Live Reviews
Wolfmother live!
Riviera, Chicago Friday, November 13, 2009 The ’70s-rock revival was in full force Friday night at the Riv as Australian rockers Wolfmother hit the stage in support of their latest release, Cosmic Egg (Interscope). Frontman Andrew Stockdale (who’s 6’2″, or 6’5″ with the afro) led the charge, and though he’s now backed by a new […]
AFI live!
Riviera, Chicago Saturday, November 7, 2009 In September 2007, AFI’s Davey Havok and Jade Puget brought their electro-synth side outfit, Blaqk Audio, to the Double Door for an intimate and electrified show. The performance was a far cry from the far-reaching cries of AFI’s often overdramatic and tortured anthems, borrowing more from the dance-pop side of […]
Don Henley live!
Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont Monday, November 9, 2009 Between the Eagles’ double album Long Road Out Of Eden, two years on the road supporting it, and a solo retrospective with tour in tow, Don Henley’s been especially active as of late. Currently on the road behind his first career-spanning set, The Very Best Of Don Henley, […]
Snoop Dogg, Redman & Method Man live!
Congress, Chicago Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Upon leaving Snoop Dogg’s Wonderland High School Tour show at the Congress, a middle-aged, hippie-looking man approached me a block from the venue and asked me if I was at the concert – the one with “the music from California.” Admittedly, the long-haired guy wasn’t familiar with Snoop’s […]
Lupe Fiasco live!
Congress Theatre, Chicago Thursday, October 29, 2009 Lasers, big lights, a JumboTron screen, and a full band featuring an animated guitarist were all pieces of Lupe Fiasco’s ever-visual Halloween show that drew a near-capacity crowd. While this West Side-raised rhymer has been quiet this year, his epic performance at the Congress reaffirmed his budding star […]
The Gaslight Anthem live!
House Of Blues, Chicago Tuesday, October 27, 2009 It seems like every few months, The Gaslight Anthem is out somewhere in Chicago. Just this past August, the group played a Lollapalooza after-party at Double Door, in addition to the outfit’s set at the festival proper. Before that, it was an April appearance at Double Door, […]
Dead Man’s Bones live!
Schubas, Chicago Wednesday, October 21, 2009 Chalk it up to the season, proximity to an Academy Award-nominated heartthrob, or a gaggle of irrepressible, singing children dressed up in facepaint as ghouls, but Dead Man’s Bones (already carefully treading the line between shtick and valid art form) passes the test . . . at least during […]
David Foster & Friends live!
Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont Wednesday, October 21, 2009 He’s arguably the most successful pop-music producer in history and has worked with every major player since the ’70s. Between Whitney Houston, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Barbara Streisand, Celine Dion, Cher, and Josh Groban, his work has helped sell so many millions of albums it should fall to NASA […]
Two Dethklok/Mastodon reviews!
Mastodon/Dethklok/Converge/High On Fire Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul Friday, October 16, 2009 A curious bill of artists mixing an odd hodgepodge of metal styles, a fictional band brought to life, and a psychedelic astral journey set to prog-metal made for an astounding, exhausting night of music.
Maxwell live!
United Center, Chicago Thursday, October 8, 2009 R&B singers have so many options, it’s at once understandable and frustrating how they get locked into one category and spend a lifetime there. Maxwell, whose Blacksummers’night (Columbia), has some comparing him to Marvin Gaye, used Thursday’s show to push back at the shrinking boundaries.
Kylie Minogue live!
UIC Pavilion, Chicago Wednesday, October 7, 2009 Whoever originally booked Kylie Minogue at the Congress Theatre either had no appreciation for her ability to sell out a week’s worth of arenas in the one city overseas or the fact that she’s an underground club hero in America. Granted, the less-educated side of her U.S. audience […]
Yo La Tengo live!
Vic, Chicago Tuesday, October 6, 2009 As the Hoboken-based indie-rock veterans Yo La Tengo cruised through “Sugarcube” Tuesday night, it was hard not to think of the song’s video and think that this band still haven’t learned to rock properly.
5th Annual Pygmalion Music Fest live!
Various clubs, Champaign-Urbana September 16-19, 2009 Begun in 2005, Pygmalion takes advantage of assets that often remain unrelated: the University Of Illinois’ 40,000 students; two cities — Champaign & Urbana — located within a three-hour radius of Indianapolis, Chicago, and St. Louis; a thriving local music scene; two prominent record labels, Polyvinyl and Parasol; […]
Ellnora Guitar Festival review!
Krannert Center For The Performing Arts, Urbana September 10-12, 2009 For its third biennial guitar festival, Krannert Center For the Performing Arts on the University Of Illinois campus has changed the name. The Festival formerly known as “Wall to Wall” is now called “Ellnora: The Guitar Festival.” With that name change came a subtle focus […]
U2 live!
Soldier Field, Chicago Saturday, September 12, 2009 For the longest time, the mega arena rock show was a tired cliche. The symbol of bloated excess reserved for a rock hierarchy that had not only lost touch with the fans, but seemed to see touring as a cash grab. However, with 1991’s Zoo TV tour, U2 […]
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