LuminoMagazine.com - Rob Zombie Gives Chicago Hell

LuminoMagazine.com - Rob Zombie Gives Chicago Hell

LuminoMagazine.com - Rob Zombie Gives Chicago Hell

LuminoMagazine.com - Rob Zombie Gives Chicago Hell

The Case Against Classic Rock Fans or Give Peace a Chance

There are very few things in this world that bug me. I am a generally good natured man that means well. I do have some pet peeves though and lately over enthusiastic Baby Boomers have been on the top of that list. 

This rant deserves some explanation. Last night I was sent by magazine to cover the Roger Daltrey concert at the House of Blues. It was a fantastic show by a legendary musician. That wasn't the problem. The audience, comprised of those mostly in their late 40s to early 60s, were so judgmental of the opening act I actually felt embarrassed to be among them. Just because they are new does not mean that they don't deserve respect. 

From the moment they walked on stage they were judged far too harshly. No one moved or reacted at all during their first two songs. It seemed to take a tremendous amount of effort on the part of anyone over forty to even clap until they were at least halfway through their set. For a generation so hell-bent on peace, love and acceptance they have a strange way of following through. The low point came when a group near the bar starting yelling "Roger! Roger! Roger!" in the MIDDLE of a song. 

The ironic and truly mean part of the ordeal is that the moment the house music kicked back in they suddenly loved the music. This might be because it consisted of artists such as the Rolling Stones, Sugarloaf, Ten Years After and other Boomer favorites. All of a sudden they were dancing and singing something unseen during the opening act. 

As a music critic I have been to many concerts and seem to only see this behavior at classic rock shows. For all the punk rock and death metal shows i've attended I have never run into anyone that rude or mean. By having strength in numbers Baby Boomers seem to have let their egos get the best of them. 

Many reading this may accuse me of ageism and they wouldn't be totally wrong. This is the second show this year i've noticed this trend and I don't like it. What are your thoughts? 

A Broken System

"Your call is important to us and we regret that you must hold," said the monotone voice on the other end of my phone. Yet the waiting continued for another 20 minutes without any human contact. I would hang up and try again but the fact that I even got through was miraculous. This is what my life is like twice a month waiting for unemployment. 

The economy seems to be in a state of constant flux. Some days are better than others but the unemployment levels continues to rise at an alarming rate. To be fair, this isn't entirely the fault of President Obama. He has spent most of his term in office cleaning up the mess left by president Bush. The concept of unemployment is fantastic, actually making sure it is given to those in need is the problem. 

As with so many things in the government, it is all about bureaucracy. Millions of Chicagoans are now intimately familiar with the IDES, the gatekeepers of the system. Despite being well put together the Web site is full of glitches and loopholes that stop the average patron from receiving their payment on time. Everyone is given the option of applying for benefits online but when you click on the link you are met with the disclaimer: 

Caution:  Most people will not be able to access the Internet Claim application or Direct Deposit registration service using Firefox, Safari, or other unsupported web browsers.

What is the point of giving people the option of applying online if most won't be able to use it in the first place? Why not simply update the system to allow for easier access?  This wouldn't be so much of a problem is registering by phone wasn't just as complicated. 

The role of government should be to help those that they govern. In an age of high technology shouldn't the government have the means to streamline the process by now? Obama harnessed the power of social networking to win the election, you would think he'd be able to work out the kinks in the unemployment system. 

The Tragedy of American Politics

It was announced earlier this morning that President Barack Obama was the recipient  of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. This of course is a major win for Democrats and has incurred the wrath of Republicans nationwide. Whether or not Obama deserves the honor is not the issue of this blog. Shortly after winning the award Obama stated publicly that he wishes to donate the $1.4 million dollars in prize money to charity. That is when things got ugly. 

Within minutes political pundits all over the country became enraged at the idea of President Obama using his money to help a cause. Talk of ACORN and Reverend Wright became common place and were thrown into the mix without a thought of the outcome. This is why I am not a fan of politics. Like a snake eating its tail even helping a good cause seems to cause harm. 

In all the ruckus people seem to have forgotten that Obama's goal is to give to a CHARITY. He is giving back to the people when he did not have to. He made the choice to be a role model for others and contribute to the greater good. Does it matter what charity he contributes to? No it doesn't. Because it is the principle of the action. 

Have people become so caught up in their own agenda that they cannot appreciate when someone is actually trying to help. The world is in a bad place right now and can use all the help it can get. Would the pundits rather he keep the money for himself? politicians needs to start thinking a little bit before they pounce into action. 

By the end of the day it is my hope that this issue will settle down. Regardless of what charity the president chooses we should all look upon his decision as a means of contributing to the American people in a way that looks good across all party lines. That kind of kindness has become rare. Maybe, just maybe, we can follow Obama's lead and help our fellow man for a day. It will be far more productive than tearing each other apart. 

The Mysterious Attraction of the Cape to the Pen

I'm a geek, plain and simple. Those that know me best know that fact very well. I put that out there because what follows is an opinion that is not totally unbiased. Many people know that I am a reporter but few know the real reasons I got into the business. 

For some it is about the smell of the newsprint or the thrill of being published. To be honest, I love all those things, but that is not it. For me, it's all about the cape. That's right, you heard me, a cape. I got into journalism because I wanted to be Superman. Deep down I think all reporters are nudged into the profession, at least partially, because they want to be superheroes. 

Is it all that crazy? not really.  Regardless of your industry all journalist are driven by their undying need bring truth to the people. Some of us get closer than others. Adventure and the thrill of getting a getting to the heart of a story give us the the strength to do some pretty amazing things. 

No matter how mundane the average article may seem to you it is impossible not to get involved in a story. Every day it is the hard working reporters and journalists of the world that get their hands dirty digging up issues and bringing the truth to the people. We may not be able to fly or deflect bullets but believe me, we would if we could.  

I remember being about 8 or 9 and seeing Christopher Reeve play Superman for the first time. The moment he peeled away his work clothes and donned the suit I knew, just knew, that's what I wanted to be when I grew up. I know I am not alone, although I may be one of the first with the courage to put it in print. I took the lead, it is time for others to follow. 

From the Vaults: Cage the Elephant

This is an article about a band on the verge of making it big. I first saw Cage the Elephant at Lollapalooza this past summer and gave them nothing but praise. Unfortunately, due to time constraints this article never got published. So here it is, my first encounter with a true force of nature. 

Nothing Can Cage the Elephant

By: Jordan Brandes

Lollapalooza 2009-Citi Stage 

Sunday Aug.9, 2009

My soul has just been moved. In a day full of outstanding acts Cage the Elephant’s stands out as the best of the festival. There are many who will disagree with me. I have no doubt about that. After all the sound was not the best and lead singer Matt Schultz moved around so much he was barely on stage. But that is all part of the thrill of the band.

Lead singer Matt Schultz can give Kurt Cobain a run for his money. Schultz came on stage looking as if he was about to pass out from the heat. I honestly thought they were going to have to carry him out in a stretcher by the end of the show. Even in that condition he still managed to play every single song as if his life depended on it.

I have not had a concert experience like that since Iggy Pop played the festival in 2007.  The entire stage was Schultz’s playground and he used every inch of it, above and below.

With each song Cage the Elephant amped the energy of the crowd. Many were expecting a set along the lines of their hit single “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” and what they got was an hour of intense, exhilarating punk rock.

If I sound like a giddy schoolgirl it is because after their concert on Sunday I became a huge fan. I admit, I liked their studio work before, but watching them tear into song after song with unadulterated passion was breathtaking. 

25 Years: A Glimpse-Vol.1

As of today I am 25-years-old and it is a strange, almost otherworldly feeling. In theory this is just like any other day but suddenly I am a quarter of a century old. It is never good when the words century and birthday are in the same sentence, even as a joke. Many of you reading this blog know me in person, but few know my true story. 

The story begins in Las Vegas during the mid-1980s. Stubborn as ever, even during birth, I needed to be cut out in a c-section to avoid injury. It turns out that was the least of my problems. According to medical records I was born with a large bump on my head and a hole in my heart. The doctors also believe I was going to have webbed feet for the rest of my life. Needless to say my parents were a mess. A neurosurgeon that specialized in boxers was brought in to perform what was essentially a miracle. Even under the best conditions it was estimated I would not live past the age of five. 

And just as suddenly as the madness came it went. Unbeknownst to me I grew up a normal child (relativistically) completely unaware of the tremendous sigh of relief that happened the day I turned six. 

By the time I turned seven my parents were in the process of a divorce. It hurt back then but in hindsight it was for the best. They have since both remarried and are much happier. 

Incidentally, it was right about this time, somewhere between five and seven years old that I made two discoveries that would change the course of my life. The fact that they happened in the same moment is pure serendipity. Being rather little at the time my parents thought it would be a good idea to take me see the popular family movie of the day, Back to the Future II, the result was mind blowing. 

I left the theater dreaming of parallel timelines and hoverboards. I was determined to have one and to this day wish I could hop on one and fly through the air like Marty McFly. From that day forth I was a geek, I soaked up all the science fiction I could find. I also discovered music. Watching Michael J. Fox tear up the stage playing "Johnny B. Good" changed the way I looked at music. Up until that point it had just been about hair metal and loud guitars. Discovering Chuck Berry's music opened my eyes to all that music could be. 

I just looked at the clock and realized it's almost Midnight. If you would like to know more let me know on my blog and I will write a follow-up piece. I hope you all enjoyed my rant. 

A City in Flux

I decided to go for a walk today and clear my head, what I found was a world in disarray. All over Lincoln Park and Lakeview stores are closing without any notice. There one day, gone the next. It is as if they were never there at all. 

Typically this wouldn't be so disheartening if it weren't so sudden and widespread. Just today I found that the Coldstone and Hollywood Video down the street from me were closed. Only a day before Coldstone had been doing an ice cream promotion that drew a tremendous crowd. And yet not 24-hours later, still reeling from the high of the event, it was gone. Where is the justice in that? I realize these are just stores but the principle of the idea is so much more. 

The television and internet all tell us that the world is getting better. The recession, they say, is not as bad as it seems. But the government just speaks in numbers and statistics, they need to get out there and experience it first hand. The only way to know the world is to walk in it. 

As someone whose full-time position was recently eliminated I understand the struggle. Yet the world is full of contradictions. There may be more of us unemployed but we are certainly better off then we once were. It is simply a new state of being. I look at the so called vagrants on the street and they really don't seem to be that bad, most of them anyways. 

While pondering this newfound conclusion I found myself passing a man selling Streetwise. Usually I would be glad to hand the vendor money for such a publication, then I got a good look at him. He was on a cell phone talking away and there was an ipod strapped to his arm. I don't even own an ipod! With the world seemingly crumbling around us how is it that those in need  somehow have more? What does this say about society when an ipod is counted among the crucial essentials one needs to survive? 

I don't have the answers for you, I wish I did. But the world is changing quickly, let us hope for the better. 

Blogapalooza 2009 or a Blog about Bloggers Blogging

For this novice blogger going to Blogapalooza 2009 was an eye opening event. Bloggers, it seems, can be celebrities. Hosted by ChicagoNow the event brought the who's who of the Chicago blogging scene. It was a luxurious event that aimed to please all the senses at once. 

I've lived in Chicago for nearly 20 years and yet somehow never walked into the shops on 900 N. Michigan. The event gave me just the excuse I needed. Donning my classiest casual clothes I blended in as well as I could. I found it a little hard to mingle at first but the champagne going around certainly helped.  

"I LOVE your work!" a tall, middle-aged woman exclaimed loudly to ChicagoNow blogger Candance Jordan. Jordan is the writer of a social scene blog and extremely well versed writer. But that's not what caught my eye. What grabbed my attention were the amazing appetizers floating around the store. From  chicken satay's to large spring rolls I could have stayed in there forever. 

And that's when it occurred to me: it's all about the food. Yes, the Chicago social scene is alive and well and very beneficial to those involved. But it also gives those attending a chance to taste gourmet food by some of the city's top chefs. This, I believe, is the real attraction. Let's face it, had the event taken place in a conference hall with nothing to eat but coke and bagels it just wouldn't have worked. 

Over the course of the evening i'd say maybe 500 people attended the event. Out of all those how many event crashed? Say hi to a few people (or better yet come in a group so you don't have to know anyone else), grab your food and leave. These events happen quite often so i'd be willing to bet there's a whole of subculture of people that go purely for the free food. 

Taken from a purely hedonistic viewpoint yesterday's event was a sensual playground. Each floor presented new and wonderful ways to eat, drink and be merry. From free samples of bourbon and shoe shines at Marc Shale to free Bloody Mary's at the Oak Tree Restaurant and Bakery it was truly fantastic. 

My only gripe with the event is that it did not showcase any of the lesser bloggers of Chicago. Understand, this is not me asking for praise, I just got into the game. But there are many others out there, big names in the blogging world, who deserve the same sort of celebrity status as the writers I met last night. 

Why the Soul Craves the Blues

I'm not a musician but I know my music. In Chicago the blues is in our blood, it is the heartbeat of the city. From the rattle of the train to the sidewalk performers playing sax deep into the night. The blues has morphed over the decades into something a lot happier. At its root though the blues is essentially about exactly that: depression, loss and sadness. So what is the attraction?

For me it's the twang of the guitar. Anyone who has ever lost someone they loved be it to death or simply a really bad breakup you can feel it in every note of a good blues song. The way the chord of an electric guitar just draws out to its end screeching and scratching all along the way. It speaks to the soul. No other instrument reflects the torment of the soul quite like the slide guitar. 

Lyrics play a part too but not nearly as much as the instruments themselves. The true sorrows of the soul are written uttering a single word. The greats like Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson knew this. Legend has it that Johnson met the devil at a crossroads and sold his eternal soul so he could play better guitar. Johnson's work revolutionized the blues genre and found a way to translate the inner torment of an entire time period into raw, revealing music. 

It may sound strange but the soul needs the blues for the same reason it needs gospel music. Without it we'd go crazy desperately trying to translate that which cannot be spoken. 

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

A New Day

It's Monday again. I never thought I would actually look forward to Mondays. They used to mean long classes or tedious meetings but lately Mondays bring new opportunities.  Yesterday was the second day of Rosh Hashana, a holiday believed to symbolize the rebirth of the world. It is fitting then that the universal cocoon would burst all over a Monday morning. No time for rest, get moving or miss the existential race altogether. 

As the world changes so must I. After years of talking about doing a blog I have finally done it. The proof is in the product, as you can clearly see. In time I will expand this out adding video articles and more complex reporting. This is just the beginning of what I hope will eventually become a much larger venture. 

You will find that this blog is only partially about me. We live in a wild world that grows ever more fascinating. As a journalist I am in a unique position to see and do what others cannot. While many of my stories appear in my articles there are many adventures that never see the light of day. Those are the experiences I wish to share with you. I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I do.