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The Chicago Reader

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Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music May 19, 2020
Video
Musical and literary polymath Thom Bishop has a second career as Junior Burke

For 50 years he’s been writing songs, lyrics, plays, movies, and more—and his new novel starts with James Dean shooting Ronald Reagan on live TV.
- By Steve Krakow
- Tags: The Secret History of Chicago Music, Thom Bishop, Junior Burke, the Red Herring, Urbana, Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, The Cold Last Swim, Thomas Burke Bishop Jr., Litchfield, the Brigs, Johnny & the Impalas, Toffee Shoppe, Richard & the Young Lions, Open Up Your Door, White Lines and Road Signs, Kissed You Again, Folk and Music From the Red Herring: Fall 1971, Volume II, Kingston Mines, the Earl of Old Town, Louis Rosen, Billy Panda, Elliott Delman, Spoils of War, Mormos, Jim Tullio, Pennington McGee, Terry Callier, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, John Fahey, Leo Kottke, John Prine, Bonnie Koloc, The Wireless Wonder, Restless State of Grace, Feed Me a Dream, A Little Physics and a Lot of Luck, The Amber Ages, St. Nicholas Theater, Bobbie Louise Hawkins, Paul Sills, Laraine Newman, American Express, Trials of the Heart, About Last Night, Naropa University, Boulder, Colorado, America’s a Lonely Town, Video

Music, Music Feature Apr 2, 2020
Video
Pianist Charles Joseph Smith celebrates companionship and solitude in a new video

“Flourishing Cities of Undead” was shot late last year in the empty Fine Arts Building, with special guest star Angel Bat Dawid.
- By Salem Collo-Julin
- Tags: Music Feature, Dr. Charles Joseph Smith, Charles Joseph Smith, piano, composer, pianist, video, War of the Martian Ghosts, Flourishing Cities of Undead, Fine Arts Building, Mississippi Records, Cyrus Moussavi, Brittany Nugent, Raw Music International, Sebastián Pinzón Silva, Angel Bat Dawid, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Roosevelt University, National Autism Awareness Month, Sooper Records, Video

Music, Music Feature Apr 4, 2019
Video
John Cage’s treasures are hiding in plain sight

The influential experimental composer’s largest archive lives in a library at Northwestern—and it goes a lot deeper than its famous Beatles lyric sheets.
- By Justin Curto
- Tags: Music Feature, John Cage, Northwestern University, John Cage Collection, Notations Project Collection, Correspondence Collection, new music, experimental music, Greg MacAyeal, UIUC, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 4’33”, HPSCHD, William Brooks, Lecture on the Weather, Beatles, Deering Library, Special Collections Reading Room, Note-o-Gram, Don L. Roberts, D.J. Hoek, Notations, Ryan Dohoney, Beatles, Yoko Ono, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Pierre Boulez, Second Piano Sonata, Steve Reich, Piano Phase, Morton Feldman, The King of Denmark, Music of Changes, Danger Musik for Dick Higgins, Fluxus, Nam June Paik, Robert Moran, Sketch for a Tragic One-Act Opera, Philip Corner, Mississippi River South of Memphis, Merce Cunningham, Buckminster Fuller, Marshall McLuhan, Kenneth Patchen, The City Wears a Slouch Hat, Roaratorio, Good Morning, Mr. Orwell, John Cage Research Grant, Rothko Chapel, Water Walk, Saving Abstraction, John de Menil, Dominique de Menil, Paul Sacher Foundation, Charlotte Moorman, A Feast of Astonishments, Block Museum of Art, Dick Higgins, Something Else Press, Jan Herman, Scott Krafft, Sound & Silence, Video

Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Sep 25, 2018
Video
Spoils of War pioneered the fusion of experimental electronics and psychedelic rock

The late-60s band founded by unheralded composer Jim Cuomo only released one EP during its lifetime.
- By Steve Krakow
- Tags: The Secret History of Chicago Music, Jim Cuomo, Spoils of War, Mormos, John Cage, University of North Texas, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Silver Apples, Fifty Foot House, United States of America, Frank Zappa, Harry Partch, Bix, Al Ierardi, Roger Francisco, Frank Garvey, Annie the Hat, Annie Williams, James Stroud, Shadoks, Paris, Australia, Portland, Oregon, Video

Arts & Culture, Art Feature Apr 25, 2018
The American dream, in frosting: the art of Yvette Mayorga

Do immigrants really find a better life in the U.S., or is it just a fantasia of prosperity full of barely concealed threats?
- By Kerry Cardoza
- Tags: Art Feature, Yvette Mayorga, American dream, Mexican immigrants, Mexican-American, immigration, U.S.-Mexico border, Really Safe in My Room, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, SAIC, border politics, Candy Land, Gallery 400, Out of Easy Reach, Allison Glenn, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Hello Kitty, Selena, Moline, Jerez, confectionary, cake frosting, Chicago Artists Coalition, Bolt residency, Janine Mileaf, fiber and material studies, Monuments, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, sculpture, The Politics of Desire, Expo Chicago, High Maintainence, National Mexican Museum of Art

Blogs, Bleader Jan 22, 2018
Video
O'Hare serial stowaway sneaks past TSA and flies to London, and other Chicago news

Also, the history behind the name of Kim and Kanye's new daughter, Chicago West.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Chicago, Illinois, London, O'Hare International Airport, TSA, British Airways, Heathrow Airport, Women's March, Chicago West, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Chicago history, New Orleans, New Orleans Police Department, Chicago Police Department, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Brendt Christensen, Yingying Zhang, death penalty, Culver's, restaurant openings, butterburgers, frozen custard, Video

Blogs, Bleader Nov 13, 2017
Report: Chicago-based Trump adviser Papadopoulos was a lot closer to the campaign than Trump admits, and other news

Also, Rauner is facing a primary challenge from the right.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Chicago, Illinois, Donald Trump, George Papadopoulos, DePaul University, Stephen Miller, Hillary Clinton, Election 2016, Russia, FBI, Jeanne Ives, Illinois General Assembly, Bruce Rauner, Election 2018, Chicago Bulls, NBA, Jerry Reinsdorf, Adam Silver, Rahm Emanuel, Yingying Zhang, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Iowa, Chicago expats, Thanksgiving, Restaurant Michael, Tavern on Rush

Blogs, Bleader Oct 19, 2017
Biss, Kennedy, Pritzker support legalizing marijuana in Illinois, and other Chicago news

Also, Durbin confronts Jeff Sessions on his failure to solve Chicago's gun violence issues.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Art Institute of Chicago, Bobby Portis, Bruce Rauner, cannabis, Chicago, Chicago Bulls, Chris Kennedy, city budget, Daniel Biss, Dick Durbin, Discovery Partners Institute, Donald Trump, Election 2018, Illinois, immigration issues, J.B. Pritzker, Jeff Sessions, John Paxson, marijuana, marijuana legalization, Nikola Mirotic, Northwestern University, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Rahm Emanuel, ride-sharing services, sanctuary cities, taxes, University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Blogs, Bleader Jul 3, 2017
Illinois House approves income tax hike, spending plan, and other Chicago news

Also, Trump has reportedly tapped 48-year-old John Lausch as the U.S. attorney for Chicago.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Illinois, Springfield, budget impasse, Illinois General Assembly, Chicago, Michael Madigan, David Harris, Bruce Rauner, Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department, John Lausch, Donald Trump, Jeff Sessions, Zachary Fardon, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ace Hotel, City Mouse, Giant, Jason Vincent, Pat Sheerin, restaurant openings, Fulton Market

Blogs, Bleader Jun 16, 2017
Video
Rauner calls ten-day special legislative session before the end of the fiscal year, and other Chicago news

Also, Cook County will stop prosecuting some traffic offenses due to lack of resources.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Chicago, Illinois, Bruce Rauner, budget impasse, Illinois General Assembly, Springfield, Cook County, Cook County State's Attorney, Illinois lottery, Powerball, Mega Millions, Barack Obama, Obama Presidential Center, Obama Library, FBI, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Yingying Zhang, Stephen Douglas, Frederick Douglass, Douglas Park, Chicago Park Board, Video

Music, Music Feature Oct 26, 2016
Video
American Football: Accidental rock stars

This downstate band became heroes to the emo scene after breaking up in obscurity—and 17 years later, they’ve returned with a second album.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music Feature, American Football, emo, reunion, Polyvinyl, Polyvinyl Records, UIUC, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Steve Lamos, Steve Holmes, Mike Kinsella, Nate Kinsella, LP2, second wave, fourth wave, reissue, Cap’n Jazz, Tim Kinsella, Braid, Birthmark, Owen, Lake Zurich, University of Colorado, Pygmalion Festival, Wheeling High School, Friction, Gauge, Danville, One Up Downstairs, Tortoise, The Sea & Cake, Steve Reich, trumpet, The Cure, Red House Painters, The One With the Tambourine, The Summer Ends, For Sure, Never Meant, Victor Villarreal, Five Silent Miles, Jorge Ledezma, Allá, Private Studios, Matt Lunsford, I’ve Been So Lost for So Long, The King of Whys, Wrecking Ball Festival, Video

Blogs, Bleader Mar 8, 2016
Bill Clinton hits town to support Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and other Chicago news

Also, snow on the ground in Logan Square for a movie shoot and Rahm's new inner circle.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, winter weather, spring weather, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Illinois primary, Evanston, Logan Square, filming in Chicago, Amazon, David Spielfogel, Garry McCarthy, Rahm Emanuel, Fran Spielman, Chicago Bears, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Lovie Smith, Washington Park, Daniel Burnham, DuSable Museum

Blogs, Bleader Nov 12, 2015
UI settles tweeting prof Steven Salaita case for cash, no job

The $875,000 settlement agreement with Professor Steven Salaita will end his lawsuits against the university—but will not provide him with a job.
- By Deanna Isaacs
- Tags: Education, News, University of Illinois, UIUC, Steven Salaita, Anand Swaminathan, Loevy & Loevy, Center for Constitutional Rights, Phyllis Wise, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Columns & Opinion, On Culture Sep 25, 2015
Does the University of Illinois really need another medical school?

Ousted chancellor Phyllis Wise leaves the U. of I. with multimillion-dollar legal bills and a $135 million commitment to a new public-private college of medicine.
- By Deanna Isaacs
- Tags: Deanna Isaacs on Culture, Phyllis Wise, Steven Salaita, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, UIUC, Ilesanmi Adesida, Tim Beckman, John Rogers, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Christopher Kennedy, Medical Scholars Program, the Research Park, Fox/Atkins Development, Carle Health System, Tripp Umbach, Paul Umbach, Dannie Otto, James Leonard, Andrew Scheinman, Samizdat-Startups.org, Edward McMillan, Timothy Killeen, David Prochaska

Columns & Opinion, On Culture Aug 12, 2014
Did controversial tweets cost Steven Salaita his U. of I. professorship?

The AAUP steps into a #controversy sparked by an author and pro-Palestinian activist.
- By Deanna Isaacs
- Tags: On Culture, Steven Salaita, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, free speech, Twitter, @stevesalaita, American Association of University Professors, AAUP, Virginia Tech, Gaza, Peter Kirstein, academic freedom, Chronicle of Higher Education, job offers, hiring, Inside Higher Ed, BDS, Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, Daily Caller, Eric Owens, The News Gazette, Salon, Robin Kaler, Christophe Pierre, Phyllis M. Wise

Arts & Culture, Art Review Aug 5, 2014
Gaming and art collide at VGA Gallery

Codirectors Jonathan Kinkley and Chaz Evans further the case for the artistic merit of video games.
- By Jake Malooley
- Tags: Art Review, Galerie F, Jonathan Kinkley, Nintendo, King's Quest IV, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, video games, art, video game art, Chaz Evans, SAIC, Depauw University, Mario Bros., Ms. Pac-Man, Emporium Arcade Bar, Sierra Entertainment, Andy Hoyos, Thatgamecompany', Journey, PlayStation

Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Nov 14, 2013
The Secret History of Chicago Music: Seeds of Doubt

These garage rockers were kings of the Chambana scene in the late 60s, but their only recordings have been lost.
- Tags: The Secret History of Chicago Music, UIUC, The Secret History of Chicago Music, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Chambana, Seeds of Doubt, The Mystics, Shadows of Knight, Jim Spencer, Gerard Farrell, Stevie Meyer, Guy Maynard, Marty Alblinger, Scott Stephens, Jim Cole, Bob Nutt, The Tiger's Den

Blogs, Bleader May 10, 2012
UIUC students try to create a better coastal city

A new architectural exhibition of student work at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- By Elly Fishman
- Tags: Do This, Arts, Architecture, Visual Art, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Tsukiji fish market, Tokyo, Japan, manufacturing landscapes, chicago water management, Julie Larson

News & Politics, Feature Dec 22, 2011
Dr. Titus Chiu, the healer

'I have to say, love is the most powerful medicine there is'
- Tags: Feature, People Issue 2011, Dr. Titus Chiu, medicine, chiropractic neurology, skateboarding, physical therapy, acupuncture, unconventional medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Be the change you want to see in the world

Blogs, Bleader Apr 17, 2007
An alternative to Blago's bad tax plan

Blagojevich's bad tax plan and J. Fred Giertz's modestly proposed alternative.
- By Harold Henderson
- Tags: Economics, Illinois, Taxes, Rod Blagojevich, J. Fred Giertz, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Fiscal Policy

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