Well we’ve gone and done it now! Somehow or other this past month of July has passed and the anniversary of this blog has gone unnoticed. Yes, it has had another name, another domain (well, two that is) and three completely different looks, but it’s been me all along. And it’s been a few of you all along as well. Wow. See, that bit is what blows me away. It’s been 365 days of people like Matthew, of Song by Toad Records and JC and Andrew, and Rol and FiL and DavyH , Kevin (of Indiecater Records), and Adam, from the beginning of this thing, (and aww geeze I’m forgetting folks for sure edit: yep… forgot the very first person who commented on my blog, the wonderful Eric, of Licorice Pizza who was sweet enough to comment here. I lost that first post’s comments in the great migration to wordpress and well… he’s been with me from day one. Thanks hun! xoxo) and loads of new friends. It’s been 278 posts and 1,116 comments! It’s been one lost co-author (he still lurks here once in awhile and is never far from my e-reach), and literally hundreds of discussions with him about music that got me going on this in the first place. And it was also the generosity of those bloggers mentioned above who made me feel like I needed to give back that kept me going all this time. I’ve gradually come out and revealed more and more about myself, taking on an increasing ownership of this blog as a Chicago music blog, and felt more responsible for Chicago’s unsigned indie bands. That has been really fun and thank you, readers from afar for being so encouraging to them! We got through an election, a depressingly long winter and a very naughty xmas

I’ve learned about music that I had never heard of before. I’ve become re-acquainted with music I had lost track of and am so happy to have found again (yes JC, I found you via Morrissey.) I’ve grown to actually like what I used to call “indie-crap,” … well some of it. I now know that I don’t like nerdcore, still can’t stand black metal, and no, never really got over that overdose of reggae in the 80s. But, I still crave a good guitar solo and loads of reverb.  I doubt I’ll ever come to hate folk music. I listen to jazz a little now (shocker!) and I can’t believe I get demos and albums from signed and unsigned artists who want me to write about them. Even more shocking is being able to review records that I really love and having artists thank me, saying they read it here. That is just so cool, I’m sorry to brag. You all know that I have next to no musical knowledge; this is and always be a fan blog, from a fan’s perspective. I just write about what music feels like and how it sounds to people like me, who know little to nothing about what music is, technically. The first time a PR rep emailed me about covering an artist I literally danced around my living room, I felt I had somehow made it, hahaha. I’m still in touch with that company and I’ve had some really great opportunities to meet artists over this past year and hear some amazing music that honestly, I would not have been exposed to without this blog.

So thank you, friends. Sometimes I think you all know me better than the “real” people in my life. You’ve certainly made it easier for me to have a real life! My wife might not always appreciate it – the time spent on this and the nights out at shows, but I know she’s happy that I am happier for it. So thank you, M. Chutney, for being so understanding and generous with your time and patience! I have an excuse now to go out and talk to folk and shake adorable young people’s hands and tell them how fabulous they are And even if I do sit by the merch table and shyly wait to get up the courage to go talk to the band after the show, I almost always get there in the end because I know you guys will probably want to hear about it. If only to have a laugh with this silly Tart, xoxo

Here’s one of the latest goodies sent to me from, of all places, Twitter! Swimming In Speakers, “Serve Them Well” off of their debut, self-titled EP. It’s only a taste, up for a short while, and as soon as I get the whole EP, I’ll give you a proper review. I’m quite smitten with what I’ve heard so far! Go buy it here, and tell me what you think of this talented band from upstate NY.

Oh, almost forgot to tell you, this weekend included the Lonely H who gave a great, if early, show and played like there were 100 people packed in that club. Alas, they had to go on first due to all but one of the band members being under 21 and they had to be out by 9:00 pm. So the club wasn’t as full as it should have been to see such a talented band. But damn that guy can sing. Our houseguest leaned over to me after the show and said, “he uses his voice a little like Steven Tyler, doesn’t he” and I have to agree. Not in the same style, but just as expressive and almost (at his age) as strong. It was a raucous night and after hearing the album, Concrete Class, I was more than pleased with the live performance.

And tonight I saw Bad Veins play a really good set after some technical difficulties setting up. They have this crazy assortment of stage props/gear and seemed to get off to a rocky start at sound check. But once they got in line, they hit the crowd like a rocket. “Inventive” is a good word for their style. And that’s not a cloaked way to describe a bad show. The music was great and loud, and very danceable; just the two of them, drums and guitar/keyboards, all deftly played. And to mix it up,  Benjamin or Sebastian (oh geeze I didn’t get it straight who played which!) used a megaphone on a few songs, straight into the mic for vocal effects, brilliant! He also had a rotary phone hooked up as a microphone and a pre-recorded backup tape as well. They had the crowd on their feet and played most, if not all, of their new album. I did muster the courage to chat up both bands, and can faithfully report that they were altogether lovely and very sweet. xoxo

P.S. If you’ve got me on your blogrolls as my old blog name “I Correct Myself, I Mean All The Time” please change it over to Love Shack, Baby cause that is gonna cease to re-direct eventually, thanks!