Thu, Dec 19 - 8pm - $8

The Steak House Mints are Chicago's most refreshing orch-pop ensemble. The Mints are comprised of former and current members of Filter, Back Yard Tire Fire, Cabaret Diosa, Kick the Cat, & Maggie Speaks."Their sound is an intricate and beautiful style of orchestral pop influenced by the Zombies, Nick Drake and "Pet Sounds"-era Beach Boys as well as more global avatars such as Os Mutantes and Astrud Gilberto." -Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun TimesThe Mints are proud to have been selected by Chicago Metro Mix as one of Chicago's top ten unsigned bands in The 2009 Rock n Vote!

Leslie Hunt began her life in the Chicago area, playing piano and singing at the age of four. Through the years, she has performed on many stages in many roles, and has been celebrated all throughout her development as a performer. While many will remember her from her all- too-brief stint on American Idol, where she made it to the top ten females, the singer/songwriter has since matured at an accelerated rate due to various personal and professional setbacks.

Leslie performs regularly as a solo artist, enchanting rooms large and small with nothing but a piano and her voice. She also has a full backing band for shows that are less intimate, yet still wholly riveting. Leslie has also signed on as a vocalist for the progressive rock band District 97, sharing the spotlight with Chicago Symphony Orchestra cellist Katinka Klein.

 Raised in a creative family environment, Temple began piano, acting, and dance lessons at age 5, and classical voice lessons at age 10. She was considered a "triple threat," being talented in many different art forms. Where most kids spent summers playing outside, Temple had lead roles such as Annie and Oliver at summer stock theatre companies. At age 14, she left her hometown of South Bend, Indiana for boarding school. Her mature classical voice earned her a full scholarship to prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. Classical singing always came effortlessly for Temple, but her passion was in contemporary music. She remembers listening to Led Zeppelin on headphones while waiting to go on stage for Opera performances. Following her interest in contemporary music, Temple attended the University of Miami, FL, which garners one of the top jazz programs in the world. During her college years, Temple honed her performing chops in various cover bands on Miami’s South Beach club scene.

It wasn’t until Temple moved to Chicago in 1995 that she wrote her first song, Should I Believe, which the Chicago Reader called a “first-rate country song.” A first place songwriting award for her song, Wanting You, won Temple a showcase at the Mint in Los Angeles. Her many years of formal training has also kept Temple busy in other areas of Chicago's professional music scene. Since moving to Chicago she has performed with bands including Umphrey’s McGee, Tributosauras and solo artists including Gloria Estefan. Between writing and performing, Temple teaches voice, piano, songwriting, and guitar at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago and arts-integrated curriculum in Chicago Public Schools.