As part of double headlining bill, Scott Collins will perform with his band The Sovereignty. Sharing the stage will be his brother's band, Justin and The Cosmics.
Also on the bill is Chicago-based artist Sarah Krohn. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.
Lazymoon Design is located at 4642 North Francisco Ave., Chicago. Tickets are $33.85, available at eventbrite.com.
I had the chance to talk to Scott Collins about the upcoming show.
Q – Great talking to you. I guess life
comes full circle because, in 2011 and 2012, I interviewed Coley Kennedy
about his bands The Buddies and Welcome to Ashley.
Of course, you were a
member of The Buddies along with your then wife Kim and your brother, Justin.I know that in
2012, your wife was battling breast cancer and Coley started an online
fundraiser to help with her medical and living expenses.
Hopefully she
is doing well these days.
That's very thoughtful of you to inquire. Yes, Kim has been fully recovered from that situation for over a decade now.
Q – I see Coley was also involved with the album Bravery Is Necessary,
which you and your band The Sovereignty released in January. It is
great that you have had a strong relationship with Coley over the years.
Hopefully you will perform your song “Shittin’ Tears” from that album
at your show in Chicago. Your searing guitar work on that song is
amazing.
Thank you, graciously. "Shittin' Tears" is, in
many ways, the linchpin song for Scott Collins and The Sovereignty; the
song that started it all metaphysically for me as a solo artist and now
most live shows end with it.
Q – And, of course, your latest solo album, Capistrano Beach, was released on Oct. 10. What goals did you have for the album and did the end result exceed your expectations?
I suppose the fact that Capistrano
Beach is out and released as an official album in and of itself has
exceeded any expectations. It was originally recorded as a birthday
gift.
It was originally intended to be heard by only one person other
than myself and the studio engineer (and my best friend), Christopher
Lord Byrd. All the songs were played live, in order, one time, one
take...on the actual birthday which was 1 degree Aries.
It felt
inaccurate, unjust, and illegitimate to call this collection of songs
demos, although the eight songs on Capistrano Beach do also live in
different, fuller-produced versions as part of a 12-song album to be
released in early 2026.
Often people hear acoustic versions of songs
AFTER they hear fully-produced album versions, so I realized this was an
opportunity to flip that antiquated pattern on its head. It is, without
a doubt, the most intimate expression I've ever released.
Chris,
Claira, and I – all three couldn't stop listening to it almost daily
for weeks on end, so as an exercise in vulnerability and authenticity; I
said "fuck it"...[let's] put it out.
Q – The Chicago show will also feature
your brother’s band Justin and The Cosmics. I am sure that will make the
night even more special for you. Will there be any collaborating with
your brother that night?
Affirmative; high probability of a
Collins thunderstorm approaching. It is a rare storm these days.
Although I did play lead guitar in The Cosmics for a few years, and on a
couple of The Cosmics albums (Perf and Cool Dead), so there is a handsome cesspool to draw from.
I know the duo you had with your former wife
– The Smoking Flowers – is on hiatus right now. Do you see the band
doing anything in the near future?
The future of The Smoking Flowers is
not divulged in the crystal ball. I am holding
space for the best scenarios and outcomes possible in the future.
Q – What had been the best part of working with your former wife in not only that band, but also in other bands like The Buddies?
Traveling, seeing and feeling the
world through someone else's eyes in addition to your own can prove to
be revelatory. The ocean of experience to draw upon for creativity is
unrivaled.
The art, the story, the work, the purpose you leave in your
wake – no one can take from you. I think some loved and saw us as a
singular entity, not as two separate sovereign individuals.
Listening to Angus Macaskill songs will quickly put a smile on your face.
Take for example his song "Beautiful," which has an infectious melody that will get stuck in your head.
The Scottish-born singer-songwriter calls Aurora home. The stage keeps getting bigger for Macaskill, who recently opened for well-known Americana artist Samantha Grimes.
I had the chance to talk to him after he played recently at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles as part of Indie Music Night.
Q – It's great to talk to you. I was impressed with your recent show at the Arcada Theatre and the passion you put into the show.
I was especially impressed with the song "Beautiful." The song's melody stuck in my head.
Oh, thank you. I'm a self-taught musician.
I wrote the song as part of a 35-day writing challenge. It's a fun song.
Q – Is the song about anyone in particular?
It's open to interpretation. I try to draw my inspiration from experience and observation.
I like tongue-in-cheek humor.
Q – You recently performed at Nashville North in Milwaukee with Samantha Grimes. You must feel honored to perform with someone of that caliber.
Oh, yeah. She's definitely next level.
Q – I know you are a self-taught musician. What got you interested in music in the first place?
I think I was born with it. I really do.
Music is what keeps me grounded. There's something about playing a guitar that just soothes and connects me to the world.
Q – I understand the day before your show at the Arcada Theatre, you hyperextended your right thumb.
Yeah, I messed it up bad.
Q – But you pushed through it. You didn't bow out of the show.
I don't back out of things. It still hurts, but it is going to be fine.
Q – You live in the Fox Valley and it seems like the Fox Valley has such a vibrant music scene. Why do you think that is?
There's a lot of small, independently owned bars in the Fox Valley. And I think there's a movement happening where more people are going out and seeing local live music because they need that connection.
I have to juggle playing music with a full-time career and being a dad and a husband. I have a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old.
I play my music as much as I am able to do so.
Q – Wow, you have a lot to juggle. Have you released an album yet? Is that a goal of yours?
It is a goal. I have 25 original songs right now that I've written.
It's going to happen hopefully sooner rather than later.
Q – As far as what you want your music to do for people, do you want to be able to have your listeners relate to what you are singing about?
I want to put a smile on someone's faceand I want to put a tune in somebody's head. You want to be memorable.
Q – Do you think your heritage plays a part in your music or do you try to instill your heritage into your music?
I think my personality is 100 percent Scottish and it comes through when I perform live. I think people find that entertaining, which definitely helps with the delivery at times.
Q – It seems like you have a pretty good bond with other musicians.
I think I have a good bond withpeople in general. I connect with people.
That's part of being an artist. And I think that stems from the way I was brought up.
I'm writing songs now that I would have never written a year ago because I didn't feel confident in opening up memories or emotions.
Being around other musicians, I can be genuinely more supportive and understanding when they are writing. And I think that helps me.
Me being confident helping someone else be confident helps my confidence.
Q – What goals do you have in the near future?
I'm currently focused on recording and releasing an original song – hopefully before the end of the year.
I also want to be an opening act for like a big name band. And really that's a lofty goal.
After returning from a successful tour to India, members of Chicago-based Surabhi Ensemble and Las Guitarras de España will come together in October for a global music and dance performance that will feature new music.
The new album, "Guitarra Trotamundos" or “Globe Trotting Guitar,” celebrates years of teaching and performing in countries such as Vietnam, Spain, Portugal, Senegal, Mexico and India. The title is also a nod to the members of Surabhi Ensemble, who have taken to jogging in various places, including recent appearances in the Mumbai and Boston Marathons.
To celebrate the release of the album, Surabhi Ensemble and Las Guitarras de España will perform Oct. 6 at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. The evening will also feature several special guests.
I had the chance to talk to band leader and musician Carlo Basile about the show.
Q – Great talking to you again. The last
time we spoke, the Surabhi Ensemble was about to embark on its Global
Peace Tour of India. I understand it was always a goal of the Surabhi
Ensemble to tour India, especially since four of the members were born
there. How was the tour and did it live up to your expectations or
exceed them?
Hi! Nice to chat again. I’m glad to
report that our overall experience greatly exceeded expectations!
Global
travel is hard. We experienced a few injuries (more on that later),
missed flights and had some typical travel drama, but the concerts were
all very well received and the hosts were so kind and welcoming.
For
example, in Rajpipla, Gujarat, we had more than 2,000 people come to an
outdoor performance as the Prince of Gujarat welcomed us with a live
marching band and official ceremony.
It was amazing, unexpected and
unforgettable!
Q – And now Surabhi Ensemble and Las
Guitarras de España will perform at City Winery in Chicago on Oct. 6 to
celebrate the release of “Guitarra Trotamundos.” What goals did you have
for the album?
To be honest, I just wanted to gather
some new and old friends to make an album which celebrates a few
things…global friendships, my turning 60 years old, and continuing to
run marathons at this age!
It’s a vanity project for sure, but there are
some creative moments in the new pieces, as well.
Q – Do you have any favorite tracks on the album?
Yes, there is so much diversity in
general, which may not be a popular word politically, but I am glad that
we have about seven languages represented on the tracks.
My favorites
are "Malifarka," "Gli Anni Sono Brevi," "Kapi," and "Vencerá."
Q – Music brings people together. It does
seem like the country is more divided than ever. Do you hope that
“Guitarra Trotamundos” will help teach people about other cultures and
perhaps help to bring people together?
Of course, always. But folks have got
to figure things out for themselves.
How far do we want to take
nationalism and narcissism? I think we are finally starting to see some
push back.
Hopefully our work and the ideas of togetherness will come
back in fashion soon…I hope!
Q – I know you competed in your first
Boston Marathon in April and that you qualified for next year's Boston
Marathon. Are you happy with how you did and do you plan to participate
again next year?
Thanks! That was a HUGE bucket list
item. It went well, but I’ll run the Chicago Marathon in a few weeks and
see what my time is.
I’m aiming for under 3 hours 40 minutes because
Chicago has now adopted a tougher qualifier than Boston.
I’m going to
run in the desert this February, so I’ll skip Boston in 2026.
I’ll likely
return, but I would love to run in Berlin and Tokyo next.
On Sept. 27 – his 71st birthday – Morganfield will perform at Hey Nonny, 10 South Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are available at heynonny.com.
I had the chance to talk to him about the new record.
Q – Great talking to you again. We last spoke in 2018 about your release “They Call Me Mud,” so it’s nice to talk to you again and get caught up on your latest activities.
I’m sorry to hear about the death of your mother, Mildred McGhee. I understand she was a big supporter of yours.
She was kind of connected to my hip. My dad was gone a lot of times and she had to be father and mother on any day.
When I scratched my knee, she was the one who put the bandage on it.
Q – That makes sense, because your dad was on the road a lot.
You talk about wanting to see your mother in your dreams in one of the songs on the new album, “A Dream Walking.”
I imagine that was a hard song to write.
It was a hard song to writeand it was a hard song to sing. But I knew I had to get through it.
I knew that was something she would want since she was my biggest supporter.
Q – But it's also a song that other people who perhaps lost their parents can connect with.
I am praying to the highest power that it does. Because there's strength in tears.
It's a cruel man who doesn't cry. I don't want to be that kind of person. I want to be able to share tears.
It doesn't make you weak. It's makes you stronger because there's power in those tears.
Q – Of course, you are on a new record label, Nola Blue Records. What made you want to sign to the label and what do you like about the label?
Well, I shopped around and I couldn't get the right deal from any other label. I spoke with Sallie Bengtson, president of Nola Blue Records, who is a fantastic lady.
Sometimes you can meet people and you get a certain feeling about them. I had nothing but positive feelings from Sallie. I felt like I could trust her.
Q I know that “Deep Mud" is being released on Sept. 26 and then you will perform at Hey Nonny on Sept. 27, your 71st birthday. Does that make it even more special to be able to perform your new songs on your birthday?
It is special because I'm a year older, but I don't care when it would have come out. Me and this band, which includes Buddy Guy drummer Melvin “Pooky Styx” Carlisle, we put together some great tunes.
Q – It seems like you really like your fellow musicians on the album.
I love those guys. We have a personal relationship. They have gone with me on this journey from the beginning, especially Rick Kreher, who was my dad's last guitar player along with John Primer before he passed.
Q – I know you have said in different interviews that you wanted to experience the blues before you became a professional musician.
How can you have some blues if you've never had no blues? If you've never went through drug addiction, alcoholism, being a cancer survivor or something.
You've got to go through something to get some real nitty gritty blues.
Q – You were on the main stage at the Chicago Blues Festival this summer singing your dad’s iconic song “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man” in celebration of Chess Records’ 75th anniversary. What was that experience like?
It's always great to represent my city, first of all.
Q – What do you think your dad would have said seeing you perform that song?
I do a lot of my dad's work, man, just to try to keep his legacy here. And also, I add my own songs, like "Ernestine" and "She's Getting Her Groove On."
I do dad's songs to always try to keep his legacy fresh. I can be anywhere in the world and people will be screaming at me to play "Got My Mojo Working" and "I Just Want To Make Love To You."
I slide right into character, because he was my father.
Q – I know that you are trying to carry on the legacy of your dad but at this same time, have your own sound and forge your own path. Is it hard to do both?
Yeah, it is a double-edged sword sometimes. "Deep Mud" features two of my dad's songs, "Strange Woman" and "Country Boy."
And I will never put an album out without at least one or two of dad's songs on there, just to show respect for my father.
I have to honor him. God was just kind enough to give me his lungs and vocal chords and all that.
Q – I know that you perform worldwide. How are the fans in other countries like England, Russia and China?
Outstanding, especially in England. They love American blues music.
As many of you probably already know, The Venue in Aurora goes out of its way to showcase the best musicians in the Chicago area as well as those from around the country.
A great example of that was when Chicago-based Nora O'Connor opened for Nashville-based Lilly Hiatt on Aug. 28 in what was a riveting night of music.
This is the second time I have seen O'Connor perform at The Venue (the first time was in 2022 during The Venue's Americana Music Fest) and her soaring vocals and heartfelt lyrics started off the evening on the perfect note.
Even though Hiatt is the daughter of famed singer-songwriter John Hiatt, it is clear that she is forging her own path.
Her songs refreshingly can't be lumped in one category as she likes to roam in different musical directions.
Adding to the excitement of the night was Chicago area musician Anne Harris, who hosts the music and conversation series She Said at The Venue. The series features performances and conversations with
female musicians.
Given the musicality and energy that Harris displays on stage, it is no wonder that she was touring with Keb' No' and Taj Mahal earlier this year.
I'm looking forward to taking in more outstanding performances at The Venue this year.
Believe it or not, it's been nine years since The Bad Examples celebrated the 25th anniversary of the band's classic album "Bad Is Beautiful" with a show at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora in 2016.
The band performed at Two Brothers Roundhouse on July 25 (so that's a weird coincidence, right?) in a show that showed off the timeless nature of the band's music.
Suffice to say, there were plenty of perfect moments during the show. Yes, that is a reference to the band's song "One Perfect Moment," one of the songs off "Bad Is Beautiful."
Along with celebrating the band's rich musical history, the show also provided a glimpse into The Bad Examples' future as the band performed several new songs.
Frontman Ralph Covert has a knack for writing songs filled with infectious melodies that get stuck in your head, such as the new song "It's All Good."
And just when you thought the energy level in the room couldn't get any higher, Covert and company turned in a rousing version of the song "Let Her Go."
The Bad Examples will play next at FitzGerald's in Berwyn on Oct. 11.
To say that Kate Fagan is a trailblazing musician is an understatement.
Fagan wrote the song "I Don’t Wanna Be Too Cool” after moving to Chicago from New York in the late '70s. The song became the best-selling single by a local artist at Wax Trax! Records.
In 1980, she co-founded legendary Chicago ska band Heavy Manners. Fagan, who currently lives in New Orleans, will return to Chicago next month for a couple of rare appearances.
Fagan will do an in-store performance from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at Bric-a-Brac Records & Collectibles, 2845 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago. She also will perform Aug. 10 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, as part of a bill that also includes Clickbait, Beastii and DJ Modern Girl.
I had the chance to talk to Fagan about her illustrious career.
Q – What do you like about the New Orleans music scene, and what do you miss about the Chicago music scene?
New Orleans is rich in history and
community, with a thriving street music scene that gives the city its
distinctive vibe. I love the culturally diverse “gumbo”—deep roots in
gospel, blues, brass bands, and jazz. The variety of festivals here is
truly incredible.
I miss the punk and ska scenes in Chicago, especially
the raw energy of those early shows and the original spirit that fueled
the new wave bands. I miss seeing major rock ‘n roll acts, as there
aren’t many touring in the South.
Q – You wrote “I Don’t Wanna Be Too Cool” in response to the hipster movement in NYC. Was that the reason you moved to Chicago?
Actually, the disco scene and
brand-centric consumerism in New York inspired that song. But I moved to
Chicago because I was drawn to its vibrant underground music scene and
wanted to be part of something young and rebellious.
Q – Did you think “I Don’t Wanna Be Too Cool” would resonate so much? Why do you think it’s still relevant?
I sensed it connected with many people
feeling pressure to fit in or be trendy, but I didn’t expect it to
reach so many or stay relevant for so long. It still resonates because
those feelings of wanting to be yourself never go out of style.
Q – How did you react to the song becoming the best-selling single by a local artist at Wax Trax! Records?
It was surreal and incredibly
encouraging. Seeing how many people related to my point of view and
musical style boosted my confidence.
Q – What attracted you to ska music, and what were your goals with Heavy Manners?
Second-Wave Ska’s upbeat energy,
combining reggae’s earthy rhythms and punk’s political edge, really
excited me. With Heavy Manners, we wanted to bring that infectious sound
to Chicago audiences and do our part in breaking down racial and gender
barriers with our solidarity, and we reveled in the joy of making
dance-able songs.
We loved playing together, and the thriving club scene
made it even more fun.
Q – What was it like working with Peter Tosh?
Playing with Peter Tosh was a profound
experience – his presence was powerful, and working with him in the
studio brought an authentic reggae energy that deeply influenced our
band’s music. He produced Heavy Manners' “Say It,” which I am especially
proud to have written.
Q – What do you enjoy about collaborating with Jeremy Joyce?
Jeremy is an incredibly versatile
guitarist and he’s super studio-savvy. His boundless creative range and
edgy drive inspire me.
Collaborating with him pushes me to explore new
ideas and keeps the songwriting fresh.
Q – What musical direction did you aim for with “Go Faster”?
We wanted punk’s relentless energy to
propel the listener forward – sonically, it’s about a driving rhythm that
makes you want to GO FASTER! Lyrically, it encourages people to be
powerful, act immediately and push boundaries.
Q – Is Heavy Manners working on anything new? What’s next?
I’m always writing and experimenting,
so stay tuned! I plan to release more songs and hopefully tour.
I also
have some exciting collaborations on the horizon, including a few
surprises for fans.
Aurora resident Chris Shern's creative juices take him in many directions.
Along with being the frontman of the band Invisible Cartoons, Shern is a filmmaker. His second feature film, "Vic Effects," will premiere at 7 p.m. Aug. 13 at Classic Cinemas Charlestowne 18 XQ, 3740 E. Main St., St. Charles.
Q – Wow, you are just juggling so much these days. Your band in May released a new album, "Sci-Fi Disco Carnival."
Yeah, we released that back on May 17. We're playing at least one show a month for the rest of the year, so we'll be busy doing that.
Q – Of course, "Vic Effects" will premiere next month. How did you come up for the theme for this movie?
I was doing a film and I was doing some Foley work on the film. (Foley is the reproduction of everyday sound effects that are added to films, videos, and other media in post-production to enhance audio quality.)
It popped in my head that there's not really a lot of movies about people who make sound effects for horror movies. The sound effects, especially in horror movies or action movies, take the movie to another level.
I think I'm bringing something different to the table with this film.
Q – And I see there are a couple of actors in "Vic Effects" that were in your previous movie.
Amanda Winston, who plays Vic Paulette, she was in "Evil Lurks" as well. She also is the lead character in this movie.
And Bill D. Russell, who was in "Evil Lurks" playing the creepy neighbor, plays controversial film director Milo Kemp in "Vic Effects."
Milo approaches Vic if she can work on a movie he's been working on. His previous Foley artist passed away, so he asks Vic if she can finish the movie.
That is how that plays out with those two.
Q – Did you like working with these two actors in your first film and did you think they would be a good fit for this film?
Absolutely. I really liked working with themand I'm going to continue working with themfor as long as they want to work with me.
Q – You must be happy that you far exceeded your fundraising goal for "Vic Effects."
Originally, I didn't know if I wanted to do a fundraising campaign for the movie. I self financed "Vic Effects," but getting towards the end, when I was in post production, I wanted to raise some money for visual effects and certain things like that.
My initial goal was to raise $2,000. I raised that in less than 24 hours and I ended up raising almost $8,000 overall.
I thought that was pretty good for my first go around of doing this.
Q – To me, that shows that people believe in what you do and want to support it.
I'm very happy and fortunate there are people who believe in what I'm trying to do. It made me have a little bit of money to pay for some of the visual effects in the movie.
I'm trying to build my brand, so I think that's helpful for me for this movie and also for things that I try to do in the future when it comes to crowdfunding.
Q – As far as the other actors in the movie, how did you pick them?
Well, one of the other actors, Dennis Newport, I worked with him a little more than 10 years ago.
He plays Thomas Raven. I really love this guy.
He's a great actor. And I knew when I wrote this script that I wanted him to be a part of it.
He was one of the main actors that I was really seeking out.
Katelin Stack also is amazing. She plays four different characters in this movie.
And she also did some makeup effects for the movie as well. So she's multi talented.
Q – Along with being the movie's writer and director, I understand you are in "Vic Effects" as well.
I play multiple characters as well in the movie. I play monsters and creatures and killers.
Playing one of the creatures in the movie was very
difficult while directing at the same time. That was the most stressful
day in shooting the movie.
I am hoping people will get the vibes of different horror genres that we connected with this movie.
We had a lot of fun working on this movie.
Q – What was the most fun part about it?
I think the most fun about it was just knowing that the actors I picked to be in this movie, they understood what the assignment was and what they needed to do.
Q – Which do you like better, making movies or making and performing music? Or do you feel you need both in your life?
At this point in my life, I definitely need both.
I've been making music and have been in bands for 30 years. I still love it.
We have a show every month for the rest of the year and I'm happy about that.
I love the balance between creating and writing songs and performing and then making movies.
I already have my script ready for my next film. I can't wait to make another film.
I'm actually going to start working on short films as well, just to have more material out there.
It's definitely an equal balance when it comes to those things that I'm doing right now.
There are not many bands that can match the energy level of Chicago band Liquid Soul.
As such, Liquid Soul was the perfect band to kick off the outdoor concert season at The Venue in downtown Aurora on June 28.
Liquid Soul certainly has made its mark not only locally, but nationally as well. With its blend of jazz, hip-hop,
world music and other genres, the band caused quite the
stir when it burst onto the scene in the mid-'90s.
The band quickly gained a following and in 2001, its album "Here's the Deal" was nominated for a Grammy Award for best contemporary jazz album.
The band's sound is as fresh as ever. And the spirit of founder Mars Williams remains strong with the band.
Williams, who passed away last year following a battle with cancer, was the man behind the band's vision.
One of the things that makes Liquid Soul so fun to watch live is the interplay between band members. It's like watching friends hanging out with each other.
The show was filled with magical moments, including when singer Omega took the stage and elevated the show to another level with her strong vocal power.
The Venue's outdoor concert series will continue on July 13 with Cesar Rosas & The Chi-Town Playboys. The third annual Summer Jam concert featuring Peach Jam, Cream Puff Warriors and Scott Tipping will take place on July 25.
More information is available at The Venue's website, themusicvenue.org.
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