CHICAGO--Gman Blues - CHICAGO: by gman Blues

Chicago is a great town

We've got a lot of things going on this summer, music being one of them. If you are visiting our city, please get out and see all that we have to offer. Chicago's got a great shoreline, and great cuisine--epecially if you love food from all over the world. The pizza is the best on the planet. Nothing more than that needs to be said.

Ok maybe there is more to be said about that when I think about it. Some of the great Pizza Restaurants should be mentioned. You come to Chicago. You want Pizza--where do you go? Well I have a few favorites and some suggestions.

If you are downtown, my all time favorite Pizza is Gino's east. The original is on Superior Street downtown Chicago. I always remember that because the Pizza is superior too! Gino's is known for their deep-dish pizza, but many who have tasted it know that it is their sausage. It comes in a patty that covers the entire top of the Pizza! WOW! Also the crust is yellowish. It must have butter or something like that in it; darn good anyway. There are more Ginos around Chicagoland, but the original has really great atmosphere. Here's more...

How about UNO? Fantastic. Much like Gino's. Here's More . Now bear in mind these are full industrial strength Chicago Pizzas. Not for those who think that a frozen pizza is not all that bad. Uno's has a far reach. I had it in Baltimore's harbor court sometime ago. Sometimes an Uno's will pop up unexpectedly somewhere on the road. Always a good surprise.

This is a different kind of Pizza-- Check it out ever see anything like this? Darn good too! Great location--not far from the zoo. I had this thing, and didn't expect to like it but I really did.

Lou Malnoti's has got that garlic butter crust--out of this world! They ship anywhere in the world should you get hooked on them--good to know.

How's 'bout a local joint? Kenootz in Midlothian's got a sweet pizza and an italian bread type of crust.

Palermo's (locations on the south side) also has a sweet pizza. There is a flavor in Palermo's that is particularly compelling to me. I can't identify it but it's GOOD! (one reviewer states that it is amazing--I'll have to agree...) I have only had their deep dish -- in over 30 years of going there, so I really don't know about the thin crust--personally I feel that if you have something that works go with it so I never tried the thin crust, but I'd be willin' to bet that it's pretty darn good too.

Baracco's on Crestwood has the traditional spicy 'za. It won't dissapoint you. It reminds me of the pizzaria's that were around when I was just a kid. Once in a while the manager will throw in a 2 litter of RC. RC --now that is quintessential Pizza carryout; just like when I was a kid. They also have a stuffed pizza, which for those who don't know is a reverse layering of sauce and cheese. I like 'em equally the same, but usually get thin because when I order I want it as soon as possible.

It's easy for me to get off of the track when I'm talkin' pie. I worked during college at the Italian Villiage in Carbondale as a pizza prep guy. I would cook these huge caluderons of sauce and stir it with a thing darn near as large as a boat oar. I didn't particularly like "IV's" pizza, but I learned how to layer stuff to optimize what I had to work with. I lived on IV's Pizza for about two years (we had to eat our mistakes--so when we accidentally made a "mistake" we made sure that it was a pretty darn good one!!).

The AOL City guide for Chicago Picks these 'ZA's in the following order:

1. Home Run Inn

South Side
Power-hitting pizzas have spread to numerous Chicagoland locations and a popular frozen version.

2. Lou Malnati's

River North

3. Aurelio's

Homewood

4. Giordano's

River North

5. Pizzeria Uno

Gold Coast

6. Gino's East Pizzeria

River North

7. Piece

Bucktown

8. Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder

Lincoln Park

9. Pizza DOC

Lincoln Square

10. Cafe Luigi

Lakeview

About me: I am a local blues performer. I get around when I can to play or just enjoy other bands. Please visit my website and be sure to sign my guest book so I know you were there. You can find me at Gman Blues Page or Gman Blues Myspace Email me at gman@gmanblues.com

Come on out and hear some blues--OK?

See you in the beer garden!

gman

G-force Album

"g-man Blues" is Gary Wesselhoff, a solo acoustic rocker with a genuine dedication to Chicago Style Blues. A native Chicagoan, he began his musical career in the seventies during rock music's classic era. Inside the "Chi-town" rock scene, he hooked up with some "playa's" and began playing under the name Woodlind. Woodlind wrote and performed their own material exclusively—one point boasting a song list of over seventy-five original songs.

G-man and Woodlind recorded a album of songs at Chicagolands famous "Pumpkin Recording Studio" with renown producer Gary Loizzo (known for his production of several Styx albums). Over the years the band members eventually drifted apart.

In college g-man met and began playing with two outstanding performers, Bob May, and Ken Zemanek. The three began playing once again under the name of Woodlind. The band grew in size and following. Once again however, the band went separate directions. In the interim, g-man dropped out of the business to raise a family.

In 2003 g-man sat in with some friends and immediately decided to return to music. Quotes g-man "When I returned, I discovered something forceful about myself; I found that I had new abilities that were not present when I was a kid—it’s much more than the synergy of practice and focus. I discovered that I could sing more dynamically, play more powerfully, and write better than ever". He began to chase the blues, and worked a blues harp into his act.

In 2005 he launched his Website: http://www.gmanblues.com . gmanblues.com is a successful Website often with hits from countries around the world. It’s at this site that you can sample some of g-man’s music offerings, and see photos of him in action.

In 2006 g-man was a top qualifier in the Acoustic Solo category of Suburban Nitelife’s Readers Poll finishing third in the extremely competitive Chicago Suburban Club scene. g-man currently is traveling to Chicagoland venues, playing for audiences large and small at music festivals, folk clubs, and concert halls building his fan base and his brand identity. .

g-man Blues is hard to categorize. He is a link between the traditional Chicagoland Blues and Adult Contemporary Rock – a singer-songwriter living down the reputation of a rocker. g-man isn't concerned about how everyone labels his style, he would he would rather just play. That is his gift.

As for his old band members in Woodlind, he bumps into them on the road from time to time. Ken plays American English; Scott Bonshire joined Heartsfield, Jim Williams hooked up with a country band called Crossfyre. and Joey Drada currently plays with contemporary Chicago Blues Royalty--a band called The Jaywalkers.