Monthly
Best Of Around Hear ’08
Each January, we dedicate part of “Around Hear” to those low-profile local artists who are our favorites from the passing year – the results of our staff and freelancers combing clubs and stacks of CDs for more than the booze and adulation we normally receive. This is by no means an attempt to make a […]
2008: The Way We Saw It
Hooray for heavy metal! Well, technically “heavy music” (that’s what I requested from the below guests when I asked for their Top 5 lists), but nonetheless, below is what myself and some other local characters of varying pedigrees (musicians, critics, media personalities, etc.) thought were the best heavy records of ’08. If you can remember […]
Best Of “Gear” ’08
It has been another year of interesting and exciting new products and gadgets in the world of “Gear.” Here’s our list of 2008’s best. APPLE MacBook Air (Feb) Mac fanatics have been anticipating a sub notebook that would match the specs of mini-notebook laptops from PC makers Sony, Fujitsu, and Toshiba.
CBS Heaves It To Stever
Last month’s firing of radio legend Steve Dahl and his staff was shocking – but not out of character – for CBS Radio. A few weeks earlier, B96’s longtime morning team, Eddie Volkman and Joe “Jobo” Bohannon, were dumped by CBS Radio with eight months left in their contracts – and no chance to say […]
Local Studio Happenings
CARTERCO RECORDING in Chicago is offering a Graveyard Shift special: $20-per-hour recording between midnight and 8 a.m . . . Carterco recently updated its MIDI capabilities with an M-Audio keyboard controller and some virtual instruments and plans on upgrading its Pro Tools rig to 8.0 as soon as it’s released . . . Arctic Fox […]
A Tribute To Chico Banks
The Chicago blues community gathered on Wednesday, December 10th at the West Side’s United Baptist Church to celebrate the life of one of their own. Guitarist/singer-songwriter Vernon “Chico” Banks, aged 46, passed away December 3rd of an apparent infection of a heart valve that was replaced more than a year ago.
Cover Story: Yes
Yes On The Road Again . . . Finally In theory, 2008 was supposed to be a banner year for Yes, with a 40th-anniversary tour (featuring the classic lineup of singer Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White, and new keyboardist Oliver Wakeman assuming his father Rick’s role) booked. Though buzz […]
Flogging Molly interview
Flogging Molly Alchoholics Unanimous How does a songwriter know when a track he’s tinkering with has grown into a well-oiled, crowd-pleasing hit? If you live in the remote wilds of Ireland, like Flogging Molly frontman Dave King, the answer’s easy — just grab your guitar, saunter down to your local pub, get oiled on a […]
Everest interview
Everest Neil Before Them Neil Young’s seal of approval surely must bring a few perks . . . like a tour bus. Not so much for Everest. The Los Angeles-based band calls Young’s Vapor Records home, but the quartet will squeeze into a white van to criss-cross the country along with Young on his winter […]
Mike Mangione interview
Mike Mangione Simply Put In a time when AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, and Metallica are rearing their salt ‘n’ pepper head, and their progeny fill the airwaves, singer-songwriters like Mike Man-gione, whose music is deep in the roots, are becoming endangered species. Appearing: Wednesday, December 3rd at Double Door in Chicago.
Gift madness!
The 2008 Holiday Gift Guide Helping You Navigate An Avalanche Of Releases Don’t just give it to ’em hard this holiday season; give it to ’em hard and heavy! We all know those terrible (great) Time Life infomercials where they hawk ’80s hard-rockin’ collections or “monster” power ballads, right? Well now you can get the […]
Hello, My Name Is Noel
Hello, My Name Is Noel Q&A With Noel Gallagher of Oasis IE: On the Dig Out Your Soul bonus-disc track “Lord Don’t Slow Me Down,” you sing “I’ve got a habit that the cat won’t lick.” Noel Gallagher: Heh-heh. Yeah, yeah. If you’ve got a habit and you can’t lick it, it’s pretty bad if […]
File: December 2008
The Burnt Bush Fifty more days of Bush — exhale. The world has expressed its relief that one of the most tumultuous American administrations punches out in January. We, too, will close a door, this on the most disheartening protest-music era pop music has ever seen. Ever. Where’s our “For What It’s Worth”? Our “Ohio”? […]
DVD Zone: December 2008
DVD Zone The 2008 Holiday DVD Gift Guide So the economy’s in the tank. Big deal. That shouldn’t keep you from treating those you hold near and dear to some great DVD sets this holiday season. Besides, you’d just spend the money foolishly on stuff like the mortgage, rent, food, or whatever. C’mon, anybody can […]
Lucky Number 53
It’s an awfully cliché way to start an article, but the third time truly was a charm for Jim Johnson, owner of Planet10studios in Palatine. Planet10 is what used to be Studio 53, an iconic Chicagoland recording studio home to iconic Chicagoland recorders like Bob Blum, Don Griffin, and the late Jerry Soto. It was […]
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