Tag: featured
Photo Gallery: Wednesday at the Riviera Theatre • Chicago
Wednesday Riviera Theatre November 17, 2025 Chicago, IL Recap and photos by Curt Baran Not unlike its predecessor (2023’s Rat Saw God), don’t be surprised to see Wednesday’s Bleeds on numerous 2025 year-end, best-of lists. It’s a massive step forward in both songwriting and musicianship. The tour supporting it touched down at The Riviera Theatre […]
Stage Buzz: Mario, Smashing Pumpkins, Luke Spiller, Paul McCartney
R&B singer Mario is bringing his electrifying stage show to intimate theaters for a rare, up-close-and-personal experience. The singer will serenade fans with hits like “Let Me Love You,” “Just a Friend,” and “Crying Out for Me” during his show at Concord Music Hall this Friday, November 21st. Find tickets here. Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie […]
Live Review: The Saints ‘73 -‘78 at Metro • Chicago
The Saints ‘73-‘78 Metro Chicago, IL November 11, 2025 Review and Live Photos by Jeff Elbel Fans of classic punk rock arrived at the Metro on Tuesday night for a rare opportunity to see originators of the form when founding guitarist Ed Kuepper and original drummer Ivor Hay brought The Saints ‘73-‘78 from Australia […]
IE Record Store Day – Black Friday Guide
Record Store Day Black Friday takes place on Friday, November 28. Our guide includes complete RSD listings, release previews, album reviews, and local RSD locations, plus advertisements and RSD info from your favorite local stores: Rolling Stones Records, Laurie’s Planet of Sound, Blue Village Vinyl, Bob’s Blues & Jazz Mart, Scratched Vinyl, Hoarders Records […]
Cover Story: John 5 and Richie Kotzen • Dual Shredders
The exceptional guitar artistry of one John William Lowery, professionally known as John 5, is internationally celebrated. The guitarist’s musical resume includes a wide range of diverse artists, such as k.d. Lang, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, and Meat Loaf, while also contributing to projects with rockers like David Lee Roth, Rob Halford, Lita Ford, Lynyrd […]
Spins: Frank Zappa • Halloween ’78: Live at the Palladium, NY Super Deluxe
Frank Zappa Halloween ’78: Live at the Palladium, NY Super Deluxe (UMe/Zappa) Spooky! Scary! I am, of course, referring to the compositional skill and dazzling technical chops on display by Frank Zappa and his top-flight band on the Halloween night of 1978 in New York City. This is the fourth Super Deluxe costume box […]
Live Review & Gallery: David Byrne at Auditorium Theatre • Chicago
David Byrne Auditorium Theatre October 28, 2025 Chicago, IL Live review by Jeff Elbel, Live photos by Curt Baran. Tuesday’s concert by David Byrne began with a recorded welcome from the artist, informing patrons that the Auditorium Theatre management had agreed to allow dancing if the aisles were kept clear. “In the event of a […]
Rock of Pages/Spins: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Mick Rock Rocky Horror: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Cult Classic (HarperPop) Original Cast The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Ode) Let’s do the Time Warp again! These two complementary projects arrive in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the grandaddy of all B-movie cult films. Famed rock photographer […]
Live Review: Tommy Emmanuel at Cahn Auditorium • Evanston
Tommy Emmanuel Cahn Auditorium Evanston, IL October 15, 2025 Review by Steven Kikoen On a gray, rain-spattered day in mid-October, the campus of Northwestern University still seemed to maintain its quiet collegiate grandeur. Inside the 85-year-old Cahn Auditorium—a favorite among Northwestern students and the Evanston community—there are more than a thousand seats which would soon […]
Stage Buzz: Elvis Costello, Doechii, Brandy and Monica
If there’s one artist who’s taken over the hip-hop world within the last year, it’s Doechii. Representing the Florida rap scene, her quirky style and lyrical flow made tracks like “Denial Is a River” and “Anxiety” explode in popularity. See Doecii in action when she brings her “Live from the Swamp Tour” to Aragon Ballroom this Tuesday, […]
Live Review: Elbow at The Riviera Theatre • Chicago
Elbow The Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL October 6, 2025 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Elbow’s arrival on Monday night was beautifully timed. The general mood in Chicago is currently tense – a frame of mind that this band from Manchester, England, is uniquely gifted to counter. Elbow reliably spreads goodwill and encourages community through […]
Photo Gallery: Judas Priest with Alice Cooper at Credit Union 1 Amphitheater • Tinley Park
Judas Priest with Alice Cooper and Corrosion of Conformity Credit Union 1 Amphitheater October 5, 2025 Tinley Park, IL Photos by Edward Spinelli If it were the late 70s, two-thirds of Saturday’s final seasonal performance in Tinley Park would have toured playing baseball stadiums as World Series of Rock performers. Fast forward 4 decades later, […]
Photo Gallery: Michael Schenker at Arcada Theatre • St. Charles
Michael Schenker Group Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL September 27, 2025 Photo gallery by Edward Spinelli Perhaps the most sought-after ticket for a suburban hosted rock show in the past several years, guitar pioneer Michael Schenker and his band arrived at Arcada Theatre in St. Charles after several nights of sold-out shows at Arcada and […]
Cover Story: Local H • Run It Back
Think about a time when you screwed up. A time when you knew things weren’t right, but it was too late to change things. If you had the chance to go back and make things right, would you? For Scott Lucas, the moment he knew he messed up was with the release of Local H’s […]
Media: October 2025 • Mitch Michaels: Hall of Famer
Very few rock and roll stations on the Chicago radio dial have not had the voice of Mitch Michaels pumping through their airwaves. The list of stations is impressive: WGLD (now V-103), WDAI (now WLS-FM), WXRT, WKQX (now Q-101), WLUP (now K-Love), WCKG (now the FM simulcast of WBBM News Radio), and The River. So […]
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