ilentertainer's Latest Posts
Photo Gallery: Doyle Bramhall @ Shank Hall
IE’s Ed Spinelli captured acclaimed guitarist and producer (Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Tedeschi Trucks Band) Doyle Bramhall II at the legendary Shank Hall in the Cream City (Milwaukee) Wenesday. Here is his photo evidence.
Stage Buzz: Overkill at Concord Hall
New Jersey’s “Wrecking Crew” and old guard thrash metal kings, Overkill are back with their 18th album, The Grinding Wheel on February 10th. The 2017 line-up features members vocalist Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth, bassist D.D. Verni, guitarists Dave Linsk and Derek Tailer and drummer Ron Lipnicki, all intact and energized. The Grinding Wheel is the perfect […]
Stage Buzz: DevilDriver at Portage Theater
California groove-metal machine, DevilDriver have returned with a ferocious seventh album, Trust No One. On 10 tracks, vocalist Dez Fafara is like a ticking time bomb ready to explode. With a dose of anger and brutal rants about life being destroyed by trust, this is Fafara at his cynical best. Gearing up for their first […]
Live Review and Gallery: Andrew Bird at Allstate Arena
Andrew Bird Friday, January 20, 2017 Allstate Arena A week after performing for A Prairie Home Companion at Symphony Center, Andrew Bird returned to open for the Lumineers at Allstate Arena. Showing his hometown roots, Andrew Bird marveled at finding himself onstage at the former “Rosemont Horizon.” He stopped short of naming shows he had […]
Recap and Gallery: Future Islands at House Of Vans Chicago
In a city filled with storied musical venues, the prevailing attitude seems to be that there’s always room for more. So this past weekend, the creative community welcomed House of Vans Chicago. Situated on the city’s near west side, the new venture is a bit of an anomaly. On its first official night, it was […]
Show Recap & Photo Gallery: Tesla at Arcada Theater
It was lights out at the Arcada Wednesday as Tesla hit the stage, kicking their set off with “MP3,” from their acclaimed album Simplicity. The enthusiastic sold-out crowd definitely got their money’s worth with a selection of tunes from Tesla’s 30 years. Fan favorites “What You Give,” steamrolled into “Save That Goodness,” “Ed’s Med,” and […]
File: Double Door Evicted (Updated)
Legendary Wicker Park music venue Double Door was officially evicted from its longtime home at 1572 N. Milwaukee Avenue today. The club’s owners, including partners Sean Mulroney and Joe Shanahan, have been battling landlords Brian and Harry Strauss to stay in the building they’ve occupied since 1994 until a suitable new location could be found. […]
Media: February 2017
Bill Cochran was drawn to music radio for the same reason most people are. “I just love music,” he admits. “I’m a music fan – almost a music geek. Since childhood discovering new music was always a joy for me. I grew up in Oklahoma, listening to a radio station with a format, as […]
Recap and Gallery: Frank Turner at HOB Chicago
How fortuitous that Frank Turner’s 2017 tour would kick off just as this country faces the aftermath of one of the most contentious elections in our nation’s history. The English folk-punker’s musings have always leaned toward the political, so it seemed all to apropos that he’s still out supporting his most current release Positive Songs […]
Photo Gallery: Alkaline Trio at Metro
With Matt Skiba moonlighting as an official member of Blink-182, for a minute there Chicago thought we had almost lost Alkaline Trio. With 3 sold-out shows at Metro, Skiba and crew proved that there’s still no place like home. Katie Hovland captured them live for IE on night 3.
Q&A and Gallery: Tedeschi Trucks Band
Florida’s legendary Tedeschi Trucks Band, led by married blues guitar greats Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, are in the midst of a 3-night run at the Chicago Theater. IE’s Ed Spinelli talked to Derek as he readied his all-star band for their stay on State Street. IE: How was your approach on (the new album) […]
Photo Gallery: The Tubes at Tailgaters
Like many IE readers the first time I ever saw Fee Waybill, he was dressed as a carnival barker in an early MTV video. The Tubes took the stage at Tailgaters with Waybill dressed in a black Zoot Suit, black hat, and white tie belting out the words to Chuck Berry’s “Never Can Tell.” Through […]
Stage Buzz: Tribute Weekend!
January usually means snow and cold in Chicago and reduced touring schedules for a lot of bigger bands. It also opens up tour dates, which means national tribute bands get to showcase their wares to fans. This weekend a couple of acclaimed tribute acts from opposite ends of the musical spectrum will hit the stage […]
Sweet Home: Ronnie Baker Brooks
Don’t call it a comeback. Although it’s been an entire decade since Ronnie Baker Brooks has released an album, his presence in the blues industry during that time has been ubiquitous. “I produced Eddy Clearwater’s album, West Side Strut, I did a compilation with Johnny Castro, I co-produced my dad’s last album and I’ve been […]
Spins: Rush, Frank Zappa Reissues
Rush 2112 – 40th Anniversary Edition (Universal Music Enterprises) Bassist Geddy Lee has described Rush as “the world’s biggest cult band.” Among the trio’s most devoted followers, you’ll find fans claiming any one of the Canadian prog-rock powerhouse’s twenty albums as their favorite. To the world at large, however, it all comes down to 1976’s […]
Recent Comments