Weekly
Tim Mahoney preview
Tim Mahoney Duffy’s, Chicago Monday, March 4, 2008 The name on the album cover says Tim Mahoney, but you might as well call him Frank, Joe, or Larry – even Moe or Curly for that matter. You aren’t going to remember his name after hearing Stay/Leave anyway.
Night Schools Of Rock
Free Musicians Panels Who says nothing’s free? A pair of music discussions dot the next couple of weeks with the hopes of gripping you by your green ears and teaching you what’s what in the industry.
Stax Vs. Motown & The Beatles
Various Artists Soulsville Sings Hitsville/Stax Does The Beatles (Stax) Stax always seemed an underdog American soul label despite its size and pivotal existence, and its modern-day revival under Concord Music Group’s tutelage is well deserved. But that doesn’t mean it recorded more gold than it knew what to do with.
Graveyard reviewed
Graveyard Graveyard (Tee Pee) One day Tee Pee and Kemado Records should merge. If they do, their stoner bands will comprise one hell of a compilation.
A.A. Bondy live!
A.A. Bondy Beat Kitchen, Chicago Thursday, February 14, 2008 In his previous life, A.A. Bondy was Scott Bondy, frontman for Verbena, dirty sexy Southern grunge darlings from Birmingham, Alabama who burned hot fast then fizzled before they had a chance to warm up to more than a small but staunchly devoted following. The band’s implosion […]
Nicole Atkins & The Sea preview
Nicole Atkins & The Sea Subterranean, Chicago Thursday, February 21, 2008 Accolades for Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black were well-earned, though the album’s old-R&B/hip-hop marriage was clearly contrived and felt occasionally forced. Nicole Atkins can’t touch Winehouse for personality or moxy, but her Neptune City (Red Ink/Columbia) is decidedly less self-conscious about its chosen idiom.
John Ralston preview
John Ralston Schubas, Chicago Thursday, February 21, 2008 Like the wolf brigade of recent times (Wolf Parade, Wolf Eyes, Wolfmother), is a vampire resurgence on the rise? Vampire Weekend already have the indie press tied up in knots and now John Ralston’s sophomore release, Sorry Vampire (Vagrant), follows suit. The South Florida native didn’t leave […]
Singer preview
Singer Subterranean, Chicago Friday, February 22, 2008 There’s a classic part (or two) in This Is Spinal Tap where Nigel, David, and Derek attempt to harmonize their vocals while singing “Heartbreak Hotel,” inspired by the fact they’re visiting The King’s grave. It’s hard, when listening to Singer’s Unhistories (Drag City), not to think about that […]
Dengue Fever preview
Dengue Fever Empty Bottle, Chicago Wednesday, February 27, 2008 Ry Cooder aside, American rock musicians are all about approximating or idealizing when chasing foreign tones. Not to pick on Beirut or Devotchka, but their only authenticity is the indie rock underpinning. Ethan and Zac Holtzman didn’t want to be total charlatans when they formed L.A.’s […]
Horrorpops preview
Horrorpops Metro, Chicago Wednesday, February 27, 2008 Is Hamlet a Danish national icon? When their cartoonists aren’t provoking Islam, does Shakespeare’s brooding anti-hero cast a pall over the panels? Because Copenhagen’s biggest rock exports, The Raveonettes and Horrorpops, have a relationship with darkness that extends beyond fashion.
Sheryl Crow reviewed
Sheryl Crow Detours (A&M) A number of Sheryl Crows are at work on Detours, though they don’t all get along.
Antietam reviewed
Antietam Opus Mixtum (Carrot Top) Antietam’s latest album, like the Civil War battle from which the band take their name, gets a little sloppy.
The Kingston Trio reviewed
The Kingston Trio Once Upon A Time/Twice Upon A Time (Collectors’ Choice) As an historical reference, Collectors’ Choice’s simultaneous release of Once and Twice Upon A Time is a smidge overzealous. It’s two phases of folk heroes The Kingston Trio: early July, 1966 and late July . . . 1966.
Exodus preview
Exodus, Warbringer Pearl Room, Mokena Saturday, February 16, 2008 Exodus’ influence on the origin of thrash metal is being pushed hard to promote the group’s new album (eighth overall), The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A (Nuclear Blast). We are, after all, in the midst of a full-blown thrash revival. But consider this: In 1986, the year […]
L’Ocelle Mare preview
L’Ocelle Mare Fuck Mountain Loft, Chicago Friday, February 15, 2008 Thomas Bonvalet don’t wanna work. He just wants to bang on his guitar all day.
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