Phoenix
News

 
Phoenix phans!  This site will soon be retired.
Please add our new site to your Favorites -
www.heartless-live.com.
 
Hey, Phoenix Phans!
Thank you for supporting the band for another year of rock and roll.
 

Phoenix 1996: Back row, John Vesely (lead
guitar), Lenny Contini (bass), Joe Parente
(drums), Bob Roberts (lead vocal); front
row, Diane Tragos (keys), Lynn Lupo
(lead vocal)
After 12 great years of music, Phoenix has decided to disband so we can all pursue new opportunities.

We are grateful to have played some of the best venues in Chicago with some talented musicians and very good friends. And - we are very thankful for all the love you’ve shown us over the years.
Phoenix 2008: Marty Feipel (bass),
Roger Hallberg (lead guitar), Lynn
Lupo (lead vocal), Bob Roberts
(lead vocal), Greg Piechalak (drums),
Nick Lisowski (keys, guitar)
The future...
Lynn & Bob have put together a new project – Heartless – the Midwest’s only tribute to the music of Heart. This very unique project is already in demand in local clubs and for the 2009 festival season. Read more about it on the new web site
www.heartless-live.com.

Hope to see you at one of our shows!
 

 
 

 
Berwyn Centennial Festival - June 21, 2008

Read about us in...
"Talk of the Town DuPage!"
Bloomingdale Family Fest - June 27, 2008 
Visit us on

'07 Best of the Burbs Finalists!
Best Male Front/Bob Roberts
Best Female Front/Lynn Lupo
Best Cover Band
Best Rock Band
Read our Suburban Nite
Life feature story!
page 1   page 2
 

Payton's Roundhouse, April 26, 2008
 

Jameson's, March 29, 2008
 

Happy New Year!  We'll see you in 2008....
 

KeyWester, July 29, 2007
 

Tinley Park Concert in the Plaza, Aug. 25, 2007
 

 Taste of Chicago, July 7, 2007
 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming up...
 

We're taking some time off to recharge and rework our set list.  Stay tuned...we'll be back soon!
 

9/11/2008
If you joined us at Riverdale Marina, you know it was a great time!  Thanks to all our phans for making it a fun night.

We're gearing up for a wild night at Papa T's....  Are you gonna be there?  If you've been to this club before, you know it's a great place to party.  And...there's no cover charge.  You can't beat that!

Next Friday, Sept. 19, we're back at Berwyn's Oktoberfest.  There will be plenty of food and I know the weather will be perfect....  Join us for our last festival of the year!

With all the craziness in the news - politics, gas prices, hurricanes - I like to escape with some great music.  I've been rediscovering some older stuff - The Who, Zeppelin, Cat Stevens.  It's a reminder that good music survives and can still take you away.  Remember - let us know what music you like.  Who knows - you might hear it at an upcoming show.

"Don't cry, don't raise your eye..."
Lynn


6/16/2008
Hi, everyone!  It's been a while since I've written here - thought it was about time.  If you know me at all, you know I'm always waiting for summer - and it's finally here.  The band has been busy, getting ready for the summer festival season. - and we're very lucky to have some great jobs scheduled!

First up - the Berwyn Centennial Festival where we'll open for The Ides of March.  We're expecting a huge crowd and a great time, so be sure you come and join us!  Check the calendar for the rest of our summer dates.

I'm spending as much time outdoors as I can - hope you are too.  See you soon -

Lynn


4/27/2008
What a wild ride...Phoenix Phans rockin' the Roundhouse!  In case you missed it, we had a great time at Payton's Roundhouse.  Our thanks go out to all our Phans and to Matt, James and the entire Roundhouse crew.

We've been gearing up for some great summer festivals including Bloomingdale's Family Fest, Tinley Park's Caribbean Block Party, and Berwyn's Centennial Festival where we'll open for the Ides of March.  Mark your calendar and come see us in the great outdoors!

We hope to see you all at Harrah's next weekend!

Lynn


2/1/2008
Hi, everyone!  Are you counting down the days?  In just over a week, we'll be starting our 2008 season with a new bass player, some new songs, and enough energy to rock you all night long!  We're starting out at one of our favorite clubs, Papa T's in beautiful Burbank.  And our good friend Lenny Contini will also join us for a few songs.  We're expecting a huge crowd, so come early, stay late, and rock hard!  I'm totally psyched!  

A big thank you to everyone who's been voting in the Best of the Burbs contest.  We should find out today whether we've advanced to the next round.  And then - we'll need you to vote some more.  Our phans are the best anywhere - and we really appreciate all your support.

See you all at Papa T's!
Lynn


12/5/2007
Hey, Phoenix Phans!  Wonder where we've been?   We've been hard at work learning new material and breaking in our new bass player, Marty Feipel.  Marty comes to us with a ton of experience and a great style that fits right in.  You can read more about him on the Bio page.

As you know, our good friend and former bass player Lenny has decided to take some time off from playing out.  We wish him the very best.

As for new material, we've got some great new stuff for you.  We'll be doing songs from...um...well maybe I'll just keep it a surprise.  But you're gonna love 'em.  Trust me!

We've also started booking 2008 dates.  Take a look at the Calendar page.  We'll be back at some of our favorite clubs like our first show at Papa T's in Burbank.  Lots of other dates are in the works including Harrah's and some great sumer festivals, so stay tuned.

Have I told you I hate the cold weather?  And the snow?  But as I always say, it's a good excuse to get close to someone you love....

Ciao!
Lynn


9/26/2007
Hi, everyone! Yesterday was an exciting day for Bob and me. We were asked to be "celebrity judges" for the Classic Car Calendar contest at Chick's Ice Cream & Deli in Tinley Park. We had a blast! We met a bunch of great people and got a close up view of a lot of beautiful, old 

cars.  The first place winner was a 1929 Ford Model A, which will have the honor of gracing the calendar cover.
Another winner and favorite of mine was a "panther pink" Dodge Charger - a sweet ride! Many thanks to Chick, Rita, and Tony for inviting us to be part of this event.


9/11/2007
September's a special month for me.  Two ladies who have been my musical inspiration are releasing new CDs.  Today, Ann Wilson released her first solo disc, "Hope & Glory."  I'm listening to it right now, and it's fabulous!  Ann truly has one of the finest vocal instruments in rock.

Later this month, on September 25, Melissa Etheridge will release "The Awakening."  It contains all new songs, and should be great.

If you have the opportunity, check out both these CDs.  Support women who rock!

Finally, a personal note to any of you who were touched by the September 11 tragedy; we're thinking of you today.

Peace, 
Lynn


8/15/2007
Hellllooooo....!  I hope everyone's having a great summer.  I'm enjoying a little vacation from work and loving every minute.  The summer's just not long enough!  But while it lasts, I'm catching some sun and watching my flowers grow.

Are you ready for Tinley Park?  The Concert in the Plaza series is getting more and more popular, and we're ready to take our home town by storm!  We're asking all our Phans to wear their Phoenix t-shirts or bandanas to this show.  Bring a lawn chair, your kids, and a few dollars to buy beverages and snacks.  We're going to have a great night!

I can't say it enough...we really appreciate every one of our Phans.  We hope to see you soon....

Lynn


7/7/2007
In case you weren't there, Phoenix Phans rocked the Taste of Chicago today!  A huge thank you to all our friends who braved the heat and came out to hear us play.  We had a great crowd, and I think we picked up some new phans as well.  It really meant a lot to us to have all of you with us at this show.  

We're really lucky to have some great shows coming up.  The end of July, we'll be at RidgeFest in Chicago Ridge - Nick's home town.  We're looking forward to seeing a lot of you at this show.  In August, we're back at Harrah's Casino in Joliet - a great place to play!  And we'll also be playing Tinley Park's Concert in the Plaza, a family-friendly outdoor community concert.  Take a look at the calendar page for more details.

Well, summer is in full swing, and none too soon for me.  I guess I'm just an outdoor girl at heart - I could be outside from morning 'til night.  Hope you're enjoying your summer, too.  

Love,
Lynn


5/11/2007
Wow...I'm still recovering from Jameson's.  What a wild ride!  The crowd was great, the staff was great...and we really enjoyed ourselves.  Thanks to everyone who came out.

We've got some exciting jobs coming up.  First, we're back at Murphy's in Mokena - one of our favorite rooms to play.  We're looking forward to seeing everyone.  Then in June, we're going to be playing at the brand new Papa T's in Midlothian.  Wait 'til you see it - it's gorgeous!  Randy, Paul and the crew have put together a great club that's sure to become one of the hottest rooms on the south side.  Mark your calendar now - and help us break it in right!

If you know me at all, you know how happy I am to see the temps warming up.  Summer's comin'!  I've been sitting outside with a glass of wine, breathing in the fresh air.  Hope you're enjoying it too.

See y'all soon -
Lynn


4/12/2007
Well, despite a little April snow, spring is right around the corner.  No really...it is.  We've had so many good things going on the past month.

On March 26th, Bob and I attended the Suburban Nite Life Awards at the Pyramid Club in Addison.  The best of the best were there - club owners, bartenders, waitresses, and - of course - the top bands in the suburbs.  When the band finalists were announced, we were very proud to hear Phoenix announced in all four categories.  Many thanks to everyone who voted.  Our phans are the best!

If you've looked at the Calendar page lately, you know we have a lot to be excited about.  First, we have a couple of great shows booked with Harrah's Casino in Joliet.  (Yes, Virginia, you can gamble responsibly and watch Phoenix at the same time.)  The first show is Friday, April 13th.  Not only is the admission free, but it's an early show - 8:00 - 12:00PM.  

We're also excited to be booked at a little summer festival called Taste of Chicago (baby!).  Make your plans now for Saturday, July 7th.  And several other summer fests are in the works, as well as visits to some of our favorite clubs.  We hope to see everyone soon.

Peace,
Lynn


2/23/2007
Hi, everyone!
With your help, we've advanced in all four categories in the Suburban Nite Life Best of the Burbs contest.  Thanks so much for all your support.  But our work's not done yet!  Please keep voting until March 10th.  Click here to go to the Nite Life site.

Have you checked out our new Links page?  It's a great opportunity to meet some of our friends.  Take a look and help us support these bands and businesses.

I can hardly believe the crowds we had at Jameson's and at Murphy's.  You guys are great!  It was fun to see so many familiar faces - and to meet some new phans.  We had a blast - hope you did, too.

Personally, I'm getting tired of winter.  You too?  I'm running out of ways to stay warm...but I'm always open to suggestions....

Later -
Lynn


1/19/2007
Well, we had another great time at Papa T's last Saturday night!  What an outstanding way to start the year.  Many thanks to everyone who came out to party with us.  

As you may be aware, Phoenix has been nominated in four categories in the Suburban Nite Life "Best of the Burbs" Contest.  Nominations continue through the end of January when the top bands in each category advance to the next level.  We need your help!  Click on the link above or go to www.nitelife.org.  Then register and vote for us every day until March 11 in these categories -

- Best Cover Band
- Best Female Front - Lynn Lupo
- Best Male Front - Bob Roberts
- Best Rock Band

Many of you have emailed or stopped us in person to say you're voting every day.  Keep it up!  We thank you so much for all your support.

See you all at Murphy's on Feb. 10th -
Lynn


1/1/2007
Happy New Year, everyone!

It’s been a while since I’ve written here. We’ve been busy working on new material for the new year. I think you’ll like it – some tunes by Queen, Blondie, ZZ Top – good stuff! Come hear it all at our next job, January 13th at beautiful Papa T’s.

See the young lady to the left? This is Maddie, a Mite goalie for the St. Jude’s Knights hockey team. You’ll notice she’s sporting one of our new Phoenix bandanas. Didn’t I tell you chicks rock? You have a chance to get your own bandana or teeshirt by coming out to a show and signing up for our mailing list. Easy, right?

I hope everyone had good holidays. I was real good this year…and Santa brought me everything I wanted. Hope you found good things under your tree, too.

Peace and love,
Lynn


10/13/2006
Hoo baby!  We've been busy the past few weeks.  After getting rained out, rained on and rain soaked at Berwyn's Oktoberfest, we came back with two great shows.  Phoenix phans rock!  Many thanks to Randy, Paul and Sharon at Papa T's for making us feel welcome.  Also, a big thank you to Brian, Debbie and the whole team at Murphy's.  

We've been giving a lot of thought to new material for 2007.  What songs or artists do you want to hear?  We always welcome your ideas.  We're also starting to book festivals for next summer.  Want to see us at your favorite festival?  Let us know.

I've still been whining about the weather.  Snow in October?  It's just not right.  Anyone have an extra ticket to Mexico?

See you soon,
Lynn


9/5/2006
Hi, everyone!  Sorry we've been off for a few weeks, but we've been relaxing, recreating, and reviving for an exciting Fall schedule.

But first...as always...a big thank you for joining us at our last two jobs, Murphy's and Maddy's.  Our loyal Phans were out in numbers at both shows, and we were lucky to have new friends in the crowd, too.  We worked ourselves into a rock 'n' roll frenzy at Murphy's, and brought the roof down at Maddy's.  Excellent!

Coming up, we've got back-to-back-to-back shows.  On September 23rd, we'll be back at Berwyn's Oktoberfest in the beautiful Depot District.  This is a great festival for the whole family, with food, crafts, activities for the kids, and live music all day long.  We'll be on the main stage, 4:30p - 6:30p.  Come see us in the great outdoors!

Look out Papa T's!  On September 30th, we'll be back in the best year-round beer garden on the south side.  It's always fun for us to get back to this club.  The food is great, the staff is great - what more could you ask for?

Then, on October 7th, we're very excited to be back at Murphy's in Mokena.  If you haven't seen this club, you have to get out for this show.  This is a great room and a great place to play.  The atmophere, staff, and crowd can't be beat.  Come check it out! 

But enough business.  Are you as depressed as I am about the days getting shorter and cooler?  I can't believe the summer's over already.  Of course, that means the nights are getting longer and colder, too...a good reason to get close with a friend....

Ciao,
Lynn


8/2/2006
Hey Phoenix Phans!  A big thank you to the very vocal crowd that joined us at Big Guys South.  You guys rawk!  Pics are finally posted on the Photos page.  (Thanks Papa Hallberg!)

Our summer dates aren't done yet.  Get ready for Murphy's in Mokena on August 12.  This is a faaabulous club...a huge bar and a great staff.  Come early to eat, and stay for a night of Phoenix-brand rock.

August 19 will find us at Maddy's Irish Pub (formerly the Wild Olive).  This is an up-and-coming club with a nice stage and plenty of room for you and a dozen of your friends.  We'd love to have a big crowd, so try to make it out.

I hope everyone's having a great summer!  I feel lucky that my weekends have been filled with graduations, weddings, birthdays, and lots of family and friends.  Enjoy it while it lasts...fall will be here all too soon.

Stay cool...
Lynn


7/2/2006
Many thanks to our fans for a great night at Papa T's!  And what a nice surprise to have some old friends in the house.  This is a great venue that we hope to be visiting for a long time to come.  

We also need to thank Ron and Karen for a great Independence Day party last night.  All your family, friends and neighbors made us feel welcome.  What a great way to start the holiday weekend.

Next, we're gearing up for Big Guys South.  Mark your calendar for Friday, July 21st....and we'll see you there!

Lynn


6/18/2006
Well, this week is the summer solstice, the longest day and most daylight hours of the year.  As Sheryl Crow would say, "I wanna soak up the sun!"  'Cause...well...it's good for you.  Vitamin D and all....  A good reason to play hooky from work....

We'll have the perfect opportunity for some fresh air this weekend when we're back at Papa T's in the best beer garden on the south side.  If you haven't been there, you need to check it out.  Great staff, a great atmosphere, and always great rock & roll.  We hope to see you there.

A special shout out to Rob, Edwin, Dino and all the folks at Pazzo's!  Thanks for a great night in beautiful Lisle last Saturday.

See you all soon,
Lynn


4/18/2006
I don't know about you, but I'm still recovering from a wild night at J.W. Holstein's!  A great crowd and a great club.  Thanks to everyone for making us feel welcome.

The band was out taking promo pictures this past weekend.  If you think it's hard to keep these guys under control in a club, try taking them out to a photo shoot!  We had quite an adventure, and took some great photos which will be up on the web site soon.

Next up is another new club for us, The Blarney Stone.  This club is a wee bit Irish...if you hadn't figured that out.  And I've heard good things about their pizza, so I think there's a thin crust with extra cheese in my future....

Love & stuff,
Lynn



3/16/2006
Are we ever going to have nice weather on a show night?  That's okay...not even pouring rain stopped our dedicated phans from making it out to Papa T's last Saturday.  Photos are posted, so check 'em out.

Work continues on our new demo CD.  Our buddy Craig has been putting in tireless engineering hours to make us sound our best.  As soon as it's complete, we'll hand out a few at an upcoming gig.

Spring is right around the corner (I hope!), and we're starting to book summer festivals.  If you have a favorite festival or outdoor venue, let us know, and we'll work to get it booked.  

See y'all soon,
Lynn



2/19/2006
Last night it was cold outside...but it was hot inside The Edge!  Thanks to everyone who braved the cold to come out and see us.  Check out the pics on the Photos page.  (And thanks to the "man behind the camera", Big Jim Swanson.)  

Hopefully, you enjoyed the new songs we've added.  If you have some song suggestions, we want to hear them.  Go to the Contact page to send us your ideas.

Grab a friend (literally) and stay warm,
Lynn



2/1/2006
Well, my friends, January was a busy month. We've been spending time with new guitarist, Roger Hallberg. He's an amazing player with tons of experience and tons of heart. Join us in welcoming Roger at The Edge on February 18th. Check the Calendar page for more dates including The Blarney Stone in beautiful Oak Forest.

The past few weeks have found us in the studio recording a new demo of your favorite covers. All the tracks are down, so it should be ready soon. Stay tuned for more information.

Our year is off to a great start! Hope to see you all soon -

Peace,
Lynn