The Blues Brothers is on

It says something about how white bread crappy and embarrassing our modern movies are that the Blues Brothers is looking gritty and soulful. A big part of it was filmed in the old Maxwell Street neighborhood. I work right near the corner where John Lee Hooker is singing. Back then it looked like what I grew up thinking of Chicago being, dirty, full of characters - some dangerous, most just worth staring at with your mouth hanging open-so full of smells of grease and food that you could see it in the air, and so full of everything that you could find a wonder covered in old motor oil, and trash covered in glitter and the hair of pretty girls, some living, some dead.
Now, the 'hood, looks like Naperville. With a bit of Oakbrook around the edges. They even moved the last two polish stands indoors. But in the mornings the whole block smells like grilled onions and pork chops. If I close my eyes it is like Old Maxwell St., Chicago and my father are all alive again.

Oh, and I still hate Illinois Nazis.

Mood as reflexed by an old soul standard : I Can't Stand the Rain