Archive for February, 2008
Beat Of His Own Drum
Ten years on the road with blues great Lonnie Brooks helped drummer Patrick Doody hone his chops as a professional musician before dabbling in recording. It was actually Brooks who spurred Doody to broaden his career aspirations when he toyed with the idea of retiring back in 2000 and told his fun-loving drummer to start […]
Deep Down In Alabama
Honeydripper is the latest film by independent filmmaker John Sayles (The Brother From Another Planet, Return Of The Secaucus Seven, Sunshine State). Sayles has created a musical fable – a compelling mixture of blues, myth, and history woven beautifully by a novel-like script, surrealistic camera angles, and a stellar ensemble cast.
Bon Jovi live
Bon Jovi United Center, Chicago Saturday, February 23, 2008 The boys in Bon Jovi never fail to capitalize on the periphery fluff that made them household names. Sure, now-classic songs “Wanted Dead Or Alive” and “You Give Love A Bad Name” from 1986’s chart topping Slippery When Wet fanned the flame of their popularity, but […]
James Blunt live
James Blunt Riviera Theatre, Chicago Friday, February 22, 2008 James Blunt needs to watch a tape of himself performing so he can work on eliminating the wacky faces his mug contorts into mid-song. They’re a cross between disconcerting and just plain weird. Click here for a full photo set from Friday’s show.
Shannon Wright live
Shannon Wright Schubas, Chicago Friday, February 22, 2008 Shannon Wright’s fifth album, Let In The Light (Quarterstick), dropped the guitars from 2005’s Over The Sun like a three-headed kitten. But such a feline has more than the customary nine lives and Wright cashed one in Friday at Schubas.
Ludo preview
Ludo Metro, Chicago Thursday, February 28, 2008 Unlike the band’s namesake, Ludo bears no resemblance to the gigantic, dumpy creature with a heart of gold in Jim Henson’s 1986 cult film, Labyrinth. Actually, take that back, the St. Louis-based quintet does embody a sound as enormous as Henson’s creation and flirts with darkly comedic subject […]
Tim Mahoney preview
Tim Mahoney Duffy’s, Chicago Monday, March 4, 2008 The name on the album cover says Tim Mahoney, but you might as well call him Frank, Joe, or Larry – even Moe or Curly for that matter. You aren’t going to remember his name after hearing Stay/Leave anyway.
Night Schools Of Rock
Free Musicians Panels Who says nothing’s free? A pair of music discussions dot the next couple of weeks with the hopes of gripping you by your green ears and teaching you what’s what in the industry.
Stax Vs. Motown & The Beatles
Various Artists Soulsville Sings Hitsville/Stax Does The Beatles (Stax) Stax always seemed an underdog American soul label despite its size and pivotal existence, and its modern-day revival under Concord Music Group’s tutelage is well deserved. But that doesn’t mean it recorded more gold than it knew what to do with.
Graveyard reviewed
Graveyard Graveyard (Tee Pee) One day Tee Pee and Kemado Records should merge. If they do, their stoner bands will comprise one hell of a compilation.
A.A. Bondy live!
A.A. Bondy Beat Kitchen, Chicago Thursday, February 14, 2008 In his previous life, A.A. Bondy was Scott Bondy, frontman for Verbena, dirty sexy Southern grunge darlings from Birmingham, Alabama who burned hot fast then fizzled before they had a chance to warm up to more than a small but staunchly devoted following. The band’s implosion […]
Nicole Atkins & The Sea preview
Nicole Atkins & The Sea Subterranean, Chicago Thursday, February 21, 2008 Accolades for Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black were well-earned, though the album’s old-R&B/hip-hop marriage was clearly contrived and felt occasionally forced. Nicole Atkins can’t touch Winehouse for personality or moxy, but her Neptune City (Red Ink/Columbia) is decidedly less self-conscious about its chosen idiom.
John Ralston preview
John Ralston Schubas, Chicago Thursday, February 21, 2008 Like the wolf brigade of recent times (Wolf Parade, Wolf Eyes, Wolfmother), is a vampire resurgence on the rise? Vampire Weekend already have the indie press tied up in knots and now John Ralston’s sophomore release, Sorry Vampire (Vagrant), follows suit. The South Florida native didn’t leave […]
Singer preview
Singer Subterranean, Chicago Friday, February 22, 2008 There’s a classic part (or two) in This Is Spinal Tap where Nigel, David, and Derek attempt to harmonize their vocals while singing “Heartbreak Hotel,” inspired by the fact they’re visiting The King’s grave. It’s hard, when listening to Singer’s Unhistories (Drag City), not to think about that […]
Dengue Fever preview
Dengue Fever Empty Bottle, Chicago Wednesday, February 27, 2008 Ry Cooder aside, American rock musicians are all about approximating or idealizing when chasing foreign tones. Not to pick on Beirut or Devotchka, but their only authenticity is the indie rock underpinning. Ethan and Zac Holtzman didn’t want to be total charlatans when they formed L.A.’s […]
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