Live Reviews
Neil Diamond live!
Neil Diamond United Center, Chicago Saturday, July 26, 2008 There are two distinct sides to Neil Diamond’s musical personality — the legitimate singer-songwriter or the ham-fisted Vegas crooner — and usually his latest album hints at what vibe will be predominant on tour. Thankfully 2008’s Home Before Dark leans in the much more astute direction […]
Pitchfork Music Fest roundup!
Pitchfork Music Festival Union Park, Chicago July 18 to 20, 2008 / 7.5 It took nearly 24 hours of festival, but Pitchfork 2008 finally had its Dan Deacon moment after the “last band” took the stage. To put it in perspective, crowd safety was never threatened the way it was when fences were toppled during […]
John Mellencamp live!
John Mellencamp Charter One Pavilion, Chicago Tuesday, July 22, 2008 Often, all it takes is a little alone time to work out the kinks in an unruly or crabby attitude. Time-outs work wonders for children, then why not for Indiana-native John Mellencamp? Far from throwing any tantrums on a brisk Tuesday night at the Charter […]
The Crue And Friends Live!
Cruefest First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Tinley Park Wednesday, July 16, 2008 Metalheads young and old united last Wednesday for Cruefest, so named for headliner Motley Crue. With a bill running the gamut of metal sub-genres –Trapt, Sixx: A.M., Papa Roach, Buckcherry, and Crue — the crowd was a Mulligan Stew of characters, from 35-year-old yuppies […]
Red Red Meat reunite!
Red Red Meat Hideout, Chicago Thursday, July 10, 2008 The grin on Red Red Meat frontman Tim Rutili’s face was eerily similar to the one on Steve Albini’s puss two years earlier. Then, during Big Black’s three-song reunion, Albini cracked: “I know what you’re thinking: ‘What’s the big deal?’” During the Meat’s, Rutili was more […]
Yaz returns!
Yaz Chicago Theatre, Chicago Monday, July 14, 2008 The entire short-lived career of Yaz (known as Yazoo overseas) could be summed up in the final 15 minutes of its “Reconnected” tour: the dance floor packer “Don’t Go,” the haunting ballad “Only You,” and the club anthem “Situation.” But somehow the synth-pop duo of frontwoman Alison […]
Gregory Isaacs live!
Gregory Isaacs African Caribbean Festival Of Life, Washington Park Saturday, July 5, 2008 The Cool Ruler lives. In a characteristically laid-back performance, Gregory Isaacs, one of reggae’s most singular and prolific artists, proved that 40 years of pumping out hits has not made him obsolete, but essential to the genre’s contemporary canon.
Joan Jett And The Blackhearts live!
Joan Jett And The Blackhearts Rib-Fest, Naperville Saturday, July 5, 2008 At nearly 50, Joan Jett can be considered a rock ‘n’ roll cougar. Taking the stage at Naperville’s Rib-Fest Saturday night, the gum-chewing, leather-clad rocker cranked out a P.G. show that touched on all the old standbys. Slipping in a few new songs and […]
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers live!
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers United Center, Chicago Wednesday, July 2, 2008 There’s nothing like getting a jumpstart on Independence Day weekend with a surefire set from one of rock’s quintessential American bands. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers parlayed a juggernaut Super Bowl halftime show into a sold-out crowd at the United Center last Wednesday. […]
Liz Phair live!
Liz Phair Vic Theatre, Chicago Tuesday, June 24, 2008 An unintentionally ironic sign greeted Liz Phair fans Tuesday night. Anyone approaching from the north was reminded why they were clamoring to hear her first album performed in its entirety: “LIZ PHAIR — SOLD OUT.”
Dilated Peoples live!
Dilated Peoples, Aceyalone Double Door, Chicago Friday, June 20, 2008 Hip-hop shows have become a rarity at the Double Door, which is why it was a welcome surprise to see Los Angeles’ Dilated Peoples play the compact venue on the first night of summer. Of course, in 15 years this hip-hop trio – comprising Rakaa […]
Mavis Staples live!
Mavis Staples Hideout, Chicago Monday, June 23, 2008 In explaining why she decided to record her forthcoming live album at Hideout Monday night, Mavis Staples cited its closeness to home, even joking of starting a Wednesday-night residency. But her second reason was much more telling: “Keep up these positive vibrations for at least the next […]
Richard Marx live!
Richard Marx, Matt Scannell Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire Monday, June 23, 2008 “You have to make sure a hometown show is great because chances are you’ll run into some people who were there at Starbucks the next morning,” joked Richard Marx during an unplugged storytellers set just a few miles from his North Shore residence.
Dawn Landes live!
Dawn Landes Hideout, Chicago Thursday, June 19, 2008 Dawn Landes’ music and performance were so lacking in artifice Thursday night, she had to invent some by having her backing band wear sequined accessories.
Rush live!
Rush United Center, Chicago Monday, June 9, 2008 Click picture to view the gallery. Thousands of gray-haired metalheads and middle-aged rockers (some with their kids en tow) descended upon the United Center Monday night to catch Rush. Now in their fourth decade, the question was whether the Canadian trio still had anything left in them. […]
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