Recent Articles
Media: July 2009
Live Local Bands Get Their Own Free Weekly (Free) TV Show “We’re encouraging local bands to support each other in a grassroots way,” says John Sink, executive producer of “Chicago/ Live,” a new live, weekly music performance series that airs Wednesday nights at midnight on WJYS TV-Channel 62 — just after “JBTV.” Editors note: Due […]
Caught In A Mosh: July 2009
Master’s No Puppet As if Master wasn’t enough of a reason to like Paul Speckmann, the dude credits this humble little magazine with boosting his career! In early 1984 Speckmann had just left War Cry (which, along with fellow Chicago doomsters Trouble, was a major influence on the mighty Cathedral) and craved something faster, more […]
Sweet Home: July 2009
Whole Lotta Music Goin’ On The bright spot in an otherwise drab and dreary spring is the group of high-quality new releases that have crossed my desk for review. I am especially pleased to see that Chicago labels are recording local talent — a trend I hope continues. As I have said many times before […]
DVD Zone: July 2009
Iron Maiden: Flight 666 UMe If Bruce Dickinson isn’t the coolest person on the planet, I’d be hard-pressed to tell you who is. Not only is he still one of the best and most charismatic frontmen in the business at age 50, but if he needs to catch the afternoon shuttle from London to Cardiff, […]
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood live!
United Center, Chicago Wednesday, June 17, 2009 Considering the nucleus of Blind Faith hadn’t toured together since 1969, it was particularly monumental when Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood performed a short set together at Bridgeview’s Toyota Park in 2007 as part of the Crossroads Guitar Festival. Given that evening’s rave reviews and the pair’s unfathomable […]
Better Than Ezra preview
House Of Blues, Chicago Saturday, June 27, 2009 Most people you’d ask either love or hate Better Than Ezra, but the reason is probably the same: they’re full of hooks and they’re pretty good at fishing an audience with them. The band have never taken themselves too seriously, opting instead to show their fans […]
King Sunny Ade & Femi Kuti preview
Ravinia Festival, Highland Park Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Nigeria might be notorious for constant political turmoil, but there’s another constant in Nigerian culture that everyone should experience at least once: participating in a raucous Nigerian party with non-stop music. If you don’t have any Nigerian friends, not to worry, Ravinia is throwing a blockbuster Nigerian […]
Q101 Block Party review
Charter One Pavilion, Chicago Sunday, June 14, 2009 Mother Nature made a lot of people happy Sunday night, as she gave Q101, 311, and a whole slew of music fans a perfect night of weather for Q101’s annual “Block Party.” The not-quite-sold-out crowd enjoyed a beautiful summer night of quality live music, and judging by […]
PJ Harvey & John Parish live
Riviera, Chicago Friday, June 12, 2009 PJ Harvey has never shied away from the dark spaces. In fact, they almost seem to define her work. So it wasn’t at all unusual to find her singing “When you call out my name in rapture/I commit my soul to murder” during the opening moments of Friday night’s […]
Passion Pit, Harlem Shakes live
Empty Bottle, Chicago Sunday, June 14, 2009 On the surface, Passion Pit are seemingly doing everything right. A synth and keyboard-heavy outfit, the group invite instant comparisons to last year’s heatseekers MGMT. What’s more, blogs across the Internet are heaping wild praise upon the group, with remixes of songs from the band’s recentManners (Frenchkiss) record […]
Phoenix live
Park West, Chicago Saturday, June 13, 2009 I admit to having hesitated seeing Phoenix in concert. Bringing their artful, yet precise studio pop to the performance stage seemed as wise as transporting a world-war-trending Risk board from the kitchen to the basement mid-match.
MOBfest preview
Various clubs, Chicagoland Thursday, June 18 to Saturday, June 20, 2009 Now in its 13th year, MOBfest aims to show Chicago just how lucky it is.
Dirty Projectors preview
Pritzker Pavilion, Chicago Monday, June 22, 2009 As far as indie rock goes, 2009 is the year of vindication. Brand names and especially newer artists (M.I.A., Vampire Weekend, Justice, Fleet Foxes) have had a stranglehold lately, but this year is different. Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimest is widely mooted as the band’s coming out, while Phoenix have […]
Au Revoir Simone preview
Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago Thursday, June 25, 2009 Slow and steady has won the race for Au Revoir Simone. The fragile-looking trio seemed to have signed their own death warrant by holding fast to low-rent synths, individual and group introversion, and waif-y heroin chic. But this spring’s Still Night, Still Light affirms their blueprint.
The Wooden Birds reviewed
Magnolia (Barsuk) Ain’t no party like a dinner party, ‘cuz for a dinnerpartyyouneedaquietCD that don’t stop. Appearing: Saturday, June 20th at Schubas in Chicago.
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