Lovers Lane
In The Flesh

Archive for September, 2008

Cut Copy, The Presets

Cut Copy, The Presets

| September 25, 2008 | 0 Comments

Cut Copy, The Presets Metro, Chicago Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Despite the fact The Presets weren’t so much openers for as they were co-headliners alongside Cut Copy last Wednesday night at the Metro, the group nonetheless preceded the evening’s final act. As such, there are customary roles to be acted out during the build into […]

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Neko Case live!

Neko Case live!

| September 24, 2008 | 0 Comments

Neko Case Hideout, Chicago Saturday, September 20, 2008 Neko Case triumphantly closed the Hideout Block Party’s Saturday lineup, returning to the watering hole that not only employed her behind the bar, but also helped propel her musical career.

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Vince Gill live!

Vince Gill live!

| September 24, 2008 | 0 Comments

Vince Gill Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet Thursday, September 18, 2008 Even before Vince Gill took the stage at the ornate Rialto Square, it appeared the evening would be a lot more stripped back than his usual trips through auditoriums and arenas. The country/bluegrass/blue-eyed soul crooner may have had plenty of guitars stacked up, but many […]

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Damien Jurado preview

Damien Jurado preview

| September 24, 2008 | 0 Comments

Damien Jurado Schubas, Chicago Thursday, September 25, 2008 Through nine albums in 11 years, Damien Jurado has tinkered with his musical aesthetics (morose folk, jangle pop, jagged rock) while habitually creating character sketches for potential Coen Brothers films. This year’s Caught In The Trees, however, traps the screenwriter into his own plot.

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Amy Macdonald preview

Amy Macdonald preview

| September 24, 2008 | 0 Comments

Amy Macdonald Subterranean, Chicago Thursday, September 25, 2008 Everything about Amy Macdonald’s This Is The Life cover art says mopey, heart-on-her-sleeve, “see me next week at Lava Joe’s Coffeehouse,” from her casual downward glance away from the camera to the acoustic guitar she leans on to the the digitally frayed picture borders. Don’t judge an […]

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Helloween, Gamma Ray preview

Helloween, Gamma Ray preview

| September 24, 2008 | 0 Comments

Helloween, Gamma Ray Pearl Room, Mokena Saturday, September 27, 2008 The Helloween/Gamma Ray “Hellish Rock 2007/2008” tour won’t go down in heavy metal history with the infamous Metallica and Guns N’ Roses matchup or the American, Slayer/Megadeth/Anthrax Clash Of The Titans trek, but it’s pretty close for power metal geeks.

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Mates Of State, Low Vs Diamond preview

Mates Of State, Low Vs Diamond preview

| September 24, 2008 | 0 Comments

Mates Of State, Low Vs Diamond House Of Blues, Chicago Sunday, September 28, 2008 It’s difficult to decide which is cuter: Mates Of State’s latest release, Re-arrange Us (Barsuk), or the husband-and-wife duo’s blog, “Band On The Diaper Run.”

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Gemma Hayes reviewed

Gemma Hayes reviewed

| September 24, 2008 | 0 Comments

Gemma Hayes The Hollow Of Morning (Second Motion) Former Mercury Prize nominee Gemma Hayes remains scared of her own voice, though she can’t hide from a number of flaws on her third album. Appearing: Monday, September 29th at Schubas in Chicago.

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Journey, Heart, & Cheap Trick live!

Journey, Heart, & Cheap Trick live!

| September 17, 2008 | 0 Comments

Journey, Heart, Cheap Trick First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Tinley Park Friday, September 12, 2008 New album, new tour, new singer. Does that cycle sound familiar for those faithfully following Journey? For those living under a rock, Steve Perry is long gone, his replacement, Steve Augeri, is out after vocal damage, Jeff Scott Soto was just […]

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The Walkmen live!

The Walkmen live!

| September 17, 2008 | 0 Comments

The Walkmen Metro, Chicago Friday, September 12, 2008 After critics wrote off their third album, A Hundred Miles Off, The Walkmen returned to the Metro, heads high, on Friday to rearrange the room. Armed with a more immediately rewarding album in You & Me (Gigantic), the New Yorkers alternately teased, punched, and hyper-extended themselves to […]

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Hideout Block Party preview

Hideout Block Party preview

| September 17, 2008 | 1 Comment

Hideout Block Party Hideout, Chicago September 20-21, 2008 People take Pitchfork Media album reviews very seriously. Very seriously. If today’s indie rockers are modern-day gladiators battling for fame and acclaim in the arena, that Web site wields the power with its 1-through-10 scale to make them heroes or remove their heads. Careers are made out […]

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Sian Alice Group preview

Sian Alice Group preview

| September 17, 2008 | 0 Comments

Sian Alice Group Empty Bottle, Chicago Sunday, September 21, 2008 American alt-rocker Ryan Adams refuses (or is merely just unable) to self-edit. Just because you wrote 15 songs for a particular album, doesn’t mean the general public needs to hear the lot of them. Save the filler for the box set, please.

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Dressy Bessy preview

Dressy Bessy preview

| September 17, 2008 | 0 Comments

Dressy Bessy Bottom Lounge, Chicago Monday, September 22, 2008 Being “associated” with the Elephant 6 collective doesn’t carry the same weight it used to. Shit, IE were at a coffee shop in Denver waiting in line for a scone when who turns away from the cash register with a caramel, cream-blended frappuccino? Elephant 6 cofounder […]

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Jessica Lea Mayfield reviewed

Jessica Lea Mayfield reviewed

| September 17, 2008 | 0 Comments

Jessica Lea Mayfield With Blasphemy So Heartfelt (Polymer) It’s easy to imagine Jessica Lea Mayfield standing at a party and watching a date whom she hates or a boyfriend she’s about to break up with — and penning her debut in her head. Appearing: Tuesday, October 28th at Abbey Pub in Chicago.

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The Suicide Kings reviewed

The Suicide Kings reviewed

| September 17, 2008 | 0 Comments

The Suicide Kings The Suicide Kings (Blue Plate) If one thing is made abundantly clear by the cover art of The Suicide Kings’ self-titled album, it’s not for kids.

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