Recent Articles
Good Night, And Good Luck/Network
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK / NETWORK “SPECIAL EDITION” Warner Brothers In a 1961 speech to the National Association Of Broadcasters, FCC Chairman Newton Minnow challenged those in attendance to watch what they were producing and really look at what was on the air. If they could “keep [their] eyes glued to that set until […]
Build A Guitar!
If You Build It, They Will Strum The Chicago School Of Guitar Making Everybody plays guitar, right? Any musician’s classified section will turn up 10 or more guitar players for every bassist and keyboardist. Now, try to find someone to setup, maintain, or rewire all the instruments belonging to all those guitar players and the […]
Hello, My Name Is Jack
Q&A with the former Dire Straits guitarist, who put together this spring’s Guitarmageddon at Guitar Center. IE: Guitar Center’s Guitarmageddon contest is focused on finding the Next King Of The Blues? Jack Sonni: It’s never been focused on a particular genre like this, something we decided to do because it had become an exercise in […]
File For April
SO YOU WANNA BE A ROCK SUPERSTAR? On Saturday, March 11th, perhaps the first truly beautiful day of the year, a line outside the Elbo Room in Lincoln Park stretched all the way down the block. The gathering might not have looked particularly out of place at the venue except that it was mid-afternoon, not […]
Introducing The Blues
By Beverly Zeldin-Palmer During the month of February, a slice of Chicago’s rich musical history was revisited in the Vittum Theater’s musical production, I Dream In Blues. The play, dubbed a “bluesical” was conceived by singer and storyteller Katherine Davis and Tom Arvetis, artistic director of the Vittum. It is Davis’ autobiography in words and […]
Banking On It
By Trevor Fisher Besides just being pretty freakin’ sweet, the fact Manny Sanchez‘s The I.V. Lab Studio is housed inside a vintage bank vault actually may have helped him secure a loan.
Gear: Part 2
Click here to return to page 1 GODIN LG EMG Guitar Godin‘s LG EMG black graphite guitar further cements Godin’s recent trend toward offering several guitars for heavy rockers. Godin’s press materials touts the guitar line with a “darkly alluring new black graphite semi gloss finish and full out, blistering tone.” The LG EMG is […]
Songs For The Soweto Generation
By Rosalind Cummings-Yeates To Americans, Nelson Mandela and Dr. Desmond Tutu may be the most famous South Africans, but if you’re part of the “Soweto generation” (those born in the mid ’70s to early ’80s, just before apartheid was abolished), it’s more likely the most notable South African is Thandiswa Mazwai.
Local CD Reviews
Still looking for a fresh female voice who didn’t get her start on “American Idol”? Chicago-bred Meg Allison may have your answer. Her debut disc, Missing Piece, is full of exactly the sort of low-key, heartfelt, story-telling tracks you’d expect from an inspired singer-songwriter who waits tables by day and plays her heart out in […]
Around Hear: Part 2
Click here to return to page 1. The sophomore LP from Cameron McGill is a convincing collection that demonstrates this singer-songwriter’s potential. Street Ballads & Murderesques consists mostly of ballads evoking McGill’s softer side with achingly sentimental tunes. The intimate poetic lyricism is accompanied by simplistic arrangements of acoustic guitar, harmonica, piano, and dashes of […]
Queen + Paul Rodgers Reviewed
Queen + Paul Rodgers Allstate Arena, Rosemont Thursday, March 23, 2006 After testing the waters, so to speak, overseas, the newly rechristened Queen + Paul Rodgers launched its first full-fledged American tour. Considering it’s been more than two decades since the original act stepped foot on Stateside soil, anticipation was high, though the stakes this […]
Electric Six Reviewed
Electric Six Double Door, Chicago Monday, March 27, 2006 Is a man able to smile for 90 minutes straight?
The National, The Cloud Room Reviewed
The National, The Cloud Room Double Door, Chicago Friday, March 24, 2006 Traipsing into town beneath an underdog’s flag, The National arrived at the Double Door having moved laterally since September. Though the press clippings piled on at year’s end, The National’s commercial momentum took a hit when Clap Your Hands opened for them last […]
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