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Live Review and Gallery: U2 at Soldier Field
The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 Soldier Field, Chicago, IL Saturday, June 3, 2017 Reviewed by Jeff Elbel Veteran Irish rockers U2 took a detour from the road to their upcoming Songs of Experience project in order to revisit the âdesert songsâ that put them firmly on the map. The bandâs first night at Soldier Field […]
Photo Gallery: Gov’t Mule at the Pabst Theater
IE’s Ed Spinelli captured the Allman’s Warren Hayes storied side project at the amazing Pabst Theater on a beautiful May evening.
Cover Story: Rise Against
More than any other time in the bandâs 18-year career, the cultural and political climate of 2017 is the perfect environment for Rise Against. Buoyed by singer-songwriter Tim McIlrath, bassist Joe Principe, drummer Brandon Barnes, and guitarist Zach Blair, itâs bittersweet for McIlrath, frontman and guitarist for the socio-political melodic punk act. The bandâs leader […]
Media: June 2017
When WXRT night jock Ryan Arnold says he grew up on WXRT, he doesnât just mean that he listened to the station. His mom Marge Arnold worked there when he was growing up, and he spent a lot of time in the hallways. âI literally grew up in the bowels of WXRT back when it […]
Live Review and Gallery: Neil Diamond at United Center
Neil Diamond United Center, Chicago Sunday, May 28, 2017 It didnât take a virtual âCarpool Karaokeâ ride with James Corden, Jennifer Lopez, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, John Legend and many others clamoring to get next to Neil Diamond at this yearâs Grammy Awards to prove that he was cool again (at least somewhat). For […]
Photo Gallery: Eric Johnson at the Acorn Theater
If Eric Johnson isn’t your favorite guitar player, than odds are he is your “favorite guitar player’s guitar player.” He was especially impressive in the intimate confines of Three Oak’s (MI), Acorn Theater Thursday Night. Johnson’s two-hour set included an extended electric guitar performance, a short acoustic set, and a few tunes his from baby […]
Live Review and Gallery: Midnight Oil at the Vic Theatre
Midnight Oil The Vic Theatre May 18, 2017 The glorious roar and jangle of Midnight Oilâs twin guitars and the bandâs righteous fury have been sorely missed by many fans in Chicago since their last date here in 2002, when the group headlined Taste of Chicago in support of the Capricornia album. The politically-charged […]
Review and Photo Gallery: Hall & Oates/Tears For Fears at Allstate Arena
If you graduated high school in the 80s, loved your radio, and wanted your MTV, Allstate Arena was the place to be on Monday night. Judging by the packed hall, word had gotten around. Two disparate but defining bands from the era joined forces for a satisfying night of music and memories. Tears for Fears […]
Photo Gallery – the xx at the Aragon Ballroom
Buoyed by the success of their new album, The xx brought the I See You tour to a sold-out Aragon Ballroom on a rainy Monday. The band returns later this summer as part of the considerably larger musical festival that will be affiliated with a musical operation called Lollapalooza in Chicagoâs Grant Park. Curt Baran […]
May 2017: Media
When Wally Phillips retired from WGN Radio, the afternoon man Bob Collins replaced him. When Bob Collins died in a plane crash, the afternoon man Spike OâDell replaced him. When Spike OâDell retired, Steve Cochran was doing the afternoon show at WGN. âThey offered me the job, and it was the worst deal offered to […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Rise Against at House Of Vans
It’s been way too long, right?â Thirty minutes into Rise Againstâs Friday night set at House of Vans new location in the West Loop, frontman Tim McIlrath voiced what so many in the crowd were thinking. Rise Againstâs last full length, The Black Market, dropped in 2014, and the band has kept a relatively low […]
Recap and Photo Gallery: John Mayer at United Center
John Mayer essentially wore 3 hats during the course of his show Tuesday at the United Center: pop songster with full band; singer/songwriter solo acoustic, and blues rock guitar aficionado with power trio. His rhythm section for the full band and trio was Steve Jordan on drums and Pino Palladino on bass, was exceptional. In […]
Stage Buzz Review: The Rolling Stones Exhibitionism at Navy Pier
The Rolling Stones Exhibitionism Navy Pier, Chicago Wednesday, April 12, 2017 With exponential amounts of albums, books, photographs, memorabilia and merchandise on the market relating to The Rolling Stones, it seems impossible that anyone could possibly unearth another morsel on what many might call the worldâs greatest rock nâ roll band. But thanks to the […]
Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein at Big Shots
IE’s Ed Spinelli captured Misfits original guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein at Big Shots in Valparaiso, IN
Photo Gallery and Show Review: Radiohead at Sprint Center, Kansas City
If you scanned the parking lots at Kansas Cityâs Sprint Center on Wednesday night, you would have noticed something peculiar about the motionless cars. For each Missouri license plate, there were as many, if not more, vehicles adorned with placards from neighboring States and beyond. It would certainly seem to infer that if Radiohead doesnât […]
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