Tunes and Tix: Raise the flag

The Ramones have become trendy with the last few young generations of punk appreciators.

Chicagoland offers winning concert roster

From the Rolling Stones to Taylor Swift to Beyonce, many a household name is making their way to venues throughout the country this summer, with Chicago stops on their schedule.

Like a Rolling Stone

Referring to the Rolling Stones as the “Mt. Rushmore of Rock and Roll” takes on more than one meaning, depending on your point of view.

Newsted on the block

Jason Newsted’s tenure with Metallica may have lasted a decade and a half with tens of millions of albums sold, but his input was anything but prodigious.

Tunes and Tix: Nostalgia time, y’all!

Depending on what side of the fence you sit on, the upcoming 15th anniversary of Limp Bizkit’s first hit, a cover of George Michael’s “Faith,” is something to acknowledge or scour over.

Area artists expand their horizons with ‘Tomorrow’ exhibit

Mike Konieczny, co-chair of Southern Shore Art Association’s “Tomorrow, Back and Beyond” exhibit, had a specific instruction to the artists who submitted their works to his show.

Tunes and Tix: Another look at 1975

The year 1975,, in terms of the pop music landscape, doesn’t stand out in the way benchmark years such as 1963, 1977 and 1992 did, but its impact would be felt for years to follow.

Ease on down to Chicago Heights for 'The Wiz'

Tyler McMahon, director of Chicago Heights’ Drama Group’s production of “The Wiz,” holds the beloved musical in high regard for both personal and artistic reasons.

Lessons learned amidst the laughs in Towle’s ‘Jewtopia’

Marty Grubbs, director of Hammond’s Towle Theater’s production of “Jewtopia,” sees an important moral in his production of the acclaimed comedy.

It’s “All in the Timing’ for Hammond Community Theatre

For Hammond Community Theatre’s Earle Howe, the comedy “All in the Timing” is an ideal play for him to bring to the stage.

Local songwriter to perform at Cornucopia

Portage songsmith, musician, and performer Jeff Trathen had to travel more than a thousand miles to rediscover his musical mojo.

Marr attacks

It’s quite possible that Smiths alumni have made more headlines in the quarter century since they called it a day than they did in their brief, but influential time together in the early and mid-'80s.

Spreading old ‘Rumours’

You’ve got to hand it to conglomerate music marketers. They sure know how to make a classic rock anniversary an event.

“Kindergarten” in session at Crown Point Community Theatre

Becky Jascoviak, director of Crown Point Community Theatre’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” knows why the book and stage version has endured with readers and audiences for a quarter century.

Chinese art exhibited at VU

Gloria Ruff, assistant curator of Valparaiso’s Brauer Museum of Art, noted the diversity in the styles of the works showcased there by faculty and students at China’s Renmin University.

'Letters’ read by Drama Group

The glitz and the glamour may be missing when theater companies present play readings, but Vicki High, director of Chicago Heights’ Drama Group’s reading of the drama “Love Letters,” appreciates what comes to the forefront.

Reason to Bragg

Billy Bragg’s current stateside tour, which brings him to Chicago’s City Winery for a three night stand April 12-14, comes after a decade of little activity, new music-wise, from the beloved British songsmith.

Tunes and Tix: ‘Vivid’ recollections

Living Colour’s rise to hard rock royalty with their 1988 debut “Vivid” came with no small amount of unfortunate hype.

Footlight Players stage Tennessee Williams classic

Steve Rohe, director of Michigan City’s Footlight Players’ production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” has an idea why the Tennessee Williams-penned classic has endured for generations of actors and audiences.

Tunes and Tix: Garbage collective

It’s common, in a music group of any genre, for a single member to emerge as its creative leader, but, in alt-poppers Garbage, all four members are truly forces to be reckoned with.

'Reflections' brings country life to Hammond

With her exhibit “Reflections of Life in the Country” at South Shore Arts’ Substation No. 9 in Hammond, artist Lyn Wellsand hopes to bring a little country life to the region’s urban viewers.

Music, poetry showcased at Cornucopia

Danny Radovanovic, a Chicago-based poet performing and writing as Stutterbot, hopes his showcase next week with three fellow creative minds at Valparaiso’s Cornucopia Coffee Company, hopes to do more than merely entertain with his words.

Yes says ‘no’ to hits-only show at Venue

At a time where lone songs make up music listeners’ purchases, Alan White, drummer of Yes, sees many listeners missing out on a bigger picture by ignoring full-fledged albums of original music as a whole.

Returning to Greener pastures

It’s one thing for a band to venture artistically past its origins, but the last nine years has seen Green Day flourish by leaps and bounds.

Tunes and Tix: Queen of Americana meets British six string king

Being deemed “living history up close” can be seen as an insult to many a veteran artist, especially those who are still pursuing their crafts with dignity.

Region’s environment reflected in ‘Column’ show

It’s common for the folks at Hammond’s Paul Henry’s Gallery to accommodate their artists in terms of making space when setting up exhibits, but for East Chicago abstract artist Thomas Frank, they are going the extra mile.

Union Street Gallery creates ‘Mad World’

To Jessica Freudenberg-Segal, gallery director of Chicago Heights’ Union Street Gallery, odd is good – and relatively new - when it comes to the abstract and surreal pieces that make up their "Mad World” exhibit.

Tunes and Tix: Cohen’s brilliant 'Old Ideas'

In the popular music strata, only a small handful of artists have remained relevant as they cross their 70-year threshold.

Southern Shore’s ‘Shades’ showcases women

Susan Block, curator of Michigan City’s Southern Shore Art Association’s “Fifty Shades of Female” exhibit, sees her show as creating what she referred to as “a bit of cultural history in this region.”

Genesius Guild brings ‘Pirates’ to region

To Genesius Guild director David Long, staging the musical “The Pirates of Penzance,” is truly a collaborative effort between he and his cast.

Memorial Opera House stages ‘Guys and Dolls’

Craig Golbesky, director of Valparaiso’s Memorial Opera House’s production of “Guys and Dolls,” described the beloved musical as “quintessential American theater at it’s best.”

Chicago artists bring ‘Presence’ to Munster

The origins of Chicago artists Mark Zlotkowski and Sergio Gomez’ traveling exhibit, “Presence/Absence,” can be traced to a lucky hanging.

Tunes and Tix: Unsung Heroes

Like sports, popular music has its share of legends and all-stars, and is also choc full of support players who don’t get the recognition but are as worthy of the household named greats they backed.

‘Superior Donuts’ served up by Drama Group

Cathie Drakulich, director of Chicago Heights’ Drama Group’s production of “Superior Donuts,” couldn’t wait to take a bite out of acclaimed Chicagoland-based author Tracy Letts play for both herself and the actors she cast.

Hot Tuna still scorching

When it comes to rock and roll’s all-time great bassists, many names are regularly bandied about.

Hammond Community Theatre finds laughs in ‘Torture’

C. Dale Kelly, director of Hammond Community Theatre’s “Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them,” expects his audience will find many laughs in the Christopher Durang-penned play despite its sensitive subjects.

Kids’ film festival makes region debut at Lubeznik Center

Carolyn Saxton, executive director of Michigan City’s Lubeznik Center for the Arts, sees their participation in the Coastline Children’s Film Festival as a unique opportunity for both young and old filmgoers.

Gospel great comes to Gary

When Fred Hammond released his 2012 effort, “God, Love & Romance,” it was met with no small amount of adversity.

No longer Live, just solo

Here’s a thought that will make music fans of a certain age cringe. Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the release of Live’s “Throwing Copper.”

Bawdy ‘Bodies’ to grace Crown Point stage

KeriAnne Valuckis, director of Crown Point Community Theatre’s “Beautiful Bodies,” says male theatergoers may learn a thing or two from the all-female tale.

‘Monologue’ tradition continues at Beatniks

While Hammond’s Beatniks on Conkey has made staging “The Vagina Monologues” an annual tradition, co-director Bonnie Johnson is sure audiences who come out aren’t seeing the same show over and over with every passing year.

Gaga still going

Around this time two years ago, one Stefani Germanotta – better known to the masses as Lady Gaga – had the pop world in the palm of her hand.

Footlight Players stage ‘Appealing’ tale

Christine Wiegand, director of Michigan City’s Footlight Players production of “Mass Appeal,” hopes viewers of the acclaimed philosophical drama leave with new perspectives on life based on the dialogue between the shows’ two opposing priests.

Acclaimed Canadian acoustic Sultans swing their way to region

Later this year, the three members that make up the acclaimed Canadian acoustic outfit Sultans of String will find their stages a little more crowded than usual.

Outlaw in ascension

While its place as a driving force in the popular music strata shows no sign of weaning, the last few months have found mainstream country music in a particularly odd place.

Zevon’s life to be celebrated at Mayne Stage

One wonders what Warren Zevon would think – or better yet, what wry quip he would spin – on musical celebrations in honor of his life such as Androgynous Moustache’s “Warren Zevon Birthday Bash.”

‘Something’s Afoot’ at Cedar Lake supper club

Angie Lowe, co-director of L’arc en Ciel Theatre Group’s production of the musical mystery-comedy “Something’s Afoot,” is well-versed with the material.

Something ‘Wild’ for educators at Dunes Learning Center

Area educators and youth group leaders from all walks have the world of nature at their fingertips at Michigan City’s Dunes Learning Center according to Wendy Smith, a facilitator for the “Project Wild” educational workshop.