tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13636763321477157802011-04-21T14:18:49.009-05:00ONLINE EXCLUSIVESurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comBlogger1551100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-74725835097278594162008-05-15T15:33:00.002-05:002008-05-15T15:36:23.686-05:00For the eighth year in a row, Collaboration's annual festival will deliver a fusion of artsby Diana BaeSketchbook Festival is "boredom-proof," says Anthony Moseley. So for those of you who don't normally like the traditional stuffy theater you might be used to, this show could be the one for you, according to the executive artistic director and festival director of Chicago-based arts organizationurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-86906753795029328572008-05-12T15:39:00.005-05:002008-05-13T14:32:58.152-05:00The Kills take on Chicago with harder beats and a creeping singerNever in my life have I seen two people work a stage the way The Kills did at the Metro on Friday night. Having seen them years ago in Brooklyn when they opened for Sleater Kinney, I had high expectations as they’d been the highlight of a show that they weren't even headlining. As soon as they stepped onstage, vocalist VV (aka urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-62449798262553022782008-05-12T13:14:00.004-05:002008-05-13T14:33:41.524-05:00M.I.A. got the crowd involved and turned the Aragon into a Carnivale-worthy eventSaturday night, a decidedly younger crowd gathered for M.I.A.’s concert at the Aragon Ballroom. A mother passed off tickets to her son and his friends in the lobby, their embarrassment palpable. “Mom,” you could almost hear him whine through his braces as she waved her goodbyes. “We got this, ok? Gawd!” People urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-2487103107195600572008-05-09T14:33:00.004-05:002008-05-12T11:15:08.065-05:00Cut Copy came to Chicago and put on a larger than life showSeriously, the Aussies know how to get a party started. While Black Kids delivered a deliciously fun set, after which I heard someone in the crowd yell “as far as I’m concerned, that was the show,” Cut Copy took the stage for the first of two shows at the Abbey Pub and started off with “Out There On The Ice” from their newest album, In urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-58493554628202996752008-05-09T14:25:00.004-05:002008-05-12T11:15:34.469-05:00Megadeth and a killer lineup of bands brought the metal to Chicago and thrilled One would think age might catch up to Dave Mustaine. At age 46, Mustaine put his first record out under the Megadeth moniker way back in 1985. 23 years later, he’s still going strong – he’s battled addiction on multiple occasions and also dealt with the skyrocketing success of his former band, Metallica. With a newurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-89491275224463580772008-05-09T10:41:00.006-05:002008-05-12T11:16:00.667-05:00Dolly Parton Shines at the Chicago Theatre, May 8, 2008photographs by Daniel Peter"There ain't nothin' real about me but my heart," Dolly Parton told the sold-out crowd at the Chicago Theatre Thursday night, May 8. From the bleach blond wig (that she said came from a real nice Korean girl) to the voluptuous breasts (yes, they are even bigger up close -- and no, they ain't real), Dolly Parton urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-82933967915259960952008-05-09T00:12:00.005-05:002008-05-12T11:16:22.536-05:00Interviews with Darryl Roberts, Gerren Taylor and Chris KeefeChicago filmmaker Darryl Roberts' documentary America the Beautiful opens Friday at Landmark Century Centre Cinema. UR Chicago talked with Roberts, Gerren Taylor, the teenage model whose career Roberts follows, and Chris Keefe, who has a lot to say about women.--Mark Dujsik Darryl Roberts What was your inspiration to tackle the urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-62834599594835063192008-05-08T12:37:00.002-05:002008-05-08T12:40:55.098-05:00English quintet the Heavy attract howls with their signature “stinky” sound this Fridayby Diana Bae“Pack your best wolf howl.” That’s what Kelvin Swaby suggests fans should do at his band’s shows. This big bad wolf persona that was proclaimed by the Heavy a couple years ago -- inspired when people expressed disbelief that so much noise could come from so few people -- fits. With the American urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-59929694978472559342008-05-05T14:27:00.004-05:002008-05-05T14:52:23.285-05:00Evanston's Whole Foods indulges our breakfast meat cravingsphotos by Laura GrayI'd seriously consider being a vegetarian if not for a single solitary carnivorous indulgence: bacon. Is there another natural food product that so clearly defines the infinite joy of our existence? No, not really. It's the aroma that can drag the most hungover heap of humanity out of bed, the thoughtful addition that urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-1090720139925107872008-05-05T13:54:00.004-05:002008-05-05T14:26:50.178-05:00Eisley delivers with a tight and impressive performanceIt’s always a nice surprise when opening bands perform in order of greatness. Such was the case at Park West on Friday night for Eisley’s headlining show. Before the show, I was unsure of what to expect from the opening bands as I’d never experienced either one of them before. Within the first few songs of Vedera’s set, I saw promising urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-56530394265472681932008-05-05T13:47:00.004-05:002008-05-05T14:23:26.428-05:00Nine Inch Nails The SlipRating: 4/5 starsMr. Reznor has gotten mighty ambitious since his departure from Interscope Records. For a man who used to put an album out every five years or so, to have four new albums (five, if you count the Year Zero Remixed album) in only three years is just unheard of. So when does he start to sound monotonous? When will his new material begin to sound bloated? urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-88108558943040666332008-05-01T14:13:00.003-05:002008-05-01T14:24:08.522-05:00Looptopia comes back for a second year of late-night art celebrationsby Diana BaeThe Loop will shed its business-only attitude this weekend to show off its more artsy, fun, party-till-the-break-of-dawn side -- literally. The second annual, 14 hour-long Looptopia will start at 5 p.m. Friday and last until past the first light of the next day, finishing at 7 a.m. Saturday. This year, the event willurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-81390730437057542632008-04-29T13:08:00.005-05:002008-04-29T14:21:12.254-05:00New Evanston eatery Union Pizzeria combines food and live musicA new restaurant barely three months old is shaking up the white-bread culinary scene in Evanston. Union Pizzeria is the innovative brainchild of a partnership between real estate developer Craig Golden, former music producer Stuart Rosenberg, musician Dave Spector and Steve Schwartz, owner of Campagnola restaurant located down the urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-65775441054226572732008-04-29T12:12:00.005-05:002008-04-29T14:23:20.415-05:00U.K. quintet Foals take us on a rockin' nostalgia tripFoals singer and guitarist Yannis Philippakis has a soft spot for ’90s Chicago technical rock music. With a side nod to Don Caballero, he’s quick to identify local favorites Sweep the Leg Johnny as his favorite band. “I have everything they’ve ever done,” he brags, even tracking down a rare demo that was released in tandem with a zine. “urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-6079922945849113252008-04-28T15:24:00.004-05:002008-04-28T16:06:38.717-05:00It’s Not Easy Being Green: Green Apple Festival Celebrates Earth Dayphotos by Cindy BarrymoreIn the clear spring sky, the sun shone brightly on the majestic lion. As he stretched and sunned himself on the perfectly placed boulder, lazily glancing at his surroundings, I found myself wondering if this king had any awareness of what had become of his kingdom. I’m often conflicted at zoos. On the oneurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-54346319021381517932008-04-28T15:02:00.006-05:002008-04-28T16:01:37.101-05:00Windy City Story Slam makes storytelling a competitive eventThe Windy City Story Slam grew out of a trio of Chicago traditions: the eponymous poetry slam, Studs Terkel-style oral storytelling and the competitive boxing community. That’s right—the event’s founder, William Hillmann, won the Chicago Golden Gloves boxing championship in 2002 and was covering boxing events for small magazines when he urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-7641874119014330442008-04-24T14:18:00.001-05:002008-04-24T14:21:32.263-05:00Artists and galleries from around the world converge in Chicagoby Ben MadeskaLet's face it: You've been out of college for a while now, and the Bob Marley poster that really pulled your dorm room together doesn't quite have the same cachet now. And that framed Warhol poster? It isn't fooling anyone. You finally have a car with a bumper that doesn't need duct tape to stay on and maybe you're even urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-26404001067481404942008-04-23T11:06:00.006-05:002008-04-28T11:13:18.964-05:00Jimmy Eat World and Paramore rocked a diverse crowd Saturday nightIt doesn't matter how jaded you are, if you don't develop a crush on Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams by the time their live set is over, you have no soul. Sure, the Tennessee quartet's pop-punk sound isn't anything new, but the young band writes some seriously catchy songs and Williams has the confidence and the pipes to win urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-21180771018345106072008-04-21T13:01:00.004-05:002008-04-23T09:55:29.228-05:00Saul electrifies while sending out positive messagesNormally when the crowd is screaming, “I want my money back” as Saul Williams’ audience did on Friday night, it would be a bad thing. But during this engaging and intimate Martyrs set, the audience was singing back lyrics to Saul’s popular song. If you asked anyone in the room after the show, $16 was a bargain even just to see the opening band,urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-9017250853286359212008-04-21T11:01:00.004-05:002008-04-22T15:20:48.797-05:00 Rogue Wave puts on an airtight performance While Rogue Wave is an amazing band in their own right – and I’ll get to that in a minute – you should never take a band that’s as tough to follow as Grand Ole Party out on tour with you. To start with, much respect is due for the Phil Collins approach. Featuring a singing drummer who reaches the heights of Beth Ditto with the passion and...well, urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-54100469734370369892008-04-17T12:40:00.002-05:002008-04-17T12:45:13.811-05:00The members of Rogue Wave knock down life's roadblocks to make latest albumby Neil Miller Jr.Straight out of Oakland, Calif., the four members of Rogue Wave have had a whirlwind of ups and downs surrounding the recording of their most recent album, Asleep at Heaven's Gate. Enduring drummer Pat Spurgeon's kidney transplant, the loss of keyboardist Gram LeBron's father, frontman Zach Rogue having urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-86299707687640882612008-04-16T14:38:00.006-05:002008-04-16T17:49:01.769-05:00The other bluesy two-piece keeps it lean with a tight setThe Black Keys have quietly grown into one of the biggest rock draws out there right now. Sure, the White Stripes are still the household name when it comes to bluesy two-pieces, but each time I've seen the Keys it's been at a continually bigger venue; two Novembers ago at the Vic, last summer on one of the main stages of Lollapalooza and urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-9352027114199112462008-04-14T15:02:00.004-05:002008-04-14T15:23:30.807-05:00Autechre makes a piece of electronic music history IDM is a fickle genre of electronic music – come on, it stands for “Intelligent Dance Music”. There’s always a lot of debate as to whom or what truly fits into this genre and when it comes down to it, it’s more subjective than a matter of fact as to what is really considered to be IDM. But ask anyone familiar with the genre to name one artist urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-31824508254627198852008-04-14T12:45:00.005-05:002008-04-14T14:55:20.686-05:00DJs Sasha and John Digweed play an emotionless show to a mesmerized crowdThere were a few disappointed fans at this show. Not because of the performance, but because of a sold-out performance they came to see and could not get into. DJ Sasha and John Digweed have not played in Chicago together in six years, and from the head count and amount of merchandise being sold, it was apparent that they urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-89473268294285944402008-04-13T20:46:00.005-05:002008-04-22T13:35:10.389-05:00The “Shoes” star joins Margaret Cho for a “Beautiful” show.You probably know YouTube phenom Kelly from the music video "Shoes," a campy techno ode to the powerful allure of high-end footwear. One blogger after another rallied behind Kelly's unabashed materialism, turning “Shoes” into a bona fide viral sensation. Two years after debuting in 2006, "Shoes" boasts more than 20 million views, a urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-53863735465701697532008-04-11T12:39:00.006-05:002008-04-14T14:57:49.893-05:00DJ Sasha and John Digweed return to Chicago after six yearsDJ Sasha returns to Chicago on Saturday, April 12 at the House of Blues. He took a few minutes to discuss touring again with John Digweed, the music industry, and his passion for it all. -Anthony ReganSo how does it work on the decks when you’re both touring?It all depends on the length of a set. We can go an hour each or after we carve urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-44750368380771919902008-04-02T11:47:00.005-05:002008-04-02T14:25:50.274-05:00Despite technical difficulties, the boys in the bathtub deliver a memorable setphoto by Bob NannaI’ll admit it. I’m a huge Aloha fan. Wanna fight about it? I’d been looking forward to their Subterranean show for what seemed like months so once Anathallo had finished their impressive set (so many people on that small stage at once, moving to one specific end. Hard not to be impressed!), I spared urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-17157483602428819842008-03-27T13:09:00.003-05:002008-03-27T15:34:02.312-05:00Performance artists Collaboraction throw a Mardi Gras-type party with fifth annual Carnavalby Ben MadeskaChurches are not especially known for housing booze and throwing not-so-holy parties late into the night. But this Saturday, the 120-year-old Gothic cathedral at Ashland and Adams -- home to Epiphany Episcopal Church -- is converting itself into a circus tent-like atmosphere with urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-39398458129858865122008-03-26T15:58:00.004-05:002008-03-27T13:28:26.486-05:00British quartet powerful but limited in small venueIf you've only heard British Sea Power on record, when you listened to them and imagined seeing them live you probably envisioned being at a large outdoor venue or an arena. Their bombastic, anthemic music just sounds like it should be heard someplace big. So seeing them at a tiny venue like the Empty Bottle was initially a little off-putting, asurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-44957196865408527602008-03-24T15:10:00.004-05:002008-03-26T11:45:15.541-05:00A jam-packed evening of theatrical proportionsPhoto by Ryan DonnellI felt a sudden surge of energy before I stepped into Schubas March 20. Perhaps some part of my subconscious knew that I was in for an immensely entertaining show, even though I wasn’t aware of knowing it.The Moneynotes, a Dixieland-inspired, country-bluegrass group opened the night. Apart from the edge of originality in their urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-29690027243494357532008-03-24T14:34:00.006-05:002008-03-26T11:50:19.787-05:00Lights and shadows leave only musicphotograph by Daniel PeterMia Doi Todd, a nymph-like singer-songwriter with an air of lighthearted yet sultry confidence, opened for Jose Gonzalez in Lakeshore Theater on St. Patrick's Day night. The performance felt almost classical, especially considering the fact that the audience was sitting down. Jose Gonzalez draws from South American music as well as a urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-50801306811902666052008-03-19T15:45:00.004-05:002008-03-26T11:50:00.442-05:00The legends give Milwaukee an incredible show for St. Patty's Dayphotograph by Danny Clinch“Is there anybody alive out there?” “Is there anybody ALIVE OUT THERE?” “IS THERE ANYBODY ALIVE OUT THERE?” Bruce Springsteen shouted out the question to the packed Bradley Center in Milwaukee after the lights suddenly snapped off. The crowd, after an hour of waiting - an hour! - was very much alive and urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-76100028548953435862008-03-13T15:48:00.003-05:002008-03-13T15:56:51.094-05:00Columbia College's Story Week speaks a universal languagephotograph: Justin Schmitzby Cory RobertsonRandall Albers, chair of Columbia College's Fiction Writing Department and founding producer of Story Week Festival of Writers, chuckles when he says that Mucca Pazza, who'll be performing at Story Week's "Literary Rock & Roll" event at Metro, is a "30-piece circus-punk marching band." The first urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-36745646171855788362008-03-12T12:22:00.008-05:002008-03-12T16:23:20.481-05:00Seven hours of J-Rock and Metalphoto by Neil Miller, Jr.Featuring:(The J-Rock Revolution Bands . . .)D’espairs RayMUCCThe UnderneathAlong with . . .Idiot PilotBullet For My ValentineAtreyuAvenged Sevenfold"I'd think you guys would be sick of double bass drums at this point," Avenged Sevenfold vocalist, M. Shadows, stated. Well, to be honest, I most certainly was. After almost seven hours of urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-73386179981544816502008-03-06T14:47:00.002-06:002008-03-06T14:53:57.025-06:00Lifelong Blackhawks fan and Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen writes a new team theme songby Jeremy SchnitkerFrom the first game his father took him to a game at the old Chicago Stadium when he was just 6 years old, Al Jourgensen was hooked on Blackhawks hockey. Of course, most people now know Jourgensen as the frontman of seminal industrial-metal band Ministry, an act probably not associated with urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-59272845438184745882008-03-06T14:45:00.005-06:002008-03-06T16:48:53.555-06:00An energetic and spirited set of hits from the troubled legendsI was probably 10 or so when I first heard the Pogues. I was going through a U.K. magazine phase, highlighted with such classy mags as Smash Hits, wherein I could be informed of Robert Smith’s favorite lipstick or perhaps the most recent late-night shenanigans of Simon Le Bon. Every one of the new wave stars seemed to live such a urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-3806503914128191092008-03-04T10:35:00.005-06:002008-03-05T14:36:48.320-06:00No room for gray: the Hives rock the Rivphoto by Jason HorineYouth is alive and well in this country. Don't let anyone tell you differently. The pure energy, vigor, rage and spirit have not yet been consumed by complacency, and for this we should be grateful. Adolescence is a time of rights and wrongs, dos and don'ts, all or nothing –- and perhaps it's this duality that drives the vitality of urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-59920560263627836912008-02-26T12:51:00.008-06:002008-02-27T16:18:05.082-06:00Dave Grohl and fellow Foos make the snowy trek to the 'burbs worth itphotograph by Barry Brecheisen“How many of you fuckers play the triangle for a living?” asked Dave Grohl as he introduced the extended lineup of Foo Fighters to the crowd Monday night at Allstate Arena. “None, because you’re not as good as Drew [Hester]! He rocks the shit out of those third-grade instruments.” Though it had beenurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-40325049183830750552008-02-22T11:04:00.006-06:002008-02-27T16:13:18.809-06:00Neptune native delivers another amazing performancephoto by Neil Miller, Jr.Surely the crowd at the Subterranean knew they were in for a treat tonight. Anyone who's heard Nicole Atkins's music before -- or even better, seen her live -- knows that seeing her on stage is truly seeing her in the ideal element for her music. Before we could be treated to her magnificent take on Americana and her urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-41368027277736121802008-02-21T13:35:00.003-06:002008-02-21T14:34:31.385-06:00Eleventh Annual Sex Workers Art Show Turns Up the Heat this Thursdayby Anthonia AkitundeValentine’s Day has come and gone and with it, all expectations of consumerist declarations of love. So it’s fitting that the Eleventh Annual Sex Workers Art Show returns to Chicago a week after the aforementioned holiday. This Saturday, instead of red roses, chocolates and prix fixe menus, check out the Sex urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-10916403316276059192008-02-20T13:55:00.005-06:002008-02-20T15:41:52.271-06:00Wilco Rocks Fourth Night Straightphoto by Sharyn GoldynChicago has been good to Wilco and Wilco has been good to Chicago. Maybe I will always feel like nothing can surpass seeing them last September at Millennium Park where the sound was perfect, the weather was perfect, and they played every song I wanted to hear, but if ever there was a chance to try, it would be five nights at the Riviera urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-82293524934165568982008-02-14T12:46:00.002-06:002008-02-14T12:49:20.591-06:00AA Bondy’s speedy songwriting doesn’t detract from the power of his musicby Sara AbadiIn a typical week, most people go to work, get a couple of errands done and maybe go out with some friends. In AA Bondy’s world, one week is plenty of time to write one of the best albums of 2007. And in just one month, American Hearts was recorded and mixed at the Red Barn in Palenville, New York. (An actual urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-78223469723511452412008-02-14T10:00:00.000-06:002008-02-14T12:59:16.167-06:00Romantic mystery lacking romance, mysteryDefinitely, Maybe(Adam Brooks, USA, 110 minutes) 2.5/5Opens todayA man tells his kid the story of how he met her mother. Why does that sound like a TV show? The storytelling conceit makes Definitely, Maybe seem like a man's attempt to pitch a romantic comedy he's had on the backburner for a while. Ryan Reynolds plays Will Hayes, recently divorced, whose urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-35935985329075683732008-02-08T14:03:00.000-06:002008-02-08T15:10:46.288-06:00The unlikely star wins over another crowdI wasn’t sure what to expect when I headed to the Metro to see the infamous Daniel Johnston. I’ve seen parts of the film The Devil and Daniel Johnston, which documents Johnston’s debilitating battle mental illness, but I’ve also heard great critical acclaim for his music from such venerable artists as Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Sonic Youth’s Thurston urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-76642145568491591372008-02-08T12:03:00.000-06:002008-02-08T15:05:33.035-06:00Did you get the memo?Can you believe it’s been nearly a decade since Office Space? That’s roughly 36 financial quarters of bad Lumberg impressions and Swingline stapler jokes. The unforeseen longevity of a movie like Office Space -– a cynical look at corporate drones -- stuck with the American audience long after its theatre run. Though the defining modern corporate farce is getting old, it seemsurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-8345030965932372482008-02-08T11:23:00.000-06:002008-02-08T12:02:14.400-06:00A trio of great acts brings a crowd -- despite the crappy weatherphoto by Joe DilworthOh, Mother Nature, you’re going to have to do better than a meager “severe winter storm warning” to keep the people down. Granted, the weather was nowhere near ideal, but that didn’t seem to stop too many people from filing into the Metro Tuesday night. Chicago’s own Aleks and the Drummer took a break from urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-76907170480841433212008-02-07T14:59:00.000-06:002008-02-07T15:32:13.427-06:00Local writer Mark Bazer attempts to revive the lost art of discussion with “The Interview Show”by Ben MadeskaMuch like letter writing and online civility, interviewing is rapidly becoming a lost art. While Letterman and Leno gamely soldier on, it’s clear that most of their guests are only there to plug their latest project rather than to engage in actual conversations that may be (gasp!) urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-65141011745379964622008-02-04T12:09:00.000-06:002008-02-04T12:55:40.190-06:00U.K. punk rockers Gallows treat the anti-Super Bowl crowd to a moshing good timephoto by Neil Miller Jr.You would think it would be disastrous to have a show on the same night as the Super Bowl. In most cases, you'd be right. Gallows' performance at the Metro didn't sell out -- it really didn't come close -- but the people who did show up were treated to something very special. The first band, urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-62383350748545870622008-01-31T17:23:00.000-06:002008-01-31T17:32:54.986-06:00The machine behind the man, or woman, rather.by Lizelle R. DinIt's not a secret that I spend countless hours in front of my computer, usually with deadlines hovering over me. I will have every program imaginable open, tabbing back and forth through 7 or 8 programs to make the "magic" happen. Sadly, the sun disappears during the time I hack through the jungle that is better known as magazine urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-10076330748796275432008-01-31T11:50:00.003-06:002008-03-08T09:41:02.719-06:00Networking site Uber attempts to get talented musicians signed, sealed and delivered to your earsFor young, budding, doe-eyed musicians, the dream of darting past the local gigs into a record contract seems distant at best. But at uber.com’s “You Bring the Talent” competition, “making it big” is a hope hitting a bit closer to home. Uber, a social networking site tailored to showcase creativity, urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-31921706162490343372008-01-28T11:35:00.000-06:002008-01-29T12:11:38.643-06:00Third (or is it fourth?) wave local snarl rockers wear influences on their vintage punk tees Even when well done, spunky powerpop is a genre that's primarily pushed off on teenagers, which gives it all a bad rap as shallow and derivative. Don't misunderstand, most of it is just that, but when properly executed, there's little that's more powerful than the us-against-the-world ethos that urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-59890792332031734612008-01-26T01:59:00.000-06:002008-02-11T12:17:13.623-06:00Looook into Tom Smith's eyesEditors’ jarring guitar riffs and stomping drums begged for me to bring my best white-girl shimmy to the sold-out Vic Friday night. Imagine my disappointment, then, when the U.K quartet took the stage and the audience continued to… sit (and the general admission crowd that packed the floor wasn’t movin’ too much, either).But that’s OK. As soon as the opening urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-20298199680725899872008-01-25T13:05:00.000-06:002008-01-25T14:32:39.224-06:00A quick rundown of some actresses/musiciansThe path of an actor/musician is a difficult one. While they're both creative endeavors, their respective criteria are completely opposite. Generally speaking, audiences expect musicians to live their art -- if you're a cowboy or a punk or a sad sack, people expect you to be that same person when you get off stage. If not you could be labeled as urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-7164480904834981032008-01-24T11:34:00.000-06:002008-01-24T11:36:55.525-06:00Comedian Spanky Brown gears up to headline The Comedy Zone on opening nightby Sara Abadi“Man, I’ve got more drama than CBS daytime,” chuckles Spanky Brown as he describes his life as a comedian. “I’ve been married; I’ve been divorced. I’ve been married again and divorced again. My show is a time to listen to my problems and forget about yours.”Growing up in the South and spending 40 weeks out of urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-55777308479448004642008-01-18T12:19:00.000-06:002008-02-04T12:53:09.646-06:00Masterful songs voice raw emotionBon Iver, aka Justin Vernon, spent last winter shut away in a cabin in rural Wisconsin, creating the kind of heart-wrenching, soul-baring songs you’d expect from such a winter of solitude. But the music of Bon Iver goes beyond any reasonable expectation to something truly fine and compelling. It was the chilling single “Skinny Love” that got my attention in the urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-66562950108629159192008-01-16T17:05:00.000-06:002008-01-16T17:27:41.001-06:00Legendary bluesman Buddy Guy's annual January residency takes over the South Loopby Anthonia AkitundeIf all you know about Chicago's brand of finger-snapping, head-wagging and hip-swiveling blues is from The Blues Brothers, you are in need of some re-education, my friends. Buddy Guy (born George Guy) has put the Windy City on the map with his electric live shows, tours and club, Buddy Guy's urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-60556834146111878042008-01-09T16:04:00.000-06:002008-01-09T16:34:14.778-06:00Detroit's Von Bondies ready to tie in more fans with new musicIt's been more than three years since we've heard from Detroit city rockers the Von Bondies, but they're back and they're on a mission. With a new lineup and more new songs than they know what to do with, they're approaching 2008 like they're running for re-election on a multi-tiered campaign. Step One: Release an EP. We Are Kamikazesurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-64191574026167026522008-01-09T15:05:00.000-06:002008-01-09T15:09:24.975-06:00Schubas' Tomorrow Never Knows features the best of indie rockby Cory RobertsonWe're smack dab in the middle of winter, and despite the recent bout of tropical weather, we've still got a long way to go before spring pops up to lighten our dispositions. Why not let Schubas warm you up a bit, then? The tavern's annual mini-indie-winter festival, Tomorrow Never Knows, is specially designed to do justurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-89683846602613549222008-01-02T13:37:00.000-06:002008-01-03T15:09:02.318-06:00Rowdy crowd can't keep manic pop genius from wowingAnyone else spend New Year’s Eve three stories underground with a certifiable mad man and his cast of dangerously volatile characters? No? Whilst you froze your ass off on some curb as packed cab after packed cab whizzed by, several hundred revelers welcomed 2008 with the madcap genius of Los Angeles-based composer and producer Jon Brion. It’s urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-14838616227654932372007-12-20T17:40:00.000-06:002007-12-21T11:59:56.626-06:00Take a "look" with Adam Rifkin and Barry SchulerSmile, cry, laugh, fornicate, lie, intoxicate, drive, kidnap, kill and die, but always be wary and be obliged: It is hard to hide from the increasing presence of the surveillance camera on the ground, behind the walls and in the sky.Every week an estimated four billion hours of footage is caught on surveillance cameras in the United States. While urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-19851059813133309692007-12-19T13:52:00.000-06:002007-12-19T13:59:46.535-06:00Metro headliners OFFICE return to the Windy City after a whirlwind West Coast tourby Cory RobertsonOFFICE has been making waves from coast to coast lately, with an appearance on MTV News and a West Coast tour in full swing. "We've been driving through some of the worst weather in America -- until we got to California," says lead guitarist Tom Smith, recalling the band's trek from mid-America to urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-9273726453641671482007-12-14T11:36:00.000-06:002007-12-17T12:18:24.046-06:00Masked emotion speaks volumesby Cory RobertsonVictor Hugo wrote The Hunchback of Notre Dame when he was just 29 years old, but the massive, lugubrious novel is as dark and twisted a tale as any gnarled and world-weary old man could have written. Redmoon Theater’s adaptation, a remount of a 2000 production at Steppenwolf’s Upstairs Theatre, does not shy away from that morbidity, but embraces it urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-10309294011052309742007-12-12T17:53:00.000-06:002007-12-12T18:03:07.918-06:00Only Dan Deacon and Jimmy Joe Roche could make a girl swoon over Arnold Schwarzeneggerby Lizelle R. DinIf I were warned beforehand that Ultimate Reality was going to be what I would imagine a decapitated unicorn would look like -- spewing rainbows from its beautiful severed head, too agonizingly gorgeous to look away from -- then I would have said "hell yes" instead of just "yes" to viewing it. urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-46951984882095803602007-12-12T17:51:00.000-06:002007-12-12T18:00:17.277-06:00Francesco Bonifazi brings the puccalo to the publicby Cory Robertson"Whistle while you work" may be what the seven dwarves did, but world-champion whistler Francesco Bonifazi has a different message. He sees whistling -- or "puccalo," a professional term derived from the words "piccolo" and "pucker" -- as an art form in and of itself. To him, and to many others who are part of what he calls a "urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-4495705604767887862007-12-10T10:20:00.000-06:002007-12-11T13:35:21.490-06:00Outrageous performance art show served up for bartenders' event"Lolly," one of the body-painted performers at Tuaca's Body Art Ball at the Park West (Photo: Audarshia Townsend)By Audarshia Townsend Tuaca's "bartenders ball" is not your ordinary industry event. While most liquor sponsors host their annual parties to thank the hundreds of local bartenders and servers for their work with the usual urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-35566047176443788362007-12-07T13:41:00.000-06:002007-12-10T16:36:41.589-06:00Australian rockers make a kingly comebackSilverchair is trying to get you to forget who they were in 1995. Yes, they're the same three Australians that took the grunge world by storm as teenagers with their debut album Frogstomp and its ubiquitous single, "Tomorrow." But they're all grown up these days, and have new release Young Modern to show for it. The record, their first in nearly five yearsurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-84420543140467326332007-12-05T16:34:00.000-06:002007-12-05T16:47:30.872-06:00Good for the Jews provides musical comedy and all of the fixings this Hanukkahby Anthonia AkitundeDecember is finally here! While most of us have visions of sugar plum fairies dancing in our heads and Jack Frost nipping at our noses, three percent of the American population is trying to ignore the prevalence of Santa, tinsel and all things Christmas. For a group known as God's chosen people, Jewsurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-66575503498009795932007-12-04T11:10:00.000-06:002007-12-05T12:38:29.757-06:00Old Town School alumni and teachers folk outJeff Tweedy with Old Town School's Wilco cover band Photographs by Adam GeorgeIn from the brutish weather on Saturday night, a packed crowd at the Auditorium Theatre was treated to the deep, diverse pool of talent that is the Old Town School of Folk Music. The school celebrated its 50th anniversary by—how else?—filling the gorgeous theater with urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-40832169459769591222007-12-03T09:53:00.000-06:002008-01-04T17:44:59.301-06:00First week off to a great startBy Audarshia TownsendWith my hectic holiday schedule of dinners, parties and other indulgences, I knew I had to do something to stave off gaining weight. I’m not trying to looking chunky in my slinky little New Year’s Eve dress, so I decided to sign up for Exhale Spa’s first-ever Holiday Buddha Camp (through Jan. 1), an intensive five-week workout program that urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-21175930748014058652007-11-30T12:53:00.000-06:002007-11-30T17:14:04.892-06:00Chicago native DJ back to heat up Chicago's soul Only months have passed since his last CD was released and DJ Mark Farina is back with more. He arrives this weekend at SmartBar with some hot plates on the decks, straight from his new live album, Live In Tokyo. He talks about the city scene & sound, his new album, his tour, and what else is in the works.-Anthony ReganHow does your new album, Liveurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-36285191769527913312007-11-28T13:34:00.000-06:002007-11-28T13:44:26.400-06:00From Lincoln Park to Lincoln Square, the Old Town School of Folk Music has grown upby Jennifer LizakIn the late 1950s, American folk music experienced a boom in popularity. Bolstered by hits from artists like Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, folk music was on the rise. Gathering around radios and in living rooms, people rediscovered the folk genre and found that it spoke to the social urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-74809779691790510212007-11-26T12:40:00.000-06:002007-11-26T13:09:53.993-06:00Onstage vixen connects with crowdPardon the cliché, but seriously, M.I.A. tore it up Friday night at the Vic Theatre. Going into the show, I was a bit skeptical about how well M.I.A. could connect with the audience through her new material. On her first tour, the whole “one DJ + one MC + one backup singer” approach worked really well because the music on her first album sounded as if that was urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-36698430112659115752007-11-20T17:32:00.000-06:002007-11-20T17:57:57.114-06:00Local filmmakers chronicle the Chicago punk circuit in its heydey -- and bring bands back togetherby Sara Abadi“Punk and hardcore are the most misrepresented genres,” says Joe Losurdo. “If it’s not the Ramones, the Clash or the Sex Pistols, it didn’t exist. If it’s not New York, L.A. or London, it didn’t exist.”Starting Nov. 24, this will no longer be the case when Losurdo’s documentary, You urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-39470495953286943722007-11-20T14:47:00.000-06:002007-11-21T12:04:49.289-06:00Four guys on a stage rocking like it's 1997Jimmy Eat World has always been a no nonsense rock band. Despite signing to a major label very early in their existence and taking the mandatory grief from the punk rock constituency of their usual touring partners (The Promise Ring, Mineral, etc.), they somehow managed to live through two commercial "failures" before hitting it big with Bleed American'surchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-76439279272174095992007-11-18T17:05:00.000-06:002007-11-19T16:19:26.610-06:00A highlight of the Reeling Film Festival has a lot of stories to tell about Chicago.Director Ron Pajak spent ten years researching Quearborn & Perversion: An Early History of Lesbian & Gay Chicago, his documentary that world-premiered to a sold-out crowd at the Reeling Film Festival. The sprawling film covers Chicago's gay and lesbian history from the 20's to the 70's, from nightlife and parties urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-12140857922419894562007-11-15T11:13:00.000-06:002007-11-16T12:22:13.708-06:00Be the host with the most, thanks to these recipes for a great holiday partyViand's carrot cake frittersPrime Rib Teasers(Michael Cisternino, chef de cuisine, Tavern at the Park)Prime Rib Ingredients:- 2-4 lb prime rib loin (depending on size of party – 1 lb makes 10 sandwiches)- 1 lb kosher salt- 1/2 cup freshly ground black pepper- 1/2 cup Lawry’s seasoned salt- 1 cup olive or vegetable oil- 1/urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-56664208132648419172007-11-14T14:36:00.000-06:002007-11-16T13:28:55.379-06:00Further Persons Imperfect offers a story for everyoneby Cory RobertsonFurther Persons Imperfect is a collection of stories the whole family can relate to—crazy uncle and rebellious teenage cousin included. Written by authors ranging from 20-somethings to senior citizens, the anthology is at once cleverly wrought and daringly unpretentious. "These writers write the old-fashioned way," says editor urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-79563039340593590682007-11-14T11:49:00.000-06:002007-11-14T12:58:08.272-06:00Burhenn and Davis leave room for growthSandwiched in between May or May Not and Aqueduct, Georgie James seemed a natural presence on Schubas’ stage Monday night. The distinctly blonde duo of Laura Burhenn and John Davis were the spitting image of their album cover, though their bandmates—two normal-looking brown-haired guys—seemed not quite to fit the Georgie James “look.” However, bassist urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-13340946442938262412007-11-14T10:33:00.000-06:002007-11-14T12:59:48.330-06:00Spot-on performance somewhat of a head scratcherPhotograph by B. NannaIt was a packed-to-the-rafters, sold-out Metro for the second of Band of Horses' two-night stand. As an admitted recent BOH junkie, I was just as excited as everyone else to see bearded Ben and the boys rip through all of my favorites from Everything All the Time and Cease to Begin. After setting up their own gear to little urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-55676055615675417512007-11-12T11:31:00.000-06:002007-11-12T15:18:02.485-06:00Iconic grungers deliver dynamic acoustic setNirvana Unplugged opens to a comforting display of '90s-era fashion—oversized polo shirts, shaggy, low-maintenance hair and the requisite sampling of plaid adorn the figures of audience and band members alike. Fuchsia lights accent the stage as the camera focuses in on Kurt Cobain, the tension in his face doing little to shadow his stoically compelling urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-26124181381977390082007-11-12T11:04:00.000-06:002007-11-12T12:22:24.367-06:00Perfect catchy pop to start off a wild experimental eveningPhotograph by B. NannaJoe Williams may be a well-weathered 23-year-old electronic pop musician from Cleveland. He may also be skilled at crafting simple yet catchy songs utilizing drum loops, synths and a laptop. And he may have spent two years' worth of long, grueling workdays crafting his debut album, Smoke, as ringleader of White urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-21683296359623221892007-11-08T23:30:00.000-06:002007-11-09T13:40:29.009-06:00Chicago's gay and lesbian film festival opens with a sweet surfer film.Shelter, the opening night film for the 26th annual Reeling Film Festival, seems at first like a notable gay movie for what it doesn't have. Instead of starring impossibly ripped models, it features two cute-but-not-hardbodied leads. Rather than the typical techno/dance soundtrack, quiet acoustic singer-songwriters strum in urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-90773921237884395012007-11-07T21:49:00.000-06:002007-11-09T13:22:56.887-06:00Coen Brothers' new thriller is a masterful example of genre filmmaking and much moreNo Country for Old Men(Ethan Coen & Joel Coen, USA, 122 minutes)Opens todayA magnificent return to form for Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men is a virtuoso piece of genre filmmaking. Oh, but it so much more. Most of the film's running time is devoted to formulating a neo-noir Western in the same vein as urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-45677723429354961292007-11-07T15:25:00.000-06:002007-11-07T17:49:10.218-06:00New South Loop spot is hit or missphotograph by Steven JohnsonTo me, the word tapas implies Spanish cuisine. If I hear the word tapas, I’m going to expect patatas bravas and croquetas; tortilla Espanola and paella. Perhaps this is a result of eating tapas for a year straight while teaching English in Madrid, or of constant visits to places like Emilio’s Tapas and 1492 Tapas Bar in an obsessive urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-44927836386659933492007-11-07T14:44:00.000-06:002007-11-07T15:01:08.485-06:00Red Bull's Art of Can exhibition showcases unknown and emerging artistsby Cory RobertsonHave you ever been to an art exhibit and thought to yourself, "I could do that?" Red Bull, provider of energy drinks to the masses, apparently thinks the same thing. Their Art of Can competition, a challenge to the everyman artist to construct something groundbreaking from Red Bull cans—or simply inspired by urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-42168285300308871662007-11-07T14:15:00.000-06:002007-11-07T15:06:09.784-06:00Intimacy, charm and a small strip of paper steal the showPhotgraph by Ross ZietzOpening for Mum, an experimental and overly dramatic Icelandic septet, is no easy task, especially when you're just a skinny kid from North Dakota with an acoustic guitar. Trudging onto a stage full of strategically placed microphones and boxes of noisemaking gizmos, Tom Brosseau took his stark vulnerability and made urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-65438343288776970302007-11-07T14:04:00.000-06:002007-11-07T15:16:51.163-06:00Swede Jens Lekman charms his audience with heartfelt lyrics and pretty melodiesPhotograph by Nate KoschmannFriday night at Logan Square Auditorium, Jens Lekman, the highly personal and accomplished songwriter from Sweden, turned the fashionably cynical into a sea of dreaming eyes and serene smiles. Six girls and one guy, all dressed in white, Swedish peasant outfits, joined him on stage. It was urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-53181534318138019122007-11-07T10:15:00.000-06:002007-11-07T12:12:54.209-06:00Appreciate the flavor of fall with Underground’s Fall Liquid Regiments regimeUnderground’s latest manager, U.K. transplant and mixologist Benjamin Newby, keeps the club on the cutting edge of cool with its Fall Liquid Regiments menu. Newby’s fall seasonal cocktails are broken up into three groups: the Seasonal Taste Assault, the Sweet Tooth Brigade and Champagne Manueuvers.As apparent by the nameurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-1107980491328996452007-11-05T12:08:00.000-06:002007-11-09T13:19:06.569-06:00Disco pop begs for dance moves Tigercity took the stage at the Empty Bottle last Tuesday night, October 30, with casual poise. The foursome occupy comfortably defined roles onstage: Joel Ford as charismatic longhaired bass player, Andrew Brady as intent, mopheaded guitarist, Bill Gillim as quirky, silver-voiced lead singer and Aynsley Powell as unflappable drummer, visible only as a blur of urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-88879970849328369932007-11-05T11:34:00.000-06:002007-11-07T12:33:48.333-06:00 Stars deliver impassioned performance After seeing Stars live at the Vic on Friday night, it’s clear that if you have to sum them and their live show up in one word, it would be “passionate.” Although the night started off a bit awkwardly after being notified that opener Magnet would not be performing, Stars made up for this by pleasing the sold out crowd with a lengthy set of two hours and 15 urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-53876867857757208472007-10-31T14:05:00.000-05:002007-10-31T14:17:58.532-05:00A modern twist on Shakespeare’s “Merchant” presents a new set of religious tensionsby Catey SullivanAmid his extraordinary outpouring of dramas, tragedies and comedies, Shakespeare penned only one openly, inarguably gay love story. It’s in “The Merchant of Venice”: Antonio loves Bassanio, as obviously and as passionately as Romeo loved Juliet. But although the text leaves no room for doubt, it’s urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-87152099994359425712007-10-31T11:36:00.000-05:002007-10-31T16:53:54.038-05:00Paramore delivers vibrant pop-punkUnder normal circumstances, pop-punk is not a flavor of music I find myself enjoying too often. The genre has a tendency to be a bore, coming off drab and lifeless at times. With that said, Paramore has helped me inject some faith back into the style of music that happens to dominate a good portion of what we consider “mainstream rock” today. The first band upurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-60295129704850556132007-10-30T11:57:00.000-05:002007-10-30T12:32:25.206-05:00Business as usual on the Planet of IceAside from the slight fog, the blue light lined bass drum, and the amps painted white (ooh! Planet of Ice!), it was business as usual for Seattle's Minus The Bear Friday night at the Metro. Thankfully the band is an absolute joy to behold, especially if you enjoy technical virtuosity. Watching guitarist Dave Knudson finger tap complicated yet catchy melodies urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-74062199585491044582007-10-29T22:50:00.000-05:002007-10-31T14:53:25.647-05:00Ender still saves us all... just with fewer throaty howlsPhoto by Craig ShimalaTime was I knew every word of every Dashboard Confessional song. Which made his live shows, a veritable kumbaya of sing-along wonder, quite enjoyable. Every time Chris Carrabba stepped back from the mic, letting the audience take over a key line or the chorus, I'd shout/sing along right with them.Monday night at the urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-2189725423209763392007-10-25T14:10:00.000-05:002007-10-25T15:00:24.744-05:00Aw, shucks! Annual tented event brings on top slurpers Bill Nevruz, Shaw’s GM, with the Oysterettes and "Shucky," the event's unfortunate, pearl-wielding mascot. (Photo: Bill Werme) For once, the weather held up nicely for the annual “Royster with the Oyster Festival,” Shaw’s Crab House’s tented post-work party celebrating all things oyster. As always, the event—which moved this year to take overurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-58751749868746199702007-10-24T16:43:00.000-05:002007-10-24T17:16:20.543-05:00Up-and-coming bands showcase promise by channeling the pastLoveLikeFire at Schubas Sunday nightIt was an impressive showcase of up-and-coming bands on Sunday night featuring two local favorites, Company of Thieves and Tenniscourts, and a touring band from San Francisco, LoveLikeFire. At times rough around the edges, all of the bands showed great promise and, most importantly, youthful exuberance.urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-47980866792145572702007-10-24T14:40:00.000-05:002007-10-24T16:23:22.975-05:00Roots rockers exude enthusiasm onstageIt was a dark and drizzly Monday night when Down the Line took the stage at Schubas, immediately lifting my spirits as they bounced up and down onstage like a bunch of boys playing air guitar while jumping on their beds—except these guys were so musically agile that it’s clear they’ve spent years honing their skills.Down the Line has been around for some timeurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-87880660559518760892007-10-24T14:14:00.000-05:002007-10-24T14:40:19.710-05:00But the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir attempt to make it all worthwhileby Cory Robertson"The story behind this album is literally the story of the first 27 years of my life," says Elia Einhorn, mastermind of local chamber-pop collective the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir. The group's new self-titled record addresses every topic implied by the term "coming of age"—and then some—from kicking an early drugurchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-43871221947601612432007-10-23T16:05:00.000-05:002007-10-24T15:12:36.057-05:00Biography is well researched, but particularly revealingIt is an unenviable task to draw, for your first book, a biography of one of the most overexposed politicians on the planet. Even worse is when your subject has already written both a wildly successful memoir and a semi-autobiographical policy book. Barack Obama highlights this in an early meeting with the author in David Mendell’s Obama: urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1363676332147715780.post-63486602314315118972007-10-23T16:02:00.001-05:002008-08-03T00:21:26.875-05:00I've got love for these guysLet's face it: Scrubs jumped the shark at the end of Season Five, when the writers thought it'd be a good idea to introduce a new love interest for J.D. and get her pregnant all in the season finale. But gosh darn it, I can't stop watching. Dr. Cox's rants never get old (check this out for proof), the janitor's list of ways to torture J.D. is ever-evolving, Elliott urchicagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415668746923293612noreply@blogger.com