Archive for July, 2006
Melissa Etheridge Live!
Melissa Etheridge
Auditorium Theatre, Chicago
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Chances are Melissa Etheridge wouldn’t have had any trouble selling tickets to three nights at the Auditorium Theatre on her own, though it’s safe to say she found additional leverage from the Gay Games being in town last week. “You have a very gay city at the moment,” she [...]
The Sword Live!
The Sword
Subterranean, Chicago
Monday, July 24, 2006
A funny thing happened after The Sword finished their second song Monday night: An audience member, standing toward the front of a packed Subterranean crowd, yelled “Black Sabbath” loud enough for everyone to hear. Sword frontman/guitarist J.D. Cronise smiled as he quipped, “No. We’re The Sword.”
DeVotchKa Live!
DeVotchKa
Subterranean, Chicago
Friday, July 21, 2006
When a band arrives onstage bearing a Christmas light-bedecked tuba played by a woman, you know you’re in for a good time.
Ane Brun, The Wood Brothers Preview
Ane Brun, The Wood Brothers
Park West, Chicago
Friday, July 28, 2006
The biggest Scandinavian singer-songstress you never heard and one half of Medeski, Martin & Wood on the same stage!
Early Man, Bad Wizard Preview
Early Man, Bad Wizard
Subterranean, Chicago
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Early Man nearly weren’t going to be part of this package for the Chicago stop. A complete van breakdown left them stranded in Texas for three days and the rest of their tour in question. But, thanks to a gun-toting, beer-guzzling local (not enough room here, but read [...]
Warped Tour Preview
Vans Warped Tour
First Midwest Ampitheatre
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Next month’s Lollapalooza features an amazing (overwhelming?) 130 bands in three days. The Vans Warped Tour says big fucking deal.
Honeytribe Preview
Honeytribe
Porter’s, Crystal Lake
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Devon Allman, scion of Gregg, is most definitely his father’s son.
Phoenix Preview
Phoenix
Double Door, Chicago
Friday, July 28, 2006
Transforming from Air’s understudies to a French pop band who don’t need to have the “French” part underscored, Phoenix’s transformation turned them into album-of-the-year candidates.
Tim Lee/Grant Lee-Buffalo Preview
Grant Lee-Buffalo
Schubas, Chicago
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
As a member of college rock also-rans The Windbreakers, Tim Lee (7/28, Martyrs’) fought the good fight. Grant-Lee Phillips’ (8/1, Schubas) Grant Lee Buffalo had a modicum more of acceptance, but likewise couldn’t crack the mainstream. Those days long gone, the road never leaves them.
George Thorogood & The Destroyers Preview
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
House Of Blues, Chicago
Sunday, July 30, 2006
The book was closed on George Thorogood long ago. So why does he continue to release albums? B-b-b-b-b-bad!
If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Mock ‘Em
IF YOU CAN’T BEAT ‘EM, MOCK ‘EM
Rockapalooza at the Arcada Theatre: Call it the Lollapalooza of tribute bands.
Spoon Reviewed
Spoon
Telephono/Soft Effects
(Merge)
Spoon’s place in indie rock lore was secured by their third and fourth albums. From here on — no matter if they license everything to McDonald’s or go completely off the deep end — they will be regarded as royalty. Originally released by Matador Records, Telephono and Soft Effects are being packaged together by [...]
The Gersch Reviewed
The Gersch
The Gersch
(Tortuga)
Mainly a footnote now Cliff Meyer has found success as Red Sparowes and ISIS, this collection of recordings as The Gersch sorts through his past.
Just Pharrell
Pharrell
In My Mind
(Star Trak/Interscope)
Second miss in a row from Neptunes half Pharrell Williams.
Boy Kill Boy Reviewed
Boy Kill Boy
Civilian
(Island)
Not to be confused with Rock Kills Kid, The Killers, Kill Hannah, or The Kills, London’s Boy Kill Boy drop an engagingly melodic, bandwagon-jumping debut.
