Recent Articles
Mudhoney preview
Mudhoney Reggie’s, Chicago Friday, May 30, 2008 Revisionism can be a beautiful thing: After Metallica and Megadeth blew their wads in the ’90s, rock critics swore they always loved Slayer. Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley are long dead, Chris Cornell is a laughing stock, and Pearl Jam have joined the David Bowie-curated “best album since […]
Adele preview
Adele Martyrs’, Chicago Saturday, May 31, 2008 It’s a bit jarring when a pasty British teenager opens her mouth and out comes the whopping voice of an old-time soul diva.
Hoots & Hellmouth preview
Hoots & Hellmouth Schubas, Chicago Saturday, May 31, 2008 It should be a rule that if your last name is Hoots and you have a band, you must play down-home, folksy, rootsy, backporch music. Though IE currently sit on the Rules & Regulations committee of our condo association, our power to issue such a decree […]
Everest preview
Everest Abbey Pub, Chicago Monday, June 2, 2008 Count Neil Young as a fan. The legendary Canuck signed Everest, an L.A.-based conglomerate of disparate indie collectives, to his Vapor Records label earlier this year. The quintet sports an impressive résumé with members citing stints in Sebadoh, Earlimart, Folk Implosion, John Vanderslice, and the Watson Twins. […]
Firewater reviewed
Firewater The Golden Hour (Bloodshot) Firewater’s Tod Ashley disappeared in the Far East to work on The Golden Hour, venturing from India to Istanbul until nature — specifically the natives — intervened. Appearing: Friday, May 30th at Empty Bottle in Chicago.
U.D.O. reviewed
U.D.O. Metallized (Locomotive) Who would have thought the one song almost any heavy metal fan can associate Udo Dirkschneider with, “Balls To The Wall,” would be the standout track of U.D.O.’s newest best-of compilation for all the *wrong* reasons?
Thee Silver Mt. Zion reviewed
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band 13 Blues For Thirteen Moons (Constellation) Keeping their bandname the same embarrassing length as for 2005’s Horses In The Sky, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Blah Blah Blah are able to focus their energies on this equally strong follow-up. Appearing: Saturday, May 31st at Logan Square Auditorium […]
The Cure live!
The Cure Allstate Arena, Rosemont Saturday, May 17, 2008 Click picture for full gallery Judging from those at Allstate Arena, the average Cure fan has moved on. Somewhere along the way, they ditched the black clothes, stopped moping about their lot in life, and joined society. As a result, the only eyeliner was on the […]
The Submarines preview
The Submarines Schubas, Chicago Thursday, May 22, 2008 Put down that dating manual. Erase the phrase “he’s just not that into you” from your vocabulary. Bruised hearts, shattered egos, and cynical left-brainers only need an introduction to husband-and-wife team Blake Hazard and John Dragonetti (aka The Submarines) to throw down the shackles of unrequited love.
The War On Drugs preview
The War On Drugs Empty Bottle, Chicago Friday, May 23, 2008 If The War On Drugs recall Arcade Fire, it’s a symptom of what happens when Bruce Springsteen and Sonic Youth are your biggest influences. It might explain why Arcade Fire also have a song in their repertoire that skirts Eddie & The Cruisers’ “On […]
Candlemass preview
Candlemass, Daylight Dies Pearl Room, Mokena Thursday, May 22, 2008 Candlemass haven’t toured the United States in nearly two decades? Really? It hardly seems possible one of the best doom metal bands ever haven’t stepped foot on an American stage in that long.
Langhorne Slim preview
Langhorne Slim Schubas, Chicago Wednesday, May 28, 2008 Allmusic.com describes Langhorne Slim as “something of a one-man mixture of the Cramps, Beck’s early indie records (circa One Foot In The Grave), and the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou. Really? Because we don’t really hear it on Langhorne & The War Eagles’ newest album.
Duffy reviewed
Duffy Rockferry (Mercury) Sprung by a teenage Joss Stone, the female British soul renaissance exploded with Amy Winehouse and now enters the 21st century via Duffy.
Katie Sawicki reviewed
Katie Sawicki Time Spent Lost (Bent) An unexplored, possibly taboo subject in singer-songwriter land is bland, sit-com names (Ryan Adams, Josh Ritter, Amy Ray) to go with the coffeehouse music. In Chicago especially, we’d appreciate a local-sounding call-sign like Katie Sawicki. Appearing: Wednesday, May 28th at EP Theatre (1820 N. Halsted) in Chicago.
Scotland Barr reviewed
Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags All The Great Aviators Agree (Monkey Barr) “Nothing wrong” is kryptonite for roots rock albums. All The Great Aviators Agree even has the misfortune of using the word “agree” in its title; supply an “-able” and you have the advance word on Scotland Barr’s copacetic all-rightness.
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