Review: No Fear Here; Franz Ferdinand’s Live Show Was Fearless and Jubilant
Franz Ferdinand has had a career with growing gaps between new albums for a couple of years now, which might lead one to expect they are running low on ideas. […]
Tankboy resides in the body of Jim Kopeny and lives in Mayfair with Pickle the Kitten and a beagle named Betty (RIP) who may actually be slightly more famous than most of the musicians slogging through the local scene. He's written about music for much longer than most bands you hear on the radio have even existed.
Review: Neal Francis’ Return To Zero Is A Big Leap Forward
While it certainly doesn’t include all his recorded output in other groups, Neal Francis‘ solo career provides a fascinating look at an artist expanding his horizons and incorporating all of […]
Preview: Ready to Get Bowled Over by Bur?
I’ve only seen Bur play once, for about 25 minutes, during an early night set at Montrose Saloon last spring and I still think about that show on a regular […]
Last Minute Plans: Catch Pony at Subterranean on Friday Before They Get Huge
If you play a single Pony song, ANY song, you will immediately see why I am so head over heels with the band. I came across the band during the […]
Preview: Scott Lucas Brings LIFERS to the Music Box, Local H Brings Whatever Happened To P.J. Soles to Metro
A few years ago I wrote a piece arguing that Local H was one of the hardest working and most consistent rock bands currently in existence. This remains very true. […]
Review: Tamar Berk Delivers Good Times On Her New Album
Just before the release of her fourth album in four years, Tamar Berk posed the reasonable question, “So in your opinion when is the right time for a ‘greatest hits’ […]
Quick Spins: Charly Bliss and Psymon Spine
Quick Spins takes a quick look at recently released albums to make certain you’re listening to all the quality music being released these days. Charly Bliss – FOREVER FOREVER by […]
Feature: The Return of Fig Dish!
In the second wave of label signings as the music industry descended on Chicago in the mid-’90s, Fig Dish stood out as particularly resistant to playing the major label game. […]
Preview: Matthew Sweet’s Bringing His Power-Pop Excellence to Metro
At one time Matthew Sweet was the face of early ’90s power-pop. And even if you didn’t know what “power-pop” was, his music had a universal yearning paired with hooks […]
Preview: Jesus Jones Brings Their Dance-Rock Back To Chicago
My history with Jesus Jones extends all the way back to the late ’80s when the cover of the Liquidizer cassette caught my eye at a Sound Warehouse. A minute […]
Review: Tamar Berk’s tiny injuries Is Worth Your Immediate Attention
If you want to throw a music critic into a real mental tizzy, ask them what they’re listening to or what they’d recommend. I know enough other critics that I […]
Last Minute Plans: Psymon Spine Brings Their Indie-Rock Dance Party to Color Club Tonight
Psymon Spine hails from NYC and traffics in the kind of basement dance-party indie rock pioneered by bands like LCD Soundsystem and the sounds familiar to the DFA label. OK, […]