The Taste of Chicago has a tough hustle.
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Over the years, it’s always been “We have this really awesome food, and a little bit of entertainment.” The musical acts were good, but not what anyone would consider great. And that was okay. There were turkey legs.
Now, thanks to fiscal reality and the need to get paid, Taste of Chicago is “This really awesome food, and a heaping helping of entertainment.” Purse strings were tightened, duration reduced, and … shudder … the seats cost money now, which changes everything.
In the past, the seats at the Petrillo Music Shell were first-come, first-served. This year, the X,000 seats cost $25 each, per night. Whether that’s a lot or a pittance depends on how much you like the main act, as well as your view of egalitarianism. Because it’s $25 for the first row, or the last row. So yes, that means people will still be lining up to get seats.
“Nobody’s forcing you,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said recently. “I’m not telling you you have to go. What I’m suggesting is we try to reform this so taxpayers aren’t on the hook. If you want to go listen to the music, it will cost.”
Okay. The good thing is that Taste of Chicago has stepped up its musical game. Better still, the most exciting part of the event, the Bud Light Stage, is all free, all the time.
Wednesday
Noon-1 p.m.: School of Rock. That’s School of Rock as in students. Hey, they can’t all be winners. You bar band music devotees will be all over this set, which will be not bad, not great. It will be … fine.
1:20-2:20 p.m.: Wes Kirkpatrick. Singer-songwriter dude of surpassing grace and bonhomie. Strong songs, sung in a slightly nasal, declamatory style. Request “Superstition” at the top of your lungs.
2:40-3:40 p.m.: Billy Croft & The 5 Alarm. These country locals were hand-picked by Joe’s Bar for good reason — big country, with that drum-backed boom that’s all the rage these days. Killer twang.
¿4-5 p.m.: The Deep Dark Woods. This is a big dose of beautiful, moody music. Beards, plaid shirts and brilliant tunes in a setting of blues-funk inflected folk ditties.
5:20-6:20 p.m.: New Face of Soul. This is South Sieeeede-toned R&B/blues that would fit right in at Lee’s Unleaded. Frontman Maurice Mahon is good enough to do backup duties forR. Kelly. Small range, big feeling.
¿6:40-8 p.m.: The Kickback. Watch out for these guys, who bang out expansive, big-toned power pop. A pick of North Side venue Schubas, The Kickback will make you move, even if they all look 16.
Thursday
Noon-1 p.m.: Keith Jackson & Triple Dose. This is uninspiring, solid R&B that, for us, would be an excellent time to scurry off to nail down lunch.
1:20-2:20 p.m.: Shuteye. You probably aren’t finished eating yet. Or maybe you want dessert. Fizzy, uptempo electronica is what Shuteye does, as well as sounding like the lost Giorgio Moroder tapes.
2:40-3:40 p.m.: Dozens. Now this is how that electronic-vocals stuff is done. Pretty, pop-based ditties that swing for the fences. This band is even good enough to overcome falsetto, which is impressive.
4-5 p.m.: Kids These Days. This is a Petrillo stage-quality band that offers rap vocals, backed by a live band that has deep, strong roots in jazz. Everybody’s “next big thing,” for good reason.
5:20-6:20 p.m.: Troy D. Hmmm … look at the time … early supper, perhaps? Dishwater-dull R&B songs that are almost like a parody. We’d also use this time to scope out great spots for today’s headliner.
6:40-8 p.m.: Mucca Pazza. You’ve heard of them; now see the wonder for yourself. This marching band that performs with at least 20 people rocks like a punk band. Great sounds, spectacular show.
July 13
Noon-1 p.m.: Jaded. Yay! That’s the mood that Jaded’s happy, punk-pop sounds will leave you in. This would be power pop in a different time. Don’t let the punk part scare you. Jaded kills it.
1:20-2:20 p.m.: Overman. Look at it this way: You have to take a break. If every band on this stage were wonderful, you’d need to get very comfortable. We’d skip this uninteresting journeyman rock.
2:40-3:40 p.m.: The Black Tape. Get back just in time for this addictive, classic rock. You’ll hear some doo-wop, some pretty much everything in the sound of these endearing locals.
4-5 p.m : Milano. This band pulsates with adequacy. You won’t be sorry you stayed, but you will keep thinking you could have been somewhere else, instead of listening to this ordinary, electronic-rooted rock.
5:20-6:20 p.m.: Fort Frances. So, so pretty. You hate to reward this kind of unalloyed indie mope music, but it’s just so good. Austere-yet-expansive soundscapes, and almost-chanted vocals that work.
6:40-8 p.m.: My My My. Elegant clothes, elegant music in that classic, male-fronted big band setting. Whether this is classic power pop or ironic indie will depend on how often you get out. Don’t miss it.
July 14
Noon-1 p.m.: Tribute to Woody Guthrie on his 100th birthday, with the Old Town School of Folk Music. There’s probably a better way to start your day than with classic folk tunes from a legend. No, not really.
1:20-2:20 p.m.: Grana Louise. This is the first blues outing, which is pretty impressive. This omnipresent local does a tribute to the late, great Chicago vocalist Koko Taylor. Lots of screaming. We’d go for ice cream.
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2:40-3:40 p.m.: Frieda Lee. And after blues, there is jazz from this ambitious Chicago singer who will be performing a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. We have to laud her ambition, even as we can’t recommend this set.
4-5:00 p.m.: Glory Days. What’s the difference between a tribute band and a cover band? The look, the complete immersion. These folks believe in the Bruce Springsteen thing, and they do it very well.
5:20-6:20 p.m.: Waco Brothers. The omnipresent Jon Langford and his cohorts wrap their talents around a big target: Johnny Cash. We aren’t sure how it will work, but you should be there.
6:40-8 p.m.: Robbie Fulks. The Chicago alt (or insurgent) legend sinks his barbs into Lynyrd Skynyrd. The potential of this tribute pairing is immense, and we wouldn’t miss it for the world.
July 15
Noon-1 p.m.: Las Guitarras de Espana. This is flamenco music, sort of — its roots are in the classic, guitar-driven sound, but Las Guitarras add jazz, rock, blues and everything else into the pot. The result is brilliant.
1:20-2:20 p.m.: Birds of Chicago. Swoon! This is J.T. Nero and Allison Russell, in what is sure to be one of the sets of the entire Taste. It’s folk music, infused with the punch and drive of rock, and lustrous vocals.
2:40-3:40 p.m.: Zamin. Is this mix that is the brainchild of Zeshan Bagewadi world music or simply innovative pop? Dunno. But what you will hear, Indian classical set in a sonic pastiche, might well make your day.
4-5:00 p.m.: Furious Frank. There are humor, liveliness and plenty of Everyman in this band. None of which makes its brass-driven tunes worth spending time listening to. It’s OK, but after the first three bands of the day …
5:20-6:20 p.m.: The 92s. This band won the RedEye Rock ‘n’ Vote contest, and this performance slot was the prize. This is average, moody rock stuffed with ambition that makes us think The 92s have lots of friends and family.
6:40-8 p.m.: The Hillbenders. Bluegrass is really, really hard to play. But when you play it as well as the Hillbenders do, it becomes a marvel. This is a band of national repute, for darn good reason.
Twitter @tribunekevin
Taste of Chicago
When: Wednesday-July 15
Where: Grant Park, Columbus and Jackson drives
Price: Free; $25 for main stage seating; tasteofchicago.us