Amidst the dozens of bands playing Middlewest Fest this weekend, one man will take the stage with no instrument at all. With just a microphone and a slew of jokes in tow, comedian Brian Posehn will perform at Otto's Nightclub, 118 E. Lincoln Highway,...
How do you get to know a person, really? You ask questions. But not just any questions; you have to find a way to get to the core of a person. As far as interviews with musicians go, there are certain questions everyone expects such as, "who inspires...
If you already plan on attending this weekend's Middlewest Fest, there is no reason to miss this year's featured band - Company of Thieves. If you weren't planning on going, their presence should change your mind. Company of Thieves, an alternative rock...
Sometimes we have the misfortune of hearing about a band after they have already parted ways. The Felix Culpa is such a band for me, and probably for most of you reading this. With a sound that can best be described as "their own", the Felix Culpa created...
DeKALB | Next week, the Chicago indie rockers of Maps and Atlases will retrace their route back to DeKalb to play the band's (and DeKalb's) second Middlewest Fest. The Northern Star got to follow up with guitarist Erin Elders about playing last year at...
Get your dancing shoes on. As part of Middlewest Fest, the high-octane bluegrass jam vehicle Cornmeal is coming to DeKalb Saturday. Hailing from Chicago and perfecting their chops over the past decade performing across the country, Cornmeal plays an intricate...
Let's get down to horror business. During this weekend's Middlewest festivities, Chicago's Turbovamps! will open for the Celtic punk band Flatfoot 56 on Friday at the House Café, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, in downtown DeKalb. Turbovamps!, a horror...
Does anyone still love Boris Yeltsin, first president of the Russian Federation? According to one band playing this year's Middlewest Fest, someone does. The Northern Star got the chance to chat with Philip Dickey (guitar, vocals) of Someone Still Loves...
Irish punk on Middlewest soil. Much like Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys, Chicago's Flatfoot 56 plays a special brand of punk rock based in traditional Irish music. Together with bands like the Tossers and Sleeping Under 47, the group will be part...
Staff Writer DeKALB | When talking with musicians about their favorite things to do in DeKalb, you never expect them to mention playing impromptu shows in their pajamas, but that is exactly what Todd Fink of The Giving Tree Band said when discussing his...
A spiral of CDs appeared on the brick circle outside of Founders Memorial Library Thursday. Not being one to ignore curiosity, I took a closer look. I was rewarded with something called "A Modern American Playlist: Disc 1." To whomever was behind this...
There has been a very enticing rumor floating around that Nickelodeon is planning on launching re-makes of hits from the not-so-distant past including Doug, Rocko's Modern Life and Angry Beavers, just to name a few.Before all the ‘90s kids lose their...
