Monthly
Still Cyco After All These Years?
I try not to be too much of a fanboy in this column, but when I found out Suicidal Tendencies was playing House Of Blues December 10th, I almost cried.
Barack Rocks The (White) House
While watching the celebration unfold in Grant Park last month on television, in which President–elect Barack Obama celebrated his victory with some 240,000 jubilant supporters, I felt as though I was watching another type of history in the making. Racial stereotypes were being shattered left and right as the major networks and cable channels sent […]
Reasons To Be Cheerful, Pt. 1
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 […]
Suite Software & Rockin’ Shirts
VOX JamVOX Vox‘s acclaimed JamVOX practice module and software suite includes recreations of 19 famous guitar amps and 54 classic effects. This lets aspiring guitarists reproduce their six-string heroes’ tones while playing along to the supplied 28 classic rock-song soundtrack, including The Beatles’ “Day Tripper,” Pearl Jam’s “Alive,” and Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.”
Local CD Reviews
“Around Hear” is a monthly feature where a stable of IE writers review albums sent to us by local musicians. If you are interested in having your CD (must have a minimum of three songs) reviewed and are Illinois-based, mail it and any other media materials to 657 A W. Lake St., Chicago IL, 60661. […]
Cover story: Mudvayne
Mudvayne Two Is Better Than One Though Mudvayne’s new album, The New Game, comes out November 18th, it actually could have been in fans’ hands last November 18th. See, a funny thing happened when vocalist Chad Gray, guitarist Greg Tribbett, bassist Ryan Martinie, and drummer Matt McDonough finished recording the album (with producer Dave Fortman) […]
Blitzen Trapper interview
Blitzen Trapper Werewolves Of Portland The Internet has cost musicians the ability to surprise. As soon as they record and upload anything worth hearing, their work goes viral. So by the time there’s an album’s worth of songs, the public has nothing but backlash. Not only have we stripped them of the power to change […]
The Chicago Promoter’s Ordinance
Pay To Play? The Chicago Promoter’s Ordinance In Progress No matter what side of the music industry one comes from (promoter, artist, record label, press, or fan), chances are rumblings of the “Event Promoter’s Ordinance” have trickled into conversation. Ever since pyrotechnics started by hair metal mavens Great White killed 100 at a Rhode Island […]
Tom Lanham’s Panic Attack
Tom Lanham’s Panic Attack By Tom Lanham It was one of those rare, what-the-fuck moments where you stumble upon something so incredibly odd, so completely unexpected and incongruous, that it simply stops you dead in your dumfounded tracks. And it’s a story that simply gets stranger with each retelling.
File: November 2008
Illinois Entertainer Endorses . . . Barack Obama seems the obvious choice, right? He’s not only a political son of our great state, but also a proud Hyde Parker. He’s not 200-years old, doesn’t have a state-trooper-firin’, book-bannin’, moose-shootin’, embarrassingly unqualified VP candidate, and he speaks so well and confidently, we want him to read […]
Hello, My Name Is David
Hello, My Name Is David Q&A With David Grisman IE: Is there still passionate debate about what does and doesn’t constitute bluegrass? David Grisman: I imagine so, in some circles at least.
DVD Zone: November 2008 – Indy Rocks!
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull Paramount When you’re dealing with one of the most successful franchises in film history, it’s awfully hard to resist the lure of “just one more.” Producer George Lucas, director Steven Spielberg, and Indy himself Harrison Ford all gave in to temptation and dug out the whip […]
Local Studio Happenings
Pete Berwick started his new, 18-song album at SKYE BLUE STUDIOS in Villa Park. Berwick is recording his third album with his most recent band, The Renegades (guitarist Rick Devries, bassist Nick Verbik, and drummer Rob Surey), and co-producer Jason Botka. It should be out in early ’09.
Reviewapalooza
Many CDs have been unreviewed during the past few months as I have focused more on the news side of the business. In a slight change of format, I will devote this entire column to playing catch up with pithy reviews of CDs from legends and newcomers alike, covering the gamut of traditional blues to […]
Public Acess Under Siege
AT&T hypes its new U-verse digital TV system as “advanced TV that brings consumers a revolutionary new ent-ertainment experience that’s cooler than cable.” U-verse boasts something like 900 channels (including more than 41 in high definition) and a DVR that can record four shows at once. But activists say it doesn’t give consumers easy access […]
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