Alec Stern’s Ambient Sounds Strive for More in “Settle For These Stories”
We’re in a very interesting time for music. The past year and a half has really shaped how music is being created. Such is the case with Alec Stern‘s “Settle […]
Review: What Played in Peoria—Punks in Peoria, by Jonathan Wright and Dawson Barrett
Punks in Peoria: Making a Scene in the American Heartland Jonathan Wright and Dawson Barrett University of Illinois Press I told a friend I was reviewing a book called Punks […]
Review: Hermanas Do It for Themselves in Goodman’s American Mariachi
The Destinos Latino Theater Festival is Chicago’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Goodman Theatre’s offering is American Mariachi, a co-production with the Dallas Theater Center. Henry Godinez directs […]
Lady Lamb Charms City Winery During An Evening with Strings
There was little time wasted last week at City Winery. The well packed venue quieted down as the lights dimmed and Lady Lamb was introduced. Aly Spaltro walked to the […]
Review: Ear Taxi Festival Delivers Day Long Excellence Despite Glitches
Ear Taxi Festival’s day-long series of concerts began Thursday at the Kehrein Center for the Arts in the Austin neighborhood and continued on Friday on the campus of DePaul University. […]
Start Your Autumn by Supporting Local Music with Bandcamp Friday
Fall is finally here and it’s the scariest time of the year! But don’t the ghouls scare you away from some excellent tunes today! It’s Bandcamp Friday! The monthly push […]
Review: The Bob Mould Band Thrashes the Vic Theatre
Punk icon Bob Mould brought his energy, gratitude and tight trio to Lakeview’s Vic Theatre on September 24. His Distortion and Blue Hearts! tour started September 16 in Boston and […]
Preview: Ear Taxi Festival Shifts to Mainstage Concerts
As Ear Taxi Festival enters its third and final weekend, the focus shifts to the Mainstage Series Concerts, with five full days of mostly free performances in venues spread across […]
Review: Dark, Rough, Brutal, and Real: Bessie Smith by Jackie Kay
Bessie Smith: A Poet’s Biography of a Blues Legend By Jackie Kay Vintage Books Bessie Smith, Empress of the Blues, liked to spend money on herself and on her friends, […]
Preview: Paved Paradise Is a Vinyl Lover’s Dream Come True
Summer may be on its last legs (yes I know it’s technically done), but there’s still plenty of fun to be had, especially for music lovers. There is an embarrassment […]
Review: Music of the Baroque Trumpets Return to Live by Illuminating Handel
Music of the Baroque’s season-opening program virtually demanded celebratory music. The concerts on Sunday at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie and Monday at the […]
Riot Fest 2021: Sunday in Review
Douglas Park made some noise on Sunday as Riot Fest pulled off a successful festival weekend in the COVID-era. By Sunday morning everything hurt. My body felt, well, like someone […]