Laura Marling Graces Chicago @ Metro
Dusky pink lights stream over the stage at Metro Chicago, strands of white-flowered ivy coiling along the amplifiers and guitar stands of the band. At center stage, the leaves wind their […]
Bluegrass, Banjo Picking and Clog Dancing Light Up the Symphony Center
The Symphony Center is a different place when the program veers away from classical. Few suits and ties, no designer dresses or jewelry. Plenty of jeans and khakis, checks and […]
Aimee Mann and Jonathan Coulton Shared the Stage and Delighted Park West
[soliloquy id=”13314″] There is no doubt that a show headlined by Aimee Mann and featuring Jonathan Coulton as the opener is going to be a good time, but as Mann […]
Magic Giant Make Their Mark at Lincoln Hall
[soliloquy id=”13237″] Indie rock fledglings Magic Giant are already making a huge wave in the music world. Having formed in 2014, the trio released their self-titled EP the following […]
Prince Almost Resurrected by The Revolution at Metro
Dearly beloved We are gathered here today To get through this thing called “life” Electric word, life It means forever and that’s a mighty long time But I’m here to […]
The Evening Attraction and Joe Bordenaro & The Late Bloomers Shake Up Schubas
The Evening Attraction lit incense on stage at Schubas. They brought out a vintage Farfisa organ, plenty of Vox amps, and even a Danelectro bass. The five-piece band was going […]
Kishi Bashi and Tall Tall Trees Light Up Thalia Hall
Kishi Bashi masterfully plays the violin. He strums it like a mandolin, plucks it pizzicato, and bows it in long sonorous strokes. He also loops himself and toys with pedals […]
Mykele Deville Drops Third Album in Two Years, And Isn’t Stopping Soon
We haven’t seen a Chicago music scene like this before. With the newfound attention on our city following Chance The Rapper’s rise to fame, every artist in the city that […]
Richard Thompson Takes Old Town School of Folk with British Bravado and Old-Man-Leather Sex Appeal
Richard Thompson started playing music professionally in 1967 with Fairport Convention. He was 18. Fifty years of performing, touring, and recording 40+ albums should leave a musician spent. Rather than […]
I’m Falling for You, Chairlift
Chairlift let its music speak for itself Friday night at Park West in Chicago on its farewell tour. Normally I would comment on lighting, costumes, size of the venue and […]
Foxygen Promises Spectacle, But Delivers Karaoke
When Foxygen’s Sam France walked on The Vic’s old vaudeville stage, it was like Tim Curry waltzing within Rocky Horror’s castle: he looked tall, pale, and unkempt. Amid a full torrent […]
Song by Song, Adrian Belew Saved My Sanity
Adrian Belew and his signature Parker Fly guitar (photo courtesy All About Jazz) Toiling in the Trumpocalypse trenches, I needed an infusion of hope. At Chicago’s Old Town School of […]