Live Reviews
Puscifer live!
Vic, Chicago Saturday, March 27, 2010 In some ways, Puscifer’s Saturday-night set — if not the band’s entire approach and aesthetic — shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise. After all, frontman Maynard James Keenan is no stranger to elaborate stage props and jarring costumes.
Loyal Divide & A Lull at SXSW!
Tap Room, Austin, TX Friday, March 19, 2010 The motto around South By Southwest might be “Keep Austin weird,” but a Friday-afternoon set from Chicago’s Loyal Divide took things one step further in making Austin creepy, courtesy of the band’s white-lined black body suits and face-obscuring emoticon masks.
Hey Champ at SXSW!
Vice, Austin, TX Thursday, March 18th, 2010 It was around midnight last night when Hey Champ took the stage at dance club/rock venue Vice, which, while hardly late by SXSW standards, was still almost an hour-and-a-half after than the band’s initially set start time. Yet the room didn’t seem to mind too much, as the […]
Kid Sister at SXSW!
Beauty Bar, Austin, TX Wednesday, March 17, 2010 Chicago came at Austin hard on Wednesday afternoon, with a hyper-kinetic set from Kid Sister at the glam-dive Beauty Bar.
Megadeth live!
Murat Theatre, Indianapolis Thursday, March 11, 2010 “We know why we’re here, so let’s stop fucking around.” With that Dave Mustaine declaration, Megadeth launched into “Holy Wars . . . The Punishment Due” and Tom Araya was immediately forgiven for the American Carnage tour.
Ray Davies live!
Riviera, Chicago Saturday, March 13, 2010 A show that could have been billed AcoustiKinks ambled along smoothly if unexceptionally on Saturday night, until Ray Davies remembered from whence he came.
Empires live!
JBTV Studios, Chicago Tuesday, March 9, 2010 When treated as concerts, televised band performances can be a mixed bag. It would be all too easy for artists to treat such a venture as little more than a promotional exercise, one that doesn’t “count” and ends up more phoned-in than anything. Which is what made last […]
John Butler Trio live!
Lincoln Hall, Chicago Monday, February 15, 2010 Those concerned by the inherent radio friendliness of “One Way Road” – the first single from the John Butler Trio’s forthcoming album, April Uprising — can breathe easy. Using Monday night’s sold-out show at Lincoln Hall as a gauge, the songs populating the band’s fifth studio release retain […]
Mariah Carey live!
Chicago Theatre, Chicago Saturday, February 13, 2010 As someone who’s accustomed to playing arenas, seeing Mariah Carey in a theater setting could either be interpreted as a rare, intimate treat for die-hards or an indication that she can’t quite sell as many tickets anymore. Sure, two sold-out nights at the Chicago Theatre aren’t anything to […]
La Roux live!
Lincoln Hall, Chicago Monday, February 1, 2010 You could be excused for thinking there might be some sense of, if not outrage, mild resentment following the completion of La Roux’s set Monday night at Lincoln Hall. The event served as the make-up date for a previously canceled concert in October and, judging by the obviously […]
Lady Gaga live!
Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont Friday, January 8, 2010 It was a good indication of the energy inside the Rosemont Theatre Friday night, when a pre-show video PSA, featuring Lady Gaga speaking out about the trials of abused and homeless gay and lesbian teens, was met with frenzied cheers from a barely teenage crowd oblivious to the […]
John Legend live!
The Venue, Hammond, IN Wednesday, December 30, 2009 In just five years, John Legend’s ascended from an underground neo-soul sensation to a full-fledged R&B star with a steadily expanding stable of introspective piano ballads and club romps. On a touring level, he has no trouble selling out sizeable theaters, which in the case of the […]
Rise Against live!
Metro, Chicago Friday, December 18, 2009 It’s weird to think about now, but there was a time before Rise Against was one of Chicago’s biggest rock acts. Once upon a time, the group plied their trade for indie label Fat Wreck Chords, and overturned venues like Knights Of Columbus in Arlington Heights. The band’s early […]
Metric live!
Cubby Bear, Chicago Thursday, December 17, 2009 It was about 12:15 a.m. when Canadian alt-rockers Metric took the Cubby Bear stage as part of the “Q101 Twisted After-Show” — much to the surprise of a sold-out crowd that had been told 9 p.m.
Cool Kids, Bun B live!
Reggie’s, Chicago Thursday, December 10, 2009 In their rise to indie-rap fame, part of The Cool Kids’ image has been about a certain swagger, topped with an air of nonchalance. But live, especially at this capacity Reggie’s show, Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks were actually having fun.
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