This episode is brought to you by stubborn tenacity.

SubT and Beat Kitchen are two of Chicago’s favorite music rooms, and for good reason. Both are embedded in their respective neighborhoods (Wicker Park and Roscoe Village, respectively), have warmth and character, and provide consistently great entertainment.

Robert Gomez, owner of both venues, joins me outside Beat Kitchen to talk about the venues and Chicago's live music landscape. Timing is everything: this conversation takes place as SubT revs up its 30th anniversary celebration (#SubT30).

As we chat about the music scene, we snack on Beat Kitchen’s delicious steak sandwich and Thai pizza. Both are recommended, but pack some mints.

I really enjoyed talking with Robert; if you have an interest in Chicago’s music landscape, this is a must-listen.

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CCC is sponsored by Easy Automation. Are you ready to turn your home into a smart home?

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Call Dan at Easy Automation for a free, no-hassle quote. 630-730-3728. Or visit easy-automation.net.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sideshow Villains’ Deviant Cabaret brings their mix of circus and cabaret acts ‘designed to disturb and delight’ back to Alhambra Palace (1240 W. Randolph) on Sunday, October 27th.

This is the latest project from Dante Ingram, and she joins me to preview the show, which may involve everything from knife throwing and puppetry to trapeze and a jaw-dropping cyr wheel act.

CCC is sponsored by Easy Automation. Are you ready to turn your home into a smart home?

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Call Dan at Easy Automation for a free, no-hassle quote. 630-730-3728. Or visit easy-automation.net.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In what’s become a favorite annual tradition, old friend/radio colleague Tim Virgin (94.7 WLS) and I meet up at Hellsgate (hellsgate.com) in Lockport for a trip through the haunt and a podcast conversation with creator/owner John LaFlamboy.

I say it a lot, and I mean it: HellsGate is the best of the haunts. I look forward to it every year, and it totally changes my mood for the better. It’s SO MUCH FUN.

We get into the changes made to this year’s experience, as well as the deep, thought-out, lore that drives John’s storytelling. This is a complete creative vision.

If you’re caught up in the spirit of the Halloween season, I can’t recommend HellsGate any more strongly. In fact, I’ll be back before Halloween and I hope to see you there.

Get tickets at hellsgate.com - Thursday-Sundays until the 22nd, then Wednesday through Sunday starting on the 23rd.

Also: check out daysofthelivingdead.com for behind-the-scenes footage from HellsGate!

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CCC is sponsored by Easy Automation. Are you ready to turn your home into a smart home?

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Embrace the future of smart living. Empower your home with intuitive control. Call Dan at Easy Automation for a free, no-hassle quote. 630-730-3728. Or visit easy-automation.net.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

T1 Fest is back this year, with three nights worth of killer shows at Reggie’s (2105 S. State Street), from 10/10-10/12.

T1 Fest’s mission is to fight Type 1 diabetes, otherwise known as juvenile diabetes. Their mission: “To make a difference using the power of music and community to bring people together to create awareness for Type 1 Diabetes.”

T1 Fest organizer Jimmy Costanzo and returning favorite Dr. Daryl Wilson (the Bollweevils, playing T1 Fest on 10/11) join me at Miskatonic, where we enjoy cold beverages while talking about the event.

Also joining the party is Mik Dempsey, brewer at Miskatonic. He turned me on to the Chillin of the Corn lager, and I can’t wait to have another pint.

More info: http://www.t1fest.com

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Car Con Carne is presented by Easy Automation.

Safety and security are things you and I want, need and expect. What if you could always come home to a well-lighted house knowing that you and everyone inside were safe?

Or know that the package you were waiting on was delivered and secured.

Embrace the future of smart living. Empower your home with intuitive control. Call Dan at Easy Automation for a free, no-hassle quote. 630-730-3728. Or visit easy-automation.net.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kingdom Come is a four-issue DC Comics graphic novel miniseries that came out in 1996. Mark Waid wrote it, Alex Ross envisioned it and painted it, and this epic story continues to ripple through not just the comics industry but the mainstream.

It’s a study in heroism, morality, and generational change. And despite the large cast of characters, this really is a Superman story at its core - where truth, justice and the American way come in direct conflict with a brutal new world.

You hear the world “legendary” overused to the point of being toothless, but this is truly a legendary comic series.

“The Legend of Kingdom Come” is a new documentary about how Alex Ross’ artistic vision reshaped comic art and redefined superheroes across generations.

It’s being crowdfunded on Kickstarter through late October, and Executive Producer Sal Abbinanti joined me at Gene & Jude's to talk about it.

We get into the role Kingdom Come played in the era it was released, Alex Ross’s artistic method of using costumed models for photo reference (including my guest Sal), the working relationship between Ross and writer Mark Waid, the lasting influence of Kingdom Come on pop culture (including James Gunn’s forthcoming Superman movie), and the overall making of the documentary.

Sal’s a favorite guest and person of mine, and he’s put together a story about comic books for everyone, including people who don’t read comic books.

Give the interview a listen - Sal’s story about Alex putting Mark up in a Chicago hotel is cracking me up as I type this.

Kickstarter link:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/atomika/the-legend-of-kingdom-come-alex-ross-documentary

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Safety and security are things you and I want, need and expect. What if you could always come home to a well-lighted house knowing that you and everyone inside were safe?

Or know that the package you were waiting on was delivered and secured.

Embrace the future of smart living. Empower your home with intuitive control. Call Dan at Easy Automation for a free, no-hassle quote. 630-730-3728. Or visit easy-automation.net.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

McHenry Outdoor Theater - Golden Age Cinemas (1510 N Chapel Hill Rd, McHenry, IL 60051) will host a Halloween Triple Feature, including independent cult favorites “High on the Hog” and “Halloweed” and the sometimes overlooked/always awesome “Halloween 3.”

I recorded this one inside the concession stand at the McHenry Outdoor Theater, and was joined by drive-in owner Scott Dehn, as well as “High on The Hog” creator/writer/owner Kevin Lockhart and editor Ben Lewandowski.

In addition to talking about the Halloween Triple Feature (see you there!), we also talk about the McHenry Outdoor Theater’s incredible history, importance and current status in a distressingly small group of drive-ins nationwide.

I literally could have hung out with these guys at that place all day long. And yet, at some point I had to go home and edit this.

Drive-in season lasts until December, and there’s a lot of cool stuff planned after Halloween. Let’s support our independent venues and creators!

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A smart home connects virtually all of the technology in your home. With an Easy Automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Returning favorite Stephanie Sack is back to preview the 25th edition of the Chicago Horror Film Festival, happening this weekend. Stephanie’s an associate producer of this year’s event, which focuses on women in horror and the “Final Girl” trope.

The fest’s happening at the Logan Theatre from September 27th through the 29th. Plan on three days of programming, playing on three screens, covering 200 short horror/thriller and sci-fi films.

chicagohorrorfilmfest.com

September 27-29, 2024

The Logan Theatre

2646 N. Milwaukee Ave

Chicago, IL 60647

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Car Con Carne is sponsored by Easy Automation.

A smart home connects virtually all of the technology in your home. With an Easy Automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chicago composer Maxx McGathey, best known for his work with Gramps the Vamp, releases his first solo album, “Imaginary Eyes,” on September 27.

We met at Roma’s (4237 N. Cicer) for Italian beef (that’s what we do here in Chicago) and talked about the mo`ie score, cool instrumental, vibes of the new album. It’s instrumental music for people who think they don’t like instrumental music.

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Join Car Con Carne for a live event!

Thursday, 9/26/24

Skeleton Key in Woodridge

CAR CON CARNE EPISODE 1000

Featuring

AM Taxi, Ooozin’ Ahhhs, the Black and Blue Hearts, Mike Stricker

DJ sets

7pm

FREE TO ATTEND

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A smart home connects virtually all of the technology in your home. With an Easy Automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.

Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.