I came to the Riviera Theatre Saturday night expecting to be an impartial observer to the beginnings of late aughts nostalgia. The sentiment that began to bubble when Obama left office is […]
Review: Gaslight Anthem Brings Nostalgia to Riviera
Review: Vans House Parties Caps Off the Summer with Wolf Parade, Torres, and Lala Lala
In a world of typical venues where the mode of operations is as simple as stand, drink, and wait for the band, House of Vans has been doing something different. Better and […]
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 […]
Review: Post-Adventures with Lume, Chastity, and Mourn at the Empty Bottle
Tuesday night’s show at the Empty Bottle featured three relatively up-and-coming bands that redefine their parent genres and challenge what it means to sound like a “post-rock” band. In an era of […]
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 […]
Review: Deafheaven Brings Black Metal to Metro
As my Uber gets closer to Wrigleyville for the Deafheaven show I hear a loud but faint noise that sounds like The Breeders sure enough, they’re one of the opening bands for the Foo Fighters at Wrigley Field. Now […]
Review: A Sold Out Schubas Welcomes TV Girl
The TV Girl audience is a hyped and dedicated one. As I walked into Schubas way too early to sit down and have a drink with my friends, I could already […]
Review: Ezra Furman Lights Up Beat Kitchen
Wicker Park Fest swallowed up Milwaukee Ave. from Paulina to Damen this weekend, drawing throngs to catch the likes of Against Me!, Snail Mail and Porches at the three-day event. Also on […]
Review: Unknown Mortal Orchestra Had House of Vans Dancing All Night
How does House of Vans do what they do? I thought to myself as I watched concertgoers flood into the House of Vans concert venue, housed in a warehouse space at […]
Pitchfork Music Festival 2018: Day 3 in Review
It’s not a true Pitchfork Festival unless it rains (or gets hot and humid). But the festival didn’t ever get rained out, and the acts didn’t disappoint. (There was a “weather” delay […]
Pitchfork Music Festival 2018: Day 2 in Review
After a slightly rainy Friday made use of all the Lyft ponchos that were being handed out at one corner of Pitchfork Music Festival, Saturday felt a lot nicer. The sun was […]
She’s Crafty Covers Beastie Boys with Hot Saucy Feminism
City Winery celebrated an auspicious hip-hop-iversary, the release of The Beastie Boys’ Hello Nasty album 20 years ago. The officiants were the kick-ass B-Boys tribune band She’s Crafty, formed after co-founder Adam “MCA” […]
