Recent Articles
Media: November 2023: The Loop Files: An Oral History
I’ve written a new book called The Loop Files: An Oral History of the Most Outrageous Radio Station Ever. The book comes out officially at the end of this month, but this month’s media column is a free preview.  All the biggest stars who helped make the Loop (FM 98) so memorable tell the […]
Cover Story: The Hives – The Best Part of the Day
When a band makes a grand return after a decades-long absence, it’s a mix of emotions. There’s equal parts dread and excitement, happy to return to adoring fans, yet anxious to see if anyone still cares, especially in the short attention span of the streaming age. But those pesky thoughts never seemed to bother The […]
Spins: Tom Waits • Island ’83-’93 LP reissues
Tom Waits Island ’83-’93 LP reissues (Island/UMe) Ten years into his recording career, Tom Waits began a significant stretch of work and creative reboot that continued for another decade and helped cement his reputation as a singularly unclassifiable and consistently engaging artist. This key middle-period run of Waits’ eighth through twelfth albums for Island Records […]
Stage Buzz: Clown Core, Trouble at Heavy Chicago, The 1975
It’s hard to describe exactly what Clown Core is. The avant-garde duo is comprised of two mysterious musicians, speculated to be Louis Cole and Sam Gendel, whose music is an eclectic blend of funk, jazz, electronica, synth, metal, and lots of clown horns. You can experience this oddball duo yourself when they play […]
Stage Buzz: Motionless in White, Bullet For My Valentine, Laufey with Adam Melchor
John Mayer has spent the past few years moonlighting as the leader of Dead & Company. Now, Mayer gets back to basics with his solo acoustic tour. The Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter will treat fans to the latest tracks from his recent album Sob Rock along with classics like “Daughters” and “Your Body is a Wonderland” […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: The Darkness at The Vic Theatre • Chicago
The Darkness The Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL Friday, October 13, 2023 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Bone-crunching guitar riffs, pop hooks, soaring falsetto melodies, cheeky lyrics, and dazzling solos were in ample supply on Friday as the Darkness visited the Vic Theatre to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album Permission to Land. […]
Spins: The Empty Pockets • Gotta Find The Moon
The Empty Pockets Gotta Find The Moon (Self) Chicagoland-based, roots-rock quartet The Empty Pockets just released their latest studio effort Gotta Find The Moon. The follow-up to their 2022 Billboard #1 (blues album chart)Â Outside Spectrum. Members Josh Solomon (Guitar), Erika Brett (Keyboards), Nate Bellon (Bass), and Adam Balasco (drums) recorded the 14 tracks at the […]
Stage Buzz: Thundercat, The Darkness, Legends of Hip Hop, Low Cut Connie
Thundercat is the coolest and the funkiest bass player on the planet right now. It’s hard to resist his funky groove with its thick bass lines, smooth tone, and powerful sound. Starting his career as a session musician working with the likes of Snoop Dogg and Raphael Saadiq, Thundercat is now a bonafide rockstar. The […]
Photo Gallery: Farm Aid 2023 • Ruoff Music Center • Noblesville, Indiana
Farm Aid Ruoff Music Center Noblesville, IN September 23, 2023 Photos by Edward Spinelli IE’s Ed Spinelli spent the day at Farm Aid 2023 perched in the photo pit on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Noblesville, Indiana. The sold-out crowd of more than 22,000 people showed great enthusiasm for the event; the all-star cast was […]
Stage Buzz: Slowdive, Chappell Roan, Violent Femmes, Tommy Lefroy
Shoegaze giants Slowdive returned this year with their acclaimed fifth album, Everything Is Alive. Originally forming in 1989, the British band continues to hypnotize listeners with their psychedelic soundscapes, ambient noise, and Rachel Goswell’s dreamy vocals. The band will perform tracks from their new album along with a slew of classics at the Riviera […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Peter Gabriel at United Center • Chicago
Peter Gabriel United Center Chicago, IL Saturday, September 30, 2023 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Curt Baran. Peter Gabriel has publicly described a new album called i/o since the days soon following the release of 2002’s Up. The British singer/songwriter and activist even teased individual songs from the long-gestating project on prior trips to Chicago in 2012 […]
Photo Gallery: Nick Cave at Auditorium Theatre • Chicago
Nick Cave Auditorium Theatre Chicago, IL September 29th, 2023 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Perhaps it was the influence of the harvest moon that hung like low-hanging fruit above the surface of Lake Michigan or some other unseen, celestial force. Whatever was lurking about, its presence seemingly helped to provide some additional voodoo when […]
Cover Story: Corrosion Of Conformity • Destination: Heavy Chicago
Chicago’s newest music venue, Avondale Music Hall, will be hosting its inaugural heavy metal festival Heavy Chicago over the course of two weekends. Headlining the festival on Saturday, October 28, is Chicago’s beloved doom pioneers Trouble, which will be extra special as this will be the band’s first hometown show in five years. “We are […]
Media: October 2023 • Listening in on Internet FM
Steve Leventhal is no stranger to terrestrial radio. He spent quite a few years as a broadcaster on stations like WVVX and the Bear (WCBR), doing his Sports Radio Nightly show with people like late sportscasters Les Grobstein, Jerry Kuc, and Bob Greenberg. “In 2012,” Leventhal says, “I started working with Bart Shore […]
Stage Buzz Q&A: The Darkness • Appearing at The Vic Theatre • Chicago
Stage Buzz: The Darkness Q&A with Frankie Poullain Written by Jeff Elbel British band The Darkness made an auspicious arrival in North America in 2003. The band’s bombastic lead single, “I Believe in a Thing Called Love,” was an explosive blast of hard rock replete with a soaring falsetto melody, rich harmonies, guitar heroics by […]
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