We’re going to cop to some very enthusiastic fist-pumping when we heard news that music legend/”Punk Rock’s Poet Laureate” Patti Smith would be coming to Columbia College next month. When the folks at the Reader picked up the news, we were quick to agree with Miles Raymer’s assessment on the awesomeness of Patti Smith: more ›

A little historical perspective never hurt anyone, and we're especially big fans of the photographic kind. more ›

, Chicago has long been home to one of Steve Earle's strongest fan bases. He's such a gifted songwriter that fans often overlook the fact that he's essentially made the same record since 1996, right down to the obligatory duet with a female singer, "state of my life" liner notes and beautiful artwork by his good friend, the local artist and noted unemployed film-goer Tony Fitzpatrick. more ›

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Braless and wearing an oversized white T-shirt with a hand drawn peace sign and the word "Love" written underneath it, Patti Smith humbly began her set with an extra-Jamaican sounding "Redondo Beach," fumbling some of the lyrics and apologizing to the crowd for being too excited. more ›

The city's biggest music festival of the summer kicks off tomorrow, and you can feel the excitement building in the Chicagoist offices. However, we've had to put our cub reporters through some summer festival basic training, since this one blows all the others out of the water in sheer scope and size. The bands are the draw, and the primary source of fun, but there are a few other things you -- and our cub... more ›

The first day of the Pitchfork Music Festival showcased three classic acts, performing their classic albums. Slint re-created their seminal Spiderland, and while watching their set we realized that they are definitely one of those bands everyone name-checks, but almost no one has actually heard. Kind of like how dudes in the '90s would talk about how awesome Patti Smith's Horses was because that was just the sort of thing you were supposed to say.... more ›

How long have the world’s entertainment editors been waiting to use the headline “Van Halen ‘Jumps’ Into Rock Hall?” Probably forever. more ›

God damn tomorrow cannot come fast enough. Pre-election anxiety + post-Halloween hangover + drizzly Monday = craptacular, any way you slice it. If it were up to us, today would be national Cuddle on the Couch in Pajamas and Watch TV Day, but alas, the party wheels keep on turning. Tonight and tomorrow, there's plenty election action to keep you busy. Here are a few to get you started: more ›