Rock Banding

Scott Stantis, Chicago Tribune

If you're not a resident of Illinois, give thanks this election season. In a state that's trying [and succeeding] to catch up to California in terms of debt and budget crises, we've been left with candidates that all have their hair caught up somehow in the political machines that run the Land of Lincoln. And with all of the hundreds of cheap political ads airing during commercial breaks currently [unfortunately no Illinoisians have kicked children in the face], it could not be a better time to have the newest installment of Harmonix's Rock Band franchise arrive.


In addition to an impressive setlist [25 or 6 to 4, Freebird, Bohemian Rhapsody... yes please!], Rock Band 3 also includes a few new features. As in The Beatles: Rock Band, there can now be up to 3 people singing in harmony [Good Vibrations] at once. A new peripheral was introduced as well: the keyboard. So now any song with a piano part has a home, too. So including the original guitar/bass/drums combo, at any given time you can have 7 people rocking out. We may need a bigger television.


And for those that want to learn the guitar, if you can find a $150 RB3 Fender Mustang or Squier Stratocaster that's not out of stock, Rock Band 3 will teach you how to play all of the songs on the disc. I don't think I'm quite there yet... I'll rest on my plastic-button laurels for now.


Last week in a final goodbye to Rock Band 2, a few Rockers gathered at my place to tackle the Endless Setlist II. It took almost 6.5 hours to play through the 84 songs on the disc, but in the end victory was ours. I'm itching to schedule a day for Endless Setlist III... but first I need to find a good deal on that keyboard. C'mon Black Friday!

Endless Setlist II complete!

Past Blast: Starved Rock

Starved Rock

On a mini-weekend away last year, Cassie and I toured northern-Illinois' closest thing to an awe-inspiring National Park: Starved Rock State Park along the Illinois River. The sandstone bluffs along the river are impressive due to the usual flatness of the Illinois Prairieland; and canyons carved by glacial runoff are always fun to explore.

In the 1760s the local Native American tribes [Illiniwek, Potawatomi, and Ottawa] were fighting after the slaying of Chief Pontiac. A group of Illiniwek sought refuge on the high bluff overlooking the Illinois River, and were surrounded. Unable to leave, the group died of starvation, and 'Starved Rock' was born. Other landmark bluffs were later named Beehive Overlook and Lover's Leap.

Illinois River Dam

The Illinois River gained a series of Dams and Locks in the mid-1800s when the I&M canal was built to connect Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River. Starved Rock happens to overlook one of these dams, which constantly has barge traffic moving up- and down-river.

Wildcat Canyon

Today the State Park has miles of hiking along the bluffs and canyons, as well a lodge/hotel complex with a couple of good eateries. Of course you can always bring a grill and eat along the river as well. And if you're lucky, there may be a Burgoo Festival going on in one of the nearby towns...