Solo Sabbatical
We think it's just a sabbatical from his day job in Wilco, but when Jeff
Tweedy announced plans that he was forming a new band that will tour
supporting his new (and only) solo record, including his son Spencer
Tweedy on drums, guitarist Jim Elkington, bassist Darin Gray and keyboardist Liam Cunningham, we asked ourselves is this the end of the
band that made him famous? Probably not, but it's fun to fantasize and
post false reports on Facebook like everybody else.
At least Tweedy is being smart his song choices on tour. Pitchfork.com
is reporting the Tweedy will perform Wilco and Uncle Tupelo tracks at his
upcoming shows, not leaving us with a set of unfamiliar solo material.
Tweedy performs in Grant Park on July 12th during Taste Of Chicago.
Jeff Tweedy
06•2014
Pop Goes Wax Trax!
If you were a fan of music in the '80s and '90s
that didn't get played on the radio, chances are
you made more than a few treks to Wax Trax!
Records on North Lincoln Avenue. Although its
genesis was as a record label, the retail location in
the heart of Lincoln Park was ground zero for
sating the appetites of suburbanites and city
dwelling denizens who craved hard to find
Industrial, New Wave and Punk rock releases (I
still cherish-and still own-the day I found a copy
of Naked Raygun's "Flammable Solid" single in
the dusty bins!.
The hugely influential compound established
by partners Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher
would last for more than a decade before shuttering under the cloud of bankruptcy.
Enter Julie Nash, daughter of original
founder Jim. On June 15th, Wax Trax! will rise
from the dead once again in the form of the Wax
Trax! Records Pop-Up Store. The event will be
held at Chicago's famed Metro, 3730 North
Clark on Sunday, June 15th 2014 from 11 am4p.m..
Nash promises "mucho grande" shopping
opportunities, as well as some of our favorite DJ's from back in the day to roll out the Lincoln Avenue
store playlist. A full service bar, original Wax Trax! pressings, subway posters, t-shirts and memorabilia from the label will top off the adventure."
Personally, I hope to once again see the beat up snap shot of Iggy Pop and William S. Burroughs
that greeted me under the glass counter every time I'd head to the register to pay for my haul.
Hologram Michael Jackson
Photo: courtesy of Billboard and ABC Television
All Hologram Tour
It started with Tupac, or maybe it was Elvis. But leave it to Michael
Jackson to creep us out by coming back to life at the Billboard Music Awards
performing "Slave To The Rhythm" (from his posthumous album Xscape) as a
holographic image. Naturally some promoters are seeing dollar signs
attached to all holographic tours, And honestly, we're a little intrigued. The
possibilities for dead rock stars is enormous.
With a little technology, we could see a reformed holographic Beatles performing with guitarist Brian Jones (Rolling Stones) and drummer Keith
Moon (The Who). How about a holographic Clash spin-off with Joe
Strummer and bassist Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols) and Hank Williams? Then
there's Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison. Anybody have the holographic cell
phone number for Kurt Cobain? Creepy sure, but you know it's coming...
Hello, My Name is Tesco
-Curt Baran
Slaying
A Monster
For the second time in a year, the surviving members of the Beastie
Boys have had to fight a mischievous corporation and their marketing
arm for using their music without permission. Adam "Ad-Rock"
Horovitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond of the band went to trial
against Monster energy drink last week after suing them for roughly
$2 million for using the band's music in a snowboarding video. The
late Adam "MCA" Yauch stated before his death that his image, name,
or music could not be used for advertising purposes. Monster's lawyer
said the use of the Beastie Boys' music was an honest mistake and the
company should only pay $125,000 for the five weeks that the video
was posted online. Like some of our politicians, their mantra appears
to be "deny first, deny when we get caught later." Last fall, the band
fought a toy company for using it's music online without permission.
It's almost becoming a full-time job.
Albums We Won't Be Reviewing
MORRISSEY
World Peace Is None Of Your Business (Harvest)
Don't get us wrong Morrissey, your music is groundbreaking and changed the face
of alternative rock in the 1980s when your were the co-founder of The Smiths. But, we're
hearing reports that opening bands on your current tour are being treated poorly. You
can do better. And, until you do, World Peace Is None Of Your Business will get the get the cold shoulder.
6 illinoisentertainer.com june 2014
Tesco Vee (center) of The Meatmen
Photo: Joe Gall
If you've never heard of Tesco Vee or The Meatmen, odds are you either
weren't alive during the 1980s or didn't closely follow, arguably, the golden
age of punk rock. Either way, it's time for a little Hardcore History 101.
The Meatmen first gained