Matthew Sigur

From ‘Wet Leg’ to ‘It’s Almost Dry,’ from ‘God’s Country’ to ‘Lucifer on the Sofa’

The classically-trained composer flips the script on heavy metal for her sophomore album

The last time the Sklar Brothers performed stand-up on New Year’s Eve was more than a decade ago in Sacramento, according to Randy Sklar. Known for their quick banter as seen on cult TV show Cheap Seats on ESPN Classic, and as co-hosts of the podcast Dumb People Town, the twin brothers who perform together on stage have since been offered more New Year’s Eve gigs. The timing never felt right—until now.
“We thought this could be a way to turn the page,” Randy says.

Chicago has served as the backdrop for blockbuster films like The Blues Brothers, The Dark Knight and The Break-Up. But just when did the “Hollywood of the Midwest” first become a go-to location for film and TV producers?

Towards the end of The Beta Test, Jim Cummings explodes into a monologue of anger and truth. Those who have seen the writer/director/actor’s other feature films — Thunder Road and The Wolf of Snow Hollow — are familiar with this trademark scene. The reason for the routine display is that Cummings loves public freakouts.

Lately, Courtney Barnett has been thinking about the word “vulnerable.” Ever since her 2015 breakthrough single, “Pedestrian at Best,” the adjective has followed her around, a placeholder description for the Australian singer-songwriter.
“I’m never like, ‘I’m going to write a vulnerable album,’” Barnett says. “I just write what’s around me and what’s in my head and what I’m obsessed with."

Consider these when feasting on the finest candy from your trick-or-treat bag. Like a sugar rush, the following movies will keep you awake at night much longer than anticipated.

On Thursday morning, Bobcat Goldthwait is driving to the Music Box Theatre for a test screening of his latest documentary. It’s a short drive for the comedian/writer/director who just recently moved to DuPage County and gave himself the nickname the “Daniel Craig of DuPage.”
“I had to get out of [DuPage],” Goldthwait jokes. “The autograph signing, the pressure, and all the James Bond questions got to me.”

Riding a steed of high-octane folk-metal, Tenacious D, the acoustic duo of Jack Black and Kyle Gass, brought rock ’n’ roll out of the nu metal mud and back into the garage with their 2001 self-titled debut.

September has brought a ton of movies to streaming platforms. Here's a look at the best and newest of the bunch.

In 2001, an Armenian heavy-metal band conquered the charts despite infighting, a riot, and a ban that kept them off major radio stations following 9/11. Twenty years later, System of a Down and others look back on a career-defining album.

Twenty years ago, Jimmy Eat World got dumped by their record company — then released the biggest song of their career. Here's how it happened.

As severe storms struck Chicago on Sunday night, Ella Williams was coming home from a music-video shoot. Walking to her apartment, she felt a strange yet familiar sensation.
"There was thunder and lightning, and I felt this vertigo," says Williams, a singer-songwriter and guitarist who makes music as Squirrel Flower. "It felt like I was going to fall into the sky."

With the fourth COVID-19 surge again sending folks in search of entertainment diversions at home — a laugh, a little adventure, maybe an actor profile — we offer eight movie recommendations, all available for streaming this month. So pop some popcorn, grab a beverage and settle in for these.

Todd Ahsmann isn’t sure if he’s ever seen live music without a beer in his hand. The Goose Island president and former music industry vet says beer and music go hand in hand.