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NO WAVE: Post-Punk. Underground. New York. 1976-1980

Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and music critic Byron Cooley have created the definitive chronicle of the late ’70s New York art-rock scene. Together they skillfully depict the culture, politics, and environment that formed the still-obscure and quietly influential bands of that era.

Jeff Koons Book, Edited by Francesco Bonami

Jeff Koons is the ex-Wall Street broker come wildly successful kitsch artist that critics around the world hate to love.

Previously married to Ilona “Cicciolina” Staller, a Hungarian pornstar who became a member of Italian parliament (true story), Koons is likely best known for his Statuary, Kiepenkerl series in which he cast several different inflatable toys in immaculate stainless steel. Pieces from this series are included in a current survey of his work at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago—his first solo US exhibition in 16 years.

Mario Rubalcaba (Earthless) To Fill in for J Mascis’ Witch Dates

Witch has confirmed seven west coast tour dates along with Earthless and Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound. J Mascis will be replaced on the drums by Mario Rubalcaba of Earthless. Rubalcaba (who has played with Pinback, Hot Snakes, Metroschifter, and Rocket from the Crypt) is not only a bad-ass drummer, he’s also an ex-pro skater (see photo above). Dates below.

Lollapalooza 2008, Day 3 Recap

Of the two recent major music festivals in Chicago (Lollapalooza and Pitchfork) Lolla is the loud, obnoxious big brother to Pitchfork’s quiet, arty little brother.

Storming into Grant Park like Hannibal across Europe, Lolla flew its corporate flag proudly, and over 225,000 heeded the call. 2008 was another undeniable success for mad genius Perry Farrell, the Willy Wonka of the pop world, with fewer injuries and drunk/drug related arrests than previous outings.

[Contest] Win Two Tickets to Monolith Music Festival

On September 13-14, 2008, over 70+ artists invade Morrison, CO for the largest music festival in the history of Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Enter to win two tickets now for 5 stages of non-stop music featuring Devotchka, Atmosphere, TV on the Radio, Del the Funky Homosapien, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, CSS, The Whigs, and many more.

Lollapalooza 2008, Day 2: Witchcraft (Citi Stage)

High noon. In my imagination, as the sun reaches its peak in the sky, gun-slinging dudes in Western gear engage in a winner-take-all duel. The Lollapalooza equivalent of such pronounced machismo must be Orebro Sweden’s Witchcraft, whose 70s Black Sabbath inspired psychedelic riffs rifled through the air with the flamboyance of a gang of sharpshooters in “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.”

Lollapalooza 2008, Day 1: Radiohead (AT&T Stage)

Radiohead “Not Just a Dream” at Lollapalooza 2008

“Why is everyone so quiet?” questioned Thom Yorke in the latter half of Radiohead’s headlining Lollapalooza gig on Friday night in Chicago. The answer, of course, isn’t that everyone was disinterested, but rather that they were giving their undivided attention to a band that hasn’t graced a major concert stage in Chicago since 2001 – which was, coincidentally, in Grant Park.

Lollapalooza 2008, Day 3: Love and Rockets (Bud Light Stage)

Love and Rockets @ Lollapalooza

Taking a detour into nostalgia, I arrived at the Bud Light main stage for Love and Rockets and it became clear as I strolled to nearly the front row that everyone was over on the south side of Grant Park catching the Gnarls Barkley set, leaving me surrounded by pasty faces in Bauhaus shirts.