Recent Articles
Today Is The Day, Lair Of The Minotaur preview
Lair Of The Minotaur, Today Is The Day The Note, Chicago Tuesday, April 1, 2008 Chicago heavyweights Lair Of The Minotaur walk tall and swing a big, big, big — very fucking big — sword. Probably a good-sized axe too.
Born Ruffians preview
Born Ruffians Empty Bottle, Chicago Wednesday, April 2, 2008 With Columbia-educated New Yorkers Vampire Weekend riding high on a deafening wave of hype and “Saturday Night Live”-scale appearances, Toronto-based trio Born Ruffians probably wish they beat the Afro-centric Ivy Leaguers to the punch.
Cryptacize reviewed
Cryptacize Dig That Treasure (Asthmatic Kitty) Dig That Treasure, among a zillion other impulses, encourages the reconsideration of duets, lullabies, and musicals. Appearing: Saturday, March 29th at Hideout in Chicago.
Janet Jackson reviewed
Janet Jackson Discipline (Island) Developed by the right people, Discipline could have altered the course of Janet Jackson as we know her. Nipplegate should have been a reinvention, a chance for a Jackson, any Jackson, to actually taste success in this millennium. For whatever reason she and her handlers are too scared to try.
Springsteen live!
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Bradley Center, Milwaukee Monday, March 17, 2008 When Bruce Springsteen and the recently reconvened E Street Band kicked off his Magic tour last fall, the set lists leaned heavily on the new album, along with the signature mix of deep cuts and a handful of hits. Though little […]
Tally Hall, The Spinto Band preview
Tally Hall, The Spinto Band Schubas, Chicago Thursday, March 20 & Friday, March 21, 2008 How chipper can one band possibly be? Recession is breathing down our necks, most the world dislikes the United States, extreme weather is ravaging our country, and soon it will be cheaper to charter a flight to work than drive. […]
The Color Fred preview
The Color Fred Beat Kitchen, Chicago Friday, March 21, 2008 Fred Mascherino shocked fans when he announced his departure from Taking Back Sunday last fall to embark on a solo project under the moniker The Color Fred. The guitarist/singer didn’t hide the fact relations within the band were tenuous at best and expressed a desire […]
British Sea Power preview
British Sea Power Empty Bottle, Chicago Monday, March 24, 2008 British Sea Power have caught all sorts of hell for not deciding whom they want to be: clunky post punkers, Pixies, or U2. For their third album, Do You Like Rock Music? (Rough Trade/World’s Fair), they settled on plain old loud.
Mike Relm preview
Mike Relm Abbey Pub, Chicago Wednesday, March 26, 2008 The art of turntablism became a battle ground throughout the mid to late-’90s, with hip-hop DJs training year round to compete in one-day scratch- and beat-juggling-competitions like DMC (Disco Mix Club) and ITF (International Turntablist Federation). But as tablists became champions and had nothing left to […]
Jaymay, Cahoone, & Gemini reviewed
Jaymay Autumn Fallin’ (Blue Note) Sera Cahoone Only As The Day Is Long (Sub Pop) Miwa Gemini This Is How I Found You (Addictive) A trio of March releases give a peak at the American singer-songwriter from an exclusively feminine perspective — at many of the same crossroads as men.
Brain Drill & Brainstorm reviewed
Brain Drill Apocalyptic Feasting (Metal Blade) Brainstorm Downburst (Metal Blade) A few write-ups have knocked Metal Blade for releasing CDs by Brain Drill and Brainstorm within a few weeks of each other, inferring the label wasn’t using its brain (nice, I know). Fans will be confused! They’ll go to the record store – yeah, right […]
The Gutter Twins live
The Gutter Twins Metro, Chicago Friday, March 7, 2008 It isn’t entirely accurate to print The Gutter Twins show happened Friday the 7th, because, in actuality, the outfit didn’t take the stage until well after 1 a.m. Saturday morning. Then again, a so-late-it’s-almost-early performance is hardly surprising, given the nocturnal aesthetic of the talent.
The Tossers preview
The Tossers Metro, Chicago Friday, March 14, 2008 St. Patrick’s Day is Monday, March 17th for most people, but for Tossers fans it’s Friday night.
Nick Jaina preview
Nick Jaina Subterranean, Chicago Sunday, March 16, 2008 Oregonian Nick Jaina obviously cherishes Tom Waits’ pre-Island Records catalog, though is careful not to reverently trace the steps of Closing Time or Nighthawks At The Diner.
Mission Man preview
Mission Man Elbo Room, Chicago Wednesday, March 19, 2008 In his press materials Gary Milholland, aka Mission Man, claims he chose his stage name because he is “on a mission to change the way people see hip-hop.” He succeeded with me – I may never be able to listen to it again.
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