An homage to the prairie state Numero calls home, From Champaign To Chicago is a 19-track survey of Illinois' Cheapest Tricks. Reaching back to 1973's Peoria outliers the Jets and winding up in 1987 with Romeoville's Julian Leal and his Dick Clark-approved "Get Away," From Champaign To Chicago connects, via map, pins, and string, the various scenes that pockmarked the face of the Land of Lincoln. Chicago's Prettyboys, Tom Orsi, All-Night Newsboys, Kevin Lee & Heartbeat, Band Jocks, Northshore, Paul, the Kind, and Loose Lips are tethered to Rockford's the Names; Champaign's Vertebrats, Contra-Band, and the Nines; LaSalle's the Jerks; Joliet's Lay-Z; and Zion's Shoes...through the clubs, booking agents, weekly newspapers, and regional radio stations ... read more