Illinois Entertainer

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 joked toward the beginning of Thursday’s stop. “I see some straight people in the audience and now you know how we feel all the time.” Of course, Etheridge welcomes all at her show, following up the statement with a laugh, and she’s certainly a hit maker well beyond those who share her sexual orientation. Perhaps the personal venue helped put her and the crowd at particular ease, especially given the fact she usually plays the enormous Allstate Arena, United Center, and even Taste Of Chicago.

• Read more: Melissa Etheridge 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.”

• Read more: The Sword 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.

• Read more: DeVotchKa Live!

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!

• Read more: Ane Brun, The Wood Brothers 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 the whole story on the group’s Web site) Early Man will be opening for power metal outfit Three Inches Of Blood Tuesday night, and we’re all better people because of it.

• Read more: Early Man, Bad Wizard 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.

• Read more: Warped Tour Preview

Honeytribe
Porter’s, Crystal Lake
Saturday, July 29, 2006

Devon Allman, scion of Gregg, is most definitely his father’s son.

• Read more: Honeytribe 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.

• Read more: Phoenix 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.

• Read more: Tim Lee/Grant Lee-Buffalo 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!

• Read more: George Thorogood & The Destroyers Preview

IF YOU CAN’T BEAT ‘EM, MOCK ‘EM

Rockapalooza at the Arcada Theatre: Call it the Lollapalooza of tribute bands.

• Read more: If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Mock ‘Em

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 Merge as an “in the beginning” overview.

• Read more: Spoon 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.

• Read more: The Gersch Reviewed

Pharrell
In My Mind
(Star Trak/Interscope)

Second miss in a row from Neptunes half Pharrell Williams.

• Read more: Just Pharrell

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.

• Read more: Boy Kill Boy Reviewed