Monthly
Van Morrison Revisits Astral Weeks
VAN MORRISON Astral Weeks Live At The Hollywood Bowl (Listen To The Lion) Say the name Van Morrison, and the casual fan will think “Brown-Eyed Girl,” “Moon- dance,” maybe “Domino.” But the Morrison maniacs, the real Van fans, with exuberance, will think Astral Weeks. Not only is this eight-song, mind-expanding, meandering meditation Morrison’s masterwork, it’s […]
Hello, My Name Is Les
Hello, My Name Is Les Q&A With Les Claypool photo by Jake Blakesberg IE: Of Fungi And Foe is based on two projects you’ve worked on, a video game called Mushroom Men and the Pig Hunt film, right? Les Claypool: I was commissioned to do the score for both those pieces, so what Idid was, […]
File: March 2009
TO NYC AND BACK Last August, Chicago high-school student and beatmaker C-Sick wasn’t even sure he would be allowed into the Metro to compete in Red Bull’s renowned Big Tune beat battle. Despite his age, the then 17-year-old wound up taking home the Chicago title, thanks to his punchy, desktop-born hip-hop. Then, four months later […]
DVD Zone: March 2009
SELLING OUT TO THE FAME GAME How To Lose Friends And Alienate People 20th Century Fox In the early ’90s, British writer Toby Young founded and co-edited the London- based magazine Modern Review, a publication dedicating itself to snarky articles slamming anything and everything that wasn’t them. Young revealed himself to be most obnoxious, earning […]
Hail To The Hammer
Few bands can claim their home country’s best-selling album. Even fewer are heavy metal bands. A “Viking metal” metal band? No way.
Local CD Reviews
Chicago-based Absolutely Perfect describes its music as “nothing you have ever heard before, yet strangely familiar.” While this sounds like typical self-promotion, these guys have actually nailed it. The band’s second release, the Live To Be . . . , has it serving up six bowls of thick, chunky basslines with sides of punk rhythms […]
Around Hear Pg. 2
Beyond boasting solid musicianship, Sam Reicher and Antony Ablan of Chicago-based quartet Blackdog can sing like seasoned vets, as heard on the band’s self-titled debut. Both have robust, gruff voices, which work with whatever sound the band is after, whether slow-churning blues (“Crawlin’ Kingsnake”) or classic rock (“Hey Mama”). Innovation may not be its strong […]
Sounds Like An Angel
“There hasn’t been a lot of growing in the blues. I don’t see any reason why it cannot grow. So many blues artists were innovative. Muddy Waters, he plugged in.” Shemekia Copeland Never Going Back (Telarc) reflects the ongoing evolution in the life and music of contemporary soulful blues diva Shemekia Copeland. Produced by guitarist/songwriter […]
Local Studio Happenings
Kevin Lee recorded at RAX TRAX in Chicago. He is co-producing his new album, Dusk Till Dawn, with Rick Barnes. The record is scheduled for an early summer release.
Reasons To Be Cheerful Pt. IV
Sound-alike syndicated shows have never gone over very well in The Windy City, where the preference for personal and authentic media dates back to the Chicago School Of Television. It emerged in the 1950s as a spontaneous, informal genre typified by shows such as “Garroway At Large,” “Kukla, Fran & Ollie,” and “Studs’ Place.” Look […]
Zoom, Zoom
Zoom H4n Handy Recorder Regular “Gear” readers know we’re big believers in taking our recorded songs to a professional studio instead of “futzing around” in basement hell. Getting those hit songs past the demo stage can be an easier process using some of today’s ultra-portable handheld recorders.
Around Hear Pg. 2
Poppy, melodic, and, at times, ragged, The Blissters creates modern-day pop rock for the masses on its latest EP. The band has a bit of a new wave sensibility that couples nicely with its garage rock guitars. “Right Of Reason” is an interesting track, but most of its stuff is pretty appealing. The band is […]
Cover Story: Nick Cave
Nick Cave Nothing But A Number “I think that for me,” says the gentleman in fitted brown slacks, Chelsea boots, and a white dress shirt (unbuttoned to the sternum) with red pinstripes, “the older you get you know what you want – you know what you need, the things that you need. I think I’ve […]
Lamb Of God interview
Lamb Of God Grrrs On Film Anthrax? Check. Slayer? Check. Megadeth? Checkaroonie. That’s three of thrash metal’s iconic “Big Four,” and Lamb Of God has traveled with each on separate occasions – three heroes turned tourmates. Appearing: Friday, May 1st at Congress Theatre in Chicago.
Baby Teeth – in half!
Baby Teeth Falling Out Examples of rock bands scattering into solo projects abound. Some of them (cough, cough, Kiss, cough) suggest one look for an alternative approach to the marketplace. Often it foretells a breakup, but in the case of a Chicago outfit like Baby Teeth, it’s like seeing what Captain Keith and Lance are […]
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