Chicago's Steve Albini is probably best know as the man behind the velvet curtain for many in your face, rough and tumble rock albums that defined the '90s like PJ Harvey's "Rid of Me," The Pixies' "Sufer Rosa" or one of the ultimate classics of the decade, Nirvana's "In Utero." His well-known stature as a sonically charged recording engineer and massively loud and distorted guitarist for his down and dirty noise-punk band Shellac is only equaled by his reputation as difficult and sometimes controversial curmudgeon whose opinions have ruffled the feathers of of the likes of indie to mainstream heavy hitters Sonic Youth. We won't even get started on his stage banter which has ranged from friendly to completely fucking caustic, calling audience members names and generally just being kind psuedo-hard-ass trapped in the body of a flannel wrapped, skinny, horn-rimmed glasses wearing indie rocker. more ›

Chicago-based Pitchfork, ye olde guardian of all things indie rock and general critical force to be reckoned with, is launching Pitchfork.tv on April 7. When we first saw the press release hit our inbox, we admit our initial reaction was one of great skeptical cynicism. Recently Pitchfork gave a rather naked endorsement to a video game that they just happened to choose the soundtrack for, so the move in to territory dangerously similar to MTV-land seemed like another step towards the ramp at the edge of the shark tank. more ›

Just when the darkness of winter is getting to be too much - it's Valentine's Day! Something there to remind us how dark our days really are, but today, of all days, the City gives us the present we've been dreaming of - Lollapalooza. This year our present will last 3 days from August 4th-6th, have 130 performers on eight stages and take up more space in Grant Park. No one act is signed... more ›

First things first: if you still want to see the Pixies during their run here at the Aragon, you’ve still got time. Though most of their shows have been sold out since forever, tickets are available for Wednesday’s show with a reconstituted Urge Overkill. more ›

» Roger Ebert gets a new site, adds a funny photo of himself more ›

The Pixies have added one more date to their stop in Chicago! They'll be at the Aragon Ballroom November 17 with Urge Overkill. The Pixies were already scheduled for November 13-16 before heading to Detroit on the 18, but as far as we know those shows have long since sold out. The Datsuns open on the 13, Secret Machines the 14, the Walkmen the 15, and the Cocktails the 16. more ›