Weekly
Beastie Boys live!
Beastie Boys Charter One Pavilion, Chicago Thursday, September 27, 2007 Two sides of the Beastie Boys touched down in Chicago for the trio’s tour behind this fall’s all-instrumental CD, The Mix-Up. The first was a chilled-out, stripped-down, generally wordless affair held at the intimate confines of the RivieraTheatre (billed as “A Gala Event,” complete with […]
The Aliens live!
The Aliens Schubas, Chicago Tuesday, September 25, 2007 When the core members were known as The Beta Band, The Aliens dealt in a sort of musical disinformation campaign. The promise of their debut EPs was purposefully sent up in smoke, live performances abused patience, and it seemed their interest was inversely proportionate to their fans’.
John Vanderslice preview
John Vanderslice Empty Bottle, Chicago Saturday, October 6, 2007 A couple of years ago, Frisco-based production savant John Vanderslice whined, “Time travel is lonely.” It’s no coincidence his subsequent albums have all been firmly rooted in the present.
Anoushka Shankar & Karsh Kale preview
Anoushka Shankar & Karsh Kale College Of DuPage, Elgin Saturday, October 6, 2007 Yes, Anoushka Shankar is the daughter of legendary sitarist Ravi Shankar. That said, we’ll give you a guess what instrument she plays. One hint: It isn’t the tuba.
Jesca Hoop preview
Jesca Hoop Double Door, Chicago Sunday, October 7, 2007 As a musician, a job reference from Tom Waits is worth its weight in gold. And so begins Jesca Hoop’s road to a record deal.
Static-X, Shadows Fall preview
Static-X, Shadows Fall House Of Blues, Chicago Sunday, October 7, 2007 Three years ago it would have been crazy to think Static-X would come to town with top billing over Shadows Fall. But that is exactly what has happened in this tale of over and underachievers.
Double Up On Gear & Beer
Gear junkies listen up. On Sunday, October 14th, Wicker Park’s Double Door opens its doors to musicians looking to buy, sell, or trade equipment and gear for the club’s inaugural Beer & Gear Sale.
Tortoise Sell Their Souls
Empty Bottle, Metro, Millennium Park — where haven’t Tortoise played? Sources say the post rock masters will knock another venue off the master list with a special performance Saturday, October 13th at Symphony Center.
Athlete reviewed
Athlete Beyond The Neighbourhood (Astralwerks) Even though it wasn’t cool to like it, there was a sense in the British press Athlete’s debut, Vehicles & Animals, was redeemable because it smacked of fun. It made the reaction to 2005’s Tourist — a backlash from people who were never in their corner to begin with — […]
The Simpsons sing!
THE SIMPSONS The Simpsons: Testify A Whole Lot More Original Music From The Television Series (Shout Factory) Here’s the thing about “The Simpsons”: It’s pretty hilarious. So yeah, Testify is pretty good, too.
Modeselektor reviewed
Modeselektor Happy Birthday! (Bpitch Control) Right up there in Most Relative Things Ever are musical-label applications. One man’s screamo is another’s metalcore; John Q’s post punk is his neighbor’s math rock. It gets even more complicated with electronic music, and few albums underscore it like Happy Birthday!
Hip-Hop Honors Tour live!
The Roots, MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane House Of Blues, Chicago Saturday, September 22, 2007 Considering the popularity of crunk, “pop, lock, and drop it,” and everything else that passes for hip-hop these days, a tour highlighting the golden days of beats and real rhymes proves to be sorely necessary. With hip-hop revolutionaries The Roots […]
Common live!
Common Charter One Pavilion, Chicago Thursday, September 20, 2007 If he were born a century ago, Forrest Gump might have uttered “Life is like Common: You never know whatcher gonna get.” On the one hand there’s the Gap commercials and wannabe-Lothario stage antics — a newsboy-cap wearin’ radio hopeful who references Jennifer Aniston and Vince […]
The Chemical Brothers live!
The Chemical Brothers, Ladytron Riviera Theatre, Chicago September 24, 2007 Since 1993, The Chemical Brothers have consistently churned out an evolutionary form of electronica music that could find dual footing in a club or on the radio. Thankfully the dance-derived duo are also known for an equally enthralling stage show, complete with lights, lasers, and […]
Turbonegro, Mondo Generator live!
Turbonegro, Mondo Generator Metro, Chicago Wednesday, September 19, 2007 For the first stop on their U.S. tour, Turbonegro took not one, but two encores. For most rock bands this would be one too many and a bit pretentious for a group playing a 1,100-capacity club. For this Norwegian act, though, it was perfect – maybe […]
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