Mike Stephen plays some quarantine harmonica in his basement home studio.

Mike Stephen discusses how local musicians are coping without the ability to play gigs with Mike Jeffers, host of Chicago Music Revealed, learns about Tone Deaf Records, a Portage Park record store that now delivers albums, and discovers the Secret History of 60s pop-rockers The Apocryphals. Plus, we debut a new song about COVID-19 from The Black Oil Brothers and in the OTL Wrap Party segment Mike and Producer Collin express hope that local venues will rise again. The local quarantine music this week comes from the late great John Prine. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 6 years ago Tagged

Mike Stephen (center) from his home studio talks to teachers Dave Narter and Paula Di Dominico about the Teachers Teachwell podcast.

Mike Stephen talks about the impact of the recent pandemic on educational practices with the hosts of the Teachwell Teachers podcast, discusses whether our tech infrastructure is ready for our work from home scenarios with the co-owner of TMC Squared, and learns the Secret History of local blues guitarist Lurrie Bell. Also, this week we have a special guest in the OTL Wrap Party segment: Producer Collin’s wife, Katie Aquino! She’s a local educator and we continue the conversation on the impact of COVID-19 on our education system.   The local music this week comes from The Kynd.

Posted 6 years ago Tagged

Mikey Stephen works on building his fort at the Filament Theatre in Portage Park.

Mike Stephen visits the show FORTS! at the Filament Theatre in Portage Park, drops by a new vinyl record store in Ravenswood, and learns the Secret History of slide guitarist John Littlejohn.  This week the local music comes from The Weekend Run Club. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 6 years ago Tagged

Mike Stephen welcomes local jazz musician Joe Policastro into the studio while holding the official OTL tumbler.

Mike Stephen learns how we can’t impeach a Chicago mayor, welcomes local jazz musician Joe Policastro to preview his trio’s show, and discovers the Secret History of blues singer Lucille Spann.  Plus: Joe visits the OTL Wrap Party segment to discuss playing music in Chicago and the awesomeness of the late Neil Peart of Rush.  This week we enjoy local music from The Joe Policastro Trio, of course! Also: let us know where we should go for the upcoming OTL Winter Tavern Tour!   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 6 years ago Tagged