Weekly
Franz Nicolay preview
Franz Nicolay Empty Bottle, Chicago Saturday, January 17, 2009 The House Cafe, DeKalb Sunday, January 18, 2009 Craig Finn may be The Hold Steady’s undisputed attention-grabber thanks to his ability to transform everyday, mundane events into bar-rockin’ anthems and a unique, free-form spoken-word delivery, but HS keyboardist Franz Nicolay’s solo record makes a solid case […]
Hot Heels Records preview
Hot Heels Records Goose Island, Chicago Saturday, January 17, 2009 Our advice to Hot Heels Records? Lose the name; keep the music. You’re confusing people, guys. Illinois Entertainer editor Steve Forstneger is a – generally – sharp guy, but even he thought your new album, Bullet Rain, was actually a compilation CD of bands on […]
Tune into Q101 Sunday!
Set your tuner to Q101 (WKQX-FM, 101.1) this Sunday, January 11th, at 10 p.m. to hear host Chris Payne chat with IE‘s Steve Forstneger about local music, the January issue, and more on his weekly show, “Local 101”!
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.
Lil Wayne preview
Lil Wayne United Center, Chicago Saturday, December 27, 2008 Lil Wayne does a lot of impish cackling on Tha Carter III (Cash Money), and with good reason: His album was the biggest of ’08, an improbable feat.
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 […]
Scott Weiland preview
Scott Weiland House Of Blues, Chicago Thursday, December 18, 2008 There’s a scene during the fifth season of HBO’s “Entourage,” when the series’ Hollywood heartthrob worriedly asks his agent, “Do you think I’m a good actor?” The rep, played by Jeremy Piven, hesitates. “I think you’re a movie star.”
Kuma’s Doomfest preview
Kuma’s Doomfest Double Door, Chicago December 20-21, 2008 Kuma’s Corner (great burgers, great beer, great heavy metal) is finally throwing the two-day metal extravaganza we’ve been promised for so many months. It definitely appears worth the wait.
Nocturnal Fear
Nocturnal Fear Metal Shaker, Chicago Saturday, December 20, 2008 On the back of the promotional copy of Nocturnal Fear’s Code Of Violence, Moribund Records describes the Detroit band as “the ultimate in modern U.S. thrash metal.” Ironic, given most the album is throwback German thrash metal.
Yourself And The Air preview
Yourself And The Air Bottom Lounge, Chicago Sunday, December 21, 2008 Forgive this Chicago band their name: Yourself And The Air clearly spent more time writing and arranging their stormy, agit-indie than worrying about what to call it.
Christ Inversion renewed
Christ Inversion Christ Inversion (Housecore) Word of a Phil Anselmo black metal band might be news to some, but those who keep close tabs on the former Pantera/current Down frontman and his myriad sideprojects know Christ Inversion is actually an early ’90s experiment just now sincerely seeing the light of the day. Or maybe the […]
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.
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