Columns
Media: August 2011
Best Radio You Have Never Heard Imagine a technically perfect freeform radio show where you’ll hear everything from Arctic Monkeys to Frank Zappa. Add clever drop-ins, seamless transitions, and cryptic humor. Then, imagine that every time you listen, you hear a new artist or song, or a version of a classic track that’s so obscure […]
Studiophile: August 2011
Local H At Million Yen Million Yen Studios owner Andy Gerber was a bit suprised to get a call from Scott Lucas about demoing material for a new Local H record. “Scott had kind of officially declared the ‘era of demos’ as over,” remarks Gerber.
Sweet Home: August 2011
Reflection Eternal As one of the most consistent contemporary bluesmen performing today, it’s a surprise to discover that Grammy-winning Keb Mo (a.k.a. Kevin Moore) doesn’t actually consider himself a bluesman.
Hello, My Name Is Dolly
Q&A with Dolly Parton IE: What advice would you pass on to a 20-year-old Dolly? Dolly Parton: One of my favorite sayings of all time is that to thine ownself be true. I think that says so much.
Around Hear: July 2011
Local Band Reviews In just six songs, Automata packs an atmospheric soundtrack in its debut EP. Microcosm is a genre-defying pastiche of psychedelic guitar, swirling keyboards, and shuffling rhythms supporting Rachel Sarah Thomas’ soulful crooning.
Caught In A Mosh: July 2011
. . . And Justice For All In Use Your Illusion II‘s “Get In The Ring,” Axl Rose called out a number of rock journalists and editors, but famously referred to Mick Wall as the “punk in the press who wants to start shit by printing lies instead of the things we say.” There was […]
Digital Divide: July 2011
A Few Small Repairs If there’s one thing that can be taken as gospel, it’s the belief that if something works once, it will most assuredly work again for someone else. Of course, that little pearl of wisdom rarely turns out to be true, but it sure doesn’t stop Hollywood from clicking its heels three […]
File: July 2011
Ah, Gee, Pat More than 50 Major League ballplayers have gone 6-for-6 at the plate in a single game – a handful went 6-for-7; only Rennie Stennett ever hit 7-for-7 – but no Chicago reps since One Dog in ’95 and Scammin’ Sammy in ’93. What could we possibly be driving at? Last year, for […]
Gear: July 2011
Cerwin-Vega XD3 Studio Monitor With the explosion of home-studio creations being churned out by would-be recording artists and ProTools boffins, Cerwin-Vega saw the need to marry an above-average studio monitor with an affordable computer speaker that delivers clarity, accurate imaging, and over-the-top bass. Cerwin-Vega claims the XD3 “fulfills this monitoring mandate by transforming any desktop […]
Media: July 2011
Music Integral To ‘Grannies On Safari’ The travel bug bit Regina Fraser at an early age. “My father [trumpeter Rex Stewart] was with Duke Ellington for about 15 years, and traveled all over the world with his orchestra,” she says. “He’d come back with a traveling trunk full of colorful stickers from all over the […]
Studiophile: July 2011
Mathien recorded their new, full-legnth album at PRESSURE POINT studios in Chicago. Studio co-owner/manager Chris Schneider sent Studiophile some impressive samples. The band continue their funk-influenced hip-hop and pop/soul on the new record. “Steve Kovacs mixed and engineered the record and Brian Cabby also did some of the engineering with me [Schneider] producing.
Sweet Home: July 2011
Bad Girl Gone Good Chicago’s legendary blues sound continues to evolve and expand with new variations and perspectives, and the most exciting additions are pouring from the offspring of its heroes. The latest take comes from Demetria Taylor, daughter of the late guitarist Eddie Taylor. Although she has devoted years developing her voice singing on […]
Around Hear: June 2011
Local Band Reviews What separates the men from the boys among old school Chicago guitar heroes is a dash of humility. Of course T.D. Clark has the chops on his new CD, Shreddtime Stories, but his web site won’t be the one
Caught In A Mosh: June 2011
The Coroner’s Report For various reasons (some sensible, some stupid), metalheads are skeptical of reunions. Especially wary are death-metal fanatics, who just can’t seem to decide whether they love or hate the current comeback trend. It was lame-as-fuck, apparently, when Carcass (disbanded in 1995) toured in 2008 but awesome that Exhumed (hiatus since 2005) is […]
Digital Divide: June 2011
Take A Number And Get In Line I Am Number Four Touchstone No one ever said high school was easy. In fact, there are many who subscribe to the theory that “the greatest days of your life” are nothing but a constant series of kicks to the teeth. However, no matter how bad things get, […]
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