Recent Articles
Studiophile: September 2019
Chicago indie rockers Signal The Launch were at ELECTRICAL AUDIO in Chicago with acclaimed producer/engineer Steve Albini recording two tracks for their EP Dance Like a Vampire. The “Vampire” track has been a fan favorite since 2018, and the band has also shot an engaging F. W. Murnau inspired 1920’s horror-inspired music video conceived […]
Stage Buzz: King Crimson at The Auditorium Theatre
As the godfathers of progressive rock, you won’t find a band with a more dedicated cult following and more influence as King Crimson. Their 1969 debut In the Court of the Crimson King is the benchmark for the prog-rock movement. Led by inventive “quality control” guitarist Robert Fripp, the band’s line-up has been noted for […]
Media: September 2019
Tim Virgin first hit the airwaves in Chicago over twenty years ago. â(Loop program director) Greg Solk hired me in 1996. At that time, they were thinking of turning the Loop into an XRT-ish type format, the best music on the planet, and he needed an alternative guy, and that was me. When they went […]
Cover Story: The B-52s
Kate Pierson may not have coined the suddenly-popular new portmanteau “glamping,” a mashup of glamorous and camping. Nor did she come up with its posh concept âexperiencing the great outdoors, but through the comfortable buffer of the most modern of conveniences. No, the bouffant-haired B-52âs founder had nothing to do with any part of this […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Iron Maiden at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Iron Maiden Thursday August 22, 2019 Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Tinley Park Full disclosure⌠August 5, 1982 I was forever ruined by Iron Maiden. That was the day of the band’s legendary appearance on the shores of Lake Michigan at ChicagoFest. I had already seen the band several times at that point, but that night was […]
Photo Gallery: Korn and Alice in Chains at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
The cool in the evening air hinted that summer might be eyeing its inevitable exit. But the upside to that is that it results in a perfect evening for outdoor music and the Chicagoland area continues to show no signs of surrender when facing down the waning, open-air concert season. Two mavericks of the ’90s […]
Photo Gallery: Converge and Cloud Nothings at House of Vans
This past weekend saw the final installment of the Vans House Parties. The Chicago location of House of Vans has curated a half a dozen or so events through the 2019 spring and summer seasons and chose, like their swan song, to not go gentle into that good night. The West Loop multi-use venue most […]
Advertiser Message: MJ Live at The Rosemont Theatre February 1, 2020
The #1 Michael Jackson Tribute Concert in the World, and it’s coming to the Rosemont Theatre on February 1st, 2020. Presented by 94.7 WLS-FM. Featuring all his biggest hits (solo and with the Jacksons and Jackson 5) including “Bad,” “Billie Jean, “Beat It,” “Dangerous,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Black & White,” “I Want You Back” and many […]
Photo Gallery: Smashing Pumpkins with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and AFI at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
Tinley Park set the musical way back machine for a sojourn deep into the ’90s. Like it or not, many Pumpkin’s and Oasis fans came to hear the music of their youth. In the end, the night was a celebration of the modern era and the salad-days. Hollywood Casino Amphitheater played host to two of […]
Photo Gallery: Queen plus Adam Lambert at United Center
Eddie Spinelli captured Queen with Adam Lambert in a 2 hour sold-out show at United Center. As expected Lambert channels the ghosts of Freddie Mercury with aplomb, featuring original members Brian May and Roger Taylor running through a set of hits and deep cuts.
Photo Gallery: Knotfest at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Metal from around the world converged last weekend in Tinley Park. The occasion was the 2019 Knotfest Roadshow, a sort of mini-festival curated by Iowa shock rockers Slipknot. The band has also invited Polandâs Behemoth, Gojira from France and Denmarkâs Volbeat to join their current sojourn. Well, the masked metal collective from the Hawkeye State […]
Stage Buzz: Suicideboys at Aragon Ballroom
NOLA’s Suicideboys are the bad boys of underground metal/hip-hop – making a name for themselves on SoundCloud and YouTube in 2015. While the majority of acts donât break out from these platforms, Ruby da Cherry and Scrim have defied the odds with an impressive following with a slew of sold-out shows. Tackling subjects unknown in […]
Advertiser Message: Get The Led Out Presale at Rosemont Theatre March 7, 2020
Acclaimed national Led Zeppelin touring show, Get The Led Out comes to Rosemont Theatre March 7. GTLO are a group of dedicated musicians who are passionate about their love of the music of Led Zeppelin. It’s been their mission to bring the studio recordings of “the mighty Zep” to life on the big concert stage. […]
Stage Buzz: Jay O’Rourke Band at SPACE
Jay O’Rourke Band Cover Tracks (Self) O’Rourke released one of 2018’s best local albums (Sumthin’ Good), but Cover Tracks mines music he’s loved in his formative and modern years. It’s his labor of love. Longtime IE readers will remember him as the guitarist for the Insiders and BB Spin, and his engineering resume is almost […]
Hello Our Names are Cherie and Brie
Sure, it was a wild ride. The career of vocalist Cherie Currie had started back in the mid-â70s with the Kim Fowley-assembled all-girl outfit with Joan Jett, The Runaways, then rocketed into film roles (âFoxesâ), an album with her sister Marie, a trashy autobiography (âNeon Angelâ), even a Hollywood film about the group, 2010âs The […]
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