Tag: featured
Stage Buzz: Frank Black, Psychostick, King Buffalo
Before Metalocalypse showed us just how funny metal could be, there was Psychostick. The band has been using hard rock and metal for their humorous songs that range from celebrating the tastiness of beer and how much doing laundry sucks. The band will bring their unique humor to Beat Kitchen this Saturday, January 25th at […]
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 […]
Live Review: Lou Gramm All Stars • Arcada Theatre • St. Charles
Lou Gramm All-Stars Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL December 5, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel Singer and songwriter Lou Gramm returned to his regular haunt at the Arcada Theatre to warm up a cold Thursday night in December. The original voice of newly minted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Foreigner delivered 80 […]
Cover Story: The Effigies • The Spirit of the Scene
At its outset, 2023 looked to be an unexpected banner year for Chicago punk-scene legends The Effigies. COVID had finally waned, national concert attendance had rebounded, and the once-moribund music business itself was on a creative upswing — a perfect backdrop for Burned, the band’s latest (fifth) album, a surprise power-chorded treat for longtime fans […]
Spins: The Beatles • 1964 US Albums in Mono 8xLP Box Settings
The Beatles 1964 US Albums in Mono 8xLP box (Apple/Universal) The 2023 holiday season saw the release of the Beatles’ Red and Blue compilation albums, along with the band’s final single, “Now and Then.” This year’s deluxe offering returns to the Fab Four’s initial British Invasion to chronicle the music that swept America in 1964. […]
Stage Buzz: Underoath, Unto Others, Allie X
What do you get when you cross the thrash stylings of Megadeth with the dark, brooding lyrics of Type O Negative and Sisters of Mercy? Portland’s Unto Others. The band found a cult following with the albums Strength and Mana. The newest LP, Never, Neverland, proves them to be one of the most buzzworthy bands […]
Live Review: David Gilmour at Madison Square Garden • New York, NY
David Gilmour Madison Square Garden New York, NY Sunday, November 10, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Gavin Elder and Elena Bello. The September release of David Gilmour’s adventurous solo album Luck and Strange was a welcome surprise for fans. At 78 and known to be happy surrounded by family and tinkering in […]
Advertiser Message: Experience Hendrix • March 21 at Chicago Theatre • Chicago
Experience Hendrix is back Friday, March 21, at Chicago Theatre featuring Kenny Wayne Shepard, Marcus King, Eric Johnson & more!On sale tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov 13 10 am (use presale code STRAT70) https://www.ticketmaster.com/experience-hendrix-chicago-illinois-03-21-2025/event/07006155AE1E1CA0?utm_campaign=Adv-3032242&utm_source=illinois+entertainer&utm_medium=other_med_ln_digital The Experience Hendrix Tour evokes the era when artists treated each performance as a unique interaction with their audience. Jimi Hendrix called this […]
Cover Story: Steel Panther • Can’t Stop The Rock
When it comes to Steel Panther, no subject matter is off-limits. The Los Angeles “hair metal” revivalists don’t hold back — or sugarcoat anything — when creating the band’s humorous, tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Tracks such as “Asian Hooker,” “Fat Girl (Thar She Blows),” “Big Boobs,” “Weenie Ride,” “Glory Hole,” and many more prove that the band […]
Media: November 2024 • Danny Mac’s Beloved Bears Book
Dan McNeil was one of Chicago’s most controversial sports talk show hosts for decades. After long stints at the Score (670 AM) and ESPN (AM 1000), along with a few other stops on the radio dial (the Drive, the Loop), Dan has turned his talents to the written word. He has a new book […]
Live Review: Richard Lloyd Trio with Ganser at The Hideout • Chicago
Richard Lloyd Trio with special guest Ganser The Hideout, Chicago, IL Sunday, October 27, 2024 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Richard Lloyd brought a taste of the formative punk and art rock movements centered at the New York City club CBGB to the Hideout of Sunday Night. The founding television guitarist brought his Richard […]
Stage Buzz: B-52s, Beat, Steve Wonder, Usher
Multi-platinum R&B star Usher dazzled audiences with his unforgettable Super Bowl halftime performance earlier this year. Now, the megastar is bringing his slick moves and soulful voice to the United Center as part of his “Past Present Future” tour. The singer will perform his latest and greatest across three nights starting Monday, October 28th, through […]
Photo Gallery: The The in Chicago
The The Salt Shed Chicago, IL October 25th, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Deep into The The’s second music set at Chicago’s Salt Shed, listeners were reminded how bottomless this band’s catalog goes. Now entering their fourth decade, The The (the chosen moniker singer/songwriter Matt Johnson has used throughout his career) broke their […]
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