Thurston Moore grabbed the mic stand and held it high as he yelled, “We’re Queer, We’re Here, Get Used to It” before offering a completely raucous version of new album track “No Way.” The scene couldn’t have been more perfect. Chicago’s Pride Festival was blocks away from Lakeview’s Vic Theatre, where inside Sonic Youth, a band that dared to similarly go against the grain by creating pop songs with musical afterthoughts like dissonance, static, and alternate tunings, was electrifying a sold out crowd.
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By Richard Giraldi \ 1 comment
Photoo Credit: blogs.villagevoice.com
New York’s O’Death didn’t waste any time at the Empty Bottle last Saturday night. Like the Pogues and Gogol Bordello before them, O’Death’s music is steeped in traditional instrumentation and arrangements.
What sets O’Death apart, however, is that punk rock seems to naturally fit into what they define as “traditional music.” Take a solid rhythm section and throw in singer and guitarist Greg Jaime’s John Darnielle meets inebriated Neil Young vocals, and what you get is O’Death. Assuming that the band ripped through the venue fueled purely by adrenaline and whiskey is no mistake.
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By Justin Aier \ comments
Photo Credit: thetripwire.com
Dan Deacon’s Thursday, May 7, show at The Metro had all the billings of another knock out performance, but on this night, the show never reached the ultra-high levels of fun for which his performances are known. Deacon and his band were not to blame, but instead a poor venue setup, sound troubles and a boorish and uncooperative crowd put a bit of a damper on the evening’s proceedings.
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By Dan Henshaw \ comments
PHOTO CREDIT: theatermania.com
Given the circumstances surrounding Leonard Cohen‘s first U.S. shows in about a decade and a half, allegedly being ripped off by a former manager, one might think Cohen is not as thrilled about his current tour as he might normally be. However, if his 26-song, two and a half hour performance at The Chicago Theater on Wednesday, May 6, is any indication, Cohen might be more pleased than anyone to be back on the road again.
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By Dan Henshaw \ 1 comment
