Live Reviews
Taste More Chaos
click here to return to page 1 of this review Metalcore act Atreyu left an impression due more to more memorable songs and a mix of melody and range in frontman Alex Varkatzas’ assault. Familiar material like “Right Side Of The Bed†were highlights, and new material like “Ex’s And Oh’s†suggested Atreyu look to […]
SXSW Report
South By Southwest Austin, Texas March 16 – March 19 2006 And now for the exciting conclusion! While Trevor’s hindquarters were battling Bill Miller’s barbeque, I set out on a non-drinking, bar-hopping mission to uncover the fun behind South By Southwest that had mildly eluded us our 36 hours in the bush. Besides, I wasn’t […]
Living Things reviewed
Living Things Schubas, Chicago Wednesday, March 1, 2006 Anyone else think Schubas was a weird place for Living Things to play? Judging by the sparse turnout — roughly half the club’s 200-or-so capacity — few people even thought about coming to the show, let alone the awkward band/venue match up.
Early Man, The Sword reviewed
Early Man, The Sword Empty Bottle, Chicago Saturday, March 4, 2006 Two of the most hyped bands in metal rolled into town on one bill and attempted to answer one question: Can we depend on the likes of Spin and MTV for the next big thing(s) in metal?
Cristina Branco reviewed
Cristina Branco Old Town School Of Folk Music, Chicago Saturday, March 4, 2006 There probably aren’t too many correlations you can draw between basketball and the Portuguese music style called fado, but on Saturday there was one.
Common? Hardly.
Common House of Blues, Chicago Tuesday, February 28, 2006 By now it’s no secret Common defies rap and hip-hop stereotypes. All one had to do was catch the latest stretch of his Be tour to realize the mic master doesn’t just have a leg up on the competition, but he’s entirely in a league of […]
BB King Review
B.B. King House Of Blues, Chicago Thursday, February 16, 2006 In what just might be his farewell tour, B.B. King exuded nothing but class on Thursday at House Of Blues, never bowing to the indignities of self-congratulation or hinting the blues are anything but alive.
Jeffersons Reviewed
Jefferson Starship & The Jefferson Airplane Family Galactic Reunion House Of Blues, Chicago Tuesday, February 21, 2006 The latest billing of the Jefferson Starship brand name has so much additional information that it couldn’t all fit on the ticket. But then again it’s only natural for this lengthy lineup to bill tours extremely specifically, given […]
Bob Mould Review
Bob Mould Old Town School Of Folk Music, Chicago Friday, February 17, 2006 Whether fronting the seminal Hüsker Dü, working solo, or with his second band Sugar, the constant hallmark of Bob Mould has always been the quality of his songwriting. Very few people can write such natural hooks as Mould, and there’s no better […]
Matt Pond/Dios (Malos) Review
Matt Pond PA, Dios (Malos) Double Door, Chicago Monday, February 20, 2006 I couldn’t believe it and neither could Matt Pond. What were all those people doing at the Double Door on a Monday, for a band that have never headlined a Chicago venue larger than the old Fireside?
Supergrass review
Supergrass, Pilotdrift Vic Theatre, Chicago Tuesday, February 14, 2006 Growing up comes at varying intervals depending on the band, but in the case of Supergrass, it has hit a maturation stride with 2005’s Road To Rouen. That’s not to say the group’s previous projects didn’t have elements of evolution or seasoned songwriting, but nowadays the […]
High On Fire review
High On Fire Double Door, Chicago Saturday, February 11, 2006 It was fitting High On Fire vocalist/guitarist Matt Pike opened his band’s set by informing the tightly packed crowd, “We’re just going straight through, so don’t expect a lot of motivational speech.” After all, the trio (rounded out by drummer Des Kensel and bassist Joe […]
BRMC review
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Metro, Chicago Wednesday, February 8, 2006 Not sure which was the more unlikely smokefree scenario: Metro or Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Two clubs in Chicago in these hardened times, sacrifices are difficult but required of us all. Both were better for it, however, and if the maturity cliché ever needed to […]
Fort Minor Review
Fort Minor House Of Blues, Chicago Sunday, January 29, 2006 Mike Shinoda has something to prove with his hip-hop side project Fort Minor. True, his regular role in Linkin Park has roots in hip-hop, but when coupled with the screaming chops of Chester Bennington, the band comes off as more rock-based. It’s no secret Shinoda […]
Anthrax live
Anthrax House Of Blues, Chicago Friday, January 13, 2006 Of the Big Four bands that ruled metal in the ’80s and into the early ’90s, Anthrax were always the easiest to forget. The band didn’t have the songwriting of Metallica, the evil of Slayer, or the chops of Megadeth. They’re kind of like the Almond […]
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