Octfecta Is Now a Thing: Out Of Space’s Lineup of Musical Wonderfulness
This month’s Out of Space lineup features hip-hop icons, reggae legends, a hometown heroine and an unsinkable indie rock heavyweight.
Music Top 5: June 2019
Rosanne Cash and Ry Cooder unite to pay tribute to Cash’s father Johnny—heading a month of must-see performances by Finn Andrews, A.A. Bondy, Toronzo Cannon and Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah.
Lyrical Miracles: A Review of Jonas Friddle’s “The Last Place to Go”
The album is a dazzlingly rich lode of tonal and especially textual delights; I’d call it a master class in songwriting, except I’ve listened to it a few times through and still can’t tell how he’s pulled off some of the effects he has here. Inspiration and invention can’t be taught.
Gold Standards: A Preview of Robinlee Garber at Davenport’s Cabaret
Garber’s voice is a gorgeous thing—managing to deliver both the resonance of a viol and the brightness of a trumpet—and her phrasing could persuade you that these timeworn lyrics are actually occurring to her spontaneously as she speaks them.
Jerusalem on Lake Michigan: Chicago’s Birthright Claim To Gospel Music Festival
With the occasional exception of crossover artists like Sir the Baptist at Lollapalooza—gospel isn’t going to make a significant showing at any festival that’s not exclusively gospel-dedicated. Fortunately for Chicago, the gold standard in that regard occurs annually on our lakefront.
Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow: A Preview of the Damned at House of Blues
The band’s sound has expanded a bit since its earliest days; one hears more hints of psychedelia in more recent outings like 2018’s “Evil Spirit.”
Music Top 5: May 2019
With her exuberant self-empowerment single “Juice,” the irrepressible singer-rapper-flautist has positioned herself as one of 2019’s defining voices.
Invitation: A Preview of California Guitar Trio and Montréal Guitar Trio at Old Town School of Folk Music
The unique tuning used by CGT—intervals of fifths, like a violin—gives a unique sonority to the instrument as well. Against that backdrop, the trio sounds like no one else as it digs into both original compositions and interpretations of others’ works.
God Isn’t My Only Co-Pilot: Post-Rock Thrives On Two New Releases
“Twin Hemispheres” is neither the best composition on the band’s new album nor the right choice for the single (which it was), but I’ll be damned if they didn’t position it perfectly as a statement of intent, as if to say, “We are still Pilot Cloud and we’re picking up precisely where we left off. “
Out From Under Covers: A Review of Joe Policastro Trio’s “Nothing Here Belongs”
My favorite of the album’s original tunes may be “Oceans of Notions,” where Avery clearly enjoys himself, chattering and clicking and rattling at Miller’s breezy guitar theme; he’s like a terrier running between Miller’s legs as he ambles along.
