Car Con Carne

Lucky Boys Confusion returns to the House of Blues on 11/15/25 for The Soapbox Spectacle Vinyl Release Show. As I type this, the show is pretty much sold out, meaning if you waited on tickets, you may kick yourself early on during the listening of this episode.Stubhy from Lucky Boys Confusion is back on the show to reveal LBC’s opening act - and the lead singer is also in the episode (hidden off-screen until the reveal)!

The ...

GIALLO GELATO

Logan Theatre

2646 N. Milwaukee 

A 50th Anniversary Giallo Celebration
July 18-21  |  11 pm  |  The Logan Theatre  |  Chicago

Four nights of killer Italian movies celebrating their 50th anniversary will be featured at Logan Theatre next weekend for “GIALLO GELATO,” a cinema event curated and hosted by Stephanie “La Gialloholique” Sack. 

&nbs...

The Smoking Popes released the excellent “Lovely Stuff” a few months back, which was the perfect excuse to have frontman Josh Caterer return to the show for his 14th (!) time.

With the new album top-of-mind, we go song-by song through all 10 songs. I loved having the opportunity to hear about the songwriting process and behind-the-scenes stories that led to its release.

This one’s for Smoking Popes fans, and is a ...

Flake Michigan is a self-described, five-person, “Midwest Indie Saxy band from Chicago.”

I’m joined by Sergio, Laura, and Dave just days before “Flaketoberfest” at Chop Shop (July 10), where they’ll celebrate the one-year anniversary of their “Ottawa” album.

We talk about how Flake Michigan started, their hyperlocal approach to songs, their collaboration with Car Con Carne favorite So...

Trever Keith of Face to Face joins me for an interview recorded inside Loud Pizza Records, located inside Salt Shed in Chicago.

The interview happened during Motoblot weekend at Salt Shed, a day before Face to Face’s headlining set on the final night. We covered a lot of the band’s storied history, some ties to Chicago music icons, comic books, and Iron Maiden. In short: All the good stuff. Trever’s a super...

Wrapping up a spectacular three-month run of live events at Legit Dogs + Ice, my guests for this special recording include Glory Days, Chris Otepka (Heligoats, Troubled Hubble), Chad the Bird, Alex Subak (badcandy) and comedian Eric Oren.

Thanks to everyone at Legit Dogs for making these events and episodes happen - I had a lot of fun working on them and bringing them to life!

**NOTE - LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES ARE ONLY...

Nickole Regala, Sophia Williams, and Frankie Sripada of the bluesy, psychedelic, raw and authentic, band Daisychain join me for a chat just days before their album release show (6/20) at Sleeping Village and a week in advance of the release of the new album, “All in a Name.”

This one was recorded outside local treasure Reed’s Local in Avondale, and we talked about:

-The just-concluded tour, and the problematic hot...

This episode sees the return of drummer, Mark Esses, who's behind the kit for super-cool bands like Downstait, Night Spice and Flowers for Dorian.

We met at El Vado, a Mexican restaurant in McHenry, and we chatted about:

Balancing Multiple Projects: Besides being the drummer in a bunch of bands, Mark Esses also keeps busy as a D.J. We talk about how he manages his time and creative energy across all these endeavors.

&...

Taste of Randolph returns this weekend (June 13-15) for its 28th year! The event happens at ground zero for food in Chicago: Randolph Street, between Peoria and Racine.

To preview this year’s event, I sat down with Julie Darling (West Loop Community Organization President) at Hide+Seek (838 W. Randolph), a standout Randolph St. restaurant that offers a “creative American shared plates menu (incorporating) touches...

Danimal Farm is a solo project created by singer/guitarist Danny Doom, formerly of Milk at Midnight. The album, “Perseverance Hotel,” is a comfortable, sometimes dark, collection of shimmering indie rock and indie pop songs that have stuck with me since the album’s February release.

Danny Doom joins me to talk about the project, along with band members Stephanie and Clay. We talk about Doom’s decision...

Almost exactly one year ago, I visited Noon Whistle’s Lombard Brewpub (800 E. Roosevelt) to understand why they were serving cicada-infused Malort. Sure enough, they got me again. Garlic Butterlört has arrived. In the brewery’s promotional copy, it’s described as “bringing big ‘better ingredients, questionable decisions’ energy. Rich, buttery goodness meets roasted garlic and herbs, with tha...

I’m joined by comedian/radio host/wrestling journalist/former radio colleague Kevin Kellam, who’s recording a comedy album on stage at Lincoln Hall on August 9.

We met outside the Brewed in Logan Square for a Sunday morning conversation that covered everything from the comedy album taping to Q101 philosophy. There’s also a detailed discussion on the time I walked through human excrement, if that happens to be ...

The second live Car Con Carne event at Legit Dogs + Ice (322 S. Randall Road, South Elgin) happened on 5/15/25. Appearing at the event, and on this episode: Karen Shook, Carson from Obscurity Brewing, Aaron Williams, comedian Chris Bongat, Derision Cult and unannounced guest Sincere Engineer.

In addition to being interviewed, Karen Shook, Aaron Williams and Derision Cult each performed two songs. For the music performances, please ...

Bellhead (Karen Righeimer and Ivan Russia) is a favorite of mine. The post-punk duo continues to take massive evolutionary steps forward with each new release; the new EP, “Threats,” is their finest moment yet.

Rather than meet in my car, I invited Bellhead over to do an interview in my backyard (they’re like family at this point). My fire pit was a bit … suffocating … as we chatted, but we still man...

El Bisonte is a spectacular bass and drum instrumental duo (Henry Ignacio - bass and sounds; Blake Lowery - drums) from Louisville, Kentucky. I caught up with them last weekend before they headlined “Goatstock” in Norridge, and we talked about:

*Their take on Chicago

*Louisville’s most famous haunted attraction

*How Henry gets “upskirted” at live shows

*What storytelling in song means for an ins...

I’m hanging with UR Mom for this episode. Me and UR Mom have a lot to get into, including the just-announced Summerfest date!

Maura Wolf  (vocals, rhythm guitar), Tommy Hinds (guitar) and Alex O’Malley (drums) joined me to talk about the band’s beginnings and the speedy word-of-mouth that’s encircling the band. More impressive, they conducted the interview without the invaluable assist of bassist...

Afrofuturistics is “A Chicago Collective of Horns, Bass, Hip Hop Beats”

They’re jazz. They’re hip hop. They’re somewhere in between and everywhere around those edges. I met Eric Oldman and Keith Wakefield from the band outside Goat Village (4701 N. Cumberland) to chat as their band is taking off.

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Stavros from the Atlas Moth is back for his 4th appearance on Car Con Carne - it’s been over four years, so we were overdue for a chat.

The first thing you may notice in this episode is how easy the conversation is between the two of us. Besides Stavros being a natural and funny conversationalist, we have a lot in common: music, comics, horror, vinyl collecting. Lots of common ground there.

We talk about why the...

Post-hardcore trio With Patience release their debut album, “Triptych,” on Friday, 5/9. In advance of that, guitarist/vocalist Chris Wade and bassist/vocalist Lance Curran join me on the lakefront in Rogers Park to talk about the band and album.

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Car Con Carne sponsored by Easy Automation: easy-automation.net

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