Weekly

Live Review and Photo Gallery – Dirty Honey at Bottom Lounge

Brassneck | February 15, 2020 | 0 Comments

Dirty Honey Tuesday, February 11 Bottom Lounge, Chicago For the past year, some music industry folks have been working themselves into a piranha-like frenzy over L.A. blues-rock quartet Dirty Honey. Formed in 2017, the band features singer Marc Labelle, guitarist John Notto, bassist Justin Smolian, and drummer Corey Coverstone. The buzz surrounding the band is heightened in […]

Live Review: DeadMau5 at Navy Pier

Brassneck | February 10, 2020 | 0 Comments

Deadmau5 “Cube V3” Saturday, February 1 Navy Pier, Chicago From 2008 to 2015, Joel Zimmerman, aka Deadmau5, was the inescapable force in the world of electronic dance music, one of the most prominent and most easily recognizable names in the genre, putting out albums like Album Title Goes Here and While(1<2). To many people, he […]

Live Review: Squirrel Nut Zippers at Arcada Theatre

Brassneck | February 9, 2020 | 0 Comments

Squirrel Nut Zippers Arcada Theatre January 26, 2020 Review by Jeff Elbel Photos by Luciano J. Bilotti In the Squirrel Nut Zippers’ heyday, the band’s music offered a singular throwback to the freewheeling fun of gypsy swing and pre-war hot jazz. In 2020, the retooled and rejuvenated band does the same […]

Live Review and Photo Gallery: EOB at Lincoln Center

Brassneck | February 9, 2020 | 0 Comments

Ed O’Brien (EOB) Lincoln Hall Saturday, February 8, 2020 Following in the footsteps of bandmates Thom Yorke, Colin Greenwood, and Phil Selway, guitarist and vocalist Ed O’Brien is stepping outside his role as a founding member of Radiohead and occasional high-profile sideman for other artists including Neil Finn. Performing under the name EOB, O’Brien […]

Stage Buzz: Hey Nonny’s Winter Blues Summit [with added Photo Gallery]

Brassneck | February 8, 2020 | 0 Comments

Winter has traditionally been a slow season for music festivals in Chicagoland while folks recover from their holiday hangovers. Other than the TNK Festival in Chicago, a sturdy and dependable showcase of emerging talent, there’s not been the equivalent in the suburbs. The folks at Hey Nonny and Straight Arrow Productions are changing the […]

Photo Gallery: The Black Keys at Aragon Ballroom

Brassneck | January 22, 2020 | 0 Comments

Q101 WKQX, Chicago’s flagship and only Alt-Rock station, threw itself a birthday party, Thursday. More specifically, hosted one to celebrate the one year anniversary of the morning drive time trio known as Brian, Ali and Justin. And they did so in glorious style by inviting a sold out Aragon Ballroom audience to enjoy a live […]

Stage Buzz: Tedeschi Trucks at Chicago Theatre [Updated with Photo Gallery]

Brassneck | January 12, 2020 | 0 Comments

Florida’s legendary Tedeschi Trucks Band, led by married blues guitarists Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, return to the Chicago Theatre for a 4-night run beginning this weekend. TTB has redefined blues and soul over their decade together, powered and defined best by the debut album Revelator. IE’s Ed Spinelli talked with Derek Trucks as he […]

Holiday Hangover at House of Blues Chicago

Brassneck | December 13, 2019 | 0 Comments

House of Blues Chicago is kicking off the 2019 Holiday Season with their first-ever Holiday Hangover – ten days of top national tribute bands along with a roster of Chicago’s best tributes. The format has been a blast at other HOB locations across the country, and the talent buyers at the Windy City location […]

Stage Buzz: Ace Frehley at Joe’s Live Rosemont [with added photo gallery]

Brassneck | December 8, 2019 | 0 Comments

Ace Frehley Friday, December 13 Joe’s Live Rosemont KISS co-founding guitarist and vocalist Ace Frehley takes the stage at Joe’s Live in Rosemont on Friday, December 13, with openers Ladrone and Like It beginning at 7:30 PM. Real rock fans know the history of this iconic guitar slinger. The former original lead guitarist for KISS […]

Stage Buzz: Kris Kristofferson at The Chicago Theatre

Brassneck | November 12, 2019 | 0 Comments

It’s like seeing Muddy Waters or Merle Haggard on the back forty of their final farewell tours (even Dylan, The Stones, and Paul McCartney are on those “what if” touring jaunts these days). Kris Kristofferson is a household name, but it may be as much for his film resume as for his music. True music […]

Live Review and Photo Gallery: Tool and Killing Joke at United Center

Brassneck | November 5, 2019 | 0 Comments

Tool has always conducted itself as an unconventional anomaly. From their cryptic videos and ambiguous album art, their image has always thrived in the dark spaces that leave almost every aspect of their aesthetic open to interpretation. Who else but this band could wait 13 years between (arguably non-mainstream) records, knock Taylor Swift of the […]

Live Review & Photo Gallery: Swervedriver at Bottom Lounge

Brassneck | October 31, 2019 | 0 Comments

Swervedriver Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL October 28, 2019 Following a ten-year absence, ‘90s alt-rock groundbreakers Swervedriver unparked in 2008. By the time of 2015’s I Wasn’t Born to Lose You – the Oxford quartet’s first album in 17 years – it was clear that frontman Adam Franklin and co-guitarist Jimmy Hartridge weren’t dabbling. The […]

Live Review: Bob Dylan at Credit Union 1 Arena

Brassneck | October 31, 2019 | 6 Comments

Bob Dylan Credit Union 1 Arena, Chicago, IL October 30, 2019 After several local visits promoting his excursions through standards from the Great American Songbook and Frank Sinatra’s repertoire, Bob Dylan returned to Chicago with a show focused on his own celebrated catalog of original material. Fans entered Credit Union 1 Arena (formerly UIC Pavilion) […]

Stage Buzz and Gallery: The Hu at House of Vans

Brassneck | October 30, 2019 | 0 Comments

The Hu Vans Chicago October 31, 2019 Nothing says “Happy Halloween” like a morin khuur solo, am I right? What the hell is a morin khuur you ask? Exactly! Anyone who attended the 2019 version of Riot Fest may have encountered such an instrument if they caught the much talked about set from The Hu. […]

Stage Buzz: Michael Franti at Concord Music Hall

Brassneck | October 21, 2019 | 0 Comments

In this era of building walls, unsettled government and strife at the border, Michael Franti continues his message of positive vibes and bringing people together. Franti made his mark a decade ago with his massive hit “Say Hey (I Love You).” Mixing rock steady beats, ska, reggae, rock, hip-hop and electronica – Franti has […]