Welcome to the Editor’s Open Thread (E.O.T.)! This Open Thread is designed for feedback from YOU a.k.a. the reader. We’ll pose a question and then we’ll post views/opinions from our editors/contributors for you to read, dissect and agree/disagree with by commenting on the story. The idea is to create some interesting musical dialogue.

First up we ask, What was the best album from June 2009? Now, the editor/contributor picks for best album from June 2009…

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By Richard Giraldi  \  9 comments

Hurray! It’s finally summer and for the first time this year, it actually feels like summer in Chicago. To celebrate the occasion, we though we’d make a guide to some of the city’s best summer music festivals.

Of course we tackle the majors like Lollapalooza and Pitchfork Music Fest. But we also will highlight some of the lesser known summer fests. Want to catch Ben Folds weeks before his Lolla appearance? Check out Old St. Pat’s World’s Largest Block Party on July 10 & 11. Achin’ for some Local H? Try West Fest 2009 on July 11 & 12. The complete guide after the jump:

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By Richard Giraldi  \  comments

Editor’s note: “Introducing…” is a new series of feature profiles that spotlights lesser-known Chicago acts. This first installment showcases Chicago folk-indie singer/songwriter Andy B. White.

In a cozy, first floor apartment made just right for one tucked away in New Lenox, Illinois, emerging singer/songwriter Andy B. White sat down and told a story of how he learned to play music.

Upon meeting White, his bashful and good-natured demeanor never let on that criminal activity would be involved in his story, but indeed it is.

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By Sophia Madana  \  comments

Editor’s Note: SOUND OFF is a new weekly column from Loud Loop founder/editor-in-chief Richard Giraldi. The views stated in SOUND OFF don’t represent the views of Loud Loop Press or probably anyone with half a brain. Feel free to rip me a new one in the comments section as this an experiment in process…here we go!

So five years after the initial announcement, Conan O’Brien finally took the reins from Jay Leno on the Tonight show. Big opening skit? Check. Big name guest? (Will Ferrell) Check. Big name musical act? You betcha. For the first time, well, ever, Pearl Jam broke their alleigence to David Letterman to perform on NBC. And better yet, they played a brand spankin’ new song titled “Get Some” from their upcoming album Backspacer, which is tentatively set for an autumn release. Unfrotunately, the massive television event couldn’t save Eddie Vedder & Co.’s new song from being lackluster and forgettable.

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By Richard Giraldi  \  2 comments

In a college dorm-sized room inside a large industrial warehouse just west of the Ukrainian Village, Josh Siegel, lead singer and guitarist of Chicago progressive blues band Bailiff, asks if bass player auditionee, Ben Joseph, brought earplugs. Joseph shrugs, and Siegel hands him a roll of toilet paper.

“Use this,” says Siegel. “It gets kind of boomy with those drums in here.”

Subdued and slightly awkward conversation continues as Joseph mentions he likes the wall, which is covered with song ideas and set lists written in black marker. Siegel jokes that one of the joys of renting a private practice spot is, “you can write on the walls.” But then the small talk changes to the business at hand. Joseph is auditioning for a spot as Bailiff’s bass player, and yet this is the first time Siegel and drummer Ren Mathew have ever laid eyes on him.

Bailiff is one of many Chicago bands turning to online classifieds website, Craigslist.org, to find other musicians and gigs at local venues. Musicians such as Siegel and Mathew are attracted to Craigslist because it’s simple, localized, and free. As recent as eight years ago, when a musician was in need of others to jam with, they’d either ask friends or put up a paper flyer at the local music store. But now all it takes is a quick post to the Chicago Craigslist “musicians community” forum to get the word out.

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By Richard Giraldi  \  2 comments