Illinois Entertainer December 2018 | Page 4

December 2018 • Volume 45, Number 01 • www.illinoisentertainer.com COVER STORY: THE OLD 97s Rhett Miller of the Old 97s got the urge to make a Christmas album so he went to the guys in the band and said, ‘Because we’re not gonna be making a studio album in 2018, what if we make a Christmas album? I think the fans would like it and – god forbid! – we might actually make a little money off of it.’ But primarily for me, I just liked the challenge of writing holiday songs, songs that will be evergreen and perennial. And, of course, writing a better one than “Last Christmas.”" Post- Boston concert, he returned to the dressing room to start composing the disc’s first cut, “I Believe in Santa Claus,” and quickly fell into the ching-ching- ing sleighbell groove. “And I learned what the trick was going to be for me,” he says. “I was going to write my own regular songs; only they would be set during the holiday season.” Tom Lanham talked to the Old 97s lead Santa. 8 20 Page 23 - Rhett Miller and The Old 97s HELLO MY NAME IS JOHN DOE For legendary Los Angeles punk quartet X, 2017 officially marked its 40th anniversary together, with its entire 1977 lineup – bassist/vocalist John Doe, vocalist Exene Cervenka, guitarist Billy Zoom, and drummer D.J. Bonebrake — not only intact but thriving. The ensuing festivities have spilled over into 2018, on a current celebratory tour with Los Lobos and Jane Wiedlin, but in some ways it kicked off back in the summer of 2016, with the group receiving the ultimate honor its hometown could bestow – a personal invitation from the L.A. Dodgers that it just could not refuse. Tom Lanham spoke to the part-time thespian who recent- ly appeared in three new movies, composed the soundtrack for another, and received a Grammy nomination for his punk histo- ry book Under the Big Black Sun, and oversaw the Grammy Museum’s meticulous exhibit X – 40 Years of Punk in Los Angeles. File Remembering Eddie C. Campbell and more. Sweet Home Family Blues tradition. Cinemascopes Dramas and Blockbusters. JAY O'ROURKE If the Chicago music scene had a spine, Jay O’Rourke would be one of its vertebrae. He’s been around a while, worked with some great artists as producer and engineer, and tasted some brief major-label success. But it wasn’t until now, 40 years into his story, that he says he’s found his voice. This month he’s releasing his fourth solo LP Sumpthin’ Good, ten tracks of gritty rock with a traditional blues backbone, the highlights of which are O’Rourke’s expertly laid guitar leads and Raven’s smoldering harmonica riffs. The stand-out tracks: “Blackout” has a laid-back jazzy feel, and “House Full Of Strangers” brings some Muscle Shoals southern-fried flavor. But the biggest standout is probably “Bullshit” – it’s got great classic rock guitar licks along with these pauses that sound like they’re open for play and interpretation. Penelope Biver talked to the Chicago music stalwart. 6 12 14 Remembering those we lost in 2018. Media 16 Calendar 26 Over 1400 shows to see, the best bands, at the best venues. Spins Tom Petty, Brian Eno and more. Caught In A Mosh Nonpoint is back with a new album. Classifieds You dumped your boyfriend's guitarist, now you're looking for another. Studiophile December studio news. Gear 28 34 50 53 54 Jimmy Page has a new Dragon. Publisher Advertising Sales Contributors: John Vernon Scott Assmann Mike Engel Andy Argyrakis, Guy Arnston, Penelope Biver, Patrick Conlan, Deena Dasein, Jaime de'Medici, Jeff Elbel Terrence Flamm, Steve Forstneger Michael Gallucci, Michael C. Harris, Max Herman, Tom Lanham, Carter Moss, Michael Obrecki, Greg Olma Arsenio Orteza, Rodney Pawlak, Bruce Pilato, Matthew Pollock, Jason Scales, Kelley Simms, Ed Spinelli, Tim Shockley, James Turano Contributing Editors Curt Baran Mike Meyer Tom Lanham Lori Vernon Advertising Director Design Team Notion Pool Notion Pool Dragon Design Vision Design Teknigram Graphics Senior Columnists John Vernon Website Direction David Gedge Rosalind Cummings-Yeates - Sweet Home Rick Kaempfer - Media Founder Kelley Simms - Caught In A Mosh Kenneth L. Voss David C. 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