Mr. Completely

Shot: guy tapes 10k Chicago area indie live shows, doesn't know what to do with em
https://interactive.wbez.org/curiouscity/taping-guy/

Chaser: put em on the Archive of course https://archive.org/details/aadamjacobs

Edit: @livetapes will now announce all new additions to this collection (plus many more, it's a busy robot) so if you want to stay up to date with new uploads check that out

#Music

Chicago’s Hidden Indie Rock Archive

Over three decades, Aadam Jacobs obsessively documented Chicago’s indie rock scene. Today, the future of his roughly 10,000 live recordings is unclear.

Dec 17, 2024 at 6:24pmWeb
Show threadMr. CompletelyDec 17, 2024
So far: Tall Dwarfs, Hüsker Dü, Reggie Watts, Mekons, Olivia Tremor Control, GBV, Mekons etc
Show threadjesse jarnowDec 17, 2024
@mrcompletely immediately added to @livetapes!
Show threadMrKlikedDec 17, 2024
@bourgwick @mrcompletely @livetapes there is A LOT more coming. We've just started and already have over 30 recordings up. This is going to be a massive project that will likely take us years. Very exciting.
Show threadMr. CompletelyDec 17, 2024
@Kliked @bourgwick @livetapes nice, thanks for jumping in. I didn't want to volunteer you to answer questions 😁
Show threadMrKlikedDec 17, 2024
@mrcompletely @bourgwick @livetapes I am in no way an official spokesperson for the project, but am I involved and I'm happy to answer what I can. This is a true treasure trove.
Show threadDrew but 7/27/25 GA ➡️ RepriseDec 17, 2024
@Kliked @mrcompletely @bourgwick @livetapes Thank you for your efforts!
Show threadJakeJan 5, 2025
@Kliked Interesting how much of the stuff upped so far is from 2013 and 2015. Curious if you can share any details on the process/order/logistics/reasoning/etc?
Show threadMrKlikedJan 5, 2025
@gloriousnoise this round has been stuff that was already transferred to data discs which allowed us a quick way to get going. The next round of stuff we will be working on goes back to the 80s I believe. We've found a lot of gold already though. I'm about to work on a bitchin Baja's show from 2014 which is the earliest live set of theirs I've seen.
Show threadJakeJan 5, 2025
@Kliked Thanks for the info. I’m fascinated by this whole thing! Thank you for your service!!!
Show threadListen To The Music PlayDec 17, 2024
@mrcompletely my cousin knows that guy. He did sound for some bands at those venues during that time period.
Show threadJakeDec 17, 2024
@mrcompletely Wow! Is there a story about how these are getting up on the archive???
Show threadJakeDec 17, 2024
@mrcompletely Doh! Just saw the "About" page. https://archive.org/details/aadamjacobs?tab=about
Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

Show threadMr. CompletelyDec 17, 2024
@gloriousnoise it's all thanks to the efforts of the volunteer transfer and upload crew (as well as the archive of course)
Show threadJakeDec 17, 2024

@mrcompletely lol that "About" page has a quote from Jacobs that they attribute to my website, but we were just quoting (and linking to) a Chicago Reader article by Bob Mehr:

https://chicagoreader.com/music/tapehead/

Tapehead

After 20 years of recording live shows, club crawler Aadam Jacobs throws himself a party at Schubas.

Chicago Reader
Show threadAllan ChowDec 17, 2024
@mrcompletely i feel as if this guy is in the local news every couple years.