OWNERS, BLOODSHOT RECORDS
OWNER, VICTORY RECORDS
PRODUCER
EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER, THOUSAND WORDS MAGAZINE
copyright 1999 New City Communications, Inc.
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| Who rocks the music world in Chicago 1999 | BACK | |
| Nos. 37-45 | MUSIC 45 HOME | |
| 37 STAPLE SINGERS | ||
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Living legends from the gospel scene of yore, the Staple Singers' influence is further reaching than you might expect. Singer Mavis has been copied by nearly every soul and R&B singer in the past forty years, and guitarist Roebuck (Pops) set the stage for reverb-drenched rockabilly and surf. Even though they gave up the "strictly gospel" in favor of message music (including a stint on Prince's Purple Paisley Records), the Staple Singers remain a historical treasure.
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38
ROB MILLER AND NAN WARSHAW
OWNERS, BLOODSHOT RECORDS |
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We said it last year, we'll say it again. Even though Bloodshot Records artists don't blow CDs out of Tower like U2, this alternative country label's profile remains its strength. In the past year, Miller and Warshaw have added an employee, gone into the reissue business with the Bloodshot Revival imprint, and kept a steady stream of quirky alt.country records coming. Let's hope that the label's move to newer, bigger digs is a sign of continued prosperity.
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| 39 KEN VANDERMARK | ||
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Jazz guys can do well in Chicago. What with all the hipster elite's disdain for rock, a guy like saxophonist Ken Vandermark cannot be forgotten. He just released the Vandermark Five's fifth record, "Simpatico," and the world of jazz outside of Chicago has come to know him for his work in the NRG Ensemble, Caffeine, Steam, the DKV Trio and even fifties-style R&B-ers the Crown Royals. And in the world of free jazz (a very small world, admittedly) Vandermark is a veritable monster, playing on stage with names like Joe McPhee, Peter Brotzmann, Joelle Leandre and Mats Gustaffson.
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40
TONY BRUMMEL
OWNER, VICTORY RECORDS |
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As the owner of Chicago's most vociferous and prolific hardcore label, Brummel has never let himself become the invisible puppeteer. He works - at the office - every day, securing and promoting records by the likes of three-chord hardcore screamers Avail, Hatebreed and even (coming soon) Integrity 2000. By keeping the label open to change (in the spirit of hardcore), Brummel also keeps variety, as bands like the metal punk Electric Frankenstein, rockahillbillies Hi-Fi and the Roadburners and tender punks the Strike all attest. Victory isn't Chicago's biggest record label, but thanks to Brummel, it has the biggest heart.
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| 41 CHEAP TRICK | ||
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Street credibility for a Beatles rip-off band? You betcha. Cheap Trick, geezers all, continue to gain respect for their high-voltage live shows. And why not? Tracks like "If You Want My Love," "So Good To See You" and "Dream Police" - all available on the smoldering yet sweet new live disc, "Music For Hangovers" - are lean, mean, power-pop candy-machines. Now if only guitarist Rick Nielsen would get rid of that ridiculous Fu Manchu goatee.
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| 42 KURT ELLING | ||
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It's taken the man a while, but jazz vocalist Kurt Elling is starting to get some of the respect he deserves. The U of C dropout scored his second Grammy nomination for "This Time It's Love," his second Blue Note record. (His first nomination was also for a Blue Note release, "Close Your Eyes.") He can ensure himself a spot in the party hall of fame come January: Mayor Daley commissioned him to create a showcase of music for the city's upcoming end-of-the-millennium wing ding.
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43
BRAD WOOD
PRODUCER |
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How do you follow up production credits on much-hyped records by the likes of Liz Phair, Veruca Salt and Pearl Jam? Take it completely over the top and to the least likely extreme - that's what Brad Wood did this past year when he produced the soundtrack to the off-Broadway "rock" musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," the enchanting story of a sex-change gone awry. Fear not, fairweather fans: the Idful Studios head and onetime Tortoise bassist also found time to twiddle the knobs on the latest records by Phair and Smashing Pumpkins, as well as "One," the debut release by purported next-big-thing Diane Izzo.
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| 44 EDDY "THE CHIEF" CLEARWATER | ||
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Let's face it, the blues just aren't what they used to be. Sure the Germans and Dutch can't get enough, but in the city known worldwide for the blues, there are just not a lot of household names breaking. Clearwater didn't release a new record this year, but with an uncountable number of live performances (including a headliner spot at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis) and fifty years of country, rockabilly and blues records behind him, he's still a reminder of the blues' glory days in Chicago.
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45
BOBBY VILLALON
EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER, THOUSAND WORDS MAGAZINE |
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Los Angeles has Urb. New York's got Mixer. When it comes to covering the ever-diversifying dance, electronic and techno scenes, Chicago's got Thousand Words magazine. From its inception four years ago as a staple-bound, black-and-white, photo-based chaplet, Villalon has developed Thousand Words into a bi-monthly that's poised to put out its first all-color issue. With a new distributor aiming to double circulation to 80,000, and the clout to woo Underworld and DJ Paul Oakenfold into town, Villalon is gaining ground both nationally and internationally.
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copyright 1999 New City Communications, Inc. |