Jim DeRogatis

Flight of the Conchords may only be "New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo a cappella-rap-funk-comedy duo," as their press kit self-deprecatingly notes.

But at their sold-out show at the Chicago Theatre Wednesday night, musician/comedian Bret McKenzie and comedian/musician Jemaine Clement not only confirmed that they're the most wicked and spot-on rock 'n' roll parody since Spinal Tap, but the best made-for-TV rock band since the Banana Splits, or maybe even the Monkees before them.

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Posted by Jim DeRogatis at 10:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For longtime Ministry fans, it was a bittersweet night on Thursday as the long-running industrial/metal band played the first of a four-night stand at the House of Blues in the city where it formed in 1981.

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Posted by Jim DeRogatis at 12:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The idea is obvious: Bring together the top talents in hip-hop and R&B for one triumphant arena tour that raises the bar for the concert experience in both genres. Even better if you can pair one artist who really speaks to the ladies with another who all the fellas emulate.

This isn't a new idea: Hip-hop giant Jay-Z and R&B lothario R. Kelly teamed up for the Best of Both Worlds Tour before it crashed to a halt in the fall of 2004. But that aborted collaboration was stilted, forced and joyless -- in short, a disaster.

In dramatic contrast, the Heart of the City Tour by Hova and Mary J. Blige -- the most successful rapper of all time and the queen of hip-hop/soul -- was a triumphant celebration when it rolled into the United Center Saturday for the first of a two-night stand.

Continue reading "Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige tear it up at the United Center" »

Posted by Jim DeRogatis at 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)