Features
2. Muddy Waters
The 20 All-Time Greatest Chicago Guitarists 2. Muddy Waters When future Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and Grammy winner Muddy Waters (aka McKinley Morganfield) came to Chicago in 1943 from Clarksdale, Mississippi, he had no idea he would alter the American musical landscape irrevocably, paving the way for a musical revolution.
1. Buddy Guy
1. Buddy Guy Naysayers will think Buddy Guy tops our list in some glad-handing tribute to Chicago’s most prominent living bluesman. Sheeeeit. Early in his prime he was muzzled by Leonard Chess and the Muddy Waters/Willie Dixon machine.
Cover Story: The Pogues
The Pogues Back In The Graces Of God The Season Of Green is indeed in full swing, and it just so happens to coincide perfectly with The Pogues’ latest trip through America. Though there’s likely to be no shortage of St. Patrick’s Day revelry at any of this month’s engagements, the seminal Celtic-flavored rockers are […]
Stephen Malkmus interview
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Sunshine Mountain Stephen Malkmus’ tone could easily be misinterpreted. His droll, frequently monotone delivery suggests weariness, a thinly concealed resentment for having to endure round after round of all the same questions — most of which inevitably contextually chain him to the band he led during the ’90s: Pavement. Appearing: […]
The Cool Kids interview
The Cool Kids ’88 And Beyond Within a year of introducing themselves on Myspace, The Cool Kids have become the most talked-about Chicago hip-hop group without a presence on retail shelves. Only in January did this duo, which comprises Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks, officially put a single up for sale on the Internet. That […]
Head Of Femur interview
Head Of Femur Traveling Light Not long ago, Taco Bell introduced a promotion whereby an indie band’s touring budget could be massaged with the infusion of free grub. If only they’d discovered Chicago-based Head Of Femur before cannibalism set in. Appearing: April 11th at Schubas in Chicago.
What Made Milwaukee Famous interview
What Made Milwaukee Famous And What’s Making Them Stronger The funny thing about Myspace is getting to know someone is as easy as scanning their page, sometimes easier than actually talking to them, or in this case conducting a phone interview. Pertinent info is just a mouse click away. Surveying What Made Milwaukee Famous founder […]
Cover Story: Steve Earle
Steve Earle Goes Through The Wire Any viewer tuning into the last season of David Simon’s brilliant HBO series, “The Wire,” probably did a double-take as the credits rolled. That bearded ex-junkie informant Waylon was actually played by folk-rocking firebrand Steve Earle? Yes, it’s true, says the singer of his weaselly alter ego, a recurring […]
Bell X1 interview
Bell X1 Delayed Flight Situated knee-deep among T-shirts and other band paraphernalia (monogrammed teapots anyone?), Bell X1’s Paul Noonan dreams of the great American landscape while tirelessly sorting through pre-holiday merchandise orders. Such is the life of a Dublin-based DIY musical outfit. Appearing: March 19th at Schubas in Chicago.
Chris Walla interview
Chris Walla Homeland Insecurities It comes as no surprise that certain artists set themselves up as lightning rods for controversy. Britney Spears’ ongoing crusade to become the new Courtney Love stands as the most obvious example right now. Still, others go out of their way to create and sustain mischief, which is actually even sadder. […]
The Atari Underground
Atari Returns! Dance Dance Reinvention Before video game consoles could play Blu-ray movies, display Web sites, boot Linux, or offer unlimited headset smack talk, they were good for one thing and one thing only: video gaming. When the 1.19 MHz Atari 2600 console was first released in 1977, it had two main settings: “b&w” and […]
The Goldstars feature
The Goldstars Lord Of The Ringers In some alternate universe, The Goldstars are a god-sized juggernaut. Frontman Sal — just “Sal” — is a true star, a wizard conjuring garage rock hurricanes to cleanse and purify the sodden masses.
Prime interview
Prime Backbone Of The Middle Ground Dre Vasquez, the MC better known as Prime, is arguably one of the most recognized independent hip-hop artists in Chicago. For a decade, this North Side resident’s craft and liveliness have earned him a spot on a live HBO MC battle, a track with Slug from Atmosphere (“Lambslaughter”), and […]
Cover Story: Lurrie Bell
Lurrie Bell The Power Of Love Chicago bluesman Lurrie Bell, 50, is currently riding the crest of a transglobal wave to promote his critically acclaimed new CD, Let’s Talk About Love (Aria BG). Love is Bell’s musical tribute to his guiding lights: Susan Greenberg, his life partner and the mother of their daughter Aria, and […]
Madina Lake interview
Madina Lake Through And Through Alternative rockers Madina Lake were on the road nearly all of 2007. The Roadrunner Records band began with a headlining tour plugging the spring street date behind From Them, Through Us, To You, followed by a full summer run on Linkin Park’s Projekt Revolution Tour, then a whirlwind trek to […]
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