Items filtered by date: November 2007

As its name suggests, Dark Star Orchestra is a Grateful Dead tribute band. Organized by engineer/producer Bob Matthews, a longtime associate of the Dead, they recreate a specific show from the over 2,500 concerts that the Dead performed during their 30-year tenure as masters of improvisational rock. They play the same...

When I found out I had the option to cover God Forbid’s concert on January 13th, I was beside myself. I had heard some of their music and I liked it a lot. The only problem was I knew virtually nothing about the band and though I had heard some of their music, I hardly knew the beginning. One thing’s for sure, they let you...

The energy emitting from the stage, and returned in spades from the crowd last Tuesday night, would have been more than enough to power the southern suburb of Mokena where Hatebreed, the Connecticut based metal quintet stormed The Pearl Room. But the show consisted of much more than just energy. It smacked...

The Blue Man Group is innovative and fresh, trendy, yet deservingly so. Therein lies their success. The artistry of color, lights, sounds, visuals, and audience participation is what sets them apart. The show is a completely out of mind and sensory rich experience. Blue Man Group has ventured out extensively beyond New York City’s original Astor Place Theatre. They have opened productions of equal success around the globe.

The Snow Queen is a lovely Holiday production that tells the story of two childhood sweethearts- Gerda and Kai, who grow up in love together but are separated for a time as they grow into adulthood by the lonely and powerful Snow Queen. This production really reminds me of the old Chicago theatre days with its minimalist, modern and sparing production but which packs a lot of punch. The entire ensemble cast sings beautifully with many of the characters playing their own instruments as well.

I figured it was fate when I got a text from my editor and from my friend and lead singer of Roosevelt Jenkins, Jeff Connors, within 2 minutes of each other--both asking if I wanted to go to 'The Jenks' Q101 show December 15th at The Note. I've known Jeff since college back in AZ, but I've somehow managed...

Frank McCourt once said “Malachy stood behind the bar and told his customers stories. I stood before the blackboard and told my students stories. At holiday gatherings we told our families stories. Why not get together, cobble these stories into a script and tell the world?” and so they did. Apart, the brothers McCourt have two incredibly interesting life stories. Together, they have one great play.

Otep thrilled the audience by playing their promotion song “Ghost Flowers” along with a few other tracks that I’ll be waiting to hear again when their new CD comes out in March 2007. Still, as great as their new material sounded, Otep didn’t neglect to share with us their older stuff, such as “My Confession”, “Buried Alive”...

Chris Botti’s entire band is composed of players as talented as he is and they take turns dazzling the audience. Drummer Billy Kilson is what I call “out of his mind talented” . Billy plays the complex and changing Jazz drum rhythms with all the heart and soul and explosive brilliance of a drummer in a full out rock band, so you won’t hear...