7.13 – 7.16

by Charles Yamabe - August 10, 2023

Chicago, IL -- Windy City Smokeout 2023 celebrated their ten year anniversary in style! Once again they treated festival-goers to some of the biggest names in country music and the best barbecue around. Ten years for any festival is a big deal but Windy City Smokeout is special because it didn't

ARC MUSIC FESTIVAL // CHICAGO, IL // 9.02-9.04

by Charles Yamabe - September 8, 2022September 12, 2022

Article and Photos by: Charles Yamabe Chicago, IL -- Labor Day weekend in Chicago saw one of the best Electronic Music Festivals of the entire summer. ARC held its second annual music festival at Union Park on the near Westside of Chicago. The weekend started out perfectly with some of the

Windy City Smokeout // Chicago, IL // 8.04-8.07

by Charles Yamabe - August 15, 2022August 15, 2022

Article and Photos by: Charles Yamabe Chicago, IL -- A little over a week ago, Chicago experienced the ninth year of the biggest country music festival in the city. Spread over four days and taking place in the United Center parking lot, Windy City Smokeout was a huge success. The crowds

Album Review: Yuki – Be Free

by Charles Yamabe - May 8, 2020May 9, 2020

Article by: Charles Yamabe Chicago, IL -- It's not often I get sent an album that I immediately fall in love with, let alone a freshman album by an artist that, for all intents and purposes, is relatively unknown. The album Be Free by nineteen-year-old New Zealand native Yuki is

GRiZ // Live @ Navy Pier // 10.5.19

by Charles Yamabe - October 12, 2019

Article and Photos by: Charles Yamabe Chicago, IL -- Grant Kwiecinski, better known as GRiZ, is a producer, DJ, songwriter, musician, and a seemingly all-around nice guy. Currently, GRiZ is touring across North America in promotion of his newest album Ride Waves. I was able to catch up with him at

Phantogram // Live @ The Riviera Theater // 8.24.19

by Charles Yamabe - August 31, 2019September 5, 2019

Article and Photos by: Charles Yamabe Chicago, IL -- Phantogram brought their signature brand of sultry, dark, rock to the Riviera Theater on Saturday night. The American duo was joined on tour by Canadian electro-rock duo Bob Moses. Bob Moses, named after renowned New York architect Robert Moses, opened the night to

Tuxedo // Live @ Thalia Hall // 8.13.19

by Charles Yamabe - August 24, 2019

Article and Photos by: Charles Yamabe Chicago, IL -- This is Chicago and here in the big city, something spectacular can happen at the drop of a hat. What starts as a typical Tuesday can all of a sudden break into a massive dance party. The mundane can become magical. When

Hangout Festival // Gulf Shores, Alabama // 5.17 – 5.19.19

by Charles Yamabe - June 4, 2019June 4, 2019

Article and Photos by: Charles Yamabe Gulf Shores, AL -- Beaches, beats, and butts… These three words are all you really need to describe Hangout Fest. Of course, it would be remiss of me to not go into any further details. So, let's delve a little deeper into what makes Hangout

Imogen Heap // Live @ The Vic Theater // 5.14.19

by Charles Yamabe - May 26, 2019

Article and Photos by: Charles Yamabe Chicago, IL -- It's been almost ten years since Imogen Heap has toured North America. Even longer since she's toured with Frou Frou the two-piece band that she started with Guy Sigsworth. But, after the long hiatus, she decided it was time. Not just time

T-Pain // Live @ The Park West // 3.29.19

by Charles Yamabe - April 12, 2019April 12, 2019

Article and Photos by: Charles Yamabe Chicago, IL -- Fresh off his win as the monster on the masked singer, T-Pain arrived to a screaming throng of fans in the Windy City. Now when I say screaming, I absolutely mean screaming! Of all the shows I’ve ever covered, this crowd by