The month of January is usually slow in terms of shows and touring bands, but certainly not slow enough to warrant an entire month of not updating my site. There were definitely some great shows that occurred during the month, but I could find neither the time nor the resources to document any of it (my camera decided to break on New Years Eve, not helping matters much). For such negligence, I apologize. I'll try to keep posting on the regular, and February is shaping up to be a great month for music in Chicago, starting off with tonight!

Pinebender shows are a lot like my recent posting habits. They just don't happen very often, which is unfortunate considering how great this band is to see live. The dense wall of sound they are able to create, as a trio and no bass player, is something to behold. There are lots of bands in Chicago who go to great lengths to expand the borders of music and push the envelope of creativity, which is obviously a vital element to any music scene. However, as good as that can be, I think sometimes people forget how great it is to see a band get up on stage to play inspiring, dynamic, ass-kicking rock music. Pinebender do this better than many bands here in Chicago, and their straightforward approach to writing riffs and melodic passages is such a breath of fresh air to me because they execute so well.

Check out the tunes on their myspace, or this video for "Broadcast All Your Dreams" from Pinebender's 2006 release, Working Nine To Wolf.

There haven't been many songs lately that I can incessantly listen to, but ever since I heard Hollywood Holt's "Throw a Kit", there are a few people who have endured my constant attempts at rapping, probably wishing I'd just STFU. Although my rap skills are somewhat lackluster, I can assure you that Hollywood Holt is one Chicago artist that can bring it, and you can count on hearing a lot more about him in the months and years to come.

To give you a point of reference as to how little I actually know about rap music today, I had no idea that the song is basically a cover of Rich Boy’s “Throw Some D’s”, but to be perfectly honest, I enjoy Holt's version much more than the original. I guess there is something about the culture of mopeds that I can relate to more than driving a Cadillac, but even that is a serious stretch considering I have never taken a ride in either.

Most live hip hop I have ever seen ends up being a serious disappointment. Perhaps its no fault to the artists themselves, but there is something that consistently does not translate from recordings to the stage. However, one night last summer/fall (my memory fails me lately) at the Hideout, I had the pleasure of watching Hollywood Holt perform, and the show ended up being one of the best live acts I saw last year. There is something geniune about his stage presence and delivery that I can really admire. Even though I was surrounded by tons of Chicago hipsters, which completely had me screaming "IRONIC!" in my head, you couldn't deny the energy felt by the entire room that night. Holt had the entire crowd moving along to his beats, a feat that very few artists can lay claim to these days.

Hollywood Holt takes the stage tonight at Darkroom, along with Yea Big & Kid Static, Meat Number 5, DJ Johnny Kesh, DJ Mikey Dance Panther, and DJ Trew. More info on Hollywood Holt and the show can be found over at Miles Raymer's great Sharp Darts column which appeared in the Chicago Reader yesterday. Before you head on over there, check out the video for "Throw A Kit" and tell me with a straight face that this song doesn't completely kick ass and you couldn't see yourself listening to it 10 times in a row (not that I have or anything....)

Whenever a new Clutch record showed up in the BMG catalogs I used to get, you could bet your ass I was going to buy it. Over the years, they have fallen in and out of my rotation, but most importantly, they remain an option in my musical library. I've owned plenty of of records in the time between my first Clutch purchase (S/T release, 1995) and my last (Pitchfork & Lost Needles, 2005), and many of them have ended up in used record shops or better yet, tools to land me one step closer to my lifelong dream of being an ultimate frisbee champion.

I keep my Clutch records around because I have nothing but respect for this Germantown, MD band. Formed in 1991, Clutch marches on to this day, and have shared the stage with so many great metal/punk/rock acts over the years, and have outlived many of their peers as well. What started as a gritty/post-punk sound has evolved into a a group that still remembers their roots, but favors a more rock and roll style. They have a little bit of everything that you can latch onto, which isn't always the best formula for my tastes, but how can you argue with the longevity and the body of work that Clutch has managed to compile? Check 'em out for yourself tomorrow night at The Metro.

If you ever attended the Fireside Bowl between 1994-2004, you have a story to tell. Hell, even the jerks who drove by and honked at/harassed a line of punk kids at some sold-out show probably have some funny anecdotes too. Anyways, this myspace site is requesting any story you would be willing to share about your experience at the Fireside. Check it out, and contribute!