Recent Articles
Cover Story: The Interrupters • Write Your Own Story
Looks, they say, can be deceiving. Hearing energetic vocalist Aimee Interrupter ricochet through In the Wild — the bracing new fourth album from The Interrupters, the SoCal ska-punk outfit she formed 11 years ago with dub-schooled guitarist Kevin Bivona, now her husband — it’s difficult to picture anything but unbridled joy and optimism fueling it. From […]
Stage Buzz: North Coast Fest, Rammstein, Deacon Blues, Nas and Wu-Tang Clan
Two titans of hip hop Nas and Wu-Tang Clan, are bringing their NY State of Mind Tour with special guest Busta Rhymes to Tinley Park’s Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre this weekend. Both acts changed hip hop forever with their unique styles, skilled lyricism, and groundbreaking music that continues to inspire the genre to this day. […]
Sacred Rose Festival • Seat Geek Stadium • Bridgeview
Sacred Rose Festival Seat Geek Stadium Bridgeview, IL August 26-28 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Day One The jam-centric Sacred Rose Festival made its debut last weekend at Bridgeview’s Seat Geek Stadium “campus.” While the lineup for the three-day event certainly leaned heavily in the direction of twangy improvisation, there were still plenty of […]
ProFile: WC Social Club • West Chicago
Entrepreneur, concert promoter, and club owner, Chris Triebes, has been booking national music acts and promoting his own concerts in our city for over two decades now. Triebes started promoting shows when he was just 18 years old before owning and running his own venue in Joliet called Mojoes, which was the predecessor to what […]
Stage Buzz: Sacred Rose, Alice in Chains, Framing Hanley, Blondie, Soft Cell
Often touted as one of “The Big Four” of grunge rock, Alice in Chains stood out from their peers with the distinct vocal stylings of Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell and for their incorporation of heavy metal in their music. The band, fortunately, continued on with acclaimed vocalist William DuVal, who’s been continuing their […]
Photo Gallery: Red Hot Chili Peppers – Soldier Field • Chicago
Red Hot Chili Peppers Soldier Field Chicago, IL August 19, 2022 Recap and photos by Curt Baran The “Unlimited Love” tour touched down inside of Chicago’s Soldier Field Friday. It featured headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers, who are currently on the road for the first time in half a decade. It also marks the return […]
Stage Buzz: Traveler, Midnight Dice, Peter Hook & The Light, Franz Ferdinand, Kendrick Lamar, Korn, Demetria Taylor
Red Hot Chili Peppers bring their funk-rap-rock stylings to Solider Field this Friday, August 19, with support from The Strokes and Thundercat. Starting back in 1983, they are the most successful alternative rock band with 14 number-one hits, 25 top-ten songs, and over 100 million records sold worldwide. And they keep the hits coming with […]
Live Review: Riot Fest Night with the White Sox – Guaranteed Rate Field • Chicago
The Chicago White Sox and My Chemical Romance clinched wins at Guaranteed Rate Field on Tuesday night. The ballpark’s Riot Fest Night event reminded Southside baseball fans that the city’s premiere punk rock festival will launch its 2022 event in one month. The game was a match-up between the surging White Sox and 2021 playoff […]
Photo Gallery: Wild Hearts Tour featuring Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen and Julien Baker – The Salt Shed • Chicago
The Wild Hearts Tour featuring Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, and Julien Baker The Salt Shed Chicago, IL August 10, 2022 Recap and photos by Curt Baran On paper, The Wild Hearts Tour presented itself as one of the summer’s most intriguing live music events. Under an almost full moon on another perfect August evening, it […]
Photo Gallery: Rob Zombie, Mudvayne, Static-X and Powerman 5000 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre • Tinley Park
Rob Zombie, Mudvayne, Static-X, Powerman 5000 Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Saturday, August 5 Photos by Jenafur Schlangn It was a modern day “World Series of Rock” in the shadow of Interstate 80 on Saturday. Jenafur Schlangn captured the Zombie action (and friends) in all their glory.
Stage Buzz: Little Italy Fest, Incubus, Ludacris, Pop 2000
Grammy award-winning rapper turned actor Ludacris is coming through to disturb the peace! Before the rapper (hopefully) drops his long-awaited follow-up to 2015’s Ludaversal, he’ll play some of his biggest hits like “Move” and “Roll Out” at The Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, IL on Thursday, August 11 at 7:30 PM. If you wanna “Act […]
Live Review: Elvis Costello and the Imposters • Out of Space • Evanston
Elvis Costello and the Imposters Out of Space at Canal Shores Golf Course, Evanston, IL Friday, August 5, 2022 Review by Jeff Elbel Elvis Costello last visited Chicago in November, previewing material from 2022’s The Boy Named If album. Fans who missed that concert at Chicago Theatre were given a second chance to experience the […]
Live Review: Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets • Old Town School of Folk Music • Chicago
Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL Thursday, August 4, 2022 Review by Jeff Elbel Photo: Nick Lowe at Riot Fest 2019 (by Curt Baran) Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets kicked off a lengthy touring jaunt of opening dates for Elvis Costello by warming up with a […]
Photo Gallery: Fleet Foxes at The Salt Shed • Chicago
Fleet Foxes The Salt Shed Chicago, IL August 3, 2022 Recap and photos by Curt Baran The music of Fleet Foxes is perfectly suited for smoldering summer nights. So when they made their debut at Chicago’s newest venue (The Salt Shed), it felt as though the planets had aligned. Their brand of folky, melodic storytelling […]
Photo Gallery: Lollapalooza 2022 • Day One • Chicago
Lollapalooza Day One Grant Park Chicago, IL Thursday, July 28th Recap and photos by Curt Baran The big dog was most decidedly not curbed this past weekend in Grant Park. Lollapalooza returned to its summer home in Chicago’s front yard, and it boasted a thick lineup of up-and-comers, as well as repeat offenders Metallica as […]
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