Weekly
Tomorrow Never Knows festival preview
Schubas/Lincoln Hall, Chicago January 13 – 17, 2010 Schubas’ annual January to-do in Lakeview has expanded to 40 bands with the inclusion of Lincoln Hall. Strangely, the two rooms aren’t much further apart than the two most distant stages at Lollapalooza.
Jookabox preview
Empty Bottle, Chicago Sunday, January 17, 2010 Nearly everything written about Jookabox (formerly Grampall Jookabox) more than touches on Indianapolis. It’s customary to acknowledge a band or artist’s origins, but in this context it illuminates the music.
John Legend live!
The Venue, Hammond, IN Wednesday, December 30, 2009 In just five years, John Legend’s ascended from an underground neo-soul sensation to a full-fledged R&B star with a steadily expanding stable of introspective piano ballads and club romps. On a touring level, he has no trouble selling out sizeable theaters, which in the case of the […]
Treaty Of Paris preview
Metro, Chicago Saturday, January 9, 2010 Well it’s good to have Treaty Of Paris back home and safe. Last we knew, the Chicago band had been abducted by a pack of fuzzy Flaming Lips companions and forced to play in forests.
Anvil preview
House Of Blues, Chicago Sunday, January 10, 2010 Anvil are fit for the age of Facebook — an old classmate appears before your eyes just the same as they were before (if swelled), giving you a chance to rehash the good times. But the existential crisis is this: Once someone rotates out of your life, […]
Rise Against live!
Metro, Chicago Friday, December 18, 2009 It’s weird to think about now, but there was a time before Rise Against was one of Chicago’s biggest rock acts. Once upon a time, the group plied their trade for indie label Fat Wreck Chords, and overturned venues like Knights Of Columbus in Arlington Heights. The band’s early […]
Metric live!
Cubby Bear, Chicago Thursday, December 17, 2009 It was about 12:15 a.m. when Canadian alt-rockers Metric took the Cubby Bear stage as part of the “Q101 Twisted After-Show” — much to the surprise of a sold-out crowd that had been told 9 p.m.
Mulatu Astatke reviewed
New York – Addis – London (Strut) Fans of Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers might know Mulatu Astatke’s spy jazz for the way it soundtracked Bill Murray’s hunt.
R. Kelly reviewed
Untitled (Jive) Whatever its artistic merits, Untitled is Weird Al-proof, an utterly ridiculous R&B spoof with its creator an amalgam of Luther Vandross, Luther Campbell, and Steve Stiffler.
Michael Londra gets festive
Beyond The Star (Celt Productions) Locally based Irish native Michael Londra has taken the logical step and made a holiday album — and, like he told the Sun-Times, he doesn’t rock the house.
Cool Kids, Bun B live!
Reggie’s, Chicago Thursday, December 10, 2009 In their rise to indie-rap fame, part of The Cool Kids’ image has been about a certain swagger, topped with an air of nonchalance. But live, especially at this capacity Reggie’s show, Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks were actually having fun.
The Flaming Lips live!
Allstate Arena, Rosemont Friday, December 11, 2009 The Flaming Lips live for the moment, and the Fearless Freaks’ live shows treat each song as if it is the main event. They amplify the emotion as much as possible so that there is a more-than-usual lull between each song as if the band have to […]
The Detroit Cobras preview
Double Door, Chicago Saturday, December 19, 2009 The most recent benefit in a city- and label-wide effort to rehab Scotland Yard Gospel Choir pits Bloodshot Records’ alumni The Detroit Cobras, Dex Romweber Duo, and The Blacks together.
Gold Motel preview
Beat Kitchen, Chicago Sunday, December 20, 2009 What did you expect Greta Salpeter to do? Bake cookies? This is the anticipated debut concert from The Hush Sound’s pianist.
Bluegrass & Blues Festival preview
Congress, Chicago Saturday, December 12, 2009 Last year, the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival turned out The Avett Brothers and David Grisman. Clearly, this thing is anyone’s game.
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