Weekly
Grails preview
Grails Empty Bottle, Chicago Tuesday, November 11, 2008 Grails’ Doomsdayer’s Holiday cover art has boobies on it. Naked boobies. This would be cooler if the woman with said boobies wasn’t riding one of those convenient-store mechanical animals (an elephant, as far as we can tell), in the middle of a forest, wearing some sort of […]
A Big Brain Benefit For Diane Izzo
Singer-songwriter Diane Izzo, who was an alt-country/Hideout fixture for a number of years, needs some help. Doctors discovered a brain tumor this year and, echoing the trials of most working musicians, he has little by way of health insurance. In the spirit of community, some of her better-known friends have sprung to her aid.
Godhead reviewed
Godhead At The Edge Of The World Driven Music Group Wow. What the shit happened to Godhead? ‘Cause this sure isn’t the same band from eight years ago.
TV On The Radio live!
TV On The Radio Riviera, Chicago Wednesday, October 22, 2008 Shortly before the end of TV On The Radio’s Wednesday-night stint, the group’s show became too expansive to merely be contained on the Riviera’s stage. For “Let The Devil In,” the band was joined by a slew of accompanying musicians, including percussionists wielding maracas, extra […]
King Khan & The BBQ Show preview
King Khan & The BBQ Show Bottom Lounge, Chicago Friday, October 31, 2008 Who knows why it happens, but every few years a simple garage rock band captures the (indie) zeitgeist, begging us not to retreat to our flaccid existences.
Conor Oberst preview
Conor Oberst Vic Theatre, Chicago Friday, October 31, 2008 Saturday, November 1, 2008 Conor Oberst and Bright Eyes have been synonymous since the former stopped releasing solo albums in his mid-teens. Now a grizzled 28-year-old, Oberst closets the band name and reveals the two aren’t as conveniently entwined as shorthand might hope.
The Takeover UK preview
The Takeover UK Beat Kitchen, Chicago Sunday, November 2, 2008 It’s a bit jarring to discover that quartet The Takeover UK don’t actually reside in some far-off, across-the-pond location. These young fellas grew up right here in the U.S. of A. Pittsburgh to be exact.
The Stolen Minks preview
The Stolen Minks Darkroom, Chicago Sunday, November 2, 2008 I put The Stolen Minks’ High Kicks (New Romance For Kids) into the CD player to listen while perusing the band’s press interviews, liner notes (nonexistent), and other “important materials” us rock critics use to judge a band’s worth, but a funny thing happened: By the […]
Uh Huh Her preview
Uh Huh Her Park West, Chicago Monday, November 3, 2008 Riot grrrls use caution — same to you, jaunty post punk supporters. Cable TV subscribers? Come on down!
The Showdown reviewed
The Showdown Back Breaker (Solid State) Nashville’s The Showdown are a metal band. Just ask ’em. In the one-sheet for Backbreaker (Solid State) “metal” is used 10 times. Appearing: Thursday, October 30th at Metro in Chicago.
Frida Hyvönen reviewed
Frida Hyvönen Silence Is Wild (Secretly Canadian) One gets the sense Swedish musician Frida Hyvönen assumes some sort of entitlement with the way she treats her material. She’s gonna try everything, ready or not. Appearing: Monday, November 3rd at Lakeshore Theater in Chicago.
Blessed By A Broken Heart reviewed
Blessed By A Broken Heart Pedal To The Metal (Century Media) Pedal To The Metal might be the year’s oddest record. Camaro-gunnin’ ’80s hard rock (check out album cover) combined with breakdown-adoring metalcore and and synthesizer-lovin’, er, sythnesizers.
Maxwell live!
Maxwell Chicago Theatre, Chicago Saturday, October 18, 2008 “I can’t tell you how special it is not to have to put out an album, but to still see you all here,” Maxwell shouted to those gathered at the Chicago Theatre during his first trip through town in seven years. “It’s just me meeting my people […]
Abigail Williams preview
Abigail Williams Doug’s Rockhouse, Aurora Thursday, October 23, 2008 Think American Black Metal (or black metal in general, really) and a few things come to mind: one-man bands, graveyard promo photos, unreadable logos, ridiculous corpsepaint, kvlt dudes on their parents’ computer talking shit about Nachtmystium, and horrible-sounding record production.
Lykke Li preview
Lykke Li Empty Bottle, Chicago Saturday, October 25, 2008 It would be devious to downplay the disparity between Lykke Li’s concerts and albums. The difference cannot be overstated.
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