Archive for August, 2009
Solillaquists Of Sound live!
Subterranean, Chicago
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Solillaquists Of Sound calls its show a celebration, and with the unadulterated energy this quartet often brought to Subterranean’s compact stage, there’s not much to dispute.
Thecocknbullkid review
Querelle
(Iamsound)
That Thecocknbullkid was born to Ghanaian parents and was reared mainly in East London isn’t much of a tagline these days. If she’s looking for an ethnic success story she need look no further than down the road to Stamford Bridge, where one of the world’s most expensive footballers is from Ghana. Musically there’s an [...]
Pearl Jam live!
United Center, Chicago
Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
“We got a lot of emotion to get through tonight.” That was Eddie Vedder’s declaration to open Sunday night’s show, the first of two consecutive nights for Pearl Jam at the United Center. For Vedder, it wasn’t just another arena-rock show, but it also marked his return to sweet home [...]
The Cult preview
House Of Blues, Chicago
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The Cult frontman Ian Astbury thinks the idea of making albums is passé. The reunited band won’t be making them anymore (yes to maybe the odd song), but this leaves them more time for ideas like Love Live, a reproduction of a classic album in concert.
Jimmy Buffett live!
Toyota Park, Bridgeview
Saturday, August 15, 2009
By the time the skipper of summer cranked up the Corral Reefer Band at 20 past eight, the party was already hours old.
Dar Williams preview
Old Town School Of Folk Music, Chicago
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Dar Williams is handy enough with a pen that the GLBT community praises her for her humanizing insight despite being straight. But, like many from the Lilith Fair era, her music occasionally helps sustain rumors that a Sarah McLachlan assembly line exists somewhere. A visit to [...]
Modest Mouse preview
Aragon, Chicago
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Modest Mouse releases have always come with some deviousness (or deviantness), but with success things can change. Isaac Brock’s songs are increasingly mature, and when a summer tour coincides with a throwaway EP the air has a whiff of things dubious.
Lollapalooza reflections
Lollapalooza recap
Because we don’t want to rehash what went on at our live blog over the weekend, here we present Jaime de’Medici’s Lollapalooza notes. Enjoy!
The Duke & The King preview
Schubas, Chicago
Friday, August 14, 2009
Much of the talk of The Duke & The King centers on Simone Felice, whose weary, near-whisper was put to good use with his kin in The Felice Brothers. His story since proceeding with the D&K side-project is rife with tragedy and feels somewhat tailored to the debut’s cloudy tranquility. But [...]
McFest preview
Metro, Chicago
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Chicago-based music-marketing behemoth Jeff McClusky Associates returns with its third McFest, a local-music roundup that benefits Special Olympics.
Woodstock revisited!
Woodstock: 40 Years On – Back To Yasgur’s Farm
(Rhino)
What better way to spend Lollapalooza weekend than with a six-CD set from a festival nine-years your senior in air-conditioned glory? Take it from someone who wasn’t there!
We’ll be bloggin’ ’round Palooza when it comes . . .
Be sure to check in all weekend, as we post pics and summaries of Lollapalooza 2009. Just visit www.illinoisentertainer.blogspot.com!
DVD Zone: August 2009
Reliving The Cold War
Watchmen
Warner Bros.
After the glut of superhero movies over the past few years, you would think that the public would be starting to tire of the whole genre. Yet the success of Iron Man and The Dark Knight means it isn’t going away anytime soon. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad [...]
Tori Amos live!
Chicago Theatre, Chicago
Monday, August 3, 2009
Over the last two decades, Tori Amos has become one of the most prolific recording artists to emerge from the alternative era. With 10 studio albums in addition to a box set brimming with b-sides, the piano siren’s sheer output is a bit overwhelming. Especially when her 2002 album Scarlet’s [...]
Jackson Browne live!
Ravinia, Highland Park
Thursday, July 30, 2009
With six years between studio CDs and just as long since last playing a proper Chicagoland concert, Jackson Browne had no trouble selling out Ravinia, marking his fifth appearance at the venue since 1977. “It’s always a pleasure to be in Chicago and Ravinia’s very special to me,” he echoed [...]
