The weather may be barely warm enough for short sleeves in Chicago, but Jamie Lidell still managed to set the Abbey Pub ablaze on Wednesday night (June 4). Yes, he sings like he’s possessed by the soul of Ray Charles and commands a crack band like a young Stevie Wonder. Yes, it’s curious that […]

MP3: Sloan- I’m Not A Kid Anymore from Parallel Play (June 10th, Yep Roc)
The seasoned power popsters from Canada make new declarations with their latest effort. Relevant, polished and as sweet as they come.
MP3: The Stills- Rooibos/Palm Wine Drinkard from Oceans Will Rise (August 19th, Arts & Crafts)
A little more Logic but still lacking Feathers, […]

Now, the term ‘grunge’ has always inspired a shudder of self-consciousness in me…primarily because when you’re a fourteen-year-old eldest child trying to find culture in the void of early-90s Midwestern suburbia, you jump at the first “counter-culture”-ish offering you see. For many like me, it was the commercialized version of the heavy, chugging rock […]

Last week was a doozy for me - two Langhorne Slim hoedowns and an explosive, ear-bleeding Mudhoney set. I didn’t even make it to Do Division because I was so concerted-out. Anyway, no rest for the weary this week as Jamie Lidell brings his absolutely INSANE live show to the Abbey, Nels Cline shows the […]

We’re on a tornado watch in the upper Midwest this morning, complete with black skies and spitty rain, so there’s nary a better time to post an infectious spot of piano pop like Jukebox The Ghost’s “Good Day.” From the looks of their recent tourmates (Nightmare of You, Via Audio),they walk the fine line between […]