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Hello My Name is Ville Valo ⢠Live Recap: House of Blues ⢠Chicago
The last time Ville Valo performed at Chicagoâs House of Blues he was reaching the end of a lengthy chapter in his life. HIM, the band he fronted for 25 years, was calling it quits. It was the last time theyâd be on that stage together; a stage Valo wasnât sure heâd ever return to. […]
Stage Buzz: QueensrĂżche, Blockchain Coalition, Snarky Puppy, Rise Against
Chicago alt-punk rockers Rise Against have come a long way from their humble beginnings as a local underground band. Because of their furious sound and their unwavering political commentary, it didnât take long for the rest of the world to take notice. Now, theyâre a staple of the punk rock world. To help celebrate […]
Live Review: The Church at Thalia Hall ⢠Chicago
The Church Thalia Hall, Chicago, IL Sunday, March 26, 2023 Review by Jeff Elbel Australian psychedelic rockers The Church returned to Chicago following a five-year absence, playing to a full house at the Pilsen neighborhoodâs Thalia Hall on Sunday. A selection of captivating new songs honored the bandâs beloved sound while carrying it […]
File: In The Face Of Loss – A GoFundMe for The Empty PocketsÂ
Over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Chicago’s Empty Pockets returned home from a string of tour dates. As was their usual routine, they had secured the trailer in their studio lot in the city. Monday morning, they were alerted their trailer had been stolen. This was a massive blow, and the band was devastated. After […]
Photo Gallery: Maya Hawke at Metro ⢠Chicago
Maya Hawke Metro Chicago, IL March 18, 2023 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Maya Hawke is well on her way to becoming multi-hyphenated. Sheâs best known for her acting roles, specifically her character Robin on the hugely successful  Netflix television series Stranger Things. As the daughter of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, one […]
Stage Buzz: Fozzy, Quasi, Wilco, Yo La Tengo
Believe it or not, New Edition has been delivering smooth R&B jams for 45 years. With such a long career, the band has experienced its share of highs, lows, breakups, and reunions. New Edition celebrates its legacy with the appropriately named âLegacy Tourâ with Keith Swear and Guy. The tour rolls into Rosemontâs United […]
Stage Buzz: The Wonder Years, Show Me The Body, The Roots
Rotator photo: Show Me the Body (Photo Nick Stehi) When emo band The Wonder Years released their seventh album, The Hum Goes on Forever in 2022, it was a momentous occasion that was a long time coming. Lockdown, COVID precautions, and vinyl shortages caused delays with the record. But the band is finally back […]
Live Review & Photo Gallery: Winery Dogs at Arcada Theatre ⢠St. Charles`
The Winery Dogs The Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL Friday, March 10, 2023 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Ed Spinelli. On Friday night, the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles welcomed a full house of faithful hard rockers. Fans were on their feet from the moment that supergroup The Winery Dogs walked onstage. The celebratory […]
Feature: Circa Waves
âKeep calm and carry onâ was a mass-produced British poster from 1939 intended to help rally spirits in the face of a looming WWII and its attendant Blitz-strafing air raids. But itâs since become a much larger metaphor for the traditionally stoic, unflappable English constitution, in general, the type of personality that remains virtually […]
Spins: Paramore ⢠This Is Why
Paramore This Is Why (Atlantic) After a nearly 6 year hiatus, Paramore is back with a vengeance, and their new album This Is Why is proof that time apart makes the musical heart grow fonder. Joining its neo-pop predecessor After Laughter in solidifying Paramoreâs golden trio â Zac Farro on drums, Taylor York on guitar, and the […]
Media: March 2023 ⢠Sky Daniels Remembers The Loop FM98
Sky Daniels was one of the biggest stars at the Loop in their first heyday (1979-1981), and although he has gone on to an incredibly successful career in the record and radio business and is now retired and living in California, he still has very fond memories of his time in Chicago. But […]
Cover Story: Betty Who
As Australian-born pop composer Betty Who recalls it, the only things missing from her recent spine-tingling trip into the supernatural were Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, and their trusty old VeeDubs Mystery Machine with which to beat a hasty retreat. Because Zoinks! The three specters she encountered were all too real and not engineered by some local huckster […]
Stage Buzz: Soulfly, Elle King, Badflower, John “Papa” Gros
Twelve albums in and thrash metal staples Soulfly show no signs of stopping soon. Theyâll bring their fusion of groove metal, nu metal, and world music to The Forge in Joliet, IL, with special guests Bodybox, Skinflint, Embryonic, and Autopsy on Friday, March 3rd. Doors open at 6 PM. Grab tickets here. Itâs hard […]
Photo Gallery: Viagra Boys at The Salt Shed ⢠Chicago
Viagra Boys Salt Shed Chicago, IL February 24, 2023 Recap and photos by Curt Baran âHe says he donât believe in science/He thinks that all the news is fake/And late at night he sits at his computer/And writes about the things he hates.â If you need a sense as to where the left-leaning Viagra Boys […]
Stage Buzz: SZA, Rick Springfield, Local H, Muse
The release of SZAâs long-awaited sophomore album SOS was a huge moment not only for the singer but for music in general. It became her first album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 and broke the record for the largest streaming week for an R&B album in the US. Now, SZA […]
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