Life in Chicago keeps getting better and better. The city in all of it’s wisdom has bestowed another honor on me this time in the form CAAP Grant to study the Oud.

Keep an eye out for my Oud coming out at upcoming Tangleweed shows!!!!

No it’s not the teacher from “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” but U.K. businessman Guy Hands CEO of the private equity firm Terra Firma Capital Partners, and the new leader of the EMI record label. Since the record industry has been driving itself into the ground it may take an outsider to straighten things out.

Matthew Lynn wrote a commentary on the Bloomberg website that highlights some of the changes, pros & cons occuring at EMI. Feel free to let us know your thoughts on the current state of the music industry.

bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aECFx9Ako770&refer=home

Today’s post comes courtesy of DailyCandy.com. We share their enthusiasm for the impending smoking ban.

December 31, 2007
Thank You for Not Smoking
Chicago Goes Smoke Free
There is lots to look forward to in 2008. Namely, the smoking ban in Chicago. Here are the top ten reasons this law rules:

10. No need for a full body scrubdown after a Friday night out.

9. If you’re not holding a cig, you can hold another beer.

8. You can stop looking for a fine piece of ash at the local bar.

7. You won’t have to worry about the black lung.

6. The only hot butt in the room will be yours.

5. Febreeze will no longer be your signature scent.

4. Guys will be forced to actually ask for your number, rather than bum a cig then hang around ’til last call being awkward.

3. You can take that $8 and buy something nice for yourself. Like three bottles of Listerine.

2. Manicurists for miles will be thankful for the demise of the yellow nail.

1. Clearer skin + healthier heart = totally smokin’.

Tune your dial to 91.5fm Thursday (or possibly Friday) at 9AM. Several weeks ago WBEZ’s morning show 848 anounced a recipe contest which required the use of A-1 steak sauce, Toblerone chocolate and Grey Puopon Mustard. This was a challenge I was up for. Over dinner, my wife Lauren and I colaborated to come up with the recipe that won the hearts and taste buds of the WBEZ staff and Chef Efrain, their finalist judge. We recently recorded a segment of us in the kitchen cooking up the winning recipe. For those of you who can’t wait to hear the segment. Here is our winning recipe. For hot pics of us in the kitchen and to hear the story after tomorrow’s broadcast go to www.wbez.org/848.

Barbecued Short Ribs:

1/2 cup duck sauce (Most people have about this much left over in little packets from takeout)
1/4 cup soy sauce (See above)
3 Tablespoons Grey Poupon
3 Tablespoons A-1 Steak Sauce
2 Teaspoons Hot Sauce
5 Toblerone dark chocolate w/ honey & almond nougat triangles finely chopped
1/2 cup apple cider vinager
Preheat grill or start the charcoal
Boil 4 short ribs in a saucepan with bay leaf 20-30 minutes.

Mix together BBQ sauce and slather on short ribs (or other meat selection)Add ribs to grill and cook on that saucy goodness. Recoat when necessary.

Tune in to 91.5fm WBEZ’s morning show “848″ at 9:00 Wednesday October 10th to hear a story about the Bucktown Apple Pie Contest with Tangleweed accompaniment. I was interviewed for the story last week however the real news is Tangleweed will be playing for the contest and Scott and I both are baking. The contest will be held at Holstein Park in Bucktown Sunday the 14th. Tangleweed will be playing our brand of Americana all afternoon. Please join us if you can there will be plenty of world class pies and activites for the kids as well.

www.bucktownapplepiecontest.com
http://www.wbez.org/Program_848.aspx

My apologies the story didn’t air today as planned.  It may be aired later this week or via the wbez website.

Here’s a pic I clicked the other day. It’s my cat Big Head Todd guarding Tangleweed’s merch bag from any theives who may happen upon my living room. In addition to being a guard cat he is also a brave warrior and hunter of fluffy feathered cat toys.

Earlier this summer, Tangleweed did a small show at the House Cafe out in DeKalb. The other act on the bill was Natalia Zuckerman, a singer songwriter from Boston, we all had a good time. Folks who are in Chicago can catch Natalia and I playing a set together at Schuba’s Saturday night and if you’re in the Ann Arbor area you can catch us at THE ARK www.theark.com on Sunday.

“Nervous but Excited” will also be slinging some of their latest material nervousbutexcited.com

It will be a night to remember.

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Tangleweed has been selected to recieve a CAAP Grant from the City of Chicago.  This is a very competitive grant bestowed by the City of Chicago on artists and organizations to help realize projects that will enhance the cultural life of Chicago.  We will be putting the funds  towards the recording and duplication of our next album.  Or several bajillion cans of “Old Style” We’re still trying to figure out which is more culturally relavant to Chciago.  Please feel free to cast your votes below.