Terry Reid
Empty Bottle, Chicago
Friday, November 21, 2008
Word on the street is Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham are trying to force Robert Plant’s hand (Plant said he has no intentions of participating in a full-fledged Led Zeppelin reunion tour) by holding rehearsals with Myles Kennedy, lead singer of Alter Bridge — the band formed by the Creed members once they got sick of Scott Stapp. Jim. Johnny Boy. Seriously? That dicknose? Why not reach out to the guy you wanted initially?
Lordi
House Of Blues, Chicago
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Let us tell you how much cooler Finland is than the United States (notice I said “cooler,” not tougher, or more patriotic, or more armed or anything — so please no “Love it or leave it” e-mails”): Here, we mock, or in the least, dismiss costumed/masked bands like Lordi as novelty acts. Finland? They produce official Lordi credit cards, postage stamps, soft drinks, candy, and restaurants.
Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival
Congress Theatre, Chicago
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The 2008 Bluegrass & Blues Festival is neither bluegrass nor blues: discuss. Subtopic, the Saving Tiny Hearts Society benefits either way.
Brother Von Doom
Relentless
(Deathcote)
Everything about Relentless, pre-CD-player insertion, says “totally fucking badass.” Everything about Relentless, post-CD-player ejection, says “total fucking waste of time.”
Hotel Café Tour
Park West, Chicago
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Girls just want to have fun until it’s time for a soul-baring, singer-songwriter night. The Hotel Café tour rolled into Chicago’s Park West the night following Barack Obama’s historic presidential win and quickly sucked the euphoria left lingering from Election Day out of the room. Cheating boyfriends, lost loves, male/female friendships torn apart by a significant other’s jealously – all is fair in love and war, and no topic is too maudlin to tackle for the ladies on this tour.
Jack’s Mannequin
Bottom Lounge, Chicago
November 9, 2008
Despite hailing from sunny California, the Windy City is almost a second home for Jack’s Mannequin, at least according to frontman Andrew McMahon at Sunday night’s Bottom Lounge show. And judging by the commitment of the sold-out crowd (some camped out in the cold for hours to get in), he’s not kidding. Swarms of mostly high school/college-aged fans packed into the new West Loop venue for the alt-pop band’s performance.
Coheed And Cambria
Rivieria, Chicago
Tuesday, October 28-31, 2008
Coheed And Cambria have always gone big. From overly pretentious album titles (Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness) to sprawling nine-minute epics, the group has continually aspired toward the ambitious and grandiose. Thus, it was hardly surprising when Coheed announced not one or even two, but four nights in a row to properly display that ambition.
