Greg Kot
@gregkot.bsky.social
Co-host "Sound Opinions." Former music critic at Chicago Tribune. Author of 7 books, including "I'll Take You There," “Learning How to Die," "Ripped." Teaching music and democracy at U of C.
Jeff Conolly (RIP) led Lyres, ace Boston garage-rockers. Their "On Fyre" debut was an instant classic. He's gone but the image of Conolly singing "Help You Ann" while playing Vox riffage with his right hand and banging a tambourine with his left was burned into my DNA in the 1980s and never left.
Glen Hansard gone at 56. Motorcycle crash in Dublin. Shocking stuff. Street busker-turned-Oscar winner. As a songwriter, he had a way of capturing the bittersweet moments of life, and our interviews inevitably circled back to how his approach to songwriting evolved. Link in comments.
25th anniversary of "Southern Rock Opera," the breakthrough album for the Drive-By Truckers. Its themes continue to resonate in today's political and social climate. Patterson Hood dishes on how it came to be on @soundopinions.bsky.social: shorturl.at/Dytxx
I'll be teaching "Bob Dylan and America" at U of Chicago's Graham School (for adult learners) in the fall. We'll look at the people and events who influenced Dylan, the contemporaries who challenged him, andthe new artists he inspired. Registration now open: tinyurl.com/3bhbmb4v
Bob Dylan and America
Explore the life and art of the iconic Bob Dylan with Greg Kot (“Sound Opinions” co-host and former Chicago Tribune music critic) and Nora Titone (UChicago Parrhesia Program for Public Thought and Dis...
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This week, we kick off the 1st of 2 shows on @soundopinions.bsky.social celebrating one of our favorite bands ever: the Feelies. We give the classic-album-dissection treatment to the 1980 debut, “Crazy Rhythms,” and in week 2 to the 1986 follow-up, “The Good Earth.” (Link to ep. 1 in comments)
Rolling into the Square Roots Festival in Lincoln Square and what a sight to behold on the north wall of the Old Town School of Folk Music. Jon Langford's tribute to John Prine. Game knows game. (Posted a video in comments with more info.) @johnprine.bsky.social @jonlangford.bsky.social
Sad to learn that Mary Morello has died at age 102. She was a teacher, activist and the mother of Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, who grew up Libertyville, IL. In 2000, I spent a day with Mary & Tom at her home. I've linked to an excerpt in comments. RIP, Mary, and condolences to Tom.
Got to see Husker Du perform this album in its entirety before its release on July 1, 1984. The band was on an incredible roll as songwriters and performers during this era (1984 through early 1986) and “Zen Arcade” has been required Independence Day listening ever since. Turn on the news!
Jack Douglas (RIP) was the quintessential rock engineer/producer. He worked with everyone from Pete Townshend & Lou Reed to John Lennon & Patti Smith. I especially love his collab with Cheap Trick, notably the band's faultless debut LP. The @soundopinions.bsky.social tribute: tinyurl.com/jwt35u8y
My favorite LPs as we approach the year's midway point. Complete lists from Dero and our ace producers, plus the mid-year @soundopinions.bsky.social, can be found here: 🔗 tinyurl.com/3fy8r8tz And let me know what your favorites are ...
Our @soundopinions.bsky.social conversation with Barry Walters, a pioneering music journalist and author of "Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969-2000." www.soundopinions.org/show/1072 And I spiel about Walters' impact as a writer/critic and social-justice advocate: bit.ly/4w3VTW5
Got this from one of my daughters today. My work here is done.
Spent Juneteenth eve w/ Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble in Millennium Park. A good day for the South Side, for the world, with the words of Barack & Michelle Obama at the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, & then the exhortations – musical & verbal – of El’Zabar, one of the (1/3)
James "Blood" Ulmer (RIP) was at the center of a guitar revolution in the late '70s & beyond. His crucial roles with Ornette Coleman & Arthur Blythe brought blues, free jazz and No Wave into a free-flowing conversation. Saw him do it real time at Tut's in January 1982. His boldness will be missed.
When an artist or band releases a stellar debut LP, the toughest task ahead of them is how to at least equal if not top it on the second go-round. On @soundopinions.bsky.social, we select some of our favorite follow-up albums: bit.ly/4wUQCkL
We all have to start somewhere, and with jazz, & Sonny Rollins (RIP), it was the 1959 LP "Newk's Time." I was drawn to it because it included a cover of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Surrey with the Fringe on Top," familiar to me because my parents loved Broadway soundtracks. Sonny's version ... (1/2)
“Life isn’t about finding yourself or finding anything. Life is about creating yourself & creating things.” A few words on Bob Dylan at 85: shorturl.at/tClKP
A @soundopinions.bsky.social classic album dissection of the Violent Femmes' 1983 debut LP: bit.ly/4dFaik7 And a few words from me about how the Femmes broke out of one of the Midwest's coolest scenes (Milwaukee!): bit.ly/4fk0BtV
Chicago's answer to Big Star and Alex Chilton was/is Green and Jeff Lescher. I explain why here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
Farewell, Sam Sianis, the Greek immigrant whose Billy Goat tavern was a second home for legions of Chicago journos. When I was hired by the Trib, I felt like I'd arrived when I'd walk down the steps, made a right and was greeted by a cold PBR sliding my way from the end of the bar. Cheers, Sam.
Lou Reed had high hopes for his music: "that 10 years from now you could still listen to one of my albums because it wasn’t just a party record, but something that would engage you emotionally, intellectually, if not spiritually, on the level that a novel can." Read on: tinyurl.com/42thk3u6
Ratboys continue their decade-long roll with new album "Singin’ to an Empty Chair." Singer-songwriter Julie Steiner lays out the band's story in the @soundopinions.bsky.social interview (linked in comments).
We won the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting @chicagotribune.com! Our entire newsroom covered Midway Blitz with everything we had. I’ve never been prouder of the Tribune or its commitment to the truth. It’s an honor to be part of this team.
Gregory Pratt@royalpratt.bsky.social · 7mo ago64 days in Chicago: The story of Operation Midway Blitz. Our team fanned out to cover the before, during and after of the federal government’s months-long raid on an American city. This is worth your time to understand the United States today www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/28/c...
Our @soundopinions.bsky.social interview with the prolific billy woods: bit.ly/48rvyIg And a few words about what makes him an era-defining MC: shorturl.at/yKyi7
James Gadson (RIP) made countless records groove, starting with his classic drum breaks for Charles Wright & the 103rd Street Rhythm Band. He also was an ace songwriter & singer. Kelly Hogan's brilliant "I Like to Keep Myself in Pain" LP has Gadson all over it. I spiel about JG here: bit.ly/4tX07hc
Long overdue.... "The judge will determine remedies in a separate proceeding. That could include significant divestments by Live Nation, or even a breakup of Live Nation & Ticketmaster — an outcome that the federal govt. had called for when filing its case almost two years ago." shorturl.at/LhvSe
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New-ish songs that are living inside our heads at @soundopinions.bsky.social. Here's where to listen: bit.ly/4tA8BKS
In celebration of Neil Young's 80-plus years on the planet, our journey through the past in 12 tracks we've chosen from his massive songbook. Link in comments. @soundopinions.bsky.social
The reception from critics & public to this LP so discouraged Miles Davis that he didn't record another studio album for a decade. But "On the Corner" mapped the future by fusing the innovations of Sly and Hendrix with jazz and avant-garde arrangements and production. I rave on: shorturl.at/Xqqpr
