Tom Lynch

Fifteen years ago Scottish author Irvine Welsh gave us “Trainspotting,” his highest achievement in a career of several successes, and now he’s covering “Crime,” about a strung-out detective on leave in Florida who gets mixed up with coke fiends and a 10-year-old, scared-shitless girl. It’s whirlwind Welsh—grit, grimness, acceptance, redemption, peace—and a very strong piece of work, even when compared to his previous material. Also reading is local rookie Stephanie Kuehnert, whose punk-rock debut “I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone,” about a young musician’s quest to find her real mother (and other things), is a substantially impressive debut. (Kuehnert studied under Welsh when he was here teaching at Columbia College.) Read against the recession—words will live on indeed!

Irvine Welsh and Stephanie Kuehnert, among others, read from their work September 14 at Metro, 3730 North Clark, (773)549-0203, at 6pm.

(2008-09-09)

Also by Tom Lynch

Getting There
When Maps & Atlases’ “Tree, Swallows, Houses” EP broke in 2006, it felt as if the band was taunting you, that the math-rock wizardry was almost antagonistic in its assault. Live, the local four-piece overwhelmed the senses—but, mostly, visually
(2008-09-02)

Tip of the Week
One of the most powerful live bands you could ever absorb, Jason Pierce’s Spiritualized—famously built from the rubble of his Spacemen 3 all those years ago—have over the years perfected a blend of space-rock, shoegazer, noise-anthem freakout that’s, at its most sublime moments, anchored by bits of gospel
(2008-09-02)

Tip of the Week
Drag City’s wordy wonder, Newsom seemingly can do no wrong. With her virtuoso harp-playing and her daunting, often abrasive squeak of a voice, one wouldn’t necessarily expect the following she has
(2008-08-19)

Tip of the Week
For an evening of assertive despondency, you need not look further than the Orphan Schlitz Reading Series, which continuously finds new ways to make your life seem great by comparison
(2008-08-19)

Tip of the Week
(2008-08-13)

Language Art
(2008-08-13)

Scientific Fact
(2008-08-05)

Tip of the Week
(2008-08-05)

Sister Act
(2008-07-29)

Tip of the Week
(2008-07-29)

Big Hard Sun
(2008-07-22)

Tip of the Week
(2008-07-22)

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