It’s 1978. Elwood Blues is still struggling with the effects of his brother’s imprisonment. The Blues Brothers, “once a group as mean and righteous as a fist,” has disbanded. Barely avoiding the long arm of the law, he works a steady job at Propellants Packaging Corp. and has largely retired from music.
Not far away, Bookends, an investigative agency formed by Cliff Mickens and Naz Heidari (private investigators and exes), is digging into (and sometimes running surveillance for) workplace misconduct and corruption in Chicagoland, including claims of plans to kick out small businesses to establish more lucrative stores. One such small business is Ray’s Music Exchange and Pawn Shop, owned by Cliff’s uncle. Cliff and Naz work in close (and illegal) connection with Lara Carvajal, a bar/venue owner and former hippie from San Francisco.
All three of them know the Blues Brothers somehow. Naz caught a show while traveling in college (and, working as a casual promoter at the time, tried to persuade them to perform in New York; that never materialized). Cliff covered drums on two of their weekend shows in 1976. Lara’s spot, the Burley Leaf, has hosted the Blues Brothers on several occasions.
Over the next two years, paths will re-cross, bonds will strengthen, stakes will rise, and music will flow.
Commission by the incomparable @quiddling. Thanks so much for your brilliant work! You captured my mischievous trio so damn well.
Brief bios (plus a surprise character!) under the cut.