Tove Styrke is striking. Stadium act in waiting. Don’t miss out dummy. Tove Styrke is a Swedish singer songwriter creating some of the most interesting electropop in years. She is currently on […]
Tove Styrke, syllabically.
Jim Kopeny / Tankboy
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. He also swears that it wasn't him who did that and has learned that "deny everything" is a basic tenet of existence.
A Dozen Riot Fest Bands (That Aren’t Headliners) You Should See
This year’s Riot Fest is a wealth of riches. Yup, that’s a cliché but it’s so true. When you’re done with your whining over this or that headliner going up against each […]
Foo Fighters’ Triumphal Return to Wrigley Field, or Rock’s Death Has Been Greatly Exaggerated
The last time Foo Fighters played Wrigley Field, Dave Grohl was confined to an oversized throne due to a broken leg. When the band returned July 29, Grohl was unfettered and all […]
Let’s Talk About Lollapalooza 2018, Shall We?
How does one even write about Lollapalooza nowadays? I’ve been going to the festival since its inception in 1991, and have only missed a couple, during the fest’s darker years between 1996 […]
The Phonographs Fight to Resurrect Power Pop
O.K., I’ll admit upfront that headline is a bit histrionic. But The Phonographs don’t shy away from hyperbole. Anyone who drops Big Star and The Redwalls in their pitch to listen to […]
Craig Wedren Brings ‘Adult Desire’ to Beat Kitchen Saturday
Craig Wedren made his name in the influential Shudder To Think, a band whose distinctive and sometimes knotty sound still sounds fresh and new today. Over the years, though, he proved to […]
Chicago’s Sonny Falls Have an Excellent New Album Coming Out and Here’s a Taste
Hoagie sent me the unmastered version of the album a few months ago, but the new Sonny Falls LP is finally officially coming out next month! I’ve written about the band a […]
Sloan Is Bringing Their Arena-Sized Feel-Good Rock to Bottom Lounge This Weekend
Sloan is a band closing in on three decades of being together. In that time they’ve released 12 albums, flirted with stardom, and despite missing the industry-approved brass ring of massive mainstream […]
Gorillaz are Coming! Gorillaz are Coming!
It’s highly unusual for Gorillaz to put out two albums within a year of each other, but it’s unheard of for them to have tour stops in Chicago two years in a […]
Believe It or Not, Beach Bunny’s Got Me Interested in “Sports!”
It’s gonna finally be warm outside today! So let’s break out some beach pop! I was digging through the bill VARSITY is playing on at The Empty Bottle for their record release […]
The Darkness Brought Their Over-The-Top Show To Park West
The Darkness’ lead singer Justin Hawkins took a moment last Wednesday at Park West to share a bit of the band’s pre-show ritual with the crowd. He told us they all got […]
Fujiya & Miyagi Are Sublime Dance Rockers
So, the secret no one talks about is that some music reviewers write most reviews ahead of time and MadLib the particulars. So here’s what me and my concert photographer friend came […]
