Stage Buzz
Lacona preview
Lacona Empty Bottle, Chicago Thursday, January 10, 2008 Since releasing two not-so-telling singles back in May, local outfit Lacona finally have a full-length release in hand. And the results curiously span a spectrum from glossy numbers akin to fellow area Ashlee Simpson-courting groups (minus the bombast, of course) to D.I.Y.-ethos barn burners.
Tomorrow Never Knows preview
Tomorrow Never Knows Festival Schubas, Chicago January 16 – 20, 2008 Schubas’ annual “January sucks” festival might be its deepest yet, featuring headliners John Vanderslice, Bobby Conn, The Redwalls, White Williams, and The Walkmen.
Chloe Day preview
Chloe Day Elbo Room, Chicago Wednesday, December 26, 2007 Perusing Chloe Day’s online picture gallery isn’t so different than listening to one of her CDs. It’s the same person in each one of those pictures, just like it’s the same voice on each one of those songs, but there are a lot of different personalities.
Mer preview
Mer Cubby Bear, Chicago Friday, December 28, 2007 Mer infuses a jazzy flair into the worn out genre of college rock. Like the O.A.R. of past (before they started purposefully writing radio singles), Edmer Abante — the man behind the pseudonym — breezily sings about unrequited love and relationships in an upbeat, bouncy tempo that […]
Fair To Midland preview
Fair To Midland Austin’s, Libertyville Saturday, December 15, 2007 Fair To Midland are oddballs, at least by major-label standards. Maybe not Bjork or Captain Beefheart odd, but certainly more adventurous than a bulk of heavy music released nowadays by majors. In fact when the band were shopping their demo for a record deal, they didn’t […]
My My My preview
My My My Elbo Room, Chicago Saturday, December 15, 2007 How many times does Craigslist deliver a happy ending? For Russell Baylin, the Web site with everything issued the Addison, Illinois singer/guitarist four like-minded musicians.
Charlie Louvin preview
Charlie Louvin Schubas, Chicago Sunday, December 16, 2007 Charlie Louvin is older than the Grammys. Though nominated at 80-years-old for an album that turns a blind eye to modern country music, you can probably guess he doesn’t care about them, either.
Richard Hawley preview
Richard Hawley Abbey Pub, Chicago Thursday, December 6, 2007 If Richard Hawley wants to keep singing to his hometown, that’s fine by us. But it’s nice if he comes to Chicago once in a while to do it.
Most Serene Republic preview
The Most Serene Republic Beat Kitchen, Chicago Saturday, December 8, 2007 As the first band signed to Canadian label Arts & Crafts not associated in any way with Broken Social Scene or the many side projects of its varied roster of members, The Most Serene Republic, nevertheless, basks in the afterglow of its labelmates and […]
Aimee Mann preview
Aimee Mann Vic Theatre, Chicago Tuesday, December 11, 2007 Merry Christmas and a happy new Aimee Mann holiday tour! Last year’s inaugural holiday trek, a mix of music and standup comedy, apparently went well enough to convince Mann to give it a go again.
Major Stars preview
Major Stars Empty Bottle, Chicago Thursday, November 29, 2007 Indie rock, despite fretboard pyros like J. Mascis and Doug Martsch, can’t shake its guitar-weenie reputation. For the most part it’s deserved, as columns of college rockers would rather have their taint hairs tweezed than sit through a tremelo-picked single-string run, culminating with a high “E” […]
Robert Pollard preview
Robert Pollard Metro, Chicago Friday, November 30, 2007 Ohio-based Robert Pollard is a strange creature — one who could drive a wedge between even the best of friends. A love-him-or-hate-him mentality definitely surrounds the former teacher and Guided By Voices leader. His voice and often obtuse lyrics either grate or inspire. He’s either the Holy […]
Kottonmouth Kings/Big B preview
Kottonmouth Kings, Big B House Of Blues, Chicago Monday, December 3, 2007 How many decent, good, and great bands have vanished after one, two, or three records because of waning label support, a dwindling fan base, or no fan base at all? Think about it: A lot. Now consider Kottonmouth Kings released their 9th album […]
Michael McDonald preview
Michael McDonald Chicago Theatre, Chicago Thursday, December 6, 2007 For the past three decades, Michael McDonald has worn many hats, including his time backing Steely Dan, an extensive tenure with the Doobie Brothers, becoming the pre-eminent duet dude of the 1980s (Patti LaBelle, James Ingram), and maintaining a solo career with varying degrees of success. […]
Consortium preview
Consortium Red Line Tap, Chicago Saturday, November 24, 2007 Eschewing the limitations of their sophomore effort — a concept album entitled Potomac And Shenandoah that tackled the conflict between secularism and religion through the lives of two sisters — local quintet Consortium simplify things on their third self-release. Thank God.
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