CHICAGO’S FREE WEEKLY SINCE | DECEMBER
Year in review THIS WEEK CHICAGO READER | DECEMBER | VOLUME NUMBER
IN THIS ISSUE T R - CITY LIFE 16 Feature The worstever day 27 Galil | Listen The shrinking 03 Transportation Lightfoot’s in Chicago theater provides of music media requires a new @ done a good job of keeping her the impetus for a beloved defi nition of “overlooked ” promise to promote mobility quirky holiday show but even the strictest criteria P T B ADVERTISING E C -- - @ STAFFING CHANGES justice with one glaring 17 Review The Light in the admit a vast unexplored trove S K K H AT THE READER exception Piazza shines at Lyric of riches C L C @ 18 Shows The best of Chicago 28 Shows of note Avreeayl Ra S K M E P M KEEN EYED READERS of NEWS & theater in put the and Time Machine AntiFlag TD S D P F spotlight on reshaping old Tama Sumo & Lakuti and more K R V P S our masthead will notice POLITICS narratives and false history this week C E B W A M several changes we’d like A E J L C R M 04 Joravsky | Politics As the 19 Dance The best moments in 31 The Secret History of S W D I T P to acknowledge this week. teens turn to the twenties it’s dance this year focused on the Chicago Music Hard BJ MS S A R After 20 years with the a struggle to fi nd cheer in the power of community working country rockers the SW M L M -H D L G L S Reader, Kate Schmidt is gloom 20 Plays of Note America’s Moondogs never released their E A C S M stepping away from her role 07 Dukmasova | News A night Best Outcast Toy is heartfelt only album S N L W R as deputy editor to pursue spent reveling in the absurdity and funny The Mystery of 32 Early Warnings Steve Aoki L C S C -J other projects. We are of the fi ring of Chicago’s police Edwin Drood provides a music The MakeUp Hoodoo Gurus N A C E B V M G -- - restructuring the Reader’s superintendent hall take on Charles Dickens and more justannounced N B L C 08 Isaacs | Culture The and Working does more than concerts M DL C JL SB art department as creative J F S F Chicago casino is still in the punch the clock 32 Gossip Wolf Eye Vybe J H I H ------lead Sue Kwong moves on, works but it’s likely to end up Records doesn’t need you C M J D C and Rachel Hawley takes raising far less money for the FILM to pretend Christmas is fun M K S K distributionissues@chicagoreader. over her role. We have also city than originally promised 21 Watch Ben Sachs’s top Comfort Station throws a N DL J L com M M A M -K -- made the difficult decision movies of yes there are holiday benefi t show with a JRN JN STM READER LLC to eliminate the position of some ties dazzling lineup and more M O FOOD & DRINK BP photo director held by Jamie 10 Good Eats You want a list 22 Movies of note Richard M S C S D R L ------Ramsay. On the business I’ll write a damn list of what I Jewell cements Clint Eastwood OPINION T E R D D SJ S side, senior account repre- ate this year as the most American director 34 First Amendment J D A- S V 12 Drinks Wine therapy for working right now A Hidden Julian Assange and Chelsea D P sentative Bob Gri th is also when you just need a drink Life is a moving portrayal of Manning are being persecuted E &P C C E B leaving. We wish everyone K K ------a small act of opposition and for speaking truth to power S M C the best. Thanks for reading. ARTS & CULTURE Bombshell champions the 36 Savage Love Dan Savage J G R ISSN- 13 Visual Art Six shows that famously antifeminist women off ers advice for men with M P C Y D STMR LLC made bearable of Fox News as misunderstood bloody ejaculation A A SM S C 14 Lit The best reading events of feminist heroes T A IL -- have been going strong CLASSIFIEDS for years MUSIC & 38 Jobs C ©C R P 14 Comedy Nine places for 39 Apartments & Spaces C IL laughs in and beyond NIGHTLIFE 39 Marketplace The new A C 23 Feature R R R THEATER compilation No Other Love R T ® 15 Profi le A longtime Chicago shines a light on a selfreliant O D dancer moves from lawyer to strain of midwest gospel S K artistic director at the Madison that’s survived outside the R H Ballet mainstream for more than years
2 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll CITY LIFE EvanstonWhen A Great Deal Subaru Matters, Shop Robin Paddor’s...Skokie Voted “Best Auto DeAlership” By CHICAGO Voters’ Poll 2019 The Riverview Bridge, near Lane Tech high PROJECT school, is said to 2020 OUTBACK HERO sound like a bass ALL-NEW CHICAGO harmonica when the DESIGN C.A.R.E. wind hits it just right. JOHN GREENFIELD
, Subaru of America will donate $250 to IMPROVED RIDE & COMFORT one of six charities with any new Subaru w/Subaru DriverFocus™ purchase now through January 2nd Distraction Mitigation System 2020 SUBARU FORESTER TRANSPORTATION ALL WHEEL DRIVE % GIANT SELECTION 2.99 Making a transfer 2020 SUBARU ASCENT 2019 was a year of new beginnings, and transportation was no exception. 7OR 8 % By J G PASSENGERS LOADED WITH TECHNOLOGY 0.9 t was only fitting that 2019, the year ity justice, with one glaring exception—more NEW 2020 SUBARU NEW 2020 SUBARU NEW 2020 SUBARU leading up to the new Roaring Twen- on that in a bit. OUTBACK FORESTER LEGACY ties, should be a time of transitions, While 2019 saw many Chicago transpor- 2.99% 2.99% milestones, and new beginnings in the tation triumphs, let’s get the lowlights out 0.9% Chicago transportation scene. of the way. Although the city’s Vision Zero 2020 IThe most obvious change was the May in- program, launched in 2017, has the goal of 2020 2020 eliminating serious and fatal crashes, this auguration of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the fi rst $ PER * $ PER * $ PER * NEW MONTH MONTH NEW MONTH Black LGBTQ woman to lead the city. While has not been a good year for pedestrian DESIGN DESIGN her predecessor Rahm Emanuel had a gener- deaths, with 36 cases as of early December, a 9 5 7 9 AUTOMATIC,18 Back-up9 Camera Eye- 1 1 AUTOMATIC, Roof Rails, Alloys AUTOMATIC, Back-up Camera ally strong record on walking, biking, transit, higher-than-average number. Sight, All-Wheel-Drive EyeSight, All-Wheel-Drive EyeSight, All-Wheel-Drive NO SECURITY DEPOSIT! 36 month lease. NO SECURITY DEPOSIT! 36 month lease. NO SECURITY DEPOSIT! 36 month lease. and tra c safety, he was often accused of cal- Bike fatalities are down, with only four $2,995 due at signing. LDB-01 #0292 $2,995 due at signing. LFB-02 #0361 $2,995 due at signing. LAB-01 #3275 lousness when it came to marginalized com- cases to date, compared with the recent aver- S munities. In contrast, Lightfoot promised to age of six, but the last two cases sparked out- TOP-QUALITY INSPECTED USED CARS & SUV’ IMPORTS & DOMESTICS SUBARU FORESTERS look at policy decisions through a racial and rage. On November 6, a turning truck driver ‘14 Audi Q7 3.0T AWD S Line Pres. AWD ..Leather, Sunroof, 23477A ...... $21,995 ‘16 Forester Touring ...... Auto., Sunroof, Leather, Grey, P6396 ...... $21,995 economic equity lens, and that was refl ected failed to yield to school counselor Carla ‘17 VW Golf TSI SE AWD ...... Auto., Leather Sunroof, Grey, 23291A ...... $20,995 ‘17 Forester Prem. ..Automatic Sunroof, Heated Seats, Blue, P6442 ...... $20,995 ‘16 Audi Q3 2.0T AWD Prestige/Navi.Leather, Sunroof, Black, 22181A ....$19,995 ‘18 Forester Prem. ..Automatic, Sunroof, Heated Seats, Blue, P6436 ...... $19,995 in her transportation plan. Aiello, 37, who was on her bike, crushing ‘16 Toyota RAV-4 LE AWD ...... Automatic, Full Power, Black, P6380 ...... $18,995 ‘17 Forester 2.5i ...... Automatic, Full Power, Blue, P6477 ...... $19,795 ‘16 Forester Ltd...... Auto., Sunroof, Leather, 26K, Red, P6414 ...... $18,995 Some of the planks in Lightfoot’s platform her under the wheels. To protest her death, ‘16 Honda CR-V SE AWD ...... Automatic, Full Power, Silver, P6379 ...... $17,995 ‘15 Acura RDX Tech/Navi...... Leather, Sunroof, Kona Coffee, 23315A ...... $16,995 ‘14 Forester Prem. Automatic, Sunroof, Heated Seats, Silver, 23387A ...... $14,995 included addressing racially biased traffic dozens of people showed up to the Old Irving ‘14 Toyota RAV-4 XLE AWD ...... Automatic, Sunroof, Blue, 6420A ...... $16,995 SUBARU OUTBACKS ‘18 Outback Ltd...... Auto., Leather, Sunroof, Alloys, Red, P6419 ...... $23,995 enforcement and reforming the motorist Park crash site, lining Milwaukee Avenue to ‘12 Audi Q5 3.2T AWD Prem.Plus/Navi. ..Leather, Sunroof, 223367A ...... $14,995 ‘18 Toyota Corolla LE ...... Automatic, Full Power, Grey, P6288 ...... $13,995 ‘17 Outback Prem...... Auto., Full Power, Alloys, Grey, P63571 ...... $22,995 ticketing system; reducing transit fares for form a “human protected bike lane” and hold- ‘14 Jeep Compass Sport 4x4 ..Automatic, Full Power, Black, 23485A ...... $11,995 ‘17 Outback 2.5i ...... Auto., Alloys, Heated Seats, Silver, P6422 ...... $19,995 ‘14 Outback Prem...... Auto., Full Power, Alloys, Silver, P4891 ...... $14,995 ‘14 Toyota Camry LE...... Automatic, Full Power, Black, 23397A ...... $10,995 low-income Chicagoans; and speeding up ing a banner reading “Please don’t kill us!” ‘11 Jeep Cherokee Overland 4x4 ....Auto., Leather, Sunroof, P6424A ...... $9,995 SUBARU CROSSTREK / IMPREZA bus service with dedicated lanes, all-door Eleven days later an unlicensed driver ‘13 Honda Fit ...... Automatic, Full Power, Polished Metal P6399A ...... $8,995 ‘16 Crosstrek Prem...... Automatic, Heated Seats, Grey P6210A ...... $18,995 ‘09 Nissan Rouge S...... Automatic, Full Power, Black, 23577A ...... $6,995 ‘14 Impreza Prem...... Automatic, Heated Seats, Red,23314A ...... $12,995 boarding, and other time-saving features. killed cyclist Lee Luellen, 40, in Grand Cross- Additional strategies included encouraging ing. Advocates were quick to point out that A+ affordable transit-oriented development on he was the second bike rider fatally struck RATED the south and west sides; reforming the ride- in two years on that stretch of Stony Island 847-869-5700 hail system; and building 100 miles of new Avenue, where Aldermen Leslie Hairston and 3340 OAKTON - SKOKIE • EVANSTONSUBARU.COM *Add tax, title license and $179.81 doc fee. **Finance on approved credit score Subject to vehicle insurance and availability. bikeways. She’s generally been doing a good Michelle Harris have blocked the installation *Lease on approved credit score. Lease, 10k miles per year, 15 cents after. Lessee responsible for excess wear and early termination of job of keeping her promise to promote mobil- of protected bike lanes. J lease. End of lease purchase option; Outback $17,806. Legacy $14,178, Forster $16,495. Ends 01/02/2020 ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 3 CITY LIFE NEWS & POLITICS continued from 3 transportation infrastructure upgrades in On the bright side, this year the Chicago the coming years thanks to the $45 billion Department of Transportation completed capital bill passed in Springfi eld in April by a number of projects to improve safety and Democratic governor J.B. Pritzker. The legis- convenience for cyclists and pedestrians. lation included the unpopular but necessary These included adding concrete curb protec- move of raising the state gas tax, which had tion to bike lanes on 55th Street and in the been stuck at a fl at 19 cents a gallon for two South Loop; new bike lanes on the far south decades, to 38 cents, and indexing it for in- side, Little Village, and the near west side; fl ation. The Active Transportation Alliance and paint-and-post sidewalk extensions in deserves a shout-out for successfully lobby- Logan Square and Andersonville. ing to include a $50 million annual earmark The most exciting new piece of bike/ped for bike/walk infrastructure, with a focus on infrastructure is the Riverview Bridge, a underserved communities. serpentine three-block causeway connecting Another legislative victory for eco-friendly Clark and California parks near Lane Tech transportation was Lightfoot’s late-Novem- College Prep High School. The span, which ber passage of a new ride-hail tax structure opened last month without fanfare, is said to that lowers the price of the more sustainable sound like a bass harmonica when the wind shared UberPool and Lyft Line rides, while hits it just right. It’s part of the 312 RiverRun slapping a $3 surcharge on traffic-clogging trail network, which will eventually offer a solo downtown rush-hour trips. This strategy car-free route for 1.5 miles between Belmont should reduce the Loop gridlock that slows and Montrose avenues. down buses. And $2 million of the projected Another bike milestone was an agreement annual $40 million in additional revenue inked this spring between Chicago and Lyft, will be used for the city’s Bus Priority Zone the Divvy concessionaire, to add 10,500 elec- program, which includes bus lanes and other tric-assist bikes, expand the system citywide, improvements on busy routes like Chicago I can’t decide if we’re any better off politically as we stagger from the teens into and generate a guaranteed minimum of $77 Avenue, Western Avenue, and 79th Street. the twenties. DOUG MCGOLDRICK IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY PETE SOUZA SHEALAH CRAIGHEAD million for the city over the remaining nine That should help stanch the CTA’s ridership years of the bike-share contract, among bleeding—the system has lost 48 million other benefi ts. Lyft’s archenemy Uber, which trips a year since ride-hail launched here fi ve owns the JUMP bike-share system, fought years ago. POLITICS from the end of one decade to the start of the exclusive deal tooth and nail with a pro- The one thing the mayor has been doing another. And before I try to answer my ques- paganda campaign. That included buying that is truly counterproductive to transpor- tion, I must make a confession. As a lefty fl attering “news” coverage in local media and tation equity is stonewalling a proposal by Looking on covering Democrats in the neoliberal age of recruiting dozens of clergy members to back Cook County, Metra, and other local entities Mayors Daley and Rahm, I’ve had to spend up Uber’s bogus claim that the arrangement to lower fares and increase frequency on two the better part of the last 30 or so years bat- would hurt poor people. south side commuter rail lines, which would the bright side tling doom and gloom. As for the CTA, the agency wrapped up improve transit access for low-income Chica- But I’m going to try to look on the bright a couple of high-profile station projects goans. Lightfoot claims she’s worried about As the teens turn to the twenties, side, starting with national politics . . . this year. The new $280 million 95th Street the impact on CTA revenue, but it’s probably it’s a struggle to fi nd cheer in the So, even though our president is (alleged- Red Line terminal debuted in January, gar- not a coincidence that she’s opposed to a plan gloom. ly) a lying rapist who stole money from his nering a generally positive response from whose most vocal proponent is her former own charity and cuts taxes on the rich and south-siders for its futuristic, spaceship-like political rival, Cook County president Toni By B J slashes food stamps and looks the other way appearance and its public art installations by Preckwinkle. as the earth overheats, I will advance the local artist Theaster Gates, including a sound That’s frustrating. But one thing that s one decade turns into the next, I argument that we’re better o¨ today than at studio with live performances by DJs, musi- makes me hopeful for local transportation fi nd myself struggling with one of the start of the decade when Barack Obama cians, and poets. is Lightfoot’s recent selection of Gia Biagi, the great existential questions of ruled the land. The $17 million Belmont Blue Line station who has led the urbanism and civic impact our time: Which version of “Bet- Yes, I voted for Obama—twice. rehab in gentrifying Avondale was less practice at the Studio Gang design firm, as cha By Golly, Wow” is best—the But having finally got around to reading warmly received. Its main feature is a giant, the new transportation department com- Stylistics’sA or Prince’s? some books about his presidency, I’ve come Jetsons-esque blue awning that would look missioner. Biagi’s fi rm, led by “starchitect” Answer? Neither—it’s jazz guitarist Grant to the conclusion that, in retrospect, he was more at home on top of a Superdawg stand. Jeanne Gang, is best known for downtown’s Green’s version. an accommodationist who sold out many Neighbors also complained that, even after watery-looking Aqua tower, and I’m optimis- That’s not really the most vexing question Democratic values in his illusory pursuit of the reconstruction, the station still isn’t tic that, by employing the same outside-the- on my mind. I’m just ducking and dodging bipartisanship. wheelchair accessible. (The CTA said that box mentality as transportation chief, Biagi the fact that I can’t decide if we’re any better Even now he counsels restraint and advis- would have added $55 million to $75 million will make some positive waves. v o¨ as a civilization as we stagger from the es Democrats not to be too “woke”—as if the to the price tag.) teens into the twenties. alternative, being asleep, has worked well We can expect a lot more sustainable @greenfieldjohn Yes, folks, I’m dealing with the transition for Obama voters. 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ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 5 NEWS & POLITICS continued from 4 I know of no Democrats who are helping man, in the hopes that he brings Amazon, the she had “tuition to pay and casinos to visit,” as In short, my argument is that Democrats are Donald Trump pay less in property taxes by world’s richest company, to town. Like the last she put it in an e-mail. better o vigilantly defending their values in a appealing the assessment on his tower. That’s mayor did. It’s going to be hard to top that scandal. fi ght with a despicable Republican than water- in contrast to most of the decade when Alder- More progress, people. On the other hand, former police chief Eddie ing them down to accommodate the nervous man Ed Burke used his clout as a property tax On the other hand, the current mayor did Johnson recently got fi red after he was caught nellies in a Democratic White House. lawyer to win thousands of dollars of savings look the other way as the last mayor rushed getting plastered in a bar, making out with a How’s that for looking on the bright side, for Trump. through City Council approval of $2.4 billion woman who was not his wife, and then falling even if I’m not sure that I really believe it? So that’s good—right? in TIF money for Lincoln Yards and the 78. And asleep behind the wheel of his car. On the local front, well, think of it this way Nor is the current mayor throwing billions she sent in city lawyers to kill the lawsuit that Or maybe he wasn’t asleep. Maybe he was . . . of tax dollars to Je Bezos, the world’s richest was intended to kill Lincoln Yards. in the throes of romance with yet another So the jury’s still out on whether Mayor woman—also not his wife. Lightfoot will keep her promise not to waste Mayor Lightfoot says she’s investigating. public dollars on projects that don’t need pub- I think I speak for all Chicagoans when I say AMERICAN SCIENCE SURPLUS lic dollars. that’s one police report everyone’s looking & Back to the bright side . . . forward to reading. Every mayor has pledged to do what they Say this about our scandals—at least they’re can to bridge the gap between the poor and getting more interesting over time. rich. And yet the gap continues to widen as Hold it! Just got a press release from Mayor Last Chance for the Chicago becomes more expensive and more Lightfoot. She says she found the money poor people leave. Especially Black people. to open neighborhood library branches on The last mayor didn’t seem to think that was Sundays. World’s Greatest Gifts! a problem. The current mayor does. Or says so Also, she’s doing away with fi nes on overdue Zivko STEM anyway. So that’s progress. books. That’s especially good news for me as Robot Kit Tesla Also, the current mayor’s not closing mental I’m overdue on at least one book I checked out $42.95 Socks health clinics and then having police spy on about Obama. $9.65 protesters. Like the last mayor did. The decade began with Mayor Rahm propos- On the other hand, she says we’re too broke ing to cut hours and fi re employees at neigh- to reopen the clinics he closed. You know, it’s borhood branches, until an uprising of north- like one foot forward and one half step back in side library users prompted him to declare: the fi ght against gloominess. What kind of fucking losers still go to libraries? Wooden Collectible Star On the sunny side, our current school CEO is Catapult Kit Wars Pint Glasses Well, he didn’t really say that. Though it $19.95 $12.50 not facing prison time for stealing money from sounds like something he might say. the schools. As Barbara Byrd-Bennett did back Anyway, as one decade fl ows into the next, in the Rahm years. let’s appreciate that we have a mayor who Byrd-Bennett pled guilty to helping a couple appreciates libraries. At least she learned Receive $5 off any purchase of $25 with this coupon! of scam artists win more than $20 million in from the last one that there’s hell to be paid for Not valid with other offers. Expires 12/24/19. In store only. Limit (1) per customer. contracts to operate a principal training pro- closing them. gram that no one needed, asked for, wanted, or That’s me—always looking on the bright Geneva store: Chicago store: benefi tted from. side. v 33W361 Roosevelt Rd. 5316 N. Milwaukee Ave. In return she was to get kickbacks from the Geneva, IL 60185 Chicago, IL 60630 scam artists. Something she needed because @joravben
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6 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll NEWS & POLITICS
“That’s just alcohol.” The mixed drinks at Ceres Cafe famously come with the mixer on the side. fused with McLoughlin’s party for a group MAYA DUKMASOVA FOR CHICAGO READER photo. “I’m trying to see who I’m gonna end up kissing before the night is over with!” a woman exclaimed. At another table, a couple of regulars I’d never been to Ceres before and the fi rst named Chuck and David said they usually round made clear what I’d been missing. A come to Ceres for the strong drinks, good $10 whiskey-coke is really a tumbler of the food, friendly service, and “the ladies.” Chuck spirit on the rocks, with a lukewarm can of hadn’t even heard all the seamy details about the mixer on the side. Johnson’s fi ring but wasn’t at all surprised “Yeah that’s all whiskey—that’s just alco- that a night of alcohol consumption here hol,” said Michael Ehrenreich, an avuncular ended in alleged infi delity and indiscretion. man who introduced himself as an activist. “Everybody does that here!” Chuck said, lift- “Apparently this is an important institution ing his glass. “He probably had two of these within the finance community and the rest and don’t remember half the shit he did.” of Chicago.” He’d never been to Ceres either, “He was gonna lose his job anyway,” David even though he works two blocks away. The said. “Every superintendent gets fired for fast casual atmosphere belies, perhaps even something.” excuses, the dive-bar intensity of the drinks. The dreaded last call drew closer. The “I can be two blocks away from the police reported details of Johnson’s evening were commissioner who’s getting blackout drunk? retold and rehashed with dashes of wild spec- It’s just very funny to me.” ulation, adding grist to the rumor mill. Was Ceres, I was told, is unlike most down- he really drinking with nearly a dozen other NEWS town watering holes, which either serve cops at South Loop’s Bar 22, as reported by bougie aperitifs to white-collar types or the Chicago Crusader, before drinking for watered-down pours to tourists. The crowd, hours more at Ceres after 8 PM and canoo- like the beverages, feels different here. dling with a woman from his security detail? ‘Eddie Johnson drunk’ “What I like about this is it’s the union of the Strange, since Ceres closes at 9. What was A night spent reveling in the absurdity of the fi ring of finance industry that’s destroying the city he doing in the hours before he was found Chicago’s police superintendent and the police that are destroying the city in in his vehicle at 12:30 AM? Was he really this perfect cocktail of just the worst that’s discovered sleeping while pulled over or was By M D happened to Chicago,” Ehrenreich observed. he receiving oral sex from a woman who was “And that’s why I’m here to get drunk. I want neither his wife nor his drinking companion, a taste!” as alleged by the “Second City Cop” blog? As the liquor flowed and the crowd grew Why would anyone call 911 over either of umor can often be the most responded they were “interested” and more thicker, a table of about a dozen cackling these scenarios? Was he really fi red for lying disarming thing and put than 700 said they were going. friends who had gathered to mock Johnson about it all, or because Lightfoot saw a J people in a position where “I think it’s a disgrace that after years and they’re questioning things years of lying, covering up police misconduct, that they might not have the code of silence, it took this thing that was “Hotherwise,” said Matt McLoughlin, a lanky gonna be embarrassing to the mayor for her man with a thick handlebar mustache and a to actually pull the trigger on firing John- tiny ponytail, as he and a few acquaintances son,” McLoughlin said. settled at a table in the center of Ceres Cafe On Monday, December 9, the cavernous, in the Board of Trade building. On the night of subway-tiled bar was well lit, decorated with Wednesday, October 16, Ceres became ground pine garlands and Christmas wreaths, and zero (or perhaps one of several ground zeros) fi lled with a mixed—and unusually integrat- for an evening of drinking and alleged roman- ed for Chicago—crowd. There were finance tic indiscretions by Chicago police superinten- bros in their slacks, button-downs, and fl eece dent Eddie Johnson. He was fired by Mayor vests; rambunctious girlfriends celebrating Lori Lightfoot on December 2 for allegedly a birthday; o¢ ce workers in company polos lying about what he did that night. standing around high-tops; and at least three After the mayor’s announcement Mc- dozen people there to lambaste Johnson. Loughlin didn’t hesitate to call on the city to The swooping curve of the bar lovingly held gather at Ceres and mark the occasion by get- people alone and in pairs as they nursed sti£ ting “Eddie Johnson drunk.” The Facebook drinks and watched the Giants-Eagles game event he created started trending immedi- over plates of wings and baskets of fried Revelers got “Eddie Johnson drunk” at Ceres Cafe to dwell on the absurdity ately; more than 2,400 people ultimately appetizers. of the police chief’s fi ring. MAYA DUKMASOVA FOR CHICAGO READER ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 7 NEWS & POLITICS continued from 7 The crowd kept on talking and laughing safe way to look tough on police misconduct? and snapping pictures and gossiping about “If we know anything about the police this what the conversation between Johnson would not have come out if they wanted to and Lightfoot must have been like. Ceres’s hide it,” Michael said confi dently. manager, a short middle-aged white man in a “It’s a cover-your-ass thing, I think,” said brown turtleneck and beige sport coat darted one of a half-dozen guys gathered nearby— around the establishment, preparing to close computer programmers who’d initially come down for the night. “There’s Lori Lightfoot in to see one another, not to celebrate Johnson’s white face!” Dawn shouted. “She would wear departure. “There has got to be something that outfi t.” else, that has to be something bad he did. She Ridiculing the powerful is an ancient ritual wants to go on the record and say ‘I wasn’t a in human societies, often sanctioned and en- part of that.’” couraged by rulers and religions so the popu- “The man was wasted, he got some head, lace can express its frustration in festivities and now he’s fired? I would never work if I instead of revolution. But it’s also an occasion got fired for indiscretions,” said stand-up for ordinary people to wink and nudge at one comedian Dawn B. As she sipped her cognac another, to fi nd comrades and conspirators, on the rocks she sco ed at the idea that lying and to realize that our collective energies can to the mayor was a fi reable o ense too. “What be harnessed for much more than partying. did he lie about? Let’s all have an under- “It’s sad in a way, we all know the truth standing, because hella people have lied in about the way the city is run and who bene- Caravaggio, The Cardsharps, 1594 all positions. Chicago is a goddamn lie.” Her fi ts,” McLoughlin said, refl ecting on the eve- manager Veronica chimed in that lying about ning. “Whether it’s corrupt police, a corrupt whatever happened that night doesn’t hold a mayor, a corrupt state’s attorney—some peo- ON CULTURE candle to “all the bullshit. When he said that ple have lost their jobs in the last few years bullshit that he’s never seen misconduct out but at the end of the day there are thousands of police I was like, ‘Come on now! Laquan of people in the city who have had their lives Safe bet, sucker deal McDonald wasn’t misconduct?’” ruined by those individuals and they don’t “I’m just out here drinking, hoping to fi nd get those back. Any time I’m at a protest or The Chicago casino is still in the works, but it’s likely to end up out the truth,” Dawn said. “I’m just a citizen even something as silly as this it’s reassuring raising far less money for the city than originally promised. trying to get an understanding. Why is sex to know that we are not alone in acknowledg- misconduct? Why is shooting or racial pro- ing what’s happening here. What happened is By D I fi ling—why is that not misconduct? It is mis- a joke, it’s a sick joke that this is what it took conduct but you won’t lose your fucking gig for this guy to lose his job. I think cathartic behind it. I’m here because I want to support is the perfect word for this. Getting fucked up ould you have bet that this it’s a done deal? the mockery. I want to support the nonsense. here is cathartic.” v year would end with a mas- It looked like a done deal at the end of Hey I’m about to get Eddie Johnson drunk—I sive expansion of legalized June, when Governor J.B. Pritzker signed an hope the result is some head!” @mdoukmas gambling in Illinois—a whole 800-page omnibus bill that—among other new crop of casinos, racinos things—authorized six new casinos, 5,000 W(combination racetrack-casinos), slots, and sports betting kiosks, and nearly doubled even online sports betting—all justified as the number of gambling positions in the the way to get legislative approval for a long- state, to just under 80,000. sought Chicago casino, but there would still There was a casino for Chicago in this be no Chicago casino in the works? statewide jackpot, but not the public- Sure you would. It’s Chicago. ly-owned facility its new mayor had cam- You might not even have been surprised paigned on. Down there, in the mysterious By last call, the rumor when Mayor Lori Lightfoot came home from cornfi elds of Springfi eld, the idea of public mill was in full ostensibly victorious negotiating sessions in ownership quietly vanished, and what got swing. MAYA Springfi eld last summer looking as grim and approved was private ownership, but for a DUKMASOVA FOR tapped out as any craps table loser. casino that would share its profits equally CHICAGO READER So what do you think the odds are that with the city and state: each would get one- she’ll be going back down there in January third of adjusted gross receipts (AGR, the to clear the way for a very profitable, pri- amount of money wagered, less the amount vately-owned, probably downtown casino, it takes to pay o the bets). while the city and state take a giant haircut The government already had big plans for on their share of those profi ts? And that we, that money: the city would use its share for the suckers—er, citizens—won’t have any police and firefighter pensions; the state’s idea how much that haircut’s costing us until portion was earmarked for Pritzker’s $45 8 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll NEWS & POLITICS Less scrolling. billion infrastructure project. And the public combined city and state rates of 15 percent to conversation was briskly herded on to the 35 percent. The tricky part of this is that, no question of where this golden goose of a casi- matter how much money the casino makes, no would be located, with the mayor inviting the higher tax rates are only applied to the the public to weigh in, and picking fi ve spots tippy top of its income stream. The 74 percent on the city’s south and west sides that she rate, for example, will only be charged on the preferred. Then she sent the whole package slice of slots AGR over $1 billion. to a Las Vegas-based gambling industry con- What does this mean in dollars for the city? sulting fi rm, Union Gaming Analytics, to have I asked both Lightfoot’s office and Rita’s; at its feasibility evaluated. The legislation that press time neither had provided an answer. set this all in motion stipulated a 45-day time (Lightfoot’s o ce said, however, that “the City limit for a completed report. remains steadfast in its pursuit of changes What a surprise when the report, released to the current tax structure to ensure we can in August, concluded that the major features unlock the signifi cant economic benefi t that a of the plan were unworkable. Locations on the Chicago casino would bring.”) south and west side? Wouldn’t draw enough So we’re left to do our own math. Say we tourists. A one-third cut each for city and have a Chicago casino with total annual AGR state? Wouldn’t leave enough profi t to attract of $900 million (about twice as much as Rivers any private developer. Casino in suburban Des Plaines is generating), It might work, the consultant noted, if the one-third from table games and two-thirds city gave up its 33 percent share. Or if the city from slots. At the original flat rate, the city became the owner, in which case it might hire would get about $300 million in taxes every a management fi rm to run the place and take year. And at the graduated rate currently the profi ts as its share. proposed, the city’s share will drop to $159 That sent the mayor back to the drawing million. board. But not on the issue of ownership. That’s $141 million annually from the city, More strumming. She returned to Springfield in the fall with along with similar cuts to the state’s share, amendatory legislation that would reduce the that will be redirected into the owner’s pocket. taxes—now perceived as “onerous.” Even with Would the original plan, for a one-third the governor onboard, however, she wasn’t share of the pie for the owner, have attracted able to line up enough support in the short investors? It was never offered, so we don’t veto session, and it was never called for a vote. really know. But if this one makes it through The plan now, according to its sponsor, State the legislature, it’s a good bet that there will Representative Robert Rita (D-Blue Island), be takers. v is to call for a vote on it after the legislature reconvenes in late January. You have to have a @DeannaIsaacs workable casino, Rita told me, in order to have casino revenue. The changes they’re seeking include extra time for all casino owners to pay Chicago’s odd a one-time “reconciliation charge” (equal to 75 percent of their most profitable year among & the fi rst three), and the elimination of interest Curious gifts charges on those payments. Also, potential The Wizard of odd owners will be required to make their pro- posals public. And Cook County’s share of the Chicago casino tax is halved—from 2 percent of AGR to 1 percent. But the biggest change—the one that’ll have the biggest impact on any public benefi t from this venture—is a switch from a fl at tax Give your digital life a break. (of 33.3 percent) to a more complicated grad- uated rate. According to the new plan, slots Connect over music, dance & more. (including all electronic devices) will have a combined annual city and state tax rate that Anyone can play! Find your ranges from 22.5 percent to 74.7 percent. And summer class at oldtownschool.org table games, like blackjack and roulette, which free t-shirt. FIRST 75 people. Saturday. bring in a smaller amount of revenue but are 843 W. belmont ave | 873-883-1800 thealley.com more profi table for the owner, will be taxed at ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 9 FOOD & DRINK
GOOD EATS 3. A chef calling me a dick in the best way he knows how. 4. Amish donuts from a parking lot in Bun Bo Xao Nam Bo at semisuburban Virginia. Buncha Hanoi KRISTAN LIEB My year FOR CHICAGO READER 5. Cooking at home again on a regular basis: whatever I want, whenever I want. If there’s of eating something wrong with dinner I know exactly who to blame. My phone is full of weird and You want a list, I’ll write a damn list. occasionally wonderful things I cooked and ate that I’ll never write about. A fellow needs By M S to keep some secrets. Okay, I did do some food writing this year and the nice thing about how things are going eople always say to me: “Mike,” they is that it’s less of a roll of the dice. In most say. They say “Mike, how do you cases I’m writing about subjects I can be pret- maintain your waifish figure?” My ty enthusiastic about, rather than grappling answer is always the same: housing with interesting ways to explain why some- Dishes at El Sabor fi stfuls of sugar-free gummy bears. thing isn’t worth your hard-earned money. Poblano ANJALI PINTO PBut that’s just one of the reasons I managed You’ll just have to read about Tao on Yelp. FOR CHICAGO READER to lose 30 pounds in 2019. The primary one is 6. Only three restaurants I wrote about this that journalism is on a starvation diet and as a year went out of business, which feels pretty result I don’t eat out nearly as much as I used good relative to previous bloodbaths: Pink to. Consequently I don’t have an end-of-the- Salt (when Fulton Galley went bust), Uma- year hot list, but at least I can breathe when I camon (which closed just two weeks after I bend over picking half-eaten burritos o the wrote about it—that explains why they were sidewalk. Another upside: I have no idea what so reluctant to work with a photographer), kind of aural wallpaper restaurants are over- and WokNChop, which, on the bright side, working on Randolph Street playlists these begat Sheeba Mandi House. days. 7. Ripping dabs with Mindy was fun. Im- I also lost my once formidable tolerance for pending legalization made for a more per- unhealthy volumes of whiskey, but now I have missive atmosphere in which to write about From le : Wagyu my memories! Here are the top ten: getting high, so Mom’s Purple Kush cream pu brisket, smoked lamb 1. Getting my face lasered onto a slice of and Dark Matter’s Supernova Bar were no big terrine, cannelloni, cheese at the National Restaurant Show. whoop. Expect to see a lot more of that stu porchetta, confi t potatoes at Flat & Point 2. Cherries jubilee at Mirabella. coming up (as soon as next week even). SANDY NOTO FOR CHICAGO READER
8. The jury is still out on whether the food Kizin Creole in Rogers Park, or Flat & Point in hall is a good business model for budding remote western Logan Square, Café Antigua restaurateurs, but at least in the case of Poli- in Jefferson Park, Slab in South Shore, and tan Row it brought some stellar and previous- Hermosa in Hermosa. Ask me what the hottest ly underground chefs into the limelight, such dining neighborhood is and I’ll say suburban as the folks behind Mom’s, Bumbu Roux, and Glenview, home of Kairali Foods and Buncha Thattu. Hanoi. 9. If all I had to write about was sandwiches Annual year in review columns are usually a I’d be happy. I still dream about the CFC sand- gimme for writers; an easy rehash of work al- wich at Hermosa, the Cubano at Mima’s, the ready done. But looking back on this year was doner at Ali Baba, and the lecsó sandwich at sobering, realizing that Amazon reviews of Finom. sugar-free gummy bears are the highest form 10. Best of all, giving love to the sort of of food criticism I can aspire to. v places that don’t retain publicists makes it all worthwhile: such as El Sabor Poblano and @MikeSula 10 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 11 R W W | - 1861 N. Milwaukee 773-486-4769 FOOD & DRINK redandwhitewineschicago.com
DRINKS Wine therapy at Red & White For when you just need a fucking drink. By L G
y work weeks aren’t that nine-to-five Dolly was singin’ about—I’m on that Mrunning-a-wine-bar/shop-4-PM-till- late-night-six-days-a-week grind. And on Sun- day night, after a long week of slingin’ grape juice, I need a fucking drink. If you work in the service industry you know how important this postshift libation is. That sacred ritual can be the one thing stopping you from body-slam- ming a rude guest, WWE-style. My place of choice for this therapeutic act is Red & White
Wines in Bucktown. DAVID CHANG
The interior is warm and cozy, lit by candles out. You feel special. on every table that form a constellation so A standout recommendation was a bottle of ethereal you feel like Enya should be playing 2013 R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia rose while you walk through it. The people are from Rioja, Spain. The wine is lip-smackin’ warm too. Catie Olson, who runs the place good, bright, a tad vinous (like most older and who is also a DJ, artist, and print-mixer wines tend to be). It made me believe in a high- extraordinaire (seriously, her outfits are on er power, cured my severe daddy issues, and point), always greets me with a cute lil petil- tucked me in bed that night with a nice buzz. lant naturel. She calls it “thinking wine” for Jamie Davis and Mike Hillyard, food duo one to peruse the list with. One of the best of and best buds (at least judging by the giggles these, a 2018 Thillardon Pet Nat Beaujolais I hear from them in the kitchen), have crafted Gamay, tasted like a late ’90s Eurodance track a small menu for Red & White that includes (think Vengaboys) trapped in a strawberry a top-notch charcuterie board with the best Jolly Rancher: so juicy, so jumpy, and a little boquerones you’ll ever fi nd outside of Spain. chaotic. Davis started Eight Weeks for Access, a series The wine list is extensive, but not like of events that utilizes the Chicago service steakhouse-bigger-than-a-copy-of-War-and- industry to raise funds for safe abortions in Peace extensive. It’s steered by a staff that states that are actively attempting to prohibit not only knows it, but loves it in the most them. unpretentious way. My favorite thing is to ask Every wine poured at Red & White was made for recommendations from Tamas Vilaghy with minimal human intervention. The shop (also a cool-cat DJ), who works next to Olson. showcases producers who work with the earth He approaches the list with such passion and rather than exploit it. Of course, there are unfiltered excitement, reminiscent of a kid plenty of places with similar programs (mine showing you their favorite trading cards. The included), but there’s nowhere quite like Red recommendations come with “Ohs!” and “You & White. It’s a rare wine shop that weaves the have to try this!” before he locks in on a bottle, pulse of these wines and the narratives behind with a dramatic choreography similar to the them into service that feels genuine, playful, denouement on Say Yes to the Dress where a and, above all, human. One giant big fucking bride finds “the one” and everybody freaks hug. v 12 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll R READER RECOMMENDED b ALL AGES F ARTS & CULTURE
and hair—with his “hair drawings” and bul- bous-shaped glass pieces.
In May, the National Museum of Mexican Art opened “Peeling off the Grey,” which looked at the overwhelming spread of gentrifi cation in Pilsen. The turmoil felt within the commu- nity was exhibited by artists like Sam Kirk and Sebastián Hidalgo, whose images depicted the toll that gentrification has taken on the neighborhood. Kirk’s painting, All we fought Sex Militant for, all we built, illustrated the disappearance JEX BLACKMORE of Pilsen residents by removing the color from their bodies and painting them in a grey hue. Video, installations, photographs, paint- ings, and collage works were all included in the group show that criticized the dehuman- ization and removal of the people of Pilsen.
In June, fashion designer, DJ, architect (and so much more), Virgil Abloh opened his show “Figures of Speech” at the Museum of Con- temporary Art Chicago. Abloh’s interest in Chicago and the urban environment has found its way into the artist’s day-to-day cre- ative practice—he’s worked with Kanye West on design, album covers, and merchandising. VISUAL ARTS emotionally and mentally from the current po- aloe vera plants in the center symbolised This first-ever museum exhibition dedicat- litical climate is exhausting. However, artists healing, while Sonja Henderson’s piece fea- ed to Abloh featured finished works along- persist, and their persistence inspires me to tured rows of chairs that memorialized each side prototypes, taking viewers through his Six visual art keep going and to keep doing. So, that’s what torture victim. The designs were meant to be creative process. The 20-year time span of I did, and here are some of the things I saw spaces for people to sit, heal, and honor the Abloh’s work exemplifi ed his interest in adver- along the way. victims who suff ered at the hands of the Chi- tising and branding. Additionally, the show ran shows that There’s no denying that yes, this was a dim cago Police Department. The designs were with a pop-up shop called “Church & State,” year for the world, but it was a damn good also considerations for the permanent Chica- where limited merch was sold to those willing year for art. go Torture Justice Memorial, which will bring to drop a pretty penny (hoodies were priced made 2019 awareness to the torture of more than 120 at more than $600). As a result of Abloh’s Breakout artist (and Reader contributor) Zak- Black men and women by the Chicago Police presence, the number of visitors to the muse- kiyyah Najeebah addresses politics through Department from 1972 to 1991. In June, it was um this summer doubled compared to previ- bearable womanhood, queerness, and narrative in her announced that artists Patricia Nguyen and ous years. photography. Her exhibit “A Different Kind John Lee’s stone design was chosen for that 2020 has some big shoes to fi ll. of Love Story: For Us,” which closed at Adds monument. “Sex Militant” sparked a protest this fall Donna in January, exhibited the complex iden- from a local Catholic church when the two- By S N L tities of Black women and how they are con- Leather Archives & Museum has always been night exhibition and performance ritual event sumed in media. Large-format black-and- historic to the queer leather community and opened in September. Jex Blackmore collab- n the past two weeks alone, I’ve found my- white photographs as well as smaller Pola- lately, their Guest Artist Gallery (GAG) has orated with various artists to create a body self at Wrightwood 659, the Renaissance roids present playful and candid moments been putting the museum at the forefront of work on the connection between eroti- ISociety, the Leather Archives & Museum, where the subjects are simply living their for queer artists. “Fruiting Bodies,” a solo cism and state violence. The exhibition fea- and the Smart Museum. All varying in public everyday lives. By embracing Alice Walk- exhibition from Andrew Bearnot, opened in tured repurposed American flags, images prominence, I feel lucky to know these spaces, er’s idea of “Womanism,” Najeebah’s show at March and focused on objects found in the from protests, and a live droning guitar along- to really get inside of them, to see show after Adds Donna highlighted strong, vulnerable, archives like personal correspondence and side a spoken-word performance, and a glow- show come in and out. And these are just a and multifaceted images of Black and queer Chuck Renslow’s ball of pubic and beard ing cross being pulled by performers in fetish few of the hundreds of impressive DIY spaces, women. hair, alongside Bearnot’s pieces made with play. The show was political, full of tension, commercial galleries, and large museums that hair and glass. The works were intimate, and incredibly powerful, which had the Cath- we have in this City of the Big Shoulders. “Still Here: Torture, Resiliency and the Art highlighting the queer archives of Robert olic clergy shaking in their boots and knock- This year in particular hasn’t been that of Memorializing” opened at the Arts Incu- Gaylor, whose “obedient slaves” shaved the ing on Co-Prosperity Sphere’s door. v easy for me. Thinking about trekking out into bator in March with six commissioned design pubic hair from their right testicle and mailed the world to look at art when you’re beat up proposals. Juan Chavez’s glass structure with it to him. Bearnot exhibited these notes— @snicolelane ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 13 R READER RECOMMENDED b ALL AGES F ARTS & CULTURE
Red Rover Reading Series is a boon for experimental writers and poets. The series COMEDY toys with the ideas of what can happen in a LIT reading event, and past nights have included Nine places for laughs fairy tales, people reading in costume, con- Live lit is what crete poetry, and more. Red Rover has consis- in 2019 (and beyond) tently taken place in nonbar venues: starting Because every year we seem to Chicago is all about in 2005 at the now-gone Humboldt Park arts need more and more comedic The best reading events of space the Spareroom, and continuing these relief. 2019 have been going strong days at similar art and performance spots for years. like Outer Space (above Volumes Bookcafe) By B W and Tritriangle, both in Wicker Park. Current By S C -J curators Laura Goldstein and Jennifer Karmin have taken Red Rover on the road, creating large-scale improvisational collaborations with writers at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the New Orleans Poetry Fes- t can be overwhelming trying to decide tival. Though the series may not always fea- where to see comedy in Chicago. Once ture the expected, the performances can veer Iyou start looking, there’s a seemingly toward the extraordinary: past shows have endless list of showcases every week, and, included diverse performers including musi- thanks to an embarrassment of riches when cian Jaap Blonk and Philadelphia poet Gabri- it comes to talented comics in Chicago, el Ojeda-Sagué. Red Rover happens almost most of them are a guaranteed good time. Kevin Coval at Tuesday Funk COURTESY TUESDAY FUNK every month, usually on Saturdays, but they’re Still, there are standouts. This list features taking a winter break until February 2020. the results of a quick informal poll of some hicago is a writer’s town, from top to bot- solid list of alumni (including Elizabeth Tamny, local comics—the people who arguably tom. We have an excellent public library Joe Meno, and Megan Milks). The next event The Uptown Poetry Slam is the grandfather see more comedy than anyone—combined Csystem, many great independent book- takes place on Tuesday, January 7, and will of slam poetry events, and we’ve been lucky with some of my personal favorites, shows sellers, and enough Sturm und Drang in every feature Reader contributor Dmitry Samarov, in Chicago to have it available to us for most that have inclusive lineups, creative con- corner of the city to inspire pens to paper. Fans Darshita Jain, Michael Palmer, Maggie Quee- Sunday nights since 1987 at the Green Mill cepts, or were simply just a blast to attend and fellow writers alike can make their way to ney, and Cameron McGill. on Broadway and Lawrence. Marc Smith (“so in 2019. Lucky for you, they’ll still be going reading events for poetry, fi ction, and slice-of- what!” is always screamed by the audience strong in 2020. life storytelling year-round, and 2019 brought Miss Spoken describes themselves as a “Lady after he introduces himself) has been host- us consistently interesting and dynamic work Live Lit Show,” and they’ve given space to ing this open mike with a feature slam the Every Thursday at rotating venues, Arts & from writers at a myriad of venues. Here are writers, bloggers, and comedians to tell their entire time, and I’m happy to report that it Culture Club gives performers the chance some of my favorites from this year (with a tales—sometimes sordid, sometimes inspir- never gets old. It would be impossible to have to nerd out about that week’s topic, special nod to several that have been going ing, always engaging—on the stage on the a staid poetry reading in a bar like the Green whether it’s as broad as “online” or as spe- strong for more than ten years). last Wednesday of the month at the Gallery Mill, and the poets and writers on stage are cific as “Drake.” Expect a night of come- Cabaret bar and elsewhere since 2014. Each anything but quiet—past nights have includ- dy, PowerPoint presentations, music, cos- Tuesday Funk Reading Series happens on month covers a theme (this year’s includ- ed published professors and sometimes bar- tumes, storytelling, and, in one instance, a the fi rst Tuesday of each month at the Hop- ed “Miss Manners,” “War Paint,” and “Family tenders from the Green Mill taking a break to pair of anonymous masked dancers whose leaf Bar in Andersonville. It features a mix of Feud”) and the storytellers are given free rein share their poetic wares. I have a sweet mem- identity is still unknown, one of the great- poets, essayists, fiction, and genre writers to deliver their interpretations of the theme ory of an early 90s Sunday show where Marc est sagas to follow on Instagram this year. interspersed with regular features (a high- while mining their personal moments. In Sep- borrowed some of the feature time to call light: a topical haiku by host Andrew Huff). tember, the theme was “Show ’n’ Tell,” which a buddy in prison and put him on the micro- Cupcake Comedy Cabaret, every Thurs- The Hopleaf’s upstairs lounge gives both the allowed for the performers to include visual phone via landline. (“It’s Christmas in prison,” day at Gallery Cabaret, lives up to its readers and the audience a chance to focus aids via slideshow, resulting in a party-in-your- his friend’s poem started.) It’s thrilling that we name. The weekly showcase features on the words, but you can’t be that close to living-room salon feel. Miss Spoken is one of have a regular series devoted to loudmouths comedians, cabaret performers like bur- one of the best arrays of cra beer in the city the few regular series in the city devoted to delivering poems that has been going strong lesque dancers or magicians, and fresh- without some breaks—the evening includes featuring only female-identifying and nonbi- for more than 30 years, but then again, that’s ly baked cupcakes. There’s an open mike a quick intermission to head downstairs to nary performers. The next event is scheduled what Chicago is all about. v beforehand for anyone feeling inspired to imbibe. The series was started in 2008 and for Wednesday, January 29, at the Gallery try out some jokes of their own. highlights fi ve writers each night, making for a Cabaret. @hollo 14 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll ARTS & CULTURE THEATER
Sleeping Village is slowly becoming one of room. The hosts of the show write down my favorite “not a comedy venue” venues, keywords as a setlist and then the come- and that’s in part because of the month- dians improvise a brand new ten minutes ly showcase Just Us Gals. The lineup con- based on the other person’s set. sistently features some of the most hilari- ously bizarre comics in the biz, with a focus Full disclosure: I performed at the Paper on women, nonbinary folks, and queer Machete this year. But even if I hadn’t, this performers. weekly live magazine at the Green Mill would still top my list as one of the most A recent report from the Comedy Club cathartic comedy experiences in the city. Database showed that less than 1 percent of Comedians, musicians, journalists, and one comics booked at 55 diff erent clubs across beloved puppet break down the week’s cur- the country were Latina. Las Locas Come- rent events, and it feels so much better to dy is working to change that. Every month laugh until you cry instead of just crying. at Dstrkt Bar and Grill the show features a lineup of primarily Latinx stand-ups—and a Celebrating the body types and expres- few lovingly called “honorary locas.” sions of performers on stage makes laugh- ing along to their jokes all the more euphor- If you’ve ever wondered whether your ic. The monthly body-positive stand-up show favorite stand-ups can also sing, then Low Strip Joker at Mary’s Attic encourages per- Key Karaoke is for you. Every Tuesday at formers to wear as little or as much as they Northside Bar & Grill comedians perform please, o en resulting in an item of clothing jokes and then sing a karaoke song. An open being tossed with every punch line. mike follows, and anyone who sings can add The Nutcracker DARRENLEE another minute into their set—the person Everyone loves a good roast. At Toast- with the best set of the night wins a $25 gi ed, every Saturday at Comedy Clubhouse, certifi cate to the bar. stand-ups perform and turn the spotlight on willing audience members with the delicate PROFILE The Missy is named as such because each and time-honored art of the roast. To take month at the Boxcar two comedians need the sting out of it, every show ends with a to put their thing down, fl ip it, and reverse toast celebrating the roasted. v Sara Schumann is seeding it. Translation: each of the performers do a ten-minute set while the other is not in the @BriannaWellen new dance in Wisconsin The longtime Chicago dancer moved from labor lawyer to artistic director at the Madison Ballet. By I H
or most, the holidays mean food, nocence and nostalgia. However, for the ballet family, festivities, and fi ts of reckless industry, The Nutcracker more accurately rep- acquisition. But for ballet dancers, resents another middle-class value: work. An- Thanksgiving is the last supper be- nual ticket sales account for an average of 48 fore the marathon of merrymaking Fthat is The Nutcracker, which first flopped in 1892 Russia only to become a seasonal T N sensation in 1950s America. More than two Through /: see website for schedule, Overture Hall, State dozen productions of the annual phenomenon St., Madison, --, exist in the Chicago area alone, ranging from madisonballet.org, $-$. extravagant and spectacular to DIY and Dance Along, ensuring that the magic of Christmas is broadly allied with the ritual of dance. percent of a company’s season revenues, and The story of a sensitive girl who journeys to some dancers have reported that Nutcracker Chad the Bird performs at the Paper Machete SARAHELIZABETHLARSON the Kingdom of the Sweets with a magical gigs represent a third to a half of their annual nutcracker has become synonymous with in- freelance income. J ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 15 B B R Through / : times vary, see website, Ruth Page Center for the Arts, N. Dearborn, - -, THEATER porchlightmusictheatre, $. continued from 15 fi rst downtown venue, the Ruth Page Center “Nutcracker is a production that helps for the Arts, with Porchlight Music Theatre. support the rest of the season—it’s the bread FEATURE It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call Burn- and butter,” says Sara Schumann, a Chica- ing Bluebeard, written by Jay Torrence, the go-based labor lawyer and the artistic di- most delightful work of theater there’s ever rector of the Madison Ballet. Originally from ‘What do been about a mass death. In 1903, the old Iro- New Jersey, Schumann performed with the quois Theater caught fi re during a costly and Lyric Opera of Chicago, Ruth Page Civic Bal- elaborate staging of the play Mr. Bluebeard. let, and Ohio Ballet. Perceptive and reliable, we do with (The line on my pin alludes to a sadly unful- Schumann was selected by choreographers fi lled children’s giveaway o er that day, “half to help stage work in addition to performing a cotton ball,” whatever that was supposed in it, eventually becoming ballet mistress at horribleness?’ to mean.) Hundreds of people asphyxiated, the Lyric. burned, or were trampled. Torrence’s show Schumann was also the leadership choice The worst-ever day in Chicago imagines what two clowns, a stage manager, of her peers: in her fi rst year dancing at the theater provides the impetus for a an actor, and an acrobat from the Mr. Blue- Lyric, she was elected by her fellow dancers beloved quirky holiday show. beard company would have done differently to serve as their union delegate as the shop that day, if the unthinkable hadn’t happened. negotiated a four-year agreement. “That By M M But, surprise: smush two clowns, a stage was how I met the AGMA [American Guild of manager, an actor, and an acrobat on stage Musical Artists] attorney, Barbara Hillman,” together—let alone their scene-stealing oth- recalls Schumann. “She was wonderful. I Sara Schumann COURTESYGRETCHENBOURG fi shed this jacket I hadn’t worn since last erworldly accomplice, the Faerie Queen (Cros- watched her in these negotiations, thinking, winter out of storage the other day and by Sandoval), who lives inside a trunk—and ‘This seems kind of fun.’ I was interested in found a pin in the inside pocket that said, what you get is liable to be a hundred times how the contracts worked and how negoti- writing on my laptop.”) in small black capitals, “MAGIC COTTON more joyous than a tragedy has any right to be. ations worked. I realized that I like to read After nine years as a labor attorney, BALLS.” Many playgoers around town Think somersaults, pantomimes, Amy Wine- the contracts, but most people did not.” And Schumann found herself once again ap- Iprobably have one of these pins lying around house karaoke. But then it gets sad again. Then with this knowledge, Schumann made sure proached by artists in search of leadership too, waiting to remind them that perhaps our joyous again. Then deeply sad. In clowning as dancers and choreographers understood and when Madison Ballet’s artistic director best, most unique Chicago theater tradition— in life, the reversals are the point. benefi ted from their agreements. She contin- retired and a small group of dancers from The Ruffians’ annual production of Burning Excitement sat thick over the room when ued to serve as the opera shop delegate even the company encouraged her to apply for the Bluebeard, now in its eighth year of holiday I visited the Ruffians at the tail end of their during periods she was dancing with Ohio position. “It’s not every day that somebody runs—is around the corner again. I got my rehearsal process. I asked director Halena Ballet, a nonunion company. “They needed says, ‘Come be our artistic director,’” she pin as a postshow souvenir after last year’s Kays what it’s like to zero in on funny technical somebody there to represent their views,” says. “It’s been an honor and a joy for me, mesmerizing blackbox production with the details—on reblocking a cartwheel, on making she says. and it’s an opportunity to give the dancers Neo-Futurists. This year, the show plays its sure no one stomps too soon during the ham- In 2005, after several years as ballet mis- a really good work environment.” Under tress at the Lyric Opera, Schumann decided her direction (and with the help of revenue to pursue an education that would allow provided by The Nutcracker), Madison Bal- her to directly advocate for the rights of let has seen remarkable growth, including dancers and other workers, piecing togeth- moving to new studios and partnering with er credits from courses she had taken at the YMCA and the public library in outreach Wilbur Wright College, Oakton Community programs for children and people who have College, and the University of Akron (“I fi g- been through the criminal justice system. In ured, I’m there [at Ohio Ballet] without my June, the company hired theater and opera husband; I might as well get some classes”), director Jonathan Solari as CEO—the fi rst in as well as any credits she could muster from its history—and they’ve also embarked upon her professional experience to complete an a $1 million capital campaign. undergraduate degree at Northeastern Illi- But fi nding fi nancial footing isn’t the only nois University by 2006. She earned a law goal for Schumann. “Primary for me has degree in three years from Chicago-Kent at been making it a good experience for the IIT, attending part-time as she raised two dancers. You have to come to the rehearsal sons. And with her dancer’s work ethic, room with respect for the artist. Their life as Schumann continued her career in the arts, a dancer is so short, and we need to be doing setting the movement in Verdi’s Un Ballo work that is going to be worthy of their time. in Maschera at the Houston Grand Opera It’s not just about money—it’s about getting during her first year studying law. (“The your horizons broadened by the people you fee was going to cover my fi rst semester,” work with.” v she says. “I had to tell my legal writing professor I couldn’t be there but I would be @IreneCHsiao Burning Bluebeard MICHAELCOURIER 16 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll T L P R Through / : Wed-Sat / - / , PM, Sun / , : PM, Fri-Sat / - / , PM, Sun / , : PM, Lyric Opera House, N. Wacker, lightinthepiazzathemusical.com, $-$ . THEATER
bone—for a show so suffused with pain. The Light in the Piazza LIZ LAUREN “Joy is di erent than happiness,” she said. “Joy also comes from a depth of sadness, for me. It has to be in there to feel that sense of it.” novella by George Hamilton); his impassioned Torrence, who in addition to creating tenor quickly proves to be exactly right. Alex the piece also plays Robert Murray, the Jennings is spot-on as Fabrizio’s stereotyp- stage manager, believes his show is ulti- ically traditional Italian father, and there’s a mately about hope. He drew attention to standout vocal and dramatic performance by the discipline of clowning, with its built-in soprano Suzanne Kantorski in the supporting emotional seesaw, as context for his show’s role of Fabrizio’s embittered sister-in-law. blend of levity and tragedy. “Red-nose Direction, by Daniel Evans, has the ensemble clowning is these highs and lows,” he said. leaning to the broad side, but tolerably. A ser- “What do we do with horribleness?” viceable uni-set gives us one view of a statue It’s the play’s obsession with tech- when the action’s in Florence, another when nique—with “doing it right, this time,” as it’s in Rome. the comedian Eddie Foy (Ryan Walters) Guettel, who is the grandson of composer puts it—that keeps hope alive. That Richard Rodgers, writes his own lyrics (though doesn’t change in its new staging, with he’s better at the music). In this story, about its larger scope. A glorious singed colon- love without a shared language, they some- nade, designed by Je Kmiec, now looms times lapse—appropriately, even brilliant- upstage; the actors talk to the Ruth Page’s REVIEW ly—into sheer sound: “La la la la.” That made real balcony for the heaviest scenes, those the biggest problem I had in a mid-main-fl oor that address the fictional, doomed cheap The Light in the Piazza shines at Lyric center seat—the frequent indecipherability of seats at the Iroquois, which were the fi rst And it’s not just about Renée Fleming. the lyrics, in spite of amplifi cation—less of an to burn. issue than it could have been, though I would There is a small sense of lost magic, now By D I have traded the microphones during those that so much less of the play’s world is on moments for supertitles. Nevertheless, it was you to imagine in the mind’s eye. Torrence wonderful to hear Guettel’s beautiful score told me that Burning Bluebeard was once t’s a dangerous thing to marry a stranger: There’s some casting against type here: played by 30 members of the Lyric Opera Or- performed at a fl ea market in Berlin, Ohio, the beautiful girl passing through town; Solea Pfei er is not the blonde Barbie we’ve chestra, under the baton of Kimberly Grigsby. Torrence’s hometown, inside an Amish Ithe impetuous boy taken with her at fi rst seen as Clara in previous productions. She The Light in the Piazza was not produced by barn, and in a way that scale suits the play sight. My parents discovered this, to their brings an acute sensitivity and strength to the Lyric, but it illuminates the future of American better than its new one does. The upshot is eternal regret. But that’s another story. The role that rings true. Similarly, Rob Houchen is opera. v a kind of charming bashfulness, like a kid story at hand is The Light in the Piazza—a a surprise as her love-at-fi rst-sight, Fabrizio in a too-big suit, which may wear o as the rental production of Adam Guettel’s rapturous (a role played in a 1962 movie version of the @DeannaIsaacs run continues. A big house does mean no musical adaptation (book by Craig Lucas) of buttons this year, sadly. (No, you can’t have the 1960 novella by Elizabeth Spencer in a mine.) holiday-season run at the Lyric Opera House. NAMED ONE OF THE “PLAYS OF THE CENTURY”! All gussied up, the play still lives and dies Thanks to Guettel’s soaring score, a fi ne cast, by its celebration of technical brilliance—I and a deceptively complex plot (not the simple NOW PLAYING! CHICAGO PREMIERE would trade all the proscenium stages in love story you might expect), this production America for one pout, one perfectly-timed manages to transcend its positioning as a tilt of the eyebrow, from the great Pamela showcase for renowned soprano and Lyric Chermansky, who plays Fancy Clown. I was creative consultant, Renée Fleming. reminded, watching her work, of some- Fleming’s on show, of course, but not mere- thing Chermansky said to me in rehearsal: ly that. The diva melds almost seamlessly by GITHA SOWERBY directed by MECHELLE MOE “The audience is the partner with a clown.” into the starring role of Margaret Johnson, “By the way,” she added, after I told the an American on an Italian sojourn with her cast about rediscovering my magic cotton beautiful but—spoiler alert—developmentally A MARVELOUS PLAY, ALIVE WITH ball pin, “have you ever looked really care- disabled 26-year-old daughter, Clara. While “ HUMAN PASSIONS AND TYRANNIES fully at the side of the button?” I dug mine her second-act solos are vocal high points, and – New York Post ” out for a closer inspection. In fine print will be thrilling to her fans, she’s convincing along the metal edge, as if a fairy put it all the way through as the deeply conflicted there without me knowing, it read: “NOT A mother, haunted by a tragedy and facing a WHOLE ONE, JUST A HALF.” v moral dilemma. “I played a tricky game in a 773.281.8463 TIMELINETHEATRE.COM foreign country,” she tells the audience early @mallerjour on. Quite so. ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 17 THEATER
THEATER the urgent need to tell unvarnished truths in ways both poetic and direct, raw and raucous. These stories were also leavened with hope for The power of redemption, but the kind that only comes after tearing down the false narratives that have telling the truth shaped our collective and personal histories. For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Sui- The best of Chicago theater in 2019 cide/When the Rainbow is Enuf put the spotlight on reshaping old Court Theatre narratives and false history. The late Ntozake Shange’s visionary 1976 choreopoem about the lives of Black women By K R in America just finished a revival at New C S York’s Public Theatre, but Court’s production (directed by Seret Scott, who was in the orig- For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf MICHAEL BROSILOW inal Broadway staging) was, as Sheri Flanders o pick the most memorable moments called it in her Reader review, “a transcendent Dana H. the two million (roughly—no one really knows or productions in Chicago theater theatrical experience.” The eight Black women Goodman Theatre the exact number) Cambodians killed by the any year is a daunting endeavor. telling these stories all provided, as Flanders It doesn’t get more raw and to-the-bone than Khmer Rouge, a tragedy of such brutal scope With hundreds of shows covered by noted, “stunning feminist interrogation of sub- hearing a woman telling an incredible and it’s almost impossible to wrap your mind over 15 Reader writers during this jects like love, identity, infi delity, body image, searing story about surviving abuse. When around. But in that fi rst act closer, director Tpast year, too many will be overlooked. But the and abuse with a nuance and specifi city that the woman is the playwright’s own mother, Marti Lyons’s cast made the devastation productions below all had a common theme, modern media o en boils down to the empty the stakes feel even higher. In Dana H., Lucas visceral, understandable, and impossible and one that felt present in many other shows: calories of ‘girl power.’” —K R Hnath honored his mother’s experiences as a to tune out. In both words and music, Yee survivor of a months-long kidnapping ordeal put Pol Pot’s genocidal devastation in stark, over 20 years ago by using recordings of the uncompromising terms. Yet for all the trag- real Dana’s voice, to which the astonishing edy that propelled Cambodian Rock Band, Deirdre O’Connell lip-synched. What may there was no denying the drama’s ultimate sound gimmicky on the page became a grip- takeaway: art and artists can never be wholly ping narrative and an exploration of both how snuff ed out. Yee made resilience blare from trauma causes us to disassociate, and how the amps, even as tragedy came for her char- seldom abused women are believed. (Dana’s acters. —C S captor, a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, hoodwinked cops more than once, even as True West Dana, bruised and silent, stood by him.) Yet by Steppenwolf Theatre the end of this gut punch of a show, we get Embedded deep within Sam Shepard’s anti- a glimpse of healing as Dana—who works as a western, Austin (Jon Michael Hill) has a bit of hospice counselor—tells us, “A person who can dialogue that burns straight through the mask be an empathetic witness can bring healing.” of heroism that made John Wayne a star. It’s I can’t think of a better description for why a passage that eviscerates the fake cowboy’s theater matters in these times. —K R acting (“acting” is more accurate) and all the noxious, white-male-supremacist machismo Cambodian Rock Band Wayne stood for. It was an unforgettable Victory Gardens Theater moment in a drama packed with them, and At the close of the fi rst act of Victory Gar- it exposed the centuries of genocidal racism dens’s magnificent production of Lauren that fueled the notion of Manifest Destiny. The Yee’s unforgettable Cambodian Rock Band, mockery didn’t explicitly invoke the wholesale the seven-member ensemble unleashed a slaughter of Native Americans or the slavery cover of Dengue Fever’s “One Thousand of African Americans that bankrolled many Tears of a Tarantula.” The music was all fi re a (white) westward-ho expedition. Hill’s sub- and joy, the bass-heavy, string-screaming, versive, hilarious delivery made all that clear thunderous essence of rock and roll. Or so nonetheless: John Wayne, and everything he it was until the music was overtaken by the and his ubiquitous brand of American history sounds of obliteration: helicopter rotors stood for, is straight bullshit. The moment thrumming, the crunch of rolling tanks, both captured all that was brilliant about Steppen- becoming ever louder until the band was wolf’s production, which also starred Namir engulfed. Yee’s musical drama was an ode to Smallwood as Austin’s brother, Lee. Before 18 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll Sunday, Dec. 29 • 2:30 pm
The Steadfast Tin Soldier LIZ LAUREN
True West delivers its fi nal, shocking moment, fi gures behind the star: who these artists are the brothers destroy both the desert home and why they dance. they’re holed up in and the history most of us In The Quiet Hours, dancers smear their skin were taught in school. Their drama is rooted across the mirror at Dovetail, fogging the glass in hard truths, the kind that are all too rarely with sweat and skin cells, sending a frisson of taught in class. —C S horror down the spine of anyone who has ever cleaned a studio to get free classes. But what an image: bringing the residue of the living DANCE body into plain sight, complicating the idea that playing holds a mirror up to nature, as the No one is alone mirror reveals an aspect of mortality at the The best moments in dance this year same time that the image of it gets distorted. focused on the power of community. (Work-studies can breathe: they cleaned after themselves.) By I H One dancer sits outside the circle during Strauss Symphony of America Lucky Plush’s Rink Life, trying to find her n the mad scene in Akram Khan’s Giselle “happy place” apart from the jingoistic featuring the for the English National Ballet at the Harris singsong of the group—individuality at last Imre Kollár, conductor (Budapest) ITheater, the corps de ballet encircles the achieved by a refusal to act. title character just after she has discovered The bright buzz of a forest of LEDs com- Sera Gösch, soprano (Vienna) • Roman Martin, tenor (Vienna) that the man she loves is betrothed to another. bined with dancers in Visceral Dance Chicago’s Dancers from Kiev-Aniko Ballet of Ukraine & They clasp arms and huddle about her, pulsing Synapse to show a vision of networked hu- like a heartbeat. They lift her, and she seems to mans, part machine. International Champion Ballroom Dancers fl oat above a billowing skirt before she drops Bodies told stories more forcefully than back down into an ocean that overwhelms, words in Court Theatre’s Oedipus Rex, soaks, and submerges her. They swirl, hunch- Bronks’s Us/Them at Chicago Shakespeare A Spectacular Celebration with European backed and abstracted, hiding and revealing Theater, and Lookingglass’s The Steadfast Tin Singers, Ballroom Dancers & Ballet her, sometimes making the image of hive or a Soldier. home, other times a herd or a school of fi sh. Throughout the year, choreographers They swarm, leaping into the air, a stampede. danced for each other in peer-led gatherings This moment encapsulates the work of the- hosted by The Field, DanceWorks Chicago, ORCHESTRA HALL, SYMPHONY CENTER ater: individual feeling amplifi ed and under- Jello, Chicago Dancemakers Forum, and oth- 312.294.3000 • cso.org stood through a community. In Porchlight’s A ers. Dancers taught dance, yoga, and Pilates, Chorus Line, dancers wear the most unforgiv- poured co ee and wine, brought your omelet, salutetovienna.com/chicago ing of costumes (shiny, synthetic, skintight), gave you a massage, and took your picture. Produced by Attila Glatz Concert Productions. Artists subject to change without notice. giving voice to what no audition or audience Dance is a living art created on and by bodies ever wants to know about the mass of moving living in the world—never alone. v ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 19 THEATER
OPENING What’s the matter with R misfits? A reality-competition spoof invokes some familiar oddball toys.
America’s Best Outcast Toy, by Larry Todd Cousineau (book and lyrics) and Cindy O’Connor (music), starts off as a send-up of various reality TV shows—America’s Got Talent, Survivor, Dancing with the Stars—and ends up being about a lot more. The premise is that some citizens from the Island of Misfi t Toys, made famous by a beloved television special about an ostracized reindeer—including a spotted elephant, a bird that acts like a fi sh, a cowboy who rides an ostrich, a basic doll Working. AUSTIN OIE PHOTOGRAPHY with low self-esteem—are competing for the previously mentioned title. The tasks the toys must perform are under mundane, wordy hyperbole about life, death, Heinemann, and a memorable rendition of “The Wages familiar to anyone with even a passing familiarity with family, and money. There’s not a lot director Rinska of Sin” by Katherine Dalin. —D J T M the genre—there is a dance-off , a bake-off , and a sing- Carrasco-Prestinary or her earnestly overwrought cast E D Through 12/29: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, off —and a er each event someone is invited to leave by can do. So: No e-mail, even though it’s 2010. And: Tina Sun 3 PM, Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway, blank- a snobby, sadistic, self-obsessed celebrity judge. bars her patient Maxine’s (unnamed) daughter from vis- theatrecompany.org, $25, $15 student and industry. Cousineau’s book, and the songs he penned with iting and unnamed daughter accepts this, not because O’Connor, are loaded with charm and wit. And though there is any reason she should, but because she has her Working it out the show is rarely fall-out-of-your-seat hilarious, it is own monologue to deliver. I could list more examples, R The musical based on Studs Terkel’s start-to-fi nish funny. The show also has a lot of heart, and but I’m running out of words and patience. Hnath does book returns. a message about love, friendship, and self-acceptance explain some things. There’s a lot of “It is 2010. I am a that could have been li ed right from the Rudolph story. nurse. I am in a hospital room” exposition. Death, taxes, As the populist question goes, “If work’s so great, how Director Donterrio Johnson’s triple-threat and family are the stuff of great drama. But not when come they have to pay you to do it?” That attitude nine-member cast do the material right. Haylie Kinsler is the drama would suff ocate if the plot holes were sewn provides the jumping-off point for Working, the musical quite winning as a brash “Jackie” in the box, as is Danny up. —C S D T Through 1/19: Thu- based on Studs Terkel’s 1974 book of interviews where Ackman as the hapless stuff ed elephant. And Patrick Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 3 PM, Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. “people talk about what they do all day and how they Regner does plenty of comic turns as the show version Bryn Mawr, 773-728-7529, redtwisttheatre.org, $35 feel about what they do.” Originally adapted in 1978 of Hermie, the elf-turned-dentist, who in this version Thu, $40 Fri-Sun ($5 off for students and seniors). by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, the show got a turns unctuous TV host. But the show really belongs to revision several years ago from writer-director Gordon Tyler DeLoatch, who proves to be quite the chameleon, Unfinished business Greenberg. The score features songs from Mary Rodg- appearing at various times as a misfi t toy, a glamour R Blank Theatre tackles The Mystery of ers of Once Upon a Mattress fame to James Taylor to queen, and a Simon Cowell knockoff , and playing each Edwin Drood. (more recently) Lin-Manuel Miranda. with an intensity and believability many actors have trou- Theo Ubique uses Greenberg’s version in Christo- ble mustering for one role. —J H A ’ One of the easier riddles to solve in Rupert Holmes’s pher Chase Carter’s staging, which starts off unevenly B OT Through 1/12: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, 1985 musical comedy is why so few theater companies but, thanks to a generally strong cast, builds an emo- Sun 5 PM, the Broadway at Pride Arts Center, 4139 ever seem to produce it. Its orchestral and vocal bars tional arc by the second act. Even in its revised form, N. Broadway, 800-737-0984, pridefilmsandplays. to entry are signifi cant—in true 80s Broadway form, the current incarnation doesn’t fully address the “gig com, $40 premium reserved, $30 general reserved, Holmes’s score mashes up operatic arias and ornate har- economy,” though Miranda’s “A Very Good Day” gives Stretch your dollars. Ignite your soul. $25 students and seniors (not valid Sat). monic chord progressions with toe-tappy, whistle-able voice to the exploding (yet still invisible) class of care- melodies. Its required cast size can be prohibitively givers for children and the elderly. Though the fi rst act The death of logic large for smaller companies, its plot is o en inscrutable, feels more generalized in its grievances about work (lack Half-Price Death Tax has too many plot holes to sustain its humor is irony-free, and its obscure source materi- of respect for blue-collar labor, the boredom of working the drama. al—Charles Dickens’s last work—is literally unfi nished. as a stay-at-home mom, a long-distance trucker, and a Theatre So be it young bravado or something else that inspired food-service minion), Taylor’s “Millwork,” performed by Toward the back end of Lucas Hnath’s 90-minute series Blank Theatre Company to take it on with an orchestra Kiersten Frumkin’s luggage-factory worker, goes into of overheated monologues, Todd, a nursing home super- comprised solely of a bass (Leo Finan) and piano (Declan specifi c and grim detail about the harshness and danger Tickets visor, tells Tina, a nurse, to destroy some legal papers. Ryan), the results are as surprising as they are entertain- of the environment. It’s meant to be an extremely high-stakes convo: If the ing—these kids really do have the chops to pull it off . Cynthia F. Carter’s performance of “Cleanin’ docs aren’t shredded, they both could go to jail. There Framed as a show-within-a-show in a British music Woman” (written by Micki Grant) captures the primary is yelling and tears and gnashing of teeth as it becomes hall, director Danny Kapinos’s production follows a (and perhaps obvious) reason many of these characters apparent that while it is 2010, Tina and Todd have not sinister love triangle involving a young musical prote- work so hard: to make it possible for their kids to have yet discovered e-mail. Hnath has Issues he wants to ge (Phoebe Moore). When Edwin (Maisie Rose), her more options in life. And as the concluding song, “Some- monologize about, and he’s not about to let a can- betrothed, is discovered dead, it’s up to the audience to thing to Point To” (by Craig Carnelia) movingly makes yon-wide plot hole like the ubiquity of electronic com- decide the culprit from a lineup including a predatory, clear, what most people also want out of a job is to feel munication get in his way. mustachioed vocal coach (Chase Heinemann) and a that they’ve created something that will last beyond Thus, it never occurs to Tina or Todd that a law- visiting, orphaned suitor (Nathan Karnik). Dickensian their time on earth. Theo Ubique’s production elevates FIND A SHOW & BUY TICKETS ONLINE: yer somewhere has copies of these potentially cat- class drama is present but takes a back seat to the the occasionally dutiful clock-punching material to cre- astrophic papers. It’s a problem throughout. Hnath’s lower-stakes, goofi er antics of the performing com- ate a moving collage of the dignity of doing one’s best dialogue purports to deal with substantial issues. pany (like the charmingly overeager emcee work by without fanfare. —K R W Through HotTix.org It fails because when pesky matters of this-would- Dustin Rothbart). Music direction by Aaron Kaplan is 1/26: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 7 PM, Theo Ubique OR VISIT OUR IN-PERSON LOCATIONS never-happen-in-real-life get in the way of a drama a highlight, including a dizzying, delightful word buff et Cabaret Theatre, 721 Howard, 773-347-1109, theo-u. presented as realism, Hnath simply buries truth “Both Sides of the Coin” performed by Rothbart and com, $42-$57 (optional dinner $29). v
20 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll 1 6 FILM FILM Ben Sachs’s vations of Film Socialisme (2010), Goodbye to Language (2014), and now this head-spinning top 12 fi lms 2 7 essay fi lm (2018) showed that the octogenar- ian Swiss master had no intention of resting of 2019 on his laurels in old age. The Image Book was characteristically cerebral and playful, posing Yes, there are some ties. challenging questions about knowledge, tech- nology, colonialism, and art while advancing By B S a childlike enthusiasm for the possibilities of sound and image. The movie’s three-week run 3 8 at the Gene Siskel Film Center this January ost of my favorite films to have pre- was undoubtedly one of the year’s major art miered in Chicago in 2019 played here events, as it provided multiple opportunities Mbefore September, which is when I for Chicago audiences to experience God- began my career as a special education teach- ard’s impressive use of 7.1 surround sound. er. Since then I’ve slowed down on my intake of new movies, but what I saw in the first 6. Relaxer Joel Potrykus’s low-budget com- eight months of the year provided me with edy (which played at Facets Multimedia this 4 9 much to admire. I’m especially grateful for the summer) was not only the year’s funniest brief run, in May, of László Nemes’s Sunset at American movie, but the year’s most formal- the Landmark Century and AMC River East. ly distinguished American movie. Potrykus Sunset is one of the most innovative and in- found innumerable ways to render cinematic vigorating fi lms I’ve seen, and I can’t imagine the fi lm’s single location, a grungy Michigan that anything else this year could have topped apartment where a childlike slacker spends it. Nemes’s artful approach to history—a months trying to reach the fabled 257th level rich aesthetic that brings together exacting 5 10 of Pac-Man. The defiantly adolescent dia- camera movements, long takes, detailed mise- logue, which recalls the proto-punk theater en-scene, and emotionally charged close- of Alfred Jarry, was riotous, and Potrykus’s ups—renders the past scary and immediate as cast (Joshua Burge, David Dastmalchian, and few other movies have. This perspective also Adina Howard) delivered it brilliantly. makes a perfect fi t for the fi lm’s subject matter, Hungary’s societal breakdown in the period 7. Tie: Hotel by the River and Grass Hong leading up to World War I. Nemes’s fusion of Sang-soo was the most reliable auteur of the form and content makes Sunset an instructive decade, delivering at least one witty, prob- masterpiece, providing insights into our own 1. Sunset See above. 3. “I Do Not Care If We Go Down in History ing examination of romance and the creative period of societal breakdown through means as Barbarians” Radu Jude’s Brechtian com- process every year between 2010 and 2018. distinctive to its creative medium. 2. Tie: Belmonte and The Moneychanger edy about the public recreation of one of These two black-and-white features (which At least two other great fi lms to play Chica- Sometimes I think that international fi lm cul- the worst episodes in Romanian history (the played at the Gene Siskel Film Center in the go in 2019 were similarly instructive: Chris- ture doesn’t deserve Federico Veiroj, the end- massacre that launched the country’s Jewish spring) were exquisite examples of his mas- tian Petzold’s Transit, which took place in a lessly creative Uruguayan director of A Use- genocide of World War II) managed to make tery; each explored the human condition in confl ation of contemporary and World War II- ful Life and The Apostate. With these two historical reckoning seem exciting and vital. a manner witty, precise, and concise. At this era Europe, and Mike Leigh’s Peterloo, which features, Veiroj confi rmed his position as one It represents the fi nest work to date by Jude, point it feels as though Hong can create a contemplated the British government’s mas- of the most imaginative filmmakers working the New Wave director of Everybody in Our lovely composition or reach psychological sacre of protestors in the early 19th century today. Belmonte, a dreamlike account of a Family and Aferim! insights offhandedly—the films successfully to comment on the present-day persecution of middle-aged painter that played at the Chi- translate his carefree fi lmmaking process into dissidents. Neither movie appears on my list cago Latino Film Festival in April, found new 4. The Wild Pear Tree Alternately intimate narrative form. But despite their breezy sur- of annual favorites since they received their things to say about divorce and artistic frus- and epic, Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s novelistic tale face tone, they’re suff used with a deep melan- local premieres at the 2018 Chicago Interna- tration in practically every scene, employing of a Turkish family in decline was consistent- choly that makes them linger in the mind. tional Film Festival, and per Reader rules, this a subtle visual language to convey the hero’s ly surprising in its storytelling—watching the makes them inadmissible for a list of Chicago complex internal life. The comic docudra- film, you’re never sure whether Ceylan will 8. Coincoin and the Extra-Humans Bruno movies in 2019. Nevertheless, I value both al- ma The Moneychanger, which played at the adopt a nearsighted or cosmic perspective on Dumont followed up his singular TV minise- most as much as I value Sunset. Chicago International Film Festival in Octo- the material. Ceylan’s characterizations were ries Li’l Quinquin (2014)—which infused his Below are my favorite Chicago fi lm premieres ber, was no less inspired in its compositions so full, moreover, that they stayed with me for rigorous, Bressonian aesthetic with absurd, of the year, listed in order of preference. As and montage, and it advanced a wry sense months a er I saw this. unpredictable humor—with one that was even usual the city o ered so many great opportuni- of morality in its ironic account of a corrupt funnier and weirder. In this chapter aliens ties to engage with great cinema that I found it banker who thrived under Uruguay’s era of 5. The Image Book The 2010s found Jean-Luc invade Dumont’s small northern French town di cult to narrow my list to just ten titles. dictatorship. Godard as inspired as ever. The formal inno- of lovable, amoral oddballs; one of the J ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 21 R READERRECOMMENDEDb ALLAGESN NEWF Get showtimes and see reviews of everything playing FILM this week at chicagoreader.com/movies.
continued from 21 10. First Love The inimitable Japanese direc- best jokes is that none of the residents seems tor Takashi Miike has more than 100 features to notice or mind that they’re being replaced to his name, and this freewheeling mix of slap- by extraterrestrials. Dumont continues to stick comedy, romantic melodrama, and crime Chained for Life work wonders with nonprofessional actors thrillers is one of his greatest accomplish- and forbidding landscapes, and this creates a ments. What makes First Love so special is fascinating frisson with the ridiculous comedy. how it combines the gonzo storytelling tech- niques of Miike’s breakout fi lms of the 1990s 9. The Souvenir The best film yet by Brit- and early 2000s with the steely formal con- ish writer-director Joanna Hogg, this autobi- trol of his early-2010s remakes of 13 Assassins ographical drama marked an interpretation of and Hara-Kiri. The fi lm represents a sustained Bressonian cinema that’s every bit as personal organized chaos that few other filmmakers and surprising as Bruno Dumont’s. Like Bres- could achieve. It’s also wildly entertaining. NOW PLAYING A Hidden Life son, Hogg deliberately leaves details out of R Set in Austria in 1939, A Hidden Life portrays her stories to make viewers put them togeth- Honorable Mentions (in order of preference): Bombshell the story of peasant farmer Franz Jägerstätter in the er in their imaginations; she’s also so attuned Vitalina Varela (Pedro Costa), Give Me Liber- It’s not imperative to align with a fi lm’s political small mountain village of St. Radegund along with his perspective to enjoy it, but it should at least present wife Fani and their three small children. A conscientious to the feeling of living in the moment that her ty (Kirill Mikhanovsky), Pain and Glory (Pedro a moral backbone strong enough to understand it. objector to the horrors of the German war eff ort, Franz film succeeds as a hypnotic account of idio- Almodóvar), Richard Jewell (Clint Eastwood), That’s the main issue with Jay Roach’s Bombshell, a is conscripted then ultimately imprisoned and tried for syncratic behaviors. Playing a doomed roman- The Sower (Marine Francen), The Laundro- fi lm that begs its audience to champion the famously his refusal to swear an oath of allegiance to Adolf Hitler. tic couple in early-80s London, Honor Swin- mat (Steven Soderbergh), The Wandering (and sometimes self-identifi ed) anti-feminist women of Eschewing some of the typically unstructured narrative Fox News as misunderstood feminist heroes without composition of Terrence Malick’s previous work (The ton Byrne and Tom Burke delivered the fi nest, Soap Opera (Raúl Ruiz), Ghost Tropic (Bas ever trying to bridge that gap in a substantial way. Tree of Life, The Thin Red Line, Days of Heaven), the most emotionally precise performances I saw Devos), The Grand Bizarre (Jodie Mack), and Following the explosive takedown of former Fox News fi lm is both meticulous and beautiful, comprised of a in 2019. the last 40 minutes of The Irishman (Martin CEO Roger Ailes amidst allegations of serial sexual series of vignettes of loose chronological order that Scorsese). v harassment, Bombshell fumbles its goal of humanizing is driven forward largely through voiceover narration Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) and Gretchen Carlson of correspondence between Franz and Fani. Director (Nicole Kidman) by coddling their glaringly harmful of photography Jörg Widmer maintains the improvi- ideologies. A glimmer of resistance comes in the form sational photographic style typical of Malick, providing of the fi lm’s fi ctional staff ers: the doe-eyed and ambi- an expansive view of the ordinary life and labor of tious Kayla (Margot Robbie) and the closeted lesbian the villagers of St. Radegund as it is subsumed by the Democrat Jess (Kate McKinnon). But critiques of the historical events taking place around them. As such, THIS WEEK AT establishment are few and far between, and rarely the fi lm is notable not only for its somber portrayal of have a stake in the fi lm’s larger narrative. Instead, any Jägerstätter’s quiet act of resistance, but its focus on sense of nuance or introspection that could exist in the eff ect that his refusal has on Fani, who is le behind Bombshell is replaced with a self-righteous framework to suff er the skepticism and revulsion of her neighbors. that refuses to be questioned. —C C R, Ultimately, A Hidden Life is a moving portrayal of a small THE LOGAN 108 min. In wide release act of opposition that serves to remind us of the possi- bilities of our own humanity in inhumane times. —A Chained for Life M-K PG-13, 174 min. Century Centre Cin- R Prefaced with a quote from Pauline Kael ema about why audiences prefer actors and actresses to be better looking than average, writer-director Aaron Richard Jewell Schimberg’s second feature is an entrancingly bizarre R For better or worse—some will say better, and o en humorous metaexploration of physical rep- many more will say worse—Clint Eastwood is the most resentation in movies. It follows the making of an American director working right now. Not the great- PERFECT BLUE unintentionally campy fi lm helmed by a self-serious est, mind you, just the most. This is especially evident German auteur, styled in the vein of horror and in several of his recent fi lms, each one as divisive—and DEC 20-23 AT 11 PM exploitation fi lms from decades past. The story of the thus refl ective of the current political climate—as the fi lm-within-the-fi lm concerns a beautiful young blind last. This compelling docudrama details the events woman who fi nds herself in a hospital full of so-called and a ermath of the Centennial Olympic Park bomb- “freaks.” Jess Weixler (Teeth) stars as Mabel, a sight- ing at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta as they ed person playing the blind woman. Adam Pearson impacted security guard Richard Jewell (Paul Walter (Under the Skin) plays Rosenthal, a man experiencing Hauser in an inspired performance), who discovered neurofi bromatosis—one of several people with real the bomb and was later suspected by the FBI of disabilities who appear in the fi lm—with whom both having planted it, a suspicion that was unduly promul- Mabel and her character become close. The fi lm is gated by the news media. Most thematically aligned perhaps overly ambitious in its mission to accomplish with Eastwood’s 2016 masterpiece Sully, this too several objectives, ranging from critiquing cinematic explores the complicated relationships between ordi- CHRISTMAS VACATION representations of physically diff erent people to both nary people and organizational bodies. Not without its DEC 24-26 AT 10:30 PM paying homage to and scrutinizing the fi lmmaking share of controversy involving the portrayal of real-life process. Nevertheless it’s eff ective on the whole, journalist Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde), the fi lm may making for one of the most original independent fi lms seem straightforward in its message. But like much of I’ve seen of late. —K S 91 min. Gene Eastwood’s recent work, it’s more nuanced than it lets Siskel Film Center on; the fi lm illuminates contradictions on all sides of 2646 N. MILWAUKEE AVE | CHICAGO, IL | THELOGANTHEATRE.COM | 773.342.5555 the equation, including those of its own. —K S R, 129 min. Century Centre Cinema v 22 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll Reverend Mack McCollum leads Sunday service on December 1, 2019, at New Home Missionary Baptist Church. A song he recorded with New Home’s choir in the 1970s appears on No Other Love. MELISSA BLACKMON FOR CHICAGO READER
‘Do what the good Lord gave music with his control of dynamics, moving between a shout on “I Will Trust in the Lord” and quiet moans on “Mean Old World” and you and keep going’ “That’s Heaven to Me,” both of which gospel star and soul man Sam Cooke popularized in The new compilation No Other Love shines a light on a self-reliant strain of midwest gospel that’s the 1960s. survived outside the mainstream for more than 50 years. Not that the programming ignores younger generations: McCollum next introduces styl- By A C ish spoken-word artist Jennifer Freeman, also a New Home congregant. “She ain’t got my Christmas wrap,” he says, “but she has a rap.” During the recessional, the instrumentalists play Donny Hathaway’s holiday favorite from n a Sunday morning at New this west-side church celebrates his lengthy voice provides the release. 1970, “This Christmas.” Still, throughout the Home Missionary Baptist career: “60 Years Preaching / 55 Years Pas- At New Home, congregants of all ages rec- service, McCollum unmistakably emphasizes Church in South Austin, Rever- toring / 85 Years Young.” The building itself, ognize gospel standards such as “You’ve Got to traditions from further back. end Mack McCollum waits till constructed in 1996, is relatively modern, but Move”—as visiting organist Tim Hughes puts Generational divides and historical memory the service is well under way the music inside on this day is mostly time- it, the church knows the old favorites, even if also come up in a breakfast discussion be- Oto make his entrance. He knows that pacing honored gospel. An organist and drummer every single churchgoer doesn’t. McCollum tween McCollum and a few visitors, including himself for the long haul always beats making guide the choir through its peaks and valleys, eases into the tune, singing while he directs Hughes, who played with McCollum for many a reckless rush. A banner in the stairwell of expertly building tension, and McCollum’s the choir and congregation. He shapes the years at New Home but now lives in J ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 23 continued from 23 frames the group’s hair-raising harmonies Mississippi. Hughes mentions that younger and wrung-out pleas. An unknown guitarist church performers in his area don’t know the adds barbed asides to the Reverend H.H. Har- older repertoire and performance styles, and rington’s consciousness-raising “Black Pride,” McCollum nods, gently chiding children who released as a 45 on his own Atomic-H Records ignore the music of their parents and grand- in the 1960s. parents. With a sly grin, he quietly replies, The minimalist aesthetics of this music— “They’re not anticipating someone getting usually adopted out of economic necessity— old.” were what struck Stout when she fi rst heard it decades later. It made such an impression that he traditions that McCollum embodies she eventually assembled No Other Love. “My are documented on the compilation faith is in the power of the music to move peo- Talbum No Other Love: Midwest Gospel ple,” she says from an airport in Washington, 1965-1978, produced by global music scholar D.C., while traveling from a research mission Ramona Stout and released last month by San in Ecuador to her home in Greece. “Mack Francisco archival label Tompkins Square. It McCollum says that there is no ‘church music’ presents a cross-section of underappreciated and ‘world music’—there’s music. People who performers, whose style, sound, or age placed don’t pay attention to gospel music in that them outside the mainstream of the gospel in- way miss out on a lot.” dustry, with its infrastructure of major record McCollum has always sung gospel, but he labels and popular radio and TV shows. Most also heard B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Little of the artists on the compilation have died, Walter while he was growing up in Mississippi and only two are still regularly performing— in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Because he McCollum and Carnell Drummer, guitarist and expected more for himself than a rural south- vocalist for the Sensational Travelers of Zion. ern town could o er, he migrated from Tunica, Both live in Chicago. Mississippi, to Chicago in 1953, when he was Musicians like McCollum and the Travel- about 18. McCollum set up his ministry six ers took it upon themselves to be their own years later, but at fi rst it couldn’t sustain him advocates and their own entrepreneurs. They fi nancially—he continued to work in a series of pressed their singles in small runs of around other jobs. For a time he painted cars at Earl 100 copies, occasionally partnering with tiny Scheib, quitting after he started coming home labels (the Travelers worked with west-side at night spitting up di erent colors. In 1966, indie Cash Records) to release their music while working at a rubber-processing factory or promote their performances across the in Cicero, McCollum lost his right arm. region or the country. This self-reliance is a Nowadays, McCollum laughs off that inci- key reason they’re still active today, o ering dent. Years ago, while he was touring church a living connection to this rich history. It’s an programs in California, a minister billed him inspiration to hear and speak with McCollum as “The One Arm Bandit.” At breakfast a few and Drummer in their Chicago neighbor- weeks back, when his wife, Pecola, mentioned Carnell Drummer holds an old photo of his group the Sensational Travelers of Zion, who have a song on No Other Love. Drummer is second from right in the front row. COURTESY TOMPKINS SQUARE RECORDS hoods—the kind of inspiration that should be that the two of them have yet to go on a cruise, universal, no matter your feelings about God. McCollum responded with a joke: “You know I These artists’ exuberance fl ows through No can’t swim with just one arm!” “The locus of the gospel sound started pressed recordings. His church’s basement Other Love. They lacked the large arrange- “Well, I didn’t su er too much from losing moving to California in the 1960s,” says Robert o© ces still document his e orts: they contain ments of some of their contemporaries, but the arm,” McCollum says. “I didn’t have major Marovich, author of the 2015 Chicago gospel fl yers for many of his appearances, including this meant they also avoided a production problems. Of course, the arm was important, history A City Called Heaven. “Arrangements dates he coheadlined with gospel and R&B sheen that could sound more dated today. and I did the best I could after that with the and backgrounds in the 1950s were an elec- singer Otis Clay. A map of the United States McCollum recorded the album’s stomping- church, so here I am.” tric guitar, organ, piano, and drums. Then bristles with push pins marking cities where and-shaking version of “I’m Gonna Stand Still This even-tempered attitude has sustained came bass guitars, electric keyboards, bigger McCollum performed. Adjoining rooms are and Do My Master’s Will” at a 1970s service, him through more than one tribulation. When rhythm sections, and bigger sounds with more fi lled with his 45s, LPs, CDs, and eight-tracks, and his choir responds to his gravelly voice McCollum tried to present his music outside rock and jazz. Chicago sort of lost its crown in along with a vintage Ampex reel-to-reel tape and ragged phrasing with the same kind of lift the city in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he terms of being the place for artists who want- machine and other equipment used to record it still conveys. On the Sensational Travelers faced a generational challenge: the gospel ed to remain relevant.” them. of Zion’s “I Want You to Help Me,” Drummer’s industry was shifting its focus away from the McCollum took it upon himself to create “I’ve always been into that kind of electron- understated electric guitar blends into and midwest. opportunities, which included a slew of self- ics,” McCollum says. “The mikes that have J
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TICKETS AVAILABLE VIA METRO + SMARTBAR WEBSITES + METRO BOX OFFICE. NO SERVICE FEES AT BOX OFFICE! ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 25 continued from 24 rummer isn’t a minister, but he shares a lot of other things with McCollum: Dfaith, self-reliance, and similar life journeys. At his home in North Lawndale, he talks about moving to Chicago from Alabama 64 years ago, when he was 21. Drummer co- founded the Sensational Travelers of Zion Gospel Singers in 1957, and he’s the sole sur- viving original member in the lineup that still performs. They sang across the midwest at weekend church services, and Drummer held down a job at a metalworks until his retire- San Francisco archival label Tompkins Square Records released No Other Love in November. ment in 2000. Since the group didn’t trust pro- moters, they pushed their own gigs, including from a different background, but she found after the sound of pan pipes, to the music of on such radio stations as WVON. connections between Black gospel in the the Georgia Brooks Singers, a mother-son- Drummer is a high tenor, and he’s trained American midwest and the music of cultures daughter group from Gary, Indiana, who have the other members of the quartet to maintain from further away. After attending high school a track on No Other Love. For Stout, a shared a constant balance in their harmonies. His in London and living for a while in Russia, she worldview transcends language. guitar part on “I Want You to Help Me” (the started studying Near Eastern culture and his- “Not that I’m lyrically focused, but the Travelers’ only song on No Other Love) starts tory at the University of Chicago in 2002. She atmosphere of the songs unifies them,” she with a brief swing flourish, then pushes the took courses in Turkish and in central Asian says. “There’s a Quechua word, llaquiglla, that group along with minimal chord changes. He’s ethnomusicology while her husband, Kevin means ‘joy through sadness,’ and I think that’s not quite an autodidact on the instrument, but Speck, worked at the 2nd Hand Tunes on 53rd what a lot of Ecuadorian music tries to culti- Reverend Mack McCollum founded his ministry in 1959. MELISSA BLACKMON FOR CHICAGO READER he learned from a source close to home. Street. Years later, as they collected and sold vate: we’re going to feel joy, but we’re going “My wife Margaret and I went to the Sears records on their own, certain small-label and to do it through an atmosphere of sadness. I downtown and bought a guitar and amplifi er,” self-issued gospel sides clicked with her at a suppose that’s a theme of a lot of music that I a wire to them, I made my own wire. Soldering, Drummer says. “Margaret tuned it. She could deep level. like, is joy through sadness.” tubes, everything. And everywhere I’ve been, play, but I never could play. She showed me “Because I’ve moved around a lot and hold As Stout points out, though, the gospel every church, I’ve always had a good sound. how to play, but it was just one finger—one three citizenships, I don’t identify with a artists she met while preparing No Other Love When I got on the road, I used to have my own fi nger across strings and moving it. I still play. nation,” Stout says. “So I fi nd a home in dif- don’t tend to dwell on the grief and pain in sound with me. Because a lot of places you Still try to play, as they say.” ferent kinds of music—irrespective if they’re their own lives. A few weeks ago, as Drum- went, the sound was horrible—and I set my Drummer may make his supposed inept- associated with me or my belief system. This mer’s great-granddaughter’s dog rested in sound up. The mike, the board, everything.” itude the subject of self-deprecating jokes, dynamic of despair, hope, and courage that his family’s living room, he talked about the but his unvarnished guitar is the sort of thing was articulated in gospel related closely to my performances he’s looking forward to. And that helps make the records on No Other Love experience. It’s tricky moving to America from he still follows an inspired credo: “Don’t try so valuable—they provide insight into a small Europe as an adult and seeing how people to outdo somebody else, put somebody else but enduring corner of gospel. Though these were living as infrastructure was collapsing. down,” Drummer says. “Don’t try to do better artists were outsiders in the 1960s and 1970s, That’s why the music spoke to me as clearly as than somebody else. Just do what the good that status meant that their musical messages it did.” Lord gave you and keep going.” arrived in the world as they envisioned them, Stout’s interactions with the people who McCollum also looks to God to keep him not contorted into whatever shape a major created this music inspired her just as much. on the right path. When we spoke for this label thought might be easiest to market. She describes Drummer, a lifelong Baptist, as story, the Reverend Clay Evans—the Chicago “These were much freer, more raw experi- “kind of Buddha-like” in his belief that “su er- ecclesiastical giant who founded Fellowship ences on record than you would get with big- ing doesn’t matter and hopes abide.” Though Missionary Baptist in 1950—had just died at ger companies,” Marovich says, comparing the she and Speck left Chicago in 2011, she spent age 94. That death reminded McCollum of acts on No Other Love to the kind of smoother, the next eight years working to articulate how the preciousness of his remaining days, and more heavily produced groups that still rise to these gospel tracks can double as a commen- convinced him that it’s time to revisit the re- the top of the Billboard gospel charts. “Many tary on her memories of living in the States. cording gear he built. became oral calling cards to sell at their pro- The liner notes to No Other Love include her “To do this one last record is my desire,” grams or give to radio announcers to get some autobiographical essay, where she asks wheth- McCollum says. “I love the Lord, so I take this more publicity. When they’re working pro- er gospel can help fi ll the void when optimism as no joke—this is real stu . I don’t play with grams for little to no money, they made money has been evacuated from a city or nation. it. I’m going to stay in with what I’m doing selling records and pictures. Small companies In our conversation, Stout also links col- until I can’t do it no more. I know it’s going to were happy to oblige. Producers might make lecting and producing gospel with her recent come to that, but right now, I’m happy with suggestions, but they were not going to pi- work digitizing tapes of 1950s and ’60s Ecua- it.” v geonhole them to sound like the Winans.” doran music. She compares Ecuadoran vocal As a European, Stout approached the music harmonies, which some families have modeled @aaroncohenwords 26 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll Chicago’s best overlooked hip-hop of
Add-2 Ness Heads Jim Crow: The Musical Numb Veteran rapper Add-2, who also mentors On her debut EP, Numb, Ness Heads flips at-risk youth via programs at his Haven Stu- between lightning-fast rapping and cool- 2019 dios, unpacks the complexities of Black life in-the-pocket singing with enough grace to The shrinking of music media requires a new and Black art as well as the deep historical make you wish stardom were a meritocracy. defi nition of “overlooked,” but even the strictest roots of structural racism atop white-knuckle criteria admit a vast unexplored trove of riches. beats and sumptuous soul melodies. By L G
hicago hip-hop is closing out sively visible Chicago rappers of the decade, its biggest decade on the in- Vic Mensa, pulled a Tommy Wiseau in August ternational stage with some with the political rap-rock album 93Punx, remarkable releases and dra- Anthony Fantano of the Needle Drop (who’s matic moves on the charts. Yet based in Connecticut) was the only notewor- Cthe mainstream press has rarely refl ected the thy critic who bothered with a review. reality on the ground here, instead focusing A note for those who may have forgotten: SBG Kemo and Shawno on obviously popular fi gures such as Chance Chance the Rapper has only updated the Kollege Kidz the Rapper and Kanye West (both of whom Chicagoist homepage once since publicly Don’t Be Kendall Rising street rapper SBG Kemo brings along dropped albums this year that I’ve mostly for- announcing he’d bought the defunct news site Did U Die? his friend Shawno for a smattering of frenzied gotten). And though the media fi nally caught in July 2018: he added a “fi nd your alderman” Don’t Be Kendall distills youthful vigor into tracks that sparkle with a smidgen of pop glee up with Juice Wrld as soon as his second search that became inaccurate when the new- loose lines that he sprays across stylistical- despite the hard edge in the duo’s delivery. album, Death Race for Love, debuted atop the est batch was inaugurated in May. In Novem- ly disparate instrumentals—and he’s got the Billboard 200, I saw far more coverage of his ber, Chance told Fast Company that he plans charm to make it all hang together. unexpected death earlier this month (and of to relaunch “the Chicagoist” as an app devoted the still-emerging details surrounding his run- to food and entertainment, then cede control in with the feds in the last moments of his life) to an editor. But unless Chance also sells the than of his music. app, one of the city’s few outlets focusing on Of course, it’d be unfair to make these local music will be owned by its biggest pop complaints about the state of music reporting star. and criticism without acknowledging that For six years now, I’ve put together an annu- those fields have been disproportionately al list of the best overlooked hip-hop releases harmed by the instability in the journalism in Chicago. Under present circumstances, business. News and culture outlets continue determining what counts as “overlooked” is to shut down at an alarming pace (pour one more challenging than ever—fewer and fewer out for Pacific Standard), and at those that releases get any media coverage at all. That’s survive, music coverage gets cut before hard just one variable that goes into my decision, Honorable mentions news does as budgets shrink. (The situation though: I also consider chart placements, Escher, Escher is even worse for people trying to write about streaming stats, frequency of local perfor- Kahrion Illuminati Congo, Time Killaz theater, dance, books, or visual art.) This is by mances, accessibility of the music to fans, so- Rambe World Malveaux Donnell, Memoirs 7 no means a new trend—the Sun-Times hasn’t cial media presence, and more. Because I reg- Kahrion has a husky voice and the lyrical per- Noah., What Was That? had a full-time music critic for years—but it ularly cover Chicago hip-hop, I didn’t include spective of someone who’s seen it all, and on Semiratruth, I Don’t Wanna Have does make it increasingly di cult for curious any artist I’ve ever written about before—but Rambe World he wisely uses gritty old-school to Yell for You to Listen v fans to get a sense of what’s happening in their that still left me with more candidates than I beats to complement his stylish air of mystery regional scenes. When one of the most aggres- knew what to do with. and magnetic mystique. @imLeor ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 27 Recommended and notable shows and critics’ insights for the week of December 19
MUSIC b ALLAGESF
sight, taste, smell, or touch—a B-minor chord, for THURSDAY19 instance, might register as green. A number of PICK OF THE WEEK famous musicians, including Mary J. Blige, Phar- 8Matiklogan Joel Q, D2X, Jonathan rell Williams, and Lady Gaga, have claimed to Stewart, and 3name open. 8 PM, have (or are believed to have) synesthesia. The Jaimie Branch’s Fly or Die band celebrates a Subterranean, 2011 W. North, $12. 17+ Jazz Occurrence series, founded by artist Lewis Achenbach, offers its audience an opportunity new record that nixes the sophomore jinx This summer Chicago rapper 8MatikLogan to experience something approximating synes- released “House of Pain,” a blazing, salacious thesia: Achenbach invites musicians to perform single punctuated with tasteful claps. Its video while he creates artwork inspired by their sound. is closing in on 400,000 YouTube views, and it At Jazz Occurrence 21, multidisciplinary artist could become an even bigger breakout suc- and lyricist Marvin Tate will serve as master of cess—which would be a long time coming for ceremonies and provide vocal bridges between the MC. He started rapping in 2012 under the an opening set, performed by pianist-vocalist name Logan, and he’s built up a catalog of raw, Matt Piet and clarinetist Jeff Kimmel and enti- teeth-grinding rhymes. In 2015 he dropped tled Suff ering, and a headlining solo set by per- his debut mixtape, 1636, and became firm- cussionist Avreeayl Ra, a former member of the ly entrenched in the local scene, collaborating Sun Ra Arkestra, that’s part of a practice he calls with artists such as Saba and Taylor Bennett. Healing Arts. This performance gives Ra and He’s been quiet the past couple years, but he Achenbach a chance to collaborate in real time, reemerged this summer as 8MatikLogan, and an experience both men have desired for many he’s continued to show great promise since then. years. Piet’s Suff ering set is intended to provide He’s now signed to At the Studio, a label run by the audience with a safe environment to inter- Chicago producer and mentor William “LPeezy” act with improvisation and tone and inspire the Jones that’s tied to Hitco (started by L.A. Reid release of pent-up feelings. After Tate inter- following his controversial departure from Epic venes to set the stage, Ra hopes to soothe those Records). Logan has focused his aggressive raw emotions and bring the audience safely energy on delivering pop hooks, which is obvi- home: his forceful yet understated drumming ous on “House of Pain” and its club-ready follow- refl ects his long-standing interest in the healing up, “Blah Blah,” whose chattering beat is soft- arts. Achenbach customarily sketches from the ened with melting vocal samples and a wash of audience during shows, with the performers only AutoTune. “Blah Blah” is somehow not available seeing his work a er their sets are done. For this on Spotify, even though it seems perfect for event, though, the musicians and the crowd will the platform’s company-run pop and rap play- both be able to watch Achenbach as he creates lists—the song’s got enough mischievous charm traditional and digital art in real time. “I’m o en to stand out in a fi eld overstuff ed with rap wall- improvising solo, like a documentarian,” he says. paper. —L G “But for this Jazz Occurrence, the musicians will be in the same boat as me, jumping off the cliff into the waters of experimentation—freedom, Avreeayl Ra & Time Machine Matt Piet improvisation, fear, public humiliation, joy. But I’d and Jeff Kimmel open. Vocalist Marvin Tate expect that our collective experience will carry emcees, and Lewis Achenbach creates art us through and provide a great abstract and lyr- during the sets. 8:30 PM, Constellation, 3111 N. ical storytelling event for all.” Audience mem- DAWIDLASKOWSKI Western, $15, $12 advance. 18+ bers should be prepared to open themselves up J B ’ F D B LM G to a multisensory experience that engages their Fri 12/20, 8:30 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, $15. 21+ People with synesthesia perceive things typi- emotions through their eyes and ears. —A cally associated with one sense, such as sound, H through one or more additional senses, such as
JAIMIEBRANCH’S debut LP, Fly or Die, heralded the arrival of an already mature tal- ent. While it wasn’t a secret that she’s a superb trumpeter, it was her chops as a composer and bandleader that made the record stand out. She devised bold themes and galvanic grooves that inspired a band of elder musicians, all fellow ex-Chicagoans, to outdo them- selves. (Branch is now based in Brooklyn, but she lived here till 2012.) Her latest release, this year’s Fly or Die II (International Anthem), proves that the success of the fi rst album 8MatikLogan was no fl uke. Once more, Branch has assembled a compelling sequence of exultant mel- COURTESYTHE ARTIST odies, atmospheric improvisations, and panglobal percussive workouts. Drummer Chad Taylor, bassist Jason Ajemian, and cellist Lester St. Louis (taking over from original cellist Tomeka Reid) deliver celebratory performances fueled by the empathy and confi dence they developed during a couple years of steady gigging. Branch also has some things to say about American racism, and her dynamic vocal performance on the multipartite “Prayer for Amerikkka Pt. 1 & 2” is every bit as persuasive as her fearless and fl exible horn playing. Labelmate Ben LaMar Gay, who has guested on both Fly or Die records, opens the show. —B M
28 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll Find more music listings at chicagoreader.com/soundboard. MUSIC N LINCOLN AVENUE, CHICAGO IL OLDTOWNSCHOOL.ORG . .
JUST ADDED ON SALE THIS FRIDAY! a pop-punk indictment of the way alternative media frameworks developed by punks in the 80s and 90s Global Dance Party: Bossa Tres - Samba Party to challenge power structures have been co-opted Global Dance Party: Carpacho y su Super by the alt-right at the expense of the left. Album Combo: Noche Colombiana opener “Hate Conquers All” begins with a sample FOR TICKETS, VISIT OLDTOWNSCHOOL.ORG from a Trump speech before the band dives into a grooving, anthemic ripper that rejects the idea that love alone can beat those who seek to destroy us. FRIDAY, DECEMBER PM Rather than mire listeners in a sense of helpless- ness, Anti-Flag urge them to be strong and get Bettye LaVette involved in the fi ght: as vocalist-guitarist Justin Sane sings in “Unbreakable,” “What doesn’t kill us now / SATURDAY, DECEMBER PM Will lead us back from hell.” —J L Mariachi Herencia
Jaimie Branch’s Fly or Die See Pick of the de Mexico Week, page 28. Ben LaMar Gay opens. 8:30 PM, A Very Merry Christmas Concert Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, $15. 21+ FRIDAY, JANUARY PM
Case An Abstract Tribe opens. 7 PM, Beat Masters of Hawaiian Music: Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont, $10. 17+ George Kahumoku Jr, Anti-Flag JOSH MASSIE Chicago rockers Case make wispy, heart-on-sleeve Led Kaapana, Kawika folkish songs that befit coffeehouses and 2000s indie bands. Their style isn’t exactly en vogue, but Kahiapo tests and demonstrations, including one outside the fi vesome are skilled enough to easily draw upon the 2008 Republican convention. They’ve even disparate sounds that’ll draw in listeners who typi- SUNDAY, JANUARY PM FRIDAY20 launched a couple of organizations of their own; cally find indie-rock stuffy. On “So Much It Could one of them, Military Free Zone, opposes military Be; So Little Is,” off the 2018 EP Questions of Space, The Sweet Remains Anti-Flag J. Navarro & the Traitors, Code, and recruiting in schools. And while many punk bands front man Cale Zepernick sings in a soft falset- In Szold Hall Blind Adam & the Federal League open. 8 PM, become more complacent with age, Anti-Flag have to that recalls Rhye leader Mike Milosh, and helps Reggies’ Rock Club, 2105 S. State, $26, $21 in only grown more resolute in their fight for social elevate the sumptuous R&B vibe of the shimmy- SATURDAY, JANUARY PM advance. 17+ justice, and you can feel their rage in their music. ing acoustic guitars. Case’s versatility have helped In 2018 they released American Reckoning, which them crossed over into other scenes; they’ve got- Mipso with special guests Bridget Kearney For the better part of 30 years, Pittsburgh band compiles acoustic versions of songs from their ten gigs playing with hip-hop band Manwolves and & Benjamin Lazar Davis Anti-Flag have made unapologetically confronta- previous two albums (2015’s American Spring and buzzy rapper Ric Wilson, who also tapped Case tional political punk, cranking out fervent, hook- 2017’s American Fall) with a few protest-rock covers cofounder Seamus Masterson to play violin on his FRIDAY, FEBRUARY PM driven diatribes against facism, racism, animal cru- (including John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth”) and 2018 EP, BANBA. On Case’s self-released debut elty, the surveillance state, and other social ills. highlights their lyrical chops with its mix of dark and album, June’s A Place We Belong they o en sound They’ve also walked the walk, using their band as lighthearted moods. On the upcoming 20/20 Vision timid, particularly on their most straightforward and Sam Bush a platform to support a variety of causes (among (Spinefarm), they’re going straight for the jugular somber cuts. But when they bust out colorful fl our- them Amnesty International, the ACLU, Green- of the Trump administration and all the theocrats, ishes, such as on the horn-heavy climaxes in “Take FRIDAY, FEBRUARY PM peace, and Pittsburgh’s Center for Victims of Vio- white supremacists, gun lobbyists, and other right- It Away,” they show they’ve got the makings of a lence and Crime) and playing free shows at pro- wing thugs in its gravitational pull. The title track is promising career. —L G J iLe in Szold Hall OLDTOWNSCHOOL.ORG
Tama Sumo & Lakuti COURTESY THE ARTIST are good for
Buy gift certifi cates at
ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 29 Find more music listings at MUSIC chicagoreader.com/soundboard.
continued from 29
Tama Sumo & Lakuti Harry Cross opens. 10 PM, Smart Bar, 3730 N. Clark, $20, $15 in advance. 21+
Tama Sumo and Lakuti, each a key player in elec- tronic music for nearly three decades, have been linked professionally and romantically for sever- al years, even though their journeys started in dif- ferent continents. Lerato Khathi, aka Lakuti, went to her fi rst rave in Johannesburg in 1990, and since then she’s worn several hats: DJ, promoter, book- ing agent, and label head. She established her fi rst label, Süd Electronic, while living in London in 2002 (during that time she also organized a series of underground parties, also called Süd Electron- ic). Within five years, Lakuti had moved to Berlin, where she launched the Uzuri Recordings imprint, established the Uzuri Artist Bookings & Manage- ment agency, and met her future partner in life and music. Born Kerstin Egert, Tama Sumo got her fi rst DJ gig in 1993, spinning at a bar called Drama Anne Heaton COURTESYTHEARTIST in Berlin’s hip Kreuzberg neighborhood. She’s since grown into a foundational figure in Berlin’s dance unexpected turns and upli ing jolts, I wish it could of the planetary spheres together. Starting in total scene, and maintains a residency at the city’s inter- soundtrack my entire day. —L G darkness, the duo slowly build up their rhythmic nationally renowned club Berghain (as well as at its alchemy on bells, tablas, djembes, and trap kits as smaller adjacent venue, Panorama Bar). Lakuti and the sun begins to rise and peek through the win- Tama Sumo began collaborating musically a few dows. As the sound swells, a cosmic communion years ago, and in their DJ mixes they reach across SATURDAY21 between audience and performers unfolds and dance music’s past and draw from their own histo- the musical rite completes itself in the illuminating ries to develop expansive, engrossing musical narra- The 29th Annual Winter Solstice rays of our giant life-giving orb (you know, the sun). tives. They made their fi rst Web mix for Discwoman Concert Series with hamid Drake & I simply can’t imagine a more beautiful and spiritual in 2017, weaving house and techno edits togeth- Michael Zerang See also Sunday and way to bring in the new year—it reminds me of the er with Tall Black Guy’s arty hip-hop, Loleatta Hol- Monday. 6 AM, Links Hall at Constellation, 3111 N. title free-jazz originator and demigod Albert Ayler loway’s refi ned disco, and Allan Harris’s rangy jazz. Western, $30. b gave his 1969 album Music Is the Healing Force of The mix lasts just short of two hours, but with all its the Universe. My Reader colleague Bill Meyer, who I have to admit, I literally slept on going to Michael compiled a history of the solstice concerts for the Zerang and Hamid Drake’s winter solstice concerts Reader in 2015, declared in a preview for the 2016 for the fi rst 27 years (though granted, I was only 17 installment, “I’ve never left one without feeling when the fi rst one happened). Out-of-town friends uplifted and hopeful for a better year to come.” I even crashed at my pad to attend the early-morning wholeheartedly agree, and I wish that I could make shows, but as a former night owl, I always thought up for lost time—or at least that we’ll get 29 more 6 AM was just too early. That finally changed last years of this fun, sacred, upli ing music. I won’t miss year, as this old dog has finally become capable it again —S K Est.Est.1954 1954 of getting up at a decent hour. At my fi rst solstice Celebrating over 6165 years of service service concert, I was moved to the point that I vowed to to Chicago! make them an annual tradition. “Concert” might not The 22nd Annual Holiday of Horror 1800 W. DIVISION even be the right word to describe these events— Macabre headline the Rock Club; Novembers (773) 486-9862 I’d liken them more to happenings or ceremonies, Doom, Without Waves, and Everything Must Die because there’s true magic in them. Zerang and open. Hewhocorrupts headline the Music Joint; Come enjoy one of Drake should need no introduction to most local Something Is Waiting and Extraction Point open. Chicago’s finest beer gardens! music lovers, as these two percussionists, magicians, 6:30 PM, Reggies’, 2105 S. State, $20. Rock Club and genuine forces of nature have CVs as long as 21+, Music Joint 17+ FEBRUARYSEPTEMBERJADECEMBERNUARY 11...... 20 23 1912 ...... MIKE DA DANNYFLABBYVID QUINN FLABBY FELTENDRAHER HOFFMAN HOFFMAN SHOW SHOW 8PM 8PM SEPTEMBERJADECEMBERNUARY 12...... 21 2013 .....WAGNER OBLIQUESTRAY AMERICAN&BOLTS MORSE STRATEGIES DRAFT novels. A Chicago native of Assyrian descent, Zer- FEBRUARYSEPTEMBERJA NUARY 13...... 22 24 .....THE .....BADJEFFDADYRK NAMOSFORUM AND DJRO SKID MARIOOM LICIOUS MEN ang has been playing and composing music since For 22 years, south-side murder-metal legends SEPTEMBER DECEMBER 23 14 ....WHOLESOMERADIO NO JOE HERO LANASA & SOMEBODY’S DJ NIGHT SINS JADECEMBERNUARY 14...... 21 Z28SKIPPIN’WHITEWOLFSONICPRINCESSTO NYROCKS DO ROSARIO GROUP 1976. He has more than 100 titles in his record- Macabre have been running their Holiday of Horror MURPHYDUSTYMOJO THOMPSON WINDS 49 9:30PM JANUARY 17...... MIKEFOSTER FELTENJA MIE& HIGGINSWAGNER & FRIENDS ed catalog, and he’s played all over the world with festival, enabling Chicago metalheads to blow off JADECEMBERNUARY 18...... 2215 WHOLESOMERADIOTONY DO MIKE ROSARIO FELTON GROUP DJ NIGHT FEBRUARYDECEMBER 25 2316 .....WHOLESOMERADIOTHE RCPROSPECT RON BIG AND BAND RACHELFOUR 7PM 9PM SHOW DJ NIGHT free-jazz heavies such as Peter Brötzmann, Jaap seasonal stress in a cathartic evening of joyous bru- SEPTEMBERJADECEMBERNUARY 19...... 24 27 .....RC NO BIG HERO BAND SITU 7PMATION DAVID DECEMBER 18 MORSEMAXLIELLIAM & WAGNER 6PM ANNA Blonk, and Mats Gustafsson. Drake, an Evansto- tality. This year’s fest features an all-local lineup of FEBRUARYDECEMBER 26 28 .....RCBIRDGANGS RICKYDTHOMAS BIG BLUES 9:30PMABA MATECKIND POWER 7PM BAND JADECEMBERNUARY 20...... 2919 TITTY THEDANNY CITTY LEAGUE FIRST DRAHERWA OFRD ERICS PROBLEMS PHIL O’REILLY nian via Louisiana, started collaborating with saint- live music across two stages at Reggies’. The main- FEBRUARYJAJANUARYDECEMBERNUARY 21...... 1 28 20 .....PETER DUDE SMILIN’OBLIQUE SAMETO BOBBY CASANONY STRATEGIES DO ANDROVASARIO THEQUARTET CLEMTONES GROUP 8PM 3PM like saxophonist Fred Anderson in 1974 and remains stage lineup in the Rock Club includes Macabre, of SEPTEMBERJAJANUARYNUARY 22...... 262 .....PETER AMERICANBAD CASANOVAFORUM RC BIG TROUBADOUR QUARTETBAND 7PM NIGHT MARCHSEPTEMBER 1...... SMILIN’ 27 .....DORIANMIKENO HERO TAFELTENJ BO BBY AND THE CLEMTONES one of the world’s most sought- a er accompanists course, as well as thrash-grind trio Everything Must JADECEMBERNUARY 24...... 21 Z28 PETER CASONOVA QUARTET SEPTEMBERJA NUARY 25...... 28 .....TOTOMURS COMPTON THE WICK in jazz and several forms of international music; Die, the atmospheric and muscular Without Waves, MARCH DECEMBER 2...... ICE 22 BULLYKYLE WHOLESOMERADIO PULPIT BOSODOWSKIX AND BIG DJ HOUSE NIGHT DECEMBER 23 RC BIG BAND 7PM SEPTEMBERJAJANUARYNUARY 26...... 293 .....SOMEBODY’S THE LAY-DOWN THE SINSHEPKATS RAMBLERS he’s worked with such giants as Don Cherry, Her- and the melancholy and masterful Novembers RICK SHANDLINGSKIPPIN’ RO DUOCK 9:30PM MARCH 3...... CHIDITARODFEATURING JOE LANASA AND TARRINGTON 10PM bie Hancock, Pharoah Sanders, and William Park- Doom. The latter recently celebrated their 30th JAJANUARYDECEMBERNUARY 27...... 4 28 FIRSTRICKYD THEWARD BLUES STRAY PROBLEMS POWERBOLTS MARCHSEPTEMBERJANUARY 7...... 3051 .....OFF ANDREWSMILIN’JA THEMIE VINE WABOBBY D 4:30PM GNERHUBER AND & THE FRIENDS CLEMTONES 3PM er. Not that these credentials will be on your mind anniversary with the release of their 11th full-length, JAJANUARYNUARY 28...... 62 NUCLEAR PROSPECTAMERICAN WHOLESOMERADIO JAZZ QUARKTETTROUBADOURFOUR 9PM 7:30PM NIGHT DJ NIGHT EVERY TUESDAY (EXCEPT 2ND) AT 8PM when you actually see and hear these two holy Nephilim Grove. The album is as heavy as anything EVERY TUESDAY (EXCEPT 2ND) AT 8PM Eve Maret RIANARCHER OPEN OPENMIC ON MIC TUESDAY HOSTED BYEVENINGS JIMIJON (EXCEPT AMERICA 2ND) sonic messengers receive and release the music they’ve ever put out, and hangs onto their roots
30 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll MUSIC
while showcasing the next phase of their gradually singer-songwriter collective Winterbloom. Some of increasing sophistication, with wind-blasted sound- the songs also draw upon the writings of Tibetan scapes and songs that at times border on progres- Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön, which helps give the sive and technical. The Music Joint show features record its soothing, spiritual touch. This hometown metal-punk hybrid Extraction Point, grimy rock show is also a release party for To the Light, and outfit Something Is Waiting, and grindcore insti- Heaton will be joined for parts of her headlining set tution Hewhocorrupts, whose music is a dirty riot by opening artists Jenny Bienemann and Anne Har- based on taking the piss out of commercial metal. ris as well as by local songwriters Frank Marotta and If you still haven’t had enough a er all these bands Leah Griffi th. —SC -J have finished slaying, you can do the tube-snake boogie at the free official afterparty at the Music Joint, which features ZZ Top tribute band Elimina- tor. —M K MONDAY23 The 29th Annual Winter Solstice Concert Series with hamid Drake & SUNDAY22 Michael Zerang See Saturday. 6 AM, Links Hall at Constellation, 3111 N. Western, $30. b The 29th Annual Winter Solstice Concert Series with hamid Drake & Michael Zerang See Saturday. 6 AM, Links Eve Maret Coupler and Hali Palombo open. Hall at Constellation, 3111 N. Western, $30. b 8:30 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western. 21+ F
When asked by online magazine Earhart wheth- Anne Heaton Jenny Bienemann & Anne Harris er she’s a musician or a performance artist, Nash- open. 7 PM, SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston, ville multi-instrumentalist and composer Eve Maret $15. b described herself as “a spiritual being that seeks to know herself and the divine within-without her Wilmette-born, Milwaukee-based pianist and singer- through creative acts.” If that sounds like a quote songwriter Anne Heaton started learning classi- from the liner notes of a new age album, well, you’re cal piano at three years old, and since then she’s not totally off the mark. Maret’s latest album, 2018’s immersed herself in a variety of music. A er study- No More Running (Banana Tapes) is an exercise in ing at Notre Dame in the 90s, Heaton moved to spaced-out 80s retro electronica; its heady frequen- New York, where she sang in in a Harlem gospel cies transmit the bright upli of starry-eyed seekers choir and toured in a band with jazz drummer Max of generations past, including innovative compos- Roach, among other things. Heaton also wrote her ers Vangelis, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, and Pauline own material, and in 2002 she released her debut Anna Strom. “Sound of Space Between” makes copi- album, Black Notebook. Though the lyrics and melo- ous use of synth shimmer as the composition builds dies of its piano-driven folk-pop songs recall artists and dissolves into ambience around Maret’s heavily such as Dar Williams and Sam Phillips, she always processed vocals. “I Can’t Hear What U Don’t Say” enchants with a clear-hearted delivery that’s dis- is sweet techno disco for gyrating fl esh computers, tinctively her own. On “Let Yourself Be” from her while “No More Running” slips between odd grind- new CD, November’s To the Light (Spill), she off ers ing noises and soaring tones that culminate in a a gentle, inspiring nudge of self-love to the listen- cascade of thereminlike swoops. “Many Moons” is er: over a rainfall of strings and drums, she sings, perhaps the album’s most affecting track; Maret’s “Now it’s black every morning / It’s black every voice, rising out of a crystalline multitracked chorus, night / You will still rise.” The album (which includes almost seems to come apart as she sings “Everyone an accompanying book of her lyrics and short writ- I love will change.” It’s not a lament so much as a ings) contains songs inspired by her collaborative prayer for a future in which we all get to shi into work with other songwriters over the past decade, new cyborg bodies made of vacuum tubes and light. including fellow members of Boston-based women’s —N Bv
LINCOLN2424 N LINCOLN AVE HALL SCHUBAS3159 N SOUTHPORT AVE
01/10 - DIVINO NIÑO + BARRIE + 02/05 - MINIATURE TIGERS 01/09 - MEGAN DAVIES 01/22 - YOUR SMITH MAJOR MURPHY + AMY O 02/06 - RYNX 01/11 - THE VULGAR BOATMEN 01/24-25 - BAILEN 01/12 - CRACKER + 02/13 - THE JUNGLE GIANTS 01/12 - SNÜZFEST 2020 01/30 - RYAN MCMULLAN CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN 02/15 - ELIZABETH MOEN 01/13 - SIR MANGO 02/01 - JAX ANDERSON 01/16 - GOTH BABE – tnk 02/18 - TENDER 01/15 - TAYLOR MCFERRIN – tnk 02/05 - ILLITERATE LIGHT 01/17 - STELLA DONNELLY – tnk 02/20 - SUSTO 01/16 - IDER – tnk 02/08 - LUCIDIOUS 01/18 - RESAVOIR – tnk 02/21 - BAG RAIDERS 01/17 - MODERN NATURE – tnk 02/11 - THE BLUE STONES 01/19 - DEEPER + CORRIDOR – tnk 02/25 - ANNA OF THE NORTH 01/18 - HAND HABITS – tnk 02/12 - THE FAMILY CREST 01/23 - BLOCKHEAD 02/26 - ZACK VILLERE 01/19 - BUCK MEEK – tnk 02/13 - CHEEKFACE 01/24 - HALF MOON RUN 02/28 - RATBOYS 01/20 - MAVERICK SABRE 02/14 - MALIIBU MIITCH 01/30 - THE ANNIVERSARY 02/29 - TELEFON TEL AVIV 01/21 - JORDY 02/15 - LONGWAVE
TICKETS AND INFO AT WWW.LH-ST.COM ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 31 CHICAGO SHOWS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IN THE WEEKS TO COME
EARLY WARNINGS b ALL AGES F WOLF BY KEITH HERZIK Winery, on sale Fri 12/20, noon b Never miss Radioactivity, Vacation a show again. 2/19/20, 8:30 PM, Empty Bot- tle, on sale Fri 12/20, 10 AM Sign up for the Rapsody 2/19/20, 8 PM, Bottom newsletter at Lounge, 17+ chicagoreader. GOSSIP Dave Rempis/Brandon Lopez/ Ryan Packard and more com/early 1/14/20, 9 PM, Elastic b WOLF Roddy Ricch 2/10/20, 7:30 PM, Patio Theater b Evanston b A furry ear to the ground of Dan Rodriguez 5/28/20, 8 PM, Ronnie Baker Brooks 12/27, SPACE, Evanston b 9 PM, FitzGerald’s, Berwyn the local music scene Rootin’ Tootin’ Boogie Brunch Brother Brothers, Dead Hors- with DJ Brett Cra, DJ es 2/23/20, 7 PM, Schubas, 18+ IF LIKE GOSSIP WOLF you’re a dedi- Motown Mustang 1/5/20, Chicago Farmer & the Field- noon, Empty Bottle F notes, Joseph Huber 2/15/20, cated hater of Christmas music, this time Sessa 2/4/20, 8 PM, Beat 8:30 PM, FitzGerald’s, Berwyn of year can be an endless waking night- Kitchen, 17+ Chicken Bone, Eve’s Twin mare. Every public space is blanketed Shadow of Intent, Inferi, Lover 1/30/20, 7:30 PM, in treacly tunes celebrating fake holiday Signs of the Swarm, Brand SPACE, Evanston b of Sacrifi ce 1/22/20, 6:30 PM, China Crisis 1/29/20, 8 PM, warmth. Bah! Humbug! Local label Eye Reggies’ Rock Club, 17+ SPACE, Evanston b Vybe Records has the right idea: its new Sir Mango, Sunvolume, Soul Earth Program, Doleful Lions, cassette compilation, Alone in Logan Elle Varner COURTESY THE SILVERMAN GROUP Honey Records 1/13/20, 8 PM, Camp Edwards 12/30, on Christmas Eve, is refreshingly frank Schubas, 18+ 8:30 PM, Empty Bottle F Soulwax 3/3/20, 8 PM, Metro, Echosmith 2/20/20, 7:30 PM, about how grim and miserable this sup- Floozies, Sunsquabi, Defunk Ata Kak 4/6/20, 8:30 PM, 18+ Park West b posedly merry season can be. The album’s NEW 3/21/20, 9 PM, Riviera The- Empty Bottle Sullivan King, Eliminate, Ethnic Heritage Ensemble eight acts include honky-tonkers Cat atre, 18+ Emily King 2/14-2/15/20, 8 PM, Grabbitz 1/10/20, 8 PM, Park 2/7/20, 7 PM, SPACE, Evan- Mullins & Them Boys (who contribute Accessory, Products, Tenci For Frankie! A Celebration SPACE, Evanston b West, 18+ ston b 1/16/20, 8:30 PM, Empty of Frankie Knuckles’s 65th King Gizzard & the Lizard System 1 featuring Physical Hazy Seas, Knees, Brass Calf the steel-guitar-saturated “Lonely Hol- Bottle Birthday featuring Michael Wizard 4/24/20, 8 PM, Radius Medium DJs, Brian Case, 1/6/20, 8:30 PM, Empty Bottle iday”) and pop polymath Magic Ian (with Acid Mothers Temple & the Serafi ni, Garrett David, Alan Chicago, 17+ Alex Morales 1/12/20, F the hilariously deadpan anti-gift-giving Melting Paraiso U.F.O., My King, Mark Grant, Zac Jones, Led Zeppelin 2 (tribute) 8:30 PM, Empty Bottle Heavy 2/6/20, 7:30 PM, Park screed “Digital Friends”). Beginning Mon- Education 4/24/20, 8 PM, and more 1/19/20, 10 PM, 1/10-1/11/20, 9 PM, House of Tchami 3/13/20, 9 PM, Radius West b Subterranean Metro Blues, 17+ Chicago, 18+ Sierra Hull, Jodee Lewis day, December 23, you can buy a copy at Airbourne 5/14/20, 8 PM, Bot- Dillon Francis 2/29/20, 9 PM, Lil Wayne 3/28/20, 9 PM, Radi- Elle Varner, J. Brown 2/1/20, 2/27/20, 8 PM, Maurer Hall, Cafe Mustache, Bric-a-Brac, the Burling- tom Lounge, on sale Fri 12/20, Radius Chicago, 18+ us Chicago, 18+ 7 and 10 PM, City Winery b Old Town School of Folk ton, and the Chicago Diner (as well as via 10 AM, 17+ Fuerza Bruta, Royal Hounds, Liquid Stranger 4/3/20, 9 PM, Vaudevileins, Terminus Victor, Music b Eye Vybe’s Bandcamp). Proceeds bene- Allie X 3/31/20, 7:30 PM, Sub- Chubby & the Gang, Aff ront, Concord Music Hall, on sale Joy Machine, Burned or Bur- Hunny, Bay Faction, Mundy’s terranean, on sale Fri 12/20, Maneaters 1/20/20, 7:30 PM, Fri 12/20, noon, 18+ ied 1/14/20, 8:30 PM, Empty Bay 3/22/20, 8 PM, Subterra- fi t Molasses Chicago, a Black and Brown 10 AM b Subterranean, 17+ Liquid Stranger, Shlump, Bottle nean, 17+ trans and nonbinary collective that hosts Dave Alvin & the Guilty Ones Gigan, Djunah 1/10/20, 9 PM, Hydraulix, Inzo 4/4/20, 9 PM, Kurt Vile, Cate Le Bon 4/8/20, Freddie Jackson 12/28, 8 PM, an awesome monthly party at Berlin. 1/25/20, 8:30 PM, FitzGerald’s, Empty Bottle, on sale Fri Concord Music Hall, on sale 8:30 PM, Thalia Hall, on sale City Winery b Three years ago, FeelTrip Records Berwyn, on sale Fri 12/20, 12/20, 10 AM Fri 12/20, noon, 18+ Fri 12/20, 10 AM, 17+ Hayden James (DJ set) 1/17/20, 11 AM God Awful Small Aff airs, Norman Long/Sara Zalek Duo, Zack Villere, Mulherin 2/26/20, 10 PM, Spy Bar owners David Beltran and Diana Bowden Amendola Vs. Blades 4/19/20, Tigershark, Don’t Quit, Jake Wark/Jakob Heine- 7:30 PM, Lincoln Hall b Albert Lee 1/4/20, 8 PM, launched a monthly Slippery Slope party 7:30 PM, SPACE, Evanston, on Neighbors You Know, Wet mann/Bill Harris 1/9/20, Stephen Wade 4/11/20, 8 PM, SPACE, Evanston b called Reptilian Traxx. Now they want to sale Fri 12/20, 10 AM b Wallet 1/15/20, 8 PM, Subter- 9 PM, Elastic b Maurer Hall, Old Town School Levin Brothers 1/16/20, focus on the label and their record store, Steve Aoki 3/13/20, 9 PM, Ara- ranean, 17+ Los Lobos, Paul Cebar Tomor- of Folk Music b 7:30 PM, Reggies’ Music Joint gon Ballroom, 18+ Goddamn Gallows, Mystery row Sound 1/17/20, 8:30 PM, Dale Watson 3/26/20, 8:30 PM, second fl oor No Requests, so the fi nal Reptilian Traxx is Bad Ambassadors, Manasseh Actions, Last False Hope FitzGerald’s, Berwyn, on sale FitzGerald’s, Berwyn, on sale Howard Levy 4 2/23/20, 7 PM, Thursday, December 19 . Music includes DJ 1/10/20, 9:30 PM, Hideout 12/29, 7 PM, Reggies’ Music Fri 12/20, 11 AM Fri 12/20, 11 AM SPACE, Evanston b sets from Beltran (aka DYB), Bowden (DJ Chandeliers, Killer Drones, I Joint Make-Up 3/7/20, 8:30 PM, Lil Tjay 2/21/20, 7 PM, Concord Hii), Druid Beat, and legendary house pro- Kong Kult 1/9/20, 9:30 PM, Shakey Graves 2/16-2/18/20, Empty Bottle Music Hall b Hideout 8 PM, SPACE, Evanston, on Manas, Rempis/Lopez Duo UPDATED Liquid Soul 2/7/20, 10 PM, ducer Steve Poindexter; the event also Charlie Reed, Flamingo sale Fri 12/20, 10 AM b 1/7/20, 9 PM, Elastic b Aventura, Romeo Santos 2/27- SPACE, Evanston b includes a pop-up record store where a Rodeo, Tobacco City, Chica- Green Jelly 1/9/20, 8 PM, Beat Mattson 2 3/6/20, 9 PM, Empty 2/29/20, 8 PM, United Center, Replicant, Fee Lion, Visceral portion of the vinyl is pay-what-you-want! go Honky Tonk DJs 1/17/20, Kitchen Bottle 2/27 and 2/29 added b Anatomy, Comfort Cure Logan Square arts hub Comfort Sta- 9 PM, Empty Bottle Sarah Harmer 5/15/20, 8 PM, Michigan Rattlers 3/12/20, 1/4/20, 8:30 PM, Empty Bottle C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Szold Hall, Old Town School 8 PM, Martyrs’ Thrice, Mewithoutyou, Drug tion is one of the city’s coziest venues. It Louisiana Band 2/7/20, of Folk Music b Mitis 1/11/20, 8:30 PM, Avon- UPCOMING Church 1/31/20, 6 PM, Con- brings together talented artists and musi- 8:30 PM, FitzGerald’s, Ber- Hellhole 3 dance party with DJ dale Music Hall, 18+ Adicts 1/29/20, 8 PM, House of cord Music Hall, 17+ cians throughout the year, but it doesn’t wyn, on sale Fri 12/20, 11 AM Cqqchifruit, DJ Pluto, and Elizabeth Moen 2/15/20, 9 PM, Blues, 17+ Tvvin, Bentleycoop, Cactus charge you so much as a thin dime to see Carl Cox, Chip E. 3/6/20, more 1/11/20, 9 PM, Empty Lincoln Hall, 18+ Bailen 1/24-1/25/20, 9 PM, Maz, Treble, Emurse 12/28, 10 PM, Radius Chicago, 18+ Bottle Oso Oso, Prince Daddy & the Schubas, 18+ 8 PM, Chop Shop, 18+ them. You can return the favor by spring- Cupcakes 2/29/20, 8 PM, Anne Hills & Bill Jones 4/19/20, Hyena, Just Friends 3/29/20, Blue Stones, JJ Wilde 2/11/20, Unknown New, Oh Yeahs ing for a $50 ticket to Comfort Station’s Metro, 18+ 1 PM, SPACE, Evanston, on 7 PM, Bottom Lounge, on sale 7:30 PM, Schubas, 18+ 1/7/20, 7:30 PM, SPACE, first Holiday Concert Benefit on Thurs- Cass Cwik & the Small Gas sale Fri 12/20, 10 AM b Fri 12/20, 11 AM, 17+ BoDeans 12/29, 7 PM, City Evanston b day, December 19, which will help fund Engines, Hughes Family Honey Butter, Nev, Khaliyah X Judith Owen, Pedro Segundo Winery b Midge Ure 1/29/20, 8 PM, City Band, Head, Skip Church 1/7/20, 8 PM, Schubas F 4/29/20, 8 PM, SPACE, Bodysnatcher, Great American Winery b many of next year’s shows. The lineup is an 1/5/20, 8:30 PM, Empty Bottle Hoodoo Gurus 11/3/20, 8 PM, Evanston, on sale Fri 12/20, Ghost, Born A New 2/19/20, Weighted, Stillwell, Antighost, absolute doozy and well worth it: Angel Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, City Winery, on sale Fri 12/20, 10 AM b 7 PM, Cobra Lounge, 17+ Pelafi na, Sugarpill 1/11/20, Bat Dawid, Bill MacKay , and headliners Poison, Joan Jett & the noon b Perpetual Groove 3/27- Bottle Brunch featuring DJ 7 PM, Cobra Lounge b Ohmme . —J R NLG Blackhearts 8/28/20, 4 PM, James Supercave 3/20/20, 3/28/20, 8 PM, Chop Shop, Catieo 1/4/20, noon, Empty William Elliott Whitmore 12/31, Wrigley Field b 9 PM, Empty Bottle 18+ Bottle F 10 PM, Sleeping Village Droeloe, Taska Black 3/6/20, Juice 4/18/20, 8 PM, Subterra- Mac Powell & the Family Billy Branch & the Sons of Whitney, Chai 1/28/20, 8 PM, Got a tip? Tweet @Gossip_Wolf or e-mail 9 PM, Concord Music Hall, 18+ nean, 18+ Reunion 2/2/20, 7 PM, City Blues 1/10/20, 10 PM, SPACE, SPACE, Evanston b v [email protected].
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If mainstream media outlets are protected by the First Amendment, then why aren’t Assange and Manning? VERTIGOGEN / FLICKR
FIRST AMENDMENT 2019’s biggest free press stories Make the holidays easy & delicious! Assange and Manning are being persecuted for speaking truth to power. By L CG
Leonard C. Goodman is a Chicago criminal Manning confessed to her crimes and was defense attorney and co-owner of the newly sentenced to 35 years incarceration. But her independent Reader. sentence was commuted after seven years by President Barack Obama, who conceded that he most important stories of the year she had acted out of a sense of duty to expose for those who care about a free press wrongdoing. Whole Foods Market Lakeview involve the arrest of Julian Assange For at least three decades, our national from the Ecuadorian embassy at government has primarily served the inter- For your catering, personal shopping the request of the U.S. government, ests of the one percent—the major donors to Tand the rearrest of the whistleblower Chelsea the Democratic and Republican parties. To & delivery needs. Manning. carry on in such an undemocratic fashion in Assange is the founder of WikiLeaks, a a country that still requires leaders to stand JP Pierson website that publishes official documents for election, our leaders need to lie with im- Off Your Plate (OYP) Service Experience Liaison exposing the crimes and lies of world leaders. punity, especially about matters of war. To 773.244.4200 Before publishing, WikiLeaks verifies that get away with this, they classify as secret the evidence submitted is authentic. Of the every o cial document that has the potential [email protected] millions of items published by WikiLeaks, to embarrass them or enlighten the people. not one has been shown to be fraudulent or Of course, Assange is not the fi rst publisher untruthful. to expose government crimes. What makes Chelsea Manning is a former Army intel- Assange such a threat, and so hated, is that ligence o cer who leaked hundreds of thou- he publishes o cial government documents sands of classifi ed documents to WikiLeaks in real time that are impossible to dispute or that exposed war crimes and official lies discredit. relating to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. To grasp the power of WikiLeaks, imagine 34 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll Have a strong opinion or perspective you’d like to share? We invite you to send ideas to [email protected]. OPINION
it had existed in 2002 during the run-up to our leaders were telling to get us to go along MOBILIZE the Iraq war. At that time, the administration with the war. Hundreds of thousands of lives A series of political engagement events as curated by of George W. Bush was telling the nation that could have been saved, and the trillions of we faced a grave threat from Iraq and its pres- dollars spent on the Iraq War could have been ident, Saddam Hussein, who we were told had used instead to give every American free reconstituted his nuclear weapons program health care, free college, and a Green New Indivisible IL9 Black Ensemble Theater Chicago and had amassed large, clandestine stock- Deal. Weekly Roundtable 4450 N. Clark St. 65 W. Jackson Blvd. piles of deadly VX, sarin, and mustard gas. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been December 19 Happy Blue Year The situation was said to be so dangerous publicly threatening Assange since Pompeo 12pm – 1pm 2.0 Roe Vs. Wade that we couldn’t even wait a couple months was CIA chief. But there is concern among 5539 N. Broadway Ave. January 13 Anniversary Event to allow a team of international weapons Assange’s foes that a fair-minded judge 6pm - 8:30pm January 23 inspectors to fi nish their job. Then-National might recognize that Assange’s actions were December Lakeview Black Ensemble Theater 5:30pm - 9pm Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice warned no di erent than the actions of the New York Rent Control Action 4450 N. Clark St. Morgan Manufacturing that the smoking gun in Iraq “may be a mush- Times and the Guardian, which also pub- December 20 401 N. Morgan St. 4pm-6pm room cloud.” lished the leaked material from Manning. If Sunrise Movement Whole Foods Market - January Hub Candidate Forum: Of course, our leaders produced no actu- these establishment papers were protected 3201 N. Ashland Ave. al evidence to support their claims about by the First Amendment, then why isn’t As- Meeting US House of January 14 Represenatives IL9 Hussein and Iraq. All of the evidence was sange and WikiLeaks? Block Party for the classifi ed. The American people—who were This explains why the U.S. government 6pm - 7:30pm January 23 Homeless & Hungry George C. Hall Library called upon to pay for the war in blood and has put Manning back in jail. They need 7:30pm - 9pm December 20 4801 S. Michigan Ave. First Unitarian Church of treasure—were not entitled to see any of the her to testify that Assange helped her 6pm-8pm Chicago actual evidence for war. The mainstream steal classifi ed documents, something the 2750 W. Harrison St. 5650 S. Woodlawn Ave. press, including the New York Times and government almost certainly knows is un- Solidarity With Our Neigbors: Chicago NPR, repeated the evidence-free assertions true. The Obama Justice Department spent Indivisible Evanston Immigrants and How to be an by our public o cials as if they were proven years trying to find evidence to justify a Book Club January 8, 2020 Their Allies Antiracist fact. The American people were given no claim that Assange did more than act as a January 14 January 28 choice but to fall in line. publisher but found nothing to justify that 7pm-9pm Page 1 Books (Central 7pm - 9pm 6pm - 7:30pm Years later, after it was too late to do any accusation. Besides, if the Trump Justice Street Business District) KAM Isaiah Israel Leaugue of Women good, the actual intelligence reports were Department had any evidence that Assange 1808 Central Street 1100 E. Hyde Park Blvd. Voters leaked. They showed that nearly everything participated in the theft of classifi ed docu- Evanston, IL 60201 332 S. Michigan Ave. we were told by the Bush administration ments, it wouldn’t need to force Manning to Women’s March about its evidence for war was a lie. The wild say it. Chicago 2020 Public Workshop claims about chemical weapons were all This holiday season, Assange is locked Handmaids Stand Against MFL January 18 February 9 based on the stories of a known fabricator away in the Belmarsh high-security prison January 11, 2020 11am - 1pm 4pm - 6pm named Curveball, and on tales invented in London, awaiting extradition to the U.S., 12:30pm-3:30pm Grant Park Chicago Therapy under torture by a CIA prisoner named al-Li- while Manning is back in jail in Virginia. Daley Center Plaza Collective bi. The dire warnings about a “mushroom Our government believes that any person 50 W. Washington St. Impact of the 2020 5247 N. Clark St. cloud” were based on a forged document that with the courage and integrity to expose the Census: Collections, pretended to show Hussein purchasing urani- misuse of power must be eliminated. I am 2020 Deputy Voter Concerns, Changes um from Africa, together with a bogus report sending these words of encouragement to Registrar Training January 21 that ordinary aluminum tubes purchased by Assange and Manning. May they continue to January 13 5:30pm - 7pm Iraq might be used to enrich uranium. fi nd the strength to resist a ruthless foe and 5pm - 6pm Union League Club of Had WikiLeaks existed in 2002, a patriotic help save our democracy. v officer like Manning might have leaked the o cial intelligence reports exposing the lies @GoodmanLen For more information of listed events please visit persistlist.org M O B I L I Z E sponsored by GREEN e l e m e n t RESALE www.big-medicine.org please recycle this paper ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 35 OPINION
The Chicago Reader is community-centered
and community-supported. SAVAGE LOVE There will be blood Plus, do your screw diligence and read the fi ne print on dating profi les. CHICAGO By D S
: I am a 60-year-old panicking because they saw ulate through it (and some heterosexual man, and I am blood in their semen one women do, too!)—it runs FOR being told that I’m normal. time a decade ago, Dr. Win- through the prostate gland, a I have been to several ter says a one-off bloody gland that produces about a urologists, and they say I load isn’t something to worry third of the seminal fluid. An have no medical issues. But about. But if you saw blood enlarged prostate squeezes I’m having a hard time buying in your semen that one time the urethra, which can make it, because for the last six and you have health insur- urination difficult and uncom- CHICAGOANS months, my ejaculate has ance and you’re a hypochon- fortable, and can also result been extremely bloody. This driac like me, Dr. Winter rec- in—you guessed it—blood in is embarrassing, especially ommends a visit to a doc for the semen. since oral sex—giving and a short consultation and a One possible “fix” for receiving—has always been quick physical exam. an enlarged prostate is a You are at the heart of this newspaper. Founded my favorite. The urologists’ “But in a case like TMIAS’s, transurethral resection of in 1971, we have always been free, and have always explanation is that as you where the issue is ongoing the prostate (TURP), which centered Chicago. Help us to continue to curate get older, there are blood and the subject is over 55,” basically amounts to “a coverage of the diverse and creative communities vessels within the penis that said Dr. Winter, “a typical ‘roto-rootering’ of the pros- of this fabulous city. can break during an erection. evaluation would include a tate,” as Dr. Winter so vividly They gave me some pills PSA blood test (a prostate put it. A doctor shoves some- to ensure there was no cancer screening test), as thing called a resectoscope Your donation keeps the presses rolling. infection, but then they told well as testing for STIs (such up your urethra and slices me that I’ll probably have to as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and away chunks of prostate use condoms for the rest of herpes), along with a urinaly- tissue. CHIP IN HERE: my life. My partner doesn’t sis to check for blood in the “The problem with these www.chicagoreader.com/members need contraceptives, so we urine and urinary infections. procedures is that they can haven’t used condoms for If those tests were not reveal- cause a person to stop ejac- decades. If I were bleeding ing, I would consider doing ulating at all,” said Dr. Win- out of any other orifi ce, an ultrasound or MRI of the ter. “So if TMIAS has already there would be a team of prostate and surrounding had a fairly robust evaluation, doctors helping me. Is there organs, as well as putting a then either using condoms really no hope? —T M I camera up the urethra (called or just having his sex part- A’ S cystoscopy) to check out the ner adapt to the presence plumbing.” of blood may be the best a: “Hematospermia—blood Assuming you’ve had all solution. And in the absence in the ejaculate—is usually not those tests, and your pros- of an infection, shooting a considered a big deal, in the tate was present on photo bloody load into your partner sense that the vast majority day, and the doctors found is not dangerous. Couples of the time it’s not a sign no sign of cancer or infec- have intercourse during men- of cancer,” said Dr. Ashley tion, TMIAS, then what the struation without harm, and Winter, a board-certifi ed hell is going on? plenty of F-F couples have urologist, the cohost of The “Typically, the cause would sex during menstruation as Full Release podcast, and my be something such as dilated well.” go-to expert on all blood-in- blood vessels along the ejac- But hold on and back up spunk-related matters. “I’d ulate exit route,” aka the ure- and wait just a goddamned want to know how much he’s thra. Quickly: The urethra is minute: Didn’t your doctors actually bleeding and what a tube that connects the out- say everything looked nor- WANT TO DONATE VIA CHECK? Make checks payable to “Chicago Reader” and they’ve done to check him side world (and all those piss mal? Doesn’t that mean your mail to Chicago Reader, Suite 102, 2930 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616. out. But that said, sometimes bottoms) to your bladder; it’s prostate isn’t enlarged? Include your mailing address, phone, and email—and please indicate if you are a guy with a large prostate the tube we all piss through. “A ‘normal’ prostate gener- okay with us thanking you by name in the paper. will bleed with orgasm.” In males, the urethra pulls ally means that it is not can- For everyone out there double duty, men also ejac- cerous and normal in size for
36 CHICA O READER - DECEMBER ll OPINION
your age,” said Dr. Winter. on my profi le. Usually guys nonmonogamous. Was there “As you get older, your pros- bring that up when they’ve a better way to have shared tate gets bigger. So it’s highly read it, and he hadn’t this information? A time probable that what TMIAS mentioned it once. So I sooner or later? We were has is a big-ass-but-normal- brought it up at the end of really clicking, so his freak- for-his-age prostate. And big- our second date when we out was a huge surprise. ger prostates tend to have were having post-dinner —R T F P larger blood vessels lining drinks at a bar. In retrospect, the urethra and are therefore I should have set up a time a: Dude should have read more likely to bleed when to seriously discuss this, not the fi ne print on your profi le. he experiences those lovely spring it on him while we He should have done his contractions associated with were drinking, but I felt like screw diligence—but you orgasm. When TMIAS was the longer it went unsaid, should have done yours, too. told that ‘there are blood the more “betrayed” he Or followed through with vessels within the penis that might feel. And boy, did he yours. You read the fi ne print can break,’ I suspect his doc have a reaction. He went on his profi le, RTFP, you was referring to this and from “This is not a deal knew he described himself was trying to simplify the breaker” to “Oh my god, I as monogamous, but you explanation.” can’t do this, I should just went on a date with him And while the presence go” in 20 minutes, and then anyway—you went on two of blood in your ejaculate rushed out of the bar. We dates and swapped a lot of may not be normal or ideal, cleared the air the next messages—without stopping TMIAS, it’s likely your normal, day, and he apologized for to ask him the dreaded direct and there’s nothing your doc- being a jerk and bailing. But question (DDQ): “My profi le tor—or a team of them—can clearly we’re not going to says I’m nonmonogamous do about it. be dating going forward. and only looking for the “Sometimes a lack of a Maybe this was always how same, and yours says you’re ‘fix’ is not dismissiveness, it’s a guy like him was going to monogamous. Are you just an admittance that a lot react, but when is the right making an exception for of things medical folks do/ time to bring nonmonogamy me because I’m amazing or offer aren’t perfect,” said Dr. up if you meet someone did you not read my whole Winter. in real life fi rst? Or if it’s profi le?” You should have clear someone didn’t read asked this guy the DDQ not : I’m a woman with a dating the damn fi ne print on your to spare him the horror of profi le on OkCupid that profi le before jumping your company and avoid states I’m nonmonogamous straight to infatuation? He wasting his time, RTFP, but and only looking for the claimed his meltdown was to spare yourself that stupid same. Recently, I had two an emotional response to scene in the bar and avoid great dates with a guy the confl ict he was feeling wasting your time. v who described himself as between (a) the expectation monogamous on his profi le. that serious relationships Send letters to mail@ However, a er our fi rst need to lead to monogamy savagelove.net. Download date and a lot of messaging, and (b) the great time he the Savage Lovecast every I intuited that he hadn’t was having with someone Tuesday at savagelovecast. actually read the fi ne print who turned out to be (gasp) com. @fakedansavage
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[email protected], ROOM MATES shows at . reference Job ID: EOIR TransUnion, LLC seeks Lead (6) Managing client and test automatn solutns for duties will be performed using 773-935-4995 chicagoreader.com/early Manager 2019 in the subject Developers for Chicago, IL stakeholder expectations the delivery of test engnrg wide variety of tools but mainly line. location to lead team to design, by providing project status teams. Will be resp for creatg using webMethods, Java/ Albany Park Apartment to Share analyze, build, test, confi gure and performance updates, manual & automatn scripts J2EE, and Webservices; Marketing Specialist: Research software applications. Master’s presenting proposed solutions using diff framewrks/tools OR using Oracle PL/SQL, market cond, det. potential in Comp. Sci./Comp. Eng./any and tracking budgets; (7) for multiple projects. Reqs a Advanced PL/SQL, and Toad; sales of constr services, Eng. or related field + 2yrs Acting as the sole technical Bachelor’s degree or foreign OR using webMethods, IBM create. Design, create, deliver exp. or Bachelor’s in Comp. architect with responsibility equiv in Comp Sci, Info Tech, Sterling Suite & MuleSoft; OR marketing programs to support Sci./Comp. Eng./any Eng. or for the application’s design; Math or a reltd quant fi eld & 5 using AS400, CLLE, RPGLE. expansion of the company. related fi eld + 5yrs exp. req’d. (8) Interacting with clients yrs of exp in sftwr testg. Exp Multiple positions available Maintains company's Req’d skills: software analysis and team members to must incl: Assisting in bldg for Software Developers website, social media. & design exp. w/Agile/Scrum communicate and coordinate automated testg frameworks using one of the above Exchange marketing materials SDLC, data integration & technical project activities; utilizg Selenium WebDriver, combination of skills. Not all w/ listing agents. Public migration (ab-initio (continuous (9) Implementing iterative Appium, Cucumber, Sauce positions require all skills. relations & brand building. flows, plans))/ETL, Big Data methods such as Scrum and Labs & Programming Work locations for all positions (Hive, Spark) & Relational XP (Extreme Languages such as Java; will include Chicago, IL and CLASSIFIEDS Bachelor's Degree in any The Chicagothe Reader Guide platform to Business and Professional Services field. 2 yrs exp. Must speak Database design, Python, Web Programming) and employing Working on test automation also at various unanticipated Polish. Res: MK Construction API, SQL query optimization Agile Practices including solutns for the delivery of test locations in the U.S. as & Builders, Inc. 2000 N & data modeling, Linux, shell story writing, task estimation, engnrg solutns; Identifying assigned which may require JOBS scripting, CI/CD, Control iteration development, pair the sftwr depndncis, risks relocation. Applicants for all Milwaukee Ave, Now Hiring! Chicago IL 60647 Center, Waterfall, Agile; leading programming, stand ups, on the enterprise app sys & positions must specifically BIG “O” MOVERS ADMINISTRATIVE technical teams in onshore/ Continuous Integration and preprg the overall test strategy identify all post- secondary Drivers & This could Spring & Summer Sale Experienced Movers SALES & TEACHERS- Intercultural off shore model. 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Language School, in Chicago, The Smart Cube Inc. seeks Practices; (11) Coordinating the existing, evolving test Applicants should identify (773) 487-9900 (773) 487-9900 SPAS & SALONS IL has multiple openings: VPs, Business Dev – Research distributed technical teams automation frameworks and clearly which position they BIKE JOBS 1 opening for: Teacher, & Analytics for Chicago, IL loc across countries and time Implementing are applying for in their cover Kindergarten Spanish to dev & execute strategies zones; and (12) Conducting solutions for test automation; letter and resumes must show Psychic Readings GENERAL Program. 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Job available -24-Hr Emergency Service FOR SALE leads & dev solutions for life sci Inc.)(Chicago, IL): Will design & Code FOEIICHI, 330 W 34th at the Chicago Reader for came in for. I will tell you. I will call formative skills, and Spanish your friends and enemies by name. NON-RESIDENTIAL language & other subjects in clients; Sales Navigator; Sales implmnt Cloud Native RESTful St, NY, NY 10001. someone with experience CREDIT ROOMATES both English & Spanish. Req: Force; Hubspot. Up to 50% Application Programming in development at nonprofit She guarantees to help you. CARS Must have completed at least travel req’d. Email resume to Interfaces (API) used by our Business Analyst & Multiple organizations. Media No problem is too big for her. www.intimate-bliss.com ACCEPTED C Maguire Ref: RK, Christie. websites, native mobile apps, Software Developers experience a bonus. 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Reqs a to improve computer systems. newspaper, a legacy free unanticipated locations Bachelor’s degree or foreign Interact with customers GOODS Email resume to careers@ weekly founded in 1971. ROOFING SERVICES interculturalmontessori.org & throughout the U.S. Will equiv in Comp/Electronic for requirement gathering, Send resume and cover refer to appropriate job ref#. manage project teams in Enginrg, Comp Sci, Info Tech requirement analysis, letter by Dec. 20 to: tbaim@ BRICKWORK HEALTH & the building of complex, or a reltd field plus 3 yrs of identification of the business chicagoreader.com. Arthur J. Gallagher Service custom-designed, multi-tier, exp in Sftwr Testg. Experience use cases and translation GARAGES WELLNESS enterprise-level business must incl: designg & implemntg of the requirements into HELP WANTED: Graphic ROOFING, GUTTERS & MORE Company, Rolling Meadows, For 40 years, 30,000+ satisfied customers have trusted Second City. INSTRUCTION IL, seeks SharePoint Specialist applications that utilize object- cloud native RESTful app functional use cases. Create Designer. Part-time position at to implement Out-of-the-Box oriented (OO) technologies, progrmmg interfaces (API) and manage documents the Chicago Reader creating MUSIC & ARTS changes & provide end-user such as Ruby, .NET and/or meeting scalaility, availability like business requirement editorial and marketing COLLABO TIVE NOTICES support on SharePoint 2010. J2EE and Agile Methodologies. & performance reqmt & documents, functional content for print and digital. To advertise, call 312-392-2970 PREMARITAL Brigi e Bachelor’s degree in Computer analyzg sftwr capabilities to requirement documents, Media experience preferred, FAMILY Req. BS + 3yrs. exp. Mail Schmidt SHINGLE ROOFS FLAT ROOFS NEW GARAGES MESSAGES resume to: Attn: HR (000133), Information Systems or implmnt upgrades & facilitate system verification and user passion for visual storytelling or DIVORCE related field. Will accept any integratn of app perfrmnce acceptance test cases. required. Ideal candidate has LEGAL NOTICES 2850 Golf Rd., Rolling email [email protected] MEDIATION Bell, P.C. FINANCING AVAILABLE Licensed, Bonded & Insured—IL Roofing Lic. #104.013526 Meadows, IL 60008. Must combination of education, mgmtt (APM) tools; wrkg Conduct user Acceptance a degree in graphic design ADULT SERVICES experience, or training. The w/ a variety of continuous Test and make sure the or equivalent experience, Convenient Chicago & Evanston O ces reference Job Title: SharePoint 312-360-1124 | [email protected] | Brigi eBell.com Specialist and Job ID: 000133. applicant must have 5 yrs integration (CI), continuous digital solution is deployed proficiency in InDesign CC EOE. exp. in job offered Product delivery (CD), & DevOps tools successfully to the end 2019 and Photoshop CC 2019 Architect, Technical Lead, such as Jenkins, GIT and Chef users. Multiple Software (Bridge a plus), and strong
38 CHICAOREADER - DECEMBER ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 39 typography and organization skills. If you are a dog walker, work in the Hourly rate based on experience. pet industry, or a college student Send resume and portfolio to: this could be for you, however, all [email protected]. applications are taken. Furnished Never miss a apartment, great rent at $525. Help take care of dogs. Bedroom REAL available. Free laundry and many show again. ESTATE perks. Danny. 773-618-0004 RENTALS ONE BEDROOM MARKETPLACE GENERAL EARLY WARNINGS Large 1-bedroom apartment near NEIU. 3508 W Hollywood. Hardwood SERVICES fl oors Cats OK. Laundry in building. $825/month. water included. Danielle’s Lip Service, Erotic Phone Find a concert, buy a ticket, and sign up to get (312)399-3524. moranproperty1@ Chat. . Must be +. Credit gmail.com ebit Cards ccepted. ll etishes advance notice of Chicago’s essential music and Fantasies Are Welcomed. Personal, Private and Discrete. ROOM MATES 773-935-4995 shows at chicagoreader.com/early. Albany Park Apartment to Share
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Psychic Readings Palm and Tarot DISCOVER If you are worried, troubled, sick or YOUR BLISS unhappy through love, business, Travel Your Way marriage, luck or whatever your SAVE BIG problem may be, I have reunited the ON A NEW HVAC SYSTEM 708-391-9009 separated, healed the sick and help Up to $2,500 savings for a limited time! many people with money problems. -Energy Efficient Where others have failed. I have FINANCING -Innovative comfort features AVAILABLE -Great maintenance contracts succeeded. I will not ask what you -24-Hr Emergency Service came in for. I will tell you. I will call your friends and enemies by name. CREDIT She guarantees to help you. CARS No problem is too big for her. www.intimate-bliss.com ACCEPTED (773)-540-5037 *WARNING: Must be 18 years or older to visit website and/or place order. Call today for a free estimate! www.herreralandscapeschicago.com 1222 E 47th St 773-895-2797 | www.MironHVAC.com
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COLLABO TIVE To advertise, call 312-392-2970 PREMARITAL Brigi e FAMILY SHINGLE ROOFS FLAT ROOFS NEW GARAGES or DIVORCE Schmidt email [email protected] MEDIATION Bell, P.C. FINANCING AVAILABLE Licensed, Bonded & Insured—IL Roofing Lic. #104.013526 Convenient Chicago & Evanston O ces 312-360-1124 | [email protected] | Brigi eBell.com
ll DECEMBER - CHICAOREADER 39