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Live Review: The Claudettes at Mary’s Place • Rockford
The Claudettes Mary’s Place October 18, 2024 Rockford, IL Review and photos by Jeff Elbel. Enjoying a busy fall season on the road, Chicago’s inimitable wonders, The Claudettes, swung to nearby Rockford for a return visit to Mary’s Place. The watering hole rests along the Rock River and is the oldest bar in town. “This […]
Stage Buzz: The Sisters of Mercy, Iron Maiden, Justin Timberlake
British post punk icons The Sisters of Mercy are hailed as the godfathers of goth rock. Known for songs like “Temple of Love,” “Lucretia My Reflection,” and “This Corrosion,” the band’s influence spans across generations. They even influenced tour openers Blaqk Audio. Catch the two bands at the Aragon Ballroom on Wednesday, October 23 […]
Live Review: Saga at Arcada Theatre • St. Charles, IL
Saga Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL Thursday, October 17, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos courtesy of Onesti Entertainment/Jim Summaria Fans of Canadian progressive rock heroes Saga can thank Onesti Entertainment and the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles for hosting a rare US headlining stop on the band’s It Never Ends Tour. On Thursday night, the […]
Hello My Name is Exene from X • LA’s Seminal Punk Band on their Final Album and Tour
   1977. In a word: Whoa. While it never occurred to me at the time, as a college freshman back in Indianapolis, just starting to cover music for my school paper, in hindsight, it’s 20/20 clear just how lucky I was. Arguably, it was the year that punk rock broke and sped past all […]
Photo Gallery and Reap: Jelly Roll • United Center • Chicago
Jelly Roll with Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay Thursday, October 10 United Center Chicago, IL Photo Gallery and Reap: Edward Spinelli Some call him country; others say his style is southern rock with a hint of hip-hop, although perhaps most accurately, it’s a hybrid of them all; no matter how Jelly Roll is categorized, the […]
Stage Buzz: Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party Film Screening
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ fifth album, Long After Dark, added indelible singles, including “You Got Lucky” and “Change of Heart” to the band’s canon. In the studio and on the road in 1982 with the Heartbreakers, Cameron Crowe and his crew rolled film to create Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party. The documentary was the […]
Stage Buzz: Local H, André 3000, Rise Against, SAGA, Mushroomhead
You can’t keep Local H down. From lineup changes to last-minute tour cancellations, the Illinois natives keep moving forward. After their tour with Helmet was axed in August, the duo regrouped and planned a new tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fifth album, Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles? The duo will perform the 2004 album […]
Photo Gallery: PJ Harvey • The Salt Shed • Chicago
PJ Harvey The Salt Shed Chicago, IL September 30, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Throughout her extraordinary career, Polly Jean Harvey has excelled at shape-shifting. It’s an extraordinary talent that has kept her audience guessing since her debut back in the early 90’s. What has never been in question is her galvanized status […]
Cover Story: Myles Kennedy • The Golden Voice
Since stepping up on stage from the audience to join the fictitious metal band Steel Dragon from the 2001 motion picture Rockstar, starring Mark Wahlberg, Myles “Thor” Kennedy has shuffled from one extraordinary musical opportunity to the next. In 2002, Kennedy was offered an audition for the vocalist spot in the newly formed supergroup Velvet […]
Media: October 2024 • Chicago’s Very Own Dean Richards
Dean Richards had an entire career before he started working at WGN-TV. He had been working in radio for nearly twenty years at stations like WFYR, WCFL, WIND, WCLR, WNUA, and WGN Radio. He had been a morning host, program director, and production director and held down nearly every day on the air. The […]
Recap and Gallery: Jeff Lynne’s ELO at The United Center • Chicago
Jeff Lynne’s ELO United Center, Chicago, IL September 28, 2024 Photos and recap by Jeff Elbel; Additional Photos from Palm Springs, CA, from Jeff Stoltzfus Jeff Lynne’s ELO played the second of two nights at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday. The band’s Over and Out Tour has been promoted as Jeff Lynne’s farewell […]
Photo Gallery • The Jesus Lizard in Chicago
The Jesus Lizard The Salt Shed Chicago, IL September 28, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran The mic cord sat coiled at the edge of the stage, resting like a coal-colored pasta nest. Fifty-something feet of foreshadowing. The Jesus Lizard, arguably one of this city’s most significant exports (sorry, Hog Butchers), returned home, and […]
Photo Gallery Day One: Riot Fest at Douglass Park • Chicago
Riot Fest Recap: Day One Recap by Justice Petersen; Photos by Ed Spinelli Despite the scorching heat, thousands of punks, metalheads, and goths joined forces to raid Douglass Park for music’s most renowned punk rock music festival. Riot Fest took place in Douglass Park this year as per tradition, despite a close call of moving […]
Photo Gallery Day Two: Riot Fest at Douglass Park • Chicago
Riot Fest Recap: Day Two Recap by Justice Petersen; Photos by Ed Spinelli Riot Fest Day Two – the heat raged on, and so did the music. The renowned music festival continued to showcase this year’s diverse lineup, with the second day featuring highlight acts that leaned more towards techno and alt-pop, as well as […]
Photo Gallery Day Three: Riot Fest at Douglass Park • Chicago
Riot Fest Recap: Day Three Recap by Justice Petersen; Photos by Ed Spinelli After two days of blistering heat, alternative music heads were no longer covered in sweat and melting corpse paint but, instead, rain. Riot Fest’s final day took a turn for heavy downpour and even heavier music, as day three’s headliner was thrash […]
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