Archive for October, 2025
Cover Story: John 5 and Richie Kotzen ⢠Dual Shredders
The exceptional guitar artistry of one John William Lowery, professionally known as John 5, is internationally celebrated. The guitaristâs musical resume includes a wide range of diverse artists, such as k.d. Lang, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, and Meat Loaf, while also contributing to projects with rockers like David Lee Roth, Rob Halford, Lita Ford, Lynyrd […]
Media: November 2025 ⢠Wild Kingdom: Full Circle
Mutual of Omaha is so closely associated with wildlife that some people donât even realize itâs an insurance company. âTrue,â host of Mutual of Omahaâs Wild Kingdom, Peter Gros, says with a laugh. âThey ask us if we run an amusement park.â Since 1963, Mutual of Omaha has been the sponsor of the ultimate nature show, Wild […]
Spins: Frank Zappa ⢠Halloween ’78: Live at the Palladium, NY Super Deluxe
Frank Zappa Halloween ’78: Live at the Palladium, NY Super Deluxe (UMe/Zappa) Spooky! Scary! I am, of course, referring to the compositional skill and dazzling technical chops on display by Frank Zappa and his top-flight band on the Halloween night of 1978 in New York City. This is the fourth Super Deluxe costume box […]
Live Review & Gallery: David Byrne at Auditorium Theatre ⢠Chicago
David Byrne Auditorium Theatre October 28, 2025 Chicago, IL Live review by Jeff Elbel, Live photos by  Curt Baran. Tuesday’s concert by David Byrne began with a recorded welcome from the artist, informing patrons that the Auditorium Theatre management had agreed to allow dancing if the aisles were kept clear. “In the event of a […]
Spooky (Stage) Buzz: Plain White Tâs and We the Kings, Ho99o9, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult,
Chicago industrial legends My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult have been shakinâ and groovinâ to their brand of sleazy metal for nearly 40 years. With an eclectic sound spanning disco, metal, and rockabilly, their music is still fresh, exciting, and tantalizing as it was three decades ago. Catch Groovie Mann and co in action […]
Spins: Clifton Chenier/The Rolling Stones featuring Steve Riley
Clifton Chenier/The Rolling Stones featuring Steve Riley Zydeco Sont Pas SalĂŠs Valcour/Arhoolie/Smithsonian Folkways This 7â vinyl single is a six-minute getaway to the Big Easy by way of London and a tribute by some surprising acolytes of Creole and Cajun music. King of Zydeco Clifton Chenierâs original single occupies the A-side. âZydeco et Pas SalĂŠsâ […]
Rock of Pages/Spins: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Mick Rock Rocky Horror: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Cult Classic (HarperPop) Original Cast The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Ode) Let’s do the Time Warp again! These two complementary projects arrive in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the grandaddy of all B-movie cult films. Famed rock photographer […]
Stage Buzz: Lorna Shore, Between the Buried and Me, Herbie Hancock
Thereâs a reason Lorna Shoreâs Will Ramos went viral in 2021; his vocals are out of this world. Ramos and co perform with such fury, it sounds like theyâre summoning demons from hell to join them. In support of their latest album, I Feel the Everblack Festering Within Me, the band hits up Salt Shed […]
Live Review: Tommy Emmanuel at Cahn Auditorium ⢠Evanston
Tommy Emmanuel Cahn Auditorium Evanston, IL Â October 15, 2025 Review by Steven Kikoen On a gray, rain-spattered day in mid-October, the campus of Northwestern University still seemed to maintain its quiet collegiate grandeur. Inside the 85-year-old Cahn Auditoriumâa favorite among Northwestern students and the Evanston communityâthere are more than a thousand seats which would soon […]
Stage Buzz: Elvis Costello, Doechii, Brandy and Monica
If thereâs one artist who’s taken over the hip-hop world within the last year, itâs Doechii. Representing the Florida rap scene, her quirky style and lyrical flow made tracks like âDenial Is a Riverâ and âAnxietyâ explode in popularity. See Doecii in action when she brings her âLive from the Swamp Tourâ to Aragon Ballroom this Tuesday, […]
Live Review: Elbow at The Riviera Theatre ⢠Chicago
Elbow The Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL October 6, 2025 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Elbow’s arrival on Monday night was beautifully timed. The general mood in Chicago is currently tense â a frame of mind that this band from Manchester, England, is uniquely gifted to counter. Elbow reliably spreads goodwill and encourages community through […]
Photo Gallery: Judas Priest with Alice Cooper at Credit Union 1 Amphitheater ⢠Tinley Park
Judas Priest with Alice Cooper and Corrosion of Conformity Credit Union 1 Amphitheater October 5, 2025 Tinley Park, IL Photos by Edward Spinelli If it were the late 70s, two-thirds of Saturdayâs final seasonal performance in Tinley Park would have toured playing baseball stadiums as World Series of Rock performers. Fast forward 4 decades later, […]
Photo Gallery: Michael Schenker at Arcada Theatre ⢠St. Charles
Michael Schenker Group Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL September 27, 2025 Photo gallery by Edward Spinelli Perhaps the most sought-after ticket for a suburban hosted rock show in the past several years, guitar pioneer Michael Schenker and his band arrived at Arcada Theatre in St. Charles after several nights of sold-out shows at Arcada and […]
Stage Buzz: Many Eyes, Chance the Rapper, Jesse McCartney
Out of the ashes of Every Time I See Die, Keith Buckleyâs new band, Many Eyes was born. The hardcode outfit just released their new EP, Combust, and now theyâre ready to bring the release to a stage near year. Many Eyes will bring the roof down when they hit up Cobra Lounge this Thursday, […]
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