When the lineup for MegaFest Coachella was released last week, we barely batted an eyelash. It failed to impress us much headliner-wise (giving Amy Winehouse that high a billing? really?) though some of the undercard was nice, but nothing we haven't seen at Lollapalooza or Pitchfork Fest. more ›

There's so much going on across the Ist-a-Verse that it's almost impossible to keep track these days. Fortunately, we do it so you don't have to! Londonist took a walk through Oliver Twist's London, thanks to a gorgeous map layer for Google Earth. They also caught up with modern-day fictional London, with the Fantastic Four and 28 Weeks Later. It was a week of insanity over at DCist. They started the week off with... more ›

It’s that time again where we decide what to do with all this cash burning a hole in our pocket. Rufus Wainwright will be performing at Ravinia towards the end of the season. He’s been the darling of the critics for a long time now and it’s not just because of his musical pedigree. Release the Stars is due out May 15 – plenty of time to learn all the new songs to swoon to... more ›

We’re not feeling bad about missing Coachella or Bonnaroo or Virgin or any of the other music festivals going on this year, because Chicago continues to be ground zero for ass-kicking musical fun in the summer sun. Continental, open barely a year and already the all-night hangout for hipsters all over the city (full disclosure: we spin there occasionally) is leveraging some of the goodwill they’ve formed with local DJs and bands to benefit a... more ›

After this weekend the city would be absolutely nuts to ever let Lollapalooza slip from its grasp. Before even entering the festival grounds, we witnessed throngs of attendees (marked by their omnipresent blue wristbands) eating at restaurants all throughout the Loop, buying countless trinkets and souvenirs, and really giving the city’s hospitality industry a refreshing shot in the arm. As a destination concert intent on drawing people to Chicago from all around the globe, this... more ›

Shanghaiist probably knows a little more about China than the Chicago Sun-Times. Giving them the benefit of the doubt on that one. The city does to have a music scene. Don't even front like they don't. They also have Dorito bananas and white guys shopping for wives. What they don't have is any more tolerance for jaywalkers. Bostonist sees Boston and Somerville each whip out their art and face off. A plagiarized novel is the... more ›

Yesterday at the Chicagoist offices, we were all worked up over this article by Jim DeRogatis of the Sun Times. It's always interesting when someone writes a piece denouncing the very thing that they do. It's along the lines of gossip columnists who complain that Paris Hilton is in the news too much in their own columns. If we were drunk, we'd get into the whole hit-driven economy of the entertainment industry, but we're tired... more ›

We’re not sure if you noticed, but Greg Kot was a busy guy at the end of last week. On Friday, Kot reported that the Smashing Pumpkins will not be reuniting at Coachella this April. Over the last couple weeks, published reports created a veritable Hokey Pokey of information: you had your Pumpkins in, you had your Pumpkins out. Whether Corgan backed out or was never in it to begin with remains a cause for... more ›

For the last month or so, we’ve been seeing rumors online about the “The Smashing Pumpkins” reuniting for Coachella. Forgive us if we’re having trouble getting excited about it. We’re not sure how it started but it might have something to do with this post on Billy Corgan’s MySpace blog that said: “The surprise I have in store for you all will be announced soon enough…” Ever since then, the Pumpkins have been mentioned in... more ›

Eschewing the loud and cavernous arenas in the Chicago area, Coldplay will return to the city on May 6th for a show at Metro. Tickets go on sale this Saturday at noon at the Metro box office (next door at Hi-Fi Records) and through Ticketmaster (only two tickets per person). Pre-sale tickets are available to members of the band’s official website. more ›