LIZA MULLHOLLAND: Windy City of Chicago has a musical mix from Tex Mex accordion of the Latino Little Village area

The first time I heard of the city of Chicago was in a song by a band named Paper Lace.

I was a young child and the 7-inch single of The Night Chicago Died was brought into the house by, I think, one of my older sisters.

The searing sound of police sirens opening the song captured my imagination, and they layered over each other in a haunting and piercing climax to the lyrics of the first verse,

Daddy was a cop, on the east side of Chicago.

Back in the USA, back in the bad old days.

At the time, I had no real idea what the song was about, or where Chicago was, but the song was catchy, and I loved it!

Many more years later than I care to dwell on, I find myself in that city and the song is brought back to mind.

I’m happy to report it doesn’t seem to bear any resemblance to the bad old days of Al Capone and warring gangs, and I have heard lots of good music, from Tex Mex accordion of the Latino Little Village area, to slick piano fun in downtown’s Redhead Piano Bar.

It’s a place where gleaming monster skyscrapers dwarf the 1920s art deco buildings around the Lake Michigan waterfront and is the last leg of a research trip for several music and writing projects I’m currently working on.

Planned pre-Covid, I am at last tracing my grandparents’ emigration from the Isle of Lewis, and although I know several family members were in the Lewis Society of Chicago, a sort of sister organisation to the Lewis Society of Detroit, unfortunately, Minute Books have not survived for Chicago.

It’s hard to pinpoint where they met and socialised, unlike Detroit, where we were shown round St Andrews Hall and its many original features, where it was easy to imagine the ceilidhs and weddings enjoyed there by young Lewis folk 100 years ago and visualise them whirling an Eightsome Reel around the dance floor. I even got to go onstage, though sadly there was no accordion there for me to play a wee tune or two.

However, my colleague and I are fortunate to be meeting with the Chicago Scots group, whom we hope can shed light on Hebridean history in the city, as well as us sharing details of our forthcoming projects.

Lots of gigs to do before 2023 though, including the inaugural NC50, a new mini festival of shows around Inverness venues on Wednesday, October 26, and Thursday, October 27. The brainchild of Steve Robertson of Hootananny and Don Lawson of Johnny Foxes, Jimmy Badgers and the Den, it promises to be a fantastic couple of days with lots of diverse music across our own wee city.

You’ll find me in Hoots with Wounded Moose at 9pm on 27th and Dorec-a-belle at 11.30pm same evening on the wonderful Liam Colgan Music Fund Stage in the Mercure. Hope to see you there!

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