The Chicago Chapter, in partnership with the GRAMMY Foundation, hosted a GRAMMY SoundCheck with Sub Pop recording artists the Shins on Feb. 10 at the Congress Theater in Chicago. The event gave 15 GRAMMY University Network members a chance to go behind-the-scenes of a nationally touring live act. The session began with an intimate question-and-answer session led by Project Manager Sarah Mudler, with band members James Mercer, Jesse Sandoval, Marty Crandall, Eric Johnson and Dave Hernandez. The group discussed how they got their start in the music industry, how they find inspiration for their unique style of music, what it is like to be from Albuquerque as opposed to a better-known music city, and their personal experiences of what their life is like on and off tour. The students were excited to hear that Johnson actually spent a few years attending Chicago's own Columbia College.
After the question-and-answer session and a few group photos, the students watched the band’s sound check as Chapter staff answered questions and filled the students in on all the intricacies involved in a pre-production sound check.