Monthly
DVD Zone: June 2007
Not Just The Best Of The Larry Sanders Show Sony Pictures Nineteen ninety-two saw a seismic shift in the landscape of late-night television, touched off by the retirement of Johnny Carson. In a futile effort to fill the void, every network tried to throw someone up in the 11:30 time slot. The results, for the […]
Local CD Reviews
Led by ex-Caviar lead guitarist Dave Suh, The Assembly offer bright, powerful pop on their sophomore EP, Paranoia Will Destroy Ya. “Never Even True” is the standout cut, but all four tunes (plus a remix) are first-rate, helping cement the group’s growing reputation (recently validated by their selection as a Q101 “Local 101 Band To […]
Around Hear Page 2
Although technically proficient, Finneus‘ Superstar & The Ballerina may be a bit too testosterone-fueled for some, due in no small part to ’70s/’80s vocal stylings of bassist Dave Bucher. Blues-tinged in some areas and metallic in others, Finneus even incorporates a little ska. Despite this bucket of influences, the end product leaves a rather bland […]
Around Hear Page 3
Taking bits of free jazz, modern classical, and acid rock, Random Touch truly lives up to its moniker. On its CD/DVD combo, Alchemy, the trio takes an experimental, albeit sleepy, instrumental stab at the icy “Abandon,” the choppy “Bound For Escape,” and dreamy “As Above, So Below.” While not incredibly worthwhile in audio contexts, the […]
No Respect
Quickly: Welcome to the first “Caught In A Mosh,” the Illinois Entertainer‘s new monthly heavy music column penned by me, associate editor Trevor Fisher. While you won’t read much about Korn or Godsmack here, I’m not too snobby – underground or mainstream, if worthwhile I’ll talk about it. I never have nor will claim to […]
Riff Raff
TASCAM MP-GT1 Tascam is finally shipping its MP-GT1 Guitar Trainer it introduced with much fanfare at the Winter NAMM Show. The company calls it “the first MP3 player designed for musicians.”
Please Mr. Postman
Small, independently owned publications such as No Depression and Punk Planet could face financial ruin if a proposed rate hike goes through July 15th.
Come Knock On Their Door
Taking a cue from legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, Chicago’s Handwritten Recording allows artists to come in for as little as 30 minutes to lay down tracks. Open since April, the Belmont storefront studio caters to musicians who find the “normal” studio setting intimidating.
Carey Bell: 1936-2007
Blues vocalist and harmonica master Carey Bell died of heart failure on May 6th at Kindred Hospital during a visit to Chicago. He was 70. Bell was one of the last of the classic Chicago blues harp players. Steeped in the traditions of Mississippi and Chicago blues, Bell developed a signature harmonica style characterized by […]
Pics Galore!
Hey look! More galleries! More shows means more pics. Click here to check out our new photo galleries for Heaven And Hell at Allstate Arena, Amy Winehouse at the Vic, and Jet at House Of Blues.
Cover Story: The Police
The Police Red Light, Green Light It is just after 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 12th, and a group of about 150 international entertainment journalists, music-industry insiders, and rock star celebs are ushered into Los Angeles’ famed Whiskey A-Go-Go on Sunset Boulevard. Joining them is a small but fiery group of hardcore fans who won […]
Bebel Gilberto interview
Bebel Gilberto The Parent Trap Bebel Gilberto speaks with the same soft, sensual cadences she uses when she sings — that graceful blend of sun, urbanity, and rhythm that turns the familiar into something exotic and the exotic into something intimate. Given Gilberto’s singing style, this is probably to be expected (or, if you’re male, […]
JJ Grey & Mofro interview
JJ Grey & Mofro Ain’t No Place Like Home When speaking with JJ Grey, you’re not likely to hear this proud Floridian call himself an activist. But since dropping the Blackwater album in 2001 with his band Mofro, this singer-songwriter has stood up for the oft-forgotten residents who dwell in the swampy outskirts of his […]
Megadeth interview
Megadeth Angry Again No Metallica. No Ellefson. No religion. These were the ground rules laid down for the Illinois Entertainer prior to our interview with Megadeth founder/frontman/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Appearing: May 5th at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
Nachtmystium interview
Nachtmystium Cosmic American Black Metal In determined, jagged strikes, the young girl slashed her own skin with a razor blade she had smuggled into the all-ages show. As blood and consciousness escaped her, she collapsed onto a floor of broken glass. Her salvation came not from the band she showed up to worship, but from […]
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