Glenn Phillips/ Blue Merle

saw Blue Merle perform at a UMVD/Lunch performance earlier that day. very coldplay meets dave matthews band influence.


later on saw Blue Merle open for Glen Phillips, former lead singer of Toad The Wet Sprocket. I enjoyed listening to TTWS alot in college. took me right back to those days...studying, college life, love.

kb w/ dd 2005 

duran duran tally

so friends are asking me--is this the "umteenth" time you've seen them..actually no.

confessions of a duranie:
1. 1985- Power Station (john & andy)...first concert ever actually!?)
**2. 1987- Notorious Tour @ Blossom (orinaly members:john, simon and nick)
3. 1993- Wedding Album (john, simon and nick)--*met them!!!!
4. 1996- Neurotic Outsiders (john's side project)--met john bc was working w/ opening band: fluffy--and john actually appeared at our meet and greet?!
5. 1997- Meddazaland tour (simon and nick). *day michael hutchence committed suicide--very sad when simon dedicated 'save a prayer' to michael and was crying onstage.
6. 2001- Pop Trash tour (simon and nick) at House of Blues
7.,8, & 9. 2003 x3 nights at House of Blues--reunion tour!! *SEE November 2004 blog entries
10. 2005- allstate arena.

duran duran - allstate arena

here we go again...i don't even know where to start... my friend mark had told me there was a "slight chance" i could meet the band a few days bf--but that i could tell "no one".
next thing i know it's friday 5:00pm and i'm at allstate arena w/ mark waiting to go in for a "soundcheck listening party". we got to sit in the first 2 rows--(i was front and center!?) and they did a private show for about 50 people!? they were working the fill-in guitarist bc andy taylor had to leave a few days prior to a "family emergency"(which i'm hearing is his father--not good). they did: union of the snake, i don't want your love (2x),& sunrise. after that we got to meet them very briefly, get their autographs and a group photo w/ them.(we'll see if i ever get a copy of the photo from the radio station's prof. photographer?!). after the group photo i got john's attention for a minute and gave him my business card and told him i had some great ideas on how a comprehensive duran box set should be (i know...crazy...stalker?!)...i told him to give the card to a mgr or whoever and that i would love to speak w/ someone regarding my ideas...he said sure, and took it...so i can say: i gave john taylor my #?! ;) we'll see...

the show was great. (it would have been better if andy taylor was there...). they put on a great arean show. simon is a fabulous frontman. john taylor...sigh. roger sounds great(and was sweet when he came out and said "it's great to be back"). so exciting to see a pretty full arena of people out to see "my boys". my boys are back...i really never thought i'd see them back together again.
>>Set List - Chicago
SUNRISE
WANT YOU MORE
HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF
A VIEW TO A KILL
NICE
WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW
COME UNDONE
I DON’T WANT YOUR LOVE
ASTRONAUT
TIGER TIGER
THE CHAUFFEUR
ORDINARY WORLD
SAVE A PRAYER
BEDROOM TOYS
NOTORIOUS
PLANET EARTH
REFLEX
CARELESS MEMORIES *(prob my fav--great visual w/ japanimation going on and them destroying the EMI (Endangered Music Industry) building...YIKES!?)
WILD BOYS

GIRLS ON FILM
RIO

French Kicks/Calla- Empty Bottle (sold out)

fr. kicks put out one of my fav records of 2004: trial of the century. reminds me of summertime in chicago, so it was nice to see them on a cold, snowy night! :)

they did a fun cover of New Order's "Regret". so have had to spin some fav N.O. tunes the next day!


this was the 3rd time i've seen them in less than a year:
-bucktown fest
-opening for keane at park west.

Taste Of Chaos- Arragon (sold out)

went down to the "taste of chaos" show at the "(scare)aragon". and a frieght-fest it was...all these late HS teens out for the "rock show". we were supposed to have 2 bands on an "acoustic" stage: bleed the dream and opiate for the masses. one the first one performed. they are on a new label we will be distributing: WARCON. one of the head dudes for the label and tour was there. he started the Warped Tour (hence the WAR-in WARCON). should be an interesting label. said hello to him so he new his new distribution reps were there. RAWK!

Stephen Kellogg

Saw this singer and his band do an acoustic set at the UMVD office.

Hot Hot Heat/Louis XIV- Bottom Lounge

two very cool "buzz" bands!

The Futurheads- Double Door

what year is it? great band with "all members singing"...ya don't see that too often these days. i liked the cd-but thought there were better live.