My Quest Continues: Re-Discovering Chicago Hardcore

cobralounge

For the last several months I’ve been doing some heavy research in to Chicago’s early to late 80′s hardcore scene. If you’re new to this era and genre you can check out some of my favorite bands like the Effigies and this Punk database to get an idea of what other bands were a part [...]

Best Concert Photos of 2008: Q & A with Photographer Colleen Catania

One of the hardest things about covering live music is picking the photos. Sure it’s labor intensive going through photos, but it’s also difficult because you’re forced to pick 2-3 pictures to sum up the entire visual significances of a live show. We started the year covering bluegrass quintet Uncle Earl at Schubas and ended [...]

A Touring Lesson From Neil Diamond

I’ve been waiting for the right moment to spill a few words about Mr. Love On The Rocks. And like my loyalty to the Cubs, my emotional connection to Neil Diamond rests largely in the fact that my dad has always been a huge fan, so growing up with “Coming to America” and “Sweet Caroline” [...]

Sound Opinions: The State of Clubland and Johnny Cash Live

I’ve been waiting for the right time to merge Live Exhaust with a radio show that I’ve enjoyed for several years and has for the last two weeks discussed two excellent topics that are perfect litmus for Live Exhaust. Sound Opinions, is a weekly (Friday nights 8pm CST)Chicago Public Radio show where pop music critic [...]

How to Suffocate Your Live Music Pleasure

This thought may seem a bit dated, but that’s only because it’s a meaty topic and it had to simmer for a bit longer in my head. And I’ll admit it still needs some more mental-incubation but nonetheless I wanted to bring out and toss it out on the LE operating table-along with the situation [...]

Opposing Thumbs: Do U TXT MSG?

I’ll admit I was a tough convert. And I have to thank my sister for showing me the glow, of my cell phone at a live show, that is. Even though we had a long (somewhat helpful) argument about the difference between hip hop and rap on the way home, I have to give her [...]