Recent Articles
Supergrass review
Supergrass, Pilotdrift Vic Theatre, Chicago Tuesday, February 14, 2006 Growing up comes at varying intervals depending on the band, but in the case of Supergrass, it has hit a maturation stride with 2005’s Road To Rouen. That’s not to say the group’s previous projects didn’t have elements of evolution or seasoned songwriting, but nowadays the […]
High On Fire review
High On Fire Double Door, Chicago Saturday, February 11, 2006 It was fitting High On Fire vocalist/guitarist Matt Pike opened his band’s set by informing the tightly packed crowd, “We’re just going straight through, so don’t expect a lot of motivational speech.” After all, the trio (rounded out by drummer Des Kensel and bassist Joe […]
BRMC review
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Metro, Chicago Wednesday, February 8, 2006 Not sure which was the more unlikely smokefree scenario: Metro or Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Two clubs in Chicago in these hardened times, sacrifices are difficult but required of us all. Both were better for it, however, and if the maturity cliché ever needed to […]
Bob Mould preview
Bob Mould Old Town School Of Folk Music, Chicago Friday, February 17, 2006 Saturday, February 18, 2006 Though it hasn’t quite been 20 years since Bob Mould departed Hüsker Dü and made his solo debut, he has certainly been away from his past long enough to be mentioned without the modifier. Why do we do […]
Hayley Westenra preview
Hayley Westenra Chicago Theatre, Chicago Friday, February 17, 2006 The verbal portion of most standardized tests have an analogy section: Dog is to puppy as (fill in the blank) is to swan. Hayley Westenra‘s analogy reads: Hayley Westenra is to pop music as the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling is to modern art.
Cinderella Story
Naked Beggars Good Times Pub, Elmhurst Saturday, February 18, 2006 We’ve always had a soft spot for Cinderella. Sure, they had the big hair, tight clothes, and slutty swagger of the rest of the ’80s hair metal bands, but like Great White or Tesla, Cinderella are (still rockin’, baby!) a bit bluesier, a bit rougher, […]
The Starship Has Landed
The Jefferson Family Galactic Reunion House Of Blues, Chicago Tuesday, February 21, 2006 Late last year, Sony’s reissue arm, Legacy, began redistributing the Paul Kanter material that would become Jefferson Starship, which followed in the wake of Jefferson Airplane. That it would ultimately run into the ground as just plain Starship probably ruined the plans […]
Medical Coverage
Medical Coverage Imagine live performances on one stage of The Rolling Stones’ “Let’s Spend The Night Together,” Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” Smashing Pumpkins’ “Today,” and Dave Matthews Band’s “Crash” — not necessarily performed in that order, definitely not by those artists and in all honesty possibly not even those songs. O.K. let’s try this […]
Cross Examined
P.O.D. Testify (Atlantic) If P.O.D. think they can hang their hats on the Christian thing, they’re gonna have to be a little more honest when they testify. They say nothing new on their fifth.
Francheezie
Dem Franchize Boyz On Top Of Our Game (Virgin) Not to be confused with DFL and “Laffy Taffy,” DFB show up with “I Think They Like Me” and a whole buncha songs just like it.
Ferris Bueller You’re My Hero
Hell Is For Heroes Transmit Disrupt (Burning Heart/Epitaph) U.K. punks continue struggle to disembark from anthemic Stateside peers, seem to have latched onto At The Drive-In or Trail Of Dead.
Birds Of A Heather
Heather Headley In My Mind (RCA) Headley passes for good R&B these days by limiting risk, hardly a good sign for her or the genre.
Merchant Of Tennis
Jeff Merchant Window Rolled Down (True Classical) Indie pop singer-songwriter either thinks this is funny, or he’s Donovan.
With Love, Legacy
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, here’s a quick rundown on six of the latest releases from Sony/Legacy’s Love Songs series with Heart, Regina Belle, Dolly Parton, John Denver, Phyllis Hyman, and Etta James.
Getting All Bublé
Michael Bublé With Love (Reprise) The Hallmark of pop singers packages eight songs to be sold exclusively at Hallmark stores.
Recent Comments