Archive for March, 2006
Gear: Part 2
Click here to return to page 1 GODIN LG EMG Guitar Godin‘s LG EMG black graphite guitar further cements Godin’s recent trend toward offering several guitars for heavy rockers. Godin’s press materials touts the guitar line with a “darkly alluring new black graphite semi gloss finish and full out, blistering tone.” The LG EMG is […]
Songs For The Soweto Generation
By Rosalind Cummings-Yeates To Americans, Nelson Mandela and Dr. Desmond Tutu may be the most famous South Africans, but if you’re part of the “Soweto generation” (those born in the mid ’70s to early ’80s, just before apartheid was abolished), it’s more likely the most notable South African is Thandiswa Mazwai.
Local CD Reviews
Still looking for a fresh female voice who didn’t get her start on “American Idol”? Chicago-bred Meg Allison may have your answer. Her debut disc, Missing Piece, is full of exactly the sort of low-key, heartfelt, story-telling tracks you’d expect from an inspired singer-songwriter who waits tables by day and plays her heart out in […]
Around Hear: Part 2
Click here to return to page 1. The sophomore LP from Cameron McGill is a convincing collection that demonstrates this singer-songwriter’s potential. Street Ballads & Murderesques consists mostly of ballads evoking McGill’s softer side with achingly sentimental tunes. The intimate poetic lyricism is accompanied by simplistic arrangements of acoustic guitar, harmonica, piano, and dashes of […]
Queen + Paul Rodgers Reviewed
Queen + Paul Rodgers Allstate Arena, Rosemont Thursday, March 23, 2006 After testing the waters, so to speak, overseas, the newly rechristened Queen + Paul Rodgers launched its first full-fledged American tour. Considering it’s been more than two decades since the original act stepped foot on Stateside soil, anticipation was high, though the stakes this […]
Electric Six Reviewed
Electric Six Double Door, Chicago Monday, March 27, 2006 Is a man able to smile for 90 minutes straight?
The National, The Cloud Room Reviewed
The National, The Cloud Room Double Door, Chicago Friday, March 24, 2006 Traipsing into town beneath an underdog’s flag, The National arrived at the Double Door having moved laterally since September. Though the press clippings piled on at year’s end, The National’s commercial momentum took a hit when Clap Your Hands opened for them last […]
Serena Maneesh Reviewed
Serena Maneesh Empty Bottle, Chicago Tuesday, March 28, 2006 Norway’s Serena Maneesh, having swung through town three weeks ago en route to South By Southwest in Austin, decided to topple the Empty Bottle once more before fleeing the continent — a final attempt to shake the club to its foundations.
Peter Hook DJ Set Reviewed
Peter Hook Smart Bar, Chicago Tuesday, March 28, 2006 For all the time he logged with Joy Division and New Order, Peter Hook is certainly connected to the club scene. Not only have both of the bassist’s bands been spun to death over the decades from the DJ booth, but they’ve also become unforgettable examples […]
Liz Janes & Create(!), Half-Handed Cloud Preview
Liz Janes & Create(!), Half-Handed Cloud Empty Bottle, Chicago Thursday, March 30, 2006 Asthmatic Kitty labelmates (home to Sufjan Stevens) rep the label on a Midwest jaunt, pulling on separate ends of Stevens’ nostalgic Americana.
Cracker Preview
Cracker Durty Nellie’s, Palatine Saturday, April 1, 2006 We were always sort of impartial to alt-rockers Cracker, who gained fame via a string of hits in the early ’90s. Sure, “Low” got on our nerves to the point that even today we change the station when it comes on the radio, but they weren’t the […]
Cindy Woolf Preview
Cindy Woolf Schubas, Chicago Saturday, April 1, 2006 Although nothing terribly unique or groundbreaking, bluegrass singer-songwriter Cindy Woolf possesses a couple things that many of her country contemporaries sorely lack: sincerity and heart.
Kelley Stoltz, Page France Preview
Kelley Stoltz, Page France Schubas, Chicago Tuesday, March 4, 2006 Studio wonk Kelley Stoltz, though he has toured extensively, won’t be one of those cats who’ll credit his modest victories to breaking his back on the road. No, his is a tale of the magic LP that had to circumscribe the globe before he could […]
Fuel Holding Tryouts For New Vocalist
95 WIIL ROCK is sending someone to Los Angeles to audition for post-grunge rock band Fuel. Turns out they’re looking for a lead singer and the radio station is sifting through locals, finding the diamond in the rough and providing one lucky someone with airfare and hotel accommodations to meet the band and possibly become […]
The Elected CD Review
The Elected Sun, Sun, Sun (Sub Pop) Rilo Kiley’s other side project doesn’t have the “indie tart stepping into the world on her own” angle. On its second album, The Elected preaches more from the gospel according to the West Coast.
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