Halloween Treat- Monsters of Folk

The day before Halloween, my wife and I saw four monsters creeping along the lakefront of Chicago... Conor Oberst, Jim James, M. Ward and Mike Mogis. Despite their scary name, Monsters of Folk is a band (i.e., "a supergroup") that culminates a mega-merger of three very talented bands-- Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket, and M. Ward. If you never heard of any of these bands, it is time to open your eyes. The new Monsters album is actually a showcase for all of their talents and may be a good intro to start with.

Any one of these bands would be great to see on their own, but it was the combination which made this show so magical. Plus the setting, The Auditorium Theater, one of Chicago's most beautiful and majestic theaters, added the right backdrop to what was an already amazing show. I had the sense that it was our generation's equivalent to seeing a "CSN&Y" in their day (thanks Lubes for the parallel). What was most amazing was that they sang 34 songs and played for 3 hours (concert review, band review). You just don't get that anymore from bands. They actually looked like they were enjoying themselves. They played as a supergroup and as a solo artists. They sang in every permutation (Conor/Jim, Jim/M.Ward, M.Ward/Conor).

If these monsters invade your town... run as fast as you can to get tickets, it is a show that should not be missed.

Smoque and Mirrors?

Last night I indulged in Chicago institution-in-the-making.  Smoque.

If you are looking for high quality food without pretention, this is your place.  The food was outstanding and the place was packed at 8pm on a Tuesday night.  This is a no-frills affair (large grouped tables, no table cloth) and BYOB... but it delivered.  Go to Smoque and "pig out" if you get the chance.