Archives for the ‘Columns’ Category

Van Halen should play the not so Friendly Confines

By • Aug 17th, 2007 • Category: Columns

Chicago’s Wrigley Field has been many things throughout its 93-year history. But until 2005, none of those things had been musical. It wasn’t until September of that year, when Jimmy Buffet paraded the world’s largest traveling beer garden into arguably the world’s most famous one, that the historic baseball diamond was soundtracked by something other […]



Keith Richards: Time is not on his side

By • Aug 9th, 2007 • Category: Columns

The world needs a Keith Richards autobiography about as much as it needs a new Rolling Stones record. And if you’re scoring at home, that’s not very much. But publishing house Little, Brown and Company begs to differ, and ponied up $7.3 million last week to the rights to the legendary guitarist’s book in the […]



Hard-fi battles the cash machine

By • Aug 1st, 2007 • Category: Columns

The culture of rock’n’roll has long been characterized as having a problem with authority. In fact, certain artists have made a career milking that anti-establishment image, pandering to the lowest common denominator of people who obsess over a band’s image or perceived social stance instead of just listening for the music’s sake. But last month, […]



Prince: Feeding the hand that bites

By • Jul 26th, 2007 • Category: Columns

Nobody ever has accused Prince of being overly in touch with reality. Not when refusing journalists the use of notepads or tape recorders during interviews. Not when he changed his name to a symbol. Not when his sassy pirouette flashed a bare backside during the 1991 MTV Music Video Awards, or years later when a […]



2007 Mercury Prize short list handicapped

By • Jul 18th, 2007 • Category: Columns

The 2007 Mercury Prize shortlist was announced this week, and the nominees are the expected blend of so-mainstream-it’s-hip or cred-grabbing oddballs artists. Marking its 16th year, Britain’s most coveted music award will be handed out Sept. 4 during a televised spectacular. This year’s list of candidates includes several past nominees, as well as two former […]



Daft Punk ‘Electroma’ premiere

By • Jul 15th, 2007 • Category: Columns

Not even the most loyal fan of the pioneering electronic-music duo, Daft Punk, enjoyed the Chicago screening of “Electroma.” Written, directed and starring the French duo, the movie chronicles two robots’ quest to become human. And for the about 250 Punk loyalist – some of which won contests, others were fan-club members or waited in […]



2007 mid-year best

By • Jul 13th, 2007 • Category: Columns

Taking a cue from Bryan Wawzenek it seems fitting for a first column to hedge between a Slim Shadian “Hello, my name is…” piece, and launching full on into a piece that ignores its obvious novelty. And given the quantity and quality of 2007 releases, the first six months have positioned the year to stand […]



Rock ‘n’ roll life ‘n’ death

By • Apr 4th, 2007 • Category: Columns

There has got to be something in the air this week, or maybe it’s in the water. Heck, judging by the last few days, it might be both. A Swedish couple is set to go to court because the country’s National Tax Board refused to process the forms that officially would make their newborn baby […]



Police reunion

By • Jan 4th, 2007 • Category: Columns

Reports in Britain have caused Police fans to hold every breath they take. What began as curiosity, boiled into speculation, and then bubbled over with rumors and Internet chatter about a possible reunion of the pop trio. The possible 2007 shows would be the band’s first since 1986, and would also mark the 30-year anniversary […]



Rock ‘n’ roll breaking and entering

By • Jan 2nd, 2007 • Category: Columns

On Dec. 19, the body of Cristin Keleher was discovered near California’s Lake Tahoe. The police report said her corpse, and that of a 48-year-old man, were found in an SUV with bullet wounds to their heads. Preliminary police statements said the deaths appear to be part of a murder suicide. Keleher is known for […]