Aoife O’Donovan is special. It’s easy to say that about many musicians, especially ones we hold dear, but there is something about O’Donovan that can’t be denied. Whether it be her easy demeanor or her effervescent writing, unique among her…
Sometimes I go to a show that is wonderful. I leave feeling satisfied and happy, having seen a great night of music and spent time with friends. Other, more rare times, I leave a show remembering why music is the…
If you’ve never listened to Dana Fuch’s solo music, you might still recognize her voice. The powerful singer played the role of (Sexy) Sadie in Julie Taymor’s Beatles musical Across the Universe, as well as the starring role in the off-Broadway musical Love,…
If you want to see the energy drink equivalent of a musical performance, stop in to Durand Jones & the Indications’ next show. Jones and company held a riotous “soul evening” with Chicago R&B/funk band Fat Night as their opener. Fat…
Midway through their show at Old Town School of Folk, Marc Ribot turned to the audience, gestured to David Hidalgo, and said, “If it seems like we’re just two guys jamming up here…it’s because we are.” And so they were.…
It seems that in each generation of bluegrass, there comes a new reigning trio of powerful women. Like Dolly, Linda, and Emmylou before them, Aoife O’Donovan, Sarah Jarosz, and Sara Watkins have come together as a new band: the aptly…
Kurt Elling is a Big Name in jazz. He’s the consummate performer, the professional, and the occasional cheese-ball (but don’t tell him I said so). Originally hailing from Chicago, he’s known for his smooth vocals, high levels of musicianship, and…
On the coattails of the release of her new album, Music For People In Trouble (released Sept. 8, 2017, via Bella Union), Susanne Sundfør has embarked on her first U.S. tour. The Norwegian artist, known for her sweeping electronic landscapes and dark imagery,…
There’s a certain kind of transitional nostalgia I feel every time fall comes around. The feeling of a new school year stays with you long after you’ve finished school. And much like every season, fall has its own specific atmosphere…
What kind of madman covers both Neil Young and Björk in the same show? Moses Sumney does. Sumney is the kind of artist who draws you in, and it’s not because he’s necessarily trying to. The LA-based musician, on his…
The Lollapalooza Aftershow at Concord Music Hall on Thursday began with a soulful rendition of the Pokémon theme song. The entire crowd of people stopped and turned, and immediately began to sing along. For the R&B singer Xavier Omär, this was…
Brooklyn band Big Thief have had a recent upsurge of popularity. Their recently released album Capacity has been met with critical acclaim, and it’s no wonder; the album is flooring. It’s one of the most stunning and heart-wrenching albums I’ve heard in a…
I always feel, like many, a certain kind of trepidation when going to see an artist I love but haven’t seen live before. This feeling intensifies when said artist is someone like (Sandy) Alex G, a voice I’ve come to love…
There’s something about about driving around on a summer night with the windows down and the music blasting that feels ineffable. What is that feeling and why do we seek it? Whether it’s high school nostalgia, a feeling of endlessness…
If you didn’t know who Sidewalk Chalk was before, you probably should now. The Chicago soul/hip-hop band’s fourth full-length, out June 2, 2017 via Ropeadope Records, is bombastic to say the least. Opening with a pulse-quickening drum that picks up in…
At the Literacenter, you’ll find a large, colorful office filled with book puns, some scooters, and a pink-haired woman greeting you at the desk. The Chicago Literacy Alliance (CLA), started in 2009, set out to create a collective of nonprofit…
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