Wgn - The Nocturnal Journal With Dave Hoekstra Podcast

Dave Hoekstra welcomes back The Imperial Sound to the Allstate Skyline Studio. Founders Kenn Goodman and Rick Mosher talk about their roots in new wave, punk and ‘trash rock’ and their journey with the New Duncan Imperials  to their current sound, a throwback to the AM pop hits of the early 70’s; they also discuss the 35th anniversary of their own record label Pravda Records, and some of the unique tribute projects that have come from that over the years.  […]

Dave Hoekstra visits with prolific Chicago-based photographer Will Byington, who shares some tales from the sea and his work shooting rock bands on Sixthman Rock Cruises, featuring bands like KISS, 311, John Prine, and The Civil Wars, and genre-wide packages like ‘Outlaw Country’ featuring Steve Earle.  They talk about the accessibility of some of the artists and uniqueness of the venue and the experience as a whole, how access has changed over the course of his career shooting live shows, and […]

Dave Hoekstra welcomes back author and food writer Michael Gebert, who talks about the 2019 edition of his annual Fooditor 99, a guidebook by and for Chicagaoans and tourists alike, to discover the best Chicago’s food scene has to offer.  They discuss the process of constantly finding new places and some of what the criteria is for inclusion in the guide; Gebert also emphasizes the care to take a big-picture snapshot of the city as a whole and some of […]

Dave Hoekstra and Brooke Schwartz, RN visit with Paul and Mike Bolger and Mark Hague, members of Chicago’s Original Jam Band, Mr. Blotto.  The guys share a couple tunes and talk about their history, stemming from the eclectic Polish music venue the Cardinal Club and getting to work with Bob Weir; they also take some listener questions, and more.

Dave Hoekstra presides over a panel that looks at a whole slate of topics involving the future of medicinal and (possibly) legalized recreational marijuana in the state of Illinois. We start with John Sullivan, SVP of Chicago-based Cresco Labs, industry leaders in the production of medical and adult-use marijuana product and RN Brooke Schwartz, who will host a lecture on the benefits of Hemp Oil on 1/16 at the Riverside Library. They discuss the prospect if legalized recreational use of […]

Dave Hoekstra, along with Chicago songstress and comedian Molly McGown in the sidecar, welcome Sara Cherny, Director of BluesSHOUT!, into the studio. Sara talks about her experience in the world of dance, the origins of various dance styles, and the current state of the Chicago dance scene.  

On tonight’s New Year edition of WGN Nightside, Dave Hoekstra hosts an all female show! Chicago songstress and comedian Molly McGown rides sidecar with Dave as they welcome Chef Catherine Lambrecht of Greater Midwest Foodways, Charla Draper (formerly of Ebony magazine), and Author Donna Pierce into the studio. The group discuss various New Year’s Day good fortune traditions such as black eyed peas and more. Then, Cellist Nora Barton and Karen Meager of Feed, jump in the studio to talk […]

Dave Hoekstra, along with Chicago songstress and comedian Molly McGown in the sidecar, welcome Chicago blues singer Mary Lane, along with special guest harmonica player, Billy Branch. Songs from Mary’s new “Travelin’ Woman” album are shared and the band discuss their respective backgrounds in music. Mary also talks about her upcoming documentary, “I Can Only Be Mary Lane”, some of which was filmed at WGN’s own “Nocturnal Journal”. Mary will be performing with Billy Branch at the Logan Center for […]

Dave Hoekstra, along with Chicago songstress and comedian Molly McGown in the sidecar, welcome Cellist Nora Barton and Karen Meager of Feed in the studio to talk about soul food in Humboldt Park at Feed Restaurant. While Nora serenades us with beautiful tunes, the women also discuss the difference between soul food and southern foods; the history of Feed Restaurant, things to look for in the Chicago Arts scene.  

Dave Hoekstra, along with Chicago songstress and comedian Molly McGown, welcome Chef Catherine Lambrecht of Greater Midwest Foodways, Charla Draper (formerly of Ebony magazine), and Author Donna Pierce into the studio as they pay tribute to the New Year’s Day Good Fortune Tradition of Black Eyed Peas. The women discuss the history of the black eyed peas and how they grew to become a believed staple of good fortune; other traditions that are believed to bring good luck; and much […]

SANTA CLAUS!! Yes, it’s true. After a long journey throughout the world, the man himself Santa Claus joins the program to talk about his eventful trip! Santa explains the presents he drops off and what his experience was like to come through the worlds greatest city of Chicago. To wrap up this Christmas Day Extravaganza, Comedian Mike Ostrowski joins us for the final segment of this Christmas.  For 25 years, Mike had spent days working for Playboy Magazine. He spent his nights entertaining audiences across […]

In-studio are the Italian stallions Nick Alex, owner of the Golden Apple Diner and longtime loyal customer Johnny Bellino. The diner never closes, it’s open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or to make it more simple.. 24/7!!! Nick & Johnny talk about the history of the Golden Apple, and the new type of the crowd that comes into the diner. As we continue with the conversation, Christmas memories are the topic (Including Dave’s). From breakfast all the way to dinner, there are many accommodating options […]

Wrapping up our Christmas Day Extravaganza, we bring in some live entertainment!!  Maxwell Street Musician “Lefty” Vince Johnson, will sing and play some Christmas tunes on his electric guitar. Vince goes in depth about inspiration from his youth days on Maxwell Street and talks legacy about be the last remaining blues musician playing consistently at the New Maxwell Street Market. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3580012/3580012_2018-12-26-025812.64kmono.mp3

On a special Christmas edition of  Nocturnal Journal with Dave Hoekstra,  Mike Veeck, son of White Sox Hall of Famer Bill Veeck, co-owner of St. Paul Saints starts up the holiday spirit. Mike talks about his Christmas memories with his huge family; food, conversation, music around the holiday season. His new restaurant Harold’s Cabin is located in Charleston, S.C. What makes it unique  is that Mike opened it with Bill Murray http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3579983/3579983_2018-12-25-214223.64kmono.mp3

Nocturnal Journal host Dave Hoekstra takes a couple segments for a special farewell interview with long time friend and WGN broadcast engineer Aubrey Mumpower. Aubrey goes in depth about his broadcasting career to his life before Chicago. As a engineer, Aubrey has enjoyed his time with the WGN Radio. Coming from a family history of railroad engineering, Aubrey was a natural born engineer. With his skill set, Aubrey took a job with WGN an instantly fell in love with the […]

On the final Saturday before Christmas, Chicago Bulls DJ Metro stops in studio to talk about his spinning at the 7th annual Chicago Resolution Gala on the pier. Metro shares intel on his early career success and where you can catch him turning up next. Navy Pier spokesperson Payal Patel joins the conversation to preview of the Navy Pier New Year’s Eve Extravaganza She also checks in on future events coming to the pier. A special farewell interview with long time […]

Lead singer Felicia Patton and the Chicago Soul Revue heat up the WGN Allstate Skyline Performance studio and join Dave Hoekstra, along with Tracy Baim for a discussion on their semi-residency at Unititled Supper Club, capturing that type of unique nightlife vibe at their shows, and keeping the sounds of Chicago, Motown and Memphis alive.  We also hear a tribute to Sharon Jones, the band talks about an unlikely collaboration with a former Megadeth guitarist, and more. The Chicago Soul […]

Dave Hoekstra visits with Tracy Baim, the new publisher of the venerable Chicago Reader free alternative weekly newspaper, which is now independently owned and published.  Baim discusses the challenge of maintaining an independent voice in Chicago and finding new revenue streams to keep the paper alive amidst the uncertainty following its severance from the Sun-Times, what led her to jump into the fray of running the paper, her own background in journalism that sprung from covering AIDS stories at Gay Life and […]

Dave Hoekstra makes his annual visit with JAM Productions’ John Soss, who talks about his passion for collecting Christmas music, his extensive collection of yuletide tunes, and what makes a classic Christmas song.  We listen to some deep Christmas cuts, John talks about the art of scavenging for records and the song he wrote that was recorded by the great Jon Langford, and more.