Archive for June, 2008
MOBfest preview
MOBfest Various Clubs, Chicago June 19 through 21, 2008 Long before Lollapalooza demanded the Chicago music scene’s complete and undivided attention, another form of festival had already left its mark on our summers. Despite also being a three-day affair, MOBfest might not dominate as absolutely as Lollapalooza inevitably will. Nevertheless, the music conference and showcase […]
Sanawon record release
Sanawon Beat Kitchen, Chicago Thursday, June 19, 2008 Nothing rallies people around a cause quite like music. Of course, you have to sometimes wonder if folks truly cared about famine relief in Africa, or if they just really wanted to see Freddie Mercury prance around on stage at the original Live Aid. Surely, Boomtown Rats […]
Mavis Staples recording live!
Mavis Staples Hideout, Chicago Monday, June 23, 2008 A night before Liz Phair arrives home at the Vic to recreate Exile In Guyville, Mavis Staples will rock the Hideout and record the sucker for a forthcoming live album.
Sloan preview
Sloan, The Golden Dogs Double Door, Chicago Monday, June 23, 2008 Normally, 13 songs on a CD would be considered pretty good bang for the consumer’s buck. When it comes to Sloan (who released Parallel Play on Yep Roc earlier this month), however, a baker’s dozen almost feels like a rip-off.
The Warlocks reviewed
The Warlocks Heavy Deavy Skull Lover (Tee Pee) There is hope for anemic indie pop. Appearing: June 20th at Logan Square Auditorium.
The Funeral Pyre reviewed
The Funeral Pyre Wounds (Prosthetic) Death metal must have fallen out of favor in Southern California since 2001, when The Funeral Pyre formed. Or at least that’s an easily drawn conclusion after listening to Wounds, where the group make a full-fledged switch to black metal.
Midnight Juggernauts reviewed
Midnight Juggernauts Dystopia (Astralwerks) Australia’s Midnight Juggernauts thump thump thump their French disco tastes the way a XXX-swilling, rugby-loving national should.
R.E.M. & Modest Mouse live!
R.E.M., Modest Mouse United Center, Chicago Friday, June 6, 2008 Comparing the R.E.M. of 2004 with the band of today is the difference between watching a dying engine tapering out on fumes and lighting a match over a gas tank at full-throttle. Much of the reason for this rollicking resurgence stems from the jangle rock […]
Photo Gallery Updated!
Vist the official IE Photo Gallery for new additions from R.E.M. at the United Center, Alicia Keys at Allstate, and Rush at the United Center, plus one metric boatload of pics from the 2008 Chicago Blues Fest.
My Blueberry Nights reviewed
My Blueberry Nights The Weinstein Company Starring Norah Jones, Jude Law, Jason Strathairn, Rachel Weisz, and Natalie Portman. First garnering American acclaim through Quentin Tarantino’s championing of 1994’s Chungking Express, Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai has since become known for his beautifully innovative camera work, affecting use of music, and poetic, yet lonely characters […]
The Explorers Club preview
The Explorers Club Empty Bottle, Chicago Friday, June 13, 2008 We compare new bands to their forebearers because it helps get everyone on one page; sometimes there’s no other way to describe them. Interpol sound like Joy Division, Godsmack like Alice In Chains. John Mellencamp was “Baby Boss.” But The Explorers Club really sound like […]
Donita Sparks preview
Donita Sparks & The Stellar Moments Double Door, Chicago Friday, June 13, 2008 If you check the Double Door Web site for info on Donita Sparks & The Stellar Moments’ gig, you’ll notice it says “ex-L7” in parentheses behind Sparks’ name. It’s a safe assumption, considering the grunge band haven’t released new material since 1999’s […]
Soilent Green preview
Soilent Green House Of Blues, Chicago Monday, June 16, 2008 There’s bad luck, there’s terrible luck, and there’s absolutely, god-awful, ridiculous, don’t-wish-this-on-sewer-rats, Soilent Green luck.
White Hinterland preview
White Hinterland Hideout, Chicago Monday, June 16, 2008 Casey Dienel must hold the classic Peanuts cartoon specials dear to her heart. The 22-year-old pianist emulates the legendary Vince Guaraldi on her second disc, Phylactery Factory (Dead Oceans), especially on “Dreaming Of The Plum Trees.” Instrumentally the song constitutes a perfect foil for our unlikely hero […]
Ladytron preview
Ladytron Vic Theatre, Chicago Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Ladytron’s electro-pop sizzle had to undergo a series of maneuvers once trends caught up with them. Their 2001 debut, 604 (Emperor Norton), remains a bankable continental classic, but for their fourth entry, Velocifero (Nettwerk), they go international by looking at their own roster.
Recent Comments