Best Local Songwriters In Chicago
Chicago has nothing short of a treasure trove of talented musicians. Nationally recognized singers and artists seen to fow our of this city. Here are a few songwriters we're lucky enough to experience them showcase their talent throughout the year. These artists call the windy city home.
Andrew Bird
Born in Lake Bluff, IL and a graduate of Northwestern University, Andrew Bird is a Chicago based singer-songwriter, violinist, and guitarist. Trained in the Suzuki method since he was child, Bird's songs are influenced by jazz, blues, and American and European folk. Bird released his first album, Music of Hair, in 1996. In 1997, Bird became the band leader of Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire, noted for its mixture of jazz, folk, and swing music. After Bowl of Fire disbanded in 2003, Bird released two solo albums, 2003's Weather Systems and 2005's The Mysterious Production of Eggs. In 2007, Bird released Armchair Apocrypha, which was a departure of the more acoustic Mysterious Production of Eggs featuring more amplified instruments. Bird's 2009 release, Noble Beast, gained great critical acclaim, achieving number 12 on Billboard's Top 200, and 1 on Billboard's Independent Album list. His live shows are noted for his use of looping pieces of his songs to create a fuller sound.
Neko Case
Neko Case was born in Alexandria, VA, but moved frequently with her family, spending the most time during her childhood in Tacoma, WA. Case left home at the ge of 15, and within a few years was playing drums in bands around the Northwest. In 1994, case moved to Vancouver, British Columbia to attend art school, and continued playing drums in several punk groups in the area. During this time she collaborated with The New Pornographers, singing vocal tracks on their Mass Romantic Album. Case moved to Chicago in 2001 to a well established alternative country scene, where she recorded her Canadian Amp EP at home. In 2004, she released a live album, The Tigers Have Spoken, shortly after signing with Anti Records. Case released her most critically acclaimed album to date, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood in 2006. She followed with 2009's Middle Cyclone, which reached number 3 on Billboard's charts.
Alice Peacock
American folk singer Alice Peacock was born in White Bear Lake, MN, but is now based in Chicago, IL. Peacock released her first album, Real Day, on her own Peacock Records label in 1999. Due to good reviews and strong word-of-mouth about her debut album, Peacock was picked up by Aware/Columbia in 2000. She released her self-titled, major label debut in 2002, which featured contributions from John Mayer and Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls. Her 2006 album, Who I Am, achieved more commercial success, with several of the album's songs appearing in movies and on television.
Patti Smith
Called "The Godmother of Punk," Patti Smith heavily influenced the New York City punk movement in the late 1970's. Her 1975 album, Horses, featured three-chord rock overlaid with Smith's beat poetry lyrics. Smith spent the early 1970's writing, painting, and performing as a member of the St. Mark's Poetry Project. She also wrote rock journalism at this time, with articles appearing in Creem Magazine. In 1975, The Patti Smith Group was signed to Arista Records, and released the classic "Horses." Before the end of the decade, Smith would release two more albums, Easter in 1978 and Wave in 1979. After the release of Wave, Smith married former MC5 guitarist Fred Sonic Smith. Smith was in semi-retirement from recording music in the 1980's while raising her children, but did release an album in 1988, Dream of Life. Smith continued to record in the 1990's, writing a tribute to Kurt Cobain "About a Boy" on her album Gone Again, and also released Peace and Noise in 1997, and Gung Ho in 2000. Smith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
Jeff Tweedy
Born in Belleville, IL, but now based in Chicago, Jeff Tweedy is an American singer-songwriter and musician, most well known for his band Wilco. Tweedy joined a rockabilly group with his high school friend Jay Farrar, which after the departure of Farrar's brother and a couple name changes, became the alternative country group Uncle Tupelo. Despite well-received albums and successful touring, Uncle Tupelo disbanded in 1994 due to conflicts between Tweedy and Farrar. Tweedy formed Wilco in 1994, with John Stirrat, Max Johnston, and Ken Coomer, though this lineup has changed drastically since, with only Tweedy and Stirrat remaining. Wilco has released 8 critically acclaimed albums, including the Grammy Winning A Ghost is Born. Tweedy also is a member of part time projects, Golden Smog and Loose Fur. Tweedy recently produced Mavis Staple's 2010 album, You Are Not Alone.
