The region will miss 'Big Jack!'

Northwest Indiana's music community lost another beloved member of its ranks May 4, when veteran music maker Jack Adams Sr., 75, of Highland, passed away.

The spirit of Hammond officer lives on to serve and protect

Time moves on and wounds slowly heal when tragedy is turned into positivity. While nothing can replace the loss of a loved one, or fill the void once filled by a child and a sibling now gone, the Betustak family of Hammond has takeN great solace in knowing through the pain of death they have…

Veteran Cali songcrafter heard on top TV shows to rock Valpo

Chuck Prophet is one of those wonderful artists a person discovers and takes pleasure in sharing with friends like some great treasure, knowing the music will inspire the same kind of admiration and appreciation in them.

These puppies have a musical bite and a region connection

Have you ever heard of Snarky Puppy? Neither had I until earlier this week.

Nugent 'still believes' in America and his fans

Ted Nugent. The very name of this famous son of the Motor City conjures up different images to different people – hunting enthusiast, NRA spokesperson, TV host, author, American patriot, environmentalist, ultra-conservative, humanitarian, family man – and all of them are accurate.

Local Scene: The "Earl" of Old Town leaves quite a legacy behind

The world lost two icons of folk music last week, starting April 22 when news broke of guitarist/vocalist Richie Havens, who with a strum on his guitar in the farm field in upstate New York, kicked off a history-making musical weekend as the opening act of Woodstock died of a heart attack. H…

Colorado duo's signature sound showcased at Chicago Street Theater

Acoustic Eidolon plays “acoustic music for the soul.” That slogan was “stolen” from the marquee of a Canadian night club where the Colorado-based duo had been booked.

Local Scene: Bad Cadillac dances as Juice sets in

Northwest Indiana’s Bad Cadillac has been rocking every Sunday night for the past several months at Goodfellas Bar & Grill in Cedar Lake, but this Sunday will be an extra special night for the nearly two-year-old quintet and their fan base.

Region music community loses a longtime friend

It is with sadness I report the passing of longtime drummer Anthony “Tony” Nicoletto, 65, of Valparaiso. Tony was a well respected and well known member of the regional music community for many years.

The day my daughter critiqued a film for Roger Ebert

When Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert died last week at the age of 70, this columnist immediately flashed back when my job included sharing downtown film screenings with Ebert, his then rival/partner Gene Siskel, and other media folks. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, along with covering popul…

Valparaiso University's Jazz Fest set to swing

What started as a one-day event to showcase Valparaiso University’s own jazz students 28 years ago, has steadily grown into one of the largest non-competitive jazz music festivals of its kind.

International pop star showcases “Super” songs

“I am very excited to be returning to Indiana and to be bringing my new music to you,” gushed rising pop sensation Marina V. in a soft voice flavored by a delicious Russian accent. The Russian-born singer/songwriter/pianist makes her second appearance in as many years Sunday at Chicago Stree…

Local Scene: Rocker helps others find “Happily Ever After” lives

Michael McDermott wholeheartedly believes in “happily ever after” stories. The singer/songwriter/guitarist has battled many personal demons and points to his own life as proof a person can get through the darkest, stormiest days to find a rainbow waiting for them.

Outasight will be on site at Valpo campus

There might not be much excitement generated by declaring Richard Andrew is coming to rock the mic at Valparaiso University next weekend, but insert Andrew’s more famous stage name – Outasight – and the “buzz level” soars one hundred fold.

Local Scene: "Beatlemaniacs" Set To Bop 'N' Boogie in The Barn

Fans of John, Paul, George and Ringo are in for a “fab” time on Saturday, when the fourth annual “Beatles at the Barn” fills the acoustically astute confines of the County Line Orchard’s big barn with four hours of tunes by the famous mop tops from Liverpool.

Easter Bunny helpers cover the region

Ever wonder how the Easter Bunny can cover so much ground in the month leading up to his big day with appearances at shopping malls, department stores, candy shops and breakfasts all across the country?

One on one with the Easter Bunny

As a journalist, one dreams of one day scoring that one really BIG interview. That day came this past Wednesday for this writer.

Local Scene: Pop star Chris Wallace “Radios” home to region

Singer, songwriter, radio hit-maker, and Northwest Indiana native Chris Wallace will be the musical guest Tuesday on my weekly radio program, “Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges,” which airs at 6 p.m. on 89.1FM – The Lakeshore. Listeners can win copies of Wallace’s new CD, “Push Rewind,” featurin…

CST favorite and One Night Jam’s first artist returns

Not having his longtime songwriting partner Eric Lowen to “break the log jam” when he gets stuck writing a tunes these days, is perhaps the hardest adjustment for Dan Navarro. “I would get stuck and I’d turn to him and vice-versa. There was this unbelievable chemistry between us.”

Chess records icon Bobby Rush takes part in Chi-Town Blues Fest

Northwest Indiana will be importing some Chicago blues from across the state line today as Star Plaza Theatre welcomes seven popular purveyors of the sound that first ignited the rock ‘n’ roll fuse in a bunch of British kids who went on to fame and fortune in such groups as the Rolling Stone…

Ex-Jawhawk Gary Louris wings his way to Valpo

After more than 20 years with the seminal alt-country group, The Jayhawks, guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Gary Louris has been enjoying the creative freedom of being a solo performer since the group disbanded in 2005.

Chicago: New DVD documentary traces past and promises a future

The release this month of the documentary DVD, “Chicago: World Tour 2011 - Backstage Pass,” reveals just how immensely popular the rock group Chicago has become and remains. It features footage of their concerts and comment from their fans in such cities as Oslo, Berlin, London, Paris, Rome,…

Local Scene: Catching up on Local Scene happenings

• A triple band “St Baldricks Day” concert for all ages will be held on Saturday at The Art Theatre in downtown Hobart (230 North Main Street) to raise funds and awareness for the Locks of Love program to help kids with cancer.

Local Scene: Late region drummer inspires fundraising for diabetic kids

On Saturday the memory and musical life of a local drummer – Mike Ratley -- now two years gone will be celebrated while kids who are now suffering with the ailment that contributed to Ratley’s untimely death will be helped.

Local Scene: The Scoreboard rocks back to the 1960s

Former Gary teens and region rock icons of the 1960s, Oscar & The Majestics, perform a 9 p.m. show of retro rock from the era on Saturday at Bridges Scoreboard (121 N. Griffith Blvd, Griffith). The group has done limited live shows since reforming with their original line-up to promote t…

Thorogood salutes Chicago's blues icons

As he boogies his way towards his 40th year as a recording artist in 2014, guitarist George Thorogood said no special plans were yet in place to celebrate the anniversary.

“Tails Of Love” wag as local rockers unplug to help animals.

Longtime regional music favorites Ripley Street, best known for cranking out high-volume rock ‘n’ roll shows at area festivals and night clubs, will have their hearts plugged in and their instruments unplugged for a special acoustic performance Sunday afternoon at Maxine’s Restaurant in Mich…

A tour through a 'FAB-ulous' time in music

There are Beatles tributes and then there is American English. The latter is unique in that they performed for more than 50,000 rabid Fab Four fans in Liverpool itself and were the only band other than the Beatles themselves to be handled by original Sixties Beatles promoter Sam Leach.

Chicago-rooted jammers are Freddy once again.

The Freddy Jones Band – a group born in Chicago during the 1990s and renowned worldwide for their roots-rock jam-heavy performances in the tradition of groups like The Band and The Allman Brothers -- will return to their “home turf” after a long absence for two shows.

New music series debuts at Fitzgerald's Night Club

When “The Local Scene” column spotlighted the ongoing Big Band music series at Fitzgerald’s Night Club (6615 West Roosevelt Road) in Berwyn, the email response from readers was strong. It seems quite a few folks were in search of a venue that offered up such vintage sounds.

Local Scene: Local music scene flush with news this week

There’s a flurry of regional music news to report this week - new local artist recordings, sad news of a popular music retailer closing, good news of another area music retailer being saved from the same fate, the loss of some talented folks, and more.

Queen of boogie-woogie set to warm the region like a gulf breeze

One might think it was Marcia Ball’s staunch reputation raising roofs and tearing down walls that prompted the last minute venue change for her concert Saturday from downtown Valparaiso’s historic Memorial Opera House to the Porter County Expo Center, but in truth the move was due to ongoing…

New regional band blends folk and urban sounds

Stone Blind Valentine is the brand new acoustic project of longtime Chicago musicians Emily Hurd, Colby Maddox, and Gregg Ostrom. Hurd has been writing and recording as a popular Midwest solo artist for a few years and in late 2012 released a collection of Christmas songs embraced by Nationa…

The '60s live again

American pop culture evolved more during the 1960s than at any other time in history. It’s a decade easily broken down into thirds -- three distinct periods within a 10-year block where popular music and teenage trends changed drastically.

Two regional concert series return for 2013 season

The coming of a new year brings new shows to area venues and among the most anticipated series of shows by region music lovers are those brought to the college town of Valparaiso each year by regional promoters who are first and foremost music fans.

Area songwriter inspired by Sandy Hook shootings

When images of horror pour into our living rooms from the television news, as it did some weeks back with the news of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre of innocent children, most of us sit gape-mouthed with clenched fists, tearing eyes and broken hearts.

Unreleased recordings hint at where Hendrix might have been headed

Region fans of the late great Jimi Hendrix will be delighted to know an album of previously unreleased recordings by the iconic Seattle guitarist who would have turned 70 this past Nov. 27, is forthcoming via Experience Hendrix LLC (which manages the music, name, image and likeness of Jimi H…

Chris Wallace 'Remembers When" he lived in the region

The story of pop singer Chris Wallace is a combination “Cinderella story” and “local boy makes good” story. It's likely to make area fans dash to download music from this regional singer/songwriter to help make him a household name.

Tom Lounges' top 10 regional albums of 2012

As “Local Scene” columnist for The Times, a lot of regional music catches my ear each year. These 10 releases are personal favorites culled from the plethora of local product that has hit my stereo over the past 12 months.

Elvis: Timeless and recession proof

If one musical artist has proven to be recession-proof, it’s that shaky-legged kid from Tupelo, Elvis Presley.

Celebrating 21 years of big band tradition in Berwyn

The Bill O’Connell Chicago Skyliners Big Band celebrates 21 years of monthly performances Sunday at Fitzgerald’s night club in Berwyn,Ill., where they have been a popular attraction the second Sunday of every month since 1991.

A lively countdown to 2013

Looking for the right place to rock the night away while waiting to ring in New Years Eve?

Buddy Guy tops the news in Chicago blues

Chicago blues guitar legend Buddy Guy -- a recipient of a prestigious Kennedy Center Honors award aired earlier this week alongside Dustin Hoffman, Led Zeppelin, Natalia Makarova and Indiana’s own David Letterman -- has released “Buddy Guy: Live At Legends” via Silvertone/RCA Records.

Concrete Blonde promotes new vinyl recording

Concrete Blonde is a group that has enjoyed enough commercial success (thanks to their 1990 breakthrough “Bloodletting” album and its MTV hit, “Joey”) to maintain a 30-plus year career, but not so much success as to spoil the “best kept secret” factor devoted fans of indie rock savor.

Marrakesh Express outgrowing “Tribute” status with new album

Marrakesh Express – Northwest Indiana’s long popular Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young tribute group – has completed and released a self-titled 11-song collection featuring their versions of seven CSN&Y songs, plus four original tunes.

Region rocker now making new music on the West Coast

Dyer native and rock guitarist, Joe Perez, chased his rock ‘n’ roll dream all the way to California last year, where he found some kindred creative spirits to make music with as the Banshee Bones.

The 'Colors of Christmas' shine brightly at Star Plaza

Christmastime is chock full of traditions and one of those is “The Colors of Christmas” concert at the Star Plaza Theatre, which brings together some of the world’s greatest R&B vocalists for unique and ear-pleasing deliveries of their respective hits coupled with plenty of seasonal song…

Two musical worlds collide in concert

Kiddie Rock meets Classical on Dec. 16 at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College in Naperville (171 E. Chicago Avenue) as Grammy-nominated kids' music star Ralph Covert - ruler of “Ralph’s World” - performs two unique holiday concerts with the DuPage Symphony Orchestra at 2 p.m. and 4 p…

Regional musicians 'enlist' to help area veterans

Some of Northwest Indiana’s finest songwriters and most popular musical artists have enlisted to raise money to help those who have stood tall and served America with honor and integrity – our military veterans.

Nomad Planets set to sing for 'Their Neighbors' supper

Most folks have likely heard the old adage about “singing for your supper.” At this time of year, the original region rock quartet Nomad Planets opt to instead sing for other people’s supper.