http://www.concertlivewire.com Fri 20, Nov 2009 02:30:04 GMT Fri 20, Nov 2009 21:54:01 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/dailydish.htm When The Pixies announced they'd be playing 1989's classic album Doolittle in its entirety, the clamor for tickets reached a fever pitch similar to its reunion tour a few years back. This weekend marks the second and third shows of the up close and personal Aragon residency, which features No Age opening on Friday and Jay Reatard on Saturday... ConcertLivewire Fri 20, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/spektor09.htm Joined onstage by only a drummer and set of string players, Spektor's show had an intimate feel. Though, her band only played with her for the first half of her set, eventually leaving Spektor alone with just her piano and impressive vocals. She at one point switched to her guitar for a more humorous side to the evening, playing songs about eye color ("Silly Eye-Color Generalizations") and people having sex to her songs ("Bobbin' for Apples"). Her other song choices throughout the night ranged from the quirky ("Folding Chair" included self made dolphin noises) to the more heartfelt, like "Laughing With." It was obvious that Regina Spektor has the uncanny ability to turn the most mundane and random topics into beautiful, soulful pieces of music... ConcertLivewire Fri 20, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/skillet09.htm As a result of such phenomenal success, the group had no problem selling out the House of Blues Chicago, but the program actually resembled a mini-arena show instead of merely a club gig. Anyone who caught the band last time through can attest to intense production, but this round, there was even more smoke, sparks and strings. Yes, Skillet, pulled a mini orchestra in tow to re-create the grander of both aforementioned albums, similar to the larger than life approach of My Chemical Romance channeled through an industrialized Nine Inch Nails... ConcertLivewire Fri 20, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/devo09.htm After a nearly 30-minute delay due to a malfunctioning video screen (that was eventually scrapped all together), the group got their musical rocks off to a strong start thanks to the punchy "Uncontrollable Urge," along with a keyboard-infused (albeit a bit too campy) cover of The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." From there, fans went to the future with the bizarre "Space Junk," danced to the motorized beat of "Mongoloid," shouted alongside the call and response of "Jocko Homo" and took a trip to the dark side with "Too Much Paranoias." The surf-slanted punk rocker "Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin')" paved the way for the initial finale "Shrivel-Up," perhaps that project's textbook example of the group's gleeful goofiness... ConcertLivewire Fri 20, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/nuff.htm SongVest, the company that reinvented music memorabilia by auctioning song rights directly to fans, has announced their next auction will feature MTV hits "Fly High Michelle" And "Baby Loves You" from 80's power pop band Enuff Z'Nuff. The auction will take place November 21-28 exclusively... ConcertLivewire Fri 20, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/brimstonecd.htmm Don't like your rock & roll too dangerous? Then you might as well stop reading this and instead log onto the latest Adam Lambast (or whatever his name is) performance on YouTube; since both the video sharing website and American Idol TV show seem to be the two most powerful mediums to break new music acts these days (sad as it may be). But if, like me, you prefer your rock to have a real edge without any pretentious sheen, than look no further than Brimstone Howl's latest album, Big Deal. What's He Done Lately?, for an undiluted shot-in-the-arm of manic rock & roll in its purest (i.e. dirtiest) form... ConcertLivewire Fri 20, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/dailydish.htm He may have first found fame on "American Idol," but Adam Lambert has since established himself as one of this fall's most anticipated rockers with some early props from the surviving members of Queen. Though he's sure to pack plenty of commercial punch throughout For Your Entertainment (RCA), expect plenty of theatrics and flamboyant delivery. The collection includes key cuts such as "Soaked" (penned by Muse's Matthew Bellamy) and "Music Again" (written by The Darkness' Justin Hawkins)... ConcertLivewire Mon 16, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/youngfrank.htm As for his latest monster-sized spectacle, it's the standard "Frankenstein" tale on steroids, chronicling the otherworldly creation through the work of a mad man and his colorful minions, not to mention the hysterically stereotypical town of Transylvania. From the "scientist" Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced "Fronkensteen" and performed by Broadway original Roger Bart) to the green-tinted giant Monster (played by fellow original Shuler Hensley), the characters leap off the stage with personality, while the props provide an apt re-creation of the infamous lab where the Monster is created... ConcertLivewire Mon 16, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/dailydish.htm Hard rockers Skillet may reside in Wisconsin, but Chicago has always been a figurative hometown for the foursome. Currently on tour in support of Awake (Atlantic), which debuted at #2 on Billboard, the group is packing an impressive production and even more aggressive alternative riffs. Pop/punkers Hawk Nelson open, along with Decyfer Down and The Letter Black... ConcertLivewire Fri 13, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/kiss09.htm Halloween was extended another week this year as the unmistakeable rock group KISS brought their bombastic Alive 35 Tour with opening act Buckcherry to the United Center in Chicago last Friday night. Wearing full make-up and costumes, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are the only two original members remaining with guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer rounding out the quartet. KISS still delivers an over-the- top stage show full of pyrotechnics, with a mass array of lights set against an enormous video screen. The music seems to be centered in the background while their influential stage show is always at the forefront. They thrust themselves squarely upon the near capacity crowd with the frayed classics "Deuce" and "Strutter"... ConcertLivewire Fri 13, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/crowes09.htm The Black Crowes casually strolled on stage and confidently broke into "Make Glad," a new song with both the classic Crowes sound and a touch of funky bass played by Sven Pipien, an excellent choice to get the crowd moving. The boys followed with a run of the classic tracks, "Sting Me" from Southern Harmony, "Only A Fool" off of By Your Side and "Darlings of the Underground Press" a B-side from the "Remedy" single. While die hard fans may find the inclusion of any songs off the By Your Side recordings less than acceptable, many looked as they enjoyed singing along with Chris!... ConcertLivewire Fri 13, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/cinemacd1.htm Following in the footsteps of like-minded rock contemporaries such as The Editors, Bloc Party, The Futureheads, Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand, the Glasgow quartet The Cinematics specialize in the retro post-punk of the early '80s. And like many of their aforementioned peers, the music on The Cinematics' sophomore album, Love and Terror, is every bit as pleasing as it is easy to peg down... ConcertLivewire Fri 13, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/dailydish.htm Now that The Killers have sold out to mainstream superstardom, the Brandon Flowers-led band is one of the most polarizing in modern rock. Nonetheless, the hits keep coming and the group's stage show keeps growing, as evidenced throughout Live at Royal Albert Hall (Island), a CD and DVD set culled from its 2009 summer tour. Tracks on both installments include "Human," "Mr. Brightside," "All These Things That I Have Done" and "When You Were Young"... ConcertLivewire Mon 9, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/dailydish.htm She may be best known for the smash single "One of Us," but Joan Osborne is one of the most versatile vocalists of our time just as capable of authentic soul and Motown covers as she is singing for The Dead. These days, she's touring in support of Little Wild One, a New York-inspired album that's just as literary in the lyrical department as it is compelling in the area of arrangements. Blues legends The Holmes Brothers and poetic troubadour Paul Thorn open... ConcertLivewire Fri 6, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/daltry09.htm Daltrey professed that one of his personal favorites is "Behind Blue Eyes" and from the enthusiasm of the crowd as he belted out a very emotional version, it was apparent that he wasn't alone with his affection for this Who classic. While Pete Townshend may not have been shredding his guitar for last night's performance, his younger brother Simon did an admirable job doing both guitar and vocals as he kicked the crowd into gear singing "Going Mobile"... ConcertLivewire Fri 6, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/voodoo09.htm Sure, the aging act that likes to rock and roll all night and party every day is the pinnacle of stadium clichˇs these days and a mere caricature of its heyday, but key members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley served as fitting ringleaders for the revelry. Tunes from the new Sonic Boom were met with indifference, but its big hit, alongside towering production, pryo and constant tongue curling, aptly complimented the city's grand excesses... ConcertLivewire Fri 6, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/rebelsoulscd.htm SOn their 5th album, Seize the Time, the Souls find themselves recording again with True Stereo engineer Ken Christianson, and the results are as to be expected: stunning. Reinterpreting the works of socially-conscious artists like the Clash, Charles Mingus, Caetano Veloso, Miriam Makeba and Stephen Foster (yes, that Stephen Foster), as well as offering up several excellent originals, this talented group makes a strong case that great music and political activism are still a vital combination. Led by Sirota's propulsive drumming, the Rebel Souls include several of Chicago's finest young talents, including bassist Jake Vinsel, guitarist Dave Miller and a dream team front line of Greg Ward on alto sax and Geof Bradfield on tenor and soprano saxes and bass clarinet... ConcertLivewire Fri 6, Nov 2009 12:12:50 GMT