Recent Articles
Caught In A Mosh: August 2009
CASH TO FILL YOUR ALEHORN This column will only have marinated a few days by August 5th, but I’d be repentant if I didn’t mention the Alehorn Of Power, Chicagoland’s premier annual metal get together. There are some important changes in this, the fourth inception, so listen up. First, different venue. Double Door hosted all […]
Media: August 2009
PRINT NOT DEAD: TRUE STAR MAGAZINE “Print remains a viable media source, especially if you have unique distribution,” says True Star magazine co-founder, publisher and executive director DeAnna McLeary, whose free magazine for, by, and about local teens is distributed at high schools, YMCA’s Boys & Girls Clubs, McDonald’s, barber shops, beauty salons, libraries and […]
Gear: August 2009
MARSHALL MG2FX Portable Amplifier Marshall Amplification has added the portable MG2FX to its popular MG4 line of mini practice guitar amps. It offers a simple interface consisting of four dual-function knobs to provide access to 10 unique stage settings, five digital effects, a two-band EQ, and a tuner. As you expect, the MG2FX can run […]
Studiophile: August 2009
Studiophile August 2009 J-Miah At COMFORTZONE RECORDS in Oswego, J-Miah and producer Jason Mackniskas recorded the last two tracks needed to finish his debut album . . . On The House from Indiana University At Bloomington threw a three-song demo down featuring Brice Fox (vocals/piano), Bryan Flinn (vocals/guitar), Conor O’Toole (lead guitar), Ben Shulman (bass), […]
Coldplay live!
Alpine Valley, East Troy, WI Saturday, July 25, 2009 Once in awhile, a concert comes along that is so captivating in all of its parts that after its short-lived moment, one leaves feeling brighter and more inspired than before. This past Saturday, Coldplay brought such a show — complete in flawless, live performances and luminous […]
The Veils & Foreign Born live!
Empty Bottle, Chicago Thursday, July 23, 2009 Venturing out to experience Foreign Born and The Veils on Thursday proved to be fortuitous. Previewing the show last week, I wrote of a darkness on FB’s debut, Person To Person (Secretly Canadian), how you could trip over extension cords while listening to it, and blah blah blah.
Polkaholics preview
Quenchers, Chicago Saturday, August 1, 2009 For the longest of times, we thought Chicago’s Polkaholics had done wrong by both polka and punk bands — or right. We forgot which. They’re certainly doing right by Walter “Li’l Wally” Jagiello, whom they brought back here from Florida and played with ’til his 2006 death.
The Warlocks preview
Empty Bottle, Chicago Wednesday, August 5, 2009 Thursday, August 6, 2009 Far from the cold-eyed evildoer of their namesake movie, The Warlocks’ music is religion to them, a dirge-like moan that emanates like prayer from a Buddhist temple — contextualized by pop melodies and heavy drug use, of course.
As Tall As Lions preview
Bottom Lounge, Chicago Thursday, August 6, 2009 If they don’t kill each other, You Can’t Take It With You is a place where prog-rock, R&B, and Death Cab fans can harmonize.
Baby Teeth reviewed
Hustle Beach (Lujo) We’ve all been there. You sit on the couch with a shit-eating grin, chuckling and guffawing away at a comedy you’ve seen a hundred times since high school while the person sitting beside you utters those infernal words, “This is stupid.” (This person who loves you?) And you say, “What are you […]
Trainwreck Riders preview
Ronny’s, Chicago Sunday, July 26, 2009 Alt-country bands can come from anywhere, which is why there’s no need to raise a brow at Trainwreck Riders’ Frisco origins. In fact, it’s a boon for the band to have a little hometown weird on tap.
Def Leppard live!
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Tinley Park Friday, July 17, 2009 This past Friday, Def Leppard rocked a sprawling, First Midwest crowd eager to experience a band that claims to inspire the “Rock Of Ages.” By the night’s end, it proved the claim.
Foreign Born preview
Empty Bottle, Chicago Thursday, July 23, 2009 If you’ve never been to Los Angeles, you no doubt still feel you know it. Movies and TV are clearly responsible, and we’ve been clubbed with the idea of an “L.A. band,” as if, post ’80s, the phrase still has meaning. It doesn’t define Foreign Born, anyway.
Grand Duchy preview
Subterranean, Chicago Friday, July 24, 2009 Black Francis must be in a good place right now. With the Pixies having exhausted their reunification options, he can put the band back to rest without having to hear that question for awhile. He has even stuck with his name, which he inverted when he went solo back […]
Green Day live!
United Center, Chicago Monday, July 13, 2009 If there were such a thing as a punk rock year book, Green Day’s entry would be on the “least likely to succeed” page. Graduates of the famed 24 Gillman Street shit hole, the Berkley trio were at one time indistinguishable from the now countless bands that called […]
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