Why is next weekend's screening of an almost 40-year-old rock documentary by an affable chronicler of Americana so dangerous that if we were to publish its name, the screening would have to be canceled? more ›

Live direct from outer space, cosmic local psych-rock quintet Verma announced a new EP of three recorded, improvised instrumentals, two of which will be released as a split cassette on the new Paramita Tapes label. Of course you can listen to it here. more ›

As cult figures go, they don't come with much more cred than Motörhead bassist and frontman Ian Fraser Kilmister, a.k.a. "Lemmy." Revered by even Ozzy Osborne as the godfather of Heavy Metal, the English expat has cultivated an image of the badass working man's hero through a career that spans the British Invasion, the Jimi Hendrix Experience (where he was a roadie), psych pioneers Hawkwind, and, since 1975, Motörhead. As his career motors full steam ahead into its sixth decade, directors Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski spent three years creating the ultimate rockumentary on the man behind the muttonchops, Lemmy: 49% Motherf**Ker, 51% Son Of A Bitch. more ›

It's a common problem that this town's musical elite like to leave us in the dust for the bright lights of the coasts, but Patrick Stump is a curiosity among Chicago-bred "rock stars" - he's seen the world and then some, but his heart and his home remain here. Since Fall Out Boy called it quits last year, former singer and songwriter Stump has been hard at work at Lakeview's I.V. Labs studio prepping his debut solo album and revisiting the influences that lead him to make music in the first place. Earlier this year Stump released two versions of lead single "Spotlight" and asked friends, fans and new listeners alike to vote on their favorite version. This sort of egalitarian approach and the new opportunity to make music on his own terms has the 26-year-old feeling renewed about the possibilities, and Chicagoist caught up with him recently to chat about Star Wars, starting over, living through your awkward phases and just how solo "solo"really means. This is the first of a two-part interview. more ›

How easily we forget that a band is comprised of many members to make a whole. Though Jim James, lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of the popular roots-rock group My Morning Jacket, the band would not at all be the same if multi-instrumentalist, Carl Broemel, was not a part of their rich and robust collective. more ›

Torche's new EP Songs For Singles isn't exactly make-out music for a first date. Well, unless your idea of making out has to do with breaking a bunch of shit in your bedroom as you and a partner fling each other violently on and off the bed in shotgun blast-worthy fits of passion. more ›

Another one for the You Can't Make This Stuff Up File. Columbia College's Cinema Slapdown series (a film screening followed by a pro/con debate between two participants) has included some pretty choice movies. Showgirls was quite memorable, but on December 16 things will be taken to a whole new level with Viva Las Vegas. In a stroke of genius, the Elvis Presley/Ann-Margret musical will be defended by no less than Rod Blagojevich himself. His opponent? Film & Video faculty member Dan (“Elvis has left the building!”) Rybicky. It's Elvis' gaudiest movie (duh) and includes a mesmerizing bit where Ann-Marget sheds an enormous fur coat to reveal ... well, we don't want to spoil the surprise. more ›

Glenn Kotche, drummer for Loose Fur and some other little local band named Wilco, plays percussion tonight with local avant-classical sextet eighth blackbird at The Harris Theater. Kotche's solo drumming is truly mind-blowing -- go on, watch one of his performances -- and we're told he will be debuting a brand new piece amongst some other familiar material. more ›

The cooking demonstrations at Chicago Gourmet were easily the more popular events, despite the fact that tasting the prepared food was a no-no. Since tasting food at the entire event was a seemingly rare experience, who cares? Viking set up two pretty sweet kitchen counters and induction stovetops side by side, so that two chefs could simultaneously prepare dishes, taking turns describing their process and dishes. The Pritzker stage was very effectively transformed into a cooking studio. The induction ranges meant that water boiled at lightning speed and sauces sometimes bubbled over the top of pots but that dishes were completed in the 30 minute allotted time slots. Large, tilted mirrors above the kitchens allowed guests to see the action as it took place. more ›

Losing a pet is a traumatic experience, and finally having to get rid of your pet supplies is a painful reminder of all the good times and happiness the little booger brought. Luckily, you can always take solace in the fact that someone else can surely create their own joyous memories with your carton of irregular cat hats. more ›

For a while it seemed like Pegboy only played one show every two years, but recently the band has made a welcome return to regular appearances, at least in our area. We think it's fair to say they're the epitome of Chicago punk rock, especially since John Haggerty's buzz-saw guitars created the template from which a million other bands took their cues. more ›

Los Dynamite hail from Mexico City, but if you heard them without knowing that tidbit you'd be more likely to think of them as either being based in Brooklyn or London. The band rarely sings in Spanish, and their songs sound way more like Interpol and their ilk. And when they do sing in Spanish, it's over angular art punk that renders the vocals importance more as an emotive instrument than a lyrical delivery system. What we're trying to say is that while Los Dynamite is technically a "Spanish Rock" band, they don't sound like anything you would expect to sprout up south of our border. more ›

Honestly, we were once huge Smashing Pumpkins fans, we swear. But this weekend's vague announcement of a forthcoming Gish box set/anniversary re-release has snapped our last nerve. We refuse to plug Corgan any more until he actually talks James and D'arcy back into the band. That would be newsworthy. more ›

The Black Hollies take the past so seriously it's hard to believe they exist in the present at all. The band is caught somewhere where it's perpetually 1967, The Marquee is still serving up maximum R-and-B, and scooters choke the streets and cause road hazards as forests of mirrors sprout out from the body of each bike. Sitars still count as "rawk" and even the most die-hard pill head isn't afraid of breaking into an occasional skiffle beat, hackneyed though it may sound. more ›

After a waaaay too long delay, the Switches debut album Lay Down The Law is finally available in the U.S. Their song "Drama Queen" ensnared us last year with it's stomping glam beat, sneering Dandy Warhols-esque verses, and it's over the top Queen-sized chorus. The rest of the album took the promise of that original salvo and decimated our expectations in the best possible way. more ›

It's been that kind of day over at the Bright One. First they find out that their Sam Zell video contest was won by a Tribune intern. Now they just discovered that Cal's, that venerable hole in the wall on Van Buren and Wells, is a great place to see a badass rock show (apologies to Wesley Willis). more ›

Thomas Jefferson was good for lots of stuff, but Midwest state naming? Let's just say "Assenispia" isn't quite as catchy as "Illinois." This 1784 map shows Jefferson's proposed divisions of the land that eventual came our beloved region. From the amazing Strange Maps: more ›

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The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association wants us all to “Feel Magnificent,” and this month apparently that means knocking back the bubbly. Throughout February, businesses on the Magnificent Mile and its surrounding area have been serving champagne to diners and shoppers all along the Avenue, which means we have T minus 7 days to score some free (or reduced) sparkling goodness. The Mag Mile web site can fill you in on everywhere that’s filling flutes, but here are our suggestions on where to stop along your own personal “Champagne Crawl.” more ›

Jay Reatard is playing Reggie's Rock Club tonight and we've got a pair of tickets for one lucky Chicagoist reader. Reatard lives in some glorious time warp where rockabilly cuts itself with broken glass and bashes headfirst into Dischord records. His songs throb with a spasmic energy and their anarchic structure is guaranteed to get the crowd spinning in circles, and the fists pumping the air. more ›

Ah, late February in Chicago. Cubs tickets go on sale today, there's a forecast for a high temperature above 35 degrees next week, and thousands of indie rock kids around Chicago will soon be shedding their parkas for high-priced hoodies bought from Wicker Park boutiques (tip: ours cost us $12 at Target!) for several worthwhile shows around the Chicago area. Lots of tickets go on sale this weekend. So, despite this crappy weather, there is, in the words of Spoon, "something to look forward to." more ›

Baby, it's cold outside ... but Chicago's brightest musical talent is on display at a cozy venue near you. Here are some solid bets for this week: more ›

At the risk of feeding the hype machine, we still have to offer a congratulations to Mr. Kanye West for pulling in some Grammy gold last night. While we still don't buy the Grammys as an accurate barometer of the music industry and what's actually, you know, good in music these days, it's still the industry's main award show so there's something to be said for coming away with multiple trophies. While the night's big winner was Amy Winehouse, Kanye still managed to pull in four awards, as well as one of the night's most memorable acceptance speeches (surprise!) when he gave producers the verbal smack-down for trying to run him off in the middle of a tribute to his mother. more ›

Some say that all great works of art are inspired by something or someone: the ever elusive muse. For many, the muse is a real person, be it someone to impress or just someone to one up. Many times these people are the stories behind the story, which is why "For Whom" is the theme for tonight's reconstruction room reading. more ›

While we’re still waiting for today’s high temperature, the forecast calls for things to warm above freezing -- a welcome relief for dog walkers and CTA commuters in every neighborhood. Tomorrow’s temps will be well above freezing, melting all the snow, and creating the possibility of ice jams and flooding on the Rock and Kankakee rivers. more ›

If you're anything like Chicagoist, you're counting the days (only 382!) 'til Shrub is out and new leadership is in. And hey, America, let's not screw it up this time. more ›

Tomorrow night kicks off Metro's "Home For The Holidays" weekend with a veritable who's who of Chicago-based bands that have had big 2007s. We've waxed ecstatic about OFFICE and the 1900s plenty in the past, so now we'd like to direct your attention to our favorite part of the undercard and encourage you to get out there early. more ›

Sixty years ago today, David Mamet was born, and we get a kick imagining the first word out of his mouth once he acquired the ability to speak being "fuck." To be fair, anyone who watches The Unit on CBS 2 Tuesday nights knows that Mamet doesn't need to swear to get his dialogue across. But sometimes it's just funner. In honor of Mamet's birthday we look back at one of his classic scenes:... more ›

Is it just us, or is this one of those weeks that never stops? Looking ahead at our weekend musical calendar, we're realizing we're not going to get any sleep until we fall into a Thanksgiving dinner-induced coma next week. Oh music, we do it all for you. more ›

Yesterday we learned that almost all of us have toxic chemicals hanging out in our bodies, and artists and musicians are no exception to the rule. Visual artists are often exposed to harmful chemicals on a long-term basis. Musicians risk hearing loss and/or vocal chord strain after a long career playing in loud clubs. And both groups risk repetitive motion disorders such as carpal tunnel. The upcoming Musicians at Work forum at the Cultural Center... more ›