Archive for September, 2019
Photo Gallery: Riot Fest 2019 – Day One
Industry reports indicate summer festival attendance is down across the country, but Riot Fest’s healthy crowds show that the 15-year-old homegrown punk and indie rock festival is not suffering from a lack of dedicated fans. Friday’s RF 2019 kick-off delivered a virtually sold-out crowd (it was packed)Â in Douglas Park in near-perfect September weather. Day One […]
Photo Gallery: Riot Fest 2019 Day Two
Day 2 of the 2019 edition of Riot Fest arrived and the prevailing vibe of the day was Metal! Earth scorchers Slayer eviscerated Douglas Park during what is sure to be their final Chicago performance before calling it a career. In fact, the Riot stage could have been re-christened All Metal – All The Time […]
Photo Gallery: Riot Fest 2019 Day Three
Day Three in Douglas Park proved as worthy as the first two, and the incredibly healthy and dedicated crowds dodged the morning storms by minutes as the gates opened at Ogden and Sacramento. Our day started with Oakland’s Ultra Q, and it was all good from there, capturing sets by “house band” Ganser (as seen […]
Photo Gallery: The Who at Alpine Valley
We had a feeling Alpine Valley was gonna be a good show. Photographer Ed Spinelli confirmed Pete and Roger were in good spirits on their Wisconsin tour stop. Here’s a recap of the setlist to go along with the visuals. Setlist via Setlist FM SHARESETLIST With Orchestra Overture 1921 Amazing Journey Sparks Pinball […]
Live Review: Slayer At Riot Fest
Slayer at Riot Fest Douglas Park, Chicago, Sept. 14, 2019 Slayer killed during a 90-minute headlining set that seemed to be cut short on a perfect late-summer evening in Douglas Park. At 9:56 p.m., minutes before the 10 p.m. curfew for music, singer-bassist Tom Araya told the crowd: “They are making us cut it short. […]
Live Review: King Crimson at The Auditorium Theatre
King Crimson Chicago Theatre Tuesday, September 10, 2019 When progressive rock titans King Crimson last visited Chicago in 2017, the proceedings at Chicago Theatre went so well that the band released an officially sanctioned live album of the concert. On Tuesday night, the English septet stopped at the venerable Auditorium Theatre for its 2019 […]
Stage Buzz: Riot Fest Undercard Preview
Riot Fest returns this fall for its historic 15th anniversary, once again in Douglas Park (Ogden & Ashland). From its humble beginnings in small clubs to its current incarnation as a classic punk, indie rock, and hip-hop celebration, Riot Fest has a connection to Chicago like no other festival. Now in its 15th year, the […]
Photo Gallery: Bush and Live at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
The ’90s were celebrated in full force on Friday night. This year marks the 25th anniversaries of two records: Live’s Throwing Copper and Sixteen Stone from Bush-that emerged from that decade’s “alternative” scene. The previous quotation marks are certainly tongue in cheek, seeing as how there was nothing out of the ordinary about distorted guitars […]
Photo Gallery: ZZ Top with Cheap Trick at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
That “lil old band from Texas” found its way into the southwest suburbs of Chicago Saturday. ZZ Top has hit the road in celebration of 50 years as a band. The trio, know for excessive facial hair and boogie-infused blues, plowed through five decades of hits and crowd favorites, delivered with a charming dollop of […]
Live Review and Gallery: Squeeze at The Chicago Theatre
Squeeze Chicago Theatre August 31, 2019 When alt-pop superheroes Squeeze last visited Chicago, the group performed at the Vic Theatre in support of 2017’s LP The Knowledge. On Saturday night at the venerable Chicago Theatre, the band led by singer Chris Difford and guitarist Glenn Tilbrook hosted a considerably larger crowd for its “The Squeeze […]
Studiophile: September 2019
Chicago indie rockers Signal The Launch were at ELECTRICAL AUDIO in Chicago with acclaimed producer/engineer Steve Albini recording two tracks for their EP Dance Like a Vampire. The “Vampire” track has been a fan favorite since 2018, and the band has also shot an engaging F. W. Murnau inspired 1920’s horror-inspired music video conceived […]
Stage Buzz: King Crimson at The Auditorium Theatre
As the godfathers of progressive rock, you won’t find a band with a more dedicated cult following and more influence as King Crimson. Their 1969 debut In the Court of the Crimson King is the benchmark for the prog-rock movement. Led by inventive “quality control” guitarist Robert Fripp, the band’s line-up has been noted for […]
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