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Recap and Gallery: Frank Turner at HOB Chicago
How fortuitous that Frank Turner’s 2017 tour would kick off just as this country faces the aftermath of one of the most contentious elections in our nation’s history. The English folk-punker’s musings have always leaned toward the political, so it seemed all to apropos that he’s still out supporting his most current release Positive Songs […]
Photo Gallery: Alkaline Trio at Metro
With Matt Skiba moonlighting as an official member of Blink-182, for a minute there Chicago thought we had almost lost Alkaline Trio. With 3 sold-out shows at Metro, Skiba and crew proved that there’s still no place like home. Katie Hovland captured them live for IE on night 3.
Q&A and Gallery: Tedeschi Trucks Band
Florida’s legendary Tedeschi Trucks Band, led by married blues guitar greats Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, are in the midst of a 3-night run at the Chicago Theater. IE’s Ed Spinelli talked to Derek as he readied his all-star band for their stay on State Street. IE: How was your approach on (the new album) […]
Photo Gallery: The Tubes at Tailgaters
Like many IE readers the first time I ever saw Fee Waybill, he was dressed as a carnival barker in an early MTV video. The Tubes took the stage at Tailgaters with Waybill dressed in a black Zoot Suit, black hat, and white tie belting out the words to Chuck Berry’s “Never Can Tell.” Through […]
Sweet Home: Ronnie Baker Brooks
Don’t call it a comeback. Although it’s been an entire decade since Ronnie Baker Brooks has released an album, his presence in the blues industry during that time has been ubiquitous. “I produced Eddy Clearwater’s album, West Side Strut, I did a compilation with Johnny Castro, I co-produced my dad’s last album and I’ve been […]
Stage Buzz: U.D.O. at Concord Hall
Former Accept and current U.D.O. vocalist Udo Dirkschneider is saying farewell to his former band’s material with his Dirkschneider band’s live album, LIVE — Back To The Roots Tour. The album features 25 classic Accept tracks performed by his U.D.O. band in their native Deutschland on April 2nd, 2016. The live album and current Farewell […]
Feature: Bash & Pop
Say what you will about the record industry death harbinger known as Chinese Democracy — The New York Times once called it “the most expensive album never made” — the 2008 GN’R album without Slash and Duff that has somehow maintained its footing in the fickle populist rock vocabulary. Who would have guessed that Slash […]
Media: January 2017
2016 was a rough year. We lost some of our favorite musical and pop culture icons. But we also lost some beloved members and former members of Chicago’s media community. I had the opportunity to interview a few of them, and for those I never met, I reached out to some of their former […]
Photo Gallery: Metallica at the Fox Theater
IE’s Gene Ambo couldn’t wait for Metallica to announce their anticipated Chicago 2017 tour date(s), so he went to them – capturing James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujilio at the legendary Fox Theatre in Oakland, California. On the heels of 2016’s biggest rock record – Hardwired…To Self Destruct, the boys from the […]
Photo Gallery – 5 Nights with Los Lobos
L.A.’s legendary Los Lobos has been an IE favorite since their days on Slash Records. Our SoCal soaked Tex Mex heroes spent 5 nights in Chicago commencing with City Winery and finishing up at SPACE in Evanston. Ed Spinelli captured the future HOF’ers.
Photo Gallery – Roger Hodgson at Arcada Theatre
IE’s Ed Spinelli captured Supertramp co-founder and classic rock radio staple, Hogdson at the historic Arcada Theater.
Live Review and Gallery – Steve Nicks and The Pretenders
Stevie Nicks/ The Pretenders United Center, Chicago Saturday, December 3, 2016 By the dates on their birth certificates, Stevie Nicks and Chrissie Hynde could easily qualify for retirement, but rather than tossing in the towel or being satisfied with repeated trips down memory lane, both the longtime Fleetwood Mac member and The Pretenders’ fearless leader […]
Photo Gallery: Jim James at The Vic Theatre
Jim James played the Vic on Saturday to a generous Chicago crowd. The My Morning Jacket front man graciously returned the favor by offering a few surprise tracks including The Velvet Underground’s “I’m Set Free” and a nice tribute to the late Leonard Cohen performing “Suzanne.” – Photos via Ed Spinelli
Photo Gallery: Bruce Springsteen Book Signing
Bruce Springsteen made a rare Chicago appearance Monday, but it was not for another sold-out show where 20,000+ fans left the United Center exhausted after a four hour rock celebration. Making an appearance at a Books A Million, a relatively small number of Bruce fans got a chance to share a moment and grab a […]
Cover Story: The Pretty Reckless
Batman had his recessed Batcave. Superman had his Arctic Fortress of Solitude. And rocker/actress/artist Taylor Momsen has her own off-the-map hideout, an idyllic place in an unspecified part of New England where she regularly goes to collect her thoughts, create new paintings and sculptures, and generally recharges her creative batteries. And going off the […]
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