Recent Articles
Ministry live!
Ministry House Of Blues, Chicago Thursday, May 8, 2008 The first of Ministry’s four farewell shows (incidentally the first to be scheduled, leaving fans who jumped at tickets in the lurch) failed to be the celebratory death blow it promised, languishing in a mash of commercials, one-note punditry, and general indifference.
The Police live!
The Police Allstate Arena, Rosemont Saturday, May 10, 2008 Funny thing about victory laps – if left unchecked, they can go on longer than the race. This could be an apt description of The Police at Allstate Arena. Visit the official Illinois Entertainer Photo Gallery to see more Police concert pics.
Gigantour wrap-up!
Gigantour Aragon Ballroom, Chicago Tuesday, May 6, 2008 Decades ago metal was proclaimed the beast that refused to die. But now it seems to be merely immortal. Gigantour, which made its Chicago stop on its international tour at the Aragon on May 6th, showed how metal has maintained its infinite vitality. Visit the official Illinois […]
Dolly Parton live!
Dolly Parton Chicago Theatre, Chicago Friday, May 9, 2008 Those hoping to catch country-pop crossover queen Dolly Parton on her Backwoods Barbie tour had to wait just a little longer, thanks to a back injury. “I’m mending very nicely and will be fit as a fiddle soon,” the singer-songwriter said at the time. “And I’ll […]
The Helio Sequence preview
The Helio Sequence Empty Bottle, Chicago Thursday, May 15, 2008 Losing your voice as a singer is akin to a surgeon losing hand mobility – both seemingly spell the end of a career and bitterly so.
Arch Enemy preview
Arch Enemy House Of Blues, Chicago Monday, May 19, 2008 Though giving an interview subject one of your demos during your talk may be shaky ground when it comes to journalistic integrity, rock critics around the world should applaud Arch Enemy vocalist Angela Gossow for proving we aren’t just a bunch of musical flunkies who […]
The Old Haunts preview
The Old Haunts Empty Bottle, Chicago Wednesday, May 21, 2008 The Old Haunts frontman Craig Extine couldn’t sound any more like Jack White. And we mean that in kinda sorta the best way possible.
Keep Cool With Colette
Help Chicago’s very own Colette nab the title of “America’s Best DJ” when the blonde bombshell stops at Smart Bar on May 31st as part of a tour promoting the competition, now in its third year.
Kassin+2 reviewed
Kassin+2 Futurismo (Luaka Bop) Built upon the trio of Kassin, Domenico Lancellotti, and Moreno Veloso (the series’ first volume was by Moreno+2, the second by Domenico+2) Futurismo has a bossa nova backbone (not unlike pioneers Caetano Veloso or even Os Mutantes), but forces some not-too-subtle rearrangements that don’t ultimately redefine Brazilian terminology, but that generalistic […]
Torche reviewed
Torche Meanderthal (Hydra Head) A band called Torche releases a record called Meanderthal on the label Hydra Head. Sounds like a sure formula for beards, abstract song titles, lots of tempo changes, and eight-minute tracks, doesn’t it? Thinking-man’s metal, right? Appearing: Sunday, July 20th at Empty Bottle in Chicago.
The Black Angels reviewed
The Black Angels Directions To See A Ghost (Light In The Attic) The Black Angels’ debut, Passover, got a free pass from critics who agreed its dark-alley psychedelia was more than the sum of its obvious influences. But trying to tap the same black-tarred vein doesn’t serve them quite as well on Directions To See […]
K’naan reviewed
K’naan The Dusty Foot Philosopher (Independent Media) MC and poet K’naan has no shortage of real-life struggles to speak on being a refugee of Mogadishu, Somalia, the place he calls “the most dangerous city in this universe.”
Power Quest reviewed
Power Quest Master Of Illusion (Napalm) When keyboardist Steve Williams and Steve Scott left Dragonheart in 2000, they surely did so thinking their new project, Power Quest, had just as much chance “making it” (this is power metal we’re talking about) as their old band did. Wrong.
Basia Bulat preview
Basia Bulat Vic Theatre, Chicago Friday, May 9, 2008 The first strums of Basia Bulat’s autoharp on “In The Night,” the first single from the Canadian songstress’ Rough Trade debut, immediately conjure Catherine O’Hara’s free-spirited folkie Mickey Crabbe in 2003’s A Mighty Wind. Fortunately, the rambunctious “In The Night” is light years away from the […]
Was (Not Was) preview
Was (Not Was) Abbey Pub, Chicago Saturday, May 10, 2008 Why can’t more records kick off with a song about skinhead psychos, dismembered mothers, patriotic threesomes, and Scientology jokes?
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