Local H frontman Scott Lucas slurped a smoothie while we talked about things he has learned over the years.
At a tiny table at Filter, the reincarnation of Wicker Park's favorite hipster coffee joint. (Konkol warning: While Filter's second life remains still a hipster fav, it also is a magnet for crying babies.)
the 39-year-old rocker talked about living in Wicker Park, going on tour, love, heart break, why Mayor Daley should be voted out of office and much more. Find the story in today's Sun-TImes.
Typically, I'd leave the music commentary to guys like Jim DeRogatis. But I can't pass up an opportunity to turn you on to Lucas' new project, Scott Lucas and the Married Men.
The album, George Lassos the Moon, is sweet, romantic storytelling -- a true story mind you -- of a guy (Lucas) longing to win back lost love. Most of the songs were written in a weeks time as Lucas' attempted to reconnect his then-estranged girlfriend. (It worked.)
With the Married Men, you see a softer side of Lucas, who's better known for playing loud, crowd surfing, whiskey drinking and at least once angrily chasing an audience member off stage.

Give a listen to Cut a Hole and Extra Special Bitter and Weatherman -- stand out numbers on an album from a band that's unfortunately still flying still under the radar.

From Berwyn by way of Transylvania, Svengoolie is the Bozo the Clown of campy horror flicks. In today's paper, Ol' Sven (played by Rich Koz) talks about what he's learned over his 31 years on Chicago TV, including his role in welcoming Oprah to the airwaves way back when.

Here's a look at some of his cheesy humor in song:

Ric Addy, owner of Shake Rattle and Read in Uptown, is a former Haight-Ashbury hippie who knows a thing or two about a thing or two. Check out his story.

Ric took me on a tour of the tunnels below his shop, which lead to the Uptown Theater and the Green Mill. There's a 1920s bathroom down there once frequented by Al Capone and his gang. Check out the tour.