Jeremy Porter Road Blog

Road Blog: Wednesday May 07, 2025 - Chicago, IL

Road Blog
May 7, 2025
Chicago, Illinois

I drove to Chicago on Tuesday afternoon to get settled in before an early show on Wednesday. The drive was uneventful, in a miserable downpour until I hit Kalamazoo and it cleared up just in time to hit the south Chicagoland traffic. I got to my motel south of the city, scarfed down some surprisingly good Baja shrimp tacos from Long John Silver's, watched some John Wayne/Kirk Douglas War Wagon movie and a documentary about KISS, changed the strings on my guitar, and crashed out.

Wednesday was spent getting caught up on work, a mid-day run where I attempted to befriend a shy blue heron but had to settle for a couple grumpy Canadian geese instead. The water was out in my wing of the motel so I had to shower in a different room, but don’t fret, I managed. Around 3PM CST I headed into the city. I love the city but driving into Chicago isn’t my favorite thing to do. Traffic was tolerable until I got downtown on Lakeshore and it took me 40 minutes to go the last 2 miles.

First stop was Reckless Records on Belmont, where I was promptly scolded for looking at a used record (like, examining the condition of the vinyl) at the bin rather than taking it up to the counter, and didn’t I see the signs? I apologized and they were cool, they just don’t want records hitting the floor. I finally picked up the new Jason Isbell and an original/early pressing Joni Mitchell that should make for some good Sunday morning jams. The folks at Reckless suggested a Detroit pizza joint across the street, and I always have to laugh. The first time I ever head the phrase “Detroit Pizza” was in Georgia. Anyhow, being on tour there’s so much pizza around you usually don’t eat it as a first choice when there are other options, so I ended up at a little Korean joint called Noori Chicken that was pretty great – spicy pork bowl with some kimchi dumplings and spring rolls. Quaint little restaurant with Korean pop-culture artwork and cool post-modern furniture. Turns out it’s a small but widely spread out chain so maybe there’s one near you.

I drove past Wrigley Field where the Cubs had just lost to the Giants and got a parking spot right next to Uncommon Ground Lakeview. I walked in and met Gary Camaro and Phil Yates, two old pals of mine who were also playing. Big hugs and how ya doin’ and where’s the sound guy? Isaac came in and we did a quick soundcheck and settled in for some hangs before the show started. Uncommon Ground is a restaurant/bar with a music room off to the side. They’ve been doing show for many years, and I’ve been trying forever get a foot in, and it finally happened. The room is nice raw wood and exposed brick, with tables that can be purchased with tickets or fist come/first served.

A bunch of people came in shortly before Camaro played and he really had a great set. Funny, smart, emotional, fun songs about the southwest, drinkin’, and lost love. I met Camaro back in April of 2008 when his band The Wabash Cannonballs played with my band The OffRamps. We kept in touch, sorta, and who knew 16 years later and here we are again. I played second and it took me a minute to find my fingers, but I ran through the set and only forgot a few lyrics. Not bad. Phil batted cleanup with his great powerpop-leaning songs that touched on some of the same themes Gary and I covered, but took a fun twist in some different directions too. Phil is a fantastic songwriter and his band The Affiliates is awesome. This was the first time I’d seen him solo and it was great.

We said our goodbyes, grabbed a photo, and loaded out. Getting out of the city wasn’t nearly as bad as getting in. I had TrooperGirl22 on the hands-free phone for a good part of it as I weaved in and out of Chicago traffic and she filled me in that my castle is still standing and things back home are copacetic. Back at the motel I had a nightcap, did some bookkeeping, and crashed out to Dateline around midnight. There was some drama around this show (not the dudes who played) and at times it looked like it wasn’t going to happen, but it did in the end and it was a good time and a fine tour kickoff. Thanks to Camaro and Phil for playing and promoting and being cool through all the bullshit.

Tonight it’s Kathy's Pub in Rochester, Minnesota. My latest and longest solo set to date – on at 10pm CST playing til 2am. Grab a latte with an extra shot and an extra one for me and I’ll see ya there! Xx