@imleor
Chicago Reader writer, freelance culture journalist.
The best overlooked Chicago records of 2025
The best overlooked Chicago records of 2025
The incentives in music journalism say it makes economic sense to cover popular artists. But loving music isn’t about making economic sense.
What happens when a teen rock scene grows up?
What happens when a teen rock scene grows up?
J.T. IV’s wild horror trash joins the Blu-ray canon
J.T. IV’s wild horror trash joins the Blu-ray canon
Outsider musician, writer, and filmmaker J.T. IV made zero-budget movies with a punk urgency that carries across the decades.
Farewell to undersung house and disco maestro Lee Collins
Farewell to undersung house and disco maestro Lee Collins
Lee Collins was a DJ’s DJ, with an ear for obscure tracks that could drive parties into a frenzy on both sides of the Atlantic.
Pancho García makes hardcore happen
Pancho García makes hardcore happen
Pancho García cofounded the Ruidosa Art Collective and books and plays DIY shows that help sustain the southwest-side Latine hardcore scene.
Time to dump Spotify
Time to dump Spotify
What K-Smoove brings to the table
What K-Smoove brings to the table
Kevin Woodard, who rapped as K-Smoove in the 90s, continues to serve the west side with the “Chicago-style turkey” at KS Sandwiches.
The compact disc isn’t going quietly
The compact disc isn’t going quietly
Vinyl has long been the big story in physical media, but CDs are cheaper, quicker to manufacture, and poised for a comeback.
Donate to the Save the Reader campaign
Donate to the Save the Reader campaign
I published my first Reader story in the summer of 2010. It concerned a Logan Square DIY space called Strangelight, which operated out of a storefront in the Congress Theater. I was 24 at the time. Before the year ran out, I decided to dedicate my...
From bedroom studio to bonkers show
From bedroom studio to bonkers show
The best overlooked Chicago records of 2024
The best overlooked Chicago records of 2024
Algorithms can’t teach you about your neighbors and the music they’re making—there’s no substitute for seeking out the new and unfamiliar.
Grandpa Bay planted seeds that are still sprouting
Grandpa Bay planted seeds that are still sprouting
Albums from This Is Lorelei and Marcus Drake speak to the ongoing vitality of the community built by defunct Chicago indie label Grandpa Bay.
The Chicago music-zine revolution wants you!
The Chicago music-zine revolution wants you!
Chicago music zines are booming, thanks to the likes of Hallogallo, Portable Model, and Ignorant People—but there’s always room for more.
An oral history of Ragamala
An oral history of Ragamala
How Chicago’s marathon of Indian classical music became a focus of artistry and community, in the words of the people who’ve made it happen
Riverbeast alert
Riverbeast alert
The Music Box Theatre will screen Don’t Let the Riverbeast Get You!, a campy cult classic by eccentric filmmaker and musician Matt Farley.
Bò kho in front, party in the back
Bò kho in front, party in the back
Brandon Lee’s Internet.Hotspot series has turned his parents’ restaurant, Phố Việt, into a nightlife destination in the Argyle neighborhood.
Planet Earth created queer-friendly spaces on and off the dance floor
Planet Earth created queer-friendly spaces on and off the dance floor
Dave Roberts and Kristine Hengl’s Planet Earth new-wave night built its community with a message board run by gay writer and actor Dave Awl.
‘This is deeply rooted in who I am’
‘This is deeply rooted in who I am’
The Palestinian diaspora enriches our city’s thriving music scene. Three Chicagoans show how in their own words.
My newsletter: Object Permanence
My newsletter: Object Permanence
Leor Galil's newsletter
DJ Deeon brought the Low End to the world
DJ Deeon brought the Low End to the world
First pitch: a journey through ceremony and baseball
First pitch: a journey through ceremony and baseball
Karate's Complete Studio Recordings
Karate's Complete Studio Recordings
Pot Valiant's Never Return (I wrote the liner notes)
Pot Valiant's Never Return (I wrote the liner notes)
A queer hip-hop history lesson with He Who Walks Three Ways
A queer hip-hop history lesson with He Who Walks Three Ways
The accidental postrock diner
The accidental postrock diner
The great touring gamble
The great touring gamble
Chicago punk loses a champion
Chicago punk loses a champion
How punk adopted the Godfather of Gore
How punk adopted the Godfather of Gore
Reading house’s history from its used records
Reading house’s history from its used records
Sugar and snacks and everything nice
Sugar and snacks and everything nice
Horsegirl and the dream of a teen rock scene
Horsegirl and the dream of a teen rock scene
Yesterday’s Tomorrow Is Not Today
Yesterday’s Tomorrow Is Not Today
How Chicago helped put the Queen of Grunge back on her throne
How Chicago helped put the Queen of Grunge back on her throne
Parker Lee Williams helped shape Chicago hip-hop—and he never stopped building
Parker Lee Williams helped shape Chicago hip-hop—and he never stopped building
Neo: where misfits fit in
Neo: where misfits fit in
Thirty years ago, a Black queer zine captured the scene that birthed house
Thirty years ago, a Black queer zine captured the scene that birthed house
“We’ll see you all at Oki-Dogs”: The story of L.A.’s legendary punk hangout (with hot dogs)
“We’ll see you all at Oki-Dogs”: The story of L.A.’s legendary punk hangout (with hot dogs)
Donate to the Chicago Reader
Donate to the Chicago Reader
More of my Chicago Reader work
More of my Chicago Reader work
Freelance work
Freelance work
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