The duo of Paige Kizer and Tiago Ribeiro is an acoustic set of a vast variety of adult contemporary music. The two have been working in Paige's original project: Paige and the Kizers, and have crafted a duo that is sure to make any event a little brighter. In addition to covers, they play many originals by both Paige and by Tiago.

Tall Tall Trees is the musical id of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mike Savino, a pioneer in the realm of experimental, DIY banjo music. Accompanied by his trusty Banjotron 6500, a highly customized, electrified banjo and effects pedal setup, Savino has wowed audiences since the 2009 debut of his self-titled debut album with his eclectic and innovative blend of psychedelic folk, rock and world music. His work seems to actively evade comfortable definition, upon first listen one will recognize the tenderness of Cat Stevens, the melancholy introspection of Elliott Smith, the anthemic psychedelia of Pink Floyd, and a deep abiding respect for Earl Scruggs. Savino often performs solo, showcasing his fleet-footed loop pedal mastery, as well as alongside long-time collaborator and fellow innovator, Kishi Bashi.

Tall Tall Trees latest release, A Wave of Golden Things was released in 2020 on Joyful Noise Recordings. A Wave of Golden Things, his fourth studio album, opens with the distant crow of a rooster and takes off in a dust cloud of swirling banjo, drums and bass. The lead off track, “The Wind, She Whispers,” quickly evolves from a droning mountain melody into full-blown banjo funk, setting the precedent for an album of unexpected turns.

Though the banjo is heavily featured, the influence of Pink Floyd, and Cat Stevens can be felt as much as banjo mavericks Earl Scruggs, and Bela Fleck. Savino, who self-records and produces his music, abandoned the heavily-layered textures of 2017’s Freedays for a more organic, stripped-down approach, leaving his distinct voice and thoughtful lyrics as the centerpiece. Despite the sparse arrangements, Savino still manages to evoke the sonic imagery and pastoral landscapes that have often been hallmarks of Tall Tall Trees albums.

Each of the eight songs that make up A Wave of Golden Things suggest a world unto itself, from the cosmic country-tinged, “Ask Me Again,” to the sprawling underwater lullaby “Deep Feels.” Opting for an immersive experience over a traditional studio, Savino set up residence and a mobile recording rig on a hemp farm in the Appalachian mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina, where he now resides.

Recorded in just under three weeks, with much of it arranged on the spot, the album maintains a sense of immediacy, celebrating raw performance over perfection. “I’m giving up on my expectations, let them go and see where it takes us,” Savino sings on “Expectations,” almost seeming to revel in this experimental process. Savino’s voice, left unadorned, can be simultaneously gentle and strong, at times sage-like in delivery. On the album’s closing title track “A Wave of Golden Things,” his soft spoken meditations on mental health reflect a new maturity in his song craft and singing. As the song develops, Savino’s voice gains confidence and his whisper becomes a fragile cry, neither full-throated nor fully secure, but at home in a warm bed of upright piano and echoing tape delay.

“We all need a little peace and love right now,” he sings as if he’s at the end of his breath. Reflective of the dark and challenging times of today, Savino’s message is ultimately one of hope and finding peace of mind in the chatter of the modern world. The last chorus reaches towards a transcendent beauty in the darkness, and makes a promise: “a wave of golden things, it waits for you.” 

Mark Rose will be hosting music trivia at Tack Room on Thursday, May 23. Grab your squad, make a team of 4, and test your knowledge from 7:30pm-9:30pm. If you are crowned champions, you will have the chance to win Thalia Hall tickets to any show in June*. 

Doors open at 7PM. No cover, just walk on in!

*Some show restrictions apply.

René Avila band leader for a traditional Cuban Charanga band.  He has two ensembles, from a trio to a 9 piece band.  We have played for Chicago's Summerdance, Navy Pier's Beer Garden, Old Town School of Folk Music and various festivals throughout the city. Our ensembles play traditional Cuban from the golden ages of the 40's 50's and 60's still keeping the "Charanga" format. Charanga is a classical chamber ensemble that came out of Haiti, featuring the unique sound of the french flute and violins.  During the Haitian revolution of 1804, this sound migrated to eastern Cuba where it reached Santiago.  In the space of 120 years, the modern Charanga was born by adding elements of Africa, Spain, Haiti and Cuba transforming it into an electric mix of cultures and one of the worlds most exciting dance genres. 

 IG: @rene.avila 

Batty Davis is a local iconic drag diva, who has been entertaining for nearly two decades. Batty is known as the Auntie of North Halstead where she can be seen hosting shows and Drag Bingos.

Laura Cai is a recording artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based out of Chicago.

As a singer, keyboardist, cellist, guitarist, and bassist, Laura has lent her range of talents to a variety of live and studio projects across diverse genres for more than a decade. She has worked as a studio musician, recording and arranging songs that have together amassed millions of streams. As a live musician, Laura has toured both domestically and internationally, playing in venues spanning from intimate coffee shops to sold-out theaters to arenas of thousands.

Laura has had songs placed with CBS and Walmart alongside Grammy-nominated producer Oh, Hush! and created viral videos with recording artist Alex Blue. She currently plays weekly at piano bars around the city as she continues to hone her skills as an up-and-coming producer, mixer, and masterer.

It would be strange to say you first heard Bloodhype anywhere other than some kind of illegal warehouse or via someone’s phone speakers outside of a Red Hot Ranch. It’s not background music, but it's the best music to jam to while shoving a hundred hot dogs in your mouth. 

Bloodhype, originally created as a solo project by Maureen Neer in 2011, was born in Athens, Ohio where it floated along the Hocking River to pick up rhythm and mixing mastermind Chris Lee. Like most weird, sci-fi-obsessed kids, Bloodhype (now more of a group project) made their way to Chicago, IL where they Kirby-inhaled Colin Mulhern, who occasionally adds additional instrumentation and mixes Bloodhype’s songs. Tracks like Fifth Dimension, /r/lovespell, and After You wouldn’t bang as hard without his production expertise. 

Bloodhype has played shows all around the midwest and even ventured to Puerto Rico. While playing at San Juan’s Club 77, the sound guy liked the music so much he invited Bloodhype to play on his live stream at his house. That was pretty neat.

Bloodhype has 6 full-length albums, the latest being TRENDOIDS, which was released in January of 2024. You can probably tell from upbeat extraterrestrial and cryptid themes in “Encounter at Alpha 7 Quadrant” and “Night Crawler” that the album was conceived during COVID lockdown as a response to the need for silliness in a time of great fear and unrest. Bloodhype’s latest EP, Equation of Time, is a collection of songs Maureen made while exploring her love of Vaporwave.

Join us June 7th for our third installment with Tony Romero’s improvised ensemble The Spiders Featuring World renowned Vincent Davis on drums! We are looking forward to sharing an intimate musical experience for you. see you there! 

Scott Cortez, (b.1969) is a textural guitarist & visual artist based in Chicago. Cortez has been making instrumental ambient guitar music for over two decades. He embraces lo-fi minimalist aesthetics by limiting himself to guitars, 4 track cassette recorders, and looping pedals. From these modest tools he combines technique with various processed guitar textures to create droning, shimmering, soundscapes.

Cortez explores the textural possibilities of the guitar, creating music that ranges from experimental to post-rock to contemporary. His trademark sound combines guitar playing with digital techniques, using the guitar as a tone generator, processing the signal through various pedals and filters to create dense shimmering tapestries of sound. Cortez’s music often incorporates drones and loops, which he crafts into enigmatic sound worlds with very subtle melodies. His work focuses mainly on the tonal possibilities of the guitar, and is usually produced without the aid of a computer.

Wanda is Chicago's dark-sided, piano-playing drag queen. She has performed in New York City, Los Angeles, London, and all around the UK as a solo act and as part of the drag theatre group SADHAUS, which she co-founded. You can usually find her enchanting audiences at Tack Room or leading a ghost tour downtown. She has also led art tours at the Art Institute, and if you're lucky she will bust out her accordion! Find Wanda on Instagram at @wandachicago.

Kevan Eftekhari has been entertaining audiences and establishing himself as a fixture in the Chicago music community for nearly two decades. From piano bars, to weddings, and to corporate events, Kevan brings to life any occasion with his impressively massive repertoire of popular classics and hits from all ages and genres.

Blazian Sensation "Aya Ito" is a dynamic artist hailing from Tokyo, Japan, known for her incredible sound and multigenre prowess. Fusing singing, guitar, and piano skills, Aya, a trilingual talent (English, Spanish, and Japanese), has captivated audiences across the US and Japan. Her debut EP, "Just Might," garnered international attention and radio play.  Aya's latest single, "Machine", released on March 1st is a powerful electro-pop dance song that is sure to pump up your confidence and get you on your feet.  "Machine" was added to Vocalo radio's "Poised to breakthrough" playlist and has already received radio play in Japan.

With a focus on positivity, Aya hopes to reach her fans in a way that makes them feel good about themselves and everything they do or go through. Aya states “Music is something that will always be there for you. There is a song for every mood, emotion, and occasion. Being someone who creates music means that you can be a person to influence others and help them through whatever they are going through, whether it be having fun at a party, a breakup, a fight with a friend, etc. It’s a great feeling to know that you’ve made an effect on someone’s life, even strangers.”

Stay up to date with Aya's music and shows by following her on instagram @blaziansensation

Kevin Fort has established himself as one of the most in demand pianists on the Chicago jazz scene.  Known for his warm touch and virtuosic yet lyrical improvisations, Kevin is a champion of the straight-ahead jazz tradition while embracing modern influences.  He has performed and/or recorded with artists such as Bob Brookmeyer, John Clayton, James Moody, Ira Sullivan, Slide Hampton, Phil Woods, Steve Turre, Bill Watrous, Louie Bellson, Harry Allen, George Fludas, Andy Brown, and Makaya McCraven. 

Kevin was inspired to pursue a career in jazz by his father’s love of alto saxophone.  Eavesdropping on jam sessions at the house and regularly listening to his dad’s classic jazz record collection helped to refine Kevin’s ear and develop his appreciation for the music.  

After high school, Kevin enrolled at the DePaul University School of Music, where he graduated with highest honors, earning both his BA and MM in Jazz Studies.  While there, he studied piano with Chicago jazz legend Larry Novak.  

Kevin has recorded three albums as a leader.  Red Gold (2014) and Perspectives (2022) proved popular with a global audience, garnering over two million streams across streaming services.  All About Jazz described Kevin as “one of the young lions of the piano deserving of attention.” Chicago Jazz Magazine said that he displays “thrilling virtuosity and agile, vibrant improvisations.”  

Kevin’s latest album, Twilight, releases on October 5, 2023.  Accompanied by bandmates Joe Policastro and Jon Deitemyer, the group pays homage to the classic piano trio albums of the past while incorporating Kevin’s unique take on the art form.  

Currently, Kevin serves as a faculty member at the Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, where he imparts his passion for jazz to the next generation of emerging artists.

Kevin Fort is a Yamaha Artist.

Laura Cai is a recording artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based out of Chicago.

As a singer, keyboardist, cellist, guitarist, and bassist, Laura has lent her range of talents to a variety of live and studio projects across diverse genres for more than a decade. She has worked as a studio musician, recording and arranging songs that have together amassed millions of streams. As a live musician, Laura has toured both domestically and internationally, playing in venues spanning from intimate coffee shops to sold-out theaters to arenas of thousands.

Laura has had songs placed with CBS and Walmart alongside Grammy-nominated producer Oh, Hush! and created viral videos with recording artist Alex Blue. She currently plays weekly at piano bars around the city as she continues to hone her skills as an up-and-coming producer, mixer, and masterer.

Working under the moniker Swim Ignorant Fire since 2005; composer,
audio engineer, and sound artist Stephen Holliger has spent the last
20 years recording, touring and collaborating extensively within
midwest experimental ambient music.

Holliger sculpts his cinematic ambient soundscapes using found sounds,
field recordings, fm and abstract synthesis, and sample manipulation
to create immersive moving environments.

For the Tack Room Ambient Series, Holliger will be performing using
source material from childhood church services, field recordings/found
sounds, fm and modular synthesis alongside processed audio. Expect
long form, slowly evolving textures, loops, and melodies that float
above and below the stillness between.

Holliger works in collaboration with Yea Big and Nate Hahn on pedal
steel (Ohtis) as Swim Ignorant Fire, with Eddie Breitweiser (pt.fwd)
as Slow Dog; and with No Below Editions as co-founder., a small
midwest label devoted to local experimental music with limited curated
physical run media.

More info on Holligers work and music can be found here:

www.stephenholliger.com
swimignorantfire.bandcamp.com

Eddie Hennessy is the frontman and one of 3 guitarists for Chicago based Rock band, The Dead Bolts. Since the release of their debut album, Pretty And Burnt Out back in 2021, the band has made a name for themselves touring an extensive part of the United States, and managing to pack a long list of venues here in Chicago with Lincoln Hall and Chop Shop being the largest to date. Known as the predominant song writer in the group, Eddie has produced a large catalogue of originals that either made their way onto the band's first album, or are newly released singles, but he's managed to keep a few for himself as well. This solo project is still very much in its early stages, as The Dead Bolts are busier than they've ever been, but he is slowly cutting his teeth within the Midwest scene and beyond with a full album of his own in the works.  

The Tisburys are an indie rock band from Philadelphia, PA led by singer-songwriter Tyler Asay. The band has released three full-length albums, most recently 2022’s Exile On Main Street, which combines influences of heartland rock and power pop hooks with jangly guitars and gritty lyrical storytelling. Their music has received praise and radio play from NPR, Little Steven's Underground Garage, and 88.5 WXPN, where they played the XPoNential Music Festival. They have shared the stage with national acts (Gin Blossoms, Jenny Lewis, Drive-By Truckers, Old 97's) and local Philadelphia heroes such as The War On Drugs, Baroness, and Dave Hause. The band recently completed their first East Coast tour and have begun recording their fourth LP due out next year.

Cash's latest release, "Indigo", boasts her fresh indie take on country music, weaving synths with traditional pedal steel, her airy voice floating with stacked harmonies and emotional, heartfelt lyrics. The five songs share a common theme of longing, whether that be for a person, a feeling, or for the past. While heavy on the nostalgia, there is nothing dated about this EP; honest, full of heart, with confessional lyrics, Cash is creating something new in country music and leaves us feeling good and wanting more. 

Lydia Cash grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. She moved to Chicago on a whim in 2013, and her love for the city has since become a wellspring of inspiration for her music. “Blush”, Cash’s newest EP, is set to be released this summer.