The Lowbrow Reader Defeats Chicago

After years of bringing mirth and melody to tuned-in New Yorkers, the Lowbrow Reader Variety Hour made its Chicago debut last week, at the Hideout. And guess what? Chicago may as well go ahead and cancel its Pitchfork Festivals and Lollapaloozas and whatnots. Hell, why not just shut down the entire Ravinia Festival operation, too? Game over—Lowbrow wins! We extend our heartfelt thanks to everybody who came to the Hideout and, of course, to the night’s performers: musicians Ezra Furman and Daniel Knox; comedians Charlie Bury and Dan Ronan; and readers Jay Jennings and Marsha Ruttenberg. After the jump are photographs taken throughout the night by Philip Barnett. (A kind soul posted YouTube clips of two Ezra Furman songs, here and here.)