Columns
DVD Zone: May 2008
Juno Fox Home Video Time was when an independent film simply meant a film released outside the studio system by an independent production company. However, once the Sundance festival became as much of a corporate-sponsored entity as any other film festival in the world, a vast majority of independent films have tried to one-up each […]
Local CD Reviews
“Around Hear” is a monthly feature where a stable of IE writers review albums sent to us by local musicians. If you are interested in having your CD (must have a minimum of three songs) reviewed and are Illinois-based, mail it and any other media materials to 657 A W. Lake St., Chicago IL, 60661. […]
Around Hear Page 2
Sebastian Dior‘s attempt at innovative/experimental pop R&B falls a bit short on God Complex. When not slightly dull or clichéd on such tracks as “Things Can Change” and “Fallen Nature,” he slightly irritates on cuts like “Questions” and “The Martyr.” While he definitely should be commended for wanting to try something fresh and new, Dior’s […]
Around Hear Page 3
Thaddeus Rex may not be a household name, but he recruits Chicago legends Koko Taylor and Pinetop Perkins as well as Alan Gershwin to bolster his playful and quirky pop style and inspirational message to kids. There’s a satisfying, punchy crispness to “Daddy Lived Inside A Boxcar” and an admirable update of the Violent Femmes […]
Third Time’s A Charm
Plenty of people dislike Dave Mustaine (read the Al Jourgensen cover story for one), but you have to give the Megadeth frontman credit for Gigantour. Its virgin run in 2005 wasn’t all that impressive because a lineup clogged up by Bobaflex, Dry Kill Logic, Symphony X, and Life Of Agony wasn’t a convincing reason to […]
Solid Like A . . . Cable
Solid Cables Dynamic Arc Ultra Looking for a guitar cable that doesn’t fall apart after a few months? Solid Cables say they have an answer. They bill their Dynamic Arc Ultra as the world’s toughest guitar cord, designed to be “extremely rugged, gig friendly, abuse proof” and offer “exceptional tone.” Solid Cables also say the […]
Andy Austin, Courtroom Artist
“There’s been a lot of agitation on the part of the electronic media and regular press to open up the courtrooms,” says courtroom artist Andy Austin, author of the new book Rule 53: Capturing Hippies, Spies, Politicians, And Murders In An American Courtroom (Lake Claremont, $19.95). Rule 53 is a Federal Rule Of Criminal Procedure, […]
Day At The Park
When pressed to point out places on the map known for contributing recognized, high-end recording studios, Orland Park probably fails to make the short list. Yet, tucked within the vast span of suburbia, complete with Bar Louie chains and Borders and Barnes & Noble vying with each other for the same pool of book browsing, […]
Return To The Blues
“Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out/Here comes something, you never dreamed about/Life is so unpredictable, that’s the way it is. It gets a little hard to bear sometime/Things out of nowhere to blow your mind/But one thing I know for sho’/You’ve got to let life flow.” Kenny Neal – “Let Life […]
File: April 2008
A Festivus For The Rest Of Us If Lollapalooza packs ’em in with the rumored announcement of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails as headliners, us Chicago folk might be crowded out of our own festival. Pitchfork Music Fest has already squashed the one that gave it birth (Intonation) — you’ll have to excuse us if […]
Hello, My Name Is Andy
Hello, My Name Is Andy Q&A With Andy McKee IE: What first attracted you to playing the guitar and how old were you? Andy McKee: I was 13 when I got my first guitar and I asked for a guitar for my birthday that year because I heard Eric Johnson on the radio. They played […]
DVD Zone: April 2008
I Am Legend Warner Home Video What is it about the end of the world? The current trend is to speculate about what the planet would be like if humans weren’t around to tend to the old homestead. Both The History Channel and The National Geographic Channel have run specials about it, and there’s I […]
Gone Too Soon
The music world lost two supremely talented and distinctive artists recently when R&B and rock drummer/singer/ songwriter Buddy Miles and Canadian guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Jeff Healey passed away. Miles succumbed to congestive heart failure at the age of 60 on February 26th in Austin, Texas, and Healey died a few days later in Toronto after a lifelong […]
Chicagoland Studio Happenings
South Side drummer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Anthony (Sgt. Roxx, Raddaka, Pamela Moore) worked on his solo project called Gagorder13 at BAREFOOT STUDIO in Beecher with David Knuth. Gabriel finished drum tracks in March and plans to track all guitars, bass, and vocals through the spring and summer for a fall/winter release.
Webbed Migration
Two years ago Steve Rhodes left his post as Chicago magazine media and political writer and launched The Beachwood Reporter, an online magazine chronicling all things Chicago (www.beachwoodreporter.com). Last year longtime New York Daily News TV critic David Bianculli made the leap to the Web with Tvworthwatching.com, after the newspaper he’d been with for 14 […]
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