Chicago band The Queue to open for Cracker, Marcy Playground as part of The Alt Rock Rager in Aurora

Photo courtesy of The Queue

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

For those interested in songs that contain gorgeous melodies and thought provoking lyrics, it is time to queue up the music of Chicago band The Queue.

The Queue will open for Cracker, Marcy Playground and Ike Reilly on June 4 as part of The Alt Rock Rager at The Piazza, 85 Executive Drive in Aurora near the Fox Valley Mall.

Also on the bill are fellow Chicago bands Prizefighter, The Giving Moon and EGxBH and Villa Park band Unlikely Souls. Rock ’n roll burlesque and entertainment troupe The Vaudettes also is on the bill.

The show starts at 3 p.m. and tickets are available at afterlifechi.com.

I had the pleasure of interviewing The Queue frontman and lead singer Sean Mulligan about the show.
 

Q – Great talking to you. As far as naming the band The Queue, how did you come up with the name?

I’m a huge Oasis fan and they have a song called “Part Of The Queue.” I just thought it was kind of a cool name.

Q – You guys just played at the International Pop Overthrow festival in Chicago. That’s not the first time you played at the festival, right?

I’ve been doing it with The Queue or as a solo act for 10 years, at least.

Q – Why do you like performing at it?

I love just being in that energetic kind of environment and seeing the other performers and being able to enjoy all the music.

There are a lot of like minded musicians at the festival. I’ve done some crazy shows with bands I shouldn’t have been a part of.

At one show at the Double Door, a guy took off all of his clothes except for his underwear and jumped on the bar. I thought this guy was nuts, but people were digging it.

It just wasn't my scene, man.

Q – It seems like you guys have been busy this year. In January, you released an EP, “Get Out Of Now.” The EP is described as ”Part love letter, part retrospective, and hopeful perspective on change, recovery and the human condition.” Did you write this in reaction to the pandemic?

No, it was actually due to a breakup. It led me down a dark tunnel.

I went out to Texas and then I came back and worked on the EP. I wrote for I think a month or two and then I brought the band into the studio.

I hope I wrote it in a way where it could be interpreted for any situation. I was trying to keep some level of positivity to it.

Because we all go through dark things, you know.

Q – The first track on the EP is “Own The Enemy.” What is the meaning of the song?

The feeling for me was, whatever darkness you have, just own it. Make it positive. Transition it to something else.

Q – In March, you released a cover of the Oasis song “Don’t Look Back In Anger.” Is Oasis a big influence for you and the band?

Yeah, I would say so. Definitely Noel Gallagher is one of my favorite songwriters.

Obviously The Beatles is another huge influence. The reason I picked up the guitar in the first place was because of The Beatles.

The turning point was watching “The Beatles Anthology” television series in 1995. My mom made me watch it and I told her, “Why would I want to watch these geezers?”

When I watched them play “Twist and Shout,” something snapped in me. I told my mom, “I want that guitar and I want to learn how to sing that song.”

So I’m glad she made me watch it.

Q – What was going through your head when you were watching The Beatles?

I think it was John Lennon’s voice, just being so raspy and so empowered on that song. And I thought their guitars looked cool.

I collected all their records and I just sat and listened to their music and it was just mind blowing for me.

Q – Are you excited about the upcoming show? Are you fans of any of these bands?

Yeah, absolutely. Everyone knows Marcy Playground’s song “Sex and Candy.”

We’re inspired by ‘90s bands like Cracker and Marcy Playground.

Q – What would you like people to get out of your music?

I want them to enjoy it, for one. I want people to really listen to the lyrics and I want them to have their own perspective on it.

Hopefully it means something to someone. I’m trying to always convey a message.

Glenbard West grad provides fresh take on vampire genre in new novel

 

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

 

In “Vampyre: The Past Never Dies,” Warrenville resident David Nordmeyer aims to provide a fresh take on the vampire genre.

I had the chance to talk to Nordmeyer, a 1982 Glenbard West High School grad (and my classmate), about the novel, which is his first published book. “Vampyre: The Past Never Dies” is available at amazon.com.

Reach out to him through his Facebook page, facebook.com/Authordreamer.

Q – I know that you have written stories in the past, but this is your first published story. What made you want to publish this story?

It’s something that I always wanted to do. I’ve always liked the horror genre. I wanted this particular story to be published because it was something new and original and I felt I could put a fresh spin on the vampire genre.

As I wrote the book, I kind of pictured in my head a movie. If I was making a movie, what would I want to see? How would I want it to unfold?

Q – What is the story about?

Well, it’s basically a story of this Chicago homicide detective. She’s kind of cynical and world-weary.

She’s forced to confront something that she didn’t think was real and that she didn’t think was possible.

It changes her whole perspective of the world.

Q – So is the book about people having to confront something that they never confronted before and then realize they can actually handle it? Is that one of the themes in the book?

It’s partly that. It’s about people encountering something new and different.

There’s also themes in there about family. The character has some family issues and that provides motivation for her, without giving too much of the story away.

Q – As far as your influences, who or what are some of your influences? Are you influenced by any authors in particular?

A little bit. Stephen King is definitely somebody I admire.

I always like how he brings horror and these terrifying things into the real world. It makes them scarier because he sets them in a real location.

I think that’s something worthy of emulating. He brings terror into everyday situations.

Q – Of course, many of his novels were made into movies. Could you imagine your novel being made into a movie?

Yeah, it’s just a fantasy, but again, I just kind of wrote it and paced it like it was a movie. When I’m writing, I kind of think of it as a movie.

I like it because I’m in control of everything. A writer can pretty much visualize anything.

I tried to picture it like if I was producing a movie with an unlimited budget.

Q – How long have you written stories?

Probably for most of my life. This is the first time that I’ve had the chance to publish one of my stories.

Self-publishing gives people a chance to get their stuff out there. Another nice thing is that the author has control of the process from beginning to end.

Q – Can you remember the first story you wrote?

I think it was a science fiction adventure story about a character who is traveling through different solar systems.

Q – Why do you like writing?

It’s therapeutic. It’s a good way for me to work some stuff out sometimes.

And I enjoy sharing my stories with people. I get a lot of satisfaction from that and people seem to enjoy reading them.

It’s a good way to share my thoughts and my vision of the world.
 

 

Singer-songwriter Cary Morin captivates in show at The Venue in Aurora

 

Cary Morin and his wife, Celeste Di lorio, perform May 1 at The Venue in Aurora

 

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

The Venue in Aurora kicked off its musical offerings in May on a high note when Cary Morin – described as one of the best acoustic pickers on the scene today – stopped by on May 1 for a night of musical delights.

This was Morin’s first visit to The Venue and hopefully it won’t be his last. His captivating storytelling kept the audience engaged all night.

 
A Crow tribal member with Assiniboine Sioux and Black heritage, he talks about his heritage in his music, such as on the song “Valley of the Chiefs.”

Joining him on stage was his wife Celeste Di lorio, who also is immensely talented. The two harmonize perfectly together, which was just another high point to the evening.

Watch more videos from the show at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG7FHY4ZmxlH0yISyYktKkg