May unofficially starts Chicago’s neighborhood festivals that include street closures, music, food, beer, face painting, etc. Last weekend I targeted a festival sponsored by local brewers Begyle and Dovetail in the Ravenswood ‘hood:
https://www.mayfestiversary.com/
These generous sponsors graciously donate 100% of admissions ($5 voluntary, but why not throw in a twenty?) to The Friendship Center (TFC), a professionally operated, 41st ward not-for-profit food pantry. Begyle’s homepage included this snippet: “Mayfestiversary returns on Memorial Day Weekend 2026! Begyle Brewing and Dovetail Brewery are hosting their annual spring party to welcome back Chicago’s best season and the 10th anniversary of Dovetail Brewery – join us to help reach 4 million meals donated to the Friendship Center!” The four million figure marks a time span of the collaboration between the festival sponsors and TFC.
https://friendshipcenterchicago.org/
TFC significantly benefits (again) of a cash infusion to a tune exceeding $60,000 over the weekend!! All-time high, which translate to over 500,000 meals. I have regularly volunteered at TFC on Mondays over the last two years, and years ago as a driver, Board member, and volunteer contact over a much longer period. I selected Saturday not only to support TFC, which last year earned the #1 ranking for not-for-profits in the 41st Ward, but also because Kelly Hogan (Mavis Staples) and Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers) would perform as a duo.
Both Hogan and Langford have been part of the Chicago-based, “alt-country” Bloodshot Records family over their careers. Among others, so have Alejandro Escovedo, Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Sally Timms, and my favorite, The Sadies. I last saw Hogan sing background vocals during headlining Tributosaurus’s evolution as Van Halen at a festival last year. I’ve seen the incredible Tributosaurus perform as CSN&Y, Depeche Mode (with Mars Williams on sax), Led Zeppelin, Earth, Wind and Fire, The Who…I digress. Knowing where to park within Chicago’s grid system, I donated cash and walked to the “Secret Stage.” Toney Honk played as I arrived. Brass, bass, guitar, drums and vocals combined for an infectious No Doubt groove with originals. I sauntered, bumped into two acquaintances, snacked on mac n cheese with mushroom, and listened to some live, funky dj music by BridgeBeats before I returned to the Secret Stage.
Hogan and Lanford did not disappoint! Hogan has a distinctive voice and Langford possesses swing. About four tunes into their joyful set, the duo introduced me to their new song, “Drone Operator.” I found the song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FizCiA-_wms&list=RDFizCiA-_wms&start_radio=1
Poignant lyrics, excellent harmonies, and great melody!! Here are the lyrics from two of the five-minute song.
I’m not really a soldier, I’m more like a guide,
Unintelligible (Langford is Scottish),
I’m the eye in the sky, that follows you home, right through the window,
They’ll never know (repeated),
When I was a young boy, I played all the games,
Straight outta grad school, someone gave them my name,
So I drifted into a job with good pay, a little lie, a little lie, lie, lie, lie…,
So don’t call me a coward, I know what is allowed,
I’m like a guy with a thunderbolt, sitting on a big white cloud [Palantir?],
Yeah, I’m a drone operator, I got targets to scan,
Sit drinking coffee, with one eye on the ground.
Great gig, “Hogford!”
Many thanks to Begyle and Dovetail for their overly generous spirit and ongoing collaboration!
The Friendship Center continues to feed the needy while honoring Leviticus 19:33.
