Weekly
No, I am Shelby Lynne
Helpless. That’s how we feel about suppressing her Grammy anecdote when we hear Shelby Lynne’s name mentioned. But this time, the story’s oddly useful. She’s in town this weekend, along with Secret Colours’ psychedelic Halloween, Spank Rock, Ollabelle, Tabi Bonney, and Dashing Assassins.
Guns, blazing
An aging hair-metal band and an up-and-comers’ hip-hop tour. Which do you think involves beefing and guns, and which is just one big party? All that, plus Frank Turner and The Envy Corps.
Duran Duran live!
Very few bands survived the new-wave era with integrity in tact, and though Duran Duran‘s certainly made a few missteps along the way, the Fab Five (well, technically now just Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, and Roger Taylor), haven’t just survived but thrived. Besides the band’s hysteria-inducing beginnings and a second bout with […]
Down with JC
Sometimes you pay the price for trying to be first. We were so excited about JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound‘s debut on Bloodshot that we featured them back in January. The record drops 10/25 and gets a party on the 28th at Double Door. Click here to reminisce.
New York is for losers
The CMJ Music Marathon runs this weekend in Manhattan and Brooklyn. It’s more dignified than South By Southwest, but still an unforgiving task to distinguish a cadre of hipster acts who all sound the same. Chicago? We have Amon Tobin, The Bo-Keys, The Sounds, Phantogram, Juicehead, The Misfits, Exitmusic, and a benefit at Unity Church.
Alien lanes
Digging up the past never seems to go well in life, but in music it’s lucrative. Mostly. Some artists manage to get snagged on invisible tastemaker defenses that arbitrary decide who get plaudits, and who don’t. This weekend stars Cymbals Eat Guitars, Vagabond Opera, Big Tree, and Cory Hart.
Riching the Rob
Between the Davieses and Gallaghers, rock ‘n’ roll’s brawling brothers were the Robinsons. As the Black Crowes matured, however, the sideshow abated, giving each enough strength to concentrate on exceptional solo projects as well. (Also this week: Uh Huh Her and pinball!)
Portishead live!
Portishead‘s first Chicago show in well over a decade was often magnetic without an excess of on-stage motion. This British group, which stood at the forefront of the trip-hop/down-tempo ascension in the early ’90s, played it cool and composed while revisiting its three-album catalog on October 12th.
Haynes’ underwear
It’s something for everyone as real October weather unfolds. This Monday and Tuesday feature Warren Haynes, Masters Of The Hemisphere, Firewind, and Wale.
Dierks Bentley live!
Dierks Bentley rolled into Chicago Sunday, led by Illinois State Troopers and followed by more than 300 bikers.
Bryan Ferry live!
As the singer of Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry’s already earned seminal status in the glam, art-rock and new-wave worlds, though he continues to make sophisticated strides in his solo career. Touring behind his first non-covers collection in eight years, Olympia (Virgin), marks a suave and soulful evolution for the veteran, who through two hours, spellbinded […]
Think about the Future . . .
Horrorcore rappers Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All — horrorcore, horrorcore, horrorcore, horrorcore! — have become one of the most fiercely debated, if not exactly listened to, artists since Eminem. And they’re in town Friday, as are New Duncan Imperials’ for their farewell, Primus, Light FM, Double Dagger, and the Biophilac musical.
Three Girls And A Guy
It’s not the increasing gender disparity at colleges nationwide, it’s our early-week preview with Sims, Dessa, Hindi Zahra, and Zola Jesus!
Good girls
Image is everything. Dowdily dressed women can be the most sexual creatures alive, while vacantly expressioned art waifs don’t necessarily lie with any man or thing just because “life is empty.” Where do Lisa Hannigan and Anika fit in?
Bringing Saxon back
Saxon come to town on their 19th album; Wild Flag on their first. Yet which of the two are the real classic rockers?
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