ilentertainer's Latest Posts
Vince Gill live!
Vince Gill Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet Thursday, September 18, 2008 Even before Vince Gill took the stage at the ornate Rialto Square, it appeared the evening would be a lot more stripped back than his usual trips through auditoriums and arenas. The country/bluegrass/blue-eyed soul crooner may have had plenty of guitars stacked up, but many […]
Damien Jurado preview
Damien Jurado Schubas, Chicago Thursday, September 25, 2008 Through nine albums in 11 years, Damien Jurado has tinkered with his musical aesthetics (morose folk, jangle pop, jagged rock) while habitually creating character sketches for potential Coen Brothers films. This year’s Caught In The Trees, however, traps the screenwriter into his own plot.
Amy Macdonald preview
Amy Macdonald Subterranean, Chicago Thursday, September 25, 2008 Everything about Amy Macdonald’s This Is The Life cover art says mopey, heart-on-her-sleeve, “see me next week at Lava Joe’s Coffeehouse,” from her casual downward glance away from the camera to the acoustic guitar she leans on to the the digitally frayed picture borders. Don’t judge an […]
Helloween, Gamma Ray preview
Helloween, Gamma Ray Pearl Room, Mokena Saturday, September 27, 2008 The Helloween/Gamma Ray “Hellish Rock 2007/2008” tour won’t go down in heavy metal history with the infamous Metallica and Guns N’ Roses matchup or the American, Slayer/Megadeth/Anthrax Clash Of The Titans trek, but it’s pretty close for power metal geeks.
Mates Of State, Low Vs Diamond preview
Mates Of State, Low Vs Diamond House Of Blues, Chicago Sunday, September 28, 2008 It’s difficult to decide which is cuter: Mates Of State’s latest release, Re-arrange Us (Barsuk), or the husband-and-wife duo’s blog, “Band On The Diaper Run.”
Gemma Hayes reviewed
Gemma Hayes The Hollow Of Morning (Second Motion) Former Mercury Prize nominee Gemma Hayes remains scared of her own voice, though she can’t hide from a number of flaws on her third album. Appearing: Monday, September 29th at Schubas in Chicago.
Journey, Heart, & Cheap Trick live!
Journey, Heart, Cheap Trick First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Tinley Park Friday, September 12, 2008 New album, new tour, new singer. Does that cycle sound familiar for those faithfully following Journey? For those living under a rock, Steve Perry is long gone, his replacement, Steve Augeri, is out after vocal damage, Jeff Scott Soto was just […]
The Walkmen live!
The Walkmen Metro, Chicago Friday, September 12, 2008 After critics wrote off their third album, A Hundred Miles Off, The Walkmen returned to the Metro, heads high, on Friday to rearrange the room. Armed with a more immediately rewarding album in You & Me (Gigantic), the New Yorkers alternately teased, punched, and hyper-extended themselves to […]
Hideout Block Party preview
Hideout Block Party Hideout, Chicago September 20-21, 2008 People take Pitchfork Media album reviews very seriously. Very seriously. If today’s indie rockers are modern-day gladiators battling for fame and acclaim in the arena, that Web site wields the power with its 1-through-10 scale to make them heroes or remove their heads. Careers are made out […]
Sian Alice Group preview
Sian Alice Group Empty Bottle, Chicago Sunday, September 21, 2008 American alt-rocker Ryan Adams refuses (or is merely just unable) to self-edit. Just because you wrote 15 songs for a particular album, doesn’t mean the general public needs to hear the lot of them. Save the filler for the box set, please.
Dressy Bessy preview
Dressy Bessy Bottom Lounge, Chicago Monday, September 22, 2008 Being “associated” with the Elephant 6 collective doesn’t carry the same weight it used to. Shit, IE were at a coffee shop in Denver waiting in line for a scone when who turns away from the cash register with a caramel, cream-blended frappuccino? Elephant 6 cofounder […]
Jessica Lea Mayfield reviewed
Jessica Lea Mayfield With Blasphemy So Heartfelt (Polymer) It’s easy to imagine Jessica Lea Mayfield standing at a party and watching a date whom she hates or a boyfriend she’s about to break up with — and penning her debut in her head. Appearing: Tuesday, October 28th at Abbey Pub in Chicago.
The Suicide Kings reviewed
The Suicide Kings The Suicide Kings (Blue Plate) If one thing is made abundantly clear by the cover art of The Suicide Kings’ self-titled album, it’s not for kids.
Damien Dempsey live!
Damien Dempsey Schubas, Chicago Friday, September 5, 2008 Looking like a younger, buffer Larry Mullen Jr., former boxer Damien Demspey brought a slice of the Emerald Isle to Schubas on Friday night to an attentive and participation-ready crowd. Singing with an affected accent missing from most cross-Atlantic artists, Dempsey often touched on themes of country, […]
Ra Ra Riot, Walter Meego preview
Ra Ra Riot, Walter Meego Subterranean, Chicago Thursday, September 11, 2008 For up-and-comers, releasing a kudos-laden EP prior to the debut of a full-length effort amasses a staggering amount of expectation on behalf of the critics who created the hype and the fans that got caught up in it. Sometimes the end result is deemed […]
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