I got my mind on my music, my music on my mind.

Other local fans of music! Photo by me.

I'm listening to Any Kind right now, a local band I never would have heard of were it not for one of my Chicagoist music writers. And I wrote a piece earlier today on Hard Kiss, another local band I only discovered because they're playing with a friend's band tonight and offer their album as a free download. In fact quite a few of my recent local band crushes have been via newer music writers with more time to dig around the scene than I do these days.

 Actually, one of the best things about surrounding yourself with local music lovers is constantly discovering new gems in your backyard. Chicago's scene is vast and deep and I think it's terrific there are always new bands to get excited about. I'm glad I don't know every single one out there already because then I wouldn't get to enjoy the feel of discovery when someone turns me onto yet another excellent find.

 Some people find a constant stream of new music overwhelming, but I never get tired of it.