My obsession with indie rock, and really the origin of an intense desire to track down new music began with a love affair and a hate affair. A love affair with WONC, the local college radio station, and a radio walkman. A hate affair with my mother. After a fight with her, i'd go for a long directionless walk around town. I'd bring my walkman and a pen, and scrawl song lyrics and song titles on my hand, even my arm if i ran out of room. One such night, a Friday, a new radio show came on. They called…

Sat 13 Jun – Phoenix, Amazing Baby The show was absolutely astounding. Phoenix were such modest and spectacular musicians, and while the Chicago Tribune's review nagged on them for not having lots of stage banter and seeming "robotic", the author of that review failed to mention that the lack of stage banter was due to the overwhelming cascade of cheering and clapping that followed each song. As for any "robotic" movement, it seemed to me that Phoenix was totally in their element as performers, if a bit awestruck at the reaction they got–indeed, their merch booth guy commented after the…

First of all, this summer looks to be pretty epic, music wise.
Second of all, there are 4 great festivals (at least) nearby: Summerfest (Milwaukee), Pitchfork (Chicago), Warped Tour (Tinley Park), and Lollapalooza (Chicago)
These are the bands from the festivals that I care about seeing personally haha. Pitchfork isn't done releasing their lineup, and Lollapalooza clearly isn't, since they're bitches. I'm linking to the sites I found these lineups at so you can check them out for yourself. Keep in mind that on the Warped Tour site, every band listed is not playing every date, so you have to…

Name your top 10 last.fm artists:
1 Motion City Soundtrack
2 Tegan and Sara
3 Matt Pond PA
4 Snow Patrol
5 Against Me!
6 Billy Talent
7 Maximo Park
8 Cake
9 Rise Against
10 The Format

– what was the first song you ever heard by 6?
red flag, on WONC

– what is your favourite album of 2
so jealous. i think….

– what is your favourite lyric that 5 has sung?
something from "borne on the fm waves of the heart"

– how many times have you seen 4 live?
none….and don't really plan on it…

A
First: The Academy Is…
Last: The Avett Brothers
Best: Arctic Monkeys/Against Me!

B
First: Band Of Horses
Last: Brownsville Station
Best: Bright Eyes/The Bravery/Billy Talent/Bedouin Soundclash

C
First! Caesars
Last! Cute Is What We Aim For
Best! Cold War Kids

D
First! Daft Punk
Last! Down the Line
Best! Death Cab for Cutie/Daft Punk/The Decemberists

E
First! Eagle Eye Cherry
Last! Everclear
Best! Everclear/Editors

F
First! the Faint
Last! The Futureheads
Best! The Format/The Faint/Franz Ferdinand/Fischerspooner

G
First! Gatsby's American Dream
Last! Gym Class Heroes
Best! Green Day (early stuff)

H
First! Hawk Nelson
Last! Hush Sound
Best! Hot…