Archive for January, 2010
Concerts For Haiti
Viaduct, Chicago/ Durty Nellie’s, Palatine January 30-31, 2010 Catastrophes are like elections in that most people participate once, if minimally, then begin creating distance. Some local musicians are here to call those folks out.
I Love Cover Bands
Uncle Fatty’s/The Coach House, Chicago January 25 – 31, 2010 We’re a little late getting into it, but here’s how the weekend shapes up for the end of this year’s cover-centric Winter Music Festival.
Movie preview!
American Artifact: The Rise Of American Rock Poster Art Gene Siskel Center, Chicago Saturday, January 30, 2010 Between this weekend and February 4th, the Siskel Center will be screening American Artifact: The Rise Of American Rock Poster Art, a film that praises psychedelic poster art.
Pravda Records 25th Anniversary
The Service, The Slugs, Boom Hank Abbey Pub, Chicago Friday, January 22, 2010 Though he’s never flaunted his wares like Touch And Go, Thrill Jockey, Drag City, or Bloodshot, Kenn Goodman’s Pravda Records confidently collected a reputable catalog over the past quarter-century and rightfully celebrates this Friday at the Abbey.
Joan Of Arc’s Don’t Mind Control
Empty Bottle, Chicago Friday, January 22, 2010 Even Tim Kinsella’s many detractors must admit his Joan Of Arc has been progressive. Over the years, he has been the stem of a rapidly regenerating art-rock hydra, shuttling collaborators in and out to suit his unpredictable musical ambitions. And Friday night, they all come home to roost.
Daphne Willis preview
Lincoln Hall, Chicago Wednesday, January 27, 2010 One more youngster with a voice that “belies their years” and we’ll start raiding their lockers for HGH like BALCO and Barry Bonds. Chicagoan Daphne Willis is 22, sounds 22, and writes about 22-centric things.
Andrew Belle reviewed
The Ladder (1L) Of the nickel advice we dole out to young bands, a stalwart is “if you’re going to release music, you better be able to handle people not liking it.” A lot of people might end up enjoying Andrew Belle’s The Ladder, but an equal number will look to light up message boards […]
Lady Gaga live!
Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont Friday, January 8, 2010 It was a good indication of the energy inside the Rosemont Theatre Friday night, when a pre-show video PSA, featuring Lady Gaga speaking out about the trials of abused and homeless gay and lesbian teens, was met with frenzied cheers from a barely teenage crowd oblivious to the […]
Tomorrow Never Knows festival preview
Schubas/Lincoln Hall, Chicago January 13 – 17, 2010 Schubas’ annual January to-do in Lakeview has expanded to 40 bands with the inclusion of Lincoln Hall. Strangely, the two rooms aren’t much further apart than the two most distant stages at Lollapalooza.
Jookabox preview
Empty Bottle, Chicago Sunday, January 17, 2010 Nearly everything written about Jookabox (formerly Grampall Jookabox) more than touches on Indianapolis. It’s customary to acknowledge a band or artist’s origins, but in this context it illuminates the music.
John Legend live!
The Venue, Hammond, IN Wednesday, December 30, 2009 In just five years, John Legend’s ascended from an underground neo-soul sensation to a full-fledged R&B star with a steadily expanding stable of introspective piano ballads and club romps. On a touring level, he has no trouble selling out sizeable theaters, which in the case of the […]
Andy Argyrakis’ Top Albums Of ’09
1) Yeah Yeah Yeahs It’s Blitz! (Interscope) Karen O and company deliver their most accessible punk-tipped offering to date, complete with a new found dance-floor sensibility. But even with the widening of their sonic palette, the group retain their gustsy charisma and raucous overtones.
2009 Top 10 “Forstnegers”
Late in the year, I asked our contributors for year-end Top 10 lists on anything they chose. Patrick Conlan, sick bastard he is, spent the year compiling his favorite “Forstnegers.” Each month, I, Editor Steve Forstneger, compile a list of the albums received at the office, attaching brief descriptions to help the writers pick what […]
Treaty Of Paris preview
Metro, Chicago Saturday, January 9, 2010 Well it’s good to have Treaty Of Paris back home and safe. Last we knew, the Chicago band had been abducted by a pack of fuzzy Flaming Lips companions and forced to play in forests.
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