Chicago Acoustic Underground Podcast

Nadia Thomas (formerly Piotrowski) as in Congratulations on getting married joined us with friend and fellow musician Christine Knodle came into the studio along with a bunch of CAU friends and knocked our collective sox off. Nadia is an excellent performer and songwriter and with Christine on piano and violin created a beautiful night of music and laughs.

This is CAU's Merry Christmas Show to our Listeners. Mr. Shawn Phillips Shawn is a dear friend who was in town on a National Tour and came it to the studio to record this Podcast. Shawn is an amazing man with 20+ albums to his credit and guest appearances on Donovan's Sunshine Superman and Beatle albums. I first met Shawn at the venue "Studio in the Rockies" in Vail, Colorado which I was involved....

Back in August, Ashley Wolf brought a young man from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada into the studio to record a Podcast prior to his headlining our live CAU Showcase at the bottom lounge. Because we were really busy, I had not had the time to go to his site and listen to him.

In the catagory of Lost but now found, comes a wonderful Singer/Songwriter from Bloomington/Normal, Illinois. I apologize for it's lateness, but this is most surely a case of better now than never. Enjoy this show, I know you will.

Jessie Torrisi played drums in a dozen New York rock bands before finding her calling as a frontwoman. Armed with feel-good heartbreak songs that blur the line between sass, whimsy, and raw vulnerability, Jessie's debut was dubbed "Best Americana Album" (NY Voice Village), the year's "best of" (Amplifier), and "most exciting debut" (Metro Spirit).

Brad Graham came in one afternoon after recommendations from Leigh Evin McCullough and Debbie Mac. Then I caught him at the Hidden Shamrock. That was enough and so I asked him to do a Podcast. I hope you enjoy him as much we did.

Kristen Graves is a folk/pop singer songwriter with a voice that commands attention, lyrics that catch your heart, and melodies that stay with the listener long after the evening ends. Kristen's songs have a coziness to them like a well-worn winter blanket, but don't underestimate her; she can pack a serious emotional punch at a moment's notice. Picture an energetic Sarah McLachlan, or Tracy Chapm...

Here is another great show from our lost and found department. BJSR aka Ben Rivet is an absolutely wonderful show. He was a performer at one of CAU's showcase events at the Bottom Lounge with County Line Road, Julie Meckler, and Wil Phalen. It was a monster event and BJSR did not disapoint. This man is Brilliant.

The birth of Cassandra and the Gravel Road Band was in February of 2010. After 20 years in the music industry, musical artist Cassandra Vohs-Demann decided to pursue a lifelong dream of recording a fully produced original CD. Cassandra had been working on the CD over a year when she brought this band together to perform and promote her music.

Kole Hansen along with her band "The Significant Others" joined us for an afternoon of beautiful music. Kole is a brilliant musician and also an author with a heart rending story of her personal journey from the depths of drug addiction to the heights of her life now, a strong and focused Woman writing and performing with an infectious joy and happiness. Thank God she is with us.

Jorge Palomarez is a native Texan, from the town of Edinburg in the Rio Grande Valley. After completing his studies in chemistry and mathematics he moved to Houston and dedicated himself to pursuing a career in the chemical industry and raising a family.

Danny Fox is another find from Leigh Evin McCullough's Open Mic at the Hidden Shamrock which happens every Wednesday and is usually packed. Great Bar and lots of fun people. I try to make it as often as possible.

Hadley Kennary joined us this summer for a Podcast after I saw her at Leigh Evin McCullough's open mic at the Hidden Shamrock. This New Trier graduate is now attending her first year at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Matt Morgan joined us one beautiful afternoon this past summer before a live show that evening. Matt hails from Toronto, Canada and is an excellent representative of the Singer/Songwriters coming out of Toronto. It was a wonderful Podcast and we had a ton of fun in the process. If you find yourself in Toronto soon, here are some locations to see him live.

I first saw Ashleigh Ashton at the Hidden Shamrock Open Mic thanks to the recommendation of Leigh Evin McCullough. I immediately asked her to come in and record a Podcast.

In a city of Country and Christian pop music, Nashville native Tenisha Rochelle emerges as the new modern singer-songwriter distinguishable by her eccentric blend of soul, jazz, and folk music. This songstress describes her Imusic as genre-less because she pulls from many musical genres. "I would say that it is jazz vocals with soul-filled chords; It is very honest l

French. Actress. Hardly 3 decades. Julie Meckler quit the Parisian stage to discover America. She landed in New York in June 2008, bought a guitar and took to the road. On her way, she found her music and her voice. The voyage from coast to coast was witness to the birth of her songs. .. Her songs... a collection of sounds and words that range from sinister explorations of longing and desire to ja...

John Charles Weston is a full-time songwriter, performer, and recording artist based out of Chicago, IL. He favors simple, concise writing and storytelling that draws on the musical traditions classic rock, country, southern rock, pop, Americana, and folk music. John is a member of Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and The Chicago Songwrters Collective (CSC).

Diva Kai is a singer, songwriter and musician who explores storytelling through music both as a solo artist and with a back-up band. Her music is a fusion of Folk, Rock and Indie-Pop. Diva writes from life experience, creating versatile songs with interesting chord progressions and key changes, melodic intricacies, and emotionally inspired lyrics.

The Ewing Theory is an improvisational rock band heavily influenced by the 60s and 70s' masters of rock, blues, folk, and soul music. They bring an exciting energy to the stage and pride themselves on never playing a show the same way twice. TET formed out of the ashes of a trio featuring drummer/vocalist Evan Walker and guitarist/vocalist Joe Redmond called The Green Fuzz. Bassist, Mike Ryva, rou...

The Mike Middleton Band is the combination of two musicians with different backgrounds. Mike Middleton comes from a classical background where he speciallized in the Bassoon. and Chase Paul comes from the classic college/garage band background.

Remington Pettygrove joined Ashley Wolf and myself for an afternoon of music and fun. If there was a descripton of "Singer/Songwriter" in the dictionary it would certainly include Remington. Check out the Kazoo on "Just Another Night". This guy's creativity and showmanship are amazing. If you get the chance to see him live, don't miss it. He is a joy!!!!

The Future Laureates, Danny Surico, Matthew Daigler, and James Hyde came in the studio a month ago and we had a great time recording their show. TFL is a part of the Chicago Roots Collective and Danny Surico is the current President. You can see them live this coming Saturday October 1, 2011 at Subterrean here in Chicago. The CAU Crew will be there, so come join us for an amazing Chicago Roots Col...

Mette Lethan from Copenhagen, Denmark joined us for a show thanks to Jeff Brown who also joined Mette for several songs. Both Mette and Jeff used our inhouseStonebridge Guitar for this show.

Fire City Limits Up from Southern Illinois, farm boy turned Americana Singer/Songwriter/band leader, comes Steve Sebby with a bucket full of great songs and an excellent band. We had so much fun recording this show. Steve's vocal prowess surrounded by an excellent bunch of bandmates kicked out the jams and along with a bit of rye whiskey lubricating the vibes, created this awesome set of Steve's s...