Archive for December, 2008
Dark Dark Dark preview
Dark Dark Dark Heaven Gallery, Chicago Thursday, December 11, 2008 In 1998 the just-reunited and rejuvenated Kiss released an album called Psycho Circus. It sucked. Dark Dark Dark sound nothing like Kiss, but if any band deserves to call a record Psycho Circus, it’s Dark Dark Dark.
Monte Montgomery preview
Monte Montgomery Morse Theatre, Chicago Friday, December 12, 2008 Here’s why Monte Montgomery is playing at the newly reinvented Morse Theatre in front of sophisticated jazz connoisseurs instead of Joe’s on Weed Street for drunk, “oh there’s a band playing?” Lincoln Parkers: He can play the guitar like an S.O.B.
Longwave preview
Longwave Double Door, Chicago Wednesday, December 17, 2008 Other than local New York music papers, at IE we have the sneaking suspicion we’re the only magazine to have had Longwave on our cover. Granted, they were one of four bands in a now-embarrassing “next big things” buzz article (hey, we got Interpol right), but there’s […]
Warship reviewed
Warship Supply And Depend (Vagrant) There’s nothing wrong with incorporating a lot of influences and styles in an album, unless it makes it a big sloppy mess like Warship’s Supply And Depend. Appearing: Thursday, December 18th at Reggie’s in Chicago.
Civet preview
Civet Subterranean, Chicago Thursday, December 4, 2008 Judging from Hell Hath No Fury (Hellcat), Civet is awfully fond of The Distillers. Let’s hope that’s the case, at least, because the Southern California quartet is surely hearing plenty of comparisons.
The Gates Of Slumber preview
The Gates Of Slumber Metal Shaker, Chicago Friday, December 5, 2008 Apparently, we can’t deal with high expectations at Illinois Entertainer, because that’s exactly what we had for The Gates Of Slumber’s newest album, Conqueror, and either it failed us or we failed it.
Q-Tip preview
Q-Tip, 2K Sports Bounce Tour House Of Blues, Chicago Saturday, December 6, 2008 Some critics are trying to equate the timing of Q-Tip’s long-awaited sophomore album to the first time we met him, as a member of A Tribe Called Quest, as if he’s here to save hip-hop again. The Renaissance (Universal Motown) is pretty […]
Harry Connick, Jr.’s coming to town
Harry Connick, Jr. Chicago Theatre, Chicago December 10 & 11, 2008 What better way to slip into the holiday mood than four original tracks sprinkled among a 15-song collection and German football superstar Michael Ballack on the cover?
Neil Young made younger!
Neil Young Sugar Mountain: Live At Canterbury House 1968 (Reprise) Contrary to popular belief, Neil Young was not born aged 45. His hair was always unkempt, however, and so was his presence, as this 40-year-old document attests. Appearing: December 9th at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
Warren Zevon reissued
Warren Zevon Warren Zevon Expanded Set (Rhino) Introducing Warren Zevon always required clarification: He got a huge leg up from Jackson Browne, but . . . He hung out with the Mellow Mafia in ’70s L.A., but . . . For all practical purposes, Warren Zevon is his debut album, but . . .
Cover Story: Yes
Yes On The Road Again . . . Finally In theory, 2008 was supposed to be a banner year for Yes, with a 40th-anniversary tour (featuring the classic lineup of singer Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White, and new keyboardist Oliver Wakeman assuming his father Rick’s role) booked. Though buzz […]
Flogging Molly interview
Flogging Molly Alchoholics Unanimous How does a songwriter know when a track he’s tinkering with has grown into a well-oiled, crowd-pleasing hit? If you live in the remote wilds of Ireland, like Flogging Molly frontman Dave King, the answer’s easy — just grab your guitar, saunter down to your local pub, get oiled on a […]
Everest interview
Everest Neil Before Them Neil Young’s seal of approval surely must bring a few perks . . . like a tour bus. Not so much for Everest. The Los Angeles-based band calls Young’s Vapor Records home, but the quartet will squeeze into a white van to criss-cross the country along with Young on his winter […]
Mike Mangione interview
Mike Mangione Simply Put In a time when AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, and Metallica are rearing their salt ‘n’ pepper head, and their progeny fill the airwaves, singer-songwriters like Mike Man-gione, whose music is deep in the roots, are becoming endangered species. Appearing: Wednesday, December 3rd at Double Door in Chicago.
Gift madness!
The 2008 Holiday Gift Guide Helping You Navigate An Avalanche Of Releases Don’t just give it to ’em hard this holiday season; give it to ’em hard and heavy! We all know those terrible (great) Time Life infomercials where they hawk ’80s hard-rockin’ collections or “monster” power ballads, right? Well now you can get the […]
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