Recent Articles
Cover Story: Hozier • Beautiful Language
It might not have swept over him like some Hokusai-impressive wave. But Irish folk-rocker Andrew Hozier-Byrne — who records and performs as simply Hozier — has been caught in the subtle currents of spiritual change since he turned 33 this March. It’s the fabled Christ age, when your proper career trajectory is clearly revealed to […]
Stage Buzz: Heavy Chicago Festival at Avondale Hall • Chicago
Chicago’s Avondale Music Hall will be hosting a brand-new metal festival, Heavy Chicago, over two weekends this fall. Beginning on Saturday, October 28, Chicago’s beloved Trouble will be kicking things off with its first local show in five years. “It has been far too long since our last Chicago show, but as we all know, […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: American Music Festival – FitzGerald’s • Berwyn
American Music Festival FitzGerald’s June 30 – July 3 Berwyn, IL Reviewed by William Tokash Photos from Day One, Three, and Four by Curt Baran FitzGerald’s iconic American Music Festival in Berwyn, commenced on 4th of July weekend, celebrating its 40th year, making it one of the longest-running and storied music festivals in the country. […]
Spins: Cowboys in the Campfire • Wronger
Tommy Stinson’s Cowboys in the Campfire Wronger (Cobraside) The longstanding friendship and musical partnership between Philly guitar-slinger Chip Roberts and Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson (also a veteran of Bash & Pop, Perfect, Guns N’ Roses, and Soul Asylum) has yielded the pair’s debut album as Cowboys in the Campfire. Stinson in particular, has roots in […]
Hello My Name is Tommy Stinson
Some folks just attract trouble magnetically. Take ex-Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson, for example — when the coronavirus hit him, post-lockdown, it smacked him upside the scruffy head and just kept knocking him senseless. “That was horrible, and I’m still reeling from it,” the rasp-throated rock rapscallion recalls from his rustic home in upstate New York. […]
Photo Gallery: Shania Twain at Credit 1 Amphitheatre • Tinley Park
Shania Twain Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Tinley Park, IL July 1, 2023 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Although she never technically went away, it really feels like Shania Twain is “back.” The Canadian import largely owned the pop-leaning tendencies of country music during her heyday in the ’90s and early aughts. Her sophomore release, […]
Anniversary Albums: Tears for Fears • The Hurting
Tears for Fears The Hurting (40th anniversary Abbey Road remaster LP) (Mercury/UMC) For a band with its staying power and following, Tears for Fears’ catalog is brief. By all reports, it isn’t a lack of work ethic that suppressed productivity – it’s the internal quality control exercised by principals Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. The […]
Media: July 2023 • Catching up with Mr. Wert
After more than four decades in the media business as a sales manager/general manager/vice president for places like WLS-TV, The Loop AM & FM radio stations, NBC-5 Chicago, and the Tribune Company, Larry Wert considers himself semi-retired. “But I’m working way more than I should be, considering I’m semi-retired,” he admits. “I’m working on […]
Stage Buzz: Between the Buried and Me, Anita Baker, NASCAR Music
Between the Buried and Me are known for their high-concept albums that create thematic sagas within their discography. Their rich storytelling will be on full display when they perform their acclaimed 2012 album The Parallax II: Future Sequence in its entirety this Friday, June 30 at House of Blues. Thank You Scientist and Rivers of […]
Live Review: Stevie Nicks at United Center • Chicago
Stevie Nicks United Center Chicago, IL June 23, 2023 By Curt Baran No one sings like Stevie Nicks. She is at once singular and ubiquitous in both sound and influence (Courtney, Alanis, and Shirley…show of hands, please). It’s as if her voice continues to travel from some distant past to the present tense […]
Stage Buzz: The Struts, Pride in the Park, Summer Smash
Fall Out Boy will kick off their summer tour with a hometown show at the iconic Wrigley Field with support from Royal & The Serpent, The Academy Is…, and Chicago natives Alkaline Trio. The Wilmette natives, who released their eighth studio album, So Much (for) Stardust in March, will bring over two decades’ worth of hits, […]
Stage Buzz: H.E.R.; Blues on the Fox, Pansy Division, FEAR,
Multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter H.E.R. has numerous accolades to her name. 25 Grammy nominations with five wins, an Academy Award, and an Emmy. And she’s only 25 years old. Now, the singer brings her passion and heart-wrenching soul to the Chicago Theatre for a sold out show this Thursday, June 15 at 8 PM. Taste of Randolph returns […]
Spins: Flaming Lips: The EPs
The Flaming Lips Hypnotist vinyl EP Fight Test vinyl EP Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell vinyl EP (Warner Records) Released in conjunction with the Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots 20th-anniversary campaign, these three EPs add to the picture of The Flaming Lips’ surging power during a period of peak creativity while simultaneously edging […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: The Cure at United Center • Chicago
The Cure United Center Chicago, IL June 10, 2023 Live Review by Ashley Perez Holingsworth; Photos by Curt Baran Seven years to the date of their 2016 Chicago appearance, The Cure returned for another stunning show in the Windy City. The post-punk elder statesmen delivered a phenomenal 31-song set at United Center filled with classic hits, […]
Photo Gallery: Dead & Company – Night One • Wrigley Field • Chicago
Dead and Company Wrigley Field Chicago, IL June 9, 2023 Recap and photos by Curt Baran To paraphrase one of their songs: Is this the moment when the music finally stops?!? Dead and Company, the collective hexad comprised of former Grateful Dead members, has hit the road on what is being billed as “The Final […]
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