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Polyphonic Spree live!
Sic The Polyphonic Spree on those rambunctious NATO protestors and the need for a mile-long line of police officers outfitted in riot gear would disappear. One look at Tim DeLaughter and his band of merry pranksters would either send the chanting mass exercising their First Amendment rights running off in fear or persuade them to […]
NATO! Run!
Gridlock downtown! Restrictions on commuter trains! Riot gear! (Thanks to considerate Loop employers, less traffic on Foster this morning.) Only Jennifer Herrema, ex-Royal Trux, would do a show this weekend! Ane Brun waits a day or two.
Down in the country
As with any genre, many aren’t shy about their opinions of what country music should be. Admittedly, we’re glad it’s not all about heartache and crops drying up and tears in beer: Jason Boland & The Stragglers, however, like to keep things serious. Also in town: Rocky Votolato and Here We Go Magic.
Eric Church live!
When Eric Church, sporting his trademark sunglasses finally evolved onto the stage at 9:32 on Friday night, engoulphed in a thick cloud of smoke, there was a feeling of the unknown.
Shure National Open Mic
On any given weeknight, Chicago music venues host dozens of open mic nights, letting novice musicians and open mic “jobbers” hone their chops in front of friends and a few foes. Niles-based Shure, Inc. — best known for word-class microphones and earphones — is ramping up the open-mic night this coming week (the 23rd and […]
Click to win Cassian or Buckwheat Zydeco tix!
Click on to enter and win Cassian (3/15 at Berlin) or Buckwheat Zydeco (3/10 at McAninch) tickets!
The shows go March-ing in
The March issue takes centerstage today, but we’d be remiss to skip over some worthy shows kicking off the month: Islands, Punch Brothers, Lynch Mob, and Water Liars.
Van Halen live!
From the moment Van Halen non-chalantly took the United Center stage, one of the most paradoxical shows in rock began. First comes the band — Alex Van Halen playing comfortably and business-like behind the drums, while Eddie and son Wolfgang, dressed in their button-down shirts and jeans, worked their guitar and bass, respectively, with straight-ahead […]
18th! Don’t know what we want!
Hugh Masakela, The Jealous Sound, Moe, Leni Stern: all here on the 18th. So we’ll kick of with something only (on the) 17(th!). It’s never too late (or early) for love, or movies about reggae in the ’70s.
Clean, tidy awards
Was there tension at the Grammys this year? No one felt slighted? With Whitney Houston’s death, was all of the traditional windbagging deemed untoward? Good. We can move on. This week: Sharon Van Etten, The Black Belles, and West 34’s release party.
Ditat deus!
Though obviously feted every year, this February 14th is particularly special as Arizona celebrates 100 years of statehood. (Happy b-day to you too, Oregon!) Lined up for local festivities are Heartless Bastards, Talkdemonic, and Andrew Belle! Emboss M&Ms with your message now!
The trouble with . . .
A quartet of acts traipsing through Chicago within the week all dangle their feet over the brink of Complete, Utter Mistake. Do Lost Lander, Scale The Summit, Wim, and Foxy Shazam survive?
Wow, what a game!
It hasn’t even started yet, but we know everyone’s thrilled to root for the guy who made a jerk of himself when he was drafted, versus the guy who’s already won it enough. New York against Boston! No one’s tired of that! Cleanse your spirit with Red Wanting Blue or Asteroids Galaxy Tour this week.
Cover Story: The Doors
The British take a lot of pride in their rock ‘n’ roll, boasting that they studied its roots better than its host country; rescued the form after the crooners rushed in to fill Elvis’ void; and, if you canvas the ’60s titans, only the Queen’s subjects showed any real longevity.
Interview: Martha Berner
Just because Martha Berner’s finally closed a six-year gap between full-length studio outings, it doesn’t mean the singer/songwriter was inactive. In fact, she’s used the half decade and change to practically start from scratch, reinventing her already alluring folk
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