From Rolling Stone · Althea Legaspi · · 2m
The man who taped Chicago's greatest rock shows
For four decades, Aadam Jacobs recorded thousands of live performances at legendary venues. Now his archive is going online.
In brief
For four decades, Aadam Jacobs recorded thousands of live performances at legendary venues. Now his archive is going online. One dedicated fan's obsessive concert recordings from the 1980s and 1990s are being digitized and shared free online, preserving a crucial era of rock history. Originally reported by Rolling…
Lounge Ax shaped indie rock
The Chicago club opened in 1987 and hosted countless memorable shows before closing on January 15, 2000. Wilco, Eleventh Dream Day, and Shellac were regulars.
One fan recorded everything
Aadam Jacobs taped around 2,200 sets at Lounge Ax starting in the late 1980s. His first show was Duncan Imperials on July 5, 1989; his last was the Coctails in 2000.
“I felt very much at home there. Lounge Ax was often the place I chose to go to.”
His archive spans a decade
Jacobs recorded about 10,000 sets total across Chicago venues from 1984 onward. He captured Pixies, Nirvana, Hüsker Dü, and the Smiths before they became superstars.
He was meticulous and ethical
Jacobs usually asked bands and venues for permission to record. He gave them copies and was transparent about his microphones. Most recordings were authorized.
“Most of what I did, the vast majority of what I did, wasn't stealth. You saw microphones. You knew what I was doing. I had permission.”
He recorded 200 to 250 shows yearly
Starting at age 17 in 1984, Jacobs went out almost every night during the 1990s. He documented early performances by Liz Phair and saw Nirvana two years before Nevermind.
“By the time things really got into gear, I was going out almost every night.”
Eleventh Dream Day was his obsession
Jacobs recorded Eleventh Dream Day 166 times, more than any other band. Robbie Fulks comes second with 282 solo sets. The Wedding Present and the Ex were also favorites.
The pandemic ended his recording run
Jacobs recorded concerts multiple times a week from 1984 through early 2020. COVID shuttered venues and he lost the drive to continue. Health issues also played a role.
“The pandemic really put the nail in the coffin.”
The archive is going online now
The Internet Archive is uploading Jacobs' collection for free. About 200 sets go up monthly. With 8,000 sets still to upload, the project has roughly three years remaining.
He's releasing vinyl from the vault
Jacobs started Laughing Bee Music to release archival live performances. First releases include Naked Raygun's This Place Used to Be a Strip Joint and Eleventh Dream Day's By the Time They Got to Lounge Ax.
The takeaway
One dedicated fan's obsessive concert recordings from the 1980s and 1990s are being digitized and shared free online, preserving a crucial era of rock history.
