Chillin' in Chi-town

We left Iowa City as soon as we got up and hit the road to Chicago. We were eager to get there as soon as possible. All of us were getting a little stir-crazy and needed some big city love. SMV was so restless she took more than 50 pics of the endless fields and old barns that dotted the landscape between the Mississippi River and Chicago.




























Finally, the big city came into view.














Our good friend Mark (pictured below) greeted us at his apartment when we arrived in town. His place is gorgeous, and Mark gave us the 5-star treatment all weekend long. We completely took over his space and thoroughly enjoyed his spacious, sparkling-clean shower.


















Mark showed us around town for a bit before our show and we had a scrumptious dinner in the quickly-gentrifying but still cool Wicker Park 'hood. Then we headed over to Ronny's Bar for the show.



















There, we met up with the ladies from Lemmy Caution, who helped organize this show with us. LC have not been together long but played a killer set of classic riot-grrrl punk -- if they come through your town, check them out! Members of the band are also part of Girls Rock Camp Chicago.

We played next, and it was AWESOME (video to come when we have access to faster Wi-Fi!). We had some old friends in the audience including Joe Graziano, who played bass in Lisa's first band, Danger, Giant Ranger! The whole crowd was enthusiastic and full of energy. Ronny's is kind of a dive, but that's what's so great about it. The vibe is very DIY and people were genuinely excited to see non-mainstream music.

After us, Team Band and Coltrane Motion played. Team Band is a good party band -- they rock out in matching mechanics' uniforms and just have a lot of fun onstage. Coltrane Motion (pictured below) is a guitar/keyboard duo that meshes sampled drumbeats and hip-hop-esque vocals with indie rock soundscapes. They are really innovative and put on a great show.














After the music ended, our good friend Conor (originally from Ireland) and his pal Elisa took us to an incredible speakeasy-style bar called The Violet Hour. It's a very classy but unpretentious joint that serves delectable old school cocktails. All the waiters and hosts are dressed to the nines, and you really feel taken back in time to the '20s or '30s.

Sunday was our one and only day off from tour, and we needed it. We spent the day gallivanting all over Chicago, including a trip up to the top of the Hancock building for an incredible -- and sometimes dizzying -- view of the city.














After an excellent brunch Monday morning at Bongo Room (you must go there if you are passing through town -- the pancakes are heavenly!), it was off to Ann Arbor for our second to last show....