Stage Buzz
The Appleseed Cast preview
Bottom Lounge, Chicago Friday, March 19, 2010 While sure to upset a lot of bands (if not only because it calls them “emo”), “emo’s just a phase” is both true for a lot of youngsters as well as being to blame for some missed career transformations.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club preview
Metro, Chicago Thursday, March 25, 2010 Disregarding their vampiric, L.A.’s Jesus & Mary Chain looks, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have worn a surprising number of hats in their underrated career.
The Black Dahlia Murder preview
Reggie’s Rock House, Chicago Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Although The Black Dahlia Murder has generally been described as a blend of melodic death meal with a heavy European black metal influence, the emphasis has been on traditional blast beats and rapid-fire riffs.
House Of Pain preview
Congress Theater, Chicago Friday, March 12, 2010 This will make you feel old: It’s been 18 years since House Of Pain’s “Jump Around” was a hit single. Eighteen years. Seriously! (It’s been 13 since Notorious B.I.G. was killed!) So who cares about a HOP reunion now? This guy.
Ben Sollee & Daniel Lee Martin preview
Space, Evanston Friday, March 12, 2010 Solo singer/songwriter Kentuckians get semi-Appalachian on songs bemoaning the mining destruction of the homestate’s environment.
Heligoats preview
Schubas, Chicago Sunday, March 7, 2010 Chris Otepka began Heligoats during his tenure in Troubled Hubble, an Elburn-based band whose reams of critical praise didn’t amount to much commercial success.
Dr. Wax Farewell Concert
McCormick Auditorium, Chicago Sunday, February 28, 2010 To many artists and music fans, Dr. Wax was a Chicago institution. While the local record-store chain lost two locations up North in recent years — one in Edgewater and the other in Evanston — the impact wasn’t felt quite like the announcement of the closing of its […]
Rocky Votolato preview
Schubas, Chicago Friday, February 26, 2010 Why is this man smiling? No clue. Singer/songwriter Rocky Votolato — if his work is any gauge — has lost just about every love-based battle he’s fought, something that hasn’t changed for True Devotion (Barsuk), out this week.
Carolina Chocolate Drops preview
FitzGerald’s, Berwyn Saturday, February 27, 2010 It’s invoked to be provocative, but with an album as good as Genuine Negro Jig (Nonesuch) you almost wonder if Carolina Chocolate Drops have done their music a disservice by drawing attention away from it.
Tinariwen preview
Old Town School Of Folk Music, Chicago Saturday, February 27, 2010 Tinariwen are exactly the sort of guitar band who you feel could break Joe America’s skittishness toward “world” music, yet stand in their own way. The title of their fourth album translates to “companions,” which suggests an unfortunate, one-world Benetton pretense. If people only […]
Wild Beasts preview
Schubas, Chicago Friday, February 19, 2010 Looking back, Wild Beasts could have gotten away with about anything on their debut, Limbo, Panto (Domino). One unhinged instrument sounds even less controlled when the rest of the orchestra moves in time, so why not air them all out?
El Perro Del Mar preview
Lincoln Hall, Chicago Monday, February 22, 2010 No one cares about it, but my love/hate affair with El Perro Del Mar’s music has been documented on this site. Icy, repellant, a feast for Kate Bush fans — she’s upsetting but compellingly sure of her direction.
Vitalic preview
Empty Bottle, Chicago Tuesday, February 23, 2010 It’s hard to imagine Blade Runner zealots — what with the bleak fate of the world and all — being big dance-music fans, but if they were, Vitalic would rate pretty highly.
Pictures Of Then reviewed
The Wicked Sea (self-released) Minneapolis-based Pictures Of Then have gambled by making their name a reference to the past, though it doesn’t turn out to be so much of a risk. Appearing: Tuesday, February 23rd at Elbo Room in Chicago.
Robert Earl Keen Jr. preview
Joe’s, Chicago Friday, February 12, 2010 Years ago, all the CMA hubbub about Taylor Swift probably wouldn’t cost Texan Robert Earl Keen much sleep. The country singer/songwriter didn’t get angry — he just killed.
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