- Blogs, Bleader, Apr 26, 2013
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RIP George Jones, my gateway to really hearing country music
The brilliant singer George Jones has died, but as the guy who made country music make sense for me, he'll live forever.
- Blogs, Bleader, Apr 23, 2013
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Feisty Nashville singer Kacey Musgraves tweaks conventions from within
The young country singer, who goes against the grain of Nashville while working within its star-making machinery, plays Joe's on Wednesday.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music, Apr 18, 2013
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The Secret History of Chicago Music: The Sundowners
These beloved country workhorses never toured or scored a hit, but their repertoire of 25,000 songs made them hugely influential on the alt-country scene.
- Blogs, Bleader, Apr 10, 2013
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BR5-49's Chuck Mead rediscovers his sweet spot in classic honky-tonk
The former BR5-49 regains his bearings on Back at the Quonset Hut, a collection of hard-core country covers.
- Blogs, Bleader, Feb 26, 2013
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Blake Shelton and that old fart Dale Watson
Hard-core honky-tonk singer Dale Watson, defending his tradition from Blake Shelton, returns to Martyrs' for a show Wednesday night.
- Blogs, Bleader, Jan 30, 2013
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New goodies from the vaults of Bakersfield country legend Buck Owens
Omnivore Recordings uncovers some previously unreleased treasures of Bakersfield-style country.
- Music, Artist on Artist, Dec 11, 2012
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Artist on Artist: Honky-tonk torch carrier Dale Watson talks to local country journeyman Lawrence Peters
"It's like they bought the name 'Harley-Davidson' and then stuck a Schwinn out there."
- Blogs, Bleader, Dec 7, 2012
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Chris Darrow: next year's best country-rock reissue
Mellow country grooves from legendary sideman Chris Darrow
- Blogs, Bleader, Nov 6, 2012
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On the charts: Insurgent country
Brad Paisley challenges his base
- Blogs, Bleader, Sep 4, 2012
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My I-94 jam of the day: Eric Church's "Drink in My Hand"
The best thing on country radio today
- Music, Artist on Artist, Apr 23, 2012
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Artist on Artist: Paul Burch talks to Jon Langford of the Waco Brothers
"Getting onstage with the Wacos was like being on a jet engine"
- Blogs, Bleader, Apr 11, 2012
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The unstoppable Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson, who performs tonight and tomorrow at the Paramount Theater in Aurora, keeps trucking as he nears his 79th birthday.
- Movies, Movie Sidebar, Apr 10, 2012
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John Wayne imitators, pre-op transsexuals, and mind-reading iPods
Four days of screenings highlight the kinship of music and cinema at the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival
- Blogs, Bleader, Dec 16, 2011
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Weekend music movies: Cisco Pike
Kris Kristofferson's highly recommended hippie countrysploitation flick
- Blogs, Bleader, Nov 10, 2011
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The shit-kicking country rock of the Dirt Drifters
Nashville's Dirt Drifters play Joe's on Friday night.
- Blogs, Bleader, Nov 4, 2011
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Today in celebrity spawn rap projects
Hear the latest from Waylon Jennings's rapping grandson
- Blogs, Bleader, Mar 15, 2011
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The Willie Nelson Train Stops at "Country"
Willie Nelson comes to town for a Friday concert at the Chicago Theatre.
- Blogs, Bleader, Feb 16, 2011
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![Who Is [Very Popular Band]?](/imager/the-arcade-fire/b/square/3265169/6472/1297888657-afgram.jpg)
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Who Is [Very Popular Band]?
Nitsuh Abebe on the Arcade Fire's Grammy
- Blogs, Bleader, Oct 13, 2010
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I Apologize in Advance: Gwyneth Paltrow Pretends to Be Country
Whoops. That happened.
- Blogs, Bleader, Oct 6, 2010
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Raul Malo's Homemade Hybrids
Eclectic singer Raul Malo brings his lush croon to FitzGerald's on Thursday night.
