Weekly
Anniversary Albums: Tears for Fears ⢠The Hurting
Tears for Fears The Hurting (40th anniversary Abbey Road remaster LP) (Mercury/UMC) For a band with its staying power and following, Tears for Fearsâ catalog is brief. By all reports, it isnât a lack of work ethic that suppressed productivity â itâs the internal quality control exercised by principals Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. The […]
Stage Buzz: Between the Buried and Me, Anita Baker, NASCAR Music
Between the Buried and Me are known for their high-concept albums that create thematic sagas within their discography. Their rich storytelling will be on full display when they perform their acclaimed 2012 album The Parallax II: Future Sequence in its entirety this Friday, June 30 at House of Blues. Thank You Scientist and Rivers of […]
Live Review: Stevie Nicks at United Center ⢠Chicago
Stevie Nicks United Center Chicago, IL June 23, 2023 By Curt Baran No one sings like Stevie Nicks. She is at once singular and ubiquitous in both sound and influence (Courtney, Alanis, and ShirleyâŚshow of hands, please). Itâs as if her voice continues to travel from some distant past to the present tense […]
Stage Buzz: H.E.R.; Blues on the Fox, Pansy Division, FEAR,
Multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter H.E.R. has numerous accolades to her name. 25 Grammy nominations with five wins, an Academy Award, and an Emmy. And sheâs only 25 years old. Now, the singer brings her passion and heart-wrenching soul to the Chicago Theatre for a sold out show this Thursday, June 15 at 8 PM. Taste of Randolph returns […]
Spins: Flaming Lips: The EPs
The Flaming Lips Hypnotist vinyl EP Fight Test vinyl EP Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell vinyl EP (Warner Records) Released in conjunction with the Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots 20th-anniversary campaign, these three EPs add to the picture of The Flaming Lipsâ surging power during a period of peak creativity while simultaneously edging […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: The Cure at United Center ⢠Chicago
The Cure United Center Chicago, IL June 10, 2023 Live Review by Ashley Perez Holingsworth; Photos by Curt Baran Seven years to the date of their 2016 Chicago appearance, The Cure returned for another stunning show in the Windy City. The post-punk elder statesmen delivered a phenomenal 31-song set at United Center filled with classic hits, […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Love and Rockets at Riviera Theatre ⢠Chicago
Love and Rockets The Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL Tuesday, June 6, 2023 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Curt Baran. Few would have begrudged the reason, but many festival ticketholders were crestfallen when singer Peter Murphy stepped away for rehabilitation treatment and pulled the plug on Bauhausâ summer tour soon before last yearâs scheduled date […]
Stage Buzz: The Sisters of Mercy, Love and Rockets, The Cure, Martin Barre
Hailing from Leeds, The Sisters of Mercy helped spawn the goth rock movement of the 1980s, even if they shun the âgothâ label. Frontman Andrew Eldritch remains an icon with his brooding attitude, menacing stance, and unmistakable melodic baritone vocals. Though they havenât released a new album since 1990âs Vision Thing, the band […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Taylor Swift ⢠Night 3 ⢠Soldier Field ⢠Chicago
Taylor Swift Soldier Field Chicago, IL June 4, 2023 Review by Riley Vernon. Photos: Aubrey and Riley Vernon Just when you think sheâs peaked, Taylor Swift keeps climbing. The global powerhouse dazzled Soldier Field by wrapping up the final night of three sold-out Chicago shows on her highly anticipated âEras Tour.â Itâs been a long […]
Stage Buzz Q&A: Ultra Q at Metro ⢠Chicago
When Jakob Armstrong decided to end Mt. Eddy, the band he formed in high school with brothers Enzo and Chris Malaspina, later joined by Kevin Judd, and regroup as Ultra Q, he wasnât sure if it was the right thing to do. Weeks away from the release of Ultra Qâs debut album, he still […]
Stage Buzz: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Do Division Fest, Legions of Metal
Yeah Yeah Yeahs made a triumphant return last year with their album Cool It Down, their first in nine years. Karen O and co. will play cuts from their latest release along with classics and fan favorites this weekend when they perform at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island on Thursday, June 1 at […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Poster Children at Bottom Lounge ⢠Chicago
Poster Children Saturday, May 27, 2023 Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL Review and photos by Jeff Elbel âWe are Poster Children from Champaign, Illinoisâ has been bassist Rose Marshackâs salutation to audiences for decades. After extending a welcome to Saturdayâs audience at Bottom Lounge, Marshack took questions while brothers Jim and Rick Valentin tuned […]
Stage Buzz: Helloween, Seal, NKOTP Blockfest, Adelitas Way
German metal legends Helloween, recently inducted into the Heavy Metal Hall of Fame in New York, come to the Riviera Theatre on Friday, 5/26. Their debut album Walls of Jericho, has stood the test of time as one the greatest speed metal debuts ever.  Helloween is touring with metal stalwarts Hammerfall – making this tour one of […]
Live Review: Hozier at Metro ⢠Chicago
Hozier Metro Chicago, IL May 16, 2023 By Aubrey Vernon Irish singer/songwriter Hozier’s “pop-up show” at Metro was, as expected, a uniquely intimate moment for lucky fans who were able to score tickets at the iconic 1100-seat venue. 2023 promises to be a good year for Andrew Hozier-Byrne, who just announced his third album (with […]
Live Review: Glenn Kotche at Senior Hall ⢠Homewood
Glenn Kotche Senior Hall Cabin Homewood, IL May 6, 2023 By Craig Frank Bang a gong, play it with wooden spoons, or rattle it with paint scrapers, Wilcoâs Glenn Kotche recently treated listeners with his insights, tricks, and inspirational sources to both his methods and musicality. On a recent Homewood evening in a Depression-era forest […]
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