Pioneers
Hello, My Name is Gavin
Gavin Rossdale
Gregg Almann
Chris Cornell
He was one of the seminal voices in rock history, not just the Seattle grunge movement of the early ’90s.
His music was as complicated as he was, Soundgarden rarely dabbled in normal time signatures or regular
love songs. His death in Detroit last month is shocking, and of course – it’s not. Our musical heroes are often
the most tortured of souls. Chris Cornell, RIP. At press time we learned of the passing of Gregg Allman,
godfather of southern rock, who pioneered the yolking of blues, country and rock.
Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, does-
n't he? - Clarence Oddbody, It's A Wonderful Life
06•2017
More Than Blues
It’s hard to imagine the surreal, paparazzi-hounded world in which
Gavin Rossdale began to find himself in fifteen years ago, when he married
America’s photogenic sweetheart Gwen Stefani and then began having kids
– their three sons Kingston, Zuma, and Apollo. Suddenly, he was tabloid
fodder, and was photographed everywhere – playing with his children in
the park, or simply grabbing a coffee at Starbucks. It was almost incidental
that he anchored a band called Bush, which has just returned with a great
new album, Black and White Rainbows, containing some of the lyricist’s most
reflective, diary-honest work to date, in growling anthems like “Peace,”
“Water,” “Nurse,” and “Sky Turns Day Glo.” Photographers were the pred-
ators, he was the prey. And you can see in several invasive shots over his
married years – which ended in a recent much-publicized divorce – glaring
back at some remote zoom lens he’d spotted, Rossdale, 51, hated it. “But you
basically have no choice – it’s just one of those things that goes with celebri-
ty, and nobody wants to hear a celebrity complain,” he sighs, resignedly.
“And I won’t tell you it’s not annoying when you’re basically out with your
family, just trying to have a private life. But at the end of the day, how seri-
ous can I take it? I don’t care. I’ve got too many other things to care about.”
True. And he happily lists them on the latest album, not afraid to throw in a
few mea culpas for the split, whose alleged infidelity played a part in it. He’s
bounced back with strong songs, and a judge/mentor gig on The Voice UK,
Continued on page 8
and an optimistic new outlook on life.
Festing
Ronnie Baker Brooks
The 34th annual Chicago Blues Fest will open with several controversial changes that represent
the evolution of the genre on several levels. The first change is the location in Millennium Park, a
move that many insiders have questioned since it’s a smaller space than Grant Park and may be a
tight squeeze for the expected crowds. Other changes include featuring local hip hop musician
Rhymefest as a headliner on Friday’s headlining show. He’s expected to perform a show that con-
nects the evolution of blues into hip hop and master blues harpist Billy Branch will supply a guest
appearance to connect the dots. Many blues fans have question why a hip hop artist should headline
a bluesfest. However, the talented MC and songwriter has long expressed interest in collaborating
with blues musicians and will most likely present music that bridges the distance between blues
roots and hip hop fruits. Gary Clark Jr. and Rhiannon Giddens, young musicians who incorporate
blues but aren’t solely blues stars, headline Sunday’s show at Jay Pritzker Pavilion, rounded out by
local fave Ronnie Baker Brooks who’s expected to give a tribute to his late blues icon father, Lonnie
Brooks.
Other highlights that should be on your must-see list are Billy Branch’s all star tribute to the late
blues legend James Cotton on June 9, with special guests Lurrie Bell, Carlos Johnson and Carl
Weathersby, Big Bill Morganfield, Coco Montoya, Chicago Wind (Matthew Skoller and Deitra Farr)
and Lynne Jordan and the Shivers on June 10, and Denise La Salle, Tail Dragger and Vance Kelly and
the Back Street Blues Band on Sunday. It looks like the blues fest committee is aiming to attract a
younger crowd and as long as the rest of the shows are filled out with more traditional blues acts,
that’s not a bad idea. Drawing young fans into discovering blues through the lens of hybrid music is
a long tradition and serves to continue, not stifle, the art form. With the first-year location switch
from Grant Park to the more intimate Millennium Park, this year’s fest will be an interesting event
for those ready for an expanded blues experience.
– Rosalind Cummings -Yeates
6 illinoisentertainer.com june 2017
Ike Reilly
June means it's festival time again and the grandaddy of suburban festivals
takes place in Berwyn. Launched in 1981, FitzGerald's American Music Festival
has grown from a three-band barbeque night to one of the most critically
acclaimed summer festivals in the Midwest. The festival's main focus is
roots/Americana music – including from traditional rock to soul, rockabilly,
country, blues, jazz and bluegrass. The FitzGerald's family welcomes bands from
all over the country and a healthy dose of local bands, with a special emphasis on
music from New Orleans and Texas. Unlike many of the popular music festivals
in the city, the 4-Day Fest (June 30 through July 3) is held on the grounds of the
club. This year's festival includes pop music legend Marshall Crenshaw, Ike
Reilly, Dave Alvin, Robbie Fulks, Sara Borges plus 55 other bands. 4-Day Passes
are on sale (www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com) as well as single day tickets. The
biggest and the most family friendly among the suburban festivals is Naperville
Ribfest. Organized by The Exchange Club of Naperville, the non-profit is dedi-
cated to the elimination of child abuse and domestic violence. This year's fest fea-
turing '80s new wave stalwarts the B-52s and Flock of Seagulls, plus country king
Toby Keith, and 50 other bands over 4 days (June 30-July 3). Details are at
www.ribfest.net. Will County fest goers swear by Taste of Joliet every year, and
this year's event (June 23, 24 , 25 at Memorial Stadium, 3000 W. Jefferson) keeps
the streak going. With 25 food vendors, carnival, and headliners Kansas,
Survivor, Billy Currington and more. Tickets and fest de