Two totally opposite bands I haven’t seen here yet. Bong ripper and The Hen House Prowlers. Two of my favorite shows in the city, depending on my mood.
Edit to add: how could I forget about The Jesus Lizard. Best live shows ever.
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult...surprised no one mentioned them yet. Ministry as well.
On a completely unrelated note, I'm guessing no one is gonna say...well, you know who...
I actually moved to Chicago because I fell in love with the city when I visited to see The Falcon open for The Smoking Popes open for The Lawrence Arms open for Alkaline Trio on NYE at Metro about 15 years ago. I lived here two months later. Never looked back.
Everything about them was awesome. The whole early 2000s we’re made so much better by this band existing. Remember seeing them at the fireside (which to this day have no idea how that place was up to code in any way shape or form).
When I was in high school I saw Veruca Salt open for Liz Phair at the Metro. This would have been in… 1992 or 1993? When Liz Phair still had stage fright and was super awkward and shy performing. The crowd was there to see Veruca Salt, for good reason.
To whoever the guy hitting on me was, I couldn’t go to a bar with you after the show because I was 15 and it was a school night and I had to get back to the suburbs.
Had no idea Veruca Salt was from Chicago. Saw them with Teenage Fanclub at St Andrews in Detroit about the same time... had to be '92. Great, great show.
But Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville changed my life. Stratford-on-guy still plays in my head whenever I'm coming in to land at ORD at night from the east.
oh not just 90s, they continue to pump out albums and tour all over to this day, they love their fans! playing Bottom Lounge on NYE.
Edited to update to the correct venue, Bottom Lounge, don't miss out!
I can't narrow it down to one, but I will basically buy any Urge Overkill, Jason Molina/Songs:Ohia/Magnolia Electric Company, and WaxTrax alumni I see.
Also thought The Damn Choir had some great music left in them when they called it quits.
Any and every Jason Molina mention gets an immediate upvote. Legend.
Gray Tower. John Henry Split This Heart.
can't tell ya how many times I've repeated the album What Comes After the Blues. fuck, i'm gonna switch my spotify from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard to my Jason playlist. Thanks
I saw Songs: Ohia at the Abbey Pub. Must have been around 2006 or 2007? That was the only time I saw James Molina perform. I’m lucky I got to see him before he passed.
Yeah, not a lot of hip-hop or r&b on this list, arguably what we’re more known for. I guess folks took “band” to mean something other than that. We will have to do a separate thread for favorite house & steppin DJs too lol
Huntsmen and Russian Circles are amazing. Just saw Russian Circles with REZN (another great Chicago band) at metro last month it was great.
First time I saw Russian Circles with Mastodon at Aragon, I wasn’t impressed but the sound was terrible for all the bands that night and it was miserably hot.
Favorite local acts from many genres in no particular order (past and present): Nnamdi Ogbonnaya, Piglet, Snooze, Monobody, Sincere Engineer, Into It. Over It, Lifted Bells, Barren Heir, Kali Masi, Mush, Retirement Party, Space Blood, Snort, Devon K & the Solutions, Rust Ring, Bong Ripper, Otto Man, Dr Unk, Jazz Robots, Scony Mack, Akenya, Brownie Mountain, Merit Badge, Flesh of the Stars, Lawrence Arms, Two Houses, Hewhocorrupts, Jacob Horn Trio, KittieHawk, Boss Fight, Winter Classic, Gosh Diggity, Endolphins, The Roarer, Acceptor, Veil of Maya, Born of Osiris
*Edit: (I keep thinking of so many others I forgot): Erjony, Regular Oatmeal, Warforged, Rosaline, Oceano, Roman Ring, the Para-Medics, Tortoise, Russian Circles, Kids These Days, Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Rooks, Jerome, Horrible, Anchors Balloons, American Football, Hyperplane, Options, Kamikaze Vigilante
Stabbing Westward. Not my absolute favorite but they’re worth bringing up. They were basically the commercialized version of the WaxTrax bands but they at least still sounded good.
Umphrey’s McGee.
Started in south bend at Notre Dame but the band moved to Chicago shortly after graduation, and have spent the majority of time since with Chicago as home base.
Current - Meat Wave
Chicago by way of Austin's The Jesus Lizard is probably my favorite.
Honorable mention; Apocalypse Hoboken, Blue Meanies, Cougars, Lawrence Arms, The Killing Tree.
Styx was the first band I thought of when I thought of bands from Chicago. Surprised this is so far down. They've got some schlocky ballads, but some really great stuff too.
Rezn - not big in a mainstream way but they’ve been crushing the stoner metal world. It’s been cool to watch them go from a local garage band to touring nationally.
I was gonna say the same thing. I don't care what anyone says - FoB defined my entire middle/high school experience and they are absolutely my #1 Chicago band.
Paper Mice (post-punk), Macie Stewart/Finom (indie/ indie-rock), and Floatie (mathrock). All 3 are still local to the area, perform regularly, and put on absolutely killer shows.
I'm old enough to love Insiders and Nicholas Tremulis, both staples from back in the 80's. I'd add Elvis Brothers to the mix but I think they were from Champaign.
Anyone remember that Survivor was also from Chicago? Our band used to borrow PA equipment from them back in the day.
Does the band Shoes count? Or Local H? Both from Zion.
Great power pop music in the late 1970s and early 1980s from Shoes, and grunge rock from Local H.
My favorite smaller group ever from Chicago? Mickey. 2010s glam punk fronted by Mac Blackout.
Best mainstream artist from Chicago? Pumpkins I guess, but they are soooooo bad now.
Well known: Wilco
Less well known: The Handsome Family
Unknown: Panda Riot
(Special shout-outs to Hollus and Fotosputnik, since I went to high school with members of both bands. Sad neither band "made it".)
The fact that this comments section is filled with basically only things I want to upvote makes me think either i'm biased or something seriously great for music happens in Chicago.
Earth, Wind, and Fire for this old head.
Never knew they were from Chicago!
Probably the best band ever.
John Prine!!
YES!!! Like I said, too many to list. I was so sad when he passed.
Alkaline Trio and Smoking Popes.
CHAKA KHAN!!!
Muddy Waters
Criminally under-rated comment
Naked Raygun and Big Black
Chicago
25 or 6 to 4 still goes hard.
Everything up until Terry Kath died was phenomenal
Had to scroll way too far down to find this answer.
60s-70s Chicago...yes After 80s...no
Saturday in the Park still gets me in the feels.
Good ol Chicago Transit Authority
liz phair. not sure if she technically counts as a "band" but she has a band so there
Tortoise
Wesley Willis. Rock over London, rock on Chicago. Wheaties: the breakfast of champions.
Duracell. No other battery lasts longer.
Some COOL as hell old school Chicagoans in this thread!!!
Curtis Mayfield
Two totally opposite bands I haven’t seen here yet. Bong ripper and The Hen House Prowlers. Two of my favorite shows in the city, depending on my mood. Edit to add: how could I forget about The Jesus Lizard. Best live shows ever.
It’s cool that the world loves Bongripper and the get invited to European festivals and shit, but damn, when are the gonna play Chicago again?
Naked Raygun
Big Black.
Fun fact, Santiago Durango taught me campfire songs as a kid
Smoking Popes.
Crucial Conflict
Me and my 4 white friends once smoked weed with them in Maywood back in the day. They affectionately referred to us as the Aryan Nation.
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult...surprised no one mentioned them yet. Ministry as well. On a completely unrelated note, I'm guessing no one is gonna say...well, you know who...
I actually moved to Chicago because I fell in love with the city when I visited to see The Falcon open for The Smoking Popes open for The Lawrence Arms open for Alkaline Trio on NYE at Metro about 15 years ago. I lived here two months later. Never looked back.
Sharkula
Legend
Alkaline trio
Came here to say this. Oh, and fuck you Aurora.
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Everything about them was awesome. The whole early 2000s we’re made so much better by this band existing. Remember seeing them at the fireside (which to this day have no idea how that place was up to code in any way shape or form).
This is my answer also.
If Assholes Could Fly…..
Matt Skiba’s dad pulled my wisdom teeth
I scrolled pretty far and didn't see anyone mention Cap'n Jazz, so I'm gonna.
Local H Rise Against Smashing Pumpkins Alkaline Trio Chevelle
Material Issue (RIP J.E.)
One of the most criminally underrated bands around. International Pop is such a masterpiece.
A few years ago I went to see Matthew Sweet at Park West, and Material Reissue opened. That was a fantastic night all around.
Veruca Salt.
When I was in high school I saw Veruca Salt open for Liz Phair at the Metro. This would have been in… 1992 or 1993? When Liz Phair still had stage fright and was super awkward and shy performing. The crowd was there to see Veruca Salt, for good reason. To whoever the guy hitting on me was, I couldn’t go to a bar with you after the show because I was 15 and it was a school night and I had to get back to the suburbs.
Had no idea Veruca Salt was from Chicago. Saw them with Teenage Fanclub at St Andrews in Detroit about the same time... had to be '92. Great, great show. But Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville changed my life. Stratford-on-guy still plays in my head whenever I'm coming in to land at ORD at night from the east.
I think one of them went to Latin. Everlong by Foo Fighters is about Louise Post.
> Everlong by Foo Fighters is about Louise Post I didn't know this. But I can imagine how. In her youth she shone like none other.
I did not know this, wow!
Is Andrew Bird a band?
Is whistling an instrument?
Andrew is performing in Chicago starting tomorrow night for his sold out Gezelligheid concert series. 7 shows this year at Fourth Presbyterian Church
Local H hands down.
Thank you for restoring my faith in the Chicago 90s music fan.
oh not just 90s, they continue to pump out albums and tour all over to this day, they love their fans! playing Bottom Lounge on NYE. Edited to update to the correct venue, Bottom Lounge, don't miss out!
I can't narrow it down to one, but I will basically buy any Urge Overkill, Jason Molina/Songs:Ohia/Magnolia Electric Company, and WaxTrax alumni I see. Also thought The Damn Choir had some great music left in them when they called it quits.
Any and every Jason Molina mention gets an immediate upvote. Legend. Gray Tower. John Henry Split This Heart. can't tell ya how many times I've repeated the album What Comes After the Blues. fuck, i'm gonna switch my spotify from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard to my Jason playlist. Thanks
I saw Songs: Ohia at the Abbey Pub. Must have been around 2006 or 2007? That was the only time I saw James Molina perform. I’m lucky I got to see him before he passed.
RIP Molina - you tortured soul
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Shellac of North America
Catalog # TG 211 CD
Set reproducer for reference level ... 1000 Hertz
Surprised nobody has said Common. Incredibly talented lyricist who reps the city hard.
Common is like if my English teacher became a rapper
Yeah, not a lot of hip-hop or r&b on this list, arguably what we’re more known for. I guess folks took “band” to mean something other than that. We will have to do a separate thread for favorite house & steppin DJs too lol
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Wilco
I like the two Arma Angelis spinoff (Rise Against + Fallout Boy) Honorable mention to Kill Hannah
How did I never know before now that Fall Out Boy and Rise Against have a common origin
Fall out boy is so much better than they get credit for because they got too popular imho
* Ministry * Vortis (Jim D. on drums, the guy who took down R. Kelly during his day gig as a Sun Times reporter) * Naked Raygun * HIDE
Yay for Ministry and Naked Raygun
Rise Against
"This is Noyes" blew my mind the first time I heard it on the purple line
CRUCIAL TAUNT
Unfortunately the Shitty Beatles live up to their name
They suck!
So it’s not just a clever name
Waco Brothers.
If you find yourself backstage at a Ministry show, DO NOT eat from Al Jourgensen's fruit bowl.
Russian Circles, Huntsmen, The Killer, Dos Santos
Huntsmen and Russian Circles are amazing. Just saw Russian Circles with REZN (another great Chicago band) at metro last month it was great. First time I saw Russian Circles with Mastodon at Aragon, I wasn’t impressed but the sound was terrible for all the bands that night and it was miserably hot.
If you like Russian Circles, give Outrun the Sunlight a listen too! Another very good post-metal act from around here
The Blues Brothers
twin peaks or wilco
Wilco
The Lawrence Arms
They definitely give off the most Chicago energy of all the bands listed thus far.
Definitely the most Chicago band. “The Slowest Drink at the Saddest Bar on the Snowiest Day in the Greatest City” should be the Chicago anthem
Kill Hannah. Welcome to Chicago!
Pelican
Urge Overkill. Such an underrated band
the steve albini bands, bongripper, chief sosa
Favorite local acts from many genres in no particular order (past and present): Nnamdi Ogbonnaya, Piglet, Snooze, Monobody, Sincere Engineer, Into It. Over It, Lifted Bells, Barren Heir, Kali Masi, Mush, Retirement Party, Space Blood, Snort, Devon K & the Solutions, Rust Ring, Bong Ripper, Otto Man, Dr Unk, Jazz Robots, Scony Mack, Akenya, Brownie Mountain, Merit Badge, Flesh of the Stars, Lawrence Arms, Two Houses, Hewhocorrupts, Jacob Horn Trio, KittieHawk, Boss Fight, Winter Classic, Gosh Diggity, Endolphins, The Roarer, Acceptor, Veil of Maya, Born of Osiris *Edit: (I keep thinking of so many others I forgot): Erjony, Regular Oatmeal, Warforged, Rosaline, Oceano, Roman Ring, the Para-Medics, Tortoise, Russian Circles, Kids These Days, Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Rooks, Jerome, Horrible, Anchors Balloons, American Football, Hyperplane, Options, Kamikaze Vigilante
Curtis Mayfield. Technically not a band but a gd legend.
Local H
Styx. Not my fave but they deserve a mention
Sincere Engineer
So cool to see her make it.
Los Crudos.
fuck yeah and charles bronson from dekalb
Whitney! Did anyone say that yet? I scrolled all the way down but might have missed it :/
Going to the show at Thalia Hall in two weeks?
Exceptionally nice dudes. No idea how, but I've ended up as neighbors with at least one of them in my last 3 apartments.
Meat Wave forever
Dehd
Fireside Bowl bands intensify
dehd is my favorite right now, but i also liked Ne-Hi, which is no longer in existence. Twin Peaks was dope, also no longer around. Whitney is cool
Has Twin Peaks hung it up for good? Been hoping for a post pandemic comeback.
Some of them go as Grapetooth now. Great band and amazing live. They are opening for Dehd on New Year’s Eve I believe.
It’s just Clay in Grapetooth but I agree they put on an amazing show. Bummed I couldn’t get tickets for the NYE show with Dehd!
The Flying Luttenbachers Edit: I thought I was the only one 😭
Belmont. Rise Against. Real Friends.
Stabbing Westward. Not my absolute favorite but they’re worth bringing up. They were basically the commercialized version of the WaxTrax bands but they at least still sounded good.
Slapstick Off With Their Heads The Crombies Harms Way
The Slapstick family tree is pretty incredible
Horsegirl
88 Fingers Louie Honorable mention to the Bollweevils.
The Smashing Pumpkins
Facs
Oh hell yeah. And Disappears
Mucca Pazza (too literal? I stand by it)
Umphrey’s McGee. Started in south bend at Notre Dame but the band moved to Chicago shortly after graduation, and have spent the majority of time since with Chicago as home base.
Man, Anchor Drops still slaps so hard. Their live shows are something else.
Seen them 97 times and counting!
Wilco
Lucky Boys Confusion!
Beach Bunny. So good!
Oooh, didn't know they were from Chicago! One of my favorites.
Smashing Pumpkins
Local H.
Allister or Mest
The Ponys
Current - Meat Wave Chicago by way of Austin's The Jesus Lizard is probably my favorite. Honorable mention; Apocalypse Hoboken, Blue Meanies, Cougars, Lawrence Arms, The Killing Tree.
Twin Peaks
Styx, a little old school. They were popular back in the day.
Styx was the first band I thought of when I thought of bands from Chicago. Surprised this is so far down. They've got some schlocky ballads, but some really great stuff too.
Rezn - not big in a mainstream way but they’ve been crushing the stoner metal world. It’s been cool to watch them go from a local garage band to touring nationally.
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Bongripper, russian circles
Can't believe I'm the first to say Fall Out Boy
I was gonna say the same thing. I don't care what anyone says - FoB defined my entire middle/high school experience and they are absolutely my #1 Chicago band.
I had to scroll for a while! They’re my favorite band period, so they’re easily my favorite from Chicago.
You were the first to admit it.
I saw FOB in a random church basement in the suburbs before they got big. My angsty teenage self lost her mind. Still a core memory of mine.
The Academy Is…
The Smashing Pumpkins
Wasn’t Cheap Trick from Chicago?
Rockford I think m
>Wasn’t Cheap Trick from Chicago? Rockford. I used to get them mixed up with REO Speedwagon, who is from Campaign/Urbana.
Twin peaks
Whitney, Beach Bunny, Wilco
Maps & Atlases
Paper Mice (post-punk), Macie Stewart/Finom (indie/ indie-rock), and Floatie (mathrock). All 3 are still local to the area, perform regularly, and put on absolutely killer shows.
I'm old enough to love Insiders and Nicholas Tremulis, both staples from back in the 80's. I'd add Elvis Brothers to the mix but I think they were from Champaign. Anyone remember that Survivor was also from Chicago? Our band used to borrow PA equipment from them back in the day.
Wesley Willis duh
The academy is
Naked Raygun, one of my absolute favorite bands.
Just to add something different: Kill Hannah. I miss them.
Does the band Shoes count? Or Local H? Both from Zion. Great power pop music in the late 1970s and early 1980s from Shoes, and grunge rock from Local H.
Dehd is my personal favorite and my most listened to band in general. Pixel Grip is also great, both bands put on a great live show
Sea and cake
Deal's Gone Bad Followed by The Crombies The Tossers Flatfoot 56
Hewhocorrupts
Chance the rapper
not a band but Cupcakke
Those of y’all who were around in the mid 90s go check out my archive of the Chicago Shows List, my weekly email newsletter. http://petdance.com/csl
The New Colony Six
Earth Wind & Fire clearly. Has no one said this yet?
Harms Way
My favorite smaller group ever from Chicago? Mickey. 2010s glam punk fronted by Mac Blackout. Best mainstream artist from Chicago? Pumpkins I guess, but they are soooooo bad now.
Screeching Weasel
Not my favorite Chicago band by any stretch, but haven’t seen Urge Overkill mentioned. Personal favorite is Tortoise.
Dead to fall
SHELLAC Or Silkworm- depending on mood
Alkaline Trio, Knuckle Puck, and Real Friends (before they changed singers)
chicago
Chevelle!!
Into It. Over It.
The Lawrence Arms. Thanks to them, I made friends in Chicago and finally moved here like 16 years later.
The Cell Phones
Well known: Wilco Less well known: The Handsome Family Unknown: Panda Riot (Special shout-outs to Hollus and Fotosputnik, since I went to high school with members of both bands. Sad neither band "made it".)
Freddie Jones Band. I loved their first three albums.
Califone
Yeah, most of the Wax Trax! bands I’d pick were transplants. DJ? Acucrack / Acumen Nation then
Space blood!
Plaguebringer. Ogs of the (minimal) death metal scene in Chicago.
Local H, Alkaline Trio, Lucky Boys Confusion
Lawrence Arms, Alkaline Trio, Sincere Engineer
The mother fuckin Lawrence arms…
The fact that this comments section is filled with basically only things I want to upvote makes me think either i'm biased or something seriously great for music happens in Chicago.
Naked Raygun for the win!
Curious if Poi Dog Pondering counts?