Recent Articles
Stage Buzz: Interpol, Modest Mouse Billie Eilish
From “Bury a Friend” to “What Was I Made For?” Billie Eilish continues to captivate listeners with her haunting vocals, unique music approach, and confessional lyrics. In support of her latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, the singer will play the United Center across two nights with Nat & Alex Wolf. The shows occur […]
Stage Buzz: Bear Hands, Cursive, Destroy Boys, Damaged Justice,
Indie rockers Bear Hands surprised fans with the release of their first new single in five years, followed by their latest album, The Key to What. With a new record under their belt and re-signing with the newly reformed Contora Records, the band is ready to embark on the next chapter of their career. […]
Live Review: Richard Lloyd Trio with Ganser at The Hideout • Chicago
Richard Lloyd Trio with special guest Ganser The Hideout, Chicago, IL Sunday, October 27, 2024 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Richard Lloyd brought a taste of the formative punk and art rock movements centered at the New York City club CBGB to the Hideout of Sunday Night. The founding television guitarist brought his Richard […]
Live Review: Sixpence None Sixpence None the Richer at City Winery • Chicago
Sixpence None the Richer City Winery Chicago, IL Friday, October 25, 2024 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Sixpence None the Richer’s We Are Love tour is the band’s first extended road trip in over 20 years. The ambitious 50-date run stopped on Friday at Chicago’s City Winery for a sold-out show. The band’s […]
Stage Buzz: B-52s, Beat, Steve Wonder, Usher
Multi-platinum R&B star Usher dazzled audiences with his unforgettable Super Bowl halftime performance earlier this year. Now, the megastar is bringing his slick moves and soulful voice to the United Center as part of his “Past Present Future” tour. The singer will perform his latest and greatest across three nights starting Monday, October 28th, through […]
Photo Gallery: The The in Chicago
The The Salt Shed Chicago, IL October 25th, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Deep into The The’s second music set at Chicago’s Salt Shed, listeners were reminded how bottomless this band’s catalog goes. Now entering their fourth decade, The The (the chosen moniker singer/songwriter Matt Johnson has used throughout his career) broke their […]
Stage Buzz: Heavy Chicago Fest November 1, 2 and 3
By Kelley Simms Heavy Chicago returns to Avondale Music Hall in this weekend for a second consecutive year. Last year’s festival was considered a rousing success, and this year’s fest is already living up to its prestige. A fantastic lineup is scheduled for three sweat-inducing days beginning this Friday, Nov. 1, and ending on Sunday, […]
Live Review & Photo Gallery: Iron Maiden at Allstate Arena • Rosemont
Iron Maiden Allstate Arena October 24, 2024 Rosemont, IL Live Review by Justice Petersen, photos by Edward Spinelli On Thursday, British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden brought The Future Past World Tour to Rosemont’s Allstate Arena. This tour is a thrilling and satisfying spectacle for well-experienced Iron Maiden fans. Like the band’s Eddie Rips Up […]
Spins: Woke Mountain Boys • Afraid of Leaving Home
Woke Mountain Boys Afraid of Leaving Home (Independent) Long before earning acclaim as a documentary filmmaker (notably including 1997’s In Whose Honor?, examining the use of Native American archetypes in sports), Jay Rosenstein was a local hero on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign. His band Otis and the Elevators were roots-rockers with jam […]
Live Review: The Claudettes at Mary’s Place • Rockford
The Claudettes Mary’s Place October 18, 2024 Rockford, IL Review and photos by Jeff Elbel. Enjoying a busy fall season on the road, Chicago’s inimitable wonders, The Claudettes, swung to nearby Rockford for a return visit to Mary’s Place. The watering hole rests along the Rock River and is the oldest bar in town. “This […]
Stage Buzz: The Sisters of Mercy, Iron Maiden, Justin Timberlake
British post punk icons The Sisters of Mercy are hailed as the godfathers of goth rock. Known for songs like “Temple of Love,” “Lucretia My Reflection,” and “This Corrosion,” the band’s influence spans across generations. They even influenced tour openers Blaqk Audio. Catch the two bands at the Aragon Ballroom on Wednesday, October 23 […]
Live Review: Saga at Arcada Theatre • St. Charles, IL
Saga Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL Thursday, October 17, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos courtesy of Onesti Entertainment/Jim Summaria Fans of Canadian progressive rock heroes Saga can thank Onesti Entertainment and the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles for hosting a rare US headlining stop on the band’s It Never Ends Tour. On Thursday night, the […]
Hello My Name is Exene from X • LA’s Seminal Punk Band on their Final Album and Tour
   1977. In a word: Whoa. While it never occurred to me at the time, as a college freshman back in Indianapolis, just starting to cover music for my school paper, in hindsight, it’s 20/20 clear just how lucky I was. Arguably, it was the year that punk rock broke and sped past all […]
Photo Gallery and Reap: Jelly Roll • United Center • Chicago
Jelly Roll with Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay Thursday, October 10 United Center Chicago, IL Photo Gallery and Reap: Edward Spinelli Some call him country; others say his style is southern rock with a hint of hip-hop, although perhaps most accurately, it’s a hybrid of them all; no matter how Jelly Roll is categorized, the […]
Stage Buzz: Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party Film Screening
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ fifth album, Long After Dark, added indelible singles, including “You Got Lucky” and “Change of Heart” to the band’s canon. In the studio and on the road in 1982 with the Heartbreakers, Cameron Crowe and his crew rolled film to create Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party. The documentary was the […]
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