Recent Articles
Studio Happenings
The Countdown recorded and mixed at THE MATTRESS FACTORY in Chicago with Martin Atkins (PIL, Nine Inch Nails, Pigface), owner of Invisible Records. They are working on a full-length album, which will be the follow-up to the 2004 EP Scratch & Sniff. The LP will be released this winter.
Not-So-Sacred Cow
We were never fans of Erich “Mancow” Muller, the libertarian shock jock who started drawing young male listeners to him like flies when he came to Chicago in 1994. But we were not pleased when Emmis Communications-owned WKQX-FM (101.1) dumped his top-rated “Mancow’s Morning Madhouse” in July.
Roll With It
GRETSCH G400JV Archtop Guitar Fresh from his victorious performance at FitzGerald’s, Jimmie Vaughan has a new piece of signature hardware to show off.
A Trip To The Moon
You’re older/shorter of breathe/ and one day closer to death.” Pink Floyd’s overview of how quickly time ravages is certainly true for most everything and everyone except of course, the iconic album from which those verses were taken: Dark Side Of The Moon. Originally released in 1973, the legendary concept album spent almost 15 straight […]
Local CD Reviews
Page [1] [2] Absolutely Perfect deliver an amalgam of lo-fi, guitar-driven rock. With slick, melodic touches such as the agile guitar leads reminiscent of Pretty Girls Make Graves, on “4crease,” and huge, angular riffs on “Burner” and “Ghetto Fabulous,” they show off technical virtuosity that suits their hard rock. Surprisingly, they also toss in phrases […]
Around Hear Page 2
Page [1] [2] Split Series Vol. One (Bone) consists of 11 tracks, the first five by After The Fight, the second six by #HighBall#. Both bands do the emo-punk thing with enough spastic energy and piledriving riffs worthy of any faux hawk-laden mosh pit. But while After The Fight’s rhythm section hit harder, Highball’s hit […]
Willie Nelson & John Fogerty live!
Willie Nelson, John Fogerty Charter One Pavilion, Chicago Sunday, August 20, 2006 In the world of double bills, Willie Nelson and John Fogerty doesn’t seem like the most obvious combination, aside from each artist’s affinity for Southern traditions. In Nelson’s case, the American icon has blazed trails mostly in country and folk circles, but has […]
Bruck Cockburn preview
Bruce Cockburn Old Town School Of Folk Music Friday, August 25, 2006 Saturday, August 26, 2006 Thirty-five year vet Bruce Cockburn has rarely risen above a curiosity in the U.S. — something we wish could be said for Barenaked Ladies and Sum 41 — despite never really having a dud. If you’ve been waiting, however, […]
Over It at Logan Sq.
Over It Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago Friday, August 25, 2006 Over It are one of those bands who, if you don’t read the Warped Tour roster intently, you aren’t going to know. But years doggedly following pop punk’s trails has brought them a sizable fanbase — and now a major label deal.
Tiempo Libre at Ravinia
Tiempo Libre Ravinia Festival, Highland Park Saturday, August 26, 2006 Cuban nationals Tiempo Libre may have formed in Miami, but their extravagant timba sound is pure Land Of Endless Summer.
Jeremiah Birnbaum preview
Jeremiah Birnbaum Uncommon Ground, Chicago Saturday, August 26, 2006 New York-based singer-songwriter debuts a full band for his Chicago return.
As Tall As Lions preview
As Tall As Lions Beat Kitchen, Chicago Sunday, August 27, 2006 Long Island natives As Tall As Lions may have recorded their debut full-length with Chicago producer Sean O’Keefe, but their self-titled effort (Triple Crown) is nowhere close to Hawthorne Heights, Fall Out Boy, or Spitalfield.
BT Goes Visual At Landmark
BT Goes Visual At Landmark Electronic stud BT (Brian Transeau) has weaved an erratic path in his 12-year career, from crafting epic house music, frollicking with teen popsters *NSYNC and Britney Spears, finally landing in film scores for Monster. Now he’s making the films himself.
Björk boxed!
Björk Surrounded (Rhino) When Rhino released the Talking Heads “brick” late last year, they created a format for catalog-reissue box sets — meaning a set of all the albums — by including DVD 5.1 sound and a crop of videos. With the Heads, that stuff was nice though the vids were primitive and some purists […]
Against Me! reviewed
Against Me! Americans Abroad: Live In London (Fat Wreck Chords) Gravel-pit-voiced Florida punk rockers write a new song, wrap a foreign-based concert around it.
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