Jim spoke with Motown legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Martha Reeves who performs alongside The Vandellas on Sunday, March 12th. Martha's first recording session actually took place in Chicago. And while that track, released on a Chess Records subsidiary, failed to chart, Martha & The Vandellas would go on to chart six Top 10 singles at Motown between 1963 and 1967 alone. Plus great stories about Marvin Gaye, Motown session group the Funk Brothers and more. Full interview and concert preview at the Daily Herald: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170308/entlife/170309147/
ChicagoNow: Interview With Lol Tolhurst of The Cure
Jim spoke with founding Cure member Lol Tolhurst about his new memoir Cured, growing up alongside Robert Smith, revisiting his thirteen years in The Cure and whether or not we're likely to see the ideas that sparked the inception of punk influence pop culture similarly again. Check it out in full here: http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-at-night/2016/11/interview-lol-tolhurst-the-cure-cured-preview-book-signing-spoken-word-4810/
ChicagoNow: Foals Interview
Jim spoke with Foals guitarist Jimmy Smith about avoiding expectations, the importance of maintaining a strong live set in the internet era and much more. Check it out in full here: http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-at-night/2016/11/interview-jimmy-smith-foals-concert-preview-wednesday-riviera-theatre-the-riv-chicago/
ChicagoNow: FIDLAR Interview
Jim talked with Zac Carper of FIDLAR about a life changing moment he experienced in Chicago, the misconceptions that often plague the idea of punk rock today and why punk rockers die young. Check it out in full here: http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-at-night/2016/11/interview-zac-carper-fidlar-preview-metro-chicago-swmrs/
Glide Magazine: Matt FX Interview (Comedy Central's "Broad City")
Jim caught up with Comedy Central Music Director Matt FX for a fascinating look at the behind the scenes process of selecting the music that has come to characterize the Comedy Central breakout hit "Broad City." Check it out in full here: http://www.glidemagazine.com/162304/matt-fx-interview0/
Daily Herald: Lollapalooza Turns 25
Jim looked back at 25 years of Lollapalooza with Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and longtime WXRT disc jockey Marty Lennartz for this front page Daily Herald piece. Check it out in full here: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160727/entlife/160729158/
Daily Herald Interview: Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's
In 1981, the Go-Go's became the first all female group to chart an album at number 1 with songs they both wrote and played. Incredibly, nobody has done it since. Jim talked with Charlotte about what it was like breaking through the male-dominated 80s record industry and eschewing the stereotypes often bestowed upon female artists in advance of the local stop on their 2016 farewell tour. Check it out in full here: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160816/entlife/160819726/
Daily Herald Interview: Don Felder of The Eagles
Jim caught up with longtime Eagles guitarist Don Felder in a wide ranging conversation that hit upon his playing alongside Joe Walsh which would eventually come to define Felder's writing of the enduring classic rock staple, "Hotel California." Check it out in full here: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160713/entlife/160719594/