Archive for July, 2009
Cover Story: Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode Across The Universe Very few bands have endured 30 years, let alone remained relevant throughout the majority of their tenures together, but Depeche Mode is unquestionably one such elite anomaly. Sure, the electronic innovator has passed under the occasional dark cloud since debuting in the early 1980s (apart from the expected dips in […]
Heaven & Hell interview
Heaven & Hell Confidence Game “Nerves don’t do me any good, unless you’re going to jump off a cliff or something on a hang-glider,” says Ronnie James Dio. “I knew it was going to be good, and we knew there was anticipation for this.” Appearing: Friday, August 19th at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago.
Haymarket Riot interview
Haymarket Riot: Dischordancy Haymarket Riot aren’t new. The Chicago-based punks haven’t been recently discovered by some hip label or blogger who’s trying to spark a revival in a sound that doesn’t get much play or press. In fact, their third album has been available for four months already and garnered a ridiculously modest amount of […]
Other Lives interview
Other Lives Dining Out They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The five members of the Stillwater, Oklahoma-based collective Other Lives know this all too well — especially when mired in the relentless pace of touring the country in support of the band’s self-titled debut album. Frontman Jesse Tabish is almost […]
File: August 2009
THE WOODSTOCK EXPERIENCE Amid the spate of 40th-anniversary Woodstock product (see “Spins”), Sony’s Legacy arm believes five two-disc sets by acts who performed that long-ago weekend at Yasgur’s farm stand out. Listing at $19.98 apiece, each one comes with an original, and in most cases classic, 1969 studio album (no big deal, as those albums […]
Hello, My Name Is Dan
Hello, My Name Is Dan Q&A With 88 Fingers Louie’s Dan Precision IE: How long has this August show for 88 Fingers Louie been on the books? Dan Precision: Let me tell you this: We started practicing for it back in November. We hadn’t set a date because I’m a stickler with things and was […]
Woodstock revisited
VARIOUS ARTISTS Woodstock/Woodstock 2 (Cotillion/Rhino) By their very nature, cultural icons achieve a largeness beyond their mortal stature. Mona Lisa’s smile, the Liberty Bell, or Alberto Korda’s photo of Che Guevera all carry with them a weight of meaning that makes them outsized symbols into which an entire generation pours meaning. Seeing the reality behind […]
George Harrison compiled
GEORGE HARRISON Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison (Capitol) Two diametrically opposed camps have formed in response to this compilation. One wishes it had been two discs and included all of Harrison’s best work (his Traveling Wilburys songs included) and that the songs had been sequenced less haphazardly, both to reflect the trajectory of Harrison’s […]
Around Hear: August 2009
Alan Bailey evokes theatrical productions with the ambitious keyboard and string arrangements on Can’t Let Go. The forced wackiness of “To The Breaking Point” gets annoying, but Bailey entertains with fluid piano playing and inviting melodies on “(Don’t) Get Your Hopes Up” and “Release.” On the simple but charming “I’m Off To Bed,” Bailey sounds […]
Caught In A Mosh: August 2009
CASH TO FILL YOUR ALEHORN This column will only have marinated a few days by August 5th, but I’d be repentant if I didn’t mention the Alehorn Of Power, Chicagoland’s premier annual metal get together. There are some important changes in this, the fourth inception, so listen up. First, different venue. Double Door hosted all […]
Media: August 2009
PRINT NOT DEAD: TRUE STAR MAGAZINE “Print remains a viable media source, especially if you have unique distribution,” says True Star magazine co-founder, publisher and executive director DeAnna McLeary, whose free magazine for, by, and about local teens is distributed at high schools, YMCA’s Boys & Girls Clubs, McDonald’s, barber shops, beauty salons, libraries and […]
Gear: August 2009
MARSHALL MG2FX Portable Amplifier Marshall Amplification has added the portable MG2FX to its popular MG4 line of mini practice guitar amps. It offers a simple interface consisting of four dual-function knobs to provide access to 10 unique stage settings, five digital effects, a two-band EQ, and a tuner. As you expect, the MG2FX can run […]
Studiophile: August 2009
Studiophile August 2009 J-Miah At COMFORTZONE RECORDS in Oswego, J-Miah and producer Jason Mackniskas recorded the last two tracks needed to finish his debut album . . . On The House from Indiana University At Bloomington threw a three-song demo down featuring Brice Fox (vocals/piano), Bryan Flinn (vocals/guitar), Conor O’Toole (lead guitar), Ben Shulman (bass), […]
Coldplay live!
Alpine Valley, East Troy, WI Saturday, July 25, 2009 Once in awhile, a concert comes along that is so captivating in all of its parts that after its short-lived moment, one leaves feeling brighter and more inspired than before. This past Saturday, Coldplay brought such a show — complete in flawless, live performances and luminous […]
The Veils & Foreign Born live!
Empty Bottle, Chicago Thursday, July 23, 2009 Venturing out to experience Foreign Born and The Veils on Thursday proved to be fortuitous. Previewing the show last week, I wrote of a darkness on FB’s debut, Person To Person (Secretly Canadian), how you could trip over extension cords while listening to it, and blah blah blah.
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