Blackhawks & LZ2-- The Blackhawks (Immigrant) Song #originalvideo #Blackhawks #LZ2

Worlds collide alert!   Here are two of our local favorites, Led Zeppelin 2 and The Chicago Blackhawks.   ChiIL Live Shows caught LZ2 at Chicago HOB the day after the Hawks broke the Ducks 06-07 "16 non loss in regulation" record for best season opening streak.   Little did we know then that The Blackhawks would continue to kick butt and increase their non-loss streak to a whopping TWENTY FOUR!

Sure, ya can't win all the time, but we back you Blackhawks.   We came to games when you had one of the worst records in the NHL, and when you won the Stanley Cup.   We still proudly wore our jerseys during both strikes.   We had sweet Bank of America box seats with a TV crew we were shooting with, and I've shot Blackhawks training camp from the front row.   We've also had SRO tickets at the top of the Madhouse on Madison, where the view sucked, but the enthusiastic fans more than made up for the ant sized action.   We've honestly had more fun with fun people at the raucous back of the house, standing or rockin' the cheap seats more times than I can count. We'll be watching you!!

Full Service Opens for Badfish-House of Blues-Chicago (photos)

Here are ChiIL Live Shows original shots from The House of Blues-Chicago show on 2/4/2012.    It was our great pleasure to see Badfish and Scotty Don't live.    Local favorites, Midwest Hype, opened and we enjoyed a first listen to Full Service, pictured above.

It may still be winter in Chi-Town but all 4 bands made us want to dance barefoot and welcome the summer festival season in with a vengeance.    We had a chance to check out Full Service's self titled CD,  released in 2011, with 10 fun tracks including Lately, Coconuts, Hi Ho, Gymnasium, Ramona, Tasteless Gravy, Rocketships (LIVE), Hotter in the House, Trumpets & Hallways.    It may just make you wanna pack up the tent in a micro bus and hit the road!   Keep an ear out for these boys on the summer circuit.    They put on a sweet, live show.


Give them a listen at their main site, Full Service Music, here.

They're currently rockin' Austin, TX (their current home base) and just premiered their documentary, "TAKEOVER!", about their unique, determined underdog style of co-opting tours and scrambling their way up from the parking lot scene to the main stage!.   Check out the details on their Takeover!  Facebook page and website.


Home is Where The Yard Is Vol 1 is now available, too.   

ChiIL Live Shows will have HD videos from that night, from all 3 bands, coming soon.   So check back like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.   See you out there.

Badfish & Scotty Don't Rock House of Blues Chicago 2/4/2012 (photos)

Badfish and Scotty Don't rocked House of Blues Chicago, February 4th, 2012.    Check back with ChiIL Live Shows like we vote in Chi, IL....early and often.   We've got show video footage and CD reviews coming soon!

Ace Frehley Rocks House of Blues

The Kiss Army is alive and well and swelling in numbers.   And all the Chi-Town recruits were at HOB earlier this month, proudly wearing their vintage Kiss Tee's and even bringing along the next generation.


   
Even though Ace Frehley gave up his face makeup long ago, some fans, fondly paid tribute to their childhood idols with the full deal--or in this fan's case, half and half.     

ChiIL Live Shows even spotted action figure Ace, swinging from the reserved balcony box seats!



As a child of the 70's, I remember Kiss well.   They had all Kiss days at the local amusement park, where their music blasted from every speaker in the park.   And every face painting booth at every school carnival featured their iconic face paint as a popular option.   It was front page news when the band was first photographed without their black and white paint.  I still have some crazy platform boots with ginormous metal heels, that Dug calls my Kiss Army boots.   Kiss is still in rotation today on our ipods, and the punk kin love their stuff as much as we did at their age.





When I got press access to shoot the show, I wasn't sure what to expect, but Ace has still got more than a few picks up his sleeves and brought the house down with eardrum bursting rock.   

He played loads of old Kiss classics along with his own later material.  He has an excellent backing band and an enthusiastic fan base.  

  



 

But Ace still holds his own as more than a nostalgia act.   Sure, Kiss had more flash, with their pyrotechnics and larger than life costumes.  



But what Ace lacks now in spectacle, he make up for in substance.  His show shocked me and made me feel better.

The Last Vegas open for Ace Frehley & The Biters at HOB--LIVE Show Shots

Check out music videos from The Last Vegas here.   They rock hard live and every one of them is seriously photogenic.   They were a pleasure to shoot and I'd go see them again in a second.   We hope to have a review of their latest release up soon.

 

 

   “OTHER SIDE” NEW VIDEO / SINGLE DEBUTED NOV.2nd

 
AOL’s NoiseCreep (www.noisecreep.com) released The Last Vegas new Video / Single, the “Other Side” earlier this month.  

Legendary cult actress and ‘Scream Queen’, Sybil Danning (Howling II, Halloween, Werewolf Women of the SS) stars in and produces this classic piece of Americana trash rock cinema.  Check it out.

After 3 years of extensive touring with some of rock's biggest acts (Motley Crue, AC/DC, Buckcherry, New York Dolls), THE LAST VEGAS are back in action with their latest single, "The Other Side".

 
 

That's right THE LAST VEGAS are offering three songs for free download at their website http://www.thelastvegas.com Head over there now and check out "The Other Side", "Evil Eyes" and "It Ain't Easy".  

 

The physical EP was just released this week on November 22nd.   THE LAST VEGAS' previous full-length, "Whatever Gets You Off" was one of iTunes Top 15 Rock Albums of the Year (2009) alongside Pearl Jam, The Dead Weather, Them Crooked Vultures and The Black Crowes. 

 

 

The debut single, "I'm Bad", hit over 300 thousand downloads on iTunes in the first week and was named iTunes Rock Single of the Year.

 

The Last Vegas at HOB Tonight With Ace Frehley & The Biters-FREE Downloads

THE LAST VEGAS OFFER SNEAK PEEK INTO NEW EP "THE OTHER SIDE"

After 3 years of extensive touring with some of rock's biggest acts (Motley Crue, AC/DC, Buckcherry, New York Dolls), THE LAST VEGAS are back in action with their latest single, "The Other Side". Last week the band premiered their new video for "The Other Side" and this week TLV brings to you an exclusive free "sneak peek" into their EP.
 
That's right THE LAST VEGAS are offering three songs for free download at their website http://www.thelastvegas.com.   Head over there now and check out "The Other Side", "Evil Eyes" and "It Ain't Easy".  
 
The physical EP will be released November 22nd and right now it can be pre-ordered through CM DISTRO HERE! This exclusive pre-order bundle includes the EP, a t-shirt and exclusive poster. View the photo below:

 
 

"The Other Side" was recorded and produced by Grammy nominated Johnny K (Disturbed, 3 Doors Down, Staind, Airbourne) at Groovemaster Studios in Chicago, IL along with a full album's worth of material

THE LAST VEGAS recently released a new video for "The Other Side" Legendary cult actress and 'Scream Queen', Sybil Danning (Howling II, Halloween, Werewolf Women of the SS) stars in and produces this classic piece of Americana trash rock cinema. Check it out HERE courtesy of Noisecreep.


THE LAST VEGAS' previous full-length, "Whatever Gets You Off" was one of iTunes Top 15 Rock Albums of the Year (2009) alongside Pearl Jam, The Dead Weather, Them Crooked Vultures and The Black Crowes. The debut single, "I'm Bad", hit over 300 thousand downloads on iTunes in the first week and was named iTunes Rock Single of the Year.
 Finally don't miss your chance to see THE LAST VEGAS live on the road this November. The band will be playing select dates with Ace Frehley and The Biters. Dates can be found below:
 
THE LAST VEGAS LIVE:
11/9: Chicago, IL @ House of Blues (With Ace Frehley and The Biters) *ChiIL Mama will be there tonight to shoot the show
11/11: Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave (With Ace Frehley)
11/26: Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
 
For more info visit:
http://www.thelastvegas.com
http://www.facebook.com/thelastvegas

Mellow Yellow Monday--ChiILin' With Great Divide, How Far to Austin, Van Ghost at The House of Blues, Chicago

A lot of people think shoe shots are misfires, accidental snaps when the camera should have been off.    But I love to shoot shoes on purpose.   It fascinates me, especially during concerts, to see what the musicians choose to put on their feet.    Do they go for fashion over comfort or vice versa.   A surprising number play bare foot.   Do they start in cool but painful looking heels and kick them off part way through?    (I was bonked by a flying heel in the photo pit at HOB Saturday.)    What connects people's bodies to the ground?   What grounds people?   See if you can figure out whose shoes are whose...    


Click below for more Mellow Yellow Monday fun from around the world.    Check out Great Divide HERE, Van Ghost HERE and How Far to Austin HERE , for tour dates, song samples and more.   It was also a CD release party for Ben Ripani.   Check out his site HERE.   We'll have a photo filled recap up in the very near future, both here on ChiIL Mama and on our live show archives, ChiIL Live Shows.com.