In Defense of Philip Seymour Hoffman
Addiction is a disease. The brain of the addict is different than the “normal” human brain. It craves escape. Numbness. A reprieve from reality.
Conor Bezane is a music-meister who has written for MTV News, AOL, and VICE. He is a recovering bipolar addict who can be found digging through the crates at a local record store when he’s not attacking his keyboard, writing nonfiction. His first book, The Bipolar Addict, is available now on Amazon.
Japandroids in Chicago: They Yell Like Hell to the Heavens
Like Muse or the Black Keys, here’s the story of a band that could find itself – out of nowhere and after some further evolution – all of a sudden playing arenas within a matter of just a few years. Japandroids – this year’s indie rock breakout stars – clobbered a crowd of 1,200…
Nirvana Reunite: Bittersweet Without Kurt, Historic with Paul McCartney
It has been said that Kurt Cobain was my generation’s John Lennon. I believe it to be true. But last night fans got their fix of Nirvana with another Beatle on board – Paul McCartney. Yep… hell froze over last night. Nirvana reunited. Minus Kurt Cobain of course. But with Paul McCartney on vocals.…
Rock ‘N’ Roll Gift Guide
The metalhead. The indie rocker. The audiophile. The punk rocker. In the age of streaming, you can’t buy the music fan on your list a CD – well I guess you can, but so few of us are using CD players these days. Check out these ideas that are a bit outside the norm.…
Matt + Kim = Happiness And Cheer
Matt and Kim on the big screen. See the them playing in the darkness below. Matt and Kim have more fun on stage than any band in recent memory. And for the crowd, the feeling is mutual. Not even the Flaming Lips or Polyphonic Spree hold a candle to the band’s spunk, energy…
Sleigh Bells: Joan Jett Reincarnated
Singer Alexis Krauss Delivers One of This Year’s Best Shows She’s got a singing voice as smooth as ice cream. She can scream with the best of ‘em. Her speaking voice is like Marilyn Monroe. And she’s got a style and stage presence we haven’t seen from a female rocker since Joan Jett or Exene Cervenka…
Everyday Is Halloween
The ConorTV Playlist Vol. 7 You will not find “Thriller” on my Halloween playlist. Nor will you find “The Monster Mash” or “The Munster’s Theme.” Iron Maiden? Check. The Misfits? Check. Ministry? Check. Indie rock songs about vampires and ghosts? Check. Even some Johnny Cash. I hope you enjoy this alternative Halloween playlist.…
The Dazing Power of John Darnielle
The Mountain Goats Win Over Chicago Fanboys and Fangirls With Ease He is the only guitarist who wields an acoustic like it’s an axe. And that axe delivered a drop-dead ravishing performance Saturday night at the Vic Theatre in Chicago. The genius behind the Mountain Goats – John Darnielle – is also the…
New Video: M83 – “Steve McQueen”
It was magnificent. Grandiose. Sublime. And one year later I still can’t stop listening to it. French electronic collective M83 was the band responsible for last year’s splendid double album “Hurry Up We’re Dreaming.” The only drawback – I absolutely can’t stand “Midnight City” because that track has been used in so many TV…
A Spoonful of Nu Gaze
The ConorTV Playlist Vol. 6 Nu Gaze emerged in the early 2000s as a horde of bands started playing music influenced by the Shoegazers that came before them – see yesterday’s post on Shoegaze. Deerhunter, A Place To Bury Strangers and Beach House are semi-popular examples. There is also a prevalence of somewhat…
