93XRT Concertgoers Blog | Marty Lennartz

Wilco Sold Out XRT Show at UIC Pavilion

By Marty Lennartz ⋅ October 19, 2009 ⋅ 3 comments

On Sunday night Wilco, Chicago’s favorite sons, returned for a triumphant homecoming at a sold out XRT Show at UIC Pavilion.
In the first of two rare arena rock gigs, singer Jeff Tweedy was prompted to joke about his big stage “frontmantivness”, the band’s weekend purchase of a few more lights and that it was a [...]

Rodrigo y Gabriella Sold Out XRT Show at the Riv

By Marty Lennartz ⋅ October 19, 2009 ⋅ One comment

The guitar duo of Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriella Quintero, who go by the name Rodrigo y Gabriella, have certainly been one of rock’s most surprising success stories of the past few years.
Their story is the stuff of legend. Mexican metal band refugees go to Ireland to become Grafton Street buskers. Get discovered by Damian Rice, [...]

Pearl Jam at United Center

By Marty Lennartz ⋅ August 24, 2009 ⋅ 4 comments

Just as Pearl Jam’s third song of the evening, “Why Go Home” came to an end, Eddie Vedder asked “Why go home? I’m already there”.
It’s always a homecoming when Eddie is in Chicago. At Sunday night’s sold out United Center show (the first of two nights) Eddie made reference to his early [...]

Lollapalooza – Day 1 with Marty Lennartz

By Marty Lennartz ⋅ August 8, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

It’s me, Marty Lennartz reporting from the XRT Backstage Radio Compound at Lollapalooza 2009, just steps away from the Chicago 2016 stage at the south end of the park, where last night was the scene of the return of Depeche Mode who performed a really exciting and enegetic set.
Watching Dave Gahan swagger, twist and spin [...]

Conor Oberst in an XRT Show at Metro

By Marty Lennartz ⋅ July 17, 2009 ⋅ One comment

Conor Oberst is not yet 30 but already he has had a long and illustrious career.
He started recording in his early teens and over the years with his ever changing collective Bright Eyes, has become recognized as one of the finest songwriters of his generation. Despite his age the emotion and lyricism of his songs [...]

Loney Dear in an XRT Big Beat Show at Schubas

By Marty Lennartz ⋅ May 15, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Sometimes, out of misfortune, wonderfully unexpected things will occur.
That was certainly the case at Schubas last weekend for an XRT Big Beat
Show with Swedish band Loney Dear.
On record, Loney Dear is one Mr. Emil Svanangen. His last two discs,
“Loney Noir” and the recent “Dear John” were both recorded in his
bedroom studio as well as his [...]

Franz Ferdinand in a Sold Out XRT Show at the Riv

By Marty Lennartz ⋅ May 4, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments

The first time I saw Franz Ferdinand was at the Empty Bottle. They had just made their US debut at SXSW and picked up an early slot at the Bottle on a night when TV On The Radio were already scheduled to play late. It made for quite a double header that night but what [...]

Neko Case in a Sold Out XRT Show at The Chicago Theatre

By Marty Lennartz ⋅ April 27, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

At Friday’s Neko Case XRT Show at the Chicago Theatre, singer and bandmate Kelly Hogan stepped to the mic and said, “ If I squint real hard, it looks just like The Hideout”.
Neko is the second Chicago artist in the last few weeks with Hideout roots to play a sold- out XRT show in one [...]

Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 in an XRT Show at Logan Square Auditorium

By Marty Lennartz ⋅ April 21, 2009 ⋅ One comment

Robyn Hitchcock has always been able to find the common ground between Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Syd Barrett and the occasional insect. Last night he brought his 30-year musical legacy to The Logan Square Auditorium for an XRT Show that was recorded for future broadcast as an XRT Sunday Night Concert.
It’s always a treat [...]

U2 Three Nights Live, Night Two, Chicago.

By Marty Lennartz ⋅ March 17, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments

The city was in a U2 frenzy. XRT called it U2’s Day and played nothing but U2 all day long. The TV stations sent crews to the station to report on the buzz.
U2 was in Chicago. The worst kept secret in town. U2 and Shirley Manson, chatting and playing their favorite songs at Chicago’s premiere [...]

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