REVIEW: MADJO – EP (2009)
This originally appeared in the fall issue of The Journal of a Musician, run by George Lepauw, a world-renown classical pianist in Chicago. A renaissance man when it comes to music, the Journal seeks to provide remarkable insight into culture and music. I still am humbled to have been asked to
CONCERT REVIEW: DEFTONES AND INCUBUS AT THE HOLLYWOOD CASINO AMPHITHEATER (TINLEY PARK, IL)
Deftones (Sacramento, CA) and Incubus (Calabasas, CA)July 25th, 2015Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Tinley Park, IL Name change. First Midwest Bank Amphitheater became Hollywood Casino Amphitheater this month. Prior to that, it was the Tweeter, or World Music Theater. You c
REVIEW: DJANGO DJANGO – BORN UNDER SATURN (2015)
I deem myself lucky to have witnessed some of the very early days of Django Django surrounding the January 2012 release of their debut album. It was in Europe, well before their 1960s sounds harmoniously bubbled over the ocean into sold out tours in the States. The quartet united while at
INTERVIEW: CROBOT (POTTSVILLE, PA)
Crobot recently rolled into Chicago roiling crowds, opening for Anthrax and Volbeat. Yet despite being pretty young in term of band years, the rockers took to the stage with a swagger and reinvigorating confidence. If there is any doubt that rock may be on life support in the face of button pus
INTERVIEW: ORGY (LOS ANGELES)
Since 1994, Jay Gordon has been a standard-bearer for moving metal forward, incorporating industrial and electronic elements into rock and metal before many of his contemporaries. “Blue Monday” was a force to reckon with on its release. Despite being a rework of a New Order track, the single tor
CONTEST: WIN TICKETS TO ADVANCE BASE AND BUILDING ON BUILDINGS AT THE BURLINGTON BAR, MARCH 26TH (CHICAGO)
With a self-titled debut LP under their belts recorded up at Justin Vernon’s April Base Studios, Building on Buildings are bringing their lush harmonies rooted in Madison, Wisconsin into Chicago for a very special concert at the Burlington Bar on March 26th. Connie Ward and Erin Fuller s
INTERVIEW: MADJO (FRANCE)
Back in 2009, a little EP appeared out of the middle of nowhere. Half in English, half in French, including a gently haunting cover of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” made popular by Lead Belly and Nirvana. The singer’s voice left an imprint that carried on through her excellent debut a
INTERVIEW: VOODOO BOOGALOO (ALICE, TX)
Who or what is Voodoo Boogaloo? Light some candles, and grab your sage stick, I’ll tell you. Voodoo Boogaloo is more than just a duo comprised of Stephanie Cardona and Logan Woodyard, it’s a spiritual experience, and it’s a way of life. It’s rap and hypnotizing dreamy vocals. The universe w
CONCERT REVIEW: ICONA POP DJ SET AT THE MID (CHICAGO, IL)
Icona Pop (Stockholm, Sweden) and Avi Sic (Chicago, IL)October 3rd, 2014The Mid in Chicago, IL Back in June 2011, we had the chance to interview Icona Pop around the time their first songs started to hit, notably “Manners.” Long, long before “I Love It” dem