Julian Casablancas

3 stars (out of 4) Now that electronic music has become a major presence on the pop charts and the sports arenas of North America, the timing couldn’t be better for the French godfathers of 21st Century rave to strap on their robot gear and ride...

Leave it to Daft Punk to bring excitement to Day One of Coachella – without even being present. The rumors were flowing fast and furious that the highly regarded (and amazingly mysterious) EDM duo would play a secret gig at Coachella, and it was...

The Strokes "The Comedown Machine" RCA Records 1 star One of the key axioms of the acting trade is to never seem desperate for a role. To be a hot commodity, behave like you couldn't care less; those who appear to need a job are at a disadvantage....

2 stars (out of 4) Listen to “Call it Fate, Call it Karma” -- the final song on the Strokes new album, “Comedown Machine” (RCA) -- and it sounds planets removed from the leather-jacketed band of New York City upstarts that made...

The reaction on Twitter to the new Strokes single has not been especially good. In fact, opinions of "One Way Trigger," which appeared on the band's website Friday, seem to be tending almost entirely toward the negative. "aaaaahhh!! just listened to new...

Pearl Jam didn’t design the first of its 20th anniversary concerts Saturday at Alpine Valley Music Theatre with the casual fan in mind. Instead, the 2 ½-hour, 28-song set in front of a packed house was one for the diehards, a celebration of some of...

The Bears' Jay Cutler, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" host Jeff Garlin and "Pardon the Interruption" co-host Michael Wilbon all dined separately at Paris Club Saturday. Bill and Giuliana Rancic -- who are set to open a restaurant with Paris Club owners RJ,...

Nikolai Fraiture hopes The Strokes aren't breaking up. The New York five-member band has been dogged with questions about its longevity, relevance and commitment ever since the hype over its first album, "This is It," cooled down in the early 2000s. The...

KROQ-FM (106.7) isn't known for curveballs in its well-cemented playlist of angsty '90s survivors and modern takes on SoCal punk. Even at Weenie Roast, its annual summer-heralding showcase of the station's mainstays and scrappier newcomers, a "surprise"...

Ke$ha attended a private dinner at Sunda in August. (Photo courtesy of Sunda) August was the biggest month for celeb sightings in Chicago all year, which was to be expected. Lollapalooza is like our Super Bowl. The city gets swarmed by stars who are...

2.5 stars (out of 4) Like the hip-hop and R&B producers who have dominated pop radio this century, the Strokes bring precision to every note they massage, manipulate and lock into place on their fourth album, “Angles” (RCA). They’re...

Midway through a 90-minute set to open the third night of showcases at the South by Southwest festival and conference, Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas took a pause between songs. For a band with meticulous determination, even a brief between-song...