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| basement tapes | concert reviews | cd reviews | interviews | ticket swap | music news |
 By Andy Argyrakis |
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Weekend Report: Stereophonics shout out, Weller's solo outing
Friday, September 12, 2008 With ten years under its belt, its only fitting for the Stereophonics to be turning in Decade In The Sun: The Best Of Stereophonics. Though the British alt-rockers are almost as big as Oasis overseas, America has yet to respond as rapidly, though that doesn't mean Kelly Jones and company are any less talented (though perhaps a bit less charismatic or dramatic behind the scenes). Outside of a career retrospective, expect the set list to lean heavily on 2007's Pull the Pin. (Worth a shot - Saturday at Metro- Chicago, IL: www.metrochicago.com). At face value, catching Paul Weller in concert is a no brainer, if only for his leadership of iconic Mod-punkers The Jam, and to a lesser extent, the soul spun Style Council. However, it's never apparent what era he'll mine from, and with a mixed solo canon, that  leads the door open for nerve-wracking prospects. The singer/songwriter's latest affair 22 Dreams (Yep Roc) is a 50/50 split between Brit-pop brilliance and self-indulgent slop, making it a coin toss for anyone on the fence. (Worth a shot - Tuesday at House of Blues- Chicago, IL: www.ticketmaster.com).He may be classified as country, but when Vince Gill popped up at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival last year, he brought along plenty of rock and blues as well. A turn towards his 2006 box set of all original material These Days also possesses a smattering of the above, making the furious finger picker hard to pinpoint. But one thing's for certain at this headlining set and that's seeing an accomplished troubadour in an intimate setting, a rare treat considering a winter arena outing with wife Amy Grant is on the books after this. (Bet your life - Thursday at Rialto Square Theatre- Joliet, IL: www.rialtosquare.com) |
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Street Week: Osborne's inspired by New York, More Metallica
Monday, September 9, 2008 Singer/songwriter Joan Osborne may be best known for her 1995 breakthrough Relish, but she's actually excelled well beyond that pop/rock introduction. In subsequent years, she's dabbled in soul, country and even a stint with The Dead, though the brand new Little Wild One (Womanly Hips) touches on all those previous pedigrees. Outside of well preserved vocal pipes, expect a thematic centering around the hopeful side of a post September 11th New York City. Bi-passing the Tuesday tradition, Metallica will actually release Death Magnetic (Warner Bros.) on Friday, September 12. The project marks the band's tenth overall, serving as the long-awaited follow-up to 2003's St. Anger and first to feature bassist Robert Trujillo. Another round of firsts comes from the fact that Rick Rubin is at the production helm, plus the players  just launched the brand new Mission Metallica website (missionmetallica.com). Though some could argue the band's best days are in the past, this newly revitalized period includes extensive online marketing initiatives that suggest the band is shifting towards today's trends.This week is also features the random (or rather desperate) attempts for Jessica Simpson to go country on Do You Know (Sony), plus Natalie Cole's second stab at cashing in on the standards craze via Still Unforgettable (Rhino). In folk news, Joan Baez turns to Day After Tomorrow (Razor & Tie), while the less talented Dar Williams releases Promised Land on the same label. Jonny Lang also drops his first ever DVD in the form of Live In Montreux 1999 (Eagle Rock), showcasing the blues guitar prodigy at a teenage prime. |
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