Live Reviews
Sounds Of The Underground review
Sounds Of The Underground First Midwest Parking Lot, Tinley Park Sunday, July 9, 2006 Highlighted by stunning back-to-back sets by In Flames and Trivium, the sophomore year of Sounds Of The Underground tour bids fair to be one of the best of this summer’s many multi-band concerts. Last year’s version was thin on metal, heavy […]
AFI Live
AFI Vic Theatre, Chicago Friday, July 7, 2006 When it comes to the notion of selling out, it’s a tired argument. More often than not, there’s no clear winner. In the case of AFI, however, it can be assumed the group are done performing for the niche crowd they once drew. It’s a fair bet […]
Refugee All Stars Of Sierra Leone, Kekele Live!
Refugee All Stars Of Sierra Leone, Kekele Welles Park, Chicago Sunday, July 9, 2006 With contemporary images of reggae closely associated with weed and hazy mind states, it’s easy to forget the genre started as revolutionary music. That point was vividly brought to life when the Refugee All Stars Of Sierra Leone took the stage […]
Maxi Priest reviewed
Maxi Priest, Baby Cham, Calypso Rose Washington Park, Chicago Sunday, July 2, 2006 Always a good barometer of what’s hot and what’s not in the Caribbean community, the 15th annual African Caribbean Festival Of Life served up an interesting array of classic icons, crossover masters, and hardcore artists. Each proved their relevance and popularity with […]
Intonation Festival
Intonation Music Festival Union Park, Chicago Saturday, June 24, 2006 Sunday, June 25, 2006 The second annual Intonation Music Festival in Union Square was a successful mashup of old and new, rockism and hip-hop. While not as well-attended as a roster of this caliber might deliver individually, the anything-goes format catered to the strengths (and […]
Slayer Live
Slayer, Lamb Of God, Mastodon, Children Of Bodom Aragon, Chicago Tuesday, June 20, 2006 There’s an episode of “Seinfeld” where George Costanza, while talking to his date, suggests toilet paper hasn’t changed in his lifetime and never will. In fact, he claims, everything has and will change, but not TP. His bubble is later burst, […]
Intonation 2
Page: [1] For the rest: The Good: Chromeo’s early set didn’t seem opportune for a retro funk, tongue-in-cheek humpbot duo, but their drunk-in-the-afternoon attitude had a lot to do with propelling Intonation’s early sets in the right direction . . . Though Mike Skinner seemed more interested in playing stand-up comedian, The Streets’ closing slot […]
Radiohead live!
Radiohead Auditorium Theatre, Chicago Monday, June 19, 2006 It’s all too appropriate that one of their songs (“Like Spinning Platesâ€) would prove to be the perfect metaphor for Radiohead.
Ringo Starr Live
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont Saturday, June 17, 2006 Chances are if Ringo Starr wasn’t a Beatle, he wouldn’t have come as far as he has today. Sure he has a flavorful personality, drums a consistent beat, and crafts relatively catchy tunes, but when compared to the outpourings of other former […]
Band Of Horses & Mt. Egypt Live!
Band Of Horses, Mt. Egypt Schubas, Chicago Tuesday, June 6, 2006 The only bad thing people have had to say about Sub Pop upstarts Band Of Horses is how much they sound like My Morning Jacket. It has less to do with country-ish pop bearing a shake of psychedelia, than vocalist Ben Bridwell. Holding back […]
The New Cars & Blondie Live!
The New Cars, Blondie Ravinia, Highland Park Saturday, June 3, 2006 Either the glam-leaning power pop of the ’80s is coming back in full swing or the groups who led the genre the first time around are tired of hearing their ideas borrowed and are coming back to reclaim their thrones. After all, everyone from […]
INXS, Scott Stapp live
INXS, Scott Stapp Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont Tuesday, May 23, 2006 While the rest of the country was busy picking the next “American Idol” the Tuesday before last, a former rock idol and a new “rock star” stormed the sold-out Rosemont Theatre. But this wasn’t just another ’80s rock sensation attempting to revive their career with […]
Mogwai live!
Mogwai First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN Saturday, May 20, 2006 Having made a name for themselves with their notoriously loud live shows, it was probably inevitable Mogwai would finally dial it back a notch. Though the ferocity and apocalyptic ambience are ever present, they’ve moderated the harrowing volume and piercing electronic screeches to more comfortable levels.
Alice In Chains Live!
Alice In Chains Metro, Chicago Sunday, May 21, 2006 How to get around the Layne Staley comparisons when summing up William Duvall’s Chicago debut as Alice In Chains’ singer? It’s nearly impossible to stay away from the ridiculous argument, or steer clear of an “Are frontmen replaceable in general?” thesis. Duvall is no Staley. But […]
Islands Live!
Islands Metro, Chicago Thursday, May 17, 2006 The primary thing Islands have working against them is their past — O.K., a second is their sense of how to close a show, but we’ll get to that later. Being remnants of The Unicorns, an inventive but incoherent early-millennium indie rock act, invites skepticism and likely will […]
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