Monthly
Stage Buzz: Live Review and Photo Gallery – James Taylor and His All-Star Band and Jackson Browne ⢠United Center
James Taylor and His All-Star Band, Jackson Browne Thursday, July 29, 2021 United Center, Chicago, IL The third timeâs the charm. Originally scheduled for the summer of 2020, the long-anticipated tour by James Taylor and His All-Star Band featuring Jackson Browneâs opening set was bumped to June of this year by the pandemic. Opening […]
Stage Buzz: Photo Gallery ⢠Sammy Hagar and The Circle ⢠RiverEdge Park
Sammy Hagar and The Circle (featuring Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham and Vic Johnson) July 18, 2021 RiverEdge Park Aurora, IL RiverEdge Park in Aurora hosted Hagar and friends on a near-perfect July summer evening. The set-list was stacked with Van Halen (Sammy era faves naturally), and Hagar’s solo hits. Van Halen’s “Right Now” […]
Photo Gallery: R.E.O. Speedwagon and Head East at RiverEdge Park Aurora
While the pandemic continues to affect indoor attendance to some degree, outdoor events are returning with gusto. Aurora Mayor Richard Ervin kicked off RiverEdge Park’s outdoor concert season last Thursday, welcoming “the pride of Champaign,” R.E.O. Speedwagon to the venue with fellow prairie state alums, Head East as openers. As expected, an evening of massive […]
Hello My Name Is…Billy
Youâve got to hand it to storied Cult guitarist Billy Duffy â he doesnât bury the lede when it comes to late-breaking news stories. Only a minute into a recent phone call to discuss Coloursound â the ephemeral side project he and Alarm vocalist Mike Peters launched, then abandoned with a single album back in […]
Media: July 2021 ⢠“Radio Joan”
Joan Esposito was known to Chicago audiences as a television reporter and anchor after her many years at Channel 5 & 7. Still, when she accepted the job as afternoon host at Progressive Talk WCPT (820 AM), it was not her first job in the medium. âWhen I first got into broadcasting, I got a […]
Photo Gallery: Corey Taylor and Cherry Bombs at The Forge of Joliet
IE’s Ed Spinelli captured Corey Taylor on night two of his three sold-out shows at The Forge. Taylor’s setlist served up primarily solo and Stone Sour material, as well as a stellar acoustic version of Slipknot’s “Snuff,” alone worth the price of admission. Other surprises in his set included deep-cut covers like “Lunatic Fringe” (Red […]
Spins: George Porter Jr. and Runninâ Pardners ⢠Crying for Hope
George Porter Jr. and Runninâ Pardners Crying for Hope (Controlled Substance Sound Labs) Bassist George Porter Jr.is widely recognized as a prime mover of funk and soul music, and an ambassador of New Orleansâ treasured musical heritage since the formation of the Meters in 1965. Crying for Hope is Porterâs first album with his crew of […]
Spins: Colin Hay ⢠Going Somewhere – 20th Anniversary Reissue
Colin Hay Going Somewhere (Compass) The collapse of Men at Work was the end of stadium-level stardom for Colin Hay, but it left an open door. Hay stepped through that door and persevered through hard times to rebuild his brand as a respected guitarist, master storyteller, and unparalleled songsmith. True, Hayâs career as a New […]
Media: June 2021 ⢠“Steve King’s Cult 45”
People in Chicago know Steve King for his four–decade run as a radio DJ and talk show host (WLS, WGN), but before his legendary radio career began, he was doing something else entirely. âI was a full-time musician. That was my career in the early â60s. Even when I first got into radio (1966), If […]
Cover Story: Royal Blood ⢠“No More Dirty Mirrors”
When youâre young, the adages you get handed as advice from your elders might sound cheap and corny â âBe careful what you wish for,â âAdversity often leads to great art,â âWhat doesnât kill you will only make you stronger.â âUh-huh,â most kids always nod begrudgingly, with a âWhateverâ eye roll, âIâll be […]
Hello My Name is Juliana Hatfield
No man is an island, John Donne once wisely noted. Juliana Hatfield would respectfully like to disagree. At 53, the charming Boston folk-rocker is quite happy just kicking back at her Cambridge home with her beloved 11-year-old chocolate lab, Charlie (whoâs actually female, she points out), sans any unwelcome interlopers. And while other […]
File: Peoria’s Way Down Wanderers New Album Announced and Video Single Released
Peoriaâs country-roots stalwarts, The Way Down Wanderers (featured cover story in March 2019 IE), just announced their new album More Like Tomorrow drops on September 10. More Like Tomorrow finds the Peoria, Illinois-based quintet refining their music, pushing new boundaries of roots-based music with their blend of folk, rock, bluegrass, and deep harmonies. Their first single […]
CinemaScopes: May 2021
Sequels, Remakes, and Adaptations As we gear up for a more Post-Vax world, many films previously on hold are finally coming out, and May traditionally is the tentpole month for theaters. One theme we see is the tendency to rely on tried and true formulas to draw people out again – especially when so many […]
Stage Buzz: Livestream Buzz May 17-23
A rare Monday VIP Livestream commences at the “Night of Covenant House Stars,” a virtual gala on Monday, May 17 featuring appearances by Jon Bon Jovi, Charlie Day, Jewel, Audra McDonald, Dolly Parton, Vanessa Williams, Sara Bareilles, Chita Rivera, Dionne Warwick, and more. RSVP to the event here. Phillyâs acclaimed Disco Biscuits added a last-minute hometown […]
Stage Buzz: Livestream Buzz May 5-10
Celebrate the life of the late acclaimed songwriter Adam Schlesinger during the Adam Schlesinger, A Music Celebration, Virtual Show. Performers include Micky Dolenz (Monkees), Sean Ono Lennon, Courtney Love, Jody Porter and the Berlin Waltz, Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional), James Iha, Taylor Hanson, Ben Kweller, Patrick Carney (The Black Keys), Drew Carey, Peter Buck […]
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