Archive for May, 2008
Langhorne Slim preview
Langhorne Slim Schubas, Chicago Wednesday, May 28, 2008 Allmusic.com describes Langhorne Slim as “something of a one-man mixture of the Cramps, Beck’s early indie records (circa One Foot In The Grave), and the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou. Really? Because we don’t really hear it on Langhorne & The War Eagles’ newest album.
Duffy reviewed
Duffy Rockferry (Mercury) Sprung by a teenage Joss Stone, the female British soul renaissance exploded with Amy Winehouse and now enters the 21st century via Duffy.
Katie Sawicki reviewed
Katie Sawicki Time Spent Lost (Bent) An unexplored, possibly taboo subject in singer-songwriter land is bland, sit-com names (Ryan Adams, Josh Ritter, Amy Ray) to go with the coffeehouse music. In Chicago especially, we’d appreciate a local-sounding call-sign like Katie Sawicki. Appearing: Wednesday, May 28th at EP Theatre (1820 N. Halsted) in Chicago.
Scotland Barr reviewed
Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags All The Great Aviators Agree (Monkey Barr) “Nothing wrong” is kryptonite for roots rock albums. All The Great Aviators Agree even has the misfortune of using the word “agree” in its title; supply an “-able” and you have the advance word on Scotland Barr’s copacetic all-rightness.
Ministry live!
Ministry House Of Blues, Chicago Thursday, May 8, 2008 The first of Ministry’s four farewell shows (incidentally the first to be scheduled, leaving fans who jumped at tickets in the lurch) failed to be the celebratory death blow it promised, languishing in a mash of commercials, one-note punditry, and general indifference.
The Police live!
The Police Allstate Arena, Rosemont Saturday, May 10, 2008 Funny thing about victory laps – if left unchecked, they can go on longer than the race. This could be an apt description of The Police at Allstate Arena. Visit the official Illinois Entertainer Photo Gallery to see more Police concert pics.
Gigantour wrap-up!
Gigantour Aragon Ballroom, Chicago Tuesday, May 6, 2008 Decades ago metal was proclaimed the beast that refused to die. But now it seems to be merely immortal. Gigantour, which made its Chicago stop on its international tour at the Aragon on May 6th, showed how metal has maintained its infinite vitality. Visit the official Illinois […]
Dolly Parton live!
Dolly Parton Chicago Theatre, Chicago Friday, May 9, 2008 Those hoping to catch country-pop crossover queen Dolly Parton on her Backwoods Barbie tour had to wait just a little longer, thanks to a back injury. “I’m mending very nicely and will be fit as a fiddle soon,” the singer-songwriter said at the time. “And I’ll […]
The Helio Sequence preview
The Helio Sequence Empty Bottle, Chicago Thursday, May 15, 2008 Losing your voice as a singer is akin to a surgeon losing hand mobility – both seemingly spell the end of a career and bitterly so.
Arch Enemy preview
Arch Enemy House Of Blues, Chicago Monday, May 19, 2008 Though giving an interview subject one of your demos during your talk may be shaky ground when it comes to journalistic integrity, rock critics around the world should applaud Arch Enemy vocalist Angela Gossow for proving we aren’t just a bunch of musical flunkies who […]
The Old Haunts preview
The Old Haunts Empty Bottle, Chicago Wednesday, May 21, 2008 The Old Haunts frontman Craig Extine couldn’t sound any more like Jack White. And we mean that in kinda sorta the best way possible.
Keep Cool With Colette
Help Chicago’s very own Colette nab the title of “America’s Best DJ” when the blonde bombshell stops at Smart Bar on May 31st as part of a tour promoting the competition, now in its third year.
Kassin+2 reviewed
Kassin+2 Futurismo (Luaka Bop) Built upon the trio of Kassin, Domenico Lancellotti, and Moreno Veloso (the series’ first volume was by Moreno+2, the second by Domenico+2) Futurismo has a bossa nova backbone (not unlike pioneers Caetano Veloso or even Os Mutantes), but forces some not-too-subtle rearrangements that don’t ultimately redefine Brazilian terminology, but that generalistic […]
Torche reviewed
Torche Meanderthal (Hydra Head) A band called Torche releases a record called Meanderthal on the label Hydra Head. Sounds like a sure formula for beards, abstract song titles, lots of tempo changes, and eight-minute tracks, doesn’t it? Thinking-man’s metal, right? Appearing: Sunday, July 20th at Empty Bottle in Chicago.
The Black Angels reviewed
The Black Angels Directions To See A Ghost (Light In The Attic) The Black Angels’ debut, Passover, got a free pass from critics who agreed its dark-alley psychedelia was more than the sum of its obvious influences. But trying to tap the same black-tarred vein doesn’t serve them quite as well on Directions To See […]
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