Recent Articles
The Academy Is preview
The Academy Is House Of Blues, Chicago Thursday, November 6, 2008 Friday, November 7, 2008 Both Rolling Stone and Spin hammered The Academy Is’ second album, Santi, but so what? Fans still grabbed copies, Atlantic Records didn’t give Fueled By Ramen/Decaydence any ultimatums, and the Hoffman Estates-based band felt confident enough to book two House […]
My Brightest Diamond preview
My Brightest Diamond Schubas, Chicago Friday, November 7, 2008 Led Zeppelin’s burning yen to hit the road without Robert Plant (and with some choda from Alter Bridge) has given us something similar to the DTs: shaking, nausea, gas, seething intolerance for blatant stupidity. However, if Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones absolutely must go all […]
Tech N9ne
Tech N9ne Pearl Room, Mokena Saturday, November 8, 2008 Skits, guest appearances, and bloated songs counts are as common to hip-hop as blast beats are to black metal, but Tech N9ne takes things to a whole new level on Killer.
Grails preview
Grails Empty Bottle, Chicago Tuesday, November 11, 2008 Grails’ Doomsdayer’s Holiday cover art has boobies on it. Naked boobies. This would be cooler if the woman with said boobies wasn’t riding one of those convenient-store mechanical animals (an elephant, as far as we can tell), in the middle of a forest, wearing some sort of […]
A Big Brain Benefit For Diane Izzo
Singer-songwriter Diane Izzo, who was an alt-country/Hideout fixture for a number of years, needs some help. Doctors discovered a brain tumor this year and, echoing the trials of most working musicians, he has little by way of health insurance. In the spirit of community, some of her better-known friends have sprung to her aid.
Godhead reviewed
Godhead At The Edge Of The World Driven Music Group Wow. What the shit happened to Godhead? ‘Cause this sure isn’t the same band from eight years ago.
Cover story: Mudvayne
Mudvayne Two Is Better Than One Though Mudvayne’s new album, The New Game, comes out November 18th, it actually could have been in fans’ hands last November 18th. See, a funny thing happened when vocalist Chad Gray, guitarist Greg Tribbett, bassist Ryan Martinie, and drummer Matt McDonough finished recording the album (with producer Dave Fortman) […]
Blitzen Trapper interview
Blitzen Trapper Werewolves Of Portland The Internet has cost musicians the ability to surprise. As soon as they record and upload anything worth hearing, their work goes viral. So by the time there’s an album’s worth of songs, the public has nothing but backlash. Not only have we stripped them of the power to change […]
The Chicago Promoter’s Ordinance
Pay To Play? The Chicago Promoter’s Ordinance In Progress No matter what side of the music industry one comes from (promoter, artist, record label, press, or fan), chances are rumblings of the “Event Promoter’s Ordinance” have trickled into conversation. Ever since pyrotechnics started by hair metal mavens Great White killed 100 at a Rhode Island […]
Tom Lanham’s Panic Attack
Tom Lanham’s Panic Attack By Tom Lanham It was one of those rare, what-the-fuck moments where you stumble upon something so incredibly odd, so completely unexpected and incongruous, that it simply stops you dead in your dumfounded tracks. And it’s a story that simply gets stranger with each retelling.
File: November 2008
Illinois Entertainer Endorses . . . Barack Obama seems the obvious choice, right? He’s not only a political son of our great state, but also a proud Hyde Parker. He’s not 200-years old, doesn’t have a state-trooper-firin’, book-bannin’, moose-shootin’, embarrassingly unqualified VP candidate, and he speaks so well and confidently, we want him to read […]
Hello, My Name Is David
Hello, My Name Is David Q&A With David Grisman IE: Is there still passionate debate about what does and doesn’t constitute bluegrass? David Grisman: I imagine so, in some circles at least.
DVD Zone: November 2008 – Indy Rocks!
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull Paramount When you’re dealing with one of the most successful franchises in film history, it’s awfully hard to resist the lure of “just one more.” Producer George Lucas, director Steven Spielberg, and Indy himself Harrison Ford all gave in to temptation and dug out the whip […]
Local Studio Happenings
Pete Berwick started his new, 18-song album at SKYE BLUE STUDIOS in Villa Park. Berwick is recording his third album with his most recent band, The Renegades (guitarist Rick Devries, bassist Nick Verbik, and drummer Rob Surey), and co-producer Jason Botka. It should be out in early ’09.
Reviewapalooza
Many CDs have been unreviewed during the past few months as I have focused more on the news side of the business. In a slight change of format, I will devote this entire column to playing catch up with pithy reviews of CDs from legends and newcomers alike, covering the gamut of traditional blues to […]
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