OWNER, EMPTY BOTTLE
OWNERS, LOUNGE AX
GENERAL DIRECTOR, LYRIC OPERA
OWNER, TOUCH & GO! RECORDS
OWNER, BILLIONS CORPORATION
copyright 1999 New City Communications, Inc.
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| Who rocks the music world in Chicago 1999 | BACK | |
| Nos. 10-18 | MUSIC 45 HOME | |
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10 JAY B. ROSS AND ASSOCIATES | |
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When you get ripped off, don't get mad - sue their ass. And if you're a musician, Jay B. Ross and Associates will help. Protecting clients from the ravages of royalty-stealing record labels and likeness theft, and even tracking down bootleggers, the firm is the city's most high-profile entertainment law agency. Some names you might see on checks made out to Jay B. Ross and Associates: James Brown, Ray Charles, Afrika Bambaataa, Ruth Brown, Roebuck "Pop" Staples.
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11 BILLY CORGAN | |
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In the past year, Corgan, alt-rock's all star, saw the Smashing Pumpkins' "Adore" nominated for a Grammy, sold out tickets to their nationwide tour and picked up an award from the Make a Wish Foundation, of all things. Meanwhile, Billy's new habit of penning tunes for other people's records (like Hole's "Celebrity Skin"; our boy co-wrote the title track) has gained him a newfound respect in a disappearing field: Songwriting.
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12
BRUCE FINKLEMAN
OWNER, EMPTY BOTTLE |
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While Lounge Ax's band-booking sheet ran low earlier this year, the Bottle never missed a beat, putting more bands than ever on its stage. But don't think Finkleman is just a benefactor of good luck. He works hard, and, in the eight years he's owned the Bottle, he's seen the little bar at the corner of Cortez and Western become THE place for small-venue bands of every ilk to play. He's even done well enough to open the Bottle's second floor, an upcoming quiet space called the Bottle Top. Whether it's punk rock, prog rock, death metal, free jazz or even drum'n'bass, Finkleman has proved that he's doesn't just have his finger on the pulse of Chicago's music scene; his venue IS the music scene.
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13
JULIA ADAMS AND SUE MILLER
OWNERS, LOUNGE AX |
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The Ax took some slow turns this past year, but unless you were looking closely, you probably never noticed. Assistant Mark Greenberg left after a tenure almost as long as the club itself. And in January, Lounge Ax slowed down booking after hearing that their building had been sold, only to find it hadn't been. "Suddenly we were a little short on shows," says Miller. No problem. For filler, Lounge Ax just threw in some folks who were sitting around. Like Jeff Tweedy. And Liz Phair. In its tenth year, Lounge Ax remains the CBGB of the Midwest, and Adams and Miller - thanks to integrity and perseverance - are two of the music scene's most respected players.
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14 R. KELLY | |
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Sure he's been quiet on the homefront since releasing his double-CD "R," the follow-up to his last quadruple platinum record, "R. Kelly." If record sales don't impress you, ask yourself this: outside of the Smashing Pumpkins, who else in Chicago could sell out London's Wembley Stadium for two days in a row? Not Tortoise. Not Cheap Trick. Not Liz Phair.
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15 JEFF TWEEDY | |
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The man who spawned, for better or for worse, the No Depression movement shrugged off the roots-rock albatross for Wilco's new record, "Summerteeth" (Elektra), a too-big-for-the-barn winner that echoes seventies underdog icons Big Star and Harry Nilsson. Rolling Stone loved it, alt-country bohos turned up their noses, but neither reaction stopped true-blue fans from snapping up tickets for the band's most recent tour. Wilco also notched big integrity points, earning critical respect for "Mermaid Avenue," on which they joined forces with Billy Bragg to revive a slew of unfinished Woody Guthrie tunes. In addition to nods from reviewers and the Guthrie family, even the Grammy folks smiled upon the record with a nomination.
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16
WILLIAM MASON
GENERAL DIRECTOR, LYRIC OPERA |
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The Chicago-born brains behind the Lyric Opera can boast one of the most successful opera companies in the country, what with perennially sold-out seasons and nearly 40,000 subscribers. The man who once sang the Young Shepherd Boy in "Tosca" has lately shepherded in a new high-profile music director from England, Sir Andrew Davis, and a jam-packed 1999-2000 season featuring everything from Wagner's classic "Tristan and Isolde" to the world premiere of "A View from the Bridge."
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17
COREY RUSK
OWNER, TOUCH & GO! RECORDS |
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Motorcycle rider, ex-Necros, label owner and loser of part of his label's own back catalog because of Touch & Go!'s in-house policies of handshake deals and never signing bands based on commercial potential. Thanks to the 35-year-old's trust and idealism, the Butthole Surfers won back the rights to six of their records. All the same, a minor blemish. Rusk's 17-year-old Touch & Go! distributes several of its Chicago kin (Thrill Jockey, Skin Graft, Drag City), still produces the finest in independent records, and remains atop the city's indie-label circus.
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18
DAVID "BOTCH" VIECELLI
OWNER, BILLIONS CORPORATION |
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Never underestimate the power of a solid booking agency, especially if your name isn't Madonna. If you need some firsthand evidence, ask any of Billions' fifty artists: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Jesus Lizard, Liquid Soul, Low and Pavement all use Billions, and have for almost their entire careers. In its tenth year of existence, Vicelli's company has earned a quality reputation among promoters, venues and artists throughout the United States and Canada.
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copyright 1999 New City Communications, Inc. |