Chicago Pride Parade, Up-and-Coming Band DZ Riley, and DePaul Policy Changes
Plus, have you watched season 2 of Hulu’s “The Bear”?
Welcome back to ‘In The Loop’! It’s your newsletter team — Alexandra, Cary, Lauren, Sam, Elizabeth, and Hailey — back again with the first Monday night newsletter of the summer.
Tonight, we bring you a new and exciting edition of ‘In the Loop.’ First, a profile story on an up-and-coming Chicago band, DZ Riley, who performs in small venues across the Chicagoland area and explores far and wide across a variety of different genres. In other recent news, Chicago held the annual Pride Parade on Sunday despite the rainy weather, and there has been a change to Chicago’s minimum wage laws.
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Who is DZ Riley? Meet the Local Band that is Breaking Down the Genre Barrier
By: Alexandra Murphy
Psychedelic rock band DZ Riley explores what it means to expand across a variety of musical influences, mixing in other genres including funk, Latin, R&B, soul and blues.This tight knit group does not let the word “genre” define them as they continue to let their eccentric sound be heard by crowds across the Chicagoland area.
DZ Riley was formed in 2019 by lead guitarist Keefer Schoon and keyboardist Noah Savoie along with vocalist Gracie Lubisky, Hugh Maxey on the drums and Jakob Morris, who plays bass.
I sat down with Keefer Schoon and Noah Savoie on a Zoom call and questioned them about what inspired their music and the specifics of how the band grew from two to five members in the span of a year.
Schoon recounted the day he met Noah on his first day attending Columbia in Chicago.
“We met like the first day of school, and we both had an interest in Pink Floyd and kind of went off from there,” Schoon said.
Schoon was working on an album at the time. Savoie shared the interest in producing an album as well. Both musicians realized early on in their partnership that their musical philosophies aligned with one another.
“There were all of these different styles and genres and we were like, we would need a singer for this and a singer for that,” Schoon said. “We were a little Steely Dan-ish. We were into hiring musicians.”
This could only last so long, Schoon and Lavoie said, as after a while bringing different musicians in was not sustainable and they wanted to form a more secure band identity, meaning bringing in trusted people that would always be there to perform with the band.
Gracie Lubisky was hired as the lead vocalist for the band, who keeps herself plenty busy not only playing for DZ Riley, but also performing other individual gigs all around Chicago. When asked about her favorite venue, she spoke about the electric performance the band had recently played on May 5 at BookClub Chicago, a smaller venue located at 3935 N, Broadway where The Crowd Theatre used to put on comedy shows.
“I heard Keefer and Noah’s music and was blown away. I had a feeling I might be able to do it justice and bring it to life even more,” Lubisky said.
The band's discography is impressive in the way they were able to expertly craft a cohesive album out of vastly different sounds and genres. Their only released album at the moment is titled “Entropy,” which was released in 2020 after a year of Schoon and Lavoie starting the band, and from their newly released singles, you would almost not be able to tell it was the same band by the sound.
The album is an amalgamation of artists, thoughts, ideas, genres, and sounds that pieces together a psychedelic and jazzy influence.
Newly released single “Motel 6,” the second of three to be released before the band’s second album comes out, is about a woman who has been betrayed and cheated on in a relationship who ultimately seeks revenge. The back and forth of the drums and guitar in the beginning gives off a mysterious and seductive impression with the guitar solo breaking through at the end of the refrain.
I pull into the lot/ I check into my room/ I know they’re here tonight/ I smell her cheap perfume
DZ Riley plans to drop their second album soon, and from the jazzy and rock sounds shining through in their first two singles, the album will not disappoint.
When asked about what the band has in store for listeners in the future, Lavoie expressed that this next album has been in the works for three years now.
“I can say it’s a concept album,” Lavoie says. “And it’s a very big story, the story. I guess you could say it’s kind of like an augmented reality kind of situation.”
DePaul News
By Cary Robbins
DePaul’s growing men’s soccer team
Mark Plotkin, the head coach of DePaul men’s soccer team, announced the Blue Demons 2023 recruiting class on Friday, June 23. Nine newcomers signed onto the fall 2023 soccer season. Two transfer students and seven freshmen will join the 20 returning team members, and in addition, Newsline announced that freshmen Drew Clark and Alex Peter joined the Blue Demons in Winter 2023. Read more about the individuals who will be joining the men’s soccer team in the upcoming school year here.
DePaul policy changes and updates
DePaul updates their policies throughout the academic year, and Newsline released a list of the policy changes and updates earlier in June. Effective June 2, there were two updates. The university updated their licensing university trademarks, the contact information and links to appendices. The university also changed their use of intercollegiate athletics photographs by updating their contact information and changed minor procedures. Read more about the policy changes here.
DePaul’s 2023-2024 Spirit of DePaul Awards
Earlier this month, seven individuals were given the Spirit of DePaul Awards, according to Newsline, which “[honor] members of the university community whose service to the university and our students represents the highest standards of service as exemplified by our patron, Saint Vincent de Paul.” The recipients are: Erin Berkowitz, Rosi León, Hilarie Longnecker, Claire Paetsch, Margaret Storey, Victoria Van Kirk Pride and Sonia Soltero.
Chicago Headlines
By Lauren Sheperd
52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade covers North Side streets – Despite rainy weather, thousands of people showed up for Chicago’s annual Pride Parade yesterday. The parade began at Montrose Avenue and Broadway Avenue and finished hours later at Diversey Avenue and Cannon Drive, making its way through the neighborhoods of Uptown, Boystown, Wrigleyville and Lakeview. Prominent politicians such as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson walked in the parade. For more, check out coverage by Chicago Sun-Times reporter Mohammad Samra.
Neighbors warned police about a dangerous West Humboldt Park man – Police were called to 67-year-old John Litsiardakis’ West Humboldt Park home for over a year prior to his June 2 standoff with police. During the standoff at the beginning of the month, Litsiardakis brandished a gun and a flamethrower and was flying a Nazi flag. Neighbors are now questioning why it took city officials so long to respond. Block Club Chicago’s Mack Liederman and Trey Arline have the story.
Mayor Brandon Johnson kicks off “One Summer Chicago” initiative – The six-week job program for teenagers and young adults kicked off today with support from Mayor Brandon Johnson, lining up with his campaign promise to provide Chicago youth with work. The program employs 25,000 people from ages 14 to 24, and includes jobs in technology, healthcare and media. The mayor’s office and the police department also hire young people from the program. According to Johnson, the goal of the program is to empower youth to build a “better, stronger, safer Chicago.” The program has added 2,000 additional jobs since last summer, and Johnson plans on continuing this growth in summers to come. WGN’s Kelly Davis has more information.
Chicago wage laws to change July 1 – Chicago minimum wage will increase from $15.40 an hour to $15.80 an hour for non-tipped employees and $9.24 to $9.48 an hour for tipped employees at the beginning of next month. The city’s Fair Workweek Ordinance will also be updated July 1. This ordinance covers workers from seven industries and requires certain employers to provide "predictable work schedules and compensation for changes." Also, Illinois’ 1% grocery tax will be reinstated after its suspension last year to assist families struggling with rising food prices. The NBC Chicago Staff, The Associated Press and Peter Marzano have the story.
National Headlines
By Sam Freeman
Abortion is legal in Guam, but it’s almost impossible to get – Most abortions in Guam, a U.S. territory south of Japan, were carried out by the Pregnancy Control Clinic. The clinic appeared closed after the doctor who owns it retired and recently passed away. The last doctor that performed abortions left Guam in 2018, leaving people only with access to abortion pills – pills which could be considered illegal depending on the outcome of a pending court case. Two doctors, licensed in Guam but located in Hawaii, currently see patients through video calls and can prescribe abortion pills. But their access will be cut off if a territorial law requiring women to see a doctor in person is reinstated. If access to abortion pills becomes restricted, it would leave women on Guam with increased medical risks and financial burdens. David W. Chen from the New York Times has more information.
Delaware lawmaker aims to be the first openly transgender House member – State Sen. Sarah McBride announced today that she will run for Delaware’s House seat. If she wins, McBride will be the first openly transgender House member. She was the first openly transgender person to work at the White House under the Obama administration in 2012, and to serve in the State Senate in 2020. As a former national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, McBride supports policies such as paid family leave, gun safety and reproduction rights. She tells the New York Times, “I truly believe that democracy only works when it includes all of us.” Anjali Huynh from the New York Times has the story.
Teachers aren’t guaranteed paid family leave, leaving teachers with few options – Less than one-fifth of the nation’s largest school districts offer paid parental leave for teachers, according to the National Council on Teacher Quality. Only Oregon, Georgia and Delaware guarantee it. As a result, a teacher that wants to have a baby must either take limited paid leave, compile sick leave time or try to time their pregnancy to give birth during summer break. Paid maternity leave is shown to improve worker morale, decrease infant and maternal mortality rates, and improve the overall health of both the mother and the child. This is especially important for Black women, who are twice as likely to suffer from maternal mortality than white women. While there are logistical concerns, such as employing experienced substitute teachers, many teachers believe the benefits are worth fighting for. Beth Wallis from NPR has the story.
Severe tornado hits Indiana – A tornado killed a man in Shoals, Indiana, and two people died in Arkansas due to high winds, causing tens of thousands of homes to lose electricity in Arkansas, Tennessee and Michigan. There are more than 120,000 power outages in the Memphis area and more than 80,000 in Michigan. The Associated Press has more information.
Hey, Check This Out!
With Elizabeth Gregerson
The television gods decided June 22 was the perfect date for two popular shows to premiere their second seasons, Hulu’s “The Bear” and Max’s “And Just Like That.”
If you’re a “Sex and the City” devotee, I don’t need to convince you to watch “And Just Like That.” The show is a bespoke garment personalized for those who glamorize fashion, friendship, romance and retail. Families are not fighting for iron thrones/their dead dad’s CEO position in “And Just Like That’s” world. Don’t worry about how the 2023 version of Carrie Bradshaw’s life miraculously became more diverse, just enjoy the fantasy buffet of designer outfits and luxury New York City real estate. Disregard the mystery surrounding why one of Carrie’s truest friends no longer speaks to her. Keep watching to see Kim Catrall, er … I mean, Samantha Jones’ triumphant return to her rightful place at the brunch table.
Speaking of brunch tables, let's talk about “The Bear.” The show revolves around chef Carmy Berzatto, who leaves his James Beard-level career and returns to Chicago to run his family’s restaurant, The Beef. Season one had viewers rooting for the cast of characters running the restaurant while literally everything fell apart around them. Restaurants sell drugs for money to replace equipment all the time, right? Season two follows Carmy’s quest to transform The Beef into his own restaurant, The Bear. The season has been lauded by critics, earning a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Top shelf storytelling aside, Chicago lovers need to watch this show. Creator Chris Storer, a Park Ridge native, portrays the city with bittersweet authenticity. In fact the show is so authentic, a Chicago viewer realized they live in Carmy's apartment. Watch their discovery on TikTok if you’re curious to know what neighborhood Carmy lives in. Spoiler alert, it’s not River North.
Resources
Need resources regarding cooling centers, rental assistance, abortion access, COVID-19 testing and vaccines or mental health? Check out our complete list here.
That’s it for today! See you next Monday.
The 14 East Newsletter Team