Yellowcard violinist talks about tour, new EP ahead of July 16 Chicago show

Photo credit: Jason Hackett / design: Mara Bearcat

 

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

After not playing together since 2017, beloved pop-punk band Yellowcard reunited during last year's Riot Fest in Chicago.

Yellowcard is headed back to Chicago to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its album "Ocean Avenue" along with this month's release of the band new's EP, "Childhood Eyes."

The band will play at 7 p.m. July 16 at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island. 

I had the chance to talk to Yellowcard violinist Sean Mackin about the upcoming show and the new EP.

Q – Great talking to you. Of course, Yellowcard headlined last year’s Riot Fest in Chicago and it was the first time you guys had played together since 2017. What was that experience like? Did the experience lead you to decide to go on tour this year?

Yellowcard’s return and performance at Riot Fest was unbelievable. "Ocean Avenue" is a collection of songs that forever changed my life. And to be able to play them again was something I never thought I'd get to do. 

It definitely was the fuel to the fire for a full return. I'd actually give most credit to our fans for showing us so much love.

Q – During your appearance at Riot Fest, you played "Ocean Avenue" in its entirety along with other songs. This is the 20th anniversary of the album. Do you have any favorite songs off the album and why do you think the album has stood the test of time?

There definitely are a couple stand outs for me. "Believe" has always been a favorite for me, with so much meaning behind it. But a sleeper pick off this record was "Inside Out."

It's fun revisiting some of these songs and thinking, “Oh that's neat, can't believe I wrote that 20 years ago.”

Our fans are the reason this album is getting a second life. They embraced it then, as they are now.

Q – The band’s new EP, "Childhood Eyes," will be released on July 21. In sitting down to make the EP, what were your goals and do you think you exceeded them?

"Childhood Eyes" was a fun concept because we discussed, for the first time ever in a YC release, “Hey, we will probably never get to play these songs live, what do you want to do?" Which is great fun.

It was a great way to write YC songs for the first time in seven years.

Q – The EP features appearances by Vic Fuentes from Pierce The Veil and Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba. What do you think they bring to the table?

Anytime you get a chance to have talents like Vic and Christ to lend over some vocals, you do it. We are so lucky that they agreed to jump on our little project, and really transformed these songs. Thanks men!!

Q – What made you want to pick Jordan Phoenix to direct the music video for “Childhood Eyes”? What was your vision for the video and how do you think it turned out? 

His relationship and work with "Story of the Year." Jordan is a powerhouse with an imagination as big as ours.

When we came to him with the idea of search and rescue, he ran with it. We are so happy with how it came out and ranks among the top for YC cinematic releases.

Q – After the tour wraps up later this year, what is next for the band?

We are so focused on this moment of celebration for "Ocean Avenue," I think just some rest and relaxation. Time to reflect on how wonderful this has all been.

We have the When We Were Young Festival ready in October, and might be working on some more shows in 2024, but right now we are soaking in this moment.

Precious Taylor – niece of blues legend Koko Taylor – to perform with top Chicago musician Matthew Skoller at The Venue in Aurora

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

Her raw energy and powerful vocals helped earn Koko Taylor the title "Queen of the Blues."

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as Chicago musician Precious Taylor – Koko’s niece – proved during her riveting show with Matthew Skoller at last month’s Chicago Blues Festival.

Taylor will be performing with Skoller again on July 14 at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway Ave. in downtown Aurora.

The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $15-$20, available at The Venue’s website, themusicvenue.org.

I had the honor of interviewing Taylor about the upcoming show.


Q – Of course you performed recently with Matthew Skoller at the Chicago Blues Festival. How did you connect with him?

Well, I've known Matthew for many years. We go way back to the early ‘90s.

He did some shows with my aunt Koko and he played on some of her CDs. We’re working on a CD and a project.

I’m excited about the show at The Venue. I know a lot of great people have come through there and I just feel honored to appear there.

Q – I know you’ve performed with him several times. What do you like about performing with him?

Well, for one thing, he has a good grasp on the true roots of the blues. He has a true sound that makes it authentic. I like that.

And he sings as well. Our voices kind of match.

Q – Did your aunt introduce you to the blues?

Well, she had a big part in that. My granddad, Andrew, played slide guitar and my dad played piano. And my mom sang.

I would go to my aunt Koko’s shows and just admire her from afar. 

Q – What things struck you as you watched her perform?

It was her stage presence. She just had a good way to get the audience involved.

I liked how she worked the stage and also her unique vocal ability, which I never tried to imitate because I never could in a million years. She had her own sound.

Right until she passed, she was still performing and she still put on a great show. I pray to have that type of stamina.

Q – Yeah, Buddy Guy says he’s on his last tour, but I doubt that. I think in a couple of years, he’ll be back out on the road.

If you’ve been doing it your whole life, it’s like having your arm cut off, to me. One time, I had a vocal problem where I couldn’t sing for almost six months. And I almost lost my mind.

Music is uplifting, it’s motivating, it’s universal. If you are able to continue to perform, why wouldn’t you want to share that for others and for yourself?

Q – Yes, people like John Primer and Lil’ Ed Williams, they’re not spring chickens either and they are still performing.

That’s a good example. But they still get up there with the same fire. They are still doing it.

Q – Given that Koko Taylor is your aunt, do you feel pressure to live up to her name? When you step on stage, do people expect you to sound just like your aunt? And do they start yelling out, “Wang Dang Doodle”?

Yeah, all of the above. I have been singing since I was eight years old.

I majored in opera and was going to be an opera singer. Instead of that, I wound up doing a lot of jazz, which is my first specialty.

For a long time, I didn’t want to perform on the blues circuit because I knew that I could never be her. But then people were telling me that I was just as good in my own right.

And that kind of encouraged me just to do it my way and not try to be like her.

I’ve done some shows in Spanish. I’m not fluent, but I can pull it off. I just finished a CD in Swahili. It’s a jazz CD.

I amazed myself with that one.

Q – I understand that you began performing in a band with your brothers when you were eight years old. It seems like that music has been a family affair for your whole life.

Yes, absolutely. My mom would be singing while she was cooking. It was just a good atmosphere.

Q – Will you perform “Wang Dang Doodle” at The Venue if asked?

Oh yeah. I’ll be doing a couple of her songs.

We’re also going to do some of her more obscure songs. They are some really good songs that people aren’t up on.

You’ll get to hear some of that stuff too.

Chicago-based Surabhi Ensemble will premiere new work during upcoming show at City Winery in Chicago

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

The Chicago-based Surabhi Ensemble wants to use its music to show how we are all connected.

Surabhi Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. June 26 at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Joining the ensemble will be members of Sones de Mexico, Las Guitarras de España, Intercultural Music Production, the Ishti Collective, and Massamba Diop, the Senegalese talking drummer from the 2018 Marvel Studios film "Black Panther."

For tickets and more information, go to Surabhi Ensemble’s website at surabhiensemble.org.

I had the chance to talk to bandleader and Spanish guitarist Carlo Basile about the show.

 

Q – I know the June 26 show at City Winery is a tribute to talking drum master Mamadou Tama (Modou Sarr), who passed away recently. Did you ever work with him and if you did, what did you value the most about him?
 
Yes, I worked with Modou personally and with him via Surabhi Ensemble. Modou came alive whenever and wherever he performed. 

He always brought his A game and I loved that about him. If you listen to the Surabhi tracks ”Raga Blues,” “Malifarka,” and “Swan Song” you will hear his drum, his voice, and his skill on the talking drum. 
 
Q – During the show, I know Surabhi Ensemble will be premiering new work and previewing material for a 2024 tour of India. What are you looking forward to on that tour?
 
We are currently discussing many options and fortunately we have already received many invitations to perform in Gujarat, Pune, Bangalore, Goa, and Chennai. We will see how the logistics allow us to make as many quality performances in India as possible.

But this will happen in late 2024 and early 2025. I am most looking forward to really getting a more in-depth knowledge of the regions in India.

We have so many people in our group and on the ground helping us, I feel like it will be memorable and very special. 
 
Q – I know you were part of Surabhi Ensemble's 2019 tour of Vietnam, Spain, Portugal and Senegal. What was it like being part of that tour and what were the highlights for you?

 

 

That 2019 Tour was pre-COVID of course and totally magical in many ways. We made a very convoluted itinerary happen and really connected with each culture we visited.

Just one highlight was visiting and performing in a small Portuguese town. As we ended our performance, the entire audience stood up and sang a local folk song in our honor. 

It was an emotional moment and unforgettable moment for all of us. 
 
Q – You yourself have traveled to more than 30 countries to perform, teach and study Spanish and ethnic guitar styles. It seems like you have used your music to show people that we are all connected to each other.
 
I used to be a social worker and I’ve realized that, either consciously or unconsciously, I continue to do social work with my music. For sure, the music and dance provides opportunity to make connections. 

Those connections continue when we put our instruments down as well. 
 
Q – Last year, Surabhi Ensemble debuted "Scenes From the Pandemic" at the Chicago World Music Festival. What would you like for people to take away from that particular piece of work?
 
Globally, we all experienced the pandemic in many ways. We got together as a family in the Surabhi Ensemble and wrote down some of the emotions we experienced in the last three years.

Then we created music and dance pieces to depict those emotions. We added video and multimedia elements, as well. 

We hope that folks can see this work and relate. We hope that it inspires thought and healing as well. This work will continue to evolve. 

 
Q – You have worked with so many people over the years. Do you have any dream collaborations or projects?
 
I really enjoy working with the Surabhi family. I would say that I look forward to other collaborations as they happen naturally through our travels and curiosity. 

I don’t consider myself to be virtuoso or perfectionist by any means. But I have just enough skills to find common ground with other artists whom I've met along the way. 

I like that feeling. I try to find artists who have a common world view…to me that’s more important than working with any famous artist or virtuoso. But it might be fun to do something with Peter Gabriel.

Aurora native Nick Wiesner to celebrate release of new album with CD release party at The Venue in Aurora

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

Singer-songwriter Nick Wiesner hopes that his music helps people through their struggles.

The 21-year-old Aurora native is set to release his debut studio album, “Valerie Blaine,” on June 23. To celebrate the release of the album, Wiesner will perform at 8 p.m. June 23 at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway Ave. in downtown Aurora.

Also on the bill is Mirabelle Skipworth and The Brink Of. General admission tickets are $10, available at The Venue’s website, themusicvenue.org.

I had the chance to Wiesner about the new album.


 

Q – Great talking to you. I understand this is your debut studio album. What was it like to make an album in a studio this time around?

It was so surreal. I just got to work with so many people who were just so professional and so committed to putting their all into this project.

Q – Where did you make your debut album, “Flight”?

That was made in a spare room/garage of one of my friends. It was just one mike and no drums.

Q – And your EP, “Growing Up,” where was that made?

That was made in my bedroom.

Q – And that was released in May 2020 and comprised of songs that you wrote during the COVID-19 quarantine. So I guess it made sense that you made the album in your bedroom.

Yeah, that was kind of intentional. I wanted to share the quarantine experience that I was having. I was in high school at the time.

Q – Does your debut studio album, “Valerie Blaine,” have guest musicians on it?

Yes. I think there are close to 15 people who ended up contributing in some way.

Q – So I understand the album is named for a person who you never met before that person unfortunately passed away.

It’s a very unfortunate story, but it is what inspired the whole album, really. About two years ago, when I was finishing high school, I was also going through some very challenging mental illness struggles.

It’s a pretty big focus on the album. That’s essentially what this album is for, suicide prevention.

Because I struggled with that near the end of my high school experience. That’s actually why I started writing the song “Valerie Blaine,” because I made it through an attempt. The first verse is about me and my experiences.

I learned about a fellow high school student who had committed suicide like the day after I started writing that song. So the rest of that song after that first verse is dedicated to him.

I chose the name Valerie Blaine because I didn’t want to share his name. That’s not my information to share.

But I wanted it to be a specific name because it’s a very personal issue. Everybody deals with it differently and nobody can truly know how anybody else is feeling.

I made it a fictional person so it can apply to everybody who deals with it, but in a broad spectrum.

Q – I understand that you consider “Valerie Blaine” to be the most personal album you have released.

Yes, which says a lot, because I don’t really write music that doesn’t have at least some sort of personal connection.

Q – And of course Mirabelle Skipworth is on the bill with you at The Venue. I know she is originally from the area.

She is like the reason I am a musician today, actually. They used to run an open mike night at Tredwell Coffee in downtown Aurora, which unfortunately, is now closed.

Mirabelle heard me perform at Tredwell and she told me she thought I was really good and that she thought she could get me some gigs.

Q – That’s nice when musicians can come together like that.

Yeah, and she’s all about that.

Q – Ultimately, what would you like your music to do for people?

If people are struggling, they can listen to the songs and feel heard. They might not necessarily feel all better right away, but just feel justified in their sadness or justified in their struggles.