Monthly
File: June 2011
June Buggin’ As if Middle Easterners don’t have enough problems in this country, the term “Arab Spring” will become the opposite of “Indian Summer” and signify a relentless, wintry malaise. (You say it means revolution, well, you know . . . ) But at last it’s June, and you can smash that icy lake breeze […]
Hello, My Name Is Cathy
Q&A With Cathy Richardson IE: What led you to forming your new group, Macrodots? Cathy Richardson: I met Zack [Smith, also of Scandal fame] when I was living in San Francisco and we started writing together. He’s a very prolific writer and producer and he had a lot of great tracks without lyrics or vocals. The […]
Gear: June 2011
Digitech Whammy DT Guitar Pedal DigiTech‘s new Whammy DT guitar pedal does the original model one better by adding capabilities including drop tuning, capo tuning, and true bypass coupled with original features like pitchshifting effects.
Media: June 2011
Still Dying To Tell The Story Amy Eldon‘s 1998 documentary, Dying To Tell The Story, focuses on her photojournalist brother, Dan Eldon, who was stoned to death by an angry mob while covering a bombing in Somalia in 1993, shortly after the “Black Hawk Down” incident.
Studiophile: June 2011
Rapture Recordings When Chicago’s newly formed Dashing Assassins went to the record at MOTHERSHIP STUDIOS in Chicago on May 21st, they weren’t sure if they’d come out alive after laying down tracks during the not-to-be Rapture. While tracking a six-song LP due this summer, guitarist/vocalist Erik LaVergne tells IE that, despite the pending armageddon, “The […]
Sweet Home: June 2011
Blue Ladies This year’s Chicago Blues Fest includes Shemekia Copeland, an all-star Robert Johnson centennial salute, and harp master Billy Branch & The Sons Of The Blues. But another Blues Fest must-see kicks off on opening night, after the actual festivities are over.
Cover Story: Urge Overkill
submURGEd Irony died for a short time after the September 11th attacks, but instead of retro-blossoming into widespread sincerity, we now live in an age of open mockery free from metaphorical disguise. Lady Gaga, Kanye West, and Charlie Sheen walk the media landscape rebelling not without a cause, but against the old order: lampooning the […]
Interview: Adele
Target On Her Back As of this writing, 21 — the sophomore set from bluesy British belter Adele — has just gone platinum, and is currently sitting pretty at the pinnacle of Billboard’s album chart.
Interview: The Airborne Toxic Event
Once In A Lifetime Mikel Jollett is a little stunned, frankly. He and Airborne Toxic Event have just exited the stage of King’s College in London, where they were playing an intense set devoted to the songs they will release commercially in less than a week. What better time to discuss it all with a […]
Interview: Cake
On With The Showroom Sometimes taking time off between albums is the perfect recipe for a creative rebirth and commercial resurgence. Such was the case for Cake, who may have scored a string of eclectic singles from 1994 to 2004 (“Rock ‘N’ Roll Lifestyle,” “The Distance,” “Never There,” “Short Skirt/Long Jacket,” “No Phone”),
File: May 2011
O Come, O Come Emanuel On the 16th, Chicago will inaugurate its first new mayor in 22 years. Despite the inevitable letdown breathed by every new administration that has ever taken office anywhere, Chicago’s music community seems cautiously optimistic
Hello, My Name Is J.P.
Q&A with Surfer Blood’s J.P. Pitts IE: Describe the EP: stuff you’re playing live, a tip of the cap to Kanine Records before diving into Warner Bros.? J.P. Pitts: A little bit of everything. We did want to release something to bridge the first record
Around Hear: May 2011
Local Band Reviews King Sparrow‘s fusion of bluesy garage-rock and spastic, new-wave punk will undoubtedly draw favorable comparisons to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, as its self-titled, full-length debut
Caught In A Mosh: May 2011
We’re Gonna Need More Power Alehorn Of Power is back. Promoter Greg Spalding took last year off for a number of reasons, including the hectic schedule of his own band, Bible Of The Devil. He admits, though, much of Alehorn’s 2010 shelving was the fact a solid start-to-finish lineup never materialized. “I am a fan […]
Digital Divide: May 2011
The Green Hornet Sony Pictures The Green Hornet has always been sort of the red headed stepchild of the hero world. Beginning as a radio serial in 1936, the Hornet was created to capitalize on the popularity of The Lone Ranger.
Recent Comments