Monthly
Photo Gallery: Japanese Breakfast
Japanese Breakfast The Salt Shed Chicago, IL April 30, 2025 Recap and photos by Curt Baran While not exactly the equivalent of securing an EGOT, at the very least, Michelle Zauner has established herself as a multi-hyphenate. Singer-songwriter-best-selling author is now her title to claim. Her book Crying In H Mart, a devastatingly emotional account […]
Rock of Pages: The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville • by John J. Thompson
The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville By John J. Thompson (Gyroscope) Review by Jeff Elbel Like a few of the central characters in this book, singer-songwriter John J. Thompson of alt-country/gospel band the Wayside may seem a bit tardy in offering his best gifts to the world. He’s an experienced storyteller and […]
Media: May 2025 • Triton College Radio Celebrates 50 Years
50 years ago, college radio was thriving. Every major college or university had a college radio station, and most universities had a radio/TV department. Those college radio stations were the breeding ground for the hugely popular radio industry, spawning radio stars, up-and-coming musical artists, and a whole generation of hitmakers. Sadly, across the country, college […]
Cover Story: May 2025 • Crimson Glory Co-Headlines Reggies’ Storied Legions of Metal Festival 2025
The Chicago metal festival tradition continues with the seventh annual Legions of Metal Festival triumphantly returning to hallowed ground at Reggies on Friday, May 2nd, and Saturday, May 3rd. Friday night’s headliners are Portland, Oregon’s speed/thrash wrecking machine, Toxic Holocaust, preceded by Boston’s symphonic power metal darlings, Seven Spires, as the co-headliners. Saturday night’s lineup […]
Photo Gallery: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at The Salt Shed • Chicago
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds The Salt Shed Chicago, IL April 28, 2025 Recap and Photos by Curt Baran Seeing Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds always feels ritualistic. Not unlike attending a church service albeit a baptism with music instead of holy water. But Cave has no script, no good book to follow […]
Photo Gallery: The Linda Lindas at Metro • Chicago
The Linda Lindas April 13, 2025 Metro Chicago Recap and photos by Curt Baran The web and social media have become a quasi-American Idol lottery. It has created a portal for musicians to get their music exposed, but the traffic and sheer volume of products make it nearly impossible to break through. In 2021, The Linda Lindas, […]
Photo Gallery: Ani DiFranco at Thalia Hall • Chicago
Ani DiFranco Friday, April 11, 2025 Thalia Hall Chicago Recap and photos by Curt Baran “In a coffee shop in a city/Which is every coffee shop in every city/On a day which is every day.” It could be argued that these lyrics are quintessential Ani Difranco. They certainly speak to her earliest days of busking […]
Live Review: Stereophonics at The Vic Theatre • Chicago
Stereophonics The Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL Sunday, March 30, 2025 Live review and photos by Jeff Elbel Welsh rock heroes, Stereophonics reunited with a sold-out roomful of Chicago-based fans to close the weekend at the Vic Theatre. Sunday’s setlist was loaded with European hit singles and favorites of the band’s devoted local cult. In addition […]
Media: April 2025 • Road to Rock Class of ’24 and ’25
If you were wondering what happened to the 2024 Class of the Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which was supposed to be inducted on March 30th, the answers were revealed last month. The Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 has rescheduled its annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to Sunday, […]
CinemaScopes: April 2025 • 20 Years of The Revenge of the Sith
If you somehow lived under a rock or were not old enough (or born enough) to see this in theaters, Disney is re-releasing Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, the final film in the prequel trilogy, in celebration of the 20th Anniversary. Starting April 25th, the film will be shown in select theaters […]
Photo Gallery: Morgan Wade with The Lone Bellow • Salt Shed • Chlcago
Morgan Wade The Lone Bellow The Salt Shed Chicago, IL March 9, 2025 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Sunday evening’s Salt Shed show felt rooted in the past with a sharp eye to the future. Although you could say the evening’s official headliner was Morgan Wade, it certainly seemed like the evening belonged to […]
Media: March 2025 • Flipside Records Remembered
Flip Side owners Carl and Larry Rosenbaum had three choices they were considering at the beginning of their careers. “Hot dog stand, a dry cleaner, or a record store,” Larry confirms. “And fortunately, we chose record store.” That record store became an empire in Chicago (1970s—1990s), a string of stores throughout Chicagoland, soon to […]
March 2025: CinemaScopes • March Films in Like A Lion
We start the month with the 97th Academy Awards airing on March 2. If you love festivals, the 12th Annual JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival, running March 1-23, showcases culturally diverse, Jewishly-inspired films that will entertain, educate, and inspire audiences of all generations. A selection of 19 carefully curated films honor Jewish filmmakers, writers, […]
Live Review: Cy Curnin • Belly Up Tavern • San Diego, CA
Cy Curnin Belly Up Tavern, San Diego, CA Tuesday, February 18, 2025 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel “Fixxtures” on the West Coast and American Southwest had a rare opportunity on Tuesday to see Fixx frontman Cy Curnin dig into his solo catalog during a brief sprint that included the Belly Up Tavern in […]
Photo Gallery: Lauren Mayberry at Thalia Hall • Chicago
Lauren Mayberry Thalia Hall Chicago, IL February 5, 2025 Recap and photos by Curt Baran “During sound check, I was amazed by the size of this room. I was terrified that only 12 people would show up. I’m so relieved to see all of you here.” Lauren Mayberry alluded to the inherent risks of going […]
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