Car Con Carne

Returning favorite Stephanie Sack is back to preview the 25th edition of the Chicago Horror Film Festival, happening this weekend. Stephanie’s an associate producer of this year’s event, which focuses on women in horror and the “Final Girl” trope.

The fest’s happening at the Logan Theatre from September 27th through the 29th. Plan on three days of programming, playing on three screens, covering 200 short horror/thriller and sci-fi films.

chicagohorrorfilmfest.com

September 27-29, 2024

The Logan Theatre

2646 N. Milwaukee Ave

Chicago, IL 60647

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Car Con Carne is sponsored by Easy Automation.

A smart home connects virtually all of the technology in your home.  With an Easy Automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chicago composer Maxx McGathey, best known for his work with Gramps the Vamp, releases his first solo album, “Imaginary Eyes,” on September 27.

We met at Roma’s (4237 N. Cicer) for Italian beef (that’s what we do here in Chicago) and talked about the mo`ie score, cool instrumental, vibes of the new album. It’s instrumental music for people who think they don’t like instrumental music.

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Join Car Con Carne for a live event!

Thursday, 9/26/24

Skeleton Key in Woodridge

CAR CON CARNE EPISODE 1000

Featuring

AM Taxi, Ooozin’ Ahhhs, the Black and Blue Hearts, Mike Stricker

DJ sets

7pm

FREE TO ATTEND

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A smart home connects virtually all of the technology in your home.  With an Easy Automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Red Scare Industries celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The new compilation, “20 Years of Dreaming and Scheming,” includes contributions from Laura Jane Grace, Sludgeworth, the Brokedowns, the Falcon, Won’t Stay Dead and the Bollweevils.

I’m out of the car for this one … Toby Jeg and Brendan Kelly of Red Scare joined me at the Q101 studios in downtown Chicago for this recording. I mean, if I’m going to have a partnership with Q101, I may as well take advantage and use their facilities. 

We talk about the turbulent music business, and how Red Scare has managed to endure well into the 21st century. We get into discussing some of the tracks on “20 Years of Dreaming and Scheming,” and dive into topics like Fernet, Jon Bon Jovi and Toby’s favorite stage banterist.

I wrap the conversation by sharing an audio clip of an interview I did with Brendan in … 2002!

Our voices both sound pitched up, but … that’s just how we sounded 22 years ago.

Every now and then, I do an interview that feels less like an interview and more like a casual conversation that just happens to have been captured on microphone. This is one of them.

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DON’T FORGET: 

Thursday, 9/26/24

Skeleton Key in Woodridge

CAR CON CARNE EPISODE 1000

Featuring

AM Taxi, Ooozin’ Ahhhs, the Black and Blue Hearts, Mike Stricker

DJ sets

7pm

FREE TO ATTEND

##

Car Con Carne is sponsored by Easy Automation.

A smart home connects virtually all of the technology in your home.  With an Easy Automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disco Pancake (1155 N. Wells) is a new breakfast/brunch spot in Old Town that gives the most important meal of the day a sparkly, casual and fun shot in the arm.

Take, for example, the Disco Stack, the most expensive stack of pancakes in the city, featuring 20-carat gold syrup and golden flakes.

Joining me to chat about the concept is co-owner Crystal McCahill, who talks about the restaurant’s recent launch and approach. She mentioned the roller coaster nature of running a business, as well as the challenges created by long hours.

We also touch on Crystal’s experience as a Playboy Playmate. She recounts her discovery at Hooters and her journey to becoming a Playboy Playmate, including a chance encounter with The Girls Next Door.

Back to the food: I loved the blueberry/lemon zest pancakes, but there’s a lot more for you to dive into. Stop by before or after work sometime (or late night on the weekend):

7a.m. - 10 p.m. Sun-Th7 a.m. - 2 a.m. Fri-Sat

Check Disco Pancake out on the web: http://www.discopancake.com

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A smart home connects virtually all of the technology in your home. With an Easy Automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atmospheric doom metal band Avernus joins me for a conversation at Melinda’s Pub

(6906 W 111th Worth). After a considerable time away, Avernus returns with the stunning new release, “Grievances.” We talk about the new album and its broad, cinematic scope, as well as the band’s jagged path to the present day. 

“Grievances” is a solid album; it’s doom metal for people who think they don’t like doom metal.

Before the chat with Avernus, Melinda’s Pub owner Chris Barry jumps in the car for a quick chat about his place (go there for the smash burger!). In an ironic twist, we didn’t eat smash burgers until after the camera and mics were shut down (they were awesome, though.).

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Car Con Carne is sponsored by Easy Automation.

A smart home connects virtually all of the technology in your home.  With an Easy Automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

flowersatherfeet is a promising new shoegaze band from Chicago. How new? They’ve been together for roughly four months. We’re on the ground floor here.

Ivory, Robert and Tim from the band join me at River Street Tavern in East Dundee (102 N. River St.) for a fun episode that kicks off with an in-car, acoustic performance of their new single “Tempted” (out on 9/13/24).

From there, we dive into the River Street Tavern menu. The friendly team at the restaurant loaded us up with amazing items from their menu, including (but not limited to) the Curd Cobain burger, Disco Fries, Pub Chicken, Cheese Curds, Chicken Bites, Turkey Club, and Buffalo Mac & Cheese. The food was absolutely delicious, and we loved being able to share it as we talked about the band.

flowersatherfeet makes their live debut on Saturday, September 14, opening for ONELIFE at Cobra Lounge! Make a point of getting there early!

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Car Con Carne is sponsored by Easy Automation.

A smart home connects virtually all of the technology in your home.  With an Easy Automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Violet, Saffron and Tyler from horror pop-punk band Won’t Stay Dead join me for food and adult beverages at DryHop Brewers (3155 N. Broadway).

As we eat delicious DryHop menu items like the DryHop Double Smash Burger, Fried Pickles and the Marinara Pizza, we also enjoy DryHop beers (the beauty of recording outside the car). I had the seasonal Wolpertinger (festbier), and Saffron enjoyed Peaches Peaches Peaches. 

Since Won’t Stay Dead is a horror-themed band, we talked about all the seasonal things, from candy corn to Wes Craven, Rob Zombie to the Driller Killer.

See Won’t Stay Dead as part of Red Scare’s 20th anniversary celebration: They’re playing at Beat Kitchen on Friday the 13th (naturally) with The Bollweevils, The Brokedowns and Brendan Kelly and the Wandering Birds. That’s a pretty damn epic show.

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Car Con Carne is sponsored by Easy Automation.

A smart home connects virtually all of the technology in your home.  With an Easy Automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Jesus Lizard is back! The band is set to release “Rack” on September 13, their first new album of new music since “Blue” (1998).

TJL guitarist Duane Denison joins me for a conversation about the new album, the early Chicago days, and whether “Rack” and a lengthy tour are signs of what’s to come for the band.

In Chicago? Don’t miss the Jesus Lizard’s return: they’ll be playing the Warm Love Cool Dreams festival at Salt Shed on September 28.

While I’m on the topic of the Jesus Lizard’s live show, I’ve always loved this quote from John Haggerty (Pegboy/Naked Raygun) about an especially memorable night: 

“They’re playing; they get through about two or three songs, and a full bottle of beer comes shooting from the back of the audience, hits Dave Yow square in the head. He goes down like a ton of bricks. He’s out cold, like a light. The band keeps playing for a little while, then they realize he’s not going to get up. So they stop playing. There’s a bunch of sauntering about—what are we going to do? What’s happening? It went on for what seemed like a really long time, but I’m sure it was only two or three minutes. After this extended period of time, being passed out cold on the floor, he gets up and he says, ‘Nice shot, asshole.’ Before the word ‘asshole’ was even out of his mouth, they were into the next song and they just continued as if nothing had happened.”

Photo credit: Joshua Black Wilkins

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A smart home connects virtually all of the technology in your home.  With an Easy Automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Drejas of OUTDrejas joins me for dinner at Twisted Q in Homewood (2053 Ridge Road; twistedq.com). As we dive into brisket platters and brownies, we talk about:

*The Corey Feldman opening slot that led to profound physical pain

*The benefit of opening for Counting Crows, including the resulting live release (Live at the PAV)

*David’s sartorial choices, and the practical purpose they serve

*Social media strategy for bands - it’s “all in” on YouTube

*He did the mash. He did the Monster Mash.

Thanks to David for jumping in the car, and extra special thanks to the crew at TwistedQ for the yummy food and hospitality!

Car Con Carne is sponsored by Easy Automation.

A smart home connects virtually all of the technology in your home.  With an Easy Automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Practically four years since the last time we chatted (over Zoom in COVID days), ¾ of 8-bit crEEps met me in the parking lot of Cobra Lounge. We talked about the band in advance of their opening slot for Ultimate Fakebook and Hembree at Cobra on Saturday 9/17. While we talked, we also enjoyed delicious macarons from Offbeat Macarons. Band drummer Reasonable Andy provided them, and I think the vanilla is my favorite.

If you’ve yet to hear 8-bit crEEps, I’m a fan and hope you have the chance to dig in to their almost-ten-year’s-worth of music online!

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.