Illinois Entertainer

Common
Forever And Ever

It’s hard not to treat an interview/lunch with South Side-born rapper Common like a solemn occasion. He prays before he eats (mahi mahi with a side of fries). He’s impeccably dressed — pink dress shirt, grey vest, striped tie, self-promoted Sofi newsboy cap — and his speaking voice is considerably lower than it is on record. It’s not Barry White or Isaac Hayes low, but his tone is measured and lends him a grave truthfulness. When you both sit at a table in the posh W Hotel on Michigan Avenue near a gaggle of chatty women, you weigh asking him to speak up for your recorder.

Appearing: September 20th at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago.

• Read more: Cover Story: Common

The Magic Numbers
Shyness Follows

Prone to fits of giggling, Michele Stodart is just returning from her brother Romeo’s flat where the two 20-somethings engaged in a bit of a spat. While the occasional temper flare-up between siblings doesn’t surprise anyone who has one, the Stodarts’ unique position puts them in continuous close range and unlike the clichéd bouts of who is taking too long in the bathroom (although likely to happen as well), this pair’s battle of the sexes is pregnant with consequence. Their career depends on it.

• Read more: The Magic Numbers interview

Peter Himmelman
PIGEONHOLED!

Peter Himmelman used to be famous for three reasons: 1) being a critically acclaimed rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter signed to major labels (Island in the 1980s, Epic in the ’90s), 2) being an observant Jew who became the first performer of note since the Scottish Olympian Eric Liddell to jeopardize his career by refusing to perform (on “The Tonight Show,” as Rod Stewart’s opening act) on the Sabbath, and 3) being married to one of Bob Dylan’s daughters.

• Read more: Peter Himmelman interview

Hello, My Name Is Tom
Q&A With Tom Smith of Editors

IE: The lyrical phrases that keep popping up on your new An End Has A Start are bones, flesh, and death.
Tom Smith: Heh-heh. Yeah. A lot of the songs do have me mulling over or thinking about things coming to an end. But I dunno – the lyrics come from me, and they’re kinda personal, and they’re all a reflection of things that’ve gone on in and around my life. And for the last couple of years, there’ve been a few things that’ve happened that’ve made me . . . made me think about these things. I can’t stop these thoughts, these things coming through into the songs.

• Read more: Hello, My Name Is Tom

Michael McDermott
Born Again, And Again, And Again

It’s a flashback to the summer of 1991 — meeting in an Irish pub where everyone seems to know Michael McDermott, listening to stories behind the songs on his latest record. But there is something distinctly different about McDermott since we sat down for a cover-story interview for his debut, 620 W. Surf, 16 years ago. Though the submission to “the beast” as he called it back then – that uncontrollable urge to write songs – is ever-present, it’s the innocence and faith in the young troubadour’s pale Irish eyes that is gone, glazed over red with self-deprecation and doubt.

Appearing: September 6 through 8 at Davenport’s in Chicago and 15 at Ballydoyle in Downers Grove.

• Read more: Michael McDermott interview

Colette
When Push Came To Shove

As a DJ, Colette performs more than a hundred shows a year from the diverse worlds of Coachella, The Grammys, and an ongoing residency at Chicago’s very own Smart Bar, while simultaneously setting trends for females behind the turntables. As a recording artist, the switch hitter from Chi-town (who currently resides in California) is the leading lady on dance label OM Records, scored a number one Billboard Dance Club Play single with “What Will She Do For Love,” and landed her last disc’s title track, “Hypnotized,” on The Devil Wears Prada’s soundtrack.

Appearing: September 8th at Smart Bar in Chicago.

• Read more: Colette Interview

THE LIZARD KING OF QUI
David Yow, Resurrected

David Yow spent the ’90s laying waste to the alternative scene he grew to represent. As frontman for Chicago noise-rock kingpins The Jesus Lizard, Yow made a career out of sadomasochistic stage antics. He mocked Soundgarden, hurled cans of beer at fans, rubbed strangers, and wrenched his naked genitals to an instrumental called “Tight N Shiny.” He also sang. In gurgly, strangled monotone, he sang. “Sure I’ll have another drink with you,” the diminutive ex-Texan would slur, “though I’m already drunk as a bottle.”

Appearing: September 28th at Empty Bottle in Chicago.

• Read more: Qui interview

I mean It This Time

Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen swears his new album, The Last Sucker (13th Planet/Megaforce; September 18th), is Ministry’s last. At least until they release their very last record, Cover Up, an all-covers set planned for 2008. Among the tracks included will be previously released material such as Black Sabbath’s “Supernaut” and Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay,” as well as some new stuff like Golden Earring’s “Radar Love” and The Beatles’ “I Want You.”

• Read more: File: September 2007

The Elvis Re-Releases
Warner Home Video

You could say that Warner Home Video is commemorating the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death by re-releasing a healthy portion of Elvis’ Hollywood work. There’s a six-film box set, two “Deluxe” editions, and one giant oversight. However, “commemorate” is the wrong word. Let’s just call it what it is: “cashing in.”

• Read more: DVD Zone: September 2007

“Around Hear” is a monthly feature where a stable of IE writers review albums sent to us by local musicians. If you are interested in having your CD (must have a minimum of three songs) reviewed and are Illinois-based, mail it and any other media materials to 657 A W. Lake St., Chicago IL, 60661. Everything that meets the aforementioned guidelines will be reviewed in the order received. This may take several months.

South Side MC Awdazcate (pronounced audacity) has a mixed bag on his hands with the Morning Coffee 1.5 mixtape. Vocally akin to gruff NYC rhymer C-Rayz Walz, Awdazcate kicks some heated battle raps, but he attempts to do so much more with psychedelic explorations (”Rockstar”) and quasi crooning (”Basically”). Even for a mixtape, this is lacking congruity, but Awdazcate usually fills this void with his continual creativity. (www.myspace.com/awdazcate)
– Max Herman

• Read more: Local CD Reviews

Perhaps releasing a two-CD set in eco-friendly packaging was meant to preserve resources, but by offering 33 lackluster tunes on Unified Folk Theory The Giving Tree Band simply wear out their welcome. Songs like “Sunshine Baby” and “Where Am I?” capture the spirit of Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, but altogether ignore those artists’ insight and intellect. The group’s collective heart is in the right place; their melodies just need to follow. (www.thegivingtreeband.com)
– Jeff Berkwits

• Read more: Around Hear Page 2

Sally’s patiently spawned album Long Live The New Flesh (Paribus) is crammed with angular, clanging guitars and artfully damaged melodies. “Horrific Nightwear” is a joyously jagged wreck of crashing guitars and careening drums. Braided, blistering feedback splits “Ultimate Exposure” wide open. It takes tremendous skill to make such disjointed, spastic cacophony sound this beautiful and musical. (www.sallymusic.com)
– Patrick Conlan

• Read more: Around Hear Page 3

This month I’ll give you a rundown on some new records and try to whittle down the ever-increasing stack on my desk. But first, the debut of the new “Caught In A Mosh” feature, My F’n Playlist.

It’s pretty simple. A person of my choosing is given the hypothetical scenario one of his favorite band’s entire catalog will be destroyed tomorrow, and he gets to choose 10 measly songs to last him forever. Poppin’ the cherry on this thing is Scott Hedrick, guitarist for Cleveland’s Skeletonwitch, whose Prosthetic debut, Beyond The Permafrost, is in stores October 2nd (sample the goods at www.myspace.com/skeletonwitch).

• Read more: Scandinavian Sleaze

Crate
V-Series Tube Amplifiers

Crate have come a long way from their humble beginnings in the late ’70s, and their acclaimed and newly freshened V-Series tube amplifier series is a prime example of their progress.

• Read more: Alive & Amplified

At first glance it’s a story of a high-school kid versus his principal in a quirky schoolyard First Amendment stand. A student fought for his right to hold up a sign that read “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” during what may or may not have been a school fieldtrip.

• Read more: Bong Hits 4 Freedom