Tag: featured
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 […]
Studiophile: Remembering Steve Albini
Audio engineer, musician, and studio owner Steve Albini passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday night (May 7). His death is a terrible loss not only to his family, colleagues, and friends but also to so many studio engineers and music fans who loved his production and passion. His extensive recording resume included groundbreaking bands like Nirvana, […]
IE REWIND: The Sisters of Mercy • The Proud Villains • Appearing at Aragon Ballroom October 23 • Chicago
Like many of us over the past three COVID-constricted years, I — as both a journalist and a human being, in general — spent a great deal of time looking back, reflecting on past decisions, discoveries, and early drug-related derailments, and not always comfortably. I’ve made a few mistakes over my crazy, always-colorful 46-year career, […]
Cover Story: Jamey Jasta on Milwaukee Metal Fest, Solo Music and The Future
By Kelley Simms One of the country’s most nostalgic metal festivals was resurrected in 2023 and will, thankfully, return for a second straight year. Initially founded in 1987 by Jack Koshick (also the founder of March Metal Meltdown), the Milwaukee Metal Fest has a storied history and was once an annual global metal music tradition […]
Media: May 2024 • WXRT’s New Afternoon Host Andy Chanley
It’s not like changes are made every day to the daytime lineup at WXRT. When disc jockeys come to work at the station, they stay a decade or five. New WXRT afternoon man Andy Chanley was well aware of this when he took the job. “That was my biggest worry going into all this,” Chanley […]
Stage Buzz: Legions of Metal at Reggies • Chicago
Legions of Metal Festival Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4 Reggies Chicago, IL By Kelley Simms (Feature photo Hirax by Anne De Pena) A revered Chicago metal tradition continues to thrive under its new name with this year’s two-day/two-room (Reggies Rock Club and Music Joint) music festival. Legions of Metal originally began as Ragnarokkr […]
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