Guster Shines in Chicago at The Riviera Theater on 1/29

After releasing their first studio album in four years last year, Guster returned to the road early last month for a winter tour.  The band hit Chicago last weekend at The Riviera Theater and the venue was packed with new and old fans alike.
Filing onstage to music off of Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane [...]

Hipster DJs – Alienating Supporters and Haters Alike

On a recent Saturday evening, I met a pal at a local watering hole known for delicious cocktails and a small stage for local musicians. On a previous trip, this meant a band that was so excited to be able to play loudly that they drove most of us out to the patio where they [...]

Chicago and New York Ignored in Top Rock List

I love a good top 10 list and with the wrapping up of yet another year, they are certain to start rolling out in droves. The latest from SongKick, the Top 10 US cities for live rock music in 2010, is not only terribly specific (though they include emo and the vaguely named indie as [...]

Kate Nash – Bringing Wankers Together Since 2010

Walking into the Park West Theater in Chicago for the Kate Nash show last week, I was surprised by how much younger everyone was (you think I’d get used to it) but also that they were blasting some old school Madonna, to which all these kids were singing along. I guess “Like a Virgin” will [...]

Halloween – A Cautionary Tale

In today’s New York Times, my new girl crush of a writer, Sloane Crosley, discusses the hell that is Halloween in New York City. And she mostly nails it: the enormous pressure to have *the greatest night of your life*, the “who are you” game, etc. She left out the hell that is traveling below [...]

Top 40 Radio – Newest Tactic in Green Energy

The other day, I was heading from my apartment in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago to my yoga studio in Lakeview. There are no two neighborhoods that are so difficult to travel between, while being so geographically close. Google Maps has me leaving almost an hour before class to get there by public transit. So [...]

Less Than Jake at Riot Fest

Continuing the tour de high school hits at Riot Fest, I found myself back at the Congress Theater, ready to watch the mayhem of Less Than Jake unfold. As they’ve been wont to do in recent years, the show was scheduled to cover a full album, in this case Losing Streak.
After opening to a rowdy, [...]

Lawrence Arms at Riot Fest

When Riot Fest descended on Chicago on October 6, a cumulative love of punk rock enveloped the city with its greasy hair and mild aggression. I was in heaven.
First stop was Lawrence Arms and Bad Religion at the Congress Theater. Just to note, the ‘roid-fueled security team in front, wearing black t-shirts that read “Police” [...]

Bad Religion at Riot Fest

After the smoke and sweat clouds cleared from Lawrence Arms, there was a palpable charge in the air as the crowd eagerly awaiting the evening’s heavy hitters, Bad Religion to take the stage. Trying to play it cool up in the balcony, this girl found herself rushing the crowd on the main floor with everyone [...]

The Cults – Indie Rock Battles Crappy Sound Equipment

Walking down the mostly deserted, industrial park-looking street leading to the Hideout, my friend visiting from Brooklyn seemed skeptical at my promise that this show, the Cults, was totally going to be worth the fear of being killed in an alley. Luckily, both of my predictions – that we would survive and the show would [...]

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