ilentertainer's Latest Posts
Record Collecting Spotlight
BUILDING A BETTER RECORD COLLECTION Music is being released at an extraordinary rate nowadays. Besides the onslaught of new material (lagging sales haven’t met a decline in product for labels) there is also the constant barrage of re-releases for music fans to contend with. It’s hard to keep up. With that in mind, IE raided […]
File For July
THE HARDER THEY COME Enticed by promises of free beer and taquitos, we headed to Chicago’s Hard Rock Cafe for their 20th anniversary party on June 12th. Yes, it was a Monday, but Styx were there, rotating keyboard stand and all.
DVD Zone: July
SYRIANA Warner Bros. It has been this way for the past hundred years. Wars are fought over it and governments toppled because of it. Corporations rake in yearly profits that eclipse the GNP of many mid-sized nations because of it. And, until someone finds a way to make your T-bird run on jelly donut filling […]
Ministry 2
page [ 1 ] 2 [ 3 ] For Rio Grande Blood (13th Planet), Jourgensen figured if the Bush family gets to act like it’s 1991, then so does he. Corralling Tommy Victor (Prong) and Paul Raven (Killing Joke) for the reoutfitted sect, they cannon through 10 tracks in the spirit of Psalm 69 with […]
Ministry 3
page [ 1 ] [ 2 ] 3 But as he said earlier, ideological freedom was the least of his concerns. If he wanted to smoke dope with college kids and protest world trade injustices, he’d move to Portland. Texas has land, perfect for 13th Planet. Having room for his record label complex also helps […]
What About Chicago?
The Blues Foundation held its annual Blues Music Awards (formerly the W.C. Handy Awards) on May 11th in Memphis. Congrats to Chicago awardees Buddy Guy (B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year), Mavis Staples (Soul Blues Female Artist Of The Year), Eddie Shaw (Instrumentalist – Horn), and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (Instrumentalist – Drums). Hubert Sumlin, […]
Local Studio Happenings
ARS STUDIOS in Alsip, Gary Cobb recorded gospel artist Jeri Little live and started mixing for an upcoming CD . . . Wicked Pussy recorded and mixed with Chris Dever . . . Greg Screen started his project with Larry Schara on controls . . . Both Steve Sunner and Lance Drake did their mastering […]
Stuck In Muck
The ratings numbers tell us people in Chicago are hearing the radio. But how many people are really listening? Chicago radio used to crackle; it used to excite, entertain, energize, influence, and order its listeners. Now it’s white noise. Today, Chicago radio is becoming to entertainment choices what the Chicago Blackhawks are to sports choices.
Don’t Call It A Comeback
It’s a fact: Vinyl will not die. Manufacturers like Crosley and TEAC are churning out new turntables for the home user, a demographic that includes baby boomers rediscovering their old records and newbies finding out what the analog fuss is all about. Our annual Record Collecting Spotlight edition of “Gear” takes a look at new […]
Multicultural Muses
Music should have no boundaries, but record labels think otherwise. The record industry constantly devises ever narrowing categories, from new soul to ska pop to indie rock. And what about the sounds that don’t fit, that defy labeling?
Local CD Reviews
Combining elements of Vaudeville, country, and classic rock in a time when every other new band on the planet either cites the Rolling Stones or Joy Division as influences, Bakelite 78 is distinctive to say the least. Armed with the unique and stylized vocals of guitarist Robert Rial and a one-of-a-kind brass section, track for […]
Around Hear 2
Page [1] With its debut EP, May You Only See Sky, (Lone) Cub & Wolf wants you to forget about recent mainstream metal and screamo and come back to the darker side. This band excels at blending most of the metal sub-genres with a little post hardcore, no doubt a holdover from some of the […]
Intonation 2
Page: [1] For the rest: The Good: Chromeo’s early set didn’t seem opportune for a retro funk, tongue-in-cheek humpbot duo, but their drunk-in-the-afternoon attitude had a lot to do with propelling Intonation’s early sets in the right direction . . . Though Mike Skinner seemed more interested in playing stand-up comedian, The Streets’ closing slot […]
American Music Festival Preview
American Music Festival FitzGerald’s, Berwyn Friday, June 30 through Monday, July 3, 2006 Yes, the annual extravaganza returns with real American celebratin’ in the Side Bar, main music room, and outside. Bring the kids (and a designated driver), or hire a babysitter and stumble on over!
The Court & Spark Preview
The Court & Spark Beat Kitchen, Chicago Saturday, July 1, 2006 Some people mock rock critics’ habits of summarizing one band by comparing it to another. They call it lazy, even irresponsible. Maybe sometimes it is, but often it’s the most direct path to making a point. But how many comparisons are too many?
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