Tag: featured
Stage Buzz: Kraftwerk, Deftones, Baths, Refused
Refused are fucking dead. This time, they mean it. After 34 years of raging and screaming, the seminal punk band is calling it quits. But of course, they need to go out with a band. Before you mourn the loss of Refused, join them for one last hurrah at the Salt Shed with Quicksand this […]
Live Review: Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve • Park West • Chicago
Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve Park West, Chicago, IL Saturday, March 15, 2025 Review and live photo by Jeff Elbel, profile photo by Mark Seliger While the streets of Chicago teemed with revelers getting an early start on St. Patrick’s Day, a full house celebrated the holiday with Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve on […]
Photo Gallery: Morgan Wade with The Lone Bellow • Salt Shed • Chlcago
Morgan Wade The Lone Bellow The Salt Shed Chicago, IL March 9, 2025 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Sunday evening’s Salt Shed show felt rooted in the past with a sharp eye to the future. Although you could say the evening’s official headliner was Morgan Wade, it certainly seemed like the evening belonged to […]
Cover Story: Smoking Popes • For The Love of the Game
When Smoking Popes entered Solid Sound Studios in Hoffman Estates in 1994 to record the follow-up to their debut album Get Fired, there were no expectations. There was no pressure from the label to deliver a “hit record.” They just had a bunch of songs they wanted to record. So, they made a record […]
Media: March 2025 • Flipside Records Remembered
Flip Side owners Carl and Larry Rosenbaum had three choices they were considering at the beginning of their careers. “Hot dog stand, a dry cleaner, or a record store,” Larry confirms. “And fortunately, we chose record store.” That record store became an empire in Chicago (1970s—1990s), a string of stores throughout Chicagoland, soon to […]
March 2025: CinemaScopes • March Films in Like A Lion
We start the month with the 97th Academy Awards airing on March 2. If you love festivals, the 12th Annual JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival, running March 1-23, showcases culturally diverse, Jewishly-inspired films that will entertain, educate, and inspire audiences of all generations. A selection of 19 carefully curated films honor Jewish filmmakers, writers, […]
Advertiser Message: Wardruna at Auditorium Theatre • Chicago • September 20, 2025
Wardruna, the globally renowned purveyors of Norwegian-tinged post-rock-meets-folk, recently returned with their sixth album, Birna, on last month via Sony Music/By Norse Music. The 10-song collection offers another powerful exploration of, and contemplation on, the natural world, with visionary composer Einar Selvik searching for the voice of the bear. Supporting the new album – the […]
Photo Gallery: Lauren Mayberry at Thalia Hall • Chicago
Lauren Mayberry Thalia Hall Chicago, IL February 5, 2025 Recap and photos by Curt Baran “During sound check, I was amazed by the size of this room. I was terrified that only 12 people would show up. I’m so relieved to see all of you here.” Lauren Mayberry alluded to the inherent risks of going […]
Advertiser Message: Steven Wilson at Auditorium Theatre • Chicago
STEVEN WILSON UNVEILS NORTH AMERICAN LEG OF THE OVERVIEW TOUR FIRST FULL-BAND SOLO HEADLINE RUN IN OVER SEVEN YEARS Arrives September 17 at Auditorium Theatre Tickets on sale now THE OVERVIEW TOUR CELEBRATES UPCOMING ARRIVAL OF WILDLY AMBITIOUS NEW SOLO WORK, THE OVERVIEW THE OVERVIEW ARRIVES IN WIDE ARRAY OF FORMATS VIA FICTION RECORDS […]
Cover Story: Avernus • As Heavy As We Can Be
Twenty-seven years between full-length albums for a band is a long time to wait. But that’s exactly what happened to local doom metal pioneers Avernus. Formed in 1992 by drummer Rick Yifrach and guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Rick McCoy — joined by guitarist Erik Kikke the following year (who was only 15 years old at the time)—there was […]
Media: February 2025 • 18 Seasons of Steve Wilkos
It’s hard to believe, but Steve Wilkos is now in his 18th season as the host of The Steve Wilkos Show. The show airs in Chicago on WCIU-TV. “18 seasons,” he says. “I wake up every morning, and I say the same thing. I still can’t believe it. I’ve been doing it, you know. I’ve […]
Stage Buzz: Guster, The String Cheese Incident, Marty Friedman
Marty Friedman, best known for his work with thrash icons Megadeth, is a guitar wizard. His improvisation and fusion of Eastern and Western music with elements of prog rock and thrash will leave you in awe. See the guitar virtuoso for yourself when he brings his guitar mastery to St. Charles’ Arcada Theatre on Thursday, […]
Cover Story: Alison Moyet • Legacy is Overrated
She may not have descended to the cynical, humanity-doubting depths of Moliere’s “The Misanthrope.” But synth-pop diva turned Neo-soul stylist Alison Moyet could be getting awfully close. The French-descended, English-bred artist first conquered worldwide charts via Yazoo (or just Yaz Stateside), her memorable duo with ex-Depeche Mode keyboardist Vince Clarke, and […]
Media: January 2025 • Gone, But Not Forgotten
Every year, I write a piece about the people that we lost in the Chicago media world the previous year. We lost some great talent in 2024. Bob Newhart (July) If you’re my age or younger, you don’t remember a time when Bob Newhart was not famous. Bob was an ordinary Chicagoan when […]
Live Review and Gallery: Andrew Bird’s Gezelligheid • Fourth Presbyterian Church • Chicago
Andrew Bird’s Gezelligheid Fourth Presbyterian Church Chicago, IL December 13, 2024 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Thanks to Andrew Bird, Chicagoans have known since 2009 that “gezelligheid” is a Dutch term that loosely translates to “coziness.” On Friday, Bird concluded a seven-night string of his Gezelligheid concerts celebrating the season in the beautiful […]
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