A sleepless tradition of music, comedy serves needy
For the last 12 Years, Heather Whinna, Steve Albini and a few friends — including Jeff Tweedy, Fred Armisen and Second City alumni — have devoted part of their Christmas...
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Yusuf Islam at the Chicago Theatre: Cat Stevens songs and more
In his former incarnation as Cat Stevens, Yusuf Islam had a reputatio n as a bit of a self-serious fellow, the young man with the furrowed brow contemplating eternal mysteries...
Sam Smith, Beyoncé, Pharrell lead Grammy nominations
A 22-year-old newcomer, U.K. soul-pop singer Sam Smith, joined Grammy mainstays Beyonce and Pharrell Williams with six nominations each on Friday for the 57th annual Grammy Awards. Smith dominated the...
Smashing Pumpkins go pop, sort of, on ‘Monuments to an Elegy’
Despite the ponderous title, the Smashing Pumpkins' ninth studio album, "Monuments to an Elegy" (Martha's Music), is practically lighthearted by Billy Corgan standards. Corgan hasn't gone all One Direction on...
Bob Seger’s an enduring non rock-star
Bob Seger has never particularly looked or acted like a rock star, but he became one anyway. As a rare national tour brings the Detroit rocker to Chicago next week...
Top albums of 2014: The best of a busy year
A year-end "best of" list can't be definitive. It wouldn't be possible to listen to the thousands of albums that are released each year, and even if it were, it...
Bowie, Philly soul and Dylan are boxed set standouts in 2014
Here are some of the most notable box sets this year in rock and pop: Michael Bloomfield, "From His Head to his Heart to his Hands"(Columbia/Legacy, $46): A herculean guitarist...
Mary J. Blige’s London therapy session
Mary J. Blige is more than two decades deep into her career, a point when even the most gifted singers working the divide between R&B and pop start being treated...
Lucinda Williams sings truth to power
When Lucinda Williams got married to her manager Tom Overby in 2009, her life changed and so did her songwriting. For decades, the Louisiana-born singer's lyrics focused on intimacy, love...
Preatures live up to their initial splash
The Preatures emerged as a band to watch out of Australia last year with the buoyant "Is This How You Feel?" That track anchors the quintet's debut album, "Blue Planet...