes.
There were some funny moments before the show began, including Oprah's pointing out the fact that Mayor Richard M. Daley was at the taping – a first in Oprah's 23 years on the air in Chicago.
From swimmers Michael Phelps and Dara Torres to NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, Oprah procured them all.
The athletes were driven through Chicago on a double-decker bus to the taping. Then they were brought out in teams to roars of support as confetti and balloons rained down on the crowd. (Red, white and blue all the way, of course.)
The celebration was intense. There were many shouts of "Marry me Michael," and even a few "Nastia Liukin rocks my world!"
During the show, Oprah highlighted many outstanding moments from the Games, including:
• Golden boy Phelps' run toward his history-making eight gold medals.
• Gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Liukin's rise to stardom.
• Torres' Olympic run at the ripe old age of 41. When asked how she found a balance between swimming and a 2-year-old daughter, Torres said she was just like any working mother.
• The men's volleyball win, despite the stabbing death of coach Hugh McCutcheon's father-in-law in China.
In true Oprah fashion, there were montages of some athletes' stories that brought tears to my eyes. Others that brought laughs.
The bonus to Oprah's gathering all the Olympians together? Highlighting Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. Harpo Productions says Winfrey's program airs in 140 countries – an instant global push for Chicago's case. Phelps even went so far as to wear a 2016 shirt during the taping.
As the show wound down, "American Idol" winner David Cook came out to sing, and the athletes – even Phelps and Bryant – went out into the crowd to thank fans for their support.
While it was fun celebrating my love of all things Olympics, it was hard to contain myself from running after athletes.
OK, I admit it ...
I have been a huge fan of Torres for more than half my life and couldn't stop myself when I saw her.
"Thank you, thank you," was all I said as I shook her hand.
And I meant it.
Highlighting Chicago, the athletes and the Olympic spirit could not have been any better.
But don't take my word for it.
Tune in Monday morning to see for yourself.

Eighth Time the Charm for Me, China

2009-03-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

Dear China:
Wow. Wait – let me say it again.
Wow.
The spectacle that was the 2008 Summer Olympics was incredible. The best by a long shot -- or long jump if you're into track and field.
An appreciation for the Olympics has always been in my blood. I was born 48 hours before the 1976 Montreal Games. In fact, my first day home from the hospital was spent in my mother's arms watching the opening ceremony.
I, of course, have no memory of Romania's 14-year-old Nadia Comaneci scoring seven perfect 10s or her three gold medals. But as soon as I was old enough to understand the significance of it all, my mother filled me in on every detail.
When I was 4 years old, the United States led a 60-country boycott of the Games in Moscow, unhappy with the Russians' 1979 war with Afghanistan. As a child, I couldn't comprehend what a boycott meant, but I do remember bits from the Freedom Games, held in Philadelphia.
The red, white and blue stars from the logo of the 1984 Los Angeles Games will forever be emblazoned in my memory, as will the games themselves. Twenty-four years later, I still remember Mary Lou Retton winning the women's all-around title. Los Angeles was where my love affair with track and field began. It was Carl Lewis' first Olympics, and where I learned it was possible to win four gold medals just for running fast. I was 8. It was impressive.
The 1988 Seoul Games introduced me to American swimmers Janet Evans and Matt Biondi. I still remember my parents' gasps when Greg Louganis hit his head during the 3M springboard final, then the relief as he went on to win gold.
Four years later in Barcelona it was all about the "Dream Team." Now athletes I already knew by name – Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and the like – could join together to represent our country. And represent they did. I remember gymnast Shannon Miller being edged out by her Russian counterpart Tatiana Gutsu for the women's all-around gold. On the 20th anniversary of the Munich massacre, Yael Arad became the first Israeli to win an Olympic medal, winning silver in judo – a symbol of just how far things had come into world.
In 1996, the Olympics came close to home. I was still living with my family in Mississippi when the athletes paid a visit to Atlanta. Those Games were special for another reason – my nephew Daley. Born right before the competition began, it was me who held him during the opening ceremony as Muhaamad Ali lit the torch. Atlanta brought more golds for Lewis, highlighted Michael Johnson's speed and allowed the world to fall in love with Kerri Strug, who vaulted into our hearts with a one-foot landing for gold.
I remember the 2000 Sydney Games more for Australian athletes like aboriginal runner Cathy Freeman and 17-year-old swimmer Ian Thorpe. But I won't soon forget the United States' gold medal and world record by the 4x100 medley relay team led by swimmer Dara Torres – in her "last" Olympics.
By 2004 in Athens, my love of the Games – gasp – began to wane. I know that Michael Phelps swam, the United States basketball team was beaten by Argentina and China won its first-ever gold medal in track and field. But the excitement I had always felt, the Olympic spirit in my blood, was losing.
Fast forward four years, and back to China ...
It's weird to want to thank a country that we are so afraid of right now, but the Chinese government, athletes, architects and citizens deserve a big round of applause.
Phelps' eight gold medals will always seem more beautiful for me because they came out of Beijing's magnificent Water Cube. Torres' silver medals will forever be sparkling like the building did at night.
The Bird's Nest – with its interesting interworkings of beams – impressed with both the opening and closing ceremonies and the stunning spectacle of track and field events held there. My shouts of excitement for the come-from-behind win for the American women in the 4x400 relay to the tears that fell after Lolo Jones hit the ninth hurdle and lost the gold will always be tied to the Chinese.
Though there was scandal, discontent and discord, the world still came together for two glorious weeks to celebrate hard work, sport and sacrifice.
And as far as I'm concerned, my love of the Games is back – in a big way.
Thank you China.