Weekly

Spins – The Outfit • “Viking”

Brassneck | April 9, 2020 | 0 Comments

The Outfit Viking (Pavement Entertainment) Chicago rockers The Outfit have done it again. On its second full-length album, Viking, the foursome — brothers Mark (drums) and Matt Nawara (guitar), Mike Gorman (bass) and Andy Mitchell (vocals/guitar) — seamlessly merge massive hooks, edgy riffs, soaring vocal harmonies and catchy choruses with pleasing results. Mixed by multi-platinum […]

Sweet Home – April 2020 • Blues Rona Playlist

Brassneck | April 5, 2020

A Blues Rona Playlist These are challenging times as the Covid-19 pandemic has touched all corners of the globe, all countries, and all societies. The quarantine forces us inside to piece together new routines around an uncertain situation. Music has always been a refuge in fearful circumstances, and blues literally evolved from pain, so there’s […]

Spins: Stephen Malkmus • “Traditional Techniques”

Brassneck | April 1, 2020 | 0 Comments

Stephen Malkmus Traditional Techniques (Matador Records) When Pavement first entered the rock scene nearly 30 years ago, they stood out like a sore thumb. While they were lo-fi, they weren’t punk, and while they had pop melodies, those were buried under tape hiss and inside jokes. Frontman Stephen Malkmus never went for a stylistic makeover, […]

Spins: Greg Dulli • “Random Desire”

Brassneck | April 1, 2020 | 0 Comments

Greg Dulli Random Desire (Royal Cream/BMG) Calling this “the first solo album” by The Afghan Whigs frontman Greg Dulli isn’t technically truthful – unless it’s a deliberate attempt to erase 2005’s Amber Headlights altogether. Whether first or second, it was time for another musical road less traveled for Dulli. Surviving way longer than most rock […]

Spins: Pearl Jam • “Gigaton”

Brassneck | April 1, 2020 | 0 Comments

Pearl Jam Gigaton (Monkeywrench/Republic) Pearl Jam’s timing for the end of the world record is impeccable. The Seattle-based quartet’s recorded output has been stalled for nearly seven years, and apparently, they have some shit they want to get off their chests. The band’s eleventh record, Gigaton, also finds its members looking for new ways to […]

Stage Buzz: Steve Aoki at Aragon Ballroom

Brassneck | March 12, 2020 | 0 Comments

Steve Aoki Friday March 13 (This Show Has Been Postponed) Aragon Ballroom, Chicago Steve Aoki, the founder of the Dim Mak label, is one of the most commercially successful names in all of EDM. Over the past decade, he’s created tracks with the likes of Rivers Cuomo, Kid Cudi, will.i.am, Fall Out Boy, Machine Gun […]

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 […]