Recent Articles
Stage Buzz: Riot Fest 2018 – Undercard Picks
Riot Fest returns for its 14th year in to historical Douglas Park at Chicago at Ogden & Ashland. From its humble beginnings in small clubs to its current incarnation as a classic punk and hip-hop celebration each Fall, Riot Fest has a connection to Chicago like no other festival. Here are some of our must-see […]
Cover Story: The Voidz
“A man’s got to know his limitations,” Clint Eastwood once observed as the defiant renegade cop Dirty Harry. Similarly unforgiving Strokes bandleader Julian Casablancas is still gradually discovering his own with his latest splinter combo –initially dubbed Julian Casablancas + The Voidz, now known simply as The Voidz – and its sleek, sophisticated sophomore […]
Cover Story: Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr just made the best record of his life. And he knows it. Dubbed Call the Comet, it’s the ex-Smith guitarist’s third, following 2013’s The Messenger and 2014’s Playland. And it finds him: Lyrically delving into grim socio-political issues that he’d often avoided; Letting his axe provide the chiming hooks in places instead of […]
Photo Gallery: Ringo Starr and his All-Star Band at BMO Harris Pavillion
The famous Beatles second drummer was joined (“with a little help from his friends”) in Milwaukee by and a famous band including Colin Hay from Men at Work (“Who Can It be Now”, “Land Down Under”), Steve Lukather from Toto (“Africa”, “Hold The Line”, “Roseanna”), Gregg Rolie from Santana (“Black Magic Woman”, “Evil Ways”) and […]
Stage Buzz: Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live at Arcada Theatre [Updated with Photo Gallery]
Hard rock pioneers Deep Purple are one of the fortunate bands that have had multiple legendary, Hall Of Fame members, and Glenn Hughes (who replaced Roger Glover/and Ian Gillan) performed with the band as co-lead vocalist (with David Coverdale) in their California Jam heyday (1973-1976), is a favorite for many DP fans. After musical stints […]
Stage Buzz: Jay Aston’s Gene Love Jezebel at Bottom Lounge
Like the Davies (The Kinks) and Gallagher (Oasis) brothers, Jay and Mike Aston have had a hard time getting along both personally and legally, so Gene Loves Jezebel has been offering two touring versions of the band for quite some time. Like the two versions of UB40, it’s “hard to keep track of players without […]
Photo Gallery: Fall Out Boy and Rise Against at Wrigley Field
For the entirety of the concert going season this summer at Wrigley Field, it has been the “away” teams that have dominated. Well, all that changed this past weekend when home-towners Fall Out Boy brought their Mania Tour to the baseball cathedral at the corner of Clark and Addison. The Chicago natives also bolstered up […]
Stage Buzz: The Way Down Wanderers at City Winery
The Way Down Wanderers City Winery Chicago Sunday, September 9 Recalling the sounds of WLS’s vintage Barn Dances with more modern nu-grass like the Avett Brothers and The Ghost of Paul Revere, Chicago’s Way Down Wanderers live it and play it authentically as a modern folk band blessed with layered and rich harmonies and soul. […]
Stage Buzz Q & A: Ed Kowalczyk of Live
On the surface, it resembles any other cleverly-conceived summer shed tour – alt-rock powerhouse Live co-headlining a massive jaunt with folk-rocking combo Counting Crows, celebrating the 25th anniversaries of both. Great bang for your concert buck, all told. But to Live leader Ed Kowalczyk – who acrimoniously quit the band in 2009, then later rejoined […]
Photo Gallery: Govt Mule, Avett Brothers, Magpie Salute at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Ed Spinelli captured an evening of roots and jam bands in the shadow of Interstate 80 in Tinley Park with 3 bands that also seem to enjoy each other’s company. Govt Mule Avett Brothers Magpie Salute
Stage Buzz: Bourbon and Beyond
The second annual Bourbon & Beyond festival returns to Champions Park in Louisville, KY, Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23 with the perfect blend of bourbon, food & music not found anywhere else in the world. If bourbon, food, music, and camping is appealing to end your summer festival season, then Bourbon & Beyond […]
Live Review: Zebra at Arcada Theatre
Zebra The Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL Friday, August 31, 2018 Review by Jeff Elbel Photos by Luciano J. Bilotti The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles continues to reinforce its reputation as an essential musical hub in the greater Chicago area. On Friday, the Arcada welcomed ‘80s hitmakers and New Orleans hard rockers Zebra for […]
Photo Gallery: Breaking Benjamin and Five Finger Death Punch with Nothing More and Bad Wolves at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
Ed Spinelli captured nearly 5 hours in Tinley Park Wednesday with one of the most acclaimed metal tours of the summer featuring Breaking Benjamin, Five Finger Death Punch with Nothing More and Bad Wolves. All photos by Ed Spinelli Breaking Benjamin Five Finger Death Punch Nothing More Bad Wolves
Photo Gallery: Judas Priest with Deep Purple at Hollywood Casino Amphtheatre
Ed Spinelli spent a muggy summer night in Tinley Park capturing two pioneers of British metal. Judas Priest Deep Purple










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