Illinois Entertainer January 2020 | Page 4

January 2020 December 2020 • Volume 46, Number 02 • www.illinoisentertainer.com COVER STORY: GRACE POTTER Vermont-bred folk-rocker Grace Potter's new albumDaylight, is a remarkably confessional new solo outing that succinctly — and passionate- ly — summarizes everything she’s been through in the the last several years. “I had an amazing sense of place in [her get-away cabin] Topanga [Canyon], and I didn’t understand why,” says the singer, now 34, who assembled her backing band The Nocturnals at only 19. “But I went there because it was the only place I felt at home. Being out in L.A., it can be an all-consuming place. So I went there to recalibrate. And I had this revelation that being alone shouldn’t be so comfortable. Why was I real- ly enjoying being alone, especially when being sur- rounded by other people had been such a huge part of my life until then?” She felt a sense of peace and a new self-reliance wash over her, she recalls. ”But it also meant that a very tumultuous time was coming my way. And I had to make some deci- sions.” Tom Lanham talked to Potter. 6 Page 22 - Grace Potter HELLO MY NAME IS MICHAEL Michael Des Barres doesn’t want to sound jaded like he’s seen it all before. But at a sage-like 71, he has, in many ways. So don’t fault the Renaissance man for his cynical view of most pop stars’ careers: “They pretty much have a formula now,” he chuckles. “Young kid writes some songs, has some hits, buys his mom a house, becomes drug-addicted, gets sober, and now works with rescue animals. And I say ‘Bullshit’ to that time-worn cliche.” In fact, he’s spent his entire life fighting against such a staid, pre- dictable existence, ever since he landed his first roles in films like To Sir, With Love and unleashed his raspy rock and roll pipes in the early-‘70s glam juggernaut Silverhead. He would go on to appear in over 100 TV shows, including the classic Seinfeld “Smelly Car” episode, where he played a restaurant maitre d' who, like Jerry, is also physically repulsed by his valet’s overpowering BO. He also appeared in 30 movies and released three albums a piece with not only Silverhead, but Detective, and under his own name. He did all of this while fronting punk super- group Chequered Past, and The Power Station after its original frontman Robert Palmer opted out. Tom Lanham spoke to MDB about his journey that led to The Underground Garage. 20 Sweet Home Blues Legacy: The Book. 6 12 14 Channel 2's unlikely anchor. Media 16 Spins 24 File Best of 2019 Albums and Concerts. Cinemascopes Best of 2019 Films. The Rolling Stones, PBS' Country Soundtrack and more. Calendar Over 1200 shows to see, the best bands, at the best venues. THE JAB Frontman Jam Alker may be a national figure for addiction recovery, but don’t label The JAB a “recovery band.” Even after gaining attention follow- ing the release of his solo album Sophrosyne in 2017, Alker says it’s all about the collaborative music he’s now making with his new bandmates. The Orchard (a Sony-owned company) has signed The JAB to a distri- bution deal (under the boutique label Medicine Records) with a February 4 release date planned for the debut album, CONSUME. “Riot” was the first single released last month with an accompanying video on YouTube. Jam Alker is insistent that The JAB not be pigeonholed as a recovery rock band. He wants them to be known as a hard-rocking band first. Now, it’s all about the healthy relationships the band has forged. “The investment [in the band’s mission] is deeper by everyone,” Alker told Jason Scales. It all come to fruition with the February release of CONSUME. Caught In A Mosh Sacred Dawn Reborn. Classifieds You dumped your ex- wife's drummer, now you're looking for another. Studiophile Returns in February. Gear Alesis drum volley. Publisher Advertising Sales Contributors: John Vernon Scott Assmann Mike Engel Andy Argyrakis, Guy Arnston, Penelope Biver, Patrick Conlan, Deena Dasein, Jaime de'Medici, Jeff Elbel Terrence Flamm, Steve Forstneger Michael Gallucci, Michael C. Harris, Max Herman, Tom Lanham, Carter Moss, Michael Obrecki, Greg Olma Arsenio Orteza, Rodney Pawlak, Bruce Pilato, Matthew Pollock, Jason Scales, Kelley Simms, Ed Spinelli, James Turano, Aubrey Vernon Contributing Editors Lori Vernon Tom Lanham Curt Baran Advertising Director Design Team Website Direction Notion Pool Dragon Design Vision Design Teknigram Graphics Notion Pool Classified Advertising Rosalind Cummings-Yeates - Sweet Home Rick Kaempfer - Media David Gedge Founder John Vernon Senior Columnists Kenneth L. Voss Kelley Simms - Caught In A Mosh Publisher Emeritis David C. Eldredge - East Coast David Roberts 4 illinoisentertainer.com january 2020 SUBSCRIPTIONS: $35 per year (first class). Material for insertion must reach our office by the First Of The Month preceding publication. We cannot assume responsibility for unsolicit- ed manuscripts or photographs. Follow us online at: facebook.com/ieentertainer instagram: illinoisentertainermagazine twitter.com/ie_entertainer 28 34 42 45 46 Address All Correspondence to: Illinois Entertainer 4223 W. Lake St., Suite 201 Chicago, IL 60624 [phone] - Chicago/North Sub [phone] - West/South Suburbs [phone] - Fax email us at: Editorial: [email protected] Advertising: [email protected] The ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER is published monthly by Roberts Publishing, Inc, All materials copyright 2020 by Roberts Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from Roberts Publishing, Inc. Current and back issues of the IE are $10.00 postpaid.