Turn It Up

Concert review: Kiss at the United Center

leisureblogs — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:21:45 -0600

Once you’ve seen a giant demon in silver platform boots sprout wings and spit blood and fire, what’s left? For Kiss, that shtick was outrageous enough to get them noticed in the ‘70s until they were the biggest band in...

Top weekend shows: Basement Jaxx, Jill Sobule, Erin McKeown

leisureblogs — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:03:00 -0600

Basement Jaxx: Simon Ratcliffe and Felix Buxton return to their roots for this DJ set. Though the duo’s performances with a full band are more in keeping with their recent soul-infused albums, they made their reputation by bringing the sound...

Tonight's top show: Vic Chesnutt at Lincoln Hall

leisureblogs — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:03:00 -0600

Vic Chesnutt: The singer's alternately harrowing and rueful songs will be fleshed out on this tour by an all-star band, including members of Fugazi (Guy Picciotto) and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thursday at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Av., $18;...

Tonight's top show: Snoop Dogg at Congress Theatre

leisureblogs — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:03:00 -0600

Snoop Dogg: The MC's deceptively laid-back, sing-songy cadences defined West Coast hip-hop at the start of the '90s. Now his celebrity transcends the genre, Wednesday with Method Man and Redman at the Congress Theatre, 2135 N. Milwaukee Av., $36; ticketweb.com....

Dhani Harrison: The son of Beatle George describes how he learned to embrace the music and Thenewno2

leisureblogs — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:02:00 -0600

Dhani Harrison (left) talks with Ringo Star, center, and Tom Petty in 2003. (Mark J. Terrill, AP) There was a bit of disconnect between the sleepy debut album by Dhani Harrison’s band Thenewno2, “You are Here” (Vagrant), and the galvanizing...

Album review: Slayer, 'World Painted Blood'

leisureblogs — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:07:00 -0600

Rating: 3 stars (out of 4) In some ways, it’s the same old Slayer. The subject matter certainly will sound familiar. Damnation of organized religion – check (“Hate Worldwide”). Depictions of torture – check (“Snuff”). Political rants – check (“Americon”)....

Album review: Julian Casablancas, 'Phrazes for the Young'

leisureblogs — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:03:00 -0600

Rating: 2 stars (out of 4) "Phrazes for the Young" (RCA), the first solo album from the Strokes’ singer, departs from the guitar-driven sound of the group he oversees. Casablancas shifts the instrumental focus away from guitars and toward synthesizers....

Concert review: Monsters of Folk at the Auditorium

leisureblogs — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:28:28 -0500

“Monsters of Folk” sounds like a Halloween float. The quartet of Jim James, M. Ward, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis – taking a collective busmen’s holiday from their better-known bands (My Morning Jacket, Bright Eyes) – clearly didn’t spend a...

Top weekend shows: Poster Children, Roky Erickson

leisureblogs — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:03:00 -0500

Poster Children: The Champaign, Ill., band prided itself on relentless touring and high-energy shows in its prime. These days, cofounders Rick Valentin and Rose Marshack spend more time at home to tend to their young family and the touring pace...

Tonight's top show: Bob Dylan at Aragon

leisureblogs — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:03:00 -0500

Bob Dylan: With his first-ever Christmas album out, will the bard play "Here Comes Santa Claus" on Halloween? Will he dress up as Kris Kringle? Don't hold your breath. Trying to predict Dylan's behavior is like forecasting the weather in...