Composer & pianist Maxx McGathey’s immersive sound-world is dark, energetic, epic and adventurous. Mixing elements of cinematic jazz, modern classical, and his love for heavy groove-based music, McGathey crafts instrumental stories that pull you in to their vast worlds using a large ensemble of strings, winds and rhythm section to give the music grand scope. His most recent album “Imaginary Eyes” released in 2024 on Nudie Records, is a deep dive into this cavernous twilight zone, which uses the sounds of mid-20th century suspense cinema as a jumping off point for more modern experimentation. Many of McGathey’s previous composing projects have also had a cinematic element, whether the 12+ year running b-horror-funk band Gramps The Vamp or the spaghetti western themed album Dark Canyon (for which McGathey was a co-writer). McGathey has also written and performed 9 feature-length live film scores for clients like WBEZ, The Music Box Theater and the Chicago Park District’s “Movies in the Parks”, as well as various independent theaters around the midwest. These past experiences give all of McGathey’s music a strong sense of story and setting that adds to their immersive feel. 

In addition to his own music, Maxx is a prolific collaborator on the Chicago music scene, having performed or recorded with Chicago acts like Divino Niño, V.V. Lightbody, Ric Wilson, David Quinn, Secret Colours, and Wills McKenna’s Path. McGathey’s grants and awards include a 2023 Illinois Arts Council Grant for recording, composer’s residencies at Ucross Foundation (2025) and I-Park Foundation in Connecticut (2021 & 2025), and a 2020 grant for recording from DCASE (the City of Chicago’s Cultural Affairs Department). Gramps The Vamp has been named Best New Band (2013) and was included in the Best Chicago Albums of the Decade list by Chicago Reader. McGathey is also a passionate educator, having introduced dozens of students to the piano, improvisation, and composition.

Join us on Saturday, December 6th for a wreath-making workshop This is an extra special and sentimental event for Lovergirl Creates because it was the first workshop Anya and Vern led together last year as a private event. We’re so excited to bring this craft to Tack Room and get into the holiday spirit with you all. Live instruction and all materials provided. 

Buy tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/wreath-workshop-with-lovergirl-creates-tack-room-tickets/14704233?pl=thalia3

Wanda is Chicago's dark-sided, piano-playing drag queen. She has performed in New York City, Los Angeles, London, and all around the UK as a solo act and as part of the drag theatre group SADHAUS, which she co-founded. You can usually find her enchanting audiences at Tack Room or leading a ghost tour downtown. She has also led art tours at the Art Institute, and if you're lucky she will bust out her accordion! Find Wanda on Instagram at @wandachicago.

Join us on Friday, December 5th for a wreath-making workshop This is an extra special and sentimental event for Lovergirl Creates because it was the first workshop Anya and Vern led together last year as a private event. We’re so excited to bring this craft to Tack Room and get into the holiday spirit with you all. Live instruction and all materials provided. 

Buy tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/wreath-workshop-with-lovergirl-creates-tack-room-tickets/14681053?pl=thalia3

Laura Cai is a recording artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based out of Chicago.

As a singer, keyboardist, cellist, guitarist, and bassist, Laura has lent her range of talents to a variety of live and studio projects across diverse genres for more than a decade. She has worked as a studio musician, recording and arranging songs that have together amassed millions of streams. As a live musician, Laura has toured both domestically and internationally, playing in venues spanning from intimate coffee shops to sold-out theaters to arenas of thousands.

Laura has had songs placed with CBS and Walmart alongside Grammy-nominated producer Oh, Hush! and created viral videos with recording artist Alex Blue. She currently plays weekly at piano bars around the city as she continues to hone her skills as an up-and-coming producer, mixer, and masterer.

RSVP HERE: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/timmy-skelly-tack-room-tickets/14694023?pl=thalia3

Brandon Good is a Chicago artist with a penchant for Country music. Nodding to a wide range of notable genre influences, he brings in rock n’ roll, soul, singer-songwriter, and blues into his songwriting, all while remaining true to the dance hall and honky-tonk heritage he loves. 

Brandon is no stranger to life on the road, having spent a decade playing with celebrated Chicago Celtic Punk outfit Flatfoot 56. During his time with the band they toured internationally and even charted on Billboard’s Heat Seekers chart. 

After moving to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Brandon wrote and recorded his first solo EP, breaking into the Country scene with the release of “The Anvil” and the subsequent, stripped down, two-track EP titled “The Spitzer Sessions”. 

With fervor and fire licks, Brandon then returned to the studio to begin recording his first full length record, “Restless”, which is set to release spring of 25’. 

After hosting several highly respected residencies and Booking himself and other touring bands countless shows in his home base of Chicago he’s revving up to start touring nationally and bring his songs and style to a town near you.

RSVP HERE: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/harvest-fest-tack-room-tickets/14631693?pl=thalia3

Brandon B has been a member of the Two-Step community here in Chicago since 2012. He loves to share dancing and music with anyone he meets. You can find him every Friday at the Honky Tonk Happy Hour giving the regular Two-Step lesson and dancing with his friends.

RSVP HERE: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/harvest-fest-tack-room-tickets/14631693?pl=thalia3

Led by guitarist and composer Kenny Thompson, the Kenny Thompson Quartet aims to keep one foot firmly planted in the rich musical traditions of jazz, with the other aiming for the future. With a decade of deep roots in the Chicago jazz scene, Thompson has had the good fortune to perform with some of the finest, most passionate jazz musicians working today. The quartet will debut much of Kenny’s original repertoire, which explores the intersection of tradition and innovation. Heavily inspired by post-bop, modern jazz, and the many torchbearers of the music whom Kenny has crossed paths with in Chicago, Thompson’s writing showcases a wide emotional palette, from introspective ballads to winding melodies in harmony; from swingin’ grooves to electrifying odd-meter excursions. The group is comprised of Chris Madsen on tenor saxophone, Vinny Kabat on bass, and T.J. Thompson on drums. Each musician brings their distinct voice and energy to the music, creating a sensitive yet powerful band, chosen to bring these compositions to life. Whether in an intimate club or on a festival stage, the Kenny Thompson Quartet delivers music that is honest, forward-thinking, and deeply rooted in the spirit of jazz.

Kevan Eftekhari has been entertaining audiences and establishing himself as a fixture in the Chicago music community for nearly two decades. From piano bars, to weddings, and to corporate events, Kevan brings to life any occasion with his impressively massive repertoire of popular classics and hits from all ages and genres.

@kevanchicago 

http://kevaneftekhari.com/

Sophia Cruz is a Chicago-based Funk and Neo-Soul singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, inspired by artists like Stevie Wonder, YEBBA, Hiatus Kaiyote, Chaka Khan, and Amy Winehouse. Raised in a musical household, her sound blends rich, soulful vocals with tight, funky grooves—rooted in classic Funk, Soul, and R&B. A graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a degree in vocal performance and music business, Sophia has performed at top Chicago venues including Subterranean, Epiphany Center for the Arts, Sleeping Village, and Navy Pier. With her band, she brings fresh energy to every stage, captivating audiences with music that honors legacy while pushing creative boundaries.

Javier Red (piano) and Dakarai Barclay (trumpet) will play original compositions and music from great Jazz Composers.

Sublime beauty…
(Chicago Reader, US)

..beyond contemporary jazz..
(RadioFrance, France)

..Bursting with emotion and original ideas..
(Radiohoerer, Germany)

..honest and revealing..
(La Jornada, Mexico)

Being a Lovergirl is about more than making crafts with friends. It's about using the skills that we have to actively engage in community. November 13th, attend a donation-based "Introduction to Crochet" event, where you'll learn fundamentals, make new friends, and learn about ways that you can support your neighbors, while raising money for PUñO. PUñO (Pilsen Unidos por Nuestro Orgullo) is a coalition committed to advocating for the protection of immigrant rights through legal support, education, and community engagement in Pilsen and the surrounding area. We are proud to partner with them on this event and hope to uplift their mission through our space. 

Donation-Based tickets are now live. Don't see the price option that you are looking for available? DM us!

Tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/intro-to-crochet-with-lovergirl-tack-room-tickets/14640173?pl=thalia3

René Avila band leader for a traditional Cuban Charanga band.  He has two ensembles, from a trio to a 9 piece band.  We have played for Chicago's Summerdance, Navy Pier's Beer Garden, Old Town School of Folk Music and various festivals throughout the city. Our ensembles play traditional Cuban from the golden ages of the 40's 50's and 60's still keeping the "Charanga" format.Charanga is a classical chamber ensemble that came out of Haiti, featuring the unique sound of the french flute and violins.  During the Haitian revolution of 1804, this sound migrated to eastern Cuba where it reached Santiago.  In the space of 120 years, the modern Charanga was born by adding elements of Africa, Spain, Haiti and Cuba transforming it into an electric mix of cultures and one of the worlds most exciting dance genres. 

Purchase tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/show-tell-for-grown-tack-room-tickets/14595553?pl=thalia3

Looking to meet real people IRL? Welcome to the first step.

The Tell Me Why It’s Cool Show produces live events designed to showcase humans and the topics that get them excited.

We can’t wait to meet you and learn what you’re passionate about.

Show & Tell for Grown-Ups is a night of learning cool stuff & meeting cool people.

The show started here in Chicago April 2024 and has been bringing together a wide variety of knowledge junkies ever since. Check out our instagram to get a vibe for what the show is @tellmewhyitscool_show We can't wait to have fun & learn something with you.

How does it work?

Presenters sign up online for their 5-minute slots to tell us why something is cool. Then we open it up for Q&A with the audience for 3-4 minutes.

Chicago is full of interesting people who love to chat so the show is different every time.

What kinds of things do people bring to Show & Tell for Grown-Ups?

Topics can range from showing off Salt & Pepper shaker collections to the chemical structure of the 90s sensational nail polish, Unicorn Pee. Sometimes people bring their cool collections or teach us about a Pop Culture phenominon that they think the world needs to hear about.

This show is PG-13. We're here to ignite interest in cool stuff, not fuel fires on heated issues. Presenters promise to keep this show free of adult content, excessive swearing, and anything that challenges anyone's religious, political, racial, or sexual identity.

Do YOU want to bring something to Show & Tell for Grown-Ups?!

Sign up online for a chance to get a slot: https://forms.office.com/r/gfMRYyRR7p

We wanna hear about your EPIC bike stories! Tell us why you love biking or bike trips you've taken. Do you know history of bike evolution? What about tips & tricks for navigating Chicago or other cities on a bike?

If you want to present, here are some prompts for what to bring:

• Have you made something that you’re really proud of, but haven’t had a chance to properly show it off to people? (Super Cool spreadsheets and life hacks encouraged!)

• Is there a subject that you have tons of seemingly pointless knowledge on? We love deep dives into the history or technical aspects of subjects.

• What was the last thing you did dopamine fueled rabbit hole research into (not necessarily work related)? Tell us why it's cool.

This is just one of the formats that we create. Follow on Instagram @tellmewhyitscool_show or visit our website www.tellmewhyshow.com to find out what other kinds of niche knowledge parties we're throwing!

These Open Mics help us book interesting presenters for future shows

We hold this open mic to find new storytellers, interesting hobbists, and other cool stuff to learn about. We are booking shows all over the city and we need presenters. Show us what you've got and maybe you'll be invited to present again on future shows or podcast episodes.

If you are a topic expert/professional in the adult genre, let us know and we'll chat. We're gathering presenters for an Show & Tell After Dark/Sex Ed show in the future.

Guitar for Guaraldi is an annual concert series to honor the work of Vince Guaraldi, featuring the Mich Shirey DUO performing true-to-form guitar arrangements of the soundtrack from the timeless Peanuts Halloween special.This show promises to bring the same cozy spirit to the Fall season that their Christmas series shares each year.

Laura Cai is a recording artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based out of Chicago.

As a singer, keyboardist, cellist, guitarist, and bassist, Laura has lent her range of talents to a variety of live and studio projects across diverse genres for more than a decade. She has worked as a studio musician, recording and arranging songs that have together amassed millions of streams. As a live musician, Laura has toured both domestically and internationally, playing in venues spanning from intimate coffee shops to sold-out theaters to arenas of thousands.

Laura has had songs placed with CBS and Walmart alongside Grammy-nominated producer Oh, Hush! and created viral videos with recording artist Alex Blue. She currently plays weekly at piano bars around the city as she continues to hone her skills as an up-and-coming producer, mixer, and masterer.

The Silver Palms is an indie rock band based in Chicago. Though all four members hail from the landlocked Midwest, their sound channels the spirit of the coast—blending surf-rock influences with catchy pop melodies and immersive, introspective lyrics.

Following its late summer release, the band is out actively promoting their new EP. This four-track release marks the band’s second project and signals the beginning of a new chapter for The Silver Palms.

Known for their energetic and engaging live shows, The Silver Palms have played across the city at venues including Gman Tavern, Beat Kitchen, Reggie's, Subterranean, & many more.

THE DUO OF PAIGE KIZER AND ISAAC MEIER IS A PIANO AND VOCAL SET OF A VAST VARIETY OF ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC. ISSAC HAS BEEN A KEY MEMBER OF PAIGE’S ORIGINAL MUSIC AND BAND, PAIGE AND THE KIZERS. BOTH PAIGE AND ISAAC ARE PRESENT MUSICIANS ON THE LOCAL CHICAGO SCENE. THE TWO HAVE CRAFTED A DUO AND SET LIST THAT IS SURE TO MAKE ANY EVENT A LITTLE BRIGHTER!