Lovers Lane
In The Flesh

Archive for February, 2010

Alkaline Trio reviewed

Alkaline Trio reviewed

| February 24, 2010 | 1 Comment

This Addiction (Heart & Skull/Epitaph) For all the grumbling that Alkaline Trio have strayed from the rawer sound present on the act’s initial outings, the three-man punk outfit don’t seem to have any trouble getting bodies out to see them. Appearing: February 27 and 28 at Metro in Chicago.

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Dr. Wax Farewell Concert

Dr. Wax Farewell Concert

| February 24, 2010 | 0 Comments

McCormick Auditorium, Chicago Sunday, February 28, 2010 To many artists and music fans, Dr. Wax was a Chicago institution. While the local record-store chain lost two locations up North in recent years — one in Edgewater and the other in Evanston — the impact wasn’t felt quite like the announcement of the closing of its […]

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Rocky Votolato preview

Rocky Votolato preview

| February 24, 2010 | 0 Comments

Schubas, Chicago Friday, February 26, 2010 Why is this man smiling? No clue. Singer/songwriter Rocky Votolato — if his work is any gauge — has lost just about every love-based battle he’s fought, something that hasn’t changed for True Devotion (Barsuk), out this week.

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Carolina Chocolate Drops preview

Carolina Chocolate Drops preview

| February 24, 2010 | 0 Comments

FitzGerald’s, Berwyn Saturday, February 27, 2010 It’s invoked to be provocative, but with an album as good as Genuine Negro Jig (Nonesuch) you almost wonder if Carolina Chocolate Drops have done their music a disservice by drawing attention away from it.

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Tinariwen preview

Tinariwen preview

| February 24, 2010 | 0 Comments

Old Town School Of Folk Music, Chicago Saturday, February 27, 2010 Tinariwen are exactly the sort of guitar band who you feel could break Joe America’s skittishness toward “world” music, yet stand in their own way. The title of their fourth album translates to “companions,” which suggests an unfortunate, one-world Benetton pretense. If people only […]

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John Butler Trio live!

John Butler Trio live!

| February 18, 2010 | 0 Comments

Lincoln Hall, Chicago Monday, February 15, 2010 Those concerned by the inherent radio friendliness of “One Way Road” – the first single from the John Butler Trio’s forthcoming album, April Uprising — can breathe easy. Using Monday night’s sold-out show at Lincoln Hall as a gauge, the songs populating the band’s fifth studio release retain […]

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Mariah Carey live!

Mariah Carey live!

| February 17, 2010 | 0 Comments

Chicago Theatre, Chicago Saturday, February 13, 2010 As someone who’s accustomed to playing arenas, seeing Mariah Carey in a theater setting could either be interpreted as a rare, intimate treat for die-hards or an indication that she can’t quite sell as many tickets anymore. Sure, two sold-out nights at the Chicago Theatre aren’t anything to […]

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Wild Beasts preview

Wild Beasts preview

| February 17, 2010 | 0 Comments

Schubas, Chicago Friday, February 19, 2010 Looking back, Wild Beasts could have gotten away with about anything on their debut, Limbo, Panto (Domino). One unhinged instrument sounds even less controlled when the rest of the orchestra moves in time, so why not air them all out?

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El Perro Del Mar preview

El Perro Del Mar preview

| February 17, 2010 | 0 Comments

Lincoln Hall, Chicago Monday, February 22, 2010 No one cares about it, but my love/hate affair with El Perro Del Mar’s music has been documented on this site. Icy, repellant, a feast for Kate Bush fans — she’s upsetting but compellingly sure of her direction.

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Vitalic preview

Vitalic preview

| February 17, 2010 | 0 Comments

Empty Bottle, Chicago Tuesday, February 23, 2010 It’s hard to imagine Blade Runner zealots — what with the bleak fate of the world and all — being big dance-music fans, but if they were, Vitalic would rate pretty highly.

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Pictures Of Then reviewed

Pictures Of Then reviewed

| February 17, 2010 | 0 Comments

The Wicked Sea (self-released) Minneapolis-based Pictures Of Then have gambled by making their name a reference to the past, though it doesn’t turn out to be so much of a risk. Appearing: Tuesday, February 23rd at Elbo Room in Chicago.

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Robert Earl Keen Jr. preview

Robert Earl Keen Jr. preview

| February 10, 2010 | 0 Comments

Joe’s, Chicago Friday, February 12, 2010 Years ago, all the CMA hubbub about Taylor Swift probably wouldn’t cost Texan Robert Earl Keen much sleep. The country singer/songwriter didn’t get angry — he just killed.

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The Devil Wears Prada preview

The Devil Wears Prada preview

| February 10, 2010 | 0 Comments

House Of Blues, Chicago Monday, February 15th, 2010   Though they have a reputation, perhaps well deserved, as dim-witted, vulgar miscreants, few fans get as passionate about their favorite bands as the metal crowd. Vocal style, drop tunings, beat count, and breakdown depth are all considered to determine if a band merits worth. Indie kids […]

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Phantogram preview

Phantogram preview

| February 10, 2010 | 1 Comment

Schubas, Chicago Wednesday, February 17, 2010 We repeatedly come across — whether coincidental or planned — revived musical styles. It’s not quite at the point of (the erroneously reported) “nothing more can be invented” quote from a 19th century patent-office employee, but bands find remarkable ways to invoke the past.

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La Roux live!

La Roux live!

| February 3, 2010 | 2 Comments

Lincoln Hall, Chicago Monday, February 1, 2010 You could be excused for thinking there might be some sense of, if not outrage, mild resentment following the completion of La Roux’s set Monday night at Lincoln Hall. The event served as the make-up date for a previously canceled concert in October and, judging by the obviously […]

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