Hal Leonard: Episode III

For the third year that I've been coming to Midwest, Hal Leonard is pushing it's collection of Star Wars music. Back in 2015 it was a score for The Force Awakens being kept under lock and key until the movie came out. Last year it was a collection of parts for Rogue One. This year, it's a spread at the front corner with various Star Wars scores, flanked by cardboard cutouts of figures from the new movie. But Hal Leonard isn't the only exhibitor getting into the spirit. The North Shore Concert Band is devoting its 2017-2018 season to performing some of the music from the saga on each of their concerts. Star Wars mania is indeed alive and well at the 71st Annual Midwest Clinic.

And He Huffed! And He Puffed! And He...

One of the biggest requirements of being a wind player is heing able to draw upon your breath to support your playing. Over the years, many tools have been put out to help in that endeavor. One that is at Midwest this year is Lung Trainers. These guys have a booth where you can test out their units, letting you pit your lung capacity against the trainer. In the back, they have one unit that is loaded with 5 weights. (The hardest training unit only has 3) Anyone blowing those weights to the top wins a crisp $2 bill. To my knowledge, nobody has gotten that bill yet (or passed out trying, haha).

Music From Down Under

One of the many exhibitors at The Midwest Clinic is Brolga Music, an Australian music publishing company. They have sample CDs, pamplets, Australian chocolate, and small stuffed wallabies. All you could ever want! Make sure to check them out this week at McCormick Place.

Invision Yourself Anywhere!

One of the primary concerns for any touring music group is knowing what to expect when you arrive at your destination. Director's Choice has made that task far easier with their Invision Virtual Reality App. Now you can just download the app to any smartphone, insert your phone into the viewer, and you'll be transported to Chicago, New York City, or San Antonio. This promises to be an invaluable tool for both band directors and tour organizers to use. You can check out the app at invisionyourself.com

Lollapalooza Update #3: Making a Killing

     After an unexpected rainout the night before, Day 2 of Lolla went much more according to schedule. There were the usual obscure(at least for now) acts in the morning, sporting such names as Lard Dog & The Band of Shy, Mura Masa, Slothtrust, Slushll, 3LAU, and(my personal favorite) San Holo. Going later into the day, a few more well-known acts started to creep up, such as Tegan and Sara, Foster The People, and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. That last act may not sound too familiar at first blush, but Andrew McMahon is a familiar face. He started Jack's Mannequin back in 2004 and had some respectable success with the group. Ever since 2014 he's been touring as part of his own solo act, which was performing onstage yesterday. Arguably his best-known song with the new act is Fire Escape, which I'm sure was played last night. Then we move into the headliners: DJ Snake, Blink-182, and The Killers. Blink-182 is several years into their second go-around as a band, and they seem to be doing just fine. DJ Snake is firmly into his career, and he executed another fine performance last night. The Killers were the final act of the night, and they gave a great show as well. They've been in the news lately for the fact that their single "Mr. Brightside"(which was released way back in 2003), has a peculiar habit of popping up every so often on the UK singles charts, even 14 years after it came out. I've listened to the song myself, and it is quite catchy. Certainly deserving of being popular all these years later. As for their show, the crowd loved it. "[It was] definitely a great show, The Killers were amazing" said Leah Wineland, who attended the show. And to top it all off, it didn't get rained out! Lollapalooza is rolling along today for Day 3, with arguably the biggest act of the weekend up tonight. But more on that in the next entry.

Lollapalooza Update #2: When it Rains, it Lordes

     After infesting the regional rail system with loud teenagers, Lolla got around to its intended purpose with some music yesterday. The first couple of hours were, as usual, filled with acts that people really haven't heard of(though you could always find a future star out there, like a 2007 Lady Gaga for instance), interspersed with a couple more notable acts. As the evening rolled in, Cage The Elephant played on one main stage, while Wiz Khalifa was whizzing away on the other.Then, the day's final acts took the stage. Muse succeeded Cage The Elephant, and Lorde took over for Wiz. However, both acts ended up featuring the same surprise guest: Mother Nature in the form of torrential rain. In short order, things went from being a re-enactment of Woodstock to a recreation of the first night game at Wrigley Field. Without much warning at all, Muse and Lorde both had to cut their acts short and send fans scurrying to safety. Lorde has said she would try to be back, but no steady plans have been made as of yet.

Lollapalooza Update #1: Shitheads on a Train

     It's the first couple of days of August. That means that Chicago's annual attempt to re-enact Woodstock in Grant Park is underway. For it's 27th year, Lollapalooza is back. And it's bringing, Lorde, Chance the Rapper(no word yet on whether Malia Obama will be in the crowd this time), The Killers, and hordes of other acts(including Andrew McMahon in The Wilderness). Of course, it's also bringing thousands upon thousands of people to the city, many of whom are taking the train. Over at Chicagoist, they're reporting that the Metra system is quickly turning into The Walking Dead, just with over-hyped teenagers instead of zombies. For those of you unfortunate enough to be using commuter rail this week, you have my deepest sympathies. Just remember, it'll be all over by Monday(all except the court proceedings, that is)

Today In Auto Show History

     One of the more compelling, yet peaceful exhibits at the show every year is the Auto Show History display. If you take some time to read the displays, you can learn some pretty cool facts. For instance:

• In 1968 Oldsmobile had a 'cowgirl' riding on its stripped down Cutlass display to show off its functions.
• All the way back in 1923, the admission was only 75 cents(versus the $12 it costs to get in this year), but that was including a 'War Tax'. Which is interesting considering there was no war on at that point. Maybe it was just a veiled attempt to generate more profit.
• Many different celebrities have made appearances over the years, ranging from Sammy Davis Jr. in 1959, to the Dodge Fever Girl in 1969, and even Arnold Palmer appearing with Jesse Owens in 1970. But clearly the most compelling example came in 1977, when an automaker hired Walter Payton to talk about their displays. When Sweetness appeared, seemingly the entire show gravitated to him.
• In 1968 there was an airline strike right around the time of the show. With no airplanes in the air, what was a hard-working stewardess to do? How about hand out literature for Dodge at the Chicago Auto Show, which is precisely what several of them did that year.
• Concept cars have always been an integral part of the show, and while there have been some truly outlandish displays over the years, one of the most interesting is also the most normal looking. In 1978, American Motors Corporation displayed a revolutionary concept: a minivan. For some reason, executives decided not to pursue the concept, and minivans wouldn't truly make a splash until 1984 with Chrysler.
• In 1976 a woman appeared on stage and invited the audience to make her laugh. After many attempts(including a man sticking his tongue out), she remained unmoved. 

Star Wars: A New Nissan

     As we have previously seen, Nissan isn't afraid to promote their Star Wars tie-in aggressively. This is no different when it comes to their Auto Show exhibit. Hanging prominently above all of it is a giant inflatable Death Star. If that isn't enough to grab people's attention, the exhibit also features a custom-designed Nissan vehicle made to look like an X-Wing Fighter(imagine taking that on your daily commute). Other than that, we also have a special photo experience where people can get their pictures superimposed by a Stormtrooper, props from the movie, and also special appearances from Stormtroopers on select days. All of that from a galaxy far, far away straight to the North Hall of McCormick Place.

Racing with the Dragons

One of the more interesting and unique summertime events in Chicago is happening right now in Chinatown. Ever since 2001, teams have taken to the waters of the Chicago River in Ping Tom Memorial Park in specially decorated dragon boats as a way to bring the community together as well as to advocate for increased literacy. But there is much more to the festival than just boat races. Many different groups have tables set up all throughout the park today, from Abbott to Ameristar Casino, to even the New York representative office of Hong Kong (celebrating its 20th anniversary of becoming part of China). All told, there is something for everyone at the Dragon Boat Races.

Driving the ABC7 Newsteam

     ABC7 is beamed into more than 3 Million households in the Chicagoland area. All of that award-winning news has to get produced somehow, and news teams can't always go running back to the studio to make their stories just perfect. That's where the ABC7 Mobile Fleet comes in, allowing the newsmakers to go where the news is. 2 of those vehicles were even on display here at the Chicago Auto Show. First up is the main mobile unit, which is a refitted Nissan cargo van. Inside are all the tools the news crew needs to report on the news. Outside are plug-ins for cameras and other peripherals. And up top is a 50+ foot tall broadcasting mast that beams the signal to the Sears Tower for dissemination amongst the greater Chicagoland area. Also present was the mobile weather unit. While not as big as the other vehicle on display, this is impressive nonetheless, with its own satellite dish and everything. Together, these two vehicles help deliver invaluable reports to millions of viewers, a worthy mission if there ever was one.

KIA's Land of Fun!

Many of the exhibitors at the Auto Show have kitschy, interactive displays that you HAVE to be there to experience. KIA is no exception. Upon walking up to their main stage, you see a commercial playing on their screen. A commercial that has to be seen to be believed:

You saw that correctly, that is Bo Jackson playing Tecmo Football. Then he gets tired of running around and decides to run out and grab his trusty KIA Sorento. Roaring back into the stadium, he evades the defenders with ease and scores the touchdown.

     But that's not the only bit of fun to be had with KIA. You know the famous KIA hamsters, right:

Well they were there, LIVE and in person posing for pictures at the exhibit. Yours truly even got a picture with them. Altogether, very much worth the price of admission.

Heroes Drive with Chevy

     The Chevrolet exhibit at the 2017 Auto Show has all of the things that you would expect from a premier automobile brand. Cars, displays of their earned awards, turntable exhibts with spokespeople.  But this year they have something more. Something almost...heroic. Maybe it's the Giant Lego wall with the Batman mini-figure climbing the wall as the Bat Signal morphs into the Chevy logo. Maybe it's the full-size Batmobile built out of Legos. Perhaps it is the building station where kids can build their own Lego Batman models to take home. Or maybe it's a green screen where guests can be photographed and transported into the shoes of some of their favorite sports heroes. But maybe, just maybe, the extra difference is the fact that Batman himself is wandering the space offering to take selfies. All I know is that walking around the Chevy exhibit today I feel safer than you would riding in one of their cars.

On The Road with State Farm

     One of the returning sponsors for the 2017 Auto Show is State Farm Insurance. They have a pretty impressive chunk of real estate in the South Hall, and they make the most of it. First off, they have the bag giveaway. For anyone who has been to the show in years past, the bags they give out are simply amazing. For those of you who haven't, here's a picture of it:

     It may not look like much from that angle, but I will tell you that it is something great. It can hold a lot of items, it's weight tolerance is quite respectable, all in all being a fantastic value for a free giveaway. But that's not the only thing they have there. Once you get your bag, you can move on to the central kiosk and customize your own roadhouse. Presented as a tie-in to their ability to combine your home and auto insurance, you area able to make your own mashup and then take it out on the roads for a virtual race. Get a high enough score, and you'll find yourself on the leaderboard! After that you get the opportunity to play a good-old fashioned matching game. Make 3 correct combos in the time allotted, and you win an exclusive State Farm-branded ice scraper! But then you come face-to-face with the biggest spectacle at the exhibit: The State Farm Roadhouse. It is quite literally a small house attached to the middle of a car. According to the reps on hand, the thing is even street legal. Not quite sure how you'd insure that thing though.  The State Farm Roadhouse can be seen at the Chicago Auto Show through tomorrow.

Driving the World Series Champs

Ever since 2010, Toyota has been a partner of the Chicago Cubs. And as many of you may know, the Cubs finally broke their 108 year streak of not winning the World Series back in November. Naturally, Toyota was right there to help in the celebration. They had one of their trucks in the celebratory parade that followed. It was a Toyota truck, decked out in Cubs livery, with a giant World Series trophy in back. This week that same truck is joining the Auto Show as part of the Toyota exhibit so that both Cubs fans and car fans can behold the wonder.

4 Test Tracks and 1 Thrill Ride

     One of the staples of the Chicago Auto Show are the test tracks. And this year is no exception. Most years feature 3, but the year features 5 of them. Toyota's entry features various obstacles, a demonstration of the 360 Degree exterior camera, and a teeter-totter. Heading over to the Jeep track, you are whisked away from McCormick Place and taken to Camp Jeep, featuring their new vehicle which can roll through standing water, suspension testing, a 25 degree angle lean, and Mt. Jeep, an 18-foot hill where you can look over the entirety of McCormick's South Hall. The FCA City Drive features your choice of Dodge, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicles. If you choose to ride in the Dodge Charger, you can learn about how fast it goes from 0-60, or about all the cool apps you can get on it(like local movie times or even Gas Prices for your trip). If you're just worried about speed, you'll get that too, as the final part of the track consists of a straightaway that lets you feel the acceleration of the vehicle for yourself. One of the new tracks this year features the Ram brand. Get in one of these, and you can see how it's internal hydraulics works to balance out a heavy load in back. A 1,200 lb weight is lowered onto the bed of the truck, then the truck raises itself back up so that you have maximum ground clearance. When the weight is removed, the truck lowers itself back down. After that there are more obstacles to tackle, and another angle lean to show how well the Ram handles.

      I just covered 4 of the test tracks at the show. However, the 5th one deserves a paragraph all to itself. Joining the Ram track as a new arrival to the 2017 show is the Iron Schockl. Brought to us by Mercedes-Benz, it is the simplest-looking track, merely consisting of a single 16-foot hill. But that's not what will make it without a doubt the most popular Test Track(and arguably most popular attraction period) at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show. What will make it the most popular is the fact that it features a 42.5 degree incline going both up and down. To be in the car as it goes up the Schockl is an experience that must be had to be appreciated. I waited in line for close to 15 minutes yesterday, and this was during Day 1 of the Media Preview. I fully expect there to be massive lines at the Schockl for all 10 days of the public show.

Adventure with Toyota

Toyota's motto is "Let's Go Places". This year at the Auto Show they are showing a series of videos doing just that. Various guides are shown taking city residents out into nature, be that glamping, hiking, or into the wide-open spaces while learning about Buffalo Soldiers. These videos show all that this world has to offer. And Toyota can help you experience it.

Breakfast at MAMA's

     Kicking off Day 1 of the Media Preview, the Midwest Automotive Media Association hosted its annual breakfast for the attending media. After we made our selections from the buffet(bacon, eggs, and sausage links for the win!), we were welcomed by Jill Ciminillo, president of MAMA. After assuring us that her recent election to the position was in no way influenced by the Russians, she proceeded to offer a brief remembrance of Jim Mateja, a Chicago Tribune auto writer who founded MAMA in 1991. Mateja had just recently passed away at the end of January, and his impact on MAMA and the auto industry as a whole will live on. The discussion next shifted to awards. The Family Vehicle of the Year is a coveted honor in the industry, and the 2017 Award was given to the Chrysler Pacifica. Then we came to the Keynote Address, which was delivered by Ralph Giles, the head of design for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Giles oversees the design process for the entire Fiat Chrysler organization, so he is quite a knowledgeable source to talk about the future of automobiles. He shared with us several new trends in the automotive brands of Fiat, and gave us some glimpses of very interesting concept vehicles. With many more brands hosting media events at the Preview over the next two days, interesting things are doubtlessly in store.

Nissans from A Galaxy Far, Far Away.

The Chicago Auto Show is back! Before the public is welcomed into the 109th edition of the show, the media is being treated to various events. The first of which is the Concept and Technology Garage, showcasing the cutting edge of automotive innovation. One vehicle on display is the Nissan Rogue. But this isn't just any Nissan Rogue. This is the Rogue One limited edition Nissan Rogue. Being a tie-in to the Star Wars film of the same name, the vehicle features many special Star Wars touches, ranging from decals to a special commemorative plaque. Unquestionably this is THE car for any serious Star Wars fan. The Rogue One limited edition will be on display all throughout the show at the Nissan area, occasionally joined by both Stormtroopers and an inflatable Death Star.