Leor Galil - senior staff writer for the Chicago Reader

No Wristbands! We Drink For Free

Leor Galil is a senior staff writer for the Chicago Reader and has written there for a dozen years. His work as a freelance culture and music journalist has appeared in numerous publications, including Pitchfork, Rolling Stone.com, The Washington Post, Forbes.com and many others. We had a great time talking with Leor about what it's like being a journalist these days, what he sees in the Chicago music scene and all the things he loves about Chicago!

Time Stamps:

3:50: How do you choose the subjects you write about?

9:30: How old were you when you decided you wanted to be a writer?

20:34: When did you decide writing was going to be what you went to grad school for?

24: When you move to Chicago, what is your knowledge of the Chicago music scene?

26:21: How do you end up at The Reader?

28:27: Are you surprised that Algernon Cadwallader has resonated as much as they have?

37: Are you still pitching ideas?

38: Do you go to shows all the time?

40: Has writing about music influenced the way you experience a show?

42:15: Is the music writer community as friendly as the music scene?

47:25: What's the current status of The Reader?

49:15: What has made you stay at The Reader?

51:13: Is there a story you've wanted to do that you haven't had the chance to do yet?

54:37: Are you working on book ideas as well?

55:33: Was there a moment when you'd thought you'd made it/were living your dream?

57: Are you a Chicago lifer?

57:45: Are you a thick or thin crust pizza fan?

59: Favorite venue to see a show at?

60:15: What makes the Chicago music scene unique?

64: What have you been listening to lately?

66:25: What is the one thing you have to show people when they come to Chicago?

68: What is your go to cheap drink?

69:24: Anything to plug on your way out?