Lovers Lane
In The Flesh

Archive for November, 2008

Jason Mraz & Lisa Hannigan live!

Jason Mraz & Lisa Hannigan live!

| November 26, 2008 | 1 Comment

Jason Mraz, Lisa Hannigan Aragon, Chicago November 22, 2008 Forget about the screaming girls for a minute. Forget about the cheesy predilection for hats. Forget about the gimmicky routines instituted to spur a rapt crowd to simultaneous action and all the other reasons Jason Mraz inspires eye-rolling among those who wouldn’t be caught dead dancing […]

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Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, & Thrice live!

Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, & Thrice live!

| November 26, 2008 | 0 Comments

Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Thrice Congress Theater, Chicago Thursday, November 20, 2008 Early in their Thursday-night set at Congress, Rise Against performed against a massive backdrop with the word RISE looming prominently. It seemed fitting, as the band has risen from the ranks of suburban sensation to national power punk staple. And while it could […]

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Calexico live!

Calexico live!

| November 26, 2008 | 0 Comments

Calexico Metro, Chicago Friday, November 21, 2008 One can always count on Tucson, Arizona-based Calexico to throw a party, but a straightforward rock show? That’s like Dave Matthews crashing a White Stripes gig – strange, but not totally unbelievable.

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The Herbaliser live!

The Herbaliser live!

| November 26, 2008 | 0 Comments

The Herbaliser Darkroom, Chicago Tuesday, November 18, 2008 London’s The Herbaliser don’t make it across the pond to play very often. But in support of their latest album, Same As It Never Was, this hip-hop-rooted collective, led by Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba, stopped by The Darkroom as part of a rare North American tour.

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Jeremy Enigk & Alex Chilton previewed

Jeremy Enigk & Alex Chilton previewed

| November 26, 2008 | 0 Comments

Jeremy Enigk | Alex Chilton Bottom Lounge | Old Town School Of Folk Music, Chicago Wednesday, December 3 | Saturday, December 6, 2008 Jeremy Enigk hasn’t willed himself into obscurity quite the way Alex Chilton has, but as the former frontman of a beloved, obsessed-upon cult band his legend far outstrips his draw.

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Wanna Be An IE Intern?

Wanna Be An IE Intern?

| November 26, 2008

Intern Wanted! Chicago-based music monthly Illinois Entertainer seeks an editorial intern for immediate opening. Candidate must be passionate about all forms of pop music and have a feel for the local scene and industry. A background in journalism is a must, as is a grasp of the written language and a desire to hone your […]

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Wild Beasts reviewed

Wild Beasts reviewed

| November 26, 2008 | 0 Comments

Wild Beasts Limbo, Panto (Domino) It takes special circumstances to make the music public pine for hyper-literate, ultra-confident, flamboyant, British art-school types — but that’s the angular, post punk world we inhabit.

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Beyoncé reviewed

Beyoncé reviewed

| November 26, 2008 | 0 Comments

BeyoncĂ© I Am . . . Sasha Fierce (Columbia) The success BeyoncĂ©’s fans have handed her is disproportionate to what the former Destiny’s Child has given back. Currently she’s brandishing a singular talent to slice a project directly down the middle — and still render it uneven.

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Two Decades Of Century Media reviewed

Two Decades Of Century Media reviewed

| November 26, 2008 | 0 Comments

Various Artists Century Media — Covering 20 Years Of Extremes (Century Media) It’s not fair, but to review Century Media’s 20-year celebration, in which the renowned metal label has former and (mostly) present-day acts cover other former and present-day acts, inevitably turns into more a critique of the label’s current place in heavy metal than […]

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Omara Portuondo reviewed

Omara Portuondo reviewed

| November 26, 2008 | 0 Comments

Omara Portuondo GracĂ­as (Montuno/World Village) So, she has gone a little soft. Can you blame her? Omara Portuondo stuck it out for decades as Cuba’s starlet, and even smiled pretty when Ry Cooder dragged her back into the spotlight for Buena Vista Social Club.

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Terry Reid preview

Terry Reid preview

| November 19, 2008 | 0 Comments

Terry Reid Empty Bottle, Chicago Friday, November 21, 2008 Word on the street is Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham are trying to force Robert Plant’s hand (Plant said he has no intentions of participating in a full-fledged Led Zeppelin reunion tour) by holding rehearsals with Myles Kennedy, lead singer of Alter Bridge […]

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Lordi preview

Lordi preview

| November 19, 2008 | 0 Comments

Lordi House Of Blues, Chicago Saturday, November 22, 2008 Let us tell you how much cooler Finland is than the United States (notice I said “cooler,” not tougher, or more patriotic, or more armed or anything — so please no “Love it or leave it” e-mails”): Here, we mock, or in the least, dismiss costumed/masked […]

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Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival preview

Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival preview

| November 19, 2008 | 0 Comments

Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival Congress Theatre, Chicago Saturday, November 22, 2008 The 2008 Bluegrass & Blues Festival is neither bluegrass nor blues: discuss. Subtopic, the Saving Tiny Hearts Society benefits either way.

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Brother Von Doom reviewed

Brother Von Doom reviewed

| November 19, 2008 | 0 Comments

Brother Von Doom Relentless (Deathcote) Everything about Relentless, pre-CD-player insertion, says “totally fucking badass.” Everything about Relentless, post-CD-player ejection, says “total fucking waste of time.”

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Hotel Café Tour live!

Hotel Café Tour live!

| November 12, 2008 | 2 Comments

Hotel CafĂ© Tour Park West, Chicago Wednesday, November 5, 2008 Girls just want to have fun until it’s time for a soul-baring, singer-songwriter night. The Hotel CafĂ© tour rolled into Chicago’s Park West the night following Barack Obama’s historic presidential win and quickly sucked the euphoria left lingering from Election Day out of the room. […]

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