Millennium Park FREE Concerts

I attended with Sarah (14) the free Besnard Lakes concert at Millennium Park in Chicago last summer. It was a fun trip in on the train and we loved the concert. The free concert list is up for this summer and it's a great one. From the Trib...

...10 free concerts at 6:30 p.m. Mondays from May 23 through July 25. The lineup will include the following performers:

May 23: Bonnie “Prince” Billy featuring the Cairo Gang and special guest

May 30: Justin Townes Earle, Andre Williams and the Goldstars

June 6: Iron and Wine and special guest

June 13: Headliner to be announced and Campbell Brothers

June 20: Kings Go Forth, Ben L’Oncle Soul

June 27: Low and special guest

July 4:  Seefeel and special guest

July 11: Delicate Steve and Bombino

July 18:  Blonde Redhead and special guest

July 25:  Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Rachel Ries

Music Monday 1.10.11

• $5 Albums: January $5 Albums | Don't Miss: Swans: My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (best 2010 album I didn't hear until 2011) | Frontier Ruckus: Deadmalls & Nightfalls
• Streaming FREE: Smith Westerns (LOVING this one | self-titled debut - $5) | The Decemberists (Hazards of Love - $5) | Iron & Wine (The Shepherd Dog - $3.99) | 
• Daytrotter FREE: Twin Shadow | Doug Burr
• Other Deals: Download free Her Name is Calla live at Denovali Swingfest 2010 | Download free Yeasayer: Live at Ancienne Belgique

Justin Townes Earle live on Letterman | Abraham Piper points to a great video from Son House about "The real old blues." Excellent.

The Black Keys on SNL. Man, I love these guys. Crank. It. UP.

Dirty Water's Gonna Cover Me Over

Great performance by Justin Townes Earle on Letterman (and a great suit!). It's the title song from Harlem River Blues, one of the best albums of 2010. It's only $5 right now too.

Music Monday 12.6.10

• My Best Albums of 2010: Coming soon. My previous Best Albums lists from 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009
• 2010 Best Albums Lists: Paste | NPR | Mecca Lecca | Decibel | Drowned In Sound
• Hot Deals: Dean Martin: My Kind of Christmas ($1.99) | U2: October ($3.99)
• $5 Albums: All My Favorites | Don't Miss 5: Mumford & Sons: Sigh No More | Justin Townes Earle: Midnight At The Movies | Destroyer: Destroyer's Rubies | Midlake: The Courage of Others | Bad Books: Bad Books

Drew Grow & The Pastors' Wives: The Comfort Feel EP releases tomorrow, but you can listen to the whole thing today for free. Also grab their recent, self-titled album, which is great.

Fresh Air had a nice interview with jazz pianist Dave Brubeck celebrating his 90th birthday. Great stuff. Pick up Brubeck's albums: Time Out or Take 5. Who is Dave Brubeck? Ahh...

You don't think I'd leave you hanging without a Christmas song, did you? Here's one of the greatest Christmas songs EVER. 

Music Monday 9.6.10

• $5 Albums - September: My Favorites including Sufjan, Coldplay, Sinatra and more | All 100
• Daytrotter FREE: The Holy Ghost Tent Revival 
• Streaming Free: Justin Townes Earle | Junip | The Walkmen

The Woodlands self-titled album is my new discovery. Their name, their music and this video make me think of autumn. Beautiful.

The Civil Wars sing "Forget Me Not." 

The Civil Wars - Forget me not from Green Block on Vimeo.

If you haven't picked up Matthew Smith's new album, Watch the Rising Day, I'm not sure what you are waiting for. It's great. Order here and use the code 'steve' for 15% off the CD ('steveLP' 10% off the vinyl).