Archive for June, 2009
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood live!
United Center, Chicago
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Considering the nucleus of Blind Faith hadn’t toured together since 1969, it was particularly monumental when Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood performed a short set together at Bridgeview’s Toyota Park in 2007 as part of the Crossroads Guitar Festival. Given that evening’s rave reviews and the pair’s unfathomable chemistry following [...]
Better Than Ezra preview
House Of Blues, Chicago
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Most people you’d ask either love or hate Better Than Ezra, but the reason is probably the same: they’re full of hooks and they’re pretty good at fishing an audience with them. The band have never taken themselves too seriously, opting instead to show their fans a good time, [...]
King Sunny Ade & Femi Kuti preview
Ravinia Festival, Highland Park
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Nigeria might be notorious for constant political turmoil, but there’s another constant in Nigerian culture that everyone should experience at least once: participating in a raucous Nigerian party with non-stop music. If you don’t have any Nigerian friends, not to worry, Ravinia is throwing a blockbuster Nigerian party, also [...]
Q101 Block Party review
Charter One Pavilion, Chicago
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Mother Nature made a lot of people happy Sunday night, as she gave Q101, 311, and a whole slew of music fans a perfect night of weather for Q101’s annual “Block Party.” The not-quite-sold-out crowd enjoyed a beautiful summer night of quality live music, and judging by the endless [...]
PJ Harvey & John Parish live
Riviera, Chicago
Friday, June 12, 2009
PJ Harvey has never shied away from the dark spaces. In fact, they almost seem to define her work. So it wasn’t at all unusual to find her singing “When you call out my name in rapture/I commit my soul to murder” during the opening moments of Friday night’s show at [...]
Passion Pit, Harlem Shakes live
Empty Bottle, Chicago
Sunday, June 14, 2009
On the surface, Passion Pit are seemingly doing everything right. A synth and keyboard-heavy outfit, the group invite instant comparisons to last year’s heatseekers MGMT. What’s more, blogs across the Internet are heaping wild praise upon the group, with remixes of songs from the band’s recentManners (Frenchkiss) record beginning to [...]
Phoenix live
Park West, Chicago
Saturday, June 13, 2009
I admit to having hesitated seeing Phoenix in concert. Bringing their artful, yet precise studio pop to the performance stage seemed as wise as transporting a world-war-trending Risk board from the kitchen to the basement mid-match.
MOBfest preview
Various clubs, Chicagoland
Thursday, June 18 to Saturday, June 20, 2009
Now in its 13th year, MOBfest aims to show Chicago just how lucky it is.
Dirty Projectors preview
Pritzker Pavilion, Chicago
Monday, June 22, 2009
As far as indie rock goes, 2009 is the year of vindication. Brand names and especially newer artists (M.I.A., Vampire Weekend, Justice, Fleet Foxes) have had a stranglehold lately, but this year is different. Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimest is widely mooted as the band’s coming out, while Phoenix have finally proven [...]
Au Revoir Simone preview
Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Slow and steady has won the race for Au Revoir Simone. The fragile-looking trio seemed to have signed their own death warrant by holding fast to low-rent synths, individual and group introversion, and waif-y heroin chic. But this spring’s Still Night, Still Light affirms their blueprint.
The Wooden Birds reviewed
Magnolia
(Barsuk)
Ain’t no party like a dinner party, ‘cuz for a dinnerpartyyouneedaquietCD that don’t stop.
Appearing: Saturday, June 20th at Schubas in Chicago.
The Lemonheads reviewed
Varshons
(The End)
Do di-do-do do-do do-do, di-di di-do-do. What’s that you say Mrs. Robinson . . .
Appearing: June 19th and 20th at Double Door in Chicago.
Jason Shannon preview
Double Door, Chicago
June 12 – 13, 2009
The singer/songwriter game is rife with hurdles, not the least of which are inattentive audiences. Contrary to Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” rarely is anyone in the mood for a melody and leave it to pitchers of watered-down lager to keep ‘em feelin’ all right.
Passion Pit preview
Empty Bottle, Chicago
Sunday, June 14, 2009
You can’t win these days, so don’t even try. Passion Pit’s Michael Angelakos’ career came about accidentally. Dumped by a girlfriend, he turned around and recorded an EP’s worth of songs for her. Deciding they were worth more than this witless dame, he packaged them as Chunk Of Change, won [...]
The Plastiscines preview
Bottom Lounge, Chicago
Monday, June 15th, 2009
The Plastiscines, a Paris-based quartet of female musicians barely out of high school, showed a surprising command of American-style garage rock on their 2008 debut, LP 1., this despite the fact much of the disc was sung in French.
