Recent Articles
Recap and Photo Gallery: Porno For Pyros • Salt Shed • Chicago
Porno For Pyros The Salt Shed Chicago, IL February 26, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran The “Final” tour in the Rock milieu has become about as dependable as the boy who cried wolf. But considering that he’s now reached his mid-60s, it certainly makes it easier to believe that Perry Farrell is packing […]
Live Review: The Chicago Philharmonic • Blade Runner Live • Auditorium Theatre • Chicago
The Chicago Philharmonic Blade Runner Live Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL Saturday, February 17, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel Saturday night’s event at the Auditorium Theatre opened the Chicago Philharmonic’s 2024 “Auditorium Philms” series. The ensemble performed Vangelis’ retro-futuristic soundtrack for director Ridley Scott’s 1982 science fiction film Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford as replicant hunter Rick Deckard. […]
Stage Buzz: Wilmette, Porno For Pyros, Big Suit, Static-X
Chicago five-piece Wilmette is returning to its hometown to help its friends Ghoul For a Goblin celebrate the release of its debut album, You Know You’ll Still Find Me There. Bottom Bracket and Supercorp join as support. The party starts on Friday, February 23, at Cobra Lounge at 7 PM. It’s gonna be a night of great […]
Stage Buzz: Andre 3000, Laura Jane Grace, Veil of Maya
If you missed out on Andre 3000’s sold-out show at Thalia Hall, you’re in luck. The former Outkast member will perform three more shows this week: a sold-out show at Salt Shed on Tuesday, February 13 , and two performances at Garfield Park Conservatory on Thursday, February 15, at 7 PM and 9 PM. Tickets […]
Spins: Green Day • Saviors
Green Day Saviors (Reprise) Thirty years after sending punk to the top of the charts with breakthrough album Dookie, erstwhile upstarts Green Day return as power-pop elder statesmen with Saviors. With the band’s familiar friend and producer Rob Cavallo back at the helm for the first time in a decade, Saviors’ 15 tracks find frontman […]
Spins: Rob Fetters • Mother
Rob Fetters Mother (Baby Ranch) If you’re already familiar with him, Rob Fetters may be your favorite musician that your friends have never heard. Fetters’ regional reach into Chicago and surrounding areas is largely due to his former role in the Bears alongside co-frontman Adrian Belew and the great post-Bears power-pop trio Psychodots with bassist […]
Photo Gallery: Deap Vally with Sloppy Jane at Thalia Hall • Chicago
Deap Vally Sloppy Jane  Thalia Hall Chicago, IL February 10, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Final tours in rock and roll are the equivalent of deaths in science fiction. Are they really dead? Well, Deap Vally seems pretty convincing that this is their last go-round. The L.A. duo consisting of Lindsey Troy (guitar, […]
Photo Gallery: John 5 at Arcada Theatre • St. Charles
John 5 Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL February 1, 2024 Photos by Edward Spinelli Acclaimed guitarist John 5 arrived at Arcada Theatre on Thursday. 5 made his mark with a musical resume that includes such diverse artists as k.d. Lang, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, David Lee Roth, Meat Loaf, Rob Halford, Lita Ford, Lynyrd Skynyrd, […]
Stage Buzz: Living Color, Escuela Grind, Escuela Grind
Living Colour broke genre and racial barriers with their debut album, Vivid, in 1988. The funk metal band fused their love of jazz and hip hop with hardcore and punk to create their vibrant sound. Along with their bold sound came brutally honest lyrics ranging from the personal to the political, including commentary on […]
Cover Story: Alkaline Trio • Urgent Energy
Alkaline Trio is no stranger to the macabre. The Chicago punk outfit doesn’t shy away from talking about heavy topics like loss, addiction, and depression. But even when they’re talking about how everything sucks, they do it with a wink and nod. Their wry lyrical wit paired with punchy high energy music makes their […]
Media • February 2024 • Remembering the Early Loop
One of the great advantages of writing an oral history like I recently wrote about WLUP Radio (The Loop Files) is the opportunity to hear the stories right from the horse’s mouth. I interviewed over a hundred of those horses (Loop employees). Since the book came out a few months ago, I’ve heard from […]
Stage Buzz: Madonna, John 5, Meet Me @ the Altar
Madonna has rightfully earned her title as the Queen of Pop. For the 40 past years, she has remained a cultural icon from giving us hit singles like “Vogue,” “Holiday,” “Like a Virgin,” and “Ray of Light” to her unforgettable performances. Never one to shy away from a little controversy, she has shocked […]
Spins: Paul McCartney & Wings • Band on the Run – 50th anniversary LP
Paul McCartney & Wings Band on the Run 50th anniversary LP (MPL/Apple/UMe) Paul McCartney scattered enduring pop singles across the seven albums made with post-Beatles group Wings, but few fans would dispute identifying Band on the Run as the band’s peak. Furthermore, Band on the Run is commonly cited as McCartney’s best overall work outside […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Black Pumas at Salt Shed • Chicago
Black Pumas The Salt Shed, Chicago, IL Saturday, January 27, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Philamonjaro. Austin, Texas-based psychedelic soul duo Black Pumas crowned a triumphant three-night run in Chicago with Saturday night’s sold-out performance at the Salt Shed. Singer Eric Burton and former Grupo Fantasma guitarist Adrian Quesada led a sharp six-piece backing […]
Stage Buzz: Black Pumas, Story Of The Year, Lucius
Taking the roots of R&B and injecting it with a heavy dose of soul, a dash of folk, and a good amount of psychedelia, Black Pumas turned heads when they dropped their debut self-titled album in 2019. It also earned them a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 2020. On their latest record, […]
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