Author Archive for ilentertainer
Hey Champ at SXSW!
Vice, Austin, TX
Thursday, March 18th, 2010
It was around midnight last night when Hey Champ took the stage at dance club/rock venue Vice, which, while hardly late by SXSW standards, was still almost an hour-and-a-half after than the band’s initially set start time. Yet the room didn’t seem to mind too much, as the assembled crowd [...]
Kid Sister at SXSW!
Beauty Bar, Austin, TX
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Chicago came at Austin hard on Wednesday afternoon, with a hyper-kinetic set from Kid Sister at the glam-dive Beauty Bar.
Megadeth live!
Murat Theatre, Indianapolis
Thursday, March 11, 2010
“We know why we’re here, so let’s stop fucking around.” With that Dave Mustaine declaration, Megadeth launched into “Holy Wars . . . The Punishment Due” and Tom Araya was immediately forgiven for the American Carnage tour.
Ray Davies live!
Riviera, Chicago
Saturday, March 13, 2010
A show that could have been billed AcoustiKinks ambled along smoothly if unexceptionally on Saturday night, until Ray Davies remembered from whence he came.
Scout Niblett preview
Schubas, Chicago
Friday, March 19, 2010
That Scout Niblett can make a recording so similar to PJ Harvey’s first two albums and have it be one of her most accessible really says something. Good thing they aren’t too similar, though.
The Appleseed Cast preview
Bottom Lounge, Chicago
Friday, March 19, 2010
While sure to upset a lot of bands (if not only because it calls them “emo”), “emo’s just a phase” is both true for a lot of youngsters as well as being to blame for some missed career transformations.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club preview
Metro, Chicago
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Disregarding their vampiric, L.A.’s Jesus & Mary Chain looks, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have worn a surprising number of hats in their underrated career.
Win ‘Blood Into Wine’ Tickets
Now’s your chance to win two passes to the Chicago viewing of Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan’s film documentary on March 25th.
The Black Dahlia Murder preview
Reggie’s Rock House, Chicago
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Although The Black Dahlia Murder has generally been described as a blend of melodic death meal with a heavy European black metal influence, the emphasis has been on traditional blast beats and rapid-fire riffs.
Empires live!
JBTV Studios, Chicago
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
When treated as concerts, televised band performances can be a mixed bag. It would be all too easy for artists to treat such a venture as little more than a promotional exercise, one that doesn’t “count” and ends up more phoned-in than anything. Which is what made last night’s Empires [...]
House Of Pain preview
Congress Theater, Chicago
Friday, March 12, 2010
This will make you feel old: It’s been 18 years since House Of Pain’s “Jump Around” was a hit single. Eighteen years. Seriously! (It’s been 13 since Notorious B.I.G. was killed!) So who cares about a HOP reunion now? This guy.
Ben Sollee & Daniel Lee Martin preview
Space, Evanston
Friday, March 12, 2010
Solo singer/songwriter Kentuckians get semi-Appalachian on songs bemoaning the mining destruction of the homestate’s environment.
Pumpkins auditions
Billy Corgan’s bassist Ginger Pooley has left Smashing Pumpkins to concentrate on raising a family, which creates an obvious void. Before you clamor for “D’Arcy!!,” Corgan’s going to the fans.
Heligoats preview
Schubas, Chicago
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Chris Otepka began Heligoats during his tenure in Troubled Hubble, an Elburn-based band whose reams of critical praise didn’t amount to much commercial success.
High On Fire reviewed
Snakes For The Divine
(E1)
By all reasonable accounts – ignoring the kinds of people who insist Mastodon’s Remission is better than Leviathan – High On Fire’s 2007 Death Is This Communion is its magnum opus. That’s partly because High On Fire is High On Fucking Fire and doesn’t bother with shit that doesn’t rule and partly [...]
