The footage in this project highlight life after our return from achieving all 50 states visited. It is interrupted somewhat by attending Riot Fest and the Saturday for Bloodline Fest. I ended this project with our attendance at the accompanying performance by the Curse of the Vampire orchestra to the silent film of Phantom of the Opera the day after our Halloweeniversary. To come next will be November and our visit to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving and Northern Family Christmas as well as for the rifle hunting season for white tail deer. All the hunting related footage is also in its own project for those who prefer to not see such footage.
09.10.2025 - 09.17.2025
On Wednesday September 10th, 2025, during my commute home, I saw helicopters flying overhead near Navy Pier along the lake. I also decided to capture the destruction of the Damen Silos from I-55 as I passed by. I saw helicopters again on Thursday September 11th, 2025 and a few more times through the fall. With the occupation of Chicago by federal forces, I assume these helicopters sightings were related. On Friday September 12th, 2025, on the way to a backyard BBQ at the Community Of the Holy Trinity, I followed a very smokey car. On September 13th, 2025 during our commute for groceries, we encountered some celebrants of the Mexican Independence and a bike rider with a message that they wanted 'No MAGATS in their house!'
Riot Fest (09.18.2025 - 09.21.2025)
Elphie and I attended a Riot Fest "Late Show" the night before Riot Fest featuring Mac Sabbath with Descartes a Kant, and Mikey Classic at Reggies. My thoughts and the video clips from this show and all of Riot Fest are in the aTigerRAWknroll Fall: Riot Fest 20 blog page.
09.22.2025 - 10.02.2025
On Tuesday September 23rd, 2025 I captured some footage of new sod or something being laid near the Buckingham Fountain during my morning commute. I also documented the heavy fog that morning. Back home, Elphie and I gave the Wednesday Addams themed Gushers a try. On Tuesday September 30th, 2025 there were more helicopters in the air during my evening commute. This time, they turned out to be Blackhawks and were used later that night in a highly publicized raid on a housing project in the South Shore where most everyone was awakened and suffered property damage. They were detained based on assumed immigration status or skin color, which determined which vehicle they were held in during the detention. While it seems the building was in disrepair and likely some illegal activities have occurred there, the actions seemed excessive and certainly were controversial. It was one of many violent acts committed by federal agents in Chicago and elsewhere.
10.03.2025
On Friday October 3rd, 2025, I went to Thalia Hall to see Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on their 20th Anniversary Tour for Howl. As I made my way, I encountered a street fair. Humanist was opening for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and I captured a song that they did with Peter Hayes on guest vocals called "BornTo Be." I decided to capture "The Line" from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club but sort of wish I had gone with "Gospel Song" due to the live performance being pretty cool. Oh well. It was a great show!
https://youtu.be/pTtn3ZD_Pl4
On Friday October 3rd, 2025, I went to Thalia Hall to see Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on their 20th Anniversary Tour for Howl. As I made my way, I encountered a street fair. Humanist was opening for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and I captured a song that they did with Peter Hayes on guest vocals called "BornTo Be." I decided to capture "The Line" from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club but sort of wish I had gone with "Gospel Song" due to the live performance being pretty cool. Oh well. It was a great show!
https://youtu.be/pTtn3ZD_Pl4
10.04.2025 - 10.23.2025
On Saturday October 4th, 2025, we tried to have a Halloween house party but it turned out to be just the two of us having a bonfire and venison stew. On my morning commute on Tuesday October 7th, 2025 there was a lot of rain, fog, and accident on Lake Shore Drive. On my evening commute on Wednesday October 8th, 2025, there were more circling helicopters.
On Thursday October 16th, 2025 there was another helicopter which either flew low over Lake Shore Drive or lifted off from the nearby beach area. On Saturday October 18th, 2025 during our grocery commute we encountered the No Kings rally in the Beverly area of Chicago. We passed through it both directions. On Sunday October 19th, 2025, Elphie captured some footage as I prepared venison liver to make tacos for dinner (and few more dinners after that). This was from the buck taken during the 2024 deer hunting seasons. On Tuesday October 21st, 2025 I drove by the Riviera Theatre during lunch time and saw that they were using it for filming a project. It must be something from the 70s as the marquee had "The God Father" on it and an older model vehicle sat outside.
On Thursday October 16th, 2025 there was another helicopter which either flew low over Lake Shore Drive or lifted off from the nearby beach area. On Saturday October 18th, 2025 during our grocery commute we encountered the No Kings rally in the Beverly area of Chicago. We passed through it both directions. On Sunday October 19th, 2025, Elphie captured some footage as I prepared venison liver to make tacos for dinner (and few more dinners after that). This was from the buck taken during the 2024 deer hunting seasons. On Tuesday October 21st, 2025 I drove by the Riviera Theatre during lunch time and saw that they were using it for filming a project. It must be something from the 70s as the marquee had "The God Father" on it and an older model vehicle sat outside.
Bloodline Fest (10.24.2025 - 10.25.2025)
I drove out to South Bend, Indiana to attend Bloodline Fest at The Well on Saturday October 25th, 2025. The night before, while it was going on, I remained in Chicago to see ADJY with Future Teens and Maura Weaver at Reggies. In a way, I made it a pre-show. All the footage and such about that show and Bloodline Fest are in the aTigerRAWknRoll Fall: Bloodline Fest blog page.
10.26.2025 - 11.01.2025
During my morning commute on Thursday October 30th, 2025, I passed by a very smokey truck on Pershing Road during my morning commute. As I left work that evening, I captured a clip of the flyer hung by Truman College for the Wilson Abbey's Phantom of the Opera performed by the Curse Of The Vampire orchestra event. At home, we watched The Crow as one should. Elphie expressed her excitement. We spent our Halloweeniversary on Friday October 31st, 2025 at J.P.U.S.A. with The Shaws going to the rich northern neighborhoods and suburbs for Trick-or-Treating. We got dinner at JP's Pizza and Grill. We drove around some more for more Trick-or-Treating before returning to J.P.U.S.A. for the night. Elphie and I watched Donnie Darko in the room we were staying in. On Saturday November 1st, 2025, we went out to the Sweden Shop and dinner at Hon Kee with Kat Collins. Back at J.P.U.S.A. we went over to the Wilson Abbey for the Curse Of The Vampire orchestra's performance of the score for Phantom Of The Opera. The conductor, Phillip Shockey also spoke of what went into scoring for the movie and putting this all together. Afterwards, we hung out at J.P.U.S.A. with Lyle Theisen as I watched the end of the World Series. Unfortunately, it didn't go the way that Lyle and I had hoped. After sleeping, we returned home on Sunday morning November 2nd, 2025 to find that there had been a rugby match at Soldier Field and it turned out to be New Zealand's All Blacks and the Irish national team. Bummer to have missed that.
Additional soundtrack includes "Helicopter" by Covenant, "U.S. Government" by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, "Dead Fall" by Murderbait, and "Rattle Your Bones" by Leper.
Footage filmed using a Canon Rebel T6s, GoPro Hero, iPhone 12 and 14 and Crosstour CR-900 by Elphie and Joel A. Swanson. Titles and other animations created and project edited using Final Cut Pro X on a Mac Mini by Joel A. Swanson.Additional soundtrack includes "Helicopter" by Covenant, "U.S. Government" by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, "Dead Fall" by Murderbait, and "Rattle Your Bones" by Leper.
