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Live Review and Gallery: Neil Diamond at United Center
Neil Diamond United Center, Chicago Sunday, May 28, 2017 It didnât take a virtual âCarpool Karaokeâ ride with James Corden, Jennifer Lopez, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, John Legend and many others clamoring to get next to Neil Diamond at this yearâs Grammy Awards to prove that he was cool again (at least somewhat). For […]
Photo Gallery: Eric Johnson at the Acorn Theater
If Eric Johnson isn’t your favorite guitar player, than odds are he is your “favorite guitar player’s guitar player.” He was especially impressive in the intimate confines of Three Oak’s (MI), Acorn Theater Thursday Night. Johnson’s two-hour set included an extended electric guitar performance, a short acoustic set, and a few tunes his from baby […]
Live Review and Gallery: Midnight Oil at the Vic Theatre
Midnight Oil The Vic Theatre May 18, 2017 The glorious roar and jangle of Midnight Oilâs twin guitars and the bandâs righteous fury have been sorely missed by many fans in Chicago since their last date here in 2002, when the group headlined Taste of Chicago in support of the Capricornia album. The politically-charged […]
IE Rewind: Chris Cornell 1964-2017
He was one of the seminal voices in rock history, not just the Seattle grunge movement of the early ’90s. His music was as complicated as he was, Soundgarden rarely dabbled in normal time signatures or regular love songs. His death in Detroit last night is shocking, and of course – it’s not. Our […]
Review and Photo Gallery: Hall & Oates/Tears For Fears at Allstate Arena
If you graduated high school in the 80s, loved your radio, and wanted your MTV, Allstate Arena was the place to be on Monday night. Judging by the packed hall, word had gotten around. Two disparate but defining bands from the era joined forces for a satisfying night of music and memories. Tears for Fears […]
Stage Buzz: Ratt at Concord Hall
Are you ready to Ratt âNâ Roll again? The recent court battles between former drummer Bobby Blotzer and the rest of the members over the use of the RATT band name has finally been determined. The winners singer Stephen Pearcy, guitarist Warren DeMartini and bassist Juan Croucier, who are now joined by guitarist Carlos Cavazo […]
Feature Story – Joker Reunited
Do you remember Joker? The Chicago-based glam metal band of the late â80s/early â90s is making a comeback. Joker had a dedicated local following when hairbands roamed the earth, and they cut their teeth at the famed Thirsty Whale in River Grove. The band was also in rotation on local radio outlets WVVX, WWBZ âThe […]
Photo Gallery – the xx at the Aragon Ballroom
Buoyed by the success of their new album, The xx brought the I See You tour to a sold-out Aragon Ballroom on a rainy Monday. The band returns later this summer as part of the considerably larger musical festival that will be affiliated with a musical operation called Lollapalooza in Chicagoâs Grant Park. Curt Baran […]
May 2017: Media
When Wally Phillips retired from WGN Radio, the afternoon man Bob Collins replaced him. When Bob Collins died in a plane crash, the afternoon man Spike OâDell replaced him. When Spike OâDell retired, Steve Cochran was doing the afternoon show at WGN. âThey offered me the job, and it was the worst deal offered to […]
Cover Story: Flogging Molly
In a few short days, the life of Django the Irish wolfhound would be over. At the age of eight â a long span for such a large breed â the gentle giant was suffering congestive heart failure, and in the past two months had lost over 40 of his original 195 lbs., and […]
Feature Story and Gallery: John 5 at Reggies
Astute music fans should already know that John 5 takes guitar playing to a stratospheric level. The virtuoso guitarist performs diverse musical styles including country swing, jazz, rock and industrial metal on his eighth solo album, Season Of The Witch. Joining John 5 on the album is his excellent band, The Creatures, consisting of […]
Stage Buzz: Robin Trower at Copernicus Center
British blues-rock guitarist Robin Trower is a living legend. If you havenât heard of him by now, add his classic discography to your musical bucket list. Respect is properly due, because Trower has become the workman, prototype British blues guitarist including his start in Procol Harum in the late â60s to a successful solo career […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Rise Against at House Of Vans
It’s been way too long, right?â Thirty minutes into Rise Againstâs Friday night set at House of Vans new location in the West Loop, frontman Tim McIlrath voiced what so many in the crowd were thinking. Rise Againstâs last full length, The Black Market, dropped in 2014, and the band has kept a relatively low […]
Riot Fest 2017 First Wave Of Bands Announced
RIOT FEST 2017 ANNOUNCES FIRST WAVE OF BANDS September 15-17, 2017 / Douglas Park, Chicago IL Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age, and the reunion of pioneering punk band Jawbreaker headline Riot Fest 2017. New Order, Paramore, Prophets of Rage, M.I.A., Wu-Tang Clan, Mike D (DJ set) also among the 70+ artists revealed […]
Recap and Photo Gallery: John Mayer at United Center
John Mayer essentially wore 3 hats during the course of his show Tuesday at the United Center: pop songster with full band; singer/songwriter solo acoustic, and blues rock guitar aficionado with power trio. His rhythm section for the full band and trio was Steve Jordan on drums and Pino Palladino on bass, was exceptional. In […]
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