Recent Articles
Stage Buzz: Yaeji, Waterparks, Doyle, Dru Hill
Co-founding Misfits groundbreaking Guitarist Doyle comes to town with two shows. Tuesday May 9 at Hobart Art Theatre and May 10 at WC Social Club. His set features his acclaimed solo material and Misfits classics. Yaeji is a bonafide triple threat. The Brooklyn-based singer, producer, and DJ has rightly earned her buzzworthy status on […]
Photo Gallery: Blink-182 at United Center ⢠Chicago
Blink-182 United Center Chicago May 6, 2003 With the original line-up back together (Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, Travis Barker) after a decade apart, Curt Baran captured the groundbreaking pop-punk trio from the nosebleed seats at the United Center a stone’s throw from Oak Park. With Mark Hoppus in remission from his frightening bought with cancer, […]
Photo Gallery: Flaming Lips ⢠Friday, May 5 ⢠Chicago
Flaming Lips The Salt Shed Chicago, IL May 5, 2023 Ed Spinelli captured Wayne Coyne and company and their psychedelic mayhem on the North Branch on Friday, enjoying 160 minutes of musical love in Wayne’s bubble. See his gallery. Set 1: (Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots) Fight Test One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21 Yoshimi Battles the Pink […]
Stage Buzz: Enter Shakari, Cecy Santana, The Flaming Lips, Blink-182
Lotus Kings vocalist Cecy Santana and Deacon Productions’ Steven Kikoen (Deacon Blues, Abbey Road, and Prognosis) team up Thursday, May 4, at Adorn Chicago (with Luiz Ewerling, Brazilian percussion) and Friday, May 5th, (at Endiro Coffee in Aurora with guest Megan Thomas on percussion) serving up a heaping celebration of Cinco De Mayo music. To celebrate […]
Stage Buzz Q&A: New Pornographers at Thalia Hall ⢠Chicago
Fans (and critics) hailed The New Pornographerâs debut album Mass Romantic in late 2000 as a highlight from the world of indie-pop. However, few would have predicted that the âsupergroupâ experiment would become such a reliably great and durable band operating in parallel with its membersâ individual careers. Ringleader and principal songwriter A.C. (aka […]
Cover Story: Love and Rockets ⢠Reissues & Reunion
Not that a random Google quest can sum up the alpha/omega significance of any particular subject. But when you punch in âLove and Rockets, bandâ on the search engine, one of the Frequently Asked Questions it churns up is a deceptively simple âIs Love and Rockets Goth?â Itâs a conundrum that still confounds bandleader […]
Media: May 2023 ⢠Andrea’s Illini Calling
After decades of working at WGN Radio and WGN Television, Andrea Darlas has fond memories of her time there. âI loved all the people I worked with at WGN. Working with Spike OâDell was a joy. He was a legend. Being his news anchor for five years is probably the highlight of my career. I […]
Stage Buzz: The Interrupters, August Burns Red, The String Cheese Incident
The String Cheese Incident remains one of Americaâs most significant independent bands. Theyâve been making their own rules for the past 30 years and show no signs of stopping any time soon. Everything from their marketing to the eclectic sound is done on their own terms, and itâs paid off. Though they havenât released a […]
Photo Gallery: Joe Perry Project at Arcada Theatre ⢠St. Charles
Joe Perry Project Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL 4/21/2023 Recap and Photos by Edward Spinelli With Aerosmith still on break (but rumored to announce a tour at any moment), guitarist Joe Perry hit the road for a very limited number of “intimate” dates in support of the guitar heroâs latest album, Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII. Chicago-area […]
Stage Buzz: Waterparks, Bikini Kill, Joe Perry Project, Placebo
Some say the pop-punk revival is currently underway, but for Houston rockers Waterparks it never ended. Forming in 2011, the band has been leading the charge of the next wave of pop-punk groups. With their newest album, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, the band keeps their punk rock spirit but makes it fresh by continuing to play with their […]
Stage Buzz: John Mellencamp, R&B Music Experience, Black Flag, The Great Pretenders, Windy City Jazz Electric
When youâre a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer like John Mellencamp, itâs easy to rest on your laurels and coast off your biggest hits. Yet, Mellencamp has no interest in becoming a legacy act and is still pumping out new music. His latest album, 2022âs Strictly a One-Eyed Jack marked his 24th (!!) […]
Q&A: Susanna Hoffs at Chicago Humanities Festival ⢠Chicago
Susanna Hofffs Chicago Humanities Festival Chop Shop, Chicago April 13, 2023 By  Tom Lanham âIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times,â Charles Dickens once drily observed. And nobody could relate better to such innate situational irony than any contemporary artist â someone who traditionally creates to earn a […]
Digital Edition: Record Store Day Guide 2023
Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently-owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally. The first Record Store Day took place on April 19, […]
Stage Buzz: Paradoxx at Brauerhouse ⢠Lombard
Paradoxx Friday, April 7, 2023 Brauerhouse Lombard, IL After four decades, Paradoxx could be considered as esteemed senior statesmen in the Chicago metal scene. Brothers Glen (vocals) and John Dobbs (guitar), formed the band in their parent’s basement in Portage Park [Chiicago] in 1980. Along the way, they added bassist Frank Rotondo, Drummer Jerry […]
Photo Gallery: Depeche Mode at United Center ⢠Chicago
Depeche Mode United Center Chicago, IL April 5, 2023 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Considering that he wasnât even in the room, Andy Fletcherâs (“Fletch”) posthumous presence loomed large at Chicagoâs United Center on Wednesday night. The longtime Depeche Mode keyboardist passed away suddenly in May of 2022. For four decades, he was part […]
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