Monthly
A Veteran Decision
Where Did Our Love Go? A Roundtable Discussion With Out Of The Box Records And Friends Between constant changes in the music industry, specifically the way tunes are purchased, swapped, distributed, and promoted, there was plenty to chat about when Out Of The Box Records hosted a recent Rock And Roll Brunch. To coincide with […]
Around Hear: November 2009
Local Band Reviews The six tracks on Abysmal Lullabies from Arctic Sleep (a one-man show written, performed, and produced by Keith D) deliver what the title promises: sludgy, bottom-heavy alt-rock that is heavy on fuzzed-out riffage. The mostly instrumental tracks are lengthy and languid, pausing often to let the distortion ring out like a crashing […]
Media: November 2009
Last Chance To Gigglesnort Bill Jackson, creator of the late, great children’s programs “Cartoon Town,” “The Gigglesnort Hotel,” and “The BJ & Dirty Dragon Show,” will draw, tell tales, and recreate his most memorable characters at a December 5th benefit for the Museum Of Broadcast Communications called “Saturday Morning With B.J. And Dirty Dragon: Live […]
Caught In A Mosh: November 2009
The Witch Is Back The first time “Mosh” heard from — or of — Skeletonwitch was summer 2007. This column was exactly one-month old when Witch guitarist Scott Hedrick e-mailed pimping his band’s July show at Empty Bottle, inquiring about coverage for its Prosthetic debut, Beyond The Permafrost, and wondering if ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER needed freelance […]
Hello, My Name Is David
Q&A with the Pixies’ David Lovering IE: How do you feel about doing an old album in its entirety? Some bands are weirded out by it. David Lovering: It’s kind of cool because Doolittle, for me the drummer, it’s the easiest record we did. So I was happy [we chose it]. We’re all loving doing […]
Hello, My Name Is Bernard
Q&A with Bernard Sumner IE: Do you look at Bad Lieutenant as a continuation of your legacy or an entirely new act altogether? Bernard Sumner: I look at it as a new band, though there are some faces people already know. [Drummer] Steven [Morris] was in New Order [and Joy Division], [guitarist/keyboardist] Phil [Cunningham] played […]
File: November 2009
ONE FOR THE BOOKS “My Bucket Song” by Psalm One from Psalm One on Vimeo. As we mentioned last month, the Chicago Public Library capped a “we’re not just books” promotion with a music contest, challenging Chicagoans to write songs about the city.
Cover Story: Riot Fest 2009
Rocket To L.A. Music festivals tend to have an air of inclusion, a come-one come-all embrace that promises big-name acts and a sprinkling of enticing openers. Riot Fest, since its 2004 Chicago debut, has been different. This isn’t to say it’s exclusionary or private, but it’s punk rock by and for punk rockers. Headliners such […]
Christopher O’Riley interview
Fusion In D-Minor There’s bit of the angel and the devil to acclaimed, Chicago native Christopher O’Riley. On one hand, there’s the Van Cliburn-prize finalist, classical pianist recorder/performer, and 10-year host of NPR’s highly rated show, “From The Top”; O’Riley’s the championed poster child (if not savior) of classical music in the modern era. On […]
Karl Denson interview
The Old Switcheroo Don’t judge a man by his ringtone. While Karl Denson may pull down the funkiest riffs on the sax and flute (take that, Ian Anderson) this side of a Tarantino flick, his main connection to the outside world alerts him of incoming calls with the fervor of a Kenny G track. Appearing: […]
Say Anything interview
Alive With The Glory Of Love For awhile there, it seemed like Max Bemis might just end up as pop punk’s permanent and resident trainwreck. Diagnosed with bi-polar disorder following the release of his band Say Anything’s 2004 breakthrough release . . . Is A Real Boy (J), Bemis’ story became one of drugs and […]
Thirsty Whale Reunion
In The Belly Of The Thirsty Whale It was more than 20 years ago that I last set foot inside the Thirsty Whale. The band was Holland, on the eve of their Atlantic Records release, Little Monsters. Former B’zz singer Tommy Holland had assembled a new outfit, and I was excited to see what they […]
Web Exclusive: More Whale Memories
The Thirsty Whale Reunion All The Whale Memories Unfit To Print Joe Cantafio: “We were so young. I was the old guy at 19, but my brother and two of the other guys were 16 in the band, performing at the Whale and nobody knew it, nobody knew they were that young. And that was […]
Hello, My Name Is Nils
Q&A With Nils Lofgren IE: What are you doing in your spare time? Nils Lofgren: Just relax for awhile until I get back to my next action, probably a solo album for next year, get some more beginner lessons [online] for my guitar school. I just found out I like to teach and so many […]
File: October 2009
The Long Voyage Home With cranky, indie curmudgeons berating us, we at IE developed a complex about some of the music we praised in the ’80s, but no more! Maybe it’s an empowerment from this month’s Thirsty Whale reunion or finally locating the courage to call Steve Albini a Mr. Meany Pants, we’re back to […]
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