Live Reviews
Antony & The Johnsons live!
Antony & The Johnsons Vic Theatre, Chicago Thursday, February 12, 2009 Antony Hegarty learned quickly that levity is a key ingredient to making his concerts enjoyable. While his operatic quiver has the power to decimate an audience — but, hanging on his vibrato, the weight of his compositions is liable to suffocate. He creates an […]
Metallica live!
Metallica Allstate Arena, Rosemont Tuesday, January 27, 2009 Click here to view more Metallica pics! Hours before Metallica completed their two-night Allstate Arena stand, IE contributor Mike Meyer said, “You’re not going to see Metallica – you’re going to see Disney.” He wasn’t being disrespectful, rather trying to underscore the change in a band who […]
The Killers live!
The Killers UIC Pavilion, Chicago Tuesday, January 20, 2009 Is Brandon Flowers a fan of “Lost”? Judging by the set design at The Killers’ sold-out Tuesday night performance at UIC Pavilion, somebody in the Las Vegas-based band’s camp certainly harbors affection for John Locke. Flanked by plastic palm trees wrapped in white twinkle lights, Flowers […]
Labelle live!
Labelle Chicago Theatre, Chicago Saturday, January 10, 2009 With 32 years between studio albums and just as long since last embarking on a full-fledged tour, vocal trio Labelle sure had to make up for lots of lost time. Of course, now that Patti LaBelle (the “B” intentionally capitalized), Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash are in […]
Shinedown live!
Shinedown House Of Blues, Chicago Wednesday, December 17, 2008 Night Two of Q101’s three-night “Twisted XV” holiday cavalcade of bands was a beefy cut of rawk from the station’s playbill.
Oasis live!
Oasis/Ryan Adams & The Cardinals Allstate Arena, Rosemont Friday, December 12, 2008 People assume Oasis’ best days are gone. Mainstream attention (especially in America) has waned considerably, evidenced by a sparsely filled balcony during a single night at Allstate Arena (which the Gallagher brothers sold out consecutive nights during their prime).
Neil Young live!
Neil Young Allstate Arena, Rosemont Tuesday, December 9, 2008 With blistering guitar work that threatened to overshadow his well-crafted songs, Neil Young managed to tear the face off everyone brave enough to make the trek through blizzard-like conditions. Looking downright sprightly with his trusty six-string never out of reach, Young wasted little time during a […]
Fall Out Boy live!
Fall Out Boy Chicago Theatre, Chicago Tuesday, December 2, 2008 About an hour into Fall Out Boy’s performance last Tuesday night at the Chicago Theatre, the unexpected happened. The power pop pride of Wilmette abandoned their reliable setlist staples and instead veered suddenly and unexpectedly into more showy, theatrical territory.
Yes live!
Yes Chicago Theatre, Chicago Wednesday, December 3, 2008 When guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire, and drummer Alan White stepped on the Chicago Theatre’s stage, it was evident this wasn’t going to be the same old Yes show: five years of aging since their last appearance, new keyboardist Oliver Wakeman (longtime ivory tickler Rick’s son), […]
Amanda Palmer live!
Amanda Palmer Metro, Chicago Wednesday, December 3, 2008 As fans found out Wednesday evening at Metro, an Amanda Palmer “solo” show isn’t a solo show at all. Not even close, in fact.
Q-Tip & The Cool Kids live!
Q-Tip, The Cool Kids House Of Blues, Chicago Saturday December 6, 2008 The Cool Kids and Q-Tip are not the most likely acts to tour together. While the Chicago-based duo, consisting of Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish, draw heavily from the golden era of hip-hop of which Q-Tip (of A Tribe Called Quest) was a […]
Staind, Seether, & Papa Roach live!
Staind, Seether, Papa Roach, State Of Shock The Venue/Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, IN Saturday, December 6, 2008 This was IE‘s maiden voyage to The Venue, a new, er, venue inside the newly renovated Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana — just a hop, skip, and jump from downtown Chicago. The casino re-opened this summer after a $500-million […]
Jason Mraz & Lisa Hannigan live!
Jason Mraz, Lisa Hannigan Aragon, Chicago November 22, 2008 Forget about the screaming girls for a minute. Forget about the cheesy predilection for hats. Forget about the gimmicky routines instituted to spur a rapt crowd to simultaneous action and all the other reasons Jason Mraz inspires eye-rolling among those who wouldn’t be caught dead dancing […]
Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, & Thrice live!
Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Thrice Congress Theater, Chicago Thursday, November 20, 2008 Early in their Thursday-night set at Congress, Rise Against performed against a massive backdrop with the word RISE looming prominently. It seemed fitting, as the band has risen from the ranks of suburban sensation to national power punk staple. And while it could […]
Calexico live!
Calexico Metro, Chicago Friday, November 21, 2008 One can always count on Tucson, Arizona-based Calexico to throw a party, but a straightforward rock show? That’s like Dave Matthews crashing a White Stripes gig – strange, but not totally unbelievable.
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