Archives: October 2010
Reggie’s
Reggie’s is a multi-dimensional establishment located on the outskirts of Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood. It houses three different businesses under one roof; a live music venue, a bar/restaurant and a record store. The main stage goes by the name of Reggie’s Rock Club, while Reggie’s Music Joint is the moniker for the smaller stage inside the restaurant. The upstairs record shop is called Record Breakers, but for simplicity’s sake, all of these enterprises can be referred to solely as Reggie’s. After all, Reggie’s best attribute is likely its ability to combine various activities that serve to enhance the overall concert-going experience. Continue Reading…
Deals Gone Bad
For over 15 years, Deal’s Gone Bad has been a proverbial pillar of Chicago’s underground music scene. To simply label them a ska band would be categorically unfair, for their sound incorporates significant influences of rocksteady, soul, dub, Motown and more. As the band puts the finishing touches on its new record and gears up for an extensive summer tour, we met with guitarist Dave Simon to chat about much of the group’s lengthy history, as well as their various future plans. Continue Reading…
The Menzingers
Photo by Katie Hovland
The Menzingers are a rare example of a band that lives up to the hype. They’re proficient with both their songwriting and live performances, and despite their youth, they make what they do look easy. In April of this year, they released their breakout album and Red Scare debut, Chamberlain Waits. We caught up with singer/guitarists Greg Barnett and Tom May at the second annual Windy City Sound Clash and discussed the details of their new album, as well as record label dealings, tour stories and more. Continue Reading…
The Scissors
Darren Vorel of The Scissors by Katie Hovland
Since forming in 2002, The Scissors have continually labored to hone their sound and expand their following. In late March of 2010, they released their third album, You Can Make It Dangerous. Recorded by Matt Allison and produced by Grammy-nominee Tom Higgenson, this record is somewhat of a star-studded affair, but most importantly, it’s got the songwriting chops to back it up. Taking more of a pop direction than their previous efforts, You Can Make It Dangerous finds The Scissors experimenting with new sounds, but also maintaining their longstanding punk undertones. The album is further augmented by the group’s most solidified lineup yet, and with any luck The Scissors will soon be one of the biggest names in Chicago punk rock. Continue Reading…
The Lawrence Arms
Photo by Katie Hovland
The toast of Chicago punk rock, The Lawrence Arms, recently celebrated their tenth anniversary. They of course did so in style, by playing a commemorative show at the Metro and releasing their first seven-inch. We met up with singer/bassist Brendan Kelly in late December of ’09 and discussed a great deal of the band’s decade-long history. We talked about record label dealings, tour stories, the future of the band and more.
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