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Hello, My Name Is Kelly
IE: You recorded your first solo album in more than a decade, at Hollywood’s famed EastWest Studios. Kelly Hogan: There’s just so much history – it’s an iceberg of history. My vocals were going through the echo chamber that Frank Sinatra used on “It Was A Very Good Year” and “My Way,” so I could […]
Gear: June 2012
New Jersey-based Tech 21 went “one louder” by introducing a live version of its popular Liverpool pedal from the SansAmp Character Series — available direct through their Private Stock Division. According to a company press release, as a boutique pedal quantities are extremely limited. The SansAmp Liverpool Deluxe features a combination of an all-analog signal […]
Media: June 2012
After nearly a year without a commercial alternative-rock station, Chicago has now has two — both of which pay homage to the old Q101: WKQX-LP on 87.7-FM and Q101 on WJJG-AM (1530).
Studiophile: June 2012
Yakuza are following up their Pro-found Lore debut, Of Seismic Consequence, which was jonesed on several national 2010 “best-of” end-of-year lists and was widely heralded as the band’s best album to date.
Sweet Home: June 2012
Michael “Iron Man” Burks was the kind of bluesman who endeared everyone to him. If you didn’t fall in love with his gritty vocals and fierce guitar licks, you were captured by his humble charm and hardworking attitude.
World’s longest Canasta match
Chess games get all the hype, but Chicago’s Canasta have dealt their indie-pop rummy into a second decade this month! Also as June opens: Two Brothers Hop Juice fest, The Cult, Sonny Landreth, and Margot & The Nuclear So And So’s.
Mayday! Mayday!
May’s going down! Before it all ends and we head into the unknown — has anyone named the next month yet, for God’s sake???!!! — live every day like your rockin’ last with Big Science, Emeli Sandé, Patrick Watson, and Machine Gun Kelly.
Switchfoot live!
North Central College’s barely-3-year-old venue simply named the Recreation Center/Residence Hall (picture a really big high-school gym) hosted its first concert ever on Sunday night, when San Diego’s Switchfoot came to Naperville.
Connventional war
If Bobby Conn were as big as Oprah, the national association of mac-and-cheese producers would be lining up to fight him. His home release show is Friday, as are the first TopGolf “Let’s Play” party, ALO, and Haley Reinhart’s post-“Idol” blitz.
Post script
That schoolchildren aren’t mandated to learn cursive has the irrational class believing that the art of letter-writing will disappear with it. Keeping faint hopes alive, PS I Love You are in town, as are Shovels & Rope.
The Beach Boys live!
So many incarnations of The Beach Boys have hit the road over the years, that it’s often tricky to keep track of who’s in the band. But considering 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of summer’s supreme act,
Polyphonic Spree live!
Sic The Polyphonic Spree on those rambunctious NATO protestors and the need for a mile-long line of police officers outfitted in riot gear would disappear. One look at Tim DeLaughter and his band of merry pranksters would either send the chanting mass exercising their First Amendment rights running off in fear or persuade them to […]
NATO! Run!
Gridlock downtown! Restrictions on commuter trains! Riot gear! (Thanks to considerate Loop employers, less traffic on Foster this morning.) Only Jennifer Herrema, ex-Royal Trux, would do a show this weekend! Ane Brun waits a day or two.
Down in the country
As with any genre, many aren’t shy about their opinions of what country music should be. Admittedly, we’re glad it’s not all about heartache and crops drying up and tears in beer: Jason Boland & The Stragglers, however, like to keep things serious. Also in town: Rocky Votolato and Here We Go Magic.
Eric Church live!
When Eric Church, sporting his trademark sunglasses finally evolved onto the stage at 9:32 on Friday night, engoulphed in a thick cloud of smoke, there was a feeling of the unknown.
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