Interview: Ravenna Woods

December 17, 2010 By Matt 2 Comments

There is a certain controlled manic-ness to Ravenna Woods’ music that is uniquely energizing and best experienced live. It doesn’t need to be loud or distorted to be big and movement-inducing. In fact, guitarist Chris Cunningham can’t sit still – either onstage or during our interview – but manages to make this an extremely endearing quality that conveys a sense of urgency which serves the music and lyrics. I also love that everyone usually sits down on stage except drummer Matt Badger. There is something special that happens in the… Read More…

Interview: The Volcano Diary

November 16, 2010 By Matt 2 Comments

Alicia Dara is answering new questions. As a Seattle-based singer/songwriter she released five records and toured extensivley over 10+ years. The latest, 2008′s The Secret Dream of Tigers, felt like the final chapter of that story. All the questions had been answered. It was time to find some new questions and start making music in a new way. Now, as the frontwoman of The Volcano Diary, Dara is exploring new sonic territory via collaboration. In addition to working with skilled guitarist Gus Palaskas, Dara is navigating this new project with… Read More…

Interview: The Elderly

October 29, 2010 By Matt 1 Comment

Story time: A few weeks ago I played a short set at a musical house party in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood. It was a great night with a lot of really nice and fun people (not to mention the made-to-order crepes) and after sets by Chicago buddy Emily Claire Palmer and myself, everyone was just hanging out and jamming it up. At some point there was a momentarily lull, and before I knew it the host was making an announcement that some acoustic band had just shown up and was going… Read More…

Interview: Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers

October 19, 2010 By Matt 14 Comments

The keys to success for Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers are simple and gratifying: 1) Write honest, accessible, and melodic music. 2) Play it live with authentic energy and love. 3) Work really, really hard to get in front of people. 4) Repeat. I’ve admired this band for these and many other reasons over the last few years. They are one of the most “real” bands I’ve ever met – working hard to make sure fans know how much they are appreciated instead of working hard to create some kind… Read More…

A Recorded Music Conversation with Shareef Ali

September 1, 2010 By Matt 1 Comment

The first true indie show I saw in Seattle was back in July at a little Capitol Hill hole in the wall called The Faire Gallery Cafe-Bar for an old friend’s new band: Shareef Ali & the Radical Folksonomy. We all packed into the tiny venue – broken A/C on a hot July night – and were treated to some orchestral-indie-punk-folk from the Bay Area. With a handlebar mustache and a many-gallon hat, that is. Locking down a genre or these folks is not easy – but I don’t mean… Read More…

Interview: Coyote Grace

August 29, 2010 By Matt Leave a Comment

I’ve already done plenty of raving about the Rootsy-Americana-goodness being made by Coyote Grace. They’re really, really good – and really, really, cool people. I got to experience the latter in an interview before their 2-night stint at Seattle’s ultra-intimate Empty Sea Studios back in May. Ingrid and Joe (accompanied by longtime collaborator/producer Michael Connolly) were insightful and funny as they talked about touring, community building on the road, and opening for their heroes. This one is a must-listen, especially for fellow musicians. As per usual, here are a couple… Read More…

Interview: Matt Ryd

July 14, 2010 By Matt 4 Comments

Pop-rocker Matt Ryd may be one of the most broadly liked people – personally and musically – in the entire Chicago singer/songwriter scene. As a dedicated member of the open mic community, an active YouTuber, and the first host of the New York Songwriters Circle’s Chicago showcases at Schuba’s, Matt has carved out a unique place for himself over the past three years. Now, for the first time, Matt has a band behind him in the live setting and a new album dropping soon, so it should be really fun… Read More…

Interview: Jackpot Donnie

June 16, 2010 By Matt Leave a Comment

“WHO IS JACKPOT DONNIE???” These are the stickers that I saw in every Chicago music venue – usually the men’s bathroom – and it seemed an eternal question until I finally met these guys. Then the answer was clear: Jackpot Donnie is a bunch of awesome guys, playing music they love for anyone willing to listen and dance it up. They have a big show at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall coming up this weekend, so I finally had a deadline to post this interview with them from a few weeks ago. … Read More…

Interview: I Fight Dragons

May 24, 2010 By Matt Leave a Comment

One of my first memories of Brian Mazzaferri is sitting with him and Todd Kessler at a Chicago music panel, hearing about his forthcoming chiptune-electro-pop project called I Fight Dragons, and thinking 1) that sounds really awesome, and 2) what the hell is “chiptune”. About 2 years later, I Fight Dragons (IFD) is signed to a subsidiary of Atlantic Records and on an MTV sponsored tour playing amphitheaters and arenas all on the power of their debut EP Cool is Just a Number. Turns out “chiptune” refers to 8-bit Nintendo-type… Read More…

Interview: Molehill

May 19, 2010 By Matt Leave a Comment

Molehill was one of the first bands I played alongside in Chicago that I actually liked. Back in 2007 when Cobalt first moved to the city we had opening slots on bills with all kinds of crappy bands… Even though you finish your set by 9pm you stick around and wait to load out til 2am because it’s the right, classy thing to do, but I rarely enjoyed it. But Molehill was different. Frontman Peter Manhart (vocals, guitar) was passionate and dynamic, playing and singing with an honest intensity and… Read More…