Beetcafe.com - The Rockford Illinois Area Entertainment Guide

rockford illinois entertainment guide

2008 Articles

11/19/2008

Absolutes

In a seeming sea of modern musical acts without talent and originality it’s refreshing to find a band that not only has created a powerful album (yeah, remember when it was all about the album and not the single?) but also stretches into musical territory that’s not simple to categorize. > More

10/25/2008

Sgt. Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band

What would happen if Metallica were a Beatles cover band? The result would be Beatallica and this album is proof of that. > More

10/24/2008

Life Is Not A Waiting Room

Senses Fail will be hitting Chubby Rain on November 7th and I got a chance to check out their new CD in anticipation of their appearance. The disc is my first taste of the band, and I have to say I’m game for additional helpings. > More

10/20/2008

Church Mouth

I have always enjoyed music that merges seemingly diverse styles to create a sound that is purely unique. Portugal The Man's Church Mouth CD is one such creation. > More

10/09/2008

Colabo

Treologic’s new CD is Colabo and it’s a bit of a change for them. The disc comes out on the 21st and as Treologic keyboardist Lance Loiselle says is has a harder sound and more traditional hip hop production than their three previous releases. > More

09/30/2008

Echoes

California Guitar Trio are definitely not strangers to the Rockford area. They’ve made numerous appearances here and with their next one due to happen on October 11^th, it’s a great time to have a look at their latest CD. > More

09/15/2008

Mixtape Volume I - Straight Out Tha Dugout

If you’ve read some of the other hip hop articles I’ve done here at Beet Café, you’ll know that there is a thriving hip hop scene in the Rockford area that seems to be bigger than the size of the Forest City would warrant. > More

08/11/2008

The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings

With the 21st Century version of Styx making their way to the stage for the On the Waterfront kick off concert, it seemed like a great idea to take a look at a CD from them. Well, to be more specific a 2 CD set that encompasses the reissue of four of their old LP’s. In keeping with truth in advertising claims, > More

08/11/2008

Long Long Road

"Long Long Road" is the latest EP release from Kelly Steward. This EP is a collection of four songs that embrace a classic country sound. > More

06/05/2008

22 Blackbirds

This new release from Starlite Radio shows that this band is filled with talent. 22 Blackbirds weaves its way through a number of different musical styles that overlay the bands acoustic rock base. > More

06/04/2008

Torch

On June 28th Devon Allman’s Honey Tribe will be hitting the Rockford area as one of the support acts for Dicky Betts and Great Southern at Stars and Guitars Rib Fest. That seems as good a reason as any – and as good as this album is we don’t really need an excuse – to take a look at the group’s CD. > More

05/23/2008

All Eyes On You

What a difference a couple years can make! When I reviewed Andy Spitson’s first EP a couple years back at this very site, I found it to show promise. I also thought that it was lacking terms of variety with a monolithic texture. > More

05/11/2008

Kindred

There are those CD’s that find a permanent place in your CD player. After listening to “Kindred”, you may just feel as I do and not take this CD out of your player for quite some time. > More

04/25/2008

You're All I Need

You’re All I Need is the third CD from Rockford based jazz saxophonist Harlan Jefferson. It’s a disc that is at times sheer brilliance. > More

04/17/2008

Are You Listening Now

Sarah Vonderhaar is going to be appearing at the Clearwater Theater in West Dundee at the end of the month. While she's not quite a local artist, she is based out of Lake Zurich - so, she's not far from it. > More

03/14/2008

Rhythm and Bows

Very few Rockford natives have earned critical accolades from publications as far reaching and diverse as “The Christian Science Monitor,” “Billboard” and “USA Today.” Randy Sabien is one of those people. > More

02/29/2008

Leaders of the Meownarchy

This EP from local band JCVD should please fans of frantic hardcore based extreme music. These guys are the real deal. > More

02/29/2008

City Of Echoes

Pelican is a Chicago band that’s headlining a show at The House Café in Dekalb tonight. Fans of doomy, stoner rock should appreciate some of the music onthis disc, but I’d say that overall their sound isn’t exactly a tight fit into that musical style. > More