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Archive for the ‘Chicago Gossip’ Category

Erik Sorensen, NBC5 Street Team

It will be a somber St. Patrick’s Day for those of us slowly coming to terms with the absence of our beloved South Side Irish Parade. On March 25th of 2009, the South Side St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee announced that the event would be cancelled, indefinitely. The decision was welcomed by some, but widely regarded as the end of a cherished era by most.

For many, the parade was as much a staple for their neighborhood as any event; so much so, that it grew in popularity every year and eventually became too large to manage. Or so the explanation goes.

South Side Irish Parade Route

While there were many legitimate factors that influenced the cancellation, (namely public intoxication, trampled property, unruly behavior) none represent what gave the parade its heart and soul: the families. It was about gathering to celebrate our Irish heritage, but you always got the sense there was more to it than that. Droves of families and friends poured faithfully each year into Western Avenue like a green human river; walking distances from as short as their front lawns to neighborhoods miles away.

Some of my earliest and fondest memories can be attributed to that parade. I watched it with my family and relatives as a child; marched in it as a boy scout; attended it with dear friends as a teenager; played in it as part of the Marist High School Marching Band and returned to it as a spectator, and an adult. It was an event to share with your children, and your children’s children. A gathering of proud people surrounded by the buildings and streets they love. It was the celebration of the neighborhoods the event represented, and the stores you rode your bike to as a kid. It was the South Side Irish Parade, and it was ours.

(Replacing the event will be the South Side Irish Parade Family Fest, held on Saturday, March 13th, hosted by the Beverly Arts Center. The daylong festival features family-friendly activities including: bag pipers, an Irish soda bread contest, a small children’s parade, dancers, a best dressed “Irish dog” contest and an array of Irish-themed arts.)

TICKETS
Admission (from 11am-4pm): $10 Adults,
$7 Seniors, Free for children under 12
Admission (after 4pm): All tickets $25

http://www.beverlyartcenter.org

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by April Lawson

What if Ebony could have twittered 15 years ago?   This would have been  a Herculean innovation for the home of now defunct WJPC Radio and it’s 8-track tape machines. If you want a great read about an iconic publisher set right here in your own backyard, then this weekend you gotta get Living The Ebony Life: E-Mails from the Plantation by Zondra Hughes. The book signing will be at Azizi Books in Matteson, this Saturday March 13th from 2p.m. to 4p.m.

Zondra Hughes worked as an associate editor for Ebony from 1999 to 2006, and as she illustrates in her latest work, sometimes your dream job can become your worst nightmare. Living The Ebony Life: E-Mails from the Plantation is the compelling insider’s tell-all of life at the No. 1 magazine in Black America.

“New media didn’t derail Ebony magazine,” Zondra says, “bad management did.” In EBONY LIFE, she provides the context for the magazine’s recent woes with a shocking paper trail that exposes the work conditions under a few rogue overseers, collectively referred to as ‘The Man.’

Ms. Hughes made her literary debut on the outrageous and over-the-top Wendy Williams smash hit, Ritz Harper Goes to Hollywood! (Pocket Books/Karen Hunter Publishing). She is currently the editor of N’Digo, and a featured blogger for both The Huffington Post and ChicagoNow. For more information visit www.livingtheebonylife.com.

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LaShonda Matlock, NBC Chicago Street Team

Jay-Z may be performing at the United Center but the after-party is definitely at The Shrine!

Hennessy Black & Rich Paul Presents  THE BLACKOUT Thursday March 18th, at The Shrine (2109 South Wabash).  Celebrities expected to attend THE BLACKOUT including LeBron James will be Jay – Z, Trey Songz, Young Jeezy, Michael Jordan, Memphis Bleek, Shaquille O’Neal, Donte Whitner (Buffalo Bills), Ted Ginn Jr. (Miami Dolphins), Jerry Azumah, Hustle Simmons, Mark Anderson, Fred Carter (Minnesota Vikings), Devin Hester and WGCI’s Leon Rogers.

This is don’t miss party people so come and enjoy The Blackout!

The Blackout Teaser from MCM on Vimeo.

March 18th
The Shrine
2109 South Wabash
9pm-2am

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Erik Sorensen, NBC5 Street Team

So this is what it’s come down to, has it?

Taking the least respectable portion of a demographic and giving them a platform on which to embarrass themselves and everyone they represent? So has been, and continues to be the ongoing trend in reality television. Normally, you’d breathe a sigh of disapproval, change the channel and feel sorry for the city or culture that has just been misrepresented. This time is different, though. This time it’s personal.

According to www.oconnorcasting.tv, O’Connor Casting has begun searching for White Sox fans who live on Chicago’s South Side, who dislike the Cubs, and who (wait for it….)  resemble a  “”Jersey Shore” type of reality star.”   The casting call goes on to describe its criteria: ARE YOU THE NEXT “Jersey Shore” TYPE OF REALITY STAR? Do you live on Chicago’s Southside? Are you the GUY or GIRL who is awesome in oh so many ways? Are you sexy, crazy, fun, outgoing, outrageous, love to make things exciting, always up for an adventure, and a HUGE SOX fan who thinks the CUBS suck? If so, then we want you, your friends, your total awesomeness. CONTACT US NOW!“  View the entire casting call here: http://oconnorcasting.tv/castingboard/index.php?q=node/6

In other words — unless I’m mistaken — an excuse to manufacture a Chicago version of what has become one of the most socially protested, insulting, grotesque displays of human behavior in recent television history.  Already, I can hear the collective sounds of Chicagoans (myself included) hurling their lunches into their laps. White Sox fans and South Siders don’t deserve to be represented by the lowest common denominator of individual. We are one city, despite the connotation a show like this would suggest.

While the website does not disclose when, where or on how grand a scale the reality show will air, one thing is certain: whether you’re a Cubs fan, or White Sox fan, or don’t care for sports altogether – this is bad for Chicago. Period.

There is no benefit in plucking the most abominable members of any fan base, culture or city and parading them around as if they were the majority. “Jersey Shore” became a television phenomenon for all the wrong reasons. Its success came at the the expense of many who never asked to be associated with the stereotypes the show has created. And yet, it seems companies are tripping over themselves to clone and serve up the next batch of culturally destructive, two-dimensional, well…… “Hiney Birds,” as “HawkHarrelson might describe them.

Shame on any Chicago-based company that so willingly offers up its own people to be used as embarrassing pawns in the name of a reality television show. The Windy City deserves better.


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Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team

The Fold will play at The Bottom Lounge in Chicago tomorrow (Friday, February 12) night.  They The Foldwill be also at the Apple Store in Michigan Avenue  on March 21, 2010.  Bring your iPhone and be part of their new video!  Hear more about that during my conversation with Dan Castady, lead singer of The Fold in Cara’s Basement.

Listen here:


The video they made for “Every Band In The U.S.A.” is amazing and is burning up on youtube:
Get more from The Fold here:

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Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team

Lady Gaga will invade Chicago next weekend, but now it’s at a new location. Turns out the production of her show just won’t work at the Chicago Theatre so now her shows on January 8-10 will happen at The Rosemont Theatre.Lady Gaga

Here’s the kicker: if you were fortunate enough to land tickets to any of her sold out Chicago Theatre shows those tickets are not automatically good for the The Rosemont Theatre. YOU MUST TAKE ACTION TO KEEP YOUR TICKETS VALID….AND YOU ONLY HAVE 48 HOURS TO DO SO, beginning at 5pm today!

If you have Lady Gaga tickets here’s what you need to do: return your Chicago Theatre tickets for a full refund at your point of purchase – then you will be given the information on an exclusive presale for The Rosemont Theatre shows at that time.  So, in essence, you have to buy your tickets all over again.  But rest assured, ticket holders for the Chicago Theatre show(s) are guaranteed the same amount of tickets to the Rosemont Theatre show(s) on the same night they bought originally. This guarantee is only valid during the 48 hour presale time.

Confused? For any ticket holder questions, go to www.ticketmaster.com or call ticketmaster customer service at 800-653-8000.

All of this is good news if you didn’t score Lady Gaga tickets the first time around. Since The Rosemont Theatre is a bigger venue that means more tickets will go on sale this Monday morning, January 4, at 10am via www.ticketmaster.com or at any ticketmaster outlet. Get more information HERE.  And…even better…you can win FREE tickets for Lady Gaga next week with Eric & Kathy on 101.9 The MIX!

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Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team

Who knew just $35 could do so much?  That’s the incredibly affordable pricGavin Rossdalee of a ticket to Dare 2 Dream this Thursday at the House Of Blues.  The most important aspect of this event is that a portion of the proceeds benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Illinois.  But it’s going to be a great show, too – you’ll see Gavin Rossdale (formerly of Bush) with Lovehammers and Relief opening.

Dare 2 Dream starts early, 5pm…so skip out of work and help out a much-deserving cause while rocking on a Thursday evening in Chicago!  Get ticket information HERE and listen to details about the concert here:


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Eric Smith, NBC5Chicago Street Team

In the fourth year of installment, Fashion Focus Chicago once again lit up the runway with the latest couture fashions this past weekend at Millennium Park. A gathering of the City’s upscale fashionistas and industry insiders, this was a collection of creative intellectuals on the scene-to push the envelope of Chicago’s fashion industry. A call to all in the know that although we are in the Midwest-far away from the East and West coasts, the Windy City is here-determined to make an imprint in the marketplace, and we will do so with our own sense of style and flair.

Chicagos Hot Couture

Fashion in Focus

Within minutes of arriving I was graced with the presence of Melissa Gamble- Chairwoman of the Mayor’s Fashion Council, Jason Felger-Executive Vice President of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, Alice Berry-Chicago Native-designer and Fashion Council member and the one and only Mayor Daley who launched the Council and subsequently Fashion Focus Chicago to establish the city as a fashion destination.

Most impressive was the fact that these collections debuted the next rising stars of top students from Chicago’s fashion design schools: Columbia College Chicago, The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago, Academy Chicago and the School of the Art Institute Chicago.

ChicagoRisingStar

Dress Code 2009

From the looks presented on the runway this evening, the goal of establishing a fashion mecca here is well in sight! To learn more and score event tickets visit
Fashion Focus Chicago.

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Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team

No doubt, Chicago is jam packed with incredible musicians.  We are so lucky.

Here’s a talented lady who I’ve been fortunate to see perform at several shows and she completely blew me away every time - her voice, her personality, her charisma – wow, she’s got the whole package going on!  Be sure to catch Jen Porter this Thursday at Martyr’s as she celebrates the release of her new CD “Closer To The Surface“, recorded right here in Chicago.  It might just be one of your last opportunities to catch her in such an intimate setting…with any luck it won’t be too long until she’s touring the world promoting this CD!Jen Porter Party

Stonecutter Records

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Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team

If you’re a fan of rock music then you must be very familiar with the legendary guitar riff’s of Rik Emmett.  He was part of the amazing power trio Triumph, providing killer licks in great songs like “Fight The Good Fight”, “Lay It On The Line”, etc.  Here’s an opportunity to catch him in an intimate environment and also help out a great cause, Pizza’s 4 Patriots:

Wow, what killer line-up.  As it turns out, several of those artists have appeared in my podcast Cara’s Basement:

Rik Emmett-


Ronnie Platt-


Kevin Chalfant-


See you at Durty Nellies on Saturday, October 24!

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Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team

“Pizza’s 4 Patriots” is such a cool concept.  Literally, giving those who serve our country a slice of home.  Go here to find out more about what they do – and go to Durty Nellie’s on October 24th to see a great show while supporting the cause.  Details below:

Pizzas 4 Patriots Celebration Concert at Durty Nellies Oct 24 2009

Here’s a blast-from-the-past interview with Rik Emmett:


Here’s a blast-from-the-past interview with Kevin Chalfant:


Here’s a blast-from-the-past interview with Ronnie Platt:


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Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team

Wow, this is a way cool bang-for-the-buck concert experience. Don’t miss your chance to see The Plain White T’s in a very intimate setting tonite (8/28/09). Only 1500 tickets are being sold for Lake Effect, a charity show they are headlining tonight at The Palmer House.

$75 includes three bands performing (Plain White T’s, Chicago blues artist Melvin TaylorPWTs Dave Tirio, Cara Carriveau and Tom Higgenson plus the Gentlemen Of Leisure Band which happens to be one of President Obama’s favorite Chicago bands)…it also includes an open premium bar, an amazing array of food stations created by the Palmer House’s Executive Chef Stephen Henry and Pastry Chef Fabrice Bouet…and, as an added bonus, a limited number of behind-the-scenes tours of Palmer House will be conducted by docents from the Chicago Architecture Foundation.  Most importantly…100% of the proceeds benefit the Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care’s Good Mourning Program (providing support for families and children of all ages in overcoming the loss of a loved one).

Don’t pass up this opportunity to help out a wonderful organization while enjoying a phenomenal experience.  Got o www.LakeEffectParty.com or call 847-692-8897 to purchase tickets.

Tom Higgins from The Plain White T’s just spoke to me about this show – listen here:


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Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team

My jaw hit the floor when I heard that Jordin Sparks was touring with Britney Spears on the second leg of her “Circus” tour (coming to the Allstate Arena September 9).  C’mon…Jordan is a sweet innocent 19 year old that proudly wears a purity ring and just spent the summer on the road with super-sweet-goodie-guys The Jonas Brothers (also known for their purity rings)…if I was Jordin‘s mother I’d be very nervous knowing she’ll be on the same bill as Britney.  They’ll be spending a lot of time together on the road.  Do I really need to list the reasons why it’s worrisome?  OMG.  Heck, maybe Jordin‘s behavior (ie, morals) will rub off on Britney…wouldn’t that be special!

I just spoke to Jordin Sparks for WTMX and she is thrilled about all of the things going on in her Jordin Sparkscareer.  She’ll be part of “VH1 Diva’s” airing live on September 17 hosted by Paula Abdul, and Jordin is very blatant about her opinion regarding Paula no longer being a judge on American Idol.  Listen here:


Catch Jordin Sparks at “Skate For The Heart” September 19 at the Sears Centre Arena.

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 Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team

If you dig what I call straight ahead real rock with a tinge of blues…like The Black Crowes, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Allman Brothers, etc…you absolutely will love The Steepwater Band.  The hail from Chicago and frankly I’m surprised they aren’t more of a national presence yet.  But they are certainly on their way.  Check out their new video for their song Lord Knows.  I’m sure you’ll sense a bit of a Black Crowes influence – that’s probably because Marc Ford (ex-Black Crowes guitarist and currently playing with Booker T) produced their Grace And Melody album.

More on The Steepwater Band in Cara’s Basement:


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Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team

Three long days of great music and fun at Lollapalooza along with 2 nights of latenight Lollapalooza parties absolutely wore me out.  It literally took me three days to recover.

WTMX's Cara Carriveau & The Local Tourist's Theresa Carter

WTMX's Cara Carriveau & The Local Tourist's Theresa Carter

The latenight parties were insane.  And I do mean that in a good way.  My party buddy all day and night all weekend was Theresa Carter from The Local Tourist.  On Friday night we hit the exclusive Rock the Vote Late Night after-party in the Music Lounge at the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago.  In fact, Lindsay Lohan was spotted there with her sister Ali so you know it was a major blow-out.  The Virgins among other artists performed and I don’t think we ever stopped dancing until at least 3am.

We went back to the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago the next night for an even more exclusive party and an even crazier, later nite.  Thank goodness for the unlimited supply of redbull.

Oh yeah, we also caught some great acts at Lollapalooza last weekend.  Even chatted with some artists.  Here’s a few conversations you can check out…I’ll have more soon:

The Airborn Toxic Event with Cara CarriveauThe Airborne Toxic Event


Brandon Flowers of The Killers and Cara CarriveauBrandon Flowers of The Killers:


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rebecca_1Rebecca Taras, NBC Chicago Street Team

 

If you were at a block party over Lollapalooza weekend and heard that “special guests” were going to be arriving via limo, logic might lead you to believe that perhaps a band member or two might stroll on through for a little self promoting. But the guests who attended the 14th annual Optimus Block Party last Saturday got a completely different form of musical entertainment when Rod Blagojevich showed up to sing a little Elvis Presley. As if that wasn’t enough to keep you thinking “only in America,” he brought along a Fabio look-alike (his proverbial rabbit in the hat.)

The Optimus anniversary Block Party started on August 1, 1996 as an impromptu casual get-together of clients and industry friends to celebrate the employee purchase of Optimus from their owner, Anheuser-Busch.  ”We had Zimmerman’s, now Binny’s, down on Grand, deliver a bunch of cases of almost every brand of beer except Bud because for the 10 years under A-B ownership, we could only serve their products,” says Optimus owner Tom Duff. ” We got a permit, blocked off the parking lane on the street, and threw a party.  This was all good-natured tongue-in-cheek, we love our A-B friends, and have worked on Bud spots tons over the years.”

Perhaps you’ve never heard of the Optimus Block Party, but rest assured that anyone in the advertising community has seen this baby grow into a man. The bash has become a symbol of the Chicago ad world for the best annual get-together for the entire industry nation-wide. There was an episode of the TV Show “Trust Me” that aired last season starring Eric McCormack (of Will & Grace) that centered around all the characters at the ad agency going to the “Optimus Block Party that everyone goes to. NBC-OptimusGirls

Optimus is a production and post production company with offices in Chicago and Santa Monica. They shoot, edit, design, color, audio mix and finish various forms of video content, from TV commercials to webisodes to design pieces. The multi-leveled urban studio in Streeterville has the ability to handle the entirety of a production (or individual components) from script to air, all under one roof. Of course, their client list speaks for itself and includes all the top ad agencies that work with clients such as Unilever’s Dove and Suave, Taco Bell, Sears, Nintendo, Aveeno, Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, McDonald’s, Cricket, KFC, AllState, Safeway, and Harris Bank. nbc-blagoonly

With that being said, attendees of the Block Party are made up of agency clients, post houses, production companies, music houses, the unions, the Film Offices and anyone else in the film and TV world here in the Windy City. And why Blagojevich? “Well, we always try to do something off-beat for our party,” says Duff.

It worked.

For more information on Optimus, visit www.optimus.com

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Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team

If I could have bottled up all of the sheer happiness at Chicago’s House Of Blues last Friday night and sold it, I’d be a millionaire. Many happy Hammerheads were immensely enjoying a moment they feared would never come.

photo courtesy of Christie LaMountain

Lovehammers at House Of Blues, photo courtesy of Christie LaMountain

Marty Casey shocked Lovehammers fans (and, in fact, the rest of the Lovehammers) about a year ago when seemingly out of blue he announced that he was leaving the band he had been the lead singer of for over a decade (more about that here) to front L.A. Guns. Thankfully, that lasted exactly a year and he has now returned to his fellow Lovehammers. A packed house at the House Of Blues got to experience one of Chicago’s premier rock bands put on one of their greatest shows ever. They performed songs off of every single one of their albums, including the soon-t0-be-released Heavy Crown.

I spoke to the band hours before they hit the stage Friday night. Heavy Crown won’t be out until July 21 but you can hear most of the songs from it and the truth about Marty leaving and then coming back to Lovehammers HERE:


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Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team

DMB just released a brand new album this week, “Big Whiskey and the Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux KingGrooGrux King”.  Critics and fans are saying this could very well be their best album to date.  Their summer tour will bring them to Alpine Valley on July 18 & 19, and to First Midwest Bank Amplitheatre on September 26.

Dave MatthewsI spoke to Dave Matthews about how difficult it must have been to finish recording the album after the tragic death (due to complications from a nasty ATV accident) of band member LaRoi Moore.  And of course I couldn’t avoid the poop topic – years ago a bus in his tour dumped 800 pounds of human waste on the heads of unfortunate boaters in Chicago under the Kinzie bridge.  It was a horrific situation and Dave continues to be very apologetic about it, and he offers a very detailed account of exactly what happened. 

You’ll find our conversation in “Cara’s Connection” at www.WTMX.com, or just listen here:


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LaShonda Matlock, NBC Chicago Street Team

Just because the economy stinks, that doesn’t mean your fashion has to as well.

On Friday, fashion-forward Gold Coast boutique Jake (939 N. Rush St.) will launch a new budget-friendly store-in-store promotion called “It’s Great To Be Jake.”

Click here to read the rest of this post on NBCChicago.com.

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D.C. “Fete Select TV” Crenshaw, NBC5 Street Team

Springtime weather has gotten Chicagoans all in a tizzy.  Hibernation season is over, which is evident by the outside tables being set up at restaurants all over the city.  Sure the seventy degree weather is what’s popular these days, but the talk of the town has been Chicago’s hottest new restaurant, Sunda New Asian.  Brought to you by Billy Dec and Rockit Ranch productions, this hip and modern designed restaurant has been the place to be since its grand opening.  Check out Fete Select TV, as Bill Dec gives me an inside look at the cuisine, cocktails and vibe of Sunda.

 

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LaShonda Matlock, NBC Chicago Street Team

Always on the go? Or maybe you just hate those extended stays hotels.

Well here’s a chic and cost effective alternative, rent a corporate apartment!

When your job takes you everywhere and home is where your suitcasebed is, you DO have a choice.

Corporate apartments offer most of the same amenities at those luxury hotels but sometimes at a fraction of the cost plus with additional space.

Now, this isn’t for everyone especially if you love to pick out place-mats. But if you’re a busy traveling professional, need a home styled vacation rental or a one-stop shop short/long-term lease this may be a great idea!

Personally, I don’t have time to worry about the small stuff and with my career taking me from city to city every few years this is the perfect solution.

Why spend time towel shopping, buying dishes or moving bulky furniture up and down endless flights of stairs when it could all be there waiting for you with maid service?!

Chicago has several  very reputable corporate housing companies that offer a wide range of prices and accommodations to suite almost anyone’s needs. From modest studios to luxury 4 bedrooms town homes they have it all! Listed below are my personal favorites. And as they say home is where the suitcase is!

CHECK IT OUT!

http://www.spsuites.com/
http://stanproperties.com/
http://www.thewaltonresidence.com
www.athomeinnchicago.com

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Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team
Okay so they claim it’s more of a “re-birth”. Whatever. Creed was one of the hugest bands of the late 1990′s, so news of the original line-up of Scott Stapp, Mark Tremonti, Scott Phillips and Brian Marshall getting back together is huge.

Listen to Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti chat in Cara’s Basement about their new album, summer tour and how having kids made them fiinally able to get the band back on track.


Funniest part is when Scott Stapp refers to the infamous Chicago Creed concert where he was so waisted that he forgot the words to all the songs and laid down on stage aparrently napping as a “not-so-great-show”. Gee…ya think???  But he does have a point…he’s had far more good shows (where he didn’t nap and/or forget the lyrics) than bad ones.   Let’s hope their August 30 gig at The First Midwest Bank Ampitheatre isn’t a “not-so-great” show.

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LaShonda Matlock, NBC Chicago Street Team

A contemporary and modern art lover’s dream come true! Stop by the ultra sleek James hotel on May 2nd, as they host the official after-party for Art Chicago at jbar-couplethe one and only JBar.

And for that special V.I.P. treatment show your Art Chicago Black Pass to receive special complimentary ARTini cocktails. DJ Rock City will be on the turntables spinning so this is definitely a “Don’t Miss Event!” See you there!

JBar
610 North Rush St.
Chicago. IL
May 2nd 10pm-11pm

Need more party or celeb info follow me on TWITTER!

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