The footage of this project was compiled after Audiofeed 2025 through until we left for our late summer vacation to complete our visit of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. which happened to be during its occupation by the current nazi regime. I went to several shows and had one particularly busy weekend of the Chicago Air and Water Show, The Great American Lobsterfest, Navy Pier Fireworks and a Pittsburgh Pirates game versus the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
July
07.08.2025 - 07.17.2025
On Thursday July 10th, 2025, while making art out of some 45s for Bob's 45th birthday, I captured the lightning bugs in the backyard. Elphie and I made a quick video to send to Bob since it was his birthday that day and we were just then getting around to making the art.
On Saturday July 12th, 2025, the idea had been to drive to Grand Rapids for a benefit show for the Hampton's cancer battle. The show got canceled, again. While preparing ahead of time to make the trip, I had told Sally Grayson we'd be passing through and it turned out she had a party going on for her birthday. We decided to go ahead with driving out to Michigan City where Sally's party would be at her dad's house. We got there toward the end of the party and then ate some ribs and cake. Sally decided to drive some of us around on a golf cart to see the property as well as "Grayson Springs" which you have to see (no spoilers here). From there, we decided to stop by to give Bob the 45 arts and hung with him for a bit before heading out to get our groceries.
On Thursday July 10th, 2025, while making art out of some 45s for Bob's 45th birthday, I captured the lightning bugs in the backyard. Elphie and I made a quick video to send to Bob since it was his birthday that day and we were just then getting around to making the art.
On Saturday July 12th, 2025, the idea had been to drive to Grand Rapids for a benefit show for the Hampton's cancer battle. The show got canceled, again. While preparing ahead of time to make the trip, I had told Sally Grayson we'd be passing through and it turned out she had a party going on for her birthday. We decided to go ahead with driving out to Michigan City where Sally's party would be at her dad's house. We got there toward the end of the party and then ate some ribs and cake. Sally decided to drive some of us around on a golf cart to see the property as well as "Grayson Springs" which you have to see (no spoilers here). From there, we decided to stop by to give Bob the 45 arts and hung with him for a bit before heading out to get our groceries.
07.18.2025
On FridayJuly 18th, 2025, Flatfoot 56 got to open for The Adicts with The Casualties at Metro. I got some Gigio's Pizza as I left work then waited on the northside until closer to the doors opening. It didn't seem to make a lot of sense to drive home then turn around and drive back. Anyway, it was a pretty packed show but I got a decent viewing spot in the back on the main floor. There were ASL interpreters on stage for each of the bands and it was interesting to watch them. I ended up capturing the first song from each set. For Flatfoot 56 it was "Live Or Die Trying" and they seemed to pack a good amount into the half hour or so that they were given. I captured "Chaos Sound" by The Casualties and "Let's Go" by The Adicts. It was my first time seeing both The Casualties and The Adicts and both put on great shows!
07.19.2025 - 07.24.2025
On Thursday July 24th, 2025, I caught a punk show at Reggies in the comedy shack part of the building. It was a small and fun show featuring The Crombies, Antagonizers ATL, Squared Off, and Fighting For Scraps. Becky Smith was there. Chris was grounded and stayed home with the kids. She had come to the show with Mike Fravel. It was a good show.
07.25.2025
On Friday July 25th, 2025, I went to Cobra Lounge for the Fuerza Bruta EP release show. I was wrong on the start time so I went right from work and had to wait around a bit for the start. The start was also a bit delayed. I hung out with Daniel Feldstein before and during the show which was cool. Brick Assassin played their annual reunion show as well and I captured "Ruled By You" from the set. I decided I didn't want to bring the Canon Rebel T6s so I just captured the one song with my iPhone. The Slads, Splatter Pattern, and Criminal Kids also played the show. I saw Tobin Bawinkel also...he had apparently had to deal with some flooding at his place this afternoon before coming out to the show. Overall, it was a good time! Due the storms that had passed through earlier in the evening, as I pulled in, there were some low clouds around the city skyline.
07.26.2025
On Saturday July 26th, 2025, we went to the Flex house for their Christmas in July party. As part of that, we ended up with "White Elephant" gifts which turned out to be ok ha! Anastasia played some Christmas tunes as The Uh Ohs. Josh and the kid didn't make it due to having felt slightly under the weather. I captured a tune called "Oh, Santa" which resembles "Beauty School Drop-out" from Grease a bit.
https://youtu.be/NfLn4PF-SOw
07.27.2025 - 07.31.2025
On Sunday July 27th, 2025, Elphie and I joined Daniel Feldstein at the Whiting, Indiana Pierogi Fest. It ended up being a pretty hot day and Elphie eventually retreated into an ice cream shop to escape the heat. After checking all the booths, I picked one that seemed to be one of the better deals and got us 6 pierogis. I got a pair of them to be strawberry but they were a bit bland, unfortunately. As we left, we walked through a neighborhood with an interesting art installation then down by the train tracks. We encountered a pretty heavy rainstorm after we got to the car as well so we probably left at just the right time.
On Thursday July 31st, 2025 I endured the first of two Lollapalooza commutes back home. During this one, I captured some footage of a helicopter that appeared to possibly have military personnel on board looking to land near Navy Pier. There were also folks being carted around near Lake Shore Drive on golf carts...perhaps VIPs.
07.27.2025 - 07.31.2025
On Sunday July 27th, 2025, Elphie and I joined Daniel Feldstein at the Whiting, Indiana Pierogi Fest. It ended up being a pretty hot day and Elphie eventually retreated into an ice cream shop to escape the heat. After checking all the booths, I picked one that seemed to be one of the better deals and got us 6 pierogis. I got a pair of them to be strawberry but they were a bit bland, unfortunately. As we left, we walked through a neighborhood with an interesting art installation then down by the train tracks. We encountered a pretty heavy rainstorm after we got to the car as well so we probably left at just the right time.
On Thursday July 31st, 2025 I endured the first of two Lollapalooza commutes back home. During this one, I captured some footage of a helicopter that appeared to possibly have military personnel on board looking to land near Navy Pier. There were also folks being carted around near Lake Shore Drive on golf carts...perhaps VIPs.
August
08.01.2025 - 08.04.2025
On Friday August 1st, 2025, I made my other Lollapalooza affected commute home. On this one I also captured some footage of the Nicholas J. Melas Centennial Fountain shooting into the Chicago River again.
08.05.2025
On Tuesday, August 5th, 2025 Christian Welch worked out a show with the Drunken Donut for himself with John Gold and The Castros. Brennon Waaso and The Painter also played the show. We decided to go, but we got there as Marco Castro finished up playing a solo set. Sara wasn't up to doing the show apparently. Brennon Waaso played after Marco and I captured a reggae tune. John Gold was next. We met John at Audiofeed. Christian Welch played and I captured him talking about meeting John and then went into one of his poems. The Painter closed the night and the clip I captured was a tune than invoked a mosh pit.
After the show, we hung out and chatted with Marco and Christian a bit as well as with the promoter of the Drunken Donut.
https://youtu.be/guT65PYsNkw
https://youtu.be/zYtV0u0Z7W4
https://youtu.be/v4-QTb5sN3g
https://youtu.be/yCM1xQkZKHw
08.06.2025 - 08.08.2025
On Friday August 8th, 2025, Sally Grayson had a show at Liar's Club. Being that it was at Liar's Club I knew it would be a later show so I was able to go home, grill some venison, and have dinner with Elphie before we headed up to Liar's Club. Natalie Lynch opened the night and I captured a song called "North of Pilsen." She played a folk style of music. Sally Grayson played next and I captured "Life Heist" from her set. It was one she used in promotion for the show and seemed to have a bit of a punk feel which would be appropriate for the venue. After Sally finished up, there was going to be another band but I wasn't sure I felt up to waiting for them to play. They had just arrived with their gear and were taking their time to set up. We met Sally's friend Nelson, talked to her a bit longer, then we left. It was good to see Sally one last time before she heads back to Germany in a few weeks.
https://youtu.be/hwHnH4gXoHA
https://youtu.be/3QH5a2g6GMo
08.09.2025
On Saturday August 9th, 2025, we went to Forest Park to a venue called Bobby's Eastside to see The Castros play a matinee show. They basically played two sets and then had Christian Welch do a poem before their intermission. I captured an extended version of "Forgive Me" which featured Christian doing a poem as The Castros played some experimental/ambient tunes behind him. Christian did another poem that I captured as well then I captured The Castros playing "This World" during their second set. Partially, I captured it because as I waited for them to determine what they were going to play next, Elphie yelled to them to play something that they wanted recorded because I was going to record...making it a bit awkward.
Afterwards, a bunch of us had a "Winchester" at Denny's on Harlem in Oak Park. Marco had an old friend from Costa Rica show up for the show and he also came to Denny's. I believe his name was Michael. We ended up giving him a ride home. During the Winchester, Stasia won the "Battle For Beans" and came away with some Starbucks Espresso roast. It was a good time of conversation and whatnot.
https://youtu.be/3XoqTcfCXOA
https://youtu.be/cz14TDo19DA
On Friday August 1st, 2025, I made my other Lollapalooza affected commute home. On this one I also captured some footage of the Nicholas J. Melas Centennial Fountain shooting into the Chicago River again.
08.05.2025
On Tuesday, August 5th, 2025 Christian Welch worked out a show with the Drunken Donut for himself with John Gold and The Castros. Brennon Waaso and The Painter also played the show. We decided to go, but we got there as Marco Castro finished up playing a solo set. Sara wasn't up to doing the show apparently. Brennon Waaso played after Marco and I captured a reggae tune. John Gold was next. We met John at Audiofeed. Christian Welch played and I captured him talking about meeting John and then went into one of his poems. The Painter closed the night and the clip I captured was a tune than invoked a mosh pit.
After the show, we hung out and chatted with Marco and Christian a bit as well as with the promoter of the Drunken Donut.
https://youtu.be/guT65PYsNkw
https://youtu.be/zYtV0u0Z7W4
https://youtu.be/v4-QTb5sN3g
https://youtu.be/yCM1xQkZKHw
08.06.2025 - 08.08.2025
On Friday August 8th, 2025, Sally Grayson had a show at Liar's Club. Being that it was at Liar's Club I knew it would be a later show so I was able to go home, grill some venison, and have dinner with Elphie before we headed up to Liar's Club. Natalie Lynch opened the night and I captured a song called "North of Pilsen." She played a folk style of music. Sally Grayson played next and I captured "Life Heist" from her set. It was one she used in promotion for the show and seemed to have a bit of a punk feel which would be appropriate for the venue. After Sally finished up, there was going to be another band but I wasn't sure I felt up to waiting for them to play. They had just arrived with their gear and were taking their time to set up. We met Sally's friend Nelson, talked to her a bit longer, then we left. It was good to see Sally one last time before she heads back to Germany in a few weeks.
https://youtu.be/hwHnH4gXoHA
https://youtu.be/3QH5a2g6GMo
08.09.2025
On Saturday August 9th, 2025, we went to Forest Park to a venue called Bobby's Eastside to see The Castros play a matinee show. They basically played two sets and then had Christian Welch do a poem before their intermission. I captured an extended version of "Forgive Me" which featured Christian doing a poem as The Castros played some experimental/ambient tunes behind him. Christian did another poem that I captured as well then I captured The Castros playing "This World" during their second set. Partially, I captured it because as I waited for them to determine what they were going to play next, Elphie yelled to them to play something that they wanted recorded because I was going to record...making it a bit awkward.
Afterwards, a bunch of us had a "Winchester" at Denny's on Harlem in Oak Park. Marco had an old friend from Costa Rica show up for the show and he also came to Denny's. I believe his name was Michael. We ended up giving him a ride home. During the Winchester, Stasia won the "Battle For Beans" and came away with some Starbucks Espresso roast. It was a good time of conversation and whatnot.
https://youtu.be/3XoqTcfCXOA
https://youtu.be/cz14TDo19DA
08.10.2025 - 08.14.2025
On Monday night August 11th, 2025, I captured some footage of the rain storm as it hit the neighborhood. I had missed the lightning. During my commute home on another rainy day, Tuesday August 12th, 2025, I captured a couple rainbows while on Lake Shore Drive. On Thursday August 14th, 2025, I captured a rainbow in the Buckingham Fountain mist.
08.15.2025
On Friday August 15th, 2025 I took a short work break to catch some footage of the flybys of the Thunderbirds as they prepared for the Chicago Air and Water Show. One flew really low really fast and loudly over the shelter building! Elphie was ready to return home so I picked her up after work was done and went home. I ate a quick dinner then headed to Reggies.
ZAO was playing at Reggies along with Balmora, Girl Of Glass, and Godseyes. Godseyes had played Audiofeed. They opened the show and I only caught the last few songs. I captured the last song of the set. Girl Of Glass played next. Some didn't seem to care for their banter and such. I ended up capturing a song where they started the set with the flood lights on just as was the case with Godseyes. Balmora played a quick set and asked for the flood lights to be on during the song I captured. ZAO ended the night and when I saw a setlist from one of the earlier shows of the tour, I knew what I wanted to capture from the set. That was "If These Scars Could Speak" from Liberate Te Ex Inferis. I believe it is the first song I ever heard by ZAO many years ago and one I still really like a lot. I was glad to capture some footage of it. ZAO continues to really put on a great show.
On Monday night August 11th, 2025, I captured some footage of the rain storm as it hit the neighborhood. I had missed the lightning. During my commute home on another rainy day, Tuesday August 12th, 2025, I captured a couple rainbows while on Lake Shore Drive. On Thursday August 14th, 2025, I captured a rainbow in the Buckingham Fountain mist.
08.15.2025
On Friday August 15th, 2025 I took a short work break to catch some footage of the flybys of the Thunderbirds as they prepared for the Chicago Air and Water Show. One flew really low really fast and loudly over the shelter building! Elphie was ready to return home so I picked her up after work was done and went home. I ate a quick dinner then headed to Reggies.
ZAO was playing at Reggies along with Balmora, Girl Of Glass, and Godseyes. Godseyes had played Audiofeed. They opened the show and I only caught the last few songs. I captured the last song of the set. Girl Of Glass played next. Some didn't seem to care for their banter and such. I ended up capturing a song where they started the set with the flood lights on just as was the case with Godseyes. Balmora played a quick set and asked for the flood lights to be on during the song I captured. ZAO ended the night and when I saw a setlist from one of the earlier shows of the tour, I knew what I wanted to capture from the set. That was "If These Scars Could Speak" from Liberate Te Ex Inferis. I believe it is the first song I ever heard by ZAO many years ago and one I still really like a lot. I was glad to capture some footage of it. ZAO continues to really put on a great show.
08.16.2025 - 08.17.2025
https://youtu.be/CRMT7SvsQNQ
On Saturday August 16th, 2025, I tried to wake up early but didn't get moving quite as early as I would have liked. I drove north and found somewhere to part to watch the Chicago Air and Water Show from North Avenue Beach. I didn't save the footage but intended to utilize some footage captured on my CrossTour CR-900 as I drove of some of the flights before I could get parked. I was able to watch about half of the show. I had some inconsiderate folks set up way too close to me, including setting their chair on my foot. Otherwise, it was a pretty good time. I walked back to my car and then drove to Navy Pier for The Great American Lobster Fest. I found that the garages at Navy Pier were full so I found another garage to use just down the street. I got to Navy Pier and got my lobster meal just before the rain began. I chose to eat inside to stay dry. When the rain ended, I came back out waiting for the firework show in a few hours. I walked around to try to determine where I was going to sit and then it began to rain again. I went back inside and this time it REALLY stormed. After a while I noticed an orange glow to the north and the rain mostly had ended. I went back out and captured some sunset colors, the apparent rave in the ballroom, and a couple decent lightning strikes. I was trying to conserve the battery of my phone for the fireworks. There were quite a few epic lightning bolts that I missed. I captured the Navy Pier Fireworks then left to go to my car. It seems there's a chance I might have been able to get out quickly if I had parked in the Navy Pier garages. I retrieved my car and headed home.
I decided to catch the Pittsburgh Pirates game at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. I drove on Lake Shore Drive to get to the came, and used some footage from my CrossTour CR-900 as I drove through the area of the Chicago Air and Water Show. I also captured some footage of the flights while at Wrigley Field as the flew by including the Thunderbirds. I missed the first inning. The Pirates lost the game 4-3.
08.18.2025 - 08.28.2025
On Tuesday August 19th, 2025, after attending a community meeting regarding the building our men's shelter program plans to move into, I decided to drive by the building and see what it looked like currently. It is currently mostly gutted while construction is meant to be happening to prepare it for our arrival in 2026.
As I left work on Thursday August 21st, 2025, I encountered a large group of folks dressed in white as though they were part of a wedding party. Or perhaps they were part of a cult. Either way, they appeared to be heading toward the lake from the CTA Red Line station at Wilson Avenue.
On Saturday August 23rd, 2025, we tried the new Mountain Dew Baja Midnight at Taco Bell. It's a Passionfruit flavored Dew. This one seemed a bit strong on the syrup possibly. It was quite tart, but it was ok.
On Sunday August 24th, 2025, Elphie needed a check up on her piercings so we drove to Romeoville to Wasted Youth to get it done.
https://youtu.be/mINWqHESh3I
On Tuesday August 26th, 2025, I captured some footage of bad driving in Chicago on my morning commute then a bunch of emergency vehicles around the Wilson CTA Red Line station as I returned home. During the first instance on my morning commute, a semi truck kept cutting off a pick up truck on I-55 and the driver of the pick up truck seemed to have had enough as it finally sped by the semi truck, cut in front of it, then slammed the brakes and drove slowly. A bit later a driver ignored the red light on Lake Shore Drive heading north by the parks.
Additional soundtrack includes "Life Heist" by Sally Grayson, "Guitar Polka" by Tim Timebomb, "Stay All Summer" by Momma, "Bullet The Blue Sky" by U2 and P.O.D., "Summer Days Gone Past" by Joey Joesph, "In Love In Midsummer" by Joy Electric.
Footage filmed using an 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.
Footage filmed using an 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.
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