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Cover Story: Steel Panther ⢠Canât Stop The Rock
When it comes to Steel Panther, no subject matter is off-limits. The Los Angeles âhair metalâ revivalists donât hold back â or sugarcoat anything â when creating the bandâs humorous, tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Tracks such as âAsian Hooker,â âFat Girl (Thar She Blows),â âBig Boobs,â âWeenie Ride,â âGlory Hole,â and many more prove that the band […]
Media: November 2024 ⢠Danny Macâs Beloved Bears Book
Dan McNeil was one of Chicago’s most controversial sports talk show hosts for decades. After long stints at the Score (670 AM) and ESPN (AM 1000), along with a few other stops on the radio dial (the Drive, the Loop), Dan has turned his talents to the written word. He has a new book […]
Stage Buzz: B-52s, Beat, Steve Wonder, Usher
Multi-platinum R&B star Usher dazzled audiences with his unforgettable Super Bowl halftime performance earlier this year. Now, the megastar is bringing his slick moves and soulful voice to the United Center as part of his âPast Present Futureâ tour. The singer will perform his latest and greatest across three nights starting Monday, October 28th, through […]
Photo Gallery: The The in Chicago
The The Salt Shed Chicago, IL October 25th, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Deep into The Theâs second music set at Chicagoâs Salt Shed, listeners were reminded how bottomless this bandâs catalog goes. Now entering their fourth decade, The The (the chosen moniker singer/songwriter Matt Johnson has used throughout his career) broke their […]
Stage Buzz: Heavy Chicago Fest November 1, 2 and 3
By Kelley Simms Heavy Chicago returns to Avondale Music Hall in this weekend for a second consecutive year. Last yearâs festival was considered a rousing success, and this yearâs fest is already living up to its prestige. A fantastic lineup is scheduled for three sweat-inducing days beginning this Friday, Nov. 1, and ending on Sunday, […]
Live Review & Photo Gallery: Iron Maiden at Allstate Arena ⢠Rosemont
Iron Maiden Allstate Arena October 24, 2024 Rosemont, IL Live Review by Justice Petersen, photos by Edward Spinelli On Thursday, British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden brought The Future Past World Tour to Rosemontâs Allstate Arena. This tour is a thrilling and satisfying spectacle for well-experienced Iron Maiden fans. Like the bandâs Eddie Rips Up […]
Spins: Woke Mountain Boys ⢠Afraid of Leaving Home
Woke Mountain Boys Afraid of Leaving Home (Independent) Long before earning acclaim as a documentary filmmaker (notably including 1997âs In Whose Honor?, examining the use of Native American archetypes in sports), Jay Rosenstein was a local hero on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign. His band Otis and the Elevators were roots-rockers with jam […]
Live Review: The Claudettes at Maryâs Place ⢠Rockford
The Claudettes Maryâs Place October 18, 2024 Rockford, IL Review and photos by Jeff Elbel. Enjoying a busy fall season on the road, Chicagoâs inimitable wonders, The Claudettes, swung to nearby Rockford for a return visit to Maryâs Place. The watering hole rests along the Rock River and is the oldest bar in town. âThis […]
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 âTemple of Love,â âLucretia My Reflection,â and âThis Corrosion,â the bandâs 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 bandâs 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, itâs 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 Heartbreakersâ fifth album, Long After Dark, added indelible singles, including âYou Got Luckyâ and âChange of Heartâ to the bandâs 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, AndrĂŠ 3000, Rise Against, SAGA, Mushroomhead
You canât 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. Itâs an extraordinary talent that has kept her audience guessing since her debut back in the early 90âs. What has never been in question is her galvanized status […]
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