Archive for December, 2007
Back in the new year
Weekly Non-Update
Illinois Entertainer would like to wish you and your family a happy holiday. Our next online update will be Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008. We hope to see you then.
Duran Duran live
Duran Duran
Chicago Theatre, Chicago
Friday, December 14, 2007
For those who think Duran Duran went off the deep end by working with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake on its new CD, step outside the ’80s and consider the basics. To start with, Red Carpet Massacre (Epic), is loaded with robust beats destined for the dance floor, undercut by [...]
Wu-Tang live
Wu-Tang Clan
Metro, Chicago
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Less than four months after successfully headlining the Rock The Bells hip-hop festival at Northerly Island, the Wu-Tang Clan returned to Chicago to kick off a 25-stop nationwide tour. Not so surprisingly, the group’s producer-on-the-mic, Rza, was the only absent member at the Metro.
Silverchair live
Silverchair
House Of Blues, Chicago
Thursday, December 12, 2007
In an iTunes-dominated era, five years is a lifetime between albums. It not only puts act’s longevity in jeopardy, but can find a fanbase shift a complete generation. Though Silverchair tempted fate by stalling for a half decade, the time was clearly well spent.
Chloe Day preview
Chloe Day
Elbo Room, Chicago
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Perusing Chloe Day’s online picture gallery isn’t so different than listening to one of her CDs. It’s the same person in each one of those pictures, just like it’s the same voice on each one of those songs, but there are a lot of different personalities.
Mer preview
Mer
Cubby Bear, Chicago
Friday, December 28, 2007
Mer infuses a jazzy flair into the worn out genre of college rock. Like the O.A.R. of past (before they started purposefully writing radio singles), Edmer Abante — the man behind the pseudonym — breezily sings about unrequited love and relationships in an upbeat, bouncy tempo that frat guys won’t [...]
Holiday Food Drive
Metro’s Your Home For The Holidays
The horn blast has sounded! Beckon the call ye college students, out-of-towners, and those still here to party with them by rolling down to Metro this weekend. Co-sponsored by WLUW and Chicago Independent Radio Project, a weekend of hot showcases doubles as a food drive.
The Ocean reviewed
The Ocean
Precambrian
(Metal Blade)
Berlin-based prog metallers The Ocean take their chosen moniker seriously, filling the Precambrian seas with all manner of metal-related creatures.
Dewey Cox live!
Dewey Cox
Cubby Bear, Chicago
Thursday, December 6, 2007
South Side native and Brother Rice graduate John C. Reilly is a rock star. This designation may confuse anyone familiar with the Academy Award nominee’s past appearances in Chicago, Boogie Nights, and The River Wild because Reilly resembles Fozzy Bear more than Elvis. But, as Dewey Cox in Judd [...]
Patterson Hood live!
Patterson Hood
Empty Bottle, Chicago
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Despite the growing popularity of his main gig fronting Drive-By Truckers, Patterson Hood has struggled to keep his solo career on track. Trying to will the (eventually) forthcoming Murdering Oscar (And Other Love Songs) into existance, he skipped a friend’s wedding to promo it during the second of two [...]
Michael McDonald live!
Michael McDonald
Chicago Theatre, Chicago
Thursday, December 6, 2007
As a man with many artistic personas, it’s not always easy to guess exactly how Michael McDonald will put together a set list. Based on his latest CD, Through the Many Winters, A Christmas Album, seasonal offerings were a sure-fire bet. They were presented in ample amounts with varying [...]
Fair To Midland preview
Fair To Midland
Austin’s, Libertyville
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Fair To Midland are oddballs, at least by major-label standards. Maybe not Bjork or Captain Beefheart odd, but certainly more adventurous than a bulk of heavy music released nowadays by majors. In fact when the band were shopping their demo for a record deal, they didn’t even bother [...]
My My My preview
My My My
Elbo Room, Chicago
Saturday, December 15, 2007
How many times does Craigslist deliver a happy ending? For Russell Baylin, the Web site with everything issued the Addison, Illinois singer/guitarist four like-minded musicians.
Charlie Louvin preview
Charlie Louvin
Schubas, Chicago
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Charlie Louvin is older than the Grammys. Though nominated at 80-years-old for an album that turns a blind eye to modern country music, you can probably guess he doesn’t care about them, either.
Plain White T’s reviewed
Plain White T’s
Stop
(Fearless)
Given how loosely the Grammys regard the “Best New Artist” category — four of this year’s five contestants have been nominated for a second or third album — it was quite a surprise Lombard’s Plain White T’s didn’t get the nod. Fearless Records publicizing a reissue of the band’s second album might have [...]
