Recent Articles
Two Cow Garage preview
Two Cow Garage Bottom Lounge, Chicago Saturday, October 11, 2008 Speaking In Cursive (Suburban Home), Two Cow Garage’s fourth album, is a surprise. It isn’t a change in direction, a leap forward in melody and ferocity, or a candidate for the Nobel in literature. No, it just seemed a smart bet the band would have […]
Sleeping In The Aviary preview
Sleeping In The Aviary Ronny’s, Chicago Saturday, October 11, 2008 Sleeping In The Aviary wears its heart on its sleeve, combining wry, yet heartfelt lyrics with an acoustic punk aesthetic. The Madison quartet has much to lament on its sophomore effort, Expensive Vomit In A Cheap Hotel (Science Of Sound). Recording on the heels of […]
Amon Amarth preview
Amon Amarth House Of Blues, Chicago Monday, October 13, 2008 Sweden’s Amon Amarth picked the perfect time to release Twilight Of The Thunder God (Metal Blade) because somehow, someway, “viking metal” has become hot shit.
Killing Joke preview
Killing Joke House Of Blues, Chicago Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Consider yourselves lucky, Chicagoans. Not only is Killing Joke coming to town for one of only four United States dates, it’s bringing the original lineup.
Kids do Aerosmith!
Punk No Kids This weekend, some veteran punk rockers will wrap their children in swaddling clothes and carry them off to Riot Fest. Others, still deeply distrustful of all that blue hair and aggression, will have their kids up onstage in a grand tribute to Aerosmith.
The Little Ones review
The Little Ones Morning Tide (Chop Shop/Atlantic) On a 2006 EP, Los Angeles-based quintet The Little Ones reminisced “Way back when, we were the latest around.” Through protracted label twists and turns their sell-by date drew ever near, and finally here’s the happiest of happy debuts. Appearing: Tuesday, October 21st at Schubas in Chicago.
Cover Story: My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket: Urge Overkill? When My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James spoke to Illinois Entertainer in 2002, his point was drowned out by an enigmatic admission. Expressing the relationship between his band – having just released the wide-eyed, country psychedelia of At Dawn (Darla) – and their native Louisville, he casually offered “I think […]
Hannibal Buress preview
Hannibal Buress Morseland, Chicago Thursday, October 2, 2008 The connection between comedy and hip-hop has grown beyond Def Comedy Jam in recent years. Like the best observational MCs, Comedy Central’s own Hannibal Buress can create thought-provoking conversations out of everyday occurrences. The difference with the Chicagoan is he can consistently make you laugh.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds live!
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Riviera, Chicago Monday, September 29, 2008 The script goes: we see a veteran act and report back how whoever it is may have lost a step but is much more seasoned. Monday night, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds slipped out of our hold and jammed a finger in […]
Hot Chip, Growing live!
Hot Chip, Growing Metro, Chicago Sunday, September 28, 2008 Who knew five pasty British guys armed with synthesizers could put on the year’s best rock show? On Sunday night, the first of a two-night Metro stand, Hot Chip egged on a libido-soaked crowd until the band’s angular, repetitive “Bendable Poseable” served to characterize the frenzied […]
My Bloody Valentine live!
My Bloody Valentine Aragon, Chicago Saturday, September 27, 2008 From a trio of stewards hocking free earplugs for fans filing in the Aragon to a set-closing, 20-minute cannonade of noise that kicked everyone out, there was no mistaking the intent behind My Bloody Valentine’s return. Frontman Kevin Shields, crippled by 17 years of artistic paralysis, […]
Stars, Bell X1 live!
Stars, Bell X1 Vic Theatre, Chicago Wednesday, September 24, 2008 When the credits roll in the imaginary film depiction of Stars’ Wednesday night gig at The Vic, the following phrase – no flowers were hurt in the making of this film – will not flash across the screen. During the Montreal collective’s 90-minute set, dozens […]
Opeth, High On Fire live!
Opeth, High On Fire House Of Blues, Chicago Wednesday, September 24, 2008 Before Opeth and High On Fire even rolled into town last week, their House Of Blues show became more about what wasn’t than was. This tour looked can’t miss when it was announced: progressive metal wizard Opeth with support from stoner king High […]
Apocalyptic Crust Fest II preview
Apocalyptic Crust Fest II The Black Hole, Chicago October 2-4, 2008 If we’re being honest, we know nothing about Shaman Records, didn’t realize the venue The Black Hole (3057 W. 26th) existed, and have heard of only a few of the nearly 30 bands playing there this weekend. But how can you go wrong with […]
Robert Pollard preview
Robert Pollard Double Door, Chicago Monday, October 6, 2008 Oh, Bob. When people realized Guided By Voices actually was going to break up in 2004, an onrush of goodwill spilled forth that seemed to forgive the Fading Captain sloppiness and TVT years at once. After that last tour, all went back to normal and Robert […]
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