ETHAN SELLERS MUSIC |
Hey Everyone- I took a vacation to Florida two weeks back and the weather in Chicago improved while I was gone. Murphy's Law, I suppose. You're welcome for the break in the frigid temperatures, Chicago. Here's what's up in March 2026 and beyond... |
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BETTER A SELF-EMPLOYED SWAN THAN A DAY-JOB DUCK... OR... TWENTY YEARS OF BEING A FULL-TIME MUSICIAN!
On March 16, I will celebrate twenty years of being my own boss as a creative person. It's insane, on paper. I have worked far harder these last twenty years for less money than at my old office job, but I still believe that I am happier for it. My business has weathered a Great Recession, COVID lockdowns, and countless other obstacles. I’m grateful to all of my family, friends, clients, bandmates, students, and fellow travelers that have helped and encouraged me along the way. I’m also still learning and have a ton of creative goals left to accomplish. Here’s to the next twenty! |
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SAINT PATRICK’S SEASON PUBLIC GIGS: Speaking of my 20-year anniversary as a full-time musician... The timing of my departure from my former office job (March 16th, 2006 - the day before St. Patrick's Day) was fateful. There was an Irish band at Wishbone, the Southern restaurant where my now-wife Lillie and I celebrated my “liberation." The seed of an idea was planted. I had already played Celtic music with various Tautologic spin-offs. Why not make it official with a band that played Irish (and Scottish) music exclusively? It took me another two years to launch Character Fleadh, but… after 17 St. Patrick’s seasons, several hundred gigs, two albums, two EPs, and hundreds of tunes and songs learnt, it's essential to who I am as a musician. Come out to one of my public St. Patrick's season gigs and help me celebrate 20 years as a full-time musician!
Wednesday, March 4th 6:30-7:30pm
Thursday, March 5th 7-8pm
Friday, March 13th 6-8pm
Saturday, March 14th noon-2pm
Saturday, March 14th 6-8pm The rest of our St. Patrick's season gigs are private. We are always looking for opportunities to play for you, so inquire within or recommend us! If you can't make the gig, we have a pair of terrific recordings you can buy! |
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TAUTOLOGIC - 25th ANNIVERSARY OF WEST IS NORTH, EAST IS SOUTH: My rock band Tautologic’s debut album, West Is North, East Is South, turned 25 in June. I'm featuring a song from the album in each month's newsletter. “Love Bus” has lyrical references that are very Hyde Park specific. Hyde Park used to have a CTA bus whose driver used to sing out “Welcome to the Love Bus!” when riders got on. The lyrics were written out of gratitude to people who helped me get to a concert at Schuba's by my then voice teacher Ed Funk’s band Omshanti Collective. The first was a college classmate who gave me a ride to the CTA Red Line. The second was a stranger who covered my train fare. The third was a pair of first responders who saw me - a college kid waiting at the bus stop for far too long and far too late at night - and offered a ride back to my neighborhood. The irony of calling the song "Love Bus" is that I never rode a bus on that whole excursion. People kept giving me rides. Musically, I’d make some different choices nowadays. I’d cut it live after rehearsing it, and probably play around with some of the riff timing on the instrumental bridge. We’ve gotten greasier since those days. I also sing better.
Speaking of Tautologic doing things live before recording them in the studio…: TAUTOLOGIC WILL RETURN TO THE LIVE STAGE Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 5th. Tautologic will return to live duty at the Lombard History Museum’s Food Truck Social.
Saturday, September 5th 4-6pm We're still plotting out our setlist and other details, but I would expect some new songs and new arrangements of some classic Tautologic tracks. Our most recent album, Wheels Fall Off turns 5 years old in April! You can trace my (and Tautologic's) evolution through our albums.
GET TURTLE DOWN MUSIC AND MERCH: Head on over to https://turtledownmusic.bandcamp.com, pick yourself (or a loved one) out something nice (downloads, CDs, t-shirts, posters) by me, Tautologic, Logical Fleadh, or Le Travaillant. Turtle Down Music is operated by me and Tautologic co-founder Pat Buzby. Pretty much everything we make goes into making the next recording, so your ongoing support is appreciated. Buy the current stuff and we'll make some new stuff! Next Bandcamp Friday is March 6th, but any day is a great day to get some of my music! |
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MORE DISTANT EARLY PUBLIC GIG WARNINGS...: My other bands aren't exactly standing still. Here's what's public and under contract...
Stay tuned for more information (more dates are pending) and feel free to reach out about bookings - or to refer any of my bands for bookings. |
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MUSIC LESSONS - ONLINE AND IN-PERSON AT MY STUDIO: I have some openings for piano, guitar, and voice lessons. I also teach
theory and sight-reading for all instruments - and I have worked with some advanced students to write songs, set career goals, and plan large projects like albums. Inquire within and referrals always cheerfully accepted! Hope you're doing well, Ethan Sellers |
