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Special Section: Studio Guide 2011
Picking A Producer They can make you or break you. For every great producer (Butch Vig/Smashing Pumpkins; Phil Chess/ Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon) who’s made the career of a local or national artist or band, there’s a horror story of band and producer conflicts.
Around Hear: March 2011
Local Band Reviews Logan Square’s Love Raid carry on a tradition of Chicago bands who have an affinity for Brit-Pop of all eras, ranging from Village Green-era Kinks (“Superstar Serenade”) to Pulp (“Present Tense”), and Parklife-era Blur
Caught In A Mosh: March 2011
Eastern Promises There’s very little to complain about when it comes to being a headbanger in Chicago. There are good-to-great shows every week of the year, metal-catering venues across the city, and a metric ton of homegrown talent.
Digital Divide: March 2011
Due Date Warner Home Video Funny thing about career revivals — one gets the impression that they can do no wrong. As a result, the actor in question will take roles that perhaps they should have been warned against.
File: March 2011
Austin Power Yes, the South By Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas has become something entirely different. Like MTV, SXSW doesn’t aspire to modesty. Miller Lite and Chevrolet are sponsors, Duran Duran and Duff McKagan will perform, and sxsw.com features an interview with “American Idol” runner-up (and holder of a major-label contract) Crystal Bowersox. There […]
Hello, My Name Is Gord
Q&A With Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie IE: How do you balance The Tragically Hip with your solo career? Gord Downie: I don’t really worry about balance. Just like anybody, I move from one thing to the other. I’m into the process of discovering things and chasing surprises.
Gear: March 2011
Roland R-05 Digital Recorder In the past several years, the competition in the hand-held digital-recording business has become extremely cluttered with dozens of contraptions to capture your music in a portable format. www.roland.usMost major manufacturers (Tascam, Korg, Boss) have released multitudes of cellphone-sized recording devices that recorded HD-quality sound onto an SD card or onboard […]
Media: March 2011
The Future Of Public Access TV In Chicago Any individual or organization in Chicago can learn how to produce their own program at Chicago Access Corporation (CAN TV) and show it on one of its five channels. That’s because of the city’s strong cable-TV franchise agreement, which allows CAN TV to receive its funding directly […]
Studiophile: March 2011
Smoking Hot Mic Smoking Popes vocalist Josh Caterer recorded a solo track for a yet to be named benefit compilation, and is currently working on another non-Popes project at MILLION YEN in Chicago . . . Also at Million Yen, acclaimed indie producer J. Robbins was in town tracking noted indie band
Sweet Home: March 2011
Going Out With A Bang Nellie “Tiger” Travis boasts all the requirements for the perfect blues pedigree. She was born in Mississippi. Growing up, she sang in her church choir.
The Bruce is loose
Bruce Lamont is many things to many people: lover, debtor, chooser of fine silks . . . wait, that’s supposed to read sax-wielding Yakuza frontman, uncanny Robert Plant soundalike, and now a solo artist.
Planet Of The Crates
Amid the influx of influential hip-hop producers coming out of the East Coast in the early ‘90s, Queens, NY reps The Beatnuts had little trouble garnering appreciators of their booming street-level sounds.
Dropkick if you’re down
St. Patrick’s Day festivities are strung out this year like College Bowl season, so much that younger generations must have no clue when the big day really is.
Now with less monster . . .
Deathcore upstart Whitechapel has quickly established itself as one of a handful of relevant names in a genre that initially seemed destined for the dustbin.
Keep on Truckin’
Drive-By Truckers hit town for two shows this weekend, and hope you don’t mind if they come out wearing their Go-Go Boots.
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