Tag: featured
Cover Story: Avernus ⢠As Heavy As We Can Be
Twenty-seven years between full-length albums for a band is a long time to wait. But thatâs exactly what happened to local doom metal pioneers Avernus. Formed in 1992 by drummer Rick Yifrach and guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Rick McCoy â joined by guitarist Erik Kikke the following year (who was only 15 years old at the time)âthere was […]
Media: February 2025 ⢠18 Seasons of Steve Wilkos
Itâs hard to believe, but Steve Wilkos is now in his 18th season as the host of The Steve Wilkos Show. The show airs in Chicago on WCIU-TV. â18 seasons,â he says. âI wake up every morning, and I say the same thing. I still can’t believe it. I’ve been doing it, you know. I’ve […]
Stage Buzz: Guster, The String Cheese Incident, Marty Friedman
Marty Friedman, best known for his work with thrash icons Megadeth, is a guitar wizard. His improvisation and fusion of Eastern and Western music with elements of prog rock and thrash will leave you in awe. See the guitar virtuoso for yourself when he brings his guitar mastery to St. Charlesâ Arcada Theatre on Thursday, […]
Cover Story: Alison Moyet ⢠Legacy is Overrated
 She may not have descended to the cynical, humanity-doubting depths of Moliereâs âThe Misanthrope.â 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 youâre my age or younger, you donât remember a time when Bob Newhart was not famous. Bob was an ordinary Chicagoan when […]
Live Review and Gallery: Andrew Birdâs Gezelligheid ⢠Fourth Presbyterian Church ⢠Chicago
Andrew Birdâs 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 âgezelligheidâ is a Dutch term that loosely translates to âcoziness.â 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 â a perfect backdrop for Burned, the bandâs 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 Beatlesâ Red and Blue compilation albums, along with the bandâs final single, âNow and Then.â This yearâs deluxe offering returns to the Fab Fourâs 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? Portlandâs 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 Gilmourâs 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 […]
Cover Story: Steel Panther ⢠Canât Stop The Rock
When it comes to Steel Panther, no subject matter is off-limits. The Los Angeles âhair metalâ revivalists donât hold back â or sugarcoat anything â when creating the bandâs humorous, tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Tracks such as âAsian Hooker,â âFat Girl (Thar She Blows),â âBig Boobs,â âWeenie Ride,â âGlory Hole,â and many more prove that the band […]
Media: November 2024 ⢠Danny Macâs 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 âPast Present Futureâ tour. The singer will perform his latest and greatest across three nights starting Monday, October 28th, through […]
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