Monthly
Gear: August 2011
From Nashville With Love NAMM’s Nashville music trade show seemed to get back to a “guitars are king” theme not seen in 10 years at the summer event, leaving the button pushers and their iPhones and iPads to last year’s devices. Gear happily takes a look at some of the convention’s new introductions.
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.
New photo galleries!
We have Tim Hiatt’s shots from Soundgarden/Mars Volta, Steve Forstneger’s from the first day of Pitchfork, and (belatedly) Brian Ormiston’s from Rihanna last month! Visit illinoisentertainerphoto.com!
Cover Story: Soundgarden
The Place I Tried To Live Through the phone line, you can practically hear Kim Thayil’s eyes squint and roll a little up. He’s drawing mental maps and can’t quite picture Chicago’s layout as his questions are answered. Appearing: Saturday, July 16th at UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
Interview: Mat Kearney
Water Log Like many Nashville musicians, Mat Kearney lost practically all his instruments and equipment in the 2010 flood, and while that could’ve easily spawned a negative attitude (not to mention a pile of bills), the singer/songwriter simply stripped his entire life down. Appearing: Friday, July 29th at Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.
Interview: The Flaming Lips
All Points ‘Bulletin’ Normally about this time – two years removed from album release, marking up the skies while flying between festival appearances – Wayne Coyne would retreat into filmmaking. Appearing: Thursday, July 7th and Friday the 8th at Aragon Ballroom, and Sunday, July 10th at Dave Matthews Band Caravan in Chicago.
Interview: Centro-matic
Bass Desires Will Johnson doesn’t see it. Of course, he’s tethered to his cellphone charger, so he lacks for range right now. But a binding characteristic among Texan musicians, specifically those from his former base/musical hotbed Denton? No. Not really.
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 […]
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