Recent Articles
The Legacy Remains
The seed of Testament‘s reunion was planted in 2001, the year Chuck Billy was fighting for his life. Diagnosed with germ cell seminoma, the hulking frontman was undergoing chemotherapy and drowning in medical bills. So friends from the Bay Area and beyond united for the Thrash Of The Titans benefit gig in San Francisco. On […]
Local CD Reviews
“Around Hear” is a monthly feature where a stable of IE writers review albums sent to us by local musicians. If you are interested in having your CD (must have a minimum of three songs) reviewed and are Illinois-based, mail it and any other media materials to 657 A W. Lake St., Chicago IL, 60661. […]
Around Hear Page 2
The Goodyear Pimps deliver a unique hard rock sound on their latest, Quickly Now Gentlemen, With A Lively Step. They are mostly rock with just enough punk to keep it raw, but what makes them stand out are the lyrics, (stream-of-consciousness and literate in a hard-edged way) and the vocal delivery. Unfortunately, there are no […]
Around Hear Page 3
The debut album from Paper Arrows, Look Alive, swoops in and hits the pause button on racing pulses. The trio crafts somber melodies that would make Adam Duritz proud. Joe Goodkin’s vocals even slightly resemble the Counting Crows frontman. While Duritz sings about Maria in every song, the gal Goodkin pines for in these 10 […]
Louis XIV, What Made Milwaukee Famous live
Louis XIV, What Made Milwaukee Famous Metro, Chicago Saturday, March 22, 2008 When Louis XIV picked up steam in 2004, it was on the road alongside The Killers and Von Bondies, and quickly led to a deal with Atlantic Records. Even though the industry was riding the resurrected garage and dance rock crazes to excessive […]
Stephen Malkmus live
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Vic Theatre, Chicago Friday, March 21, 2008 The patchwork wall between indie rock and jam bands came crashing down Friday night, as a plodding Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks burned holes through the Vic stage with their eyes.
Justice live!
Justice Riviera, Chicago Thursday, March 20, 2008 Somewhere in the midst of Justice’s whirlwind set last Thursday at the Riviera, it became difficult to distinguish exactly what song the electro duo were performing off their 2007 breakthrough album †. Good thing that was hardly the point.
The Raveonettes live!
The Raveonettes Double Door, Chicago Tuesday, March 18, 2008 At this point in The Raveonettes’ career, Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo have inarguably established themselves and their sound — specifically, feedback-drenched fuzz pop with a healthy mix of ’50s love songs and The Jesus And Mary Chain as their primary influences.
Gary Louris, Vetiver preview
Gary Louris, Vetiver Metro, Chicago Friday, March 28, 2008 Jayhawks founder and Golden Smog co-conspirator Gary Louris is always surrounded by so much talent you can never be sure where his begins or ends. It’s also the case on his first(!) solo album, Vagabonds (Rykodisc). Maybe, finally, the tour in its support will set the […]
Doro preview
Doro Pearl Room, Mokena Saturday, March 29, 2008 Occasionally, when writing about a heavy metal band I’ll pull out The Book Of Metal, written by Metal Hammer editor Chris Ingham and billed as “the most comprehensive encyclopedia of metal music ever created,” as a reference. Most comprehensive ever, yet no damn Doro?
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 […]
Recent Comments