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Alisa Simms‘ Remember consists of the title track plus two remixes. The original is a mix of simple keys, drums, minimal guitar, and some nice string touches near the end, keeping the spotlight on Simms’ warm, silky vocals. The second, “Remixber,” has a little more percussion in its groove. The final, “Reminder Drum ‘N’ Bass […]
Wilco live!
Wilco Auditorium Theatre, Chicago Friday, November 24, 2006 Wilco play Chicago so frequently it’s easy to arrive at a show with expectations, have them met, and swish-swash your corudroy’d ass back to the North Side. Throw in last year’s live album, this fall’s Jeff Tweedy live DVD, and the coming second album from Pat Sansone […]
Tenacious D live!
Tenacious D UIC Pavilion, Chicago Friday, November 24, 2006 Click here for Tenacious D Photo Gallery Say what you will about Jack Black, the one thing he’s not looking for is work. With two films in theaters during the holidays, you won’t have to look far to get your Black fix.
Alexis Gideon previewed
Alexis Gideon Reversible Eye Gallery, Chicago Saturday, December 2, 2006 Meet Alexis Gideon. Possibly the most schizo motherfucker making music today. You might remember Gideon as one half of Chicago bizarre cross dressing rap duo Princess, and if you do, you likely don’t think his solo project, Welcome Song (Sick Room, January 9th), could possibly […]
Sonya Kitchell, Ben Taylor reviewed
Sonya Kitchell, Ben Taylor Schubas, Chicago Saturday, December 2, 2006 Sunday, December 3, 2006 Heaps of expectation have been poured on Sonya Kitchell and Ben Taylor (he of The Ben Taylor Band), but so has skepticism. Kitchell has the approval of Herbie Hancock, the first deal signed with coffee empire Starbucks imprint Hear, and is […]
Saosin, Bleeding Through previewed
Saosin, Bleeding Through House Of Blues, Chicago Saturday, December 2, 2006 Sunday, December 3, 2006 Many, many bands, no matter how hard they work, how good their records are, or how incredible their live show is, will never get two minutes of face time with a major label A&R person. Then there are bands like […]
Forward, Russia! reviewed
Forward, Russia! Give Me A Wall (Dance To The Radio/Mute) Non-Russo, former numberers of songs come back ’round for Stateside approval. Appearing: Tuesday, December 5th at Empty Bottle.
Shanna Kiel reviewed
Shanna Kiel Orphan (Thick) There’s a lot of brazen desire behind Orphan for such a short affair.
Herbert reissued
Herbert 100 lbs (!K7) Arriving almost apologetically, Matthew Herbert’s first three EPs and some bonus tracks come with a caveat.
Morrissey live!
Morrissey, Kristeen Young Aragon Ballroom, Chicago Tuesday, November 21, 2006 The generally reclusive, somewhat tour-shy Morrissey came out of his shell once again in support of 2006’s Ringleader Of The Tormentors (Attack), even if it was for just a single day in America. Though he’d previously debuted the material at South By Southwest in Austin, […]
Planes Mistaken For Stars preview
Planes Mistaken For Stars The Note, Chicago Friday, November 24, 2006 It isn’t unusual for Midwestern bands to flee their homestead for a destination they consider more promising. After all, Middle America can seem awful limiting compared to New York City or Los Angeles, two cities contaminated with major labels and major tastemakers. So the […]
The Black Keys previewed
The Black Keys, Dr. Dog* Vic Theatre, Chicago November 24 and 25, 2006 Pretty much everyone dismissed guitar-and-drum duos who sprang up in the early 2000s as fads. After The White Stripes stormed MTV, it seemed for awhile all there was to write about were The Kills, Mates Of State (actually organ and drums), The […]
Brazilian Girls preview
Brazilian Girls Metro, Chicago Saturday, November 25, 2006 Given the knee-jerk reaction to world music in the U.S., it was a chancey proposition for Brazilian Girls to name themselves what they did with only one girl, non-Brazilian at that, in the band.
Napalm Death previewed
Napalm Death Pearl Room, Mokena Monday, November 27, 2006 Love metalcore? Thank Napalm Death. Hate metalcore? Blame Napalm Death.
Ray Lamontagne preview
Ray Lamontagne Vic Theatre, Chicago November 28 and 29, 2006 Maine-native/singer-songwriter (how many people can claim that?) Ray Lamontagne and his second album seem to have taken to mind all the reviews from his first, 2003’s Trouble (RCA). Instead of making like an R&B singer and amping up the vibrato, however, he turns inward.
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