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Stage Buzz: Judas Priest at Rosemont Theatre
Judas Priest Saturday, May 25th Rosemont Theatre Rosemont, IL British metal pioneers Judas Priest have toured hard in support of their 2018 Firepower album, and their upcoming intimate performance Saturday at the Rosemont Theatre shows they’ve got a seemingly endless supply of fans to mine in the Chicago area. In last year’s cover story in […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Johnny Marr at The Vic Theatre
Johnny Marr The Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL Monday, May 13, 2019 Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr’s last appearance in Chicago was a short-but-sweet set under the afternoon sun in Douglas Park at Riot Fest. This brief blast of Eurocentric alt-pop was timed to help introduce new material from 2018’s Call the Comet, the third in […]
Live Review: Mike Stern at Jazz Showcase
Mike Stern Band Saturday, May 11, 2019 Jazz Showcase, Chicago Jazz guitar virtuoso Mike Stern and his band settled into the Jazz Showcase for their annual week of residency, and audiences were most definitely in for a treat. Upon entering the Showcase, I was immediately greeted by Ainsley, who was welcoming the faithful as […]
Photo Gallery: The Lemonheads at Thalia Hall
Evan Dando brought the ’90s back to Thalia Hall to begin the weekend. Still using his three-decades old Lemonheads moniker, Dando is out supporting his 2019 covers album Varshons 2. He delivered a taut, career spanning set that included instant ear worms like “It’s About Time,” “The Great Big No,” “Drug Buddy” and the title […]
Photo Gallery: The 1975 at United Center
Manchester’s The 1975 were greeted with an expected rapturous ovation when they took the stage at United Center Thursday. Hand it to the band, they’ve diligently worked Sunday side stages at Lollapalooza, and “smaller” shows at Lincoln Hall and the Riviera to slowly build an audience to finally play the United Center. The band is […]
Photo Gallery: Lizzo at Riviera Theatre
Lizzo threw a two day party in Uptown this past weekend. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but the first her two sold out shows at that neighborhood’s Riviera Theatre sure felt celebratory. The rising star is out touring behind this year’s excellent Cuz I Love You and is inspiring her diverse […]
Recap and Photo Gallery: PUP at Metro
Toronto punks PUP have quickly grown out of the small venues they frequented only a few years ago. Whereas their last Chicago visit saw them playing Empty Bottle, this time they brought their high-octane energy for the first of two sold-out nights at the Metro with fellow Canadians Casper Skull and Chicago punk rockers Ratboys […]
Photo Gallery: Chvrches at Aragon Ballroom
A strange, invisible pall hung over Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom on Thursday night. The Scottish band Chvrches recently called out, on line, their former collaborator Marshmello for working with the infamous rapper and felon Chris Brown, whom the band rightfully called a “predator and abuser.” Since then, escalation in the beef has resulted in lead singer […]
Media: May 2019
Jim O’Donnell has been off and on the media beat for Chicago area newspapers for four decades. As of a few months ago, he’s back on, and he’s landed at a familiar place, The Daily Herald. “That’s where my career started,” he says, “and now I’m doing a sports and media column thanks to a […]
Cover Story: Steve Earle
It’s a puzzlement, a Sphinx-like riddle for the ages. How in holy hell has resident alt-country iconoclast Steve Earle managed to keep his mouth shut over the past three Trump-and-Brexit bedeviled years? Make no mistake, what he’s offered instead has been stunning —2017’s picture-perfect loper So You Wannabe an Outlaw — polished still brighter by […]
Photo Gallery: Rise Against at Chicago Theatre
At the end of their third song, “Audience Of One,” Rise Against lead singer Tim McIlrath joked, “I don’t think we’ve ever stayed this still for this long.” So what occasion caused the Chicago punk rock quartet to strike such statuesque poses? A special evening dubbed “Ghost Note Symphony’s,” which shares its name with the […]
Photo Gallery: Van Morrison at Chicago Theatre
British music legend Van Morrison’s 90 – minute plus set proved he still has the voice and command like few blue eyed Irish soul singers of the 20th Century. Ed Spinelli captured “Van, The Man” at the historic Chicago Theatre on night one of three sold out shows. Setlist via Setlist.FM 1. How Far From […]
Stage Buzz: Michael Schenker Fest at Concord Music Hall
German guitar pioneer Michael Schenker returns to Chicago’s Concord Music Hall on May 4th for the second leg of his Resurrection Tour with his current band, Michael Schenker Fest. The 64-year-old ex-UFO and ex-Scorpions fret wizard has been dazzling audiences for nearly 50 years. Michael Schenker Fest’s 2018 debut album, Resurrection, was well-received by fans […]
Photo Gallery and Recap: Wax Trax! Records Industrial Accident Screening and Launch Party at House of Vans Chicago
Could there have been a more brilliant way to end Record Store Day than with an Industrial Accident? The Wax Trax! documentary distills the history of Chicago’s seminal record label and store into an entertaining yarn about love, family, music, sex, drugs, rock & roll and how not to run a business, if you wish […]
Photo Gallery: Amanda Palmer at The Chicago Theatre
It’s not often that a concert supplies those in attendance with an escape hatch. Of course, not all performers approach a night out like Amanda Palmer. Before she took the stage at the exquisitely ornate Chicago Theater, a (paraphrased) announcement was made that the evening’s content would contain subject matter that included-but certainly wasn’t limited […]
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