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Hello My Name Is ⌠Jim Kerr of Simple Minds + Photo Gallery ⢠Friday, June 20: Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island ⢠Chicago
Although Scottish art-rockers Simple Minds enjoyed massive support in Europe and elsewhere, mainstream success in the United States remained elusive through the early â80s. The band had gained a modest foothold with college radio airplay for songs like the shimmering âPromised You a Miracleâ from 1982âs New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) and the anthemic homage to […]
Photo Gallery: Betty Who at The Vic Theatre ⢠Chicago
Betty Who Vic Theatre Chicago, IL June 13th, 2025 Recap and photos by Curt Baran There was a hesitancy in the air that felt almost palpable. Betty Who was back in town, AND she was performing during Pride Month, so the mood inside Chicagoâs Vic Theatre should have been ebullient. As a staunch, longtime supporter […]
Photo Gallery: Pierce The Veil with Sleeping With Sirens at Credit Union One Amphitheatre
Pierce The Veil with Sleeping with Sirens Credit Union One Amphitheatrep Tinley Park, IL June 7th, 2025 Recap and photos by Curt Baran The outdoor concert season got off to a rousing start in the southern suburbs on Saturday night. Pierce The Veil, the San Diego-based Emo rockers, took the stage and were greeted to […]
Cover Story: The Feelies ⢠Be Kind, Rewind
 The Feelies (photo by Doug Seymour)     When most rock bands release a new album, itâs usually the hard-won result of weeks, months, sometimes even years of careful consideration and execution. But New Jersey quintet The Feelies recently stumbled on a new, more reckless method of adding a new volume to its […]
Media: June 2025 ⢠Swany Leaves 101.9FM The Mix
WTMX (The Mix) recently announced that midday personality Lisa Allen was leaving the station. The announcement added âalong with three other staffers.â When I read that, I had a bad feeling, so I called my old friend John âSwanyâ Swanson, my co-author of The Radio Producerâs Handbook, and asked him if he was one of […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: AC/DC with The Pretty Reckless at Soldier Field ⢠Chicago
AC/DC with The Pretty Reckless Soldier Field Chicago, IL May 24, 2025 Live Review by Justice Petersen, Photo Gallery by Edward Spinelli Rock legends AC/DC made their return to Chicagoâs Soldier Field Saturday, proving that they can still deliver their signature concoction of gritty yet anthemic rock ânâ roll with high energy after nearly 50 […]
Photo Gallery: Larkin Poe at The Vic Theatre ⢠Chicago
Larkin Poe The Vic Theatre May 17th, 2025 Chicago, IL Recap and photos by Curt Baran If youâre a musician with hereditary links to the dark poet Edgar Allen Poe, it would be safe to assume your music would have gothic leanings. Well, the music the Lovell sisters create certainly has DNA lineage, but itâs […]
Photo Gallery: Amyl and the Sniffers in Chicago
Amyl and the Sniffers The Salt Shed Chicago, IL May 8, 2025 Recap and photos by Curt Baran âIf someone gets knocked down, you pick them back up! We look out for each other!â Amy Taylor usually exclaims these words before every Amyl & The Sniffers show. It has come to represent a sort of […]
Photo Gallery: Japanese Breakfast
Japanese Breakfast The Salt Shed Chicago, IL April 30, 2025 Recap and photos by Curt Baran While not exactly the equivalent of securing an EGOT, at the very least, Michelle Zauner has established herself as a multi-hyphenate. Singer-songwriter-best-selling author is now her title to claim. Her book Crying In H Mart, a devastatingly emotional account […]
Rock of Pages: The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville ⢠by John J. Thompson
The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville By John J. Thompson (Gyroscope) Review by Jeff Elbel Like a few of the central characters in this book, singer-songwriter John J. Thompson of alt-country/gospel band the Wayside may seem a bit tardy in offering his best gifts to the world. Heâs an experienced storyteller and […]
Media: May 2025 ⢠Triton College Radio Celebrates 50 Years
50 years ago, college radio was thriving. Every major college or university had a college radio station, and most universities had a radio/TV department. Those college radio stations were the breeding ground for the hugely popular radio industry, spawning radio stars, up-and-coming musical artists, and a whole generation of hitmakers. Sadly, across the country, college […]
Cover Story: May 2025 ⢠Crimson Glory Co-Headlines Reggiesâ Storied Legions of Metal Festival 2025
The Chicago metal festival tradition continues with the seventh annual Legions of Metal Festival triumphantly returning to hallowed ground at Reggies on Friday, May 2nd, and Saturday, May 3rd. Friday nightâs headliners are Portland, Oregonâs speed/thrash wrecking machine, Toxic Holocaust, preceded by Bostonâs symphonic power metal darlings, Seven Spires, as the co-headliners. Saturday nightâs lineup […]
Photo Gallery: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at The Salt Shed ⢠Chicago
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds The Salt Shed Chicago, IL April 28, 2025 Recap and Photos by Curt Baran Seeing Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds always feels ritualistic. Not unlike attending a church service albeit a baptism with music instead of holy water. But Cave has no script, no good book to follow […]
Photo Gallery: The Linda Lindas at Metro ⢠Chicago
The Linda Lindas April 13, 2025 Metro Chicago Recap and photos by Curt Baran The web and social media have become a quasi-American Idol lottery. It has created a portal for musicians to get their music exposed, but the traffic and sheer volume of products make it nearly impossible to break through. In 2021, The Linda Lindas, […]
Photo Gallery: Ani DiFranco at Thalia Hall ⢠Chicago
Ani DiFranco Friday, April 11, 2025 Thalia Hall Chicago Recap and photos by Curt Baran âIn a coffee shop in a city/Which is every coffee shop in every city/On a day which is every day.â It could be argued that these lyrics are quintessential Ani Difranco. They certainly speak to her earliest days of busking […]
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