Long-term Chicago resident Greg Kot is a host on Chicago Public Radio’s “Sound Opinion” and a religiously read Chicago Tribune music critic. Not to mention he wrote the quintessential book on Windy City’s prize alt-folkies, Wilco, and has occasionally dropped a line in Rolling Stone and Blender. Kot took time to chat with The Weekly’s Ashley Keyser about Chicago music in 2007.
If we wanted to watch out for Chicago groups, which do you think are really up-and-coming?
I’m really curious to see where this kid Ezra Furman and his band, The Harpoons, go. He’s a passionate songwriter, with a drive in his voice that’s so inspiring. He’s a young, furious singer-songwriter, reminiscent of early Violent Femmes. But the best debut of 2007 was the 1900’s “Cold and Kind.” They’re as good a band as Chicago has, with terrific songwriting, and rich arrangements, using strings and horns on top of guitars.
Any other artists you’ve noticed outside of rock ‘n’ roll?
Kid Sister and the Cool Kids are two major, emerging Chicago hip-hop acts. The Internet’s really generated a huge buzz for them. Kid Sister has been getting a lot of attention, with Kanye West showing up on her video, “Pro Nails.” The Cool Kids are a couple of guys with an old school approach. They’re young guys talking about their lives, sharing a down-home, blue-collar feel. They’re not trying to be players, they’re just regular guys. I like that aspect.
How long have you been covering Chicago music?
My whole adult life. I was going out to clubs to see groups like Big Black in the early ’80s, but I been reporting for the Tribune since 1990.
How has the scene evolved since then?
It’s always been vibrant; the amount of inventiveness here is extraordinary. We’re one of the best cities for live music, but don’t always get the recognition because we don’t publicize enough and lack a major industry for distribution. While artists aren’t selling millions of records, Chicago probably has the best independent scene in the world. It derives from the whole punk aesthetic – you help each other out, share profits. That’s why there’s such great art being produced: it’s not focused on business, but the artistic side.
