Tom Lynch

The one-two punch of Hand and Sharpe reading from their respective works should make for a fine evening of literary muscle. Hand’s "Generation Loss," a clenched fist of a novel about a punk photographer engulfed in a Maine mystery, broods with atmospheric tenseness and flies right by. To give you an idea of Sharpe’s "Jamestown," it is a fantasy-like telling of the settlers at the Virginia colony, featuring a protagonist in Pocahantas who spouts Ebonics and Elizabethan English. (That’s when, of course, she’s not going all-out Valley Girl, reminiscent of those early nineties "Saturday Night Live" sketches.) Both books are batshit crazy in their own ways, and both authors, despite some pretty dark material, find ways to involve some enlightened humor.

Elizabeth Hand and Matthew Sharpe discuss their books May 12 at Book Cellar, 4736 North Lincoln, (773)293-2665, at 7:30pm. Free.

(2008-05-06)

Also by Tom Lynch

Don't Look Back in Anger
Veteran Chicago rock duo Local H, Scott Lucas and drummer Brian St. Clair (behind the kit since 1999, when he replaced Joe Daniels), in celebration of its new, perfectly titled "12 Angry Months" (Shout Factory), jumpstarts a weeklong residency at Beat Kitchen in which, leading up until the evening when the record’s released, the two will play one of the band’s albums in entirety
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Tip of the Week
When Canadian four-piece Tokyo Police Club emerged in 2006 with the "A Lesson in Crime" EP, the band was tapped as the next big thing from up north, and now with the release of its debut full-length, "Elephant Shell" (Saddle Creek), the group’s come to collect
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Rollin' Down to Cicero
Quick count: are there more stubbed-out cigarette butts outside Cicero Stadium, or more sleeve-tattoos inside? The gymnasium, full up on plastic cups of beer and sausage-and-cheese slices, with stands packed from floor to ceiling, has reached an uncomfortable temperature
(2008-04-22)

Tip of the Week
Ontario’s Constantines have been crafting genre-bending rock ‘n’ roll records for some time now—both "Shine a Light" (2003) and "Tournament of Hearts" (2005), each on Sub Pop, are memorable blends of classic rock and Fugazi-like structuring—and this month’s "Kensington Heights" (Arts & Crafts) might be the band’s best effort yet
(2008-04-22)

A New Kind of Body Farm
(2008-04-22)

On Almost Any Wednesday Evening
(2008-04-15)

Scout's Honor
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Soundcheck
(2008-04-08)

Soundcheck
(2008-04-08)

Tip of the Week
(2008-04-08)

Lucky You
(2008-04-01)

Tip of the Week
(2008-04-01)

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