Illinois Entertainer October 2017 | Page 4

October 2017 • Volume 43, Number 12 • www.illinoisentertainer.com COVER STORY: LUCKY BOYS CONFUSUSION It's been 20 years since Lucky Boys Confusion first got together in a basement to write songs, since performing their first gig at a hometown party. What happened between then and now is a story about triumph and tragedy, the roads between paved with the love of each other and the love of music. It's debatable whether these boys are indeed "lucky," or whether it's been their dedication to writing great songs and having so much fun play- ing together that has brought this band back together after a 10-year hiatus. Penelope Biver got their dramatic backstory. HELLO MY NAME IS...LITTLE STEVEN 06 Page 22: Lucky Boys Confusion Steven Van Zandt has had a storied career that included a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2014 (as Bruce Springsteen's guiatrist), and long-running dramatic TV turns as ruthless mob enforcer Silvio Dante on The Sopranos from 1999 to 2007, and a vintage-themed radio show, Little Steven’s Underground Garage, which gradually expanded into an entire Sirius radio station. "Little Steven" He’s also just released a new Disciples of Soul effort, Soulfire, his first in 18 years, which fea- tures some fuel-injected updates of some of his Asbury Jukes standards, like “Some Things Just Don’t Change,” and “Love On the Wrong Side of Town” alongside newer material. Tom Lanham talked to the Hall-Of-Famer. File Chess records gets new life, John Lennon soda? Cinema Scopes Blade Runner- 35 years later. Media Joe Cicero learned from the masters. Sweet Home Smiley is in the Hall of Fame. IMAGINE DRAGONS 20 Spins Grammy-winning Imagine Dragons, the percussive quar- tet that, in 2012, began charting tub-thumping alterna-pop hits like “Radioactive,” “Demons,” “Shots,” “I Bet My Life,” and – most recently – the swaying Top Five smash “Believer,” from the new Evolve album, its third. And its monolithic Brontosaurus-stomp of a sound truly resembles no other con- temporary combo, something almost tribal in its propulsive pounding. But lead vocalist Dan Reynolds is also one of rock’s most idiosyncratic lyricists, a man who has battled seri- ous depression since he was 14 and isn’t afraid to document it in song . Imagine Dragon's new hit “Believer” is about embracing weakness, embracing flaws, and having the realization that you’re nothing without them,” says Reynolds. “That’s the most crucial part of my existence – my unique flaws.”Tom Kevin Lee & The Kings, The Church, L.A. Guns. Calendar Over 1350 shows and 2000 bands in October. Caught In A Mosh From Greece to L.A. Classifieds You dumped your sister's guitarist, now you're looking for another. Studiophile What's going on at the all new Studio VMR. Gear The best mic for your iPhone. 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, Brian Ormiston, Greg Olma Michael Obercki, Rodney Pawlak, Bruce Pilato, Matthew Pollock, Jessi Roti Jason Scales, Kelley Simms, Ed Spinelli, Tim Shockley, James Turano Contributing Editors Curt Baran Tom Lanham Mike Meyer 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. Eldredge Bruce Pilato - East Coast Classified Advertising Publisher Emeritis David Roberts 4 illinoisentertainer.com october 2017 SUBSCRIPTIONS: $35 per year (first class). Material for insertion must reach our office by the First Of The Month preceding publication. We cannot assume responsibility for unsolicit- ed manuscripts or photographs. Follow us online at: facebook.com illinoisentertainer.tumblr.com twitter.com @ie_entertainer 6 14 16 18 24 28 34 50 53 55 Address All Correspondence to: Illinois Entertainer 4223 W. Lake St., Suite 490 Chicago, IL 60624 [phone] - Chicago/North Sub [phone] - West/South Suburbs [phone] - Fax email us at: Editorial: [email protected] Advertising: [email protected] The ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER is published monthly by Roberts Publishing, Inc, All materials copyright 2017 by Roberts Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from Roberts Publishing, Inc. Current and back issues of the IE are $10.00 postpaid.