Brassneck
Brassneck's Latest Posts
Stage Buzz: UB40, W.A.S.P., Afrojack
Birmingham reggae giants UB40 kicked down the doors of commercially popular reggae in the States (along with Bob Marley) with âRed Red Wine, â in the â80s, selling millions of records and concert tickets. Their groundbreaking soulful singer, Ali Campbell, left the band acrimoniously in 2008, and these Brummie stalwarts spent years in survival […]
Cover Story: Michael McDermott ⢠Making Up for Lost Time
Michael McDermott is without question one of his generation’s most prolific and consistent songwriters, and Chicago should be proud to call him our own. Fans who have been along for the whole ride could track their own timelines by his records (the ones they know about), which now span three and a half decades. […]
Media: October 2026 ⢠Nick Dâs Horror Favorites
Nick Digilio is best known for his 35-year stint at WGN Radio, but his resume includes much more. Heâs been a film critic for over four decades, currently hosts three podcasts on the Radio Misfits Podcast Network, including the popular Nick D podcast, and last year added “author” to his business card (40 Years, 40 […]
Stage Buzz: Ministry, 156/Silence, Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry
Riding on the wave of their collab single âHive Mind,â Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry have teamed up again, this time for a North American tour. Featuring support from Superhaven and Boundaries, the co-headlining outing stops by Chicagoâs Salt Shed on Wednesday, September 30th. Tickets available here. You may not know 156/Silence, but this metalcore […]
Photo Gallery: Riot Fest 2026 ⢠Day One ⢠Douglass Park ⢠Chicago
Riot Fest Douglass Park, Chicago, IL Day 1: Friday, September 18, 2026 Photos by Curt Baran Congratulations Riot Fest! Youâre officially old enough to drink legally!!! That, of course, means that the 21st addition of the now annual event once again converged on Chicagoâs Douglass Park, bringing with it w Punk Rock-leaning lineup that focused […]
Photo Gallery + Bonus Coverage: Riot Fest 2026 ⢠Day Two ⢠Douglass Park ⢠Chicago
Riot Fest Douglass Park, Chicago, IL Day 2: Saturday, September 19, 2026 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Curt Baran. Moderate temperatures and overcast skies were a boon for bands that played early on Saturdayâs bill at Riot Fest. Gaslight Anthem frontman Brian Fallon and his band, the Painkillers, played to a respectable crowd on […]
Photo Gallery + Bonus Coverage: Riot Fest 2026 ⢠Day Three ⢠Douglass Park ⢠Chicago
Riot Fest Douglass Park, Chicago, IL Day 3: Sunday, September 20, 2026 Review by Jeff Elbel. Recap and Photos by Curt Baran. Rain that altered parts of Saturdayâs schedule persisted overnight. Doors shifted to 2 p.m., reshaping the timeline again. Puddles of mudâno pun intendedâformed on the Douglass Park grounds, echoing moist Riot Fests from […]
Stage Buzz: Cold Waves, Iron Maiden, Randy Stonehill, Sweet, Chelsea Wolfe
English heavy metal titans Iron Maiden are celebrating over 50 years of searing guitar riffs, Eddie the Monster, and Bruce Dickinsonâs insane vocals. The band behind metal staples âRun to the Hills,â âThe Trooper,â âAces High,â and â2 Minutes to Midnightâ continues to influence a new generation of fans. The band brings their âRun for […]
Stage Buzz and Spin: Blockchain Coalition ⢠Postmodern Distraction Album Release Show ⢠Tailgaters ⢠Bolingbrook
Blockchain Coalition Postmodern Distraction (Blockchain Coalition) Chicago heavy harmonic rockers Blockchain Coalition return with a gratifying and solid follow-up to their 2023 standout debut album, The New Normal, proving they have the chops to deliver another strong set of music after a three-year layoff. Born from the ashes of the beloved Veilside (along with […]
Stage Buzz: Riot Fest Preview
Riot Fest weekend is approaching. To kick off the highly anticipated festival, Barbarians of California will perform a chaotic set at Cobra Lounge. The brainchild of AWOLNATIONâs Aaron Bruno and producer/engineer Eric Stenman, the band makes hardcore thatâs chaotic, loud, intense, and most importantly, fun. Expect to hear cuts from their latest album, MEGATONS, […]
Live Review: Black Duck and Joan Shelley at Sound & Gravity Festival ⢠Judson & Moore Distillery ⢠Constellation ⢠Chicago
Sound and Gravity Festival Black Duck Joan Shelley Sunday, September 6, 2026 Review and live photos by Jeff Elbel Constellation Performing Artsâ second Sound & Gravity festival concluded on Sunday, offering a wide-ranging selection of adventurous music at several Bucktown/Avondale event spaces. Artists traveled from across the country and around the world to perform experimental […]
Stage Buzz: Skrillex, TLC and Salt-N-Peppa, Garth Brooks
Two â90s trailblazers are teaming up for an unforgettable tour that takes you back to the days of high fades, oversized pants, and MTV. TLC and Salt-N-Peppa are bringing their âItâs Iconicâ tour with special guest En Vogue to Huntington Bank Pavilion this week. Expect a night of dancing and great music when it goes […]
Spins: The Strokes ⢠Reality Awaits
The Strokes Reality Awaits (RCA Records) When The Strokes first came on the scene in 2001, the airwaves were saturated with teen pop, Butt-Rock, and Eminem, so five Italian New Yorkers dressed like the Ramones stood out from the crowd. Their debut album, Is This It, was so unlike the times that they instantly garnered […]
Cover Story: Gogol Bordello ⢠Slava Riot Fest
New York gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello has always followed their own frequency. Never concerned with industry trends or appealing to the masses, the band has done whatever the hell they want for nearly 30 years. And it works. Not only have they carved out their own little niche, but their eclectic music has also […]
Media: September 2026 ⢠Champaignâs Indie Filmmaker
Robin Christian is an Indie-filmmaker, the writer of over a hundred film scripts, and the director of films for more than twenty years. Yes, thatâs all very impressive. But what makes his accomplishments even more impressive is where he is doing it: right here in Illinois. Robin is based in Champaign. His journey into this […]
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