Songkick

Chicago blogger: Songs:Illinois and Swedesplease
(If you’re like me and obsessed with Swedish music, you’ll love Swedesplease.)

1. Name? Craig Bonnell
2. Age? Older
3. Occupation? Music writing, film and ad music placement, some promo work.
4. How long have you lived in Chicago? A decade or so.
5. Favorite Chicago venue? Schubas
6. How long have you been blogging? Four or five years.
7. How did you choose the name of your blog? I’ve got two blogs. Swedesplease is all Swedish indie pop. The name just popped into my head. Thankfully, several years later, I still love it. The name for Songs:Illinois is taken from Jason Molina’s band, Songs:Ohia.
8. First concert? Probably the Throwing Muses at The Rat in Boston in ‘84.
9. Most recent concert? Chris Bathgate in my living room (part of the Songs:Illinois Presents House Concert series).
10. Most memorable concert? Probably one of the early ones. All of them were all-ages in Boston, underneath a German bar called The Rathskellar. The venue was know as The Rat (a real dump). [The venue is now closed.] Highlights would have been Gang Green, The Pixies, Til’ Tuesday, and, as I said, The Throwing Muses.
11. Most disappointing concert? I was really looking forward to seeing Martin Sexton a few years back. I was into his record that was out at the time and dragged people out to see him. Turns out he was pretentious, arrogant, drunk (?), and annoying.
12. Dream line-up? Galaxie 500, The Feelies, and Yo La Tengo, circa 1987.