Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
It was a sad day for Anglophiles when John Squire left the Stone Roses. Without their lead guitarist and primary songwriter, the Roses withered away a few months after Squire quit last year. But he didn’t waste any time crying over what could have been. Instead, he put together the Seahorses, a tight rock ‘n’ roll outfit that made its Chicago debut Tuesday night at Metro.
“I think we’re five smart women who bring something different to TV,” said host Meredith Vieira, who spent more than two decades covering hard news for such programs as “60 Minutes,” “West 57th” and “Turning Point.” “We’re opinionated and not afraid of airing our views. Plus we’re live and unscripted, so anything could happen.”
The crowd at the Mercury Lounge wasn’t sure what to make of Big Blue Hearts when the four musicians made their New York debut. Dressed in black suits – with a big old cowboy hat for the 6-foot-5 bassist – the San Francisco-based musicians looked slightly nervous, peering at the skeptical crowd.
It was early in Los Angeles and Beck Hanson sounded tired. Phoning from LAX – where, in an hour, he would board a plane for Tokyo – the artist currently known as Beck spoke candidly and seriously about his metamorphosis from perceived one-hit wonder to the most important musician of his generation.
Sarah McLachlan knew it was time to start a music festival that celebrated female artists when she discussed the possibility of having Paula Cole open for her and a promoter told her that two women on the same bill would be too . . . well, you know . . . female.
Golf tees may seem like a strange souvenir to hawk at a rock ‘n’ roll club. But when the nigthclub is nestled in the heart of Myrtle Beach, S.C., it makes sense.
If you have MTV, try to catch the exclusive airing of Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” video. The fully animated clip was drawn by Magnus Carlson, whose animated “Robin” series is a favorite in Great Britain. The band is briefly depicted in a bar at the end of the 6-1/2-minute video, but the music and the stark images are the stars.
Rhett Miller’s doing all right for someone who got kicked out of piano lessons as a kid. He fronts Old 97’s – a country-influenced rock group with tinges of punk elements. And the band has just snagged a primo spot in this year’s Lollapalooza lineup.
Though U2 has been making records for almost two decades, the musicians opted to concentrate on the new rather than indulge in nostalgia. But that’s not to say that they didn’t have fun with a few oldies. While their set list included nine cuts from their current “Pop” album, one of the evening’s highlights was the Edge’s campy solo turn at singing “Sweet Caroline,” karaoke style. The guitarist appeared to be having a great time, punching his fist in the air and encouraging fans to sing louder.
After a spectacular concert Friday night at Soldier Field for more than 40,000 fans, U2 hosted an intimate after-show party in the Bears’ locker room. The party celebrated the kickoff of a three-night stand in Chicago, one of the band’s most popular markets.