Illinois Entertainer September 2018 | Page 4

September 2018 • Volume 44, Number 10 • www.illinoisentertainer.com COVER STORY: THE VOIDZ “A man’s got to know his limitations,” Clint Eastwood once observed as the defiant rene- gade cop in Dirty Harry. Similarly unforgiving Strokes bandleader Julian Casablancas is still gradually discovering his own with his latest splinter combo –initially dubbed Julian Casablancas + The Voidz, now known simply as The Voidz – and its sleek, sophisticated sopho- more set, Virtue. And he’s still not sure what it all means. Having just returned to the mainland from a Honolulu getaway with his clan, where he had narrowly avoided Hurricane Nate, Casablancas was getting used to the novel concept of the fami- ly vacation itself, which he’d never attempted until he had kids. “And I have to admit, I don’t find them very restful,” he yawns. Otherwise, he’s ready for a nearly hour-long chat to preview his upcoming Riot Fest festival appearance. Tom Lanham got our exclusive interview. 6 HELLO MY NAME IS ANDREW Page 22 - The Voidz Like Alexander the Great centuries before him, mega-metaller Andrew W.K. is probably weeping because he has no more worlds to conquer. Justifiably so. After recording 2001’s Get Wet – a multi- tracked ELO-meets-Sweet-at-Slayer-junction masterpiece so addic- tive that we guarantee that there will be days you’ll wake up needing to hear it right then, this perpetually white-garbed, five-o'clock-shad- owed New Yorker wore hat after cottage-industry hat, becoming: a DJ; a popular Big Apple nightclub owner; a classical pianist; a radio host; a TV reality series host; a deadpan advice columnist; and a sur- prise hit of a motivational speaker. He was mastering so many diverse genres; the man practically forgot to make music. But now A.W.K. has returned with You’re Not Alone, a huge rallying cry of a comeback album that combines all of the above skills into an uplift- ing new style all its own. Tom Lanham talked to the big hearted, File Mike and Frank buy Aerosmith's old van, Chvrches sponsor a soccer team. Sweet Home Remembering Aretha. Cinemascopes Aliens, zombies and murder. Big Apple rock stalwart. Linmania continues on 'XRT. Media 16 Spins 24 Death Cab for Cutie, Enuff Z'nuff, CCR solo reissues and more. 20 Calendar RIOT FEST UNDERCARD Riot Fest returns for its 14th year to historical Douglas Park in Chicago (at Ogden & Ashland). From its humble beginnings in small clubs to its current incarnation as a classic punk and hip- hop celebration each Fall, Riot Fest has a connection to Chicago like no other festival. Here are some of our must-see picks for the undercard in including Johnny Marr, Spitafield, Bouncing Souls, Kevin Devine, Jerry Lee Lewis and Calpurnia. Over 1300 showsto see the best bands at the best venues. Caught In A Mosh Wrath is back. Classifieds You dumped your boyfriend's guitarist, now you're looking for another. Studiophile September studio news. Gear Awesome Michigan reverb, and a pause in the Ovation. 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. Eldredge - East Coast Classified Advertising Publisher Emeritis David Roberts 4 illinoisentertainer.com september 2018 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/ieentertainer instagram: illinoisentertainermagazine twitter.com/ie_entertainer 6 12 14 28 34 42 45 46 Address All Correspondence to: Illinois Entertainer 4223 W. Lake St., Suite 201 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 2018 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.