Archive for June, 2019
Live Review: Jennifer Lopez at United Center
Jennifer Lopez United Center, Chicago Saturday, June 29, 2019 When it comes to all-around entertainers, Jennifer Lopez stands in a transfixing class entirely her own, whether she’s bursting out of stereo speakers, sparkling on the silver screen or leaping off a television into the average living room. Yet experiencing J.Lo on stage is […]
Photo Gallery: Julien Baker at House of Vans Chicago
For the past few years, Chicago’s House Of Vans has booked artists to perform in their intimate clubhouse on the city’s near West Side and invites those artists to curate the evening. This past week saw singer/songwriter Julien Baker grace the stage with nothing but her guitar, keyboard and her unbelievably expressive vocal cords. She […]
Photo Gallery: Vampire Weekend at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Vampire Weekend doubled down on the dads this past, um, weekend. The New York band brought their “Father Of The Bride” tour to Chicago’s lakefront on the male-est of the Hallmark Holiday’s, Fathers Day. After a six year (!) lapse in between releases, their 2019 album-whose album title is eponymous with their tour name-the band […]
Advertiser Message – Stage Buzz: Scott Stapp at 1175, Kansasville, WI
Creed singer Scott Stapp has indicated the band is finally in a good place personally after several years of a mini legal cold war, but that hasn’t slowed down his solo career. Stapp’s third solo album The Space Between the Shadows, mines heavy autobiographical territory, especially with his first single. “Purpose for Pain,” is Stapp’s […]
Photo Gallery: 101.1 WKQX PIQNIQ at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
All things considered, not a great day for a Piqniq. But did that stop the dedication of concert goers? Nope! The rain started early in Tinley Park during Piqniq 2019, the annual summer showcase hosted by Chicago’s alt-rock station, 101.1 WKQX. Ten bands were spread out over two stages with an inviting come-early-and-stay-late vibe presiding. […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Paul McCartney at The TaxSlayer Center Moline, IL
Paul McCartney TaxSlayer Center Moline Tuesday, June 11, 2019 If there’s anyone on earth who could kick up their feet and collect royalty checks until kingdom come, it’s Paul McCartney, who besides flying high with Wings and steadily cranking out solo material or duets with everyone from his late frenemy Michael Jackson to current conquerors […]
Live Review: David Crosby at Arcada Theatre
An Evening with David Crosby and Friends Monday, May 13, 2019 The Arcada Theatre There is something about being in the presence of David Crosby that is oddly reassuring. It’s a bit ineffable to explain this irrefutable comfort the audience seems to be feeling as a result of the undeniably ‘hip’ vibe emanating […]
Photo Gallery: Billy Eilish at United Center
Billie Eilish is an old soul. There can be no other explanation as to how the 17 year-old phenomenon has so completely tapped into the human and emotional condition of her generation. Originally scheduled for the considerably smaller Aragon Ballroom (capacity 5000), tickets disappeared as quickly as they were made available, so a second show […]
Spins: The Mekons, Signal The Launch, Foreigner, Journey
The Mekons Deserted (Bloodshot) This isn’t the Joshua Tree that U2 wrote about 30 years ago. But peering into their crystal ball, you would think they’d approve (and be disturbed) by the Mekons version of southern California’s treasured landmark inspiration on Deserted. Climate change, industrial expansion, government shutdowns, and neglect threaten Joshua Tree National Forest, […]
Photo Gallery: Vince Neil, Sammy Hagar and Don Felder at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Who says the dinosaurs are extinct?!? It was all evidence to the contrary this past weekend. Tinley Park’s Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre played host to a collection of T-Rex sized retro rockers. Sammy Hagar and The Circle, which consists of Hagar, his former Van Halen bandmate Michael Anthony, drummer Jason Bonham and guitarist Vic Johnson. Preceding […]
Photo Gallery: Jenny Lewis at The Riviera Theatre
She promised to return and she did! Originally scheduled for earlier this year, Jenny Lewis had to cancel her show at Chicago’s Riviera Theater after her tour bus broke down. This past weekend she finally brought her “On The Line” tour to the Uptown neighborhood, with a set list that drew heavily from her 2019 […]
Anderson Paak and Thundercat at Huntington Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island
Oxnard’s Anderson Paak brought his “Best Teef In The Game” tour to Northerly Island this past week and made the lakefront jump. The multi-talented singer/songwriter/producer/rapper/Grammy nominated wunderkind then proceeded to administer a clinic on how to entertain. Paak preened, spun, sang and rapped his way into the dusk. He even took his drum set-which sat […]
Cover Story: John Paul White
It’s a morsel of time-tested wisdom — initially put forward by Mahatma Gandhi — that just becomes more relevant with each passing day: “Be the change that you want to see in the world.” As in, stop kvetching about Donald Trump and all his horrific misdeeds and get involved with the grassroots groundswell of fighting […]
Media: June 2019
No one in this town has been a part of the Chicago media scene longer than WGN-Radio’s (and The Chicago Tribune’s) Rick Kogan. He was literally born into it. His parents, Herman and Marilew, were both fixtures in the heyday of Chicago’s print media. They lived the life. They hung out with Chicago’s glitterati. […]
Photo Gallery: Florence + The Machine at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Even by Chicago standards, this Spring has been a series of whiplash inducing temperature swings. So it seemed almost compassionate that Ma Nature would save some of her finest work for the opening of the outdoor concert season. How appropriate then that this weather was the backdrop for Florence + The Machine. Considering she’s always […]
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