April Show Updates

by Ray Anderes

As we head into what will be the Playlist Theater's busiest 2 week stretch ever, I just wanted to update the Uptown faithful about some very welcome additions to the shows.

For both of our Griffin House shows, Griffin has added Chris Farney. He plays drums and bass at the same time and also mandolin and guitar. Chris appeared with Griffin here several years ago. He is a very gifted musician. Griffin has also mentioned the possibility of a third. We will keep you posted.

Ray Wylie Hubbard has added his son Lucas, so this will now be a trio. Lucas performed with his father on this David Letterman appearance in 2013.

When booking, I never know what I am going to get... beggars can't be choosers! Most times, I am just happy to get the likes of a Chuck Prophet, Ray Wylie Hubbard, or a Griffin House - on a weekend no less. When we get add-ons like this, it is a bonus. For you as well as for us.

Chuck's appearance will also be very close to the Playlist Theater's 10th anniversary. Ray Bonneville was our very first show back in late March 2006, 10 years ago (minus a short 9 month retirement). Not in my wildest dreams did I think we would be sandwiching our shows around events at places like City Winery, The Ark, Space, Schubas, Stoughton Opera House, Shank Hall or Fitzgeralds - just to name a few.

It seems that very often now, many of these national acts love to stop in La Salle on their way to the major mid-sized Midwest venues. When we started, I never thought it possible that someone with the stature of a Chuck Prophet would stop here. I have been able to cross off almost everyone that was on my top 10 list of artists that I would like to see here. We have made so many new friends along the way, too.

Thank you to Tom Ptak and Bernie Victor for all the work and starting this with me. Thanks to Mario Data for all the great sound and advice. Thanks to my son Ryan, Jimmy Lannen and all my staff for the great service at every show. The quality of service is better than I have gotten at any other concert venue.

Most of all thank you to all of our patrons for making these artists feel so welcome that they want to come back time and time again.

As of posting this article, we only have a few tickets left for the upcoming shows. So last call is in order:

• Chuck Prophet: Friday, March 25th - Only about 6 tickets left
• Griffin House: Wednesday, April 6th - About 30 tickets left
• Ray Wylie Hubbard: Friday, April 8th - Sorry.... sold out
• Griffin House: Saturday, April 9th - Sorry.... sold out
• Bill Kirchen: Friday, April 15th - Only 50 tickets left

Purchase tickets online here.

Chuck Prophet Returns March 25

by Ryan Anderes

This has been the brass ring that was always just inches from Ray's reach. This past week, after years of trying to come together with a date for this gig, it all fell into place.

Chuck Prophet is probably one of the favorite artists of all three of the Playlist chiefs (i.e. Ray, Tom Ptak and Bernie Victor). This will be his 3rd appearance at The Uptown Playlist Theater. He will be appearing as a special solo performance.

Chuck Prophet

Friday, March 25th at 7:30 pm  |  $25.00

Purchase tickets online by clicking here

We want to let you know that there are just a few tickets that remain. This show WILL sell out, and this is your last warning. Those last few tickets will not be around much longer.

Here's what Rolling Stone Magazine had to say about Prophet:

"Pulling from the funk zone, sophisticated soul music and the kind of fat, greasy blues you can make a meal on singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet nails together a sonic hybrid of urban and rural America. Since his days with psychedelic brown dirt cowboys Green on Red through his Nineties work fronting his band, Prophet's made sideways soulful and bluesy rock and roll his business. More than country-fried licks slapped on top of slam-dunk rock, Prophet's American sights and sounds are fed through a compassionate lens. Straight-up melodies are filled-in and skewed by surprises like farfisa, sitar and strings, as Prophet turns the dusties and undesirables into shiny jewels. Stories of little criminals, unknown legends and waste-cases (and sometimes all three) are firefly-electric in their naturalness. Combine that with a dirty rock & roll vocal and that whalloping guitar, and you've got an undeniably American mix of stuff that's easily digested but still dangerous. Like donuts -- what's not to like?"

Sample the video above for "Sister Lost Soul" to check out Chuck for yourself. Did we mention he's also appeared on Letterman? View that video here.

Paul Cebar and Tomorrow Sound Return

by Ray Anderes

About a month back I was very pleased to see a full page article in the Chicago Tribune paying homage to Paul Cebar, one of the Midwest's best live performers. He deserves it!

He loves to play here. I am not sure why, but we love to have him. More so than anyone who has performed here multiple times, Paul and his spectacular band can get the room moving. In the past, we have had him here at some pretty odd times of the year. This time, with heading into summer, I hope we can get a room full swaying to his afro, reggae calypso beat. Sample the video for "Summer Starts Right Now" at right for an idea of his style.  I can promise you a very fun show.

Paul Cebar and Tomorrow Sound

Saturday, May 21st  |  7:30 pm

$20 General Admission

Tickets available by clicking here

We are expecting the same great band as we have had in the past. Drummer Reggie Bordeaux and keyboardist-saxophonist Bob Jennings have been with him 19 years straight. They are joined by percussionist Mac Perkins, a New Orleans native who was in the band early on, and bassist Mike Fredrickson.

Last Call for Kim Richey this Friday

by Ray Anderes

One of the hardest things when booking an act is bringing in new people. The easiest are the repeats... we are starting to realize that word of mouth has a lot do with selling shows. The next 3 artists Chuck Prophet, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and Griffin House are all within just a few tickets of being sold out. The way things are going, just announced Bill Kirchen and Dustbowl Revival will also be sold out soon. All five of these artists have been here previously. Thank You!

For some convincing on first time shows, Margo Price (who was here in October for the first time) was just on The Late Show with Steven Colbert. Our show was a little less than half full, and hopefully next time she is here it will be sell out.

I say hopefully because sometimes these artists "catch fire" and are no longer available to small venues like ours. As Tom would say, "Trust the venue."  We love to bring new people in.

Well this Friday, also her first time here, we have 2 time Grammy Award Nominee Kim Richey. Her video for "Come Over" is shown above. Kim has been on my short list for a while. I have never seen her before. I remember a lot of her music from the nineties and the oughts. I am sure as the show goes on, there will be moments you will, too. But more importantly, she has a reputation for scintillating live performances.

Kim Richey

Friday, February 26  |  7:30 pm

$20 general admission
Tickets available at the door or purchase online here

Her music is so highly regarded that her most recent album features guests the likes of Jason Isbell, Wilco’s Pat Sansone, My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel, Will Kimbrough and Trisha Yearwood, who was, for the first time, returning the harmony-singing favor.

I can promise you a show that you will be glad to say you were there at her first Uptown appearance. Kim will be playing with Dan Mitchell on keyboards. We still have plenty of tickets.

From Wikipedia:

Kimberly Kay "Kim" Richey (born in 1956 in Zanesville, Ohio) is an American singer/songwriter. Though her work fits into the general country music category, her sound is not easily categorized. Her songs have been hits on both the country and pop charts.

Her 1995 self-titled debut album provided her first country hit, "Just My Luck", as well as the follow-up "Those Words We Said" (which was also covered that same year by Trisha Yearwood). Her follow-up album, 1996's Bitter Sweet featured a more pop-oriented sound.

In 1997, "Let the Sun Fall Down" (from her debut album) was featured in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode, "Never Kill A Boy On The First Date" (episode 1.05). Although Richey did not appear in concert in the episode (as Velvet Chain did), her song played over the episode's emotional climax, in the penultimate scene.

In 1999, "Come Around" (from her album "Glimmer") was used in the movie "For Love of the Game"[1] starring Kevin Costner, Kelly Preston and John C. Reilly.[2]

She has also had significant success as a songwriter for others. She collaborated with Radney Foster on "Nobody Wins" and co-wrote Trisha Yearwood's hit "Believe Me Baby (I Lied)".Maura O'Connell covered her song "Every River".

Richey provided backing vocals on "Come Pick Me Up" on the 2000 debut album Heartbreaker by Ryan Adams.

In 2003 her track "A Place Called Home" was featured in Dawson's Creek on season 6, episode 21, and also in 2004 in episode 16 of season 5, "Shells", of the Angel television series as well as the season 2, episode 6 episode of Alias television series, "Salvation". The song later appeared on the Angel soundtrack, Live Fast Die Never. Her album Chinese Boxes, was released on July 10, 2007 with her new single "Jack and Jill".

"Wreck Your Wheels" was released in 2010.

After living in England for three years, Kim Richey returned to the US. Richey continues to perform and released "Thorn In My Heart" in 2013.

Grammy Nominee Kim Richey

by Jim Lannen

If you didn't get your hands on tickets for Andy Frasco and the United Nations last week, might we recommend Kim Richey?

Kim Richey

Friday, February 26  |  7:30 pm

$20 general admission
Purchase your tickets here

Kim is a two-time Grammy-nominated artist, and she will be here on Friday, February 26.

Kim is described as a storyteller... a weaver of emotions and a tugger of heartstrings. Tender, poetic and aching with life’s truths, Kim’s songs transport you to her world: where words paint pictures, and melodies touch the soul.

And then there’s her voice. Pure, arresting and honest, it makes you take notice.  Kim has the kind of voice where if emotions were ribbons, they’d be streaming in rainbow colors from your iPod.

Her style of music can be described as Americana, and her songs have been hits on both the country and pop charts.  View the video above to sample her song "Thorn in My Heart."

Last Call for Andy Frasco

by Ray Anderes

Last Call!  Andy Frasco and the United Nations only have a couple dozen tickets left. Our next show is only a weekend away. It is a Friday, and it will be fun!

Andy Frasco and the United Nations

Friday, February 12  |  7:30 pm  |  Tickets $25

Click here to reserve your seats

A few official music videos that are worth the watch:

• Shakin Ain't a Crime
• Main Squeeze
• It's Been a Struggle (shown at right)

If you have been to any of the past shows, the cast of characters should be very familiar. It looks like we will have all of the main band including the saxophonist... the Asian Tom Cruise, Ernie Chang!

Still on the fence about this show? Real concert-goer reviews from when Andy made his first Playlist Theater appearance:

• "Ladies and Gentlemen the Andy Frasco show was lighting in a bottle. Truly magic."
• "The music of Andy Frasco is designed to make you feel young, exhilarated, and happy to be alive. There was so much motion and commotion from the patrons that the floors of the Playlist Theater took an absolute beating."
• "My thoughts exactly, comment above said exactly how I felt about the show and this venue."

Start your Valentine's Weekend off with a toe-tapping, party-blues rocking good time! Limited tickets remain, so get them while you can.

New Show Announcements ~ Bill Kirchen and The Dustbowl Revival

by Ryan Anderes

Two new shows have been added to our 2016 Playlist Theater schedule.  Tickets are now on sale and are available by clicking here.

Without further ado, we introduce...

Bill Kirchen

Friday, April 15th  |  $25 general admission 

The "Titan of the Telecaster" Bill Kirchen will perform here with the same two musicians he's brought with him previously. His shows are among our all-time favorites. It is worth the price of admission just to hear what is usually one of his last songs - the song he is famous for - Hot Rod Lincoln. He is the writer of the song, and while it has been covered by many artists, it has never been duplicated.

I hope I'm not spoiling anything or anyone. Sometimes the rendition can be as short as 10 minutes... sometimes it's as long as half an hour. During the song, he will cover many, many, many historic guitars. Most of us would recognize that guitar in three notes, without a word being spoken. Rolling Stone called the rendition “epic.”

Of the many things Bill is famous for, he co-founded Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen in 1967. They recorded seven albums for Paramount and Warner Brothers, one of which (Live From Deep in the Heart of Texas) rightfully made Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Best Albums of All Time.”

He has been nominated as a guitarist, a singer and a songwriter for a Grammy. His career has spanned over 40 years and includes guitar work with Nick Lowe, Emmylou Harris, Doug Sahm, Elvis Costello and many more. He celebrates an American musical tradition where rock 'n' roll and country music draws upon its origins in blues and bluegrass, Western swing from Texas and California honky-tonk.  http://billkirchen.com/home

Dustbowl Revival

Wednesday June 1st  |  $25 general admission 

The Dustbowl Revival is a Venice, California-based collective (8 musicians) that merges old school bluegrass, gospel, pre-war blues and the hot swing of New Orleans to form a spicy roots cocktail. 

Here are a couple well-known publications who can vouch for their unrivaled talent:

“In a city like Los Angeles, home to musical stars in nearly every known genre, handing out the Best Live Band title is not easy. But the free-thinking local collective Dustbowl Revival's upbeat, old-school, All-American sonic safaris exemplify everything shows should be: hot, spontaneous, engaging and, best of all, a pleasure to hear.” — LA WEEKLY

"Americana swing that was so fun I went back to see them again the next day." — ROLLING STONE

“...evokes a Depression-era sensibility redolent of John Steinbeck, and the spirit-raising gospel of the American South.” — BOSTON GLOBE

Known for their roaring live sets, Dustbowl bravely brings together many styles of traditional American music. Some call it string band-brass band mash up. Imagine Old Crow Medicine Show teaming up with Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives and Sevens, or Bob Dylan and The Band jamming with Benny Goodman and his orchestra in 1938. It’s infectious, joyous music... a youthful take on time-worn American traditions. Named "Best Live Band in LA" by The LA Weekly, this will be one fun show! http://www.dustbowlrevival.com/

And if you missed the band the last time they performed here in April, here is what you missed:

Review of Dustbowl Revival - Friday, April 17th, 2015

One guest wrote the following critique:

This is a note to share a little bit what 120 patrons at Uptown Grill's Playlist Theater were able to experience on Friday April 17th. But first, an admonition. If you just looked at the name of the group, Dustbowl Revival, and decided this was a group you had never heard of, and therefore not worth your time, your effort, and your money, you made a very bad mistake. I apologize that it is very difficult to put into a few short words just how great this performance was. This talented group of artists served up a delicious musical gumbo. All of the parts were outstanding, but the sum was fantastic. Here is another to understand what happened. Nobody who only listened to a Bruce Springsteen record, would have any idea of just happens when he takes the stage. But once you go, you understand something deeper about the power of music. What this band did on the Uptown stage, was touch every person in the room, with the deep power of music.

Ray mentioned this statement was very well put and that he was marking it down as his all time favorite show, anywhere!

I am sure many people had a hard time figuring out what to expect from a band named Dustbowl Revival. Band leader Zach Lupetin described it as "Jewish cowboy music." This genre is hard to describe and easy to love.

A second chance doesn't always happen, but you have been afforded a second chance to witness the single most amazing night in the 10 year history of our Theater!

Past Performer Update

by Ryan Anderes

Our Playlist Theater has seen many acts over the years. Some have moved on to receive national acclaim. Even then, many enjoy returning year after year.

One thing that's always interesting is seeing what our performers do after they play here. Margo Price and the Price Tags played here in the fall. It was one of the absolute best shows we have ever had. Many patrons left that evening saying those exact words. It is really cool to take, what we term "a flier," on a lesser known artist and then hear such great feeback from the audience. Even cooler when they go on to claim mainstream notoriety. We get to say, "yeah, she played here first!"

And, as it turns out, Margo is still doing pretty well for herself. She appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday night for her TV debut. The video is shown here.

Margo will also be releasing her debut album Midwest Farmers's Daughter on March 25th. The Aledo, Illinois native appears to be on the track to stardom. We are honored to have had her perform in our Theater and wish her nothing but success in the future!

Sam Llanas Holiday Show

by Ray Anderes

While legalistically we have to refer to him as "Sam Llanas formerly of the BoDeans," he was the creative and driving force behind the BoDeans. The BoDeans could be considered one of the most influential bands ever to come from the Midwest. If you are anywhere near my range in age, you will instantly recognize the songs, the sound, and that famous signature BoDeans voice.

Last year, Sam and his band played for about 3 hours without taking a break. I can't promise you the same thing this year, but just like with all those old BoDeans tunes, he puts everything he has into his shows. We are honored to have him back.

Sam Llanas, formerly of the BoDeans

Saturday, December 26 at 7:30pm

  General Admission $30

Purchase tickets online

We started presenting these holiday shows several years ago. As a small, hometown type of community, we definitely feel the influx of people coming home for the holidays. We thought, "what a great time to have show!"

After being cooped up with the family all week and the challenges that one can have finding something to do in a small community, we decided to create a diversion.

The problem was that typically bands do not like to tour during the holidays. For a couple of years, we had some of our Iowa friends (Pieta Brown, Dave Moore, William Elliot Whitmore) perform around Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Then we ran into some even more local artists. Miles Nielsen is from Rockford, and Sam Llanas and his band are from Milwaukee.This is how we started having Miles on Thanksgiving and Sam between Christmas and New Years. We hope to continue this tradition.

This year when we looked at the calendar, the only day that could possibly work was Saturday, the day after Christmas. I was very pleasantly surprised when Sam said yes.

Tickets right now are over 3/4 sold, so if you have an interest I highly recommend grabbing these now, while you still can!

Christmas Done Right:Uptown's Gift Guide

by Ryan Anderes

As Christmas approaches - just two weeks away - the shopping days become fewer and fewer. If you're anything like me, you get down to the last couple days; you have no idea what to get someone; and you just simply run out of time.

With Christmas falling on a Friday, we can help out any last-minute, weekday shoppers. Even those who are far away or out of state - even those who just "forget." No worries... we've got your back!

Shop and order your gift card online by Monday afternoon, December 21st, and we will make sure it gets in the mail same day. (While we make no US Postal Service guarantees, local mail should arrive just in time for Christmas Eve.)

For those less Internet savvy, we will have our front doors open daily at 8am through the holiday season. Stop in and pick up your gift card in person anytime. You've got until early afternoon on Christmas Eve.

Open Christmas Eve 11am - 2pm  |  CLOSED Christmas Day

This season, why not give the gift of a "nice night out." They order what they want, and you will have given them something thoughtful and hand-picked.

When buying restaurant gift cards, a couple things to think about:

• After 30 years and brand new renovations, we are not going anywhere. Your purchase is secure here. 
• We are still accepting gift cards from 1985. There is no expiration date.
• No service fees for inactivity.
• Order online at www.uptowngrill.com.
• We can send them directly to your recipients. Send us a list, and we will take care everything. You are done!
• Nice package. No additional wrapping is needed.
• Gift card values not used are carried forward for future use and can also be used towards tipping.

I wish I could get away with giving Uptown gift cards!  Maybe I can get away with gifting some concert tickets...

We had yet to formally announce it (until now), but we've got a dynamic list of newly booked shows for 2016. So for those of you not into the gift card idea, perhaps tickets to an upcoming show would make the perfect stocking stuffer?

Order these great Christmas gifts online, and surprise that special music fan in your life! We've got a long list to choose from that takes us well past the first quarter of the new year:

Sam Llanas  |  Saturday, December 26

This show will be sold out soon, so don't miss out! Sam Llanas (formerly of the BoDeans) is an iconic American singer, acoustic guitarist, and songwriter. Best known for his unique and distinctively soulful voice, it was Llanas who supplied the trademark vocal on Robbie Robertson’s “Somewhere Down the Crazy River.”

Andy Frasco  |  Friday, February 12

One of our most entertaining, fun-loving, enjoyable shows the Theater has ever entertained. This show will most definitely sell-out! Andy Frasco, a 23-year-old blues/jazz musician hailing from the San Fernando Valley in Southern California, is nothing short of an enigma. Influenced by Damien Rice, Sam Cooke, Professor Longhair, Van Morrison and Tom Waits, Frasco’s style is as uninhibited as those artists who inspire him. Let’s call it Party Blues.

Kim Richey  |  Friday, February 26
Two-time Grammy-nominated Kim is a storyteller; a weaver of emotions and a tugger of heartstrings. Tender, poetic and aching with life’s truths, Kim’s songs transport you to her world: where words paint pictures, and melodies touch the soul. And then there’s her voice. Pure, arresting and honest, it makes you take notice; Kim has the kind of voice where if emotions were ribbons, they’d be streaming in rainbow colors from your iPod.

Chuck Prophet  |  Friday, March 25
Chuck Prophet shapes his restless career with inimitable subtle flair: a vivid parade of razor-edged one-liners camouflaged in a slack-jawed drawl, songs about heartbreak and everyman heroism, drenched in twisted lines of rude Telecaster. When the early stages of a financial melt-down coincided with a rare San Francisco heat wave in the summer of 2008 (with the window open wide and Dwight Twilley, Iggy, Thin Lizzy and the Knack blaring out the hi-fi), Prophet wrote a collection of political songs for non-political people. Later, in April 2009, he journeyed to Mexico City, where, in the clutches of a Swine Flu panic and earthquakes, he recorded ¡Let Freedom Ring!, his most incendiary record... every bit as urgent as the title demands

Ray Wylie Hubbard  |  Friday, April 8
Hubbard’s sound calls listeners into his circle of fire and keeps them there, ready to dance. His voice extends from a persona who sometimes seems lost in his own wilderness. A kaleidoscope of hot-blooded Country-Blues, bathed in mysticism, incantations and a deep faith from his 23-year road of sobriety. It has served to allow his musical wakefulness, as well as his eccentricities to roam free on record and live performances.

Griffin House  |  Wednesday, April 6 & Saturday, April 9
House began writing and recording and issued his first independent release, Upland, in 2003. His music attracted attention from Nettwerk, a Vancouver-based management company and record label, and House partnered with the label’s American branch to issue Lost & Found in 2004. In August 2004, on CBS Sunday Morning, music journalist Bill Flanagan (MTV/VH1) raved about Lost and Found, putting the newcomer on his short list of the best emerging songwriters in the U.S. “I bought House’s CD after a show in New York City,” said Flanagan, “and this never happens: I took it home and must have listened to it 20 times that weekend. I was knocked out.”

Last Call for Tony Furtado

by Ray Anderes

We are trying to get the newsletter out a little early this week, just so we have one last chance to hawk our Tony Furtado show.

We know it's a Thursday night. We promise to take it easy on you, but he is one musician you do not want to miss.

Tony Furtado

Thursday, November 12th at 7:30 pm  |  $15.00

purchase tickets online

Tony has been on our playlist forever and is probably the king of, "Can you tell me who this is playing right now?"

He is probably one of the world's most revered banjo players. Besides the banjo, I'm sure we're going to hear some great bottleneck blues. Tom and I have both seen him before, and I can promise you a great show.

Our calendar for next year is filling in nicely as well. We hope to have many of the shows on sale in time for Tony Furtado this Thursday. Besides Miles Nielsen on Thanksgiving Eve (almost sold out) and  Sam Llanas (who also will sell out quickly) the day after Christmas, our calendar is going to include the following:

Andy Frasco, Kim Richie, Chuck Prophet, Griffin House, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and Bill Kirchen.

Enjoy! Hope to see you at the show!

On Deck: Tony Furtado

by Ray Anderes

Tony Furtado....... A musician we have had on our playlist forever. It seems like about once a day on average, a customer asks, " can you tell me who this is playing this song right now?" I can honestly say that more so than anyone else, the answer comes back Tony Furtado. He is one of those musician's musician whose tunes just have a magical quailty to them. They just grab you. I have seen him before and I know that Tom has followed him to see him play live. I can say we are honored to have Tony appear here. He will be here promoting a brand new album " The Bell". It will be a solo show. Musicians..... please don't miss this show

Tony's Bio. 

Very few musicians of any stripe so personify a musical genre as completely as Tony Furtado embodies Americana roots music. Tony is an evocative and soulful singer, a wide-ranging songwriter and a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist adept on banjo, cello-banjo, slide guitar and baritone ukulele who mixes and matches sounds and styles with the flair of a master chef (he’s also an accomplished sculptor, but that’s another story). All of the music of America is in Tony’s music. Relix hit the nail on the head when writing of Tony: “True talent doesn’t need categories.”

A native of Pleasanton, California, who now makes his home in Portland, Oregon, Tony Furtado took up the banjo at age 12, inspired by the Beverly Hillbillies TV show and a sixth grade music report. He first attracted national attention in 1987, when he won the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship in Winfield, Kansas. Not long after that, Tony opted for the life of a full-time professional musician, joining Laurie Lewis & Grant Street. A second victory at Winfield, in 1991, bookended his years with Grant Street.

In 1990, Tony signed a recording deal with Rounder Records, one of the country’s

preeminent independent record companies. Beginning with Swamped in 1990, he recorded six critically acclaimed albums for the label, collaborating with such master musicians as Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, Stuart Duncan, Kelly Joe Phelps and Mike Marshall. During this period, Tony also performed and recorded with the band Sugarbeat and the Rounder Banjo Extravaganza with Tony Trischka and Tom Adams.

Beginning in the late 1990s—influenced by such musical heroes as Ry Cooder, David Lindley and Taj Mahal—Tony added slide guitar, singing and songwriting to his musical toolbox and began leading his own band. He is a tireless road musician who performs in a dizzying variety of formats: solo, in a duo or trio or with his full five-person band. He especially values the opportunities he has had to tour with such legendary musicians as Gregg Allman and with such esteemed slide guitarists as David Lindley, Derek Trucks and Sonny Landreth.

Tony has performed throughout the world at top venues and appeared at such prestigious music festivals as the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, Jazz Aspen, Kerrville Folk Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Sisters Folk Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival and countless others. “I love playing live,” he says. “All my energy is focused on the love of playing music and rolling with the moment. It’s a give and take from the audience to the stage, and back. And the music that is created is something that otherwise might not occur without that flow.”

Tony has recorded and produced almost a dozen CDs for various labels such as Dualtone, What Are Records and Funzalo Records. Tony enthusiastically describes his newest CD, The Bell, as “the most personal of my career.” To be released this summer on his own YousayFurtado Records, The Bell is an important release for several reasons: it represents a return to Tony’s banjo-playing roots, with the banjo and cello-banjo more prominent than in recent years; the original songs concern such weighty themes as the loss of his father, the birth of his son and his own creative rebirth with the move to a new record label and management team; his working band is featured; and, most important of all, this is the first album in a long time on which Tony had complete artistic control. It’s his music, done his way.

“Tony Furtado is a major musical force without a doubt. He has his black-belt in voice and bottleneck guitar and his banjo playing scares the crap out of me.”– David Lindley, musical adventurer

http://www.tonyfurtado.com/

Saturday, A Night of Firsts

by Ray Anderes

I'm not sure how many more times I can emphasize this, but the Uptown is all new.  New seating in the dining rooms, new bar and lounge area, new banquet room... even new restroom facilities.

All the renovation means a new and improved concert experience as well.  We took a brief hiatus from hosting shows in the Playlist Theater due to the remodel, but this Saturday we're back and better than ever!

October 24 will be a night of firsts you won't want to miss.

Margo Price, an Illinois native likened to the sounds of Loretta Lynn, Neil Young and Waylon Jennings, is slated to make her first appearance here. Margo and her band the Pricetags are one of the up-and-coming acts within the talented and competitive Nashville twang-country music scene. Last year, they were highlighted by Rolling Stone Country as one of the Top 10 artists that you need to know.

Margo and the Pricetags

Saturday, October 24th at 7:30 pm  |  $20.00

purchase tickets online

Along with seeing a newcomer to our stage, you'll be the first to see it in all it's new, remodeled glory.  Our intimate concert venue doubles as our banquet room on non-show days, and it was the first area of our remodel to reach completion.  It's been overhauled from top to bottom and features terrific new seating that we hope you'll find much more comfortable.

The restaurant itself will be about 95% complete. We're waiting on a few last minute pieces of furniture that aren't slated to arrive until early next week.  But we assure you, we've got plenty of seating for all who wish to wine and dine before (or after) the show.

For those of you that have never been here for one of our shows before, I would like to share with you an example of the types of shows we do here and a little bit of the quality of our artists. While this is obviously not Margo Price, this very well done video came to us via Ryan Foster and Michael Westerman. They are local students who do their own video production.

We have never been able to get any good video during a show, as we are reluctant to interfere with the shows in any way. This came to us since our final show last season, and we thought it was worth sharing. It provides a much better insight to what we do here.

Margo is a new act for us. New acts are a hard sell. Dustbowl Revival was a new act to us when we did this video. We don't want you to miss Margo. 

And in case you need further convincing... did I mention that anyone who attends the Margo show will also have first dibs on tickets to our (day after) Christmas show featuring Sam Llanas? We have him booked for Saturday, December 26 at 7:30pm. Unlike Margo Price, Sam Llanas is not a first-timer here.

Sam, formerly of and creator of the "BoDeans," will appear here for the fourth time. We are expecting the same band that played last time in which he played for over 3 hours! I am sure he will leave exhausted again. This one will sell out very quickly. We will have tickets on sale first at Margo's show and then to the general public afterward.

I urge you to take advantage of a chance to come see a terrific band this Saturday and get your hands on seats for an equally great show just a couple months away. Tickets for either one won't last long.

See you this weekend!

Meet Margo: Next Saturday

This is Ray. After 6 months on the rock pile, we are ready to start things up again.

When I booked this show mid-summer, I thought this would be a pretty safe date to start shows again... we are about a week and half under budget. (That's about the only thing under budget.)

Regardless, our part is done. Now all we are waiting on are some booths, banquettes, a divider wall and some other finishing touches. They might even be done by showtime next week.

We started the construction part shortly after our last Griffin House show in early June. Since then, I have not had a lot of time to finalize or market any shows. After all, this is only my hobby. But as we near the end of renovations and the beginning of our concert season, I might have some new shows ready to sell.

Besides our Thanksgiving Eve show with Miles Neilsen (already on sale), we've also booked the following for pretty solid dates:

• Tony Furtado
• Sam Llanas
• Andy Frasco
• Griffin House (2 shows)
• Bill Kirchen

We are also hoping for Ray Wylie Hubbard and David Lindley appearances as well.

Artists aside, you'll want to check out the venue... all new everything. Except on the sound, we did not miss anything. From the front of the house to the "banq" of house, this will be our first show in our new digs.

After Margo Price, our next show is Tony Furtado on Thursday, 11/12. This show is on sale now. It will be a solo show with the very low cover of $15.  I have seen Tony out west in a several thousand seat venue and can vouch that he is a great musician. More to follow on Tony... or visit his website.

Tony's show is an example of something I would like to do more of in the future. One of the things we made much easier with our remodel is the setup and tear down of our shows. So this makes the room change-over much easier.

I have plenty of chances to get national acts of Tony's stature on weekdays. They will play for a smaller guaranty and usually a lesser cover. My goals would be to do a few more shows a month. 

Now... on to next weekend's show:

Margo and the Pricetags

Saturday, October 24th at 7:30 pm  |  $20.00

purchase tickets online

Margo comes to us via the same channels that have brought us many of our newer acts the last few years. She comes highly endorsed by a couple other people we talk to also. Then Mario and I saw this video. We had to give this one a try. By the way, most of the cast in this video will be here.

We like to experiment with all genres of music. A female vocalist with the Nashville twang of an Iris Dement, Loretta Lynn or Tammy Wynette is not something we have tried before. We hear Margo is lots of fun, too. She has also recently signed with Third Man. 

After I booked her, I found out this Nashville-based artist is originally from Aledo Illinois. Tickets are just $20. For more, visit her website.

So please get your tickets today, and come check out all that is new!

Glad to be back!

Ray

New Artist, New Season,New Concert Experience

by Ryan Anderes

Saturday, October 24th will be the first show in our recently remodeled concert room, the all new Playlist Theater. It will be our first show with our new bar and with new, infinitely more comfortable chairs that many of you will appreciate. It will be our first show with a new lounge and a new dining room. It will also be our first show with crowd-friendly urinals for the men (sorry ladies, none for you).

Since You Put Me Down

And did I mention, it will also be a new act? So "new" is the word for the first show of our 2015 fall lineup:

Margo and the Pricetags

Saturday, October 24th at 7:30 pm  |  $20.00

purchase tickets online

We still have 2 weeks to go before the 24th, and I know most of you are probably in wait-and-see mode, what with the Cubs and their playoff fate. But hey, even if they are playing on the 24th, we'll have the game on (albeit, reluctantly on my behalf) so you can get the best of both worlds!

There are still plenty of good seats remaining, and we couldn't be more excited about this show! We will have some promotional material to come in the weeks that follow, but this is another reminder that your first chance to scope out the updated Playlist Theater is just around the corner.

So get those tickets while you still can!

Besides the brilliant, on-the-rise music of newcomer Margo and the Pricetags (check out her video above), our new and improved venue might be all the reason you need to help us kick off our new season!

Miles Nielsen Returns

by Megan Theisinger

Wow, these holidays always have a way of sneaking up too quickly, don't they?

Allow us to to ease you into the season with something to look forward to! Back for one of our favorite holiday traditions, Miles Nielsen is ready to celebrate Thanksgiving Eve with us on Wednesday, November 25th. There are 20 tickets now remaining!

Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts

Wednesday, November 25  |  7:30 pm  |  $25.00

purchase your tickets online

The music of Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts comes off with a melodic roots-rock sound. He labels his own music as “Beatlesque-Cosmic-Americana,” a description one would be a fool not to love.

His songs are rich and layered while seamlessly blending Alternative Country with Blue-Eyed Soul, some Pop and Rock, and Tin Pan Alley song-craft. His lyrics are genius. Miles explains that “songwriting is a way for me to meld the world of dreams and real life.”

With an open hand and a rusted heart (pun intended), we welcome Miles Nielsen (back) to our stage on Wednesday, November 25. Get your tickets quickly... they never last long!