So Long 2012!

What a year 2012 was, blogspot readers! Besides preparing for a Mayan apocalyptic end that never was, we survive the ups and downs of Mother Nature’s wild weather ...learned how to “Gangnam Style” while “Call Me Maybe” against our will ...went on strike for better wages and benefits as US government works tirelessly (or not) to keep many from falling over the fiscal cliff ...took political sides rooting for Team Mitt or Team Barack in the most heated presidential race ever seen ... and witnessed another Disney sci-fi flop (WAY bigger than 1979’s The Black Hole) and then the mouse acquiring the force. There were many tears as we wept for the families affected by mass shootings as well as cheered (or jeered) for the passage of same-sex marriage and legalization of pot (within certain US states) ...and here in Chicago, watched another so-so sports season (well, SouthSide’s baseball team did quite well under their new manager) that ended with a whimper. Love it or hate it ...it was SOME year, blogspot readers.

Before closing out the year, SouthSide would like to take a moment in saying “goodbye” to the notable passings which happened during the course of 2012. They may be gone but won’t be forgotten...

Big Strong Men (MN)

Mahooney (now known as I AM Dynamite)

Machinegun Mojo

Beneath The Stares

Army of Me

Darkroom (venue) now known as Greenville Tavern

Sutured Psyche

Kinetic Playground (venue)

Liquor Boxx

The Rift

Fontella Bass – singer, “Rescue Me”; Michael Hossack – drummer (The Doobie Brothers); Eddie King – Chicago Blues musician; Sir Richard Rodney Bennett – composer/musician/film scorer (“Nicholas and Alexandria”); Marion Marlowe – singer/stage actress; Nick Noble – pop/country singer; Ray Collins – musician (The Mothers of Invention); Mike Scaccia – heavy metal guitarist (Ministry, Rigor Mortis, Revolting Cocks); Jerry McCain – blues musician; Marva Whitney – funk singer; Lee Dorman – bass guitarist (Iron Butterfly, Captain Beyond); Eric Lowen – singer/songwriter; Jimmy McCracklin – blues musician; Earl Scruggs – bluegrass musician; Hal McKusick – jazz saxophonist/clarinetist/flautist; Rodgers Grant – jazz pianist; Andrew Love – saxophonist (The Memphis Horns); Viro the Virus – hip hop artist; Teddy Charles – jazz musician/composer; Robert O Ragland – film score composer; Greg Helm – musician (Men At Work); Levon Helm – musician (The Band)/actor (Coal Miner’s Daughter); Joe Muranyi – jazz musician; Bert Weedon – guitarist/composer; Chris Etheridge – country rock bassist; Tommy Marth – musician (The Killers); Pete Fornatale – radio disc jockey; Jackie Kelso – jazz musician; Cali Carranza – Tejano musician; Charles Pitts – soul musician/guitarist for Issac Hayes; Donald “Duck” Dunn – bass guitarist (The Blues Brothers); Adam Yaunch – musician (Beastie Boys); Michael Burks – blues musician; Berlita Woods –funk singer (Parliament-Funkadelic); Everett Lilly – bluegrass musician; Dory Previn – singer/songwriter/lyricist (“Valley of the Dolls”, “Last Tango in Paris”); Meredith Isreal Thomas – music publicist (Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews Band); Red Holloway – jazz saxophonist; Louisiana Red – blues musician; Inez Andrews – gospel singer; Dick Hafer – jazz saxophonist; Willie Ackerman – drummer; Roland Bautista – guitarist (Earth, Wind, Fire); Keith Deen – rock vocalist; Davy Jones – musician (The Monkees); Gil Friesen – music, film executive, former president of A&M Records; Ronnie Montrose – guitarist (Montrose); Eddie “guitar” Burns – Detroit blues musician; Ray Briem – radio host; Robert O Sherman – songwriter (Sherman Brothers); Charles Anthony – tenor; Terry Teene – singer; Michael Davis – bassist (MC5); Mike Melvoin – jazz pianist/composer; Jenni Rivera – banda, norteno singer; Mike Triay – radio personality, record producer (Macarena); Hal Schaefer – jazz musician, vocal coach for Marilyn Monroe; Dick Clark – host of “American Bandstand”; Don Cornelius – host of “Soul Train”; Bugs Henderson – blues guitarist; Leon Spencer – jazz organist; Whitney Houston – singer; Billy Strange – songwriter (“Limbo Rock”), music arranger; Ed Cassidy – musician (Spirit); Huw Lloyd-Longton – guitarist; Sammy Arena – singer; Robbie France – drummer (UFO, Diamond Head, Skunk Anansie); Dave Brubeck – jazz pianist (“Take Five”), composer (“Blue Rondo a la Turk”); Chuck Metcalf – double bassist; Slacker – electronic music producer; Sarah Kirsh – punk musician; Dave Alexander – blues singer/pianist; Dee Harvey – singer; Jimmy Castor – funk, R&B saxophonist; Ernie Carson – jazz musician; Ted Curson – jazz trumpeter; Johnny Otis – R&B singer, songwriter; Bernard Bierman – composer; Larry Butler – music producer; Elliot Carter – composer; Etta James – blues singer (“At Last”); Major Harris – R&B singer (“Love Won’t Let Me Wait”), member of The Delfonics; Mark Reale – heavy metal guitarist (Riot); Bob French – jazz musician, radio host; Kay Davis – jazz singer; Camilla Williams – opera singer; Billy Scott – singer; Pete LaRoco – jazz drummer; Kell Osborne – singer; Flora Martirosian – singer; Al DeLoxy – record producer; Austin Peralta – jazz musician, composer; Billy Been – jazz guitarist; Frank Barsalona – talent agent, concert promoter; Chris Stamp – music producer, manager (The Who); Earl Carroll – singer (The Cadillacs, The Coasters); Mickey Baker – guitarist, songwriter (“Love Is Strange”); Jimmy Sabater Jr – Latin musician; Russell Arms – singer; Fred Milano – doo-wop singer (The Belmonts, Dion & The Belmonts); Larry Reinhardt – rock guitarist (Iron Butterfly, Captain Beyond); Bob Weston – guitarist, songwriter (Fleetwood Mac); Gordon Bowie – musician; Kitty Wells – country music singer; Bill Doss – rock singer (The Olivia Tremor Control), guitarist; Ms Melodie – rapper; Tony Sly – punk rock singer, guitarist; Don Bagley – jazz bassist, composer; Maria Cole – jazz singer, widow of Nat King Cole; Chuck Brown – singer, musician; Doug Dillard – bluegrass musician, actor (Andy Griffith Show); Herbert Breslin – music industry executive; Donna Summer – singer (“Hot Stuff”, “Last Dance”); Peter Jones – drummer (Crowded House); Robin Gibb – singer, songwriter (Bee Gees); Howie Richmond – music publisher, executive; Carrie Smith – blues, jazz singer; Eddie Blazonczyk – polka musician; Janet Carroll – singer, actress; Hal Jackson – disc jockey, radio personality; Mark McConnell – drummer (Sebastian Back, Blackfoot); Toni Arden – singer; Doc Watson – folk, bluegrass musician; Pete Cosey – guitarist; Faruq Bey – jazz saxophonist; Frazier Mohawk – record producer (Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds); Herb Reed – singer (The Platters); Lil Phat – rap artist; Bob Welch – musician (Fleetwood Mac), songwriter (“Sentimental Lady”); Abram Wilson – jazz trumpeter; Jimmy Elledge – singer; Margie Hyams – jazz musician; Dennis Flemian – rock musician (The Frogs); Lionel Batiste – jazz musician; Zach Boohee – musician; Jimmy Jones – pop singer; Johnnie Bassett – blues musician; Carl Davis – record producer (“Duke of Earl”, “[Your Love Keeps Lifting Me] Higher and Higher”); Von Freeman – hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist; Scott McKenzie – singer (“San Francisco [Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair]”), songwriter; Charles Flores – jazz bassist; Byard Lancaster – jazz multi-instrumentalist; Hal David – lyricist (“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”); Mark Abrahamian – musician (Starship); Joe South – singer, songwriter; Steven Springer – guitarist, songwriter; James “Sugar Boy” Crawford – rhythm, blues singer; Jose Curbelo – jazz musician, manager; Andy Williams – singer (“Moon River”); Eddie Bert – jazz trombonist; R.B. Greaves – singer; Frank Wilson – songwriter, record producer; Borah Bergman – free jazz pianist; David S Ware – jazz saxophonist; Tim Johnson – country music songwriter; Bill Dees – musician, songwriter (“Oh Pretty Woman”); Natina Reed – singer, rapper (Blaque); Terry Callier – singer, songwriter; Mike Auldridge – bluegrass musician...

SouthSide took a slower pace in covering Chicago’s vibrant local scene during 2012, blogspot readers, though staying busy by attending the annual events like BBQ Fest in Portage Park (June), Taste of Chicago (July), I AM Fest (in August), Chicago Ideas Week (October) and Chicago Roots Collective Festival (in November), she attended a couple of fundraisers and Nocturna events to rockin’ at live tapings inside JBTV studios (with The Parlotones and I:Scintilla) as well as discovering new (Swedish American Museum and Andy’s Jazz Club) and unusual (Blockbusters Video and Guitar Center stores) places to hear live music performances. Plus, this reviewer took some time out to participate in a few charity events such as Cancer Walk and Chords for a Cure. There were also fun (as well as interesting) On The Town moments where SouthSide enjoyed some steamy cabaret (Kiss Kiss Cabaret) as well as death defying acts by sideshow freaks (Gearbox Fantastique II) and delicious eats (Fatpour Tapworks) to checking out a legendary Ministry (at Vic Theatre) and a local farmer’s market (Independence Park). And she even appeared on television (WGN channel 9) and music video! It was definitely one exciting year for adventures.

Along the way, this reviewer met new as well as welcome returning friends performing in Chicago during 2012. She highly recommends checking out the bands/artists that graced the many stages in town:

US:

Blood On The Dance Floor (AZ); Clem Burke, The Aggrolites, Blackburner, Aesthetic Perfection, Josh Damigo, Goldenboy, Davey Suicide, New Years Day, Jefferee Star (CA); Koplant No (IA); Midwest Hype, Holas, Me In Radio, The Energy Commission (IN); The Grisly Hand (KS); The Revivalists (LA); The Grownup Noise – twice , Kinsley Flood, Soccer Mom (MA); Funktion, Frontier Ruckus (MI); Swallows (MN); Hellblinki (NC); Get Lit!, Rasputina, Peelander Z, Wildlife Control, Kasim Sulton (NY); Sons of the West, Not So Good O’l Boys, Ohio Weather Band (OH); Squidling Brothers (PA); Fairhaven (RI); Ti vbmmy Williams (SD); Vitek (TN); Symbolic One (TX); Max Pain & The Groovies (UT); Human Spirit (WA); Deadman’s Carnival (WI)

International:

Labirinto (Brazil); The Apollo Effect, Catl (Canada); Herman Dune (France); The Parlotones (South Africa); Glen Matlock, Hugh Cornwell, Capelle, Dara (UK); French Wives (Scotland); Sofia Talvik (Sweden)

SouthSide would like to thank the following sparing some time out of your busy schedule for an interview:

Valarie Pettiford, Davey Suicide (CA); Rachel Levitin (D.C.); Sofia Talvik (Sweden); Rah Rah (Canada); Courrier (TX); Squidling Brothers (PA); Me In Radio (IN); The Revivalists (LA); V Is For Villains, The Prep School Tragedy, Villains Company, Jesse Charbonier, Sid Yiddish, Nate Z, I AM Fest participants, Jon Allegretto (of A Friend Called Fire), Losing Scarlet

Thanks to the following venues (in no particular order) for another year fantastic year hosting live music: Schuba’s, Double Door, Whistler Bar, Elbo Room, Empty Bottle, Cubby Bear, Hideout, Reggie’s, Darkroom (before it closed forever), Coq d’Or and Palm Room (located inside The Drake Hotel), Highball, Metro, Red Line Tap, Cobra Lounge, Nite Cap, Portage Theatre, Ultra Lounge, Lincoln Hall, Vision’s Nightclub, SubT, Mellow Yellow, House of Blues, Bottom Lounge, Tonic Room, Martyrs’, SPACE, JBTV studios, Record Breakers, LaSalle Power Company, Angels & Kings, Mayne Stage, Beat Kitchen, Quenchers, Abbey Pub, Vic Theatre, Mutiny, Goose Island, Swedish American Museum, Old Town School of Music, Congress Theatre, Cole’s Bar, 3 Aces, Debonair Social Club, Phyllis’ Musical Inn, Andy’s Jazz Club, Hard Rock Café and many, many more – see you next year!

Lastly but certainly NOT least, SouthSide would like to send “thank you” to all of the bands, fans, promoters, publicists, managers, et al (too many to name personally yet you know who you are ...love you bunches) for keeping her busy throughout the year with shows and more happening around town all year long. It’s not easy keeping up with every show and/or event ...somehow she does manage to be there. Looking forward to rockin with you again in 2013.

And thank you, blogspot readers, for reading this blog. It was a pleasure sharing these wild and (sometimes) crazy adventures with you.

Have a safe and rockin’ new year, blogspot readers!

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide