Tag: featured
Media: July 2024 • 45th Anniversary of Disco Demolition: A Loop Insider’s Story
In the heyday of the late ’70s and early ’80s, Loop (WLUP, 97.9 FM) was owned by Congressman Cecil Heftel of Heftel Broadcasting. The president of Heftel Broadcasting was Tom Hoyt. A few photos of Hoyt appear in my book The Loop Files, as do a few stories told by him during his Heftel […]
Photo Gallery: Santana with Counting Crows • Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre • Tinley Park
Santana with Counting Crows Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Tinley Park Saturday, June 29, 2024 Recap and gallery by Curt Baran Two titans of the San Francisco Bay Music scene touched down in suburban Tinley Park this past weekend. ‘60’s legend Carlos Santana, who, at age 76, may have spent the majority of his set playing […]
Stage Buzz: Rolling Stones, Hawthorne Heights, Third Eye Blind
The Rolling Stones are defying the odds. The original bad boys of rock are still touring and making new music 62 years (!) in their career. Their 24th album, Hackney Diamonds, dropped last year. But it’s classics like “Start Me Up,” “Miss You,” “Paint It Black,” “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” and “(I […]
Live Review: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss • Ravinia Festival • Highland Park
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Ravinia Festival Highland Park, IL Wednesday, June 12, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Kyle Dunleavy/Ravinia Festival. Wednesday’s concert at Ravinia Festival celebrated the seemingly serendipitous pairing of rock legend Robert Plant and bluegrass torchbearer Alison Krauss. While emphasizing roots music and Americana, the bandleaders’ partnership testified to the […]
Photo Gallery: Sarah McLachlan • Huntington Bank Pavilion • Chicago
Sarah McLachlan Huntington Bank Pavilion Chicago, IL June 11, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran If you closed your eyes, it was as if you’d been transported back to 1994. Sarah McLachlan began singing “Possession” from her Fumbling Toward Ecstasy album from that year and it sounded as if her voice had been cryogenically […]
Feature: Kula Shaker • Spiritual Relationships
“Not dead YET.” For better or worse, that has become my patented gallows-humored, post-pandemic response to anyone who casually inquires how I’m doing. Based on the hilarious Monty Python Death Cart scene in The Holy Grail, I’ve found it to be a good way of underscoring the […]
Stage Buzz Q & A: Jon Anderson at Copernicus Center • Chicago
Jon Anderson is in love with life. At 79 years old, he’s still doing what makes him happy: making and playing music. Not only is he prepping a summer tour with The Band Geeks, but he’s also getting ready to release his 16th solo album, True. With a career spanning several decades, it would be […]
Photo Gallery: The Damned at Concord Hall • Chicago + Bonus Live Review from The Gothic Theatre • Denver
The Damned Concord Music Hall Chicago, IL June 2, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Although they’ve maintained a core of usual suspects, The Damned have certainly endured a revolving door of both personnel changes and musical directions. This is not entirely surprising, considering the UK band is now entering its FIFTH decade as […]
Cover Story: Kerry King • Solo Time
Five years since Slayer played what was to be the band’s final gig on November 30, 2019, on their Farewell Tour during a hometown show at the Forum in Los Angeles, guitarist Kerry King has resurfaced with the release of his first solo album, From Hell I Rise (via Reigning Phoenix Music). Recruiting former Slayer […]
Stage Buzz: Allman Betts Band, Melt-Banana, The Damned, , George Clinton
The term “nepo baby” gets thrown around in show business a lot these days. Two sons of southern rock greats (Greg Allman and Dickie Betts) are doing it right, honoring and expanding the legacy of southern roots rock (Devon Allman and Duane Betts with Berry Duane Oakley). The Allman Betts Band arrives at the Arcada […]
Photo Gallery: The Decemberists with Ratboys at Salt Shed • Chicago
The Decembrists with Ratboys The Salt Shed Chicago, IL May 21, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Portland, Oregon’s The Decemberists haven’t released an album in eight years, a veritable lifetime in the record industry hourglass. Well, all that’s about to change. The band is set to release As It Ever Was, So It […]
Photo Gallery: Social Distortion & Bad Religion at The Riviera Theatre • Chicago, IL
Social Distortion/Bad Religion Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL May 20, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran There was a time when just simply being a punk was dangerous. I mean, you could get your ass kicked just walking down the street!” Social Distortion singer Mike Ness shared this walk down memory lane during his band’s […]
Knocked Loose, LCD Soundsystem, Echo and the Bunnymen
Knocked Loose is one of the most acclaimed metalcore groups of the late 2010s. Their blending of metalcore noise with hardcore punk made their sound brash, rough, and exciting. The band returned this year with their third album, You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To, which they’ll be touring behind. Hear cuts from the latest […]
Photo Gallery: Devo at Riviera Theatre • Chicago
Devo at the Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL Saturday, May 11, 2024 Recap and photos by Jeff Elbel New Wave pioneers Devo brought their Celebrating 50 Years of De-Evolution Tour to a full house of spuds and energy-domed mutants at the Riviera Theatre on Saturday. The career-spanning set list was packed with crowd favorites. Singer and […]
Photo Gallery: Kerry King at Reggies • Chicago
Kerry King Tuesday, May 7, 2024 Reggies Chicago, IL Recap and photos by Edward Spinelli Legendary Slayer guitarist Kerry King is likely one of the few artists to play Reggie’s, who parked an 18-wheeler behind the club. Mr. King and his band’s 17-song setlist debuted eleven new tracks from King’s upcoming debut solo album, From […]
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