I was thrilled to pieces when I heard about Middlewest Fest. William Elliott Whitmore? The Smoking Popes? Count me in, I said. I’ll even go see Lucky Boys Confusion, because, well, why not? They’re playing here in DeKalb. I have no reason not to.Unfortunately...
There are tons of hit songs people listened to in high school that seemed to define their lives and led to excessive playings. "Ohio is for Lovers" by Hawthorne Heights is one of those songs. However, since the song hit the charts in 2004, the band has...
Middlewest Fest is upon us. However, the plight of the over 21 attendee is often overlooked. With so much to do and so much to see, let's boil it down and find out where your time is best spent this weekend. Not all the best shows are 21+, but for the...
With the weekend fast approaching, fans aren't the only ones getting excited for Middlewest Fest. Eli, of Bartlett, won a Battle of the Bands at Mad Maggie's in Elgin for a slot in the festival, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to play at the Egyptian...
As a part of the midwest, Chicago's contributions to the world of music are often overlooked by whatever is happening on the coasts. If this is the case, then a city like DeKalb surely has almost no chance of competing. But just because this small farming...
To find a fan of Chicago punk music who doesn’t appreciate Smoking Popes would be a challenging feat. Smoking Popes have been making music since before some of NIU’s freshman class was born, and, luckily for their fans, have no intention of quitting...
If Tub Ring sounds like the name of a high school punk band from the nineties, that's because 17 years ago, it was. Since then, founding members Kevin Gibson (vocals) and Trevor Erb (bass) added Rob Kleiner (keyboards) to the mix and created a musical...
It's been a rather disappointing summer at the movies this year. Most of the movies that came out were either rehashes of old concepts or simply uninteresting. Granted there were gems that stood out like "Toy Story 3" and "Inception," but those movies...
Autumn always leaves, but style stays around. "Autumn Leaves," an exhibit on fall fashions, will be running through Dec. 4 in the NIU Art Museum. The exhibit, according to museum director Jo Burke, uses "fashion as a metaphor" that explores "the connections...
RATING: 4/5 This year seems to be the year for Nintendo to strike back. Earlier during E3 they announced several classic franchises that would be returning to the Wii, including "Metroid." "Metroid: Other M," ends up being a mixed bag of "amazing" and...
Art Instructor Bart Woodstrup doesn't care much for major motion pictures. For the most part, Hollywood blockbusters are much too linear for Woodstrup's taste. The instructor would rather be confused. "What Happens Next?," a film festival that screened...
Age ain't nothing but a number. In an effort to examine the changes throughout our lives related to getting older, the NIU Art Museum is hosting "StAGES of Transition." The exhibit, located in the South Gallery in Altgeld Hall, features paintings, sculptures,...
