The sounds and sights of the Chicago and suburban music scenes

Slow Sunday

Chicago Sound Check 2019v3

Chicago Sound Check 2019v2

Chicago Sound Check 2019v1

2018 Chicago Sound Check vol. 11 – Surprises from 2018

2018 Chicago Sound Check vol. 10 – The Holiday Edition

2018 Chicago Sound Check vol. 9

Columns

Sound check: Badflower rocks, rips your heart out at free WKQX show

By Brian Shamie 1 hour ago

Releases

Fresh tracks: Love in October, Noah Childs, Johari Noelle, Meagan Hickman, Blood People & more

By Sound Check 3 days ago

Concerts

Concert highlights 4/19 – 4/25: EELS headlines Thalia Hall, Gazebo Effect at Schubas, Nick Moss Band at Hey Nonny

By Sound Check 4 days ago

Columns

Sound check: Take the Reins, Release(r), Hoodie Life play Fitz’s

By Brian Shamie 6 days ago

Releases

Video premiere: “The White Witch & The Black Magic Man” by The Footlight District

By Brian Shamie 1 week ago

Spotify Playlists

Slow Sunday

By Sound Check 1 week ago

Profiles

The Footlight District

By Sound Check 1 week ago

Features

Haley Reinhart’s new ‘Lo-Fi Soul’ lets her own voice soar

By Sound Check 2 weeks ago

Features

Downers Groove puts jams front and center with new release, Martyrs’ show

By Brian Shamie 1 month ago

Features

Gazebo Effect’s hot, wild energy colors new album, release show

By Brian Shamie 2 months ago

Features

Elmhurst’s Like Language fuses different musical worlds for new album

By Brian Shamie 3 months ago

The who, what, when and where of the Chicago and suburban music scene. Chicago Sound Check is a collaborative look by Daily Herald local music writer Brian Shamie and concert photographer Neal Zeleznak into the world of up-and-coming musicians working hard to express themselves, entertain others and make their mark.

Are you a podcast fan? Take some of these local projects out for a spin:

Car Con Carne: Chicago media legend James VanOsdol. Musicians. And meat (and sometimes not-meat). Discussions, performances and good times ensue behind the wheel.

Pop-Punk & Pizza: Jacques LaMore offers hearty conversations with a mix of local acts alongside national touring musicians, often served with a side of pizza.

The Underbelly Hours: Co-hosts Adela Skowronski and Dan Dick give underground artists weekly time on the airwaves of Elmhurst College radio’s WRSE 88.7 FM … also now in podcast form.

In the Green Room: Performer and host Stephanie Fravel invites guests to discuss their pre-show prep and rituals in a behind-the-scenes look at performing musicians.