Recent Articles
Photo Gallery: Caamp at Thalia Hall
Caamp is riding a wave of propulsion that is certainly cresting. The Columbus, Ohio quartet just released their second album, By And By, and it promptly shot to the top of the Billboard Heatseekers albums chart. The record has also birthed the single âPeach Fuzzâ which has quickly become all but ubiquitous on both terrestrial […]
Stage Buzz: Kris Kristofferson at The Chicago Theatre
It’s like seeing Muddy Waters or Merle Haggard on the back forty of their final farewell tours (even Dylan, The Stones, and Paul McCartney are on those âwhat ifâ touring jaunts these days). Kris Kristofferson is a household name, but it may be as much for his film resume as for his music. True music […]
Photo Gallery: Lana Del Rey at Aragon Ballroom
Seduction arrived in Uptown this past weekend in the form of the âNorman Fucking Rockwell!â tour. Sharing a name with the recently released album by Lana Del Rey, the West Coast native cooed and purred her way through 18 career-spanning songs that also included guest appearances from evening openers Lucy Dacus and Best Coastâs Bethany […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Tool and Killing Joke at United Center
Tool has always conducted itself as an unconventional anomaly. From their cryptic videos and ambiguous album art, their image has always thrived in the dark spaces that leave almost every aspect of their aesthetic open to interpretation. Who else but this band could wait 13Â years between (arguably non-mainstream) records, knock Taylor Swift of the […]
Photo Gallery: Widespread Panic at Riverside Theatre
Widespread Panic Riverside Theatre Milwaukee, WI October 26, 2019 Widespread Panic returned to the Cream City for three nights at the Riverside Theatre last week. These shows were the band’s 33rd, 34th and 35th performances at Milwaukee’s historic venue. In recent years, the band have held off on big tours but have kept Milwaukee weekend […]
Live Review & Photo Gallery: Swervedriver at Bottom Lounge
Swervedriver Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL October 28, 2019 Following a ten-year absence, â90s alt-rock groundbreakers Swervedriver unparked in 2008. By the time of 2015âs I Wasnât Born to Lose You – the Oxford quartetâs first album in 17 years – it was clear that frontman Adam Franklin and co-guitarist Jimmy Hartridge werenât dabbling. The […]
Live Review: Bob Dylan at Credit Union 1 Arena
Bob Dylan Credit Union 1 Arena, Chicago, IL October 30, 2019 After several local visits promoting his excursions through standards from the Great American Songbook and Frank Sinatraâs repertoire, Bob Dylan returned to Chicago with a show focused on his own celebrated catalog of original material. Fans entered Credit Union 1 Arena (formerly UIC Pavilion) […]
Media: November 2019
For seven months, Jenniffer Weigel occupied a co-host chair in Mancowâs studio at WLS. She already knew him socially but was impressed by seeing Mancow work firsthand. âHe works very hard on his show,â she says. âHeâs the first one there every morning. Watching him run the board is like watching someone with ADD fly […]
Cover Story: Sam Fender
Ostensibly, this is an article about British rock newcomer Sam Fender and his brilliant, one-in-a-million debut disc, Hypersonic Missiles – easily the best album of the year. Nothing can touch it; itâs so far ahead of the pack. But itâs also a moment where we canât help but break with a few staid journalistic traditions […]
Stage Buzz and Gallery: The Hu at House of Vans
The Hu Vans Chicago October 31, 2019 Nothing says âHappy Halloweenâ like a morin khuur solo, am I right? What the hell is a morin khuur you ask? Exactly! Anyone who attended the 2019 version of Riot Fest may have encountered such an instrument if they caught the much talked about set from The Hu. […]
Photo Gallery: Melanie Martinez at The Riviera Theatre
Melanie Martinez brought a bit of Broadway to Lawrence and Broadway Friday. The native New Yorkerâs âK-12 Tourâ landed at Chicagoâs Riviera Theater with enough set and costume changes to rival both Madonna and Cher. Her blend of pop and hip-hop had a mostly female audience singing along from start to finish. But unlike most […]
Stage Buzz: Michael Franti at Concord Music Hall
In this era of building walls, unsettled government and strife at the border, Michael Franti continues his message of positive vibes and bringing people together. Franti made his mark a decade ago with his massive hit “Say Hey (I Love You).” Mixing rock steady beats, ska, reggae, rock, hip-hop and electronica – Franti has […]
Spins: The Beatles “Abbey Road” 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Box Set Reviewed
The Beatles Abbey Road 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe box set (Apple/Universal) As with the 50th anniversary editions of Sgt. Pepperâs Lonely Hearts Club Band and The Beatles (aka The White Album), any fan could argue that this new mix of Abbey Road is unnecessary. Some may go as far as saying that tinkering with the […]
Live Review: Saga at Arcada Theatre
Saga Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL October 16, 2019 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Wednesday nightâs concert at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles was impressive on multiple counts. Credit goes to promoter Ron Onesti for listening to patrons and taking the risk to book Sagaâs first standalone US show in ages. Although the […]
Photo Gallery: Sleater-Kinney at The Rivera Theatre
Even if Olympia, Washingtonâs Sleater-Kinney had remained on hiatus after their 2006 break, their legacy would have already been secured. But they came storming back in 2014 with their eight long player No Cities To Love, seemingly without missing a beat. Even the recent departure of long time drummed Janet Weiss hasnât diminished the remaining […]
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