Arts & Culture

This week's two hour "MIDWEST BEAT BLUES" program spotlights and showcases some of the greatest blues and blues-rock guitarists of the 20th Century, including a few who have/had birthdays during the month of August.The guitar theme runs throughout, because the show's beginning and ending features a block of songs from Steve Ray Vaughan in memory of the tragic helicopter crash in East Troy, Wisconsin that stole him from the world 33 years ago on August 27, 1990. Among other artists heard on the show are -- Roy Buchanan, B.B. King, Albert Collins, Anthony Gomes, Jeff Healy, Luther Allison, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and other top string-benders.

Each week's program finds producer and host Tom Lounges blending together various styles and eras of the blues -- from the old school legends, to the top contemporary players of today, along with some of the up and young guns deserving to have their music heard. Audiences will hear the guitar greats, the harp blowers, the piano pounders, the singers, and the shouters. Some of club-hopping Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland's regional players also get showcased on this program.

Each week's program finds producer and host Tom Lounges blending together various styles and eras of the blues -- from the old school legends, to the top contemporary players of today, along with some of the up and young guns deserving to have their music heard. Audiences will hear the guitar greats, the harp blowers, the piano pounders, the singers, and the shouters. Some of club-hopping Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland's regional players also get showcased on this program.

Not all nightmares occur while you're asleep.

Conventions are a way for people of similar interests to come together and share their passions while having an entire event dedicated to their fandoms. Anime Conventions are no different with close knit communities enjoying every aspect of the medium including cosplay, voice acting, and enjoying Japanese culture in general. Anime Magic in Chicago just wrapped up and even though its still new, it keeps on growing and has already become a staple convention in the community.Showrunners Richard and Sara Nash, give us the intel on their new convention as well as they each got introduced to Anime.

Shep has stories of agents he's encountered in his career.

Shep reveals some secrets of the "business lunch".

Each week's program finds producer and host Tom Lounges blending together various styles and eras of the blues -- from the old school legends, to the top contemporary players of today, along with some of the up and young guns deserving to have their music heard. Audiences will hear the guitar greats, the harp blowers, the piano pounders, the singers, and the shouters. Some of club-hopping Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland's regional players also get showcased on this program.

Both hours in this week's MB BLUES Program a series of 15-20 minute blocks of great live concert recordings, broken up by me jumping in to do some "back sells" and "front sells".ARTISTS featured in the FIRST Hour include: Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Dr. John, Susan Tedeshi, Luther Allison, Lonnie Mack and Jonny Lang, among others.The artists include: Paul Rodgers with The Deborah Bonham Band, Robin Trower, Rare Earth, The Nighthawks, Eric Clapton & Bonnie Bramlett, Wet Willie and Buddy Guy with Jim Peterik. Wrapping up the show are live cuts by Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers, Joe Bonamassa and The Steepwater Band with Pinetop Perkins.This is an energized show -- a fantasy concert booked and produced solely in my blues-lovin' head and then shared with the listeners. Minimal talking on this week's program, in favor of being very music intensive.

The FIRST HOUR of this week's Midwest BEAT Blues program has a lot of young, new artists and selections of newly released albums by The Nick Moss Band, Anthony Geraci Band, The Mike Bourne Band with Johnny Burgin, Monster Mike Welch, Joanna Connor and others. That half also includes some "old guard" in there as well like B.B. King, Elmore James, Lightnin' Hopkins and Howlin' Wolf.The SECOND HOUR is mostly live and vintage with concert cuts by the likes of Big Mama Thornton, Albert Collins, Big Joe Turner, Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, and a couple of deep cut covers by team ups by such classic '60s blues-rockers as Jack Bruce. Mick Taylor and Gary Moore.