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Black Pistol Fire

November 19, 2018 | ZSpang

Black Pistol Fire joined us at the Metro for a killer rock show!

: Black Pistol Fire playing a set at Metro in Chicago

: Black Pistol Fire playing a set at Metro in Chicago

: Black Pistol Fire playing a set at Metro in Chicago

: Black Pistol Fire playing a set at Metro in Chicago

: Black Pistol Fire playing a set at Metro in Chicago

: Black Pistol Fire playing a set at Metro in Chicago

: Black Pistol Fire playing a set at Metro in Chicago

: Black Pistol Fire playing a set at Metro in Chicago

: Black Pistol Fire playing a set at Metro in Chicago

: Black Pistol Fire playing a set at Metro in Chicago

Nirvana “Unplugged” turns 25 this week.

November 19, 2018 | Eric

November 18, 1993. That was the day MTV recorded the Nirvana performance that still echoes in our heads. Check out the entire “Nirvana Unplugged in New York” performance, plus footage of the band rehearsing and interviews with people involved in the project. — [eric]

Coach Q ripping ski shots at Bears tailgate

November 19, 2018 | <3 Lauren

Da Bears ripped Minnesota a new one last night in prime time – 25 to 20. You can thank The Coach for that. Not Ditka, Coach Q…

The CTA “L” now has it’s own card game.

November 19, 2018 | Eric

Transit Tees in Wicker Park has created the ultimate Chicago game that will seem wearily familiar to commuters: “LOOP, The Elevated Card Game.”

The goal of the game has a definite UNO vibe: the object is to get rid of your cards before anyone else…but instead of laying down same suit, number, or color…you have to match line colors and stations. You even have the ability to “transfer” from one line to another.

And in place of a “skip,” “reverse,” or “draw 4” — you have event cards. For instance, the “manspreading” card will force opponents on either side of you to ante up a card. Because….of course it would.

The creator of the game says it is limited to the Loop because of the sheer amount of cards that would be forced into the game….but do I smell expansion packs in the future? Hint, hint. — [eric]

[📰: Chicago Magazine; 📷: Transit Tees; Game Artwork]

Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder playing music….in a bath room stall?

November 19, 2018 | Kevin

Pearl Jam singer and devoted Chicago Cubs fan Eddie Vedder joined Fleetwood Mac guitarist Mike Campbell in his ongoing video thing of playing songs in a regular spot in our everyday lives: the bathroom. Vedder joined Campbell who he is friends with, along with fellow Fleetwood Mac player Neil Finn in the video above. It appears to be brief, which is thankful, imagine if you are in the next stall over while this is going on? Could you yell out request while asking for some toilet paper?

Teasers of a Galaxy Far Far Away: First look at Disney’s Star Wars Theme Parks

November 19, 2018 | Kevin

Disney made Star Wars salivate collectively this weekend as they released several video teaser for their $24 billion expansions to their Disneyland and Disneyworld theme parks that will focus on Star Wars. The parks have been in the works for years, and will allow fans to feel like their in the movies. The videos released officially by Dsiney are below, and yes, you get to ride in the Millenium Falcon! The parks will be called ‘Star Wars:Galaxy’s Edge;.

The website California Coaster Kings has uncovered blue prints for the long-awaited parks and here is their description:

Upon arrival, guests will go through security, walking through metal detectors and passing luggage through an X-ray machine. This is obviously a measure in place to protect guests (and probably make sure no one brings any actual weapons into the hotel with their lightsabers), and CCK points out that if the area is themed like a spaceport, it makes thematic sense for you to go through a security checkpoint when you first get there.

There’s also a cabin layout, revealing 32 regular cabins and only two first class cabins on the first floor. It’s possible that the two-story structure will copy large sections of the first floor’s plan for the second floor; if the cabin layout is duplicated, that means there are only 68 rooms in the entire hotel. That would be a ridiculously small number – the smallest of any Disney World Resort hotel (aside from Saratoga Springs, which only offers 60 villas). And you know what that means: these rooms are cost a ridiculous amount of money to stay in. Keep in mind that it’s always possible that there will be more cabins available on the second floor than the first.

It looks like guests will enter the “transport hall” and walk through a gangway/corridor that opens up directly onto a shuttle bus, which will then take them to the park. Remember, this hotel is supposed to be situated somewhere in the galaxy – each guest’s rooms has a view of space through their windows – so perhaps these buses are being used to preserve that illusion. I suppose it would ruin the magic if you’re supposed to be in one place in the galaxy, a door opens, and you can just instantly walk out into another.

Dave Grohl jumps on stage with Beck for “Where It’s At.”

November 18, 2018 | Eric

From the “You May Have Missed This” file….Dave Grohl jumped on stage to join Beck — including, what else, a killer solo — while drumming on “Where It’s At.” It was a part of a get-out-the-vote concert in Los Angeles before Election Day 2018 earlier this month. Joining that lineup was Moby and members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (with bonus video below with Dave taking his place behind the kit, once again). Check it out! — [eric]

11.18.18 Alt_Backspace

November 18, 2018 | bphillips

Hour 1

Pearl Jam – Nothingman
Psychedelic Furs – Pretty In Pink
Lo Fidelity All-Stars – Battle Flag
Beck – Sexx Laws
The Smithereens – Only A Memory
The Offspring – Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)
Fountains Of Wayne – Radiation Vibe
R.E.M. – Shiny Happy People
The Pixies – Debaser
Local H – All The Kids Are Right
Live – All Over You
Boomtown Rats – I Don’t Like Mondays
311 – All Mixed Up

Hour 2

Nirvana – Plateau (MTV Unplugged)
The Smiths – Ask
The Stone Roses – Love Spreads
Radiohead – Just
O.M.D. – So In Love
Weezer – The Good Life
Letters To Cleo – Here And Now
Dramarama – Anything Anything
Silverchair – Tomorrow
Robyn Hitchcock And The Egyptians – Balloon Man
Green Day – 2000 Light Years Away
INXS – Don’t Change
Presidents Of The USA – Peaches

How White Stripes ‘Seven Nation Army’ became the biggest sports anthem

November 17, 2018 | Kevin

Wrapped in their colorful club scarves, sports loyalists all around the world have taken the simplistic yet epic riff of the White Stripes ‘Seven Nation Army’ to new heights. Massive crowds for some of the biggest soccer (football) games around the world have taken the song from the band’s ‘Elephant’ album to be a victory to chant-a-long with. It has been one of the band’s biggest songs with awards and radio play all over, but the song’s sports journey is chronicled here by music vlog Middle 8 along with the core parts of it’s composition.

Maybe this will help you prep for Jack White’s sold-out show at the Aragon coming up on Monday!

So a big part of our Self-Driving Car future will be Sex in Self-Driving Cars

November 17, 2018 | Kevin

For years now, we have heard of the radical new future of self-driving cars and automated transportation that will literally change the way we live our lives if it indeed becomes the norm. The new ‘norm’ will bring some very new everyday activities to lite with that free time not focused on the road while on your way anywhere, and one of those things according to a new study is sex. NBC News covered the whole story here.

“This is something that seems to have stimulated interest,” said Scott Cohen, deputy director of research of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Surrey, who led the study.

Around 60 percent of Americans have already had sex in a car, noted the survey. But with driverless cars, it’s more than just couples who might want to sneak in a quickie while on the go.

“Sex is a part of urban tourism and commercialized sex is part of that too, so it is quite likely that autonomous vehicles will lead to prostitution, whether legal or illegal, to take place in moving autonomous vehicles in the future,” he said.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert riffed on the whole thing with some very funny observations.

BEHOLD! The Hidden Shrine to Danny Devito REVEALED! …..It’s real. watch the video here

November 16, 2018 | Kevin

Hole in a school bathroom that leads to a cavernous shrine to Danny devito pic.twitter.com/Xsdg22IxzL

— FREE PANERA (@pisslorde) November 11, 2018

Yes, this is real.

Danny Devito who despite his short stature has grown with several generations as a go-to personality in classic comedy TV shows like ‘Taxi’ and ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’, but apparently in a slightly hidden room connected to the men’s bathroom somewhere in the visual arts building at SUNY college. This story got our smart-ass attention from VICE.

The ‘Shrine’ features a cut-out of the portly actor with candles and other knick-knacks, as a well as sign demanding you “Leave an offering for our lord and savior Danny DeVito, patron saint of trash men.” Sophmore Phillip Hosang has taken credit for the oddly placed tribute.

“I walked in there, and I thought that this would be just a really great place to put some weird thing that people could find. And from there I was just trying to figure out what I should do with it,” Hosang said in an interview with VICE. “Because of all the trash—if you know Always Sunny, you know that Danny DeVito is known as like the trash man—I was like, ‘This is just the perfect person to go with. He’s just weird enough that people would accept that this was a thing.‘”

Devito himself was charmed by the ridiculousness of it all, which he acknowledged on Twitter.

Your shrine honors me. My heart is filled with love and garbage.Tomorrow, as you may know, is my name day. Do something that makes you feel good. Above all be kind to each other. Pick up trash, recycle, and be aware of plastics in the ocean. https://t.co/UER6uZY886

— Danny DeVito (@DannyDeVito) November 16, 2018

Quit Clowing around and watch the new Foster the People video ‘Worst Nites’

November 16, 2018 | Kevin

2018 has been a pretty solid year for adventurous fun music videos for alternative bands, and Foster the People continue this positive trend with a new short-film style video for ‘Worst Nites’ which features a clown finding his full bodied tattooed clown within, and a massive dance number at the end. Yes, he juggles knives after splitting from his lame job, that’s called freedom!

JIMMY DEAN COOKED UP SAUSAGE-SCENTED WRAPPING PAPER FOR CHRISTMAS

November 16, 2018 | Tim Virgin

Think about waking up Christmas morning to the smell of Jimmy Dean sausage without even cooking!? Well, how about sausage scented wrapping paper? Now you can open your gifts will the delightful smell of Jimmy Deans Sausage. “Yes Virginia, there IS a Santa Clause! “

As part of its Recipe Gift Exchange, the breakfast company is gifting fans with their choice of Jimmy Dean-ified gifts this holiday season—including a sausage scented wrapping paper. I wish I could just buy it …right?

Check out how to get it at Jimmy Deans Website.

Holiday Train & Bus Schedule!

November 16, 2018 | <3 Lauren

6+ years in Chicago and I have YET to see the damn holiday train or bus. This is the closest I have come…

CTA has announced an addition to the annual tradition of the Holiday Train and Holiday Bus; the Elves’ Workshop Train!

“Just as dazzling and decked out as the Holiday Train, the Elves’ Workshop Train is a six-car train of magic and memories, just like its popular counterpart. It follows the Holiday Train on Saturdays, which are the busiest days, to help ensure everyone has an opportunity to experience this one-of-kind, tradition.”

You can find the train and bus schedule HERE along with some interesting facts. Did you know the train began on the Blue Line in 1992 when a “Season’s Greetings from the CTA” sign was placed on the front of an out-of-service train used to deliver food to various charities? Over the years, this holiday tradition has evolved from its modest and humble beginnings to a spectacular, joyous sight to see – in daytime or nighttime.

THIS IS MY YEAR!!

<3 Lauren

6 people trapped in Hancock building elevator

November 16, 2018 | <3 Lauren

This is a recurring nightmare of mine… getting trapped in an elevator!! It happened this morning around 12:30a, 6 people visiting Chicago, including a pregnant woman, were trapped in an elevator of the Hancock building after two cables snapped. Due to the location of the elevator when fire fighters arrived, they had to bust through a brick wall to get them out. Total time trapped: three hours! Welcome to Chicago!! More HERE.

Have you ever been stuck in an elevator? Tweet me about it.

<3 @laurenoneil

Today Is National Clean Out Your Fridge Day . . . time to throw out those “vintage” treats !

November 15, 2018 | Tim Virgin

Today is National Clean Out Your Fridge Day. And even though that’s a stupid idea for a holiday . . . maybe it’s not such a bad thing.

Because if you really think about it, you’ve probably got some SUPER old stuff in the back of your fridge.

So people on Reddit are sharing the oldest thing they have in their fridges. Here are some of the best ones . . .

1. “Wet soggy cucumber. It’s almost decomposed and has brown liquid all around it.”

2. “Five-year frozen whole opossum with a tire tread mark on it.”

3. “I’m not entirely sure what it is, but it’s wrapped in foil and has been there for long enough that I’m not sure I could take it in a fight.”

4. “The last packet of roasted salsa from Taco Bell from like 2010.”

5. “I cleaned out my parents’ refrigerator [last year], and found a few commemorative cans of Bud Light from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.”

‘Worst Toys’ list includes ninja blade, Stomp Rocket and ‘Cutting Fruit’

November 14, 2018 | JVO

Every year, W.A.T.C.H. (World Against Toys Causing Harm) releases its “10 Worst Toys” list, and this year’s list includes:

Marvel Black Panther Slash Claw
W.A.T.C.H. says the toy is designed for kids to “slash” at people, while also warning not to “hit or swing at people.” Wakanda Forever!

Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel Superstar Blade
“Spring-loaded. Do not aim at eyes or face.” Warnings like that usually mean the toy won’t end well for someone.

Stomp Rocket Ultra Rocket
So, let’s get this straight… you have to stomp on a launch stand that makes a rocket shoot up to 200 feet. The warning label says “Potential for eye, face and other impact injuries!”

Cutting Fruit
This lets kids cut fake fruit with a fake knife that can cause real puncture wounds and blunt force injuries.

Happy holiday shopping. You can see the complete list here.

Who will be the next Chicago mayor?

November 14, 2018 | JVO

Now that the midterms are behind us, political ads have been replaced by sexual enhancement pharmaceutical ads. It won’t be long before we’re back in it, though… the Chicago mayoral election is coming up fast.

It seems like every third resident is in the mayoral race. Seriously, the growing list already includes former U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley (of that “Daley” lineage), ex-top Chicago cop Garry McCarthy, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown and former CPS CEO Paul Vallas. Here’s the alternative universe Chicago ballot we’d like to see:

Oprah
Maybe she wrote off the idea of running for president in 2020 because she has her sights on smaller, more familiar game: Chicago. You get an Italian Beef! You get an Italian Beef! And you get an Italian Beef!

Steve Bartman
The redemption of Bartman could have no better ending than having him ascend to City Hall.

Bill Kurtis
Can he run the city? Maybe not, but we’d line up to hear him speak at press conferences.

Tim McIlrath
The Rise Against frontman doesn’t shy away from politics and social causes, and he definitely has better pipes than any Chicago mayor ever.

Steve Albini
The celebrated audio engineer is known for not holding back on his opinions, making him a candidate along the lines of the Daleys at their most combative.

Stephanie Izard
Food brings us all together. We’d love to see a Little Goat shoehorned into City Hall.

Coach Q
You can’t argue with his record, and he’s available.

That guy who sells elotes on the corner
Holy crap, they’re delicious.

Bear
Maybe he’s the mayor we deserve.

Chris Cornell tribute show announced

November 14, 2018 | <3 Lauren

‘I Am The Highway’, a tribute to Chris Cornell, will take place on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at The Forum in Los Angeles. The event will feature performances from the members of Soundgarden, Temple Of The Dog and Audioslave, plus Foo Fighters, Metallica, Ryan Adams and many more. Tickets go on sale this Friday, November 16 at noon and all proceeds will benefit the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation, info below.

Road trip?

<3 Lauren