Monthly
Cover Story: Cheap Trick • Won’t Slow Down
It’s not a cautionary tale exactly, nor is it an Abandon-All-Hope-Ye-Who-Enter-Here warning. But for any bright-eyed, optimistic young artists out there currently considering a career in music, Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson has a few wise words to offer that might, at the very least, give you pause. Or, at worst, stagger you as senseless […]
Media: December 2025 • The Museum of Broadcast Communications Pop-up Exhibit
Many of us worried it might never return after shuttering its previous location, but in October, the Museum of Broadcast Communications made a triumphant comeback in a new location, with an assortment of new exhibits. The date wasn’t chosen randomly. It was the 100th anniversary of Johnny Carson’s birth, and Johnny Carson is the big […]
Photo Gallery: Wednesday at the Riviera Theatre • Chicago
Wednesday Riviera Theatre November 17, 2025 Chicago, IL Recap and photos by Curt Baran Not unlike its predecessor (2023’s Rat Saw God), don’t be surprised to see Wednesday’s Bleeds on numerous 2025 year-end, best-of lists. It’s a massive step forward in both songwriting and musicianship. The tour supporting it touched down at The Riviera Theatre […]
Cover Story: John 5 and Richie Kotzen • Dual Shredders
The exceptional guitar artistry of one John William Lowery, professionally known as John 5, is internationally celebrated. The guitarist’s musical resume includes a wide range of diverse artists, such as k.d. Lang, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, and Meat Loaf, while also contributing to projects with rockers like David Lee Roth, Rob Halford, Lita Ford, Lynyrd […]
Media: November 2025 • Wild Kingdom: Full Circle
Mutual of Omaha is so closely associated with wildlife that some people don’t even realize it’s an insurance company. “True,” host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, Peter Gros, says with a laugh. “They ask us if we run an amusement park.” Since 1963, Mutual of Omaha has been the sponsor of the ultimate nature show, Wild […]
Live Review & Gallery: David Byrne at Auditorium Theatre • Chicago
David Byrne Auditorium Theatre October 28, 2025 Chicago, IL Live review by Jeff Elbel, Live photos by Curt Baran. Tuesday’s concert by David Byrne began with a recorded welcome from the artist, informing patrons that the Auditorium Theatre management had agreed to allow dancing if the aisles were kept clear. “In the event of a […]
Live Review: Elbow at The Riviera Theatre • Chicago
Elbow The Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL October 6, 2025 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Elbow’s arrival on Monday night was beautifully timed. The general mood in Chicago is currently tense – a frame of mind that this band from Manchester, England, is uniquely gifted to counter. Elbow reliably spreads goodwill and encourages community through […]
Photo Gallery: Judas Priest with Alice Cooper at Credit Union 1 Amphitheater • Tinley Park
Judas Priest with Alice Cooper and Corrosion of Conformity Credit Union 1 Amphitheater October 5, 2025 Tinley Park, IL Photos by Edward Spinelli If it were the late 70s, two-thirds of Saturday’s final seasonal performance in Tinley Park would have toured playing baseball stadiums as World Series of Rock performers. Fast forward 4 decades later, […]
Photo Gallery: Michael Schenker at Arcada Theatre • St. Charles
Michael Schenker Group Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL September 27, 2025 Photo gallery by Edward Spinelli Perhaps the most sought-after ticket for a suburban hosted rock show in the past several years, guitar pioneer Michael Schenker and his band arrived at Arcada Theatre in St. Charles after several nights of sold-out shows at Arcada and […]
Photo Gallery: Twenty One Pilots at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre • Tinley Park
Twenty One Pilots Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Tinley Park, IL September 24, 2025 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Twenty One Pilots’ audience has grown exponentially with each album they’ve dropped. However, witnessing an absolutely packed audience assembled at Tinley Park’s outdoor venue was still a jarring experience. The faithful, dressed in clothing representing all […]
Live Review: Supergrass at The Riviera Theatre • Chicago
Supergrass The Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL September 9, 2025 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel. Supergrass may not have scaled the same heights in North America as Britpop frontrunners, including the Verve, Blur, or touring hosts Radiohead during the ’90s and early ’00s, but the band from Oxford, England, made an indelible mark and […]
Photo Gallery: System of a Down at Soldier Field • Chicago
System of a Down with Avenged Sevenfold August 31, 2025 Soldier Field Chicago, IL Recap and photos by Edward Spinelli; additional photo by Clemente Ruiz After three sold-out shows at the historic lakefront venue (Oasis, My Chemical Romance, The Lumineers), System of a Down arrived at Soldier Field (with Avenged Sevenfold) for their penultimate debut […]
Media: September 2025 • John Owens’ Passion Project
You may not realize it, but you have either read or watched the work of John Owens if you lived in Chicago any time over the past 35 years. He wrote for The Chicago Reader (including a front page piece at the young age of 21) and the Chicago Tribune (for 28 years). But […]
Photo Gallery: My Chemical Romance at Soldier Field • Chicago
My Chemical Romance Soldier Field Chicago, IL August 28, 2025 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Is Classic Rock getting younger? Over the past week or so, the city has welcomed visits from rock radio staples such as Oasis and Nine Inch Nails. But unlike those Gen X-leaning acts, My Chemical Romance has not so […]
Photo Gallery: Volbeat with Halestorm at • Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre • Tinley Park
Volbeat with Halestorm Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Tinley Park, IL August 22, 2025 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Consummate road dogs Volbeat and Halestorm arrived at Tinley Park’s Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre to wrap up what has essentially amounted to a co-headlining trek through North America. Both bands straddle a sort of netherworld between […]
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