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The latest folk-pop band from Chicago is Brighton, MA
Matthew Kerstein has taken a musical journey from Scotland to Massachusetts without ever leaving the Windy City. The frontman of Brighton, MA is a former founding member of local buzz band Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, which he left to captain this folk-pop outfit that’s making quite a splash itself.


Chicago has the fastest rapper in the world

Chicago has the fastest rappers in the world. Really. Local rapper Rebel XD (Seandale Price) recently broke his own Guinness record to nab another authorization by the world-record group as the world’s fastest rapper.


Lollapalooza Last Band Standing contest returns

Hundreds of bands will be performing at this year’s Lollapalooza concert festival — why not you?


The heaviest metal venues in Chicago
Hip-hop and indie rock get a lot of attention from Chicago music critics and bloggers, but the city also boasts one of the most active and connected heavy-metal scenes in the country. Here's a look at four hot spots in town where you can feel the noise.

Is the city council trying to silence live music?
Jim DeRogatis: With nary a word of public notice — and with no public hearings seeking input from the Chicago music community — the City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection today pushed through a new “promoters’ ordinance” that could silence a lot of concerts in Chicago.
Rules inspired by E2 stampede approved Who speaks for the local music scene? Audio: WBBM report on last summer's license hearing

Common has new album, 'Terminator' role on tap
Chicago rapper Common has been tapped to star in the upcoming fourth installment of the ‘Terminator’ series, ‘‘Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins.’’ He will play a freedom fighter named Barnes who is defending the human race against a machine that aims to destroy it.


From Wax Trax to 'The Last Sucker': A history of Ministry

After more than 12 albums and countless tours, Ministry is allegedly saying farewell. Here is a look at some high points in the band’s career.

With sympathy: Ministry kills off band on final tour

Ministry leader Al Jourgensen — hockey fan?

Given his lifestyle and dark, decadent image, Al Jourgensen has never exactly seemed like the sporting type. But he is in fact a major Blackhawks fan, and Ministry recently released the single “Keys to the City” to serve as the hockey team’s new anthem.

With sympathy: Ministry kills off band on final tour

Stay up all night at Looptopia

Five o'clock Friday evening is when most flee their downtown offices for the weekend. After all, who wants to stick around after that grueling work week?

What to do: Around Looptopia PDF: Looptopia map

Bottom Lounge opening delayed again

Once again, the opening of this promising venue at its new location at 1375 Lake St. has been pushed back, with Friday's gig by Urge Overkill and Saturday's MU330 show both postponed. (Rescheduled dates to be announced.) Click to read more on DeRo's blog.

Two new rock clubs set to transform city nightlife Official site: The Bottom Lounge

Like new punchy R.E.M.? Chris Mills does it better

As many critics have noted, the new R.E.M. album, “Accelerate,” is short, uptempo and free of fat. The standard version of that disc consists of 11 songs, and it’s about 35 minutes long. Former Chicagoan Chris Mills’ terrific new album, “Living in the Aftermath,” makes an excellent companion piece to “Accelerate,” and it has superior melodies. In 10 original tracks that clock in at 32 minutes, Mills gives the listener hook after hook after hook.


Wordplay comes first for songwriter-singer Doug Hoekstra
Doug Hoekstra is a singer-songwriter. Strike that; reverse it. He’s more of a songwriter-singer, crafting immensely detailed vignettes that are pure Americana and pairing them with subtly earnest arrangements. But for this Chicago native and Nashville resident, it’s all about the words.

More Chicago-centric music coverage Shot Baker cooks up explosive old-school punk

Scott Weiland recording solo with Chicago's Albini

Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland is recording his second solo album with famed Chicago rock producer Steve Albini and plans to release it in November.


Music for airports: the albums being played

Here are the 30 albums by local musicians being played in the terminals at O’Hare and Midway airports:

Chicago music makes landing at airports

Kanye's DJ leads charge at hometown hip-hop show
With a lineup featuring this year’s club up-and-comers — led by by Steve Aoki and Kanye West’s DJ, A-Trak, plus a special appearance by DJ Autobot of Flosstradamus — Wednesday night's Scream Bloody Murder Tour was surely everything a fan of Chicago’s trendy new danceable hip-hop could hope for.

Liz Phair launches third chapter by revisiting 'Guyville'
After a short hiatus, Chicago native Liz Phair is back with a new record deal with indie ATO, an in-progress new album and a re-release of ‘‘Guyville,’’ set for June 24. "I can honestly say, for the first time in 15 years, I feel creative," she said when she spoke recently about what’s new and exciting in her world.
Liz Phair inks new deal, rehashes 'Guyville'

Smashing Pumpkins to be enshrined in Hollywood Rock Walk

Billy Corgan, leader of the reunited Smashing Pumpkins, and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin will be inducted into Hollywood’s RockWalk on Wednesday. Corgan and Chamberlin then will be honored by fans with a special ceremony at Guitar Center in Hollywood.

Corgan speaks out about Smashing Pumpkins lawsuit





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