Monthly
Interview: Ian Schneller & Andrew Bird
Modern-art museums scare people. Maybe it’s a conservative hatred of the NEA and controversial exhibits, or a preemptive exhaustion for an afternoon to be spent doubting, That‘s art? Getting in the door is the hardest part.
IE Gift Guide 2011
Don’t go the top-40 route or an Amazon recommendation on a passe indie-rock band. Give the music lover who has nothing or everything an item to really chew on this season. It might cost ya, but the following boxsets will occupy them for years.
Hello, My Name Is J
IE: We were intrigued by the local connection to The Office Of Future Plans. J Robbins: [Laughs.] It’s Jeff Dean‘s fault that we’re a band. Dean is hard to say no to. His enthusiasm in this case was relentless.
Around Hear: December 2011
Downers Grove-based Rollo Time, brainchild of singer/songwriter Jon Raleigh, carry on a tradition of smart Chicago power-pop blueprinted by bands like Material Issue and Green. Rollo Time occasionally tosses in more interesting elements of harder-rocking, obscure Brit-pop bands like The Boo Radleys and Thurman on Victims Of The Crown,
Caught In A Mosh: December 2012
Trevor Fisher’s taking the month off, so, in his tradition of picking greatest-hits bits of his column, the IE staff has selected its “Caught In A Mosh” favorites since its 2007 debut. Punctuating the chronology are his top-5 records from each year, which will then be capped by his best-of-’11 next month.
Digital Divide: December 2011
As far as the crack staff here at “The Digital Divide” is concerned, there quite simply is no better time to be alive than this time of year. Not because of all the peace-on-Earth/goodwill-toward-men crap, but because of all the special-edition boxsets. Not gonna lie to ya – the thought of all the new mega-packages […]
File: December 2011
The cover photo on Taylor Swift’s Holiday Collection – lying apparently topless on a futon while clutching a guitar – set a new low for increasingly tossed-off seasonal albums. Seeking to inject some life into winter music, we asked our staff to dig up the best of what’s around.
Gear: December 2011
If you’re somewhat obsessive about backing up your hard drive on your iPad or laptop, but have a problem constantly reconnecting cables while shuttling between work, home, or the recording studio, Seagate may have an answer with its wireless Goflex Satellite, a wi-fi version of its backup hard drive.
Media: December 2011
Q101 may have flipped its format in July, but the music rocks on at www.q101.com. The busy website features streaming music, entertainment, and information aimed at alternative-rock fans.
Studiophile: December 2011
STROBE RECORDING in Chicago is hosting Strobe Sessions #43 a live, in-studio performance on December 15th with appearances by Brokeback and Electric Hawk, an instrumental power trio from Chicago, featuring guitarist Michael Burns, bassist Graham Mclachlan, and drummer Noah Leger.
Sweet Home: December 2011
Texas-born Chicago-based vocalist Sharon Lewis has been a fixture on the blues scene since the ’90s, playing with everybody from Dave Specter to Harmonica Hinds. But her Delmark debut, The Real Deal (Delmark), brings together all that experience in one multi-layered package. Backed by her hard-driving band Texas Fire, Lewis manages to craft a well-rounded, […]
Cover Story: Mastodon
The Skye Is Falling It’s 9:30 p.m. on a Friday. Mastodon drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor is having dinner in his hometown of Atlanta at a joint called The Rusty Nail. With his wife. Illinois Entertainer is interrupting. Obviously.
Interview: Judas Priest
One Last Time Ozzy Osbourne. Kiss. The Ramones. Ministry. And, of course, Cher. It’s not a game of “one of these things is not like the other” (um, Ozzy?), but a list of artists from whom Judas Priest are straining to create some distance. Yes, the November 12th date in Hammond is part of the […]
Interview: Bill Wyman
The One Who Got Away Walking away from what some consider to be the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band might seem like a shocking and perplexing decision. But when speaking with Bill Wyman about his retirement from The Rolling Stones to form The Rhythm Kings, it was simply a matter of personal preference.
Interview: Madina Lake
After The War When one mentions Disneyland, perhaps the most immediate connotation is “The happiest place on Earth” – a location built around innocence and happiness where one can engage in childlike celebration.
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