Tag: featured
Stage Buzz: Wilmette, Porno For Pyros, Big Suit, Static-X
Chicago five-piece Wilmette is returning to its hometown to help its friends Ghoul For a Goblin celebrate the release of its debut album, You Know Youâll Still Find Me There. Bottom Bracket and Supercorp join as support. The party starts on Friday, February 23, at Cobra Lounge at 7 PM. Itâs gonna be a night of great […]
Spins: Green Day ⢠Saviors
Green Day Saviors (Reprise) Thirty years after sending punk to the top of the charts with breakthrough album Dookie, erstwhile upstarts Green Day return as power-pop elder statesmen with Saviors. With the bandâs familiar friend and producer Rob Cavallo back at the helm for the first time in a decade, Saviorsâ 15 tracks find frontman […]
Photo Gallery: Deap Vally with Sloppy Jane at Thalia Hall ⢠Chicago
Deap Vally Sloppy Jane  Thalia Hall Chicago, IL February 10, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Final tours in rock and roll are the equivalent of deaths in science fiction. Are they really dead? Well, Deap Vally seems pretty convincing that this is their last go-round. The L.A. duo consisting of Lindsey Troy (guitar, […]
Photo Gallery: John 5 at Arcada Theatre ⢠St. Charles
John 5 Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL February 1, 2024 Photos by Edward Spinelli Acclaimed guitarist John 5 arrived at Arcada Theatre on Thursday. 5 made his mark with a musical resume that includes such diverse artists as k.d. Lang, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, David Lee Roth, Meat Loaf, Rob Halford, Lita Ford, Lynyrd Skynyrd, […]
Cover Story: Alkaline Trio ⢠Urgent Energy
Alkaline Trio is no stranger to the macabre. The Chicago punk outfit doesnât shy away from talking about heavy topics like loss, addiction, and depression. But even when theyâre talking about how everything sucks, they do it with a wink and nod. Their wry lyrical wit paired with punchy high energy music makes their […]
Media ⢠February 2024 ⢠Remembering the Early Loop
One of the great advantages of writing an oral history like I recently wrote about WLUP Radio (The Loop Files) is the opportunity to hear the stories right from the horseâs mouth. I interviewed over a hundred of those horses (Loop employees). Since the book came out a few months ago, Iâve heard from […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Black Pumas at Salt Shed ⢠Chicago
Black Pumas The Salt Shed, Chicago, IL Saturday, January 27, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Philamonjaro. Austin, Texas-based psychedelic soul duo Black Pumas crowned a triumphant three-night run in Chicago with Saturday nightâs sold-out performance at the Salt Shed. Singer Eric Burton and former Grupo Fantasma guitarist Adrian Quesada led a sharp six-piece backing […]
Spins: Beastie Boys ⢠Hello Nasty 25th anniversary 4xLP box
Beastie Boys Hello Nasty 25th anniversary 4xLP box (UMe) By 1998, Beastie Boys ruled radio and MTV thanks to a steady stream of brash and catchy singles, beginning with 1986 noise-fest “Fight for Your Right” from the trioâs debut and continuing with tracks including âHey Ladies,â “So What’cha Want,” and âSabotageâ from ensuing albums. After […]
Stage Buzz: Tomorrow Never Knows (TNK) Festival
Chicagoâs premiere festival showcasing the best indie acts, both locally and internationally, Tomorrow Never Knows (TNK) returns this week. Over the course of five days, Lincoln Hall, Schubas, GMan Tavern, and Sleeping Village will feature performances from must-hear indie artists spanning various genres. This yearâs lineup includes Aisha Burns, Alice Longyu Gao, Maneaters, Daybreaker, Sluice, […]
Spins ⢠The Rolling Stones ⢠Hackney Diamonds â Live Edition
The Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds Live Edition (Polydor/Interscope/Geffen/A&M) It isnât the backhanded compliment it sounds like to say that Hackney Diamonds is a better album than many Stones fans might have anticipated. Giving away the ending: This is strong work that earns its spot on many 2023 year-end lists, and itâs not unfair […]
Cover Story: John 5 ⢠Immersed In Music
When it comes to musical diversity and performing genre-hopping styles, guitarist John William Lowery (aka John 5) is one of the most prolific. Whether heâs creating rock, industrial metal, funk, EDM, progressive, or bluegrass compositions, the lethal six-string slinger is guaranteed to shred all over it. With a musical resume that includes such diverse artists […]
Stage Buzz: Local H, Umphreyâs McGee, Patti Smith
Patti Smith is one of the most influential figures of the New York City punk rock movement. Her fusion of punk rock and poetry earned her the title of Punk poet laureate. With groundbreaking albums like Horses, Gone Again, and Peace and Noise, she remains an inspiration to creatives today. Just days before her birthday, […]
Live Review: Geddy Lee at Auditorium Theatre ⢠Chicago
My Effinâ Life in Conversation Book Tour Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL Sunday, December 3, 2023 Review by Jeff Elbel. Rush frontman Geddy Lee has performed in Chicago concert halls, including the Auditorium Theatre, many times during the last five decades, but never like he did on Sunday when appearing on his speaking tour for […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: The Rick Holmstrom Band at SPACE ⢠Evanston
The Rick Holmstrom Band Thursday, November 30, 2023 SPACE, Evanston, IL Review and photos by Jeff Elbel. For music fans with boundary-bypassing tastes running through jazz, blues, roots, soul, folk, swamp-rock, R&B and gospel, Evanstonâs SPACE was the place to be on a drizzly Thursday evening. California guitarist Rick Holmstrom brought his expert rhythm section […]
Cover Story: Trans-Siberian Orchestra ⢠A Quarter Century of Christmas
If you still havenât experienced the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s annual winter holiday show, you should seriously consider adding it to your bucket list. The TSO traveling holiday rock opera is a multimillion-dollar act that has grown exponentially since the bandâs inception, making it one of the biggest-grossing concert bands in the US. In true holiday-giving […]
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