ARTS Pick: To Kill a Mockingbird

Live Arts’ season continues with a production of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. The beloved classic examines racial tension, violence and inequality in the Depression-era South through the eyes of a child as she moves from innocence to awareness. The story reveals the importance of strength and courage in the face […]

Album reviews: Eleanor Friedberger, Cate Le Bon, The Landlords

Eleanor Friedberger New View (Frenchkiss) Eleanor Friedberger took a step back from the overstuffed exuberance of The Fiery Furnaces with her solo debut, 2011’s Last Summer. Friedberger didn’t blanch out her quirkiness, but unlike much of her former band’s output, the songs didn’t feel like riding a roller coaster with your eyes closed. You could […]

ARTS Pick: Jay Blakesberg

Every great rock ‘n’ roll photograph requires unseen talent behind the camera, and if you follow coverage of jam bands and the hippie scene, then it’s likely the person pressing the shutter is Jay Blakesberg. Since the mid-’80s Blakesberg has been shooting photos of music icons and breakthrough acts from Primus and U2 to Nirvana […]

Dropping in: Parachute aims for the top of the pop chart

Will Anderson says his Parachute bandmates like cool music. Him? Not so much. “I’m so fascinated with pop music,” Anderson says. “It’s always been my obsession. I’m sure people get tired of it—my poor friends always have to hear about it. And I’m talking about like ’NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.” And so it goes […]

Film review: Allegiant is overwhelmed by predictability

As maligned and oversaturated in the market as they are, there’s a real value to the dystopian young adult sci-fi/fantasy tropes that target the tween demographic and are, ideally, familiar to adults who have not forgotten their own journey to emotional maturity. When the genre works, these novels and films can be useful primers on […]

ARTS Pick: Yo La Tengo

Original indie-rock act Yo La Tengo has managed to stay fresh and relevant over 30 years of touring and recording. Playing off the successful mix implemented on 1990’s Fakebook, the Jersey trio’s latest release, Stuff Like That There, lists covers of The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Cure and Hank Williams, along with new versions of the […]

ARTS Pick: Idiot Glee

Solo artist James Friley’s compositions are a modern tribute to the art rock of the ’60s and ’70s. Performing under the name Idiot Glee, Friley melds his spacecraft pop by blending the influences of electronic pioneers Brian Eno, John Cale and Brian Wilson (among others) with classically trained keyboard chops, rock god guitar work and […]

Slow and steady: After 25 years, Tortoise still follows its own logic

Back in 1994, Chicago Tribune rock critic Greg Kot reviewed the self-titled debut album by Tortoise. Even for Chicago, a town noted for musicians who tease at and push the boundaries of rock and jazz, the group was difficult to pin down. “The group’s dynamic is to layer textures and construct atmospheres rather than write […]