This is your weekly guide to catching the best live music both in the city and throughout the suburbs... This weekend, Guns N' Roses arrive in town for a rare club appearance, Joe Ely clamps down in Berwyn and The Jayhawks rock the Vic. All of this plus much more...
In The City...
Sharon Van Etten (10PM Friday at Lincoln Hall. 21+, SOLD OUT) - Shearwater opens. The New York based singer-songwriter is currently touring in support of last week's release of her third studio album Tramp. Produced by Aaron Dessner of The National, the album is intensely personal and should translate well live.
Miles Nielsen (9PM Friday at Schubas. $15, 21+) - Drivin' N' Cryin' also performs. Nielsen has had several shows in Chicago lately opening for Ike Reilly in November at Double Door and for Cowboy Mouth last weekend at House of Blues. Yes, Miles is the son of Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen but the comparisons end there and his prior work with Harmony Riley speaks for itself.
The Jayhawks (7:30PM Friday at the Vic Theatre. $43, 18+) - The well received reunion continues as one of alt-country's finest continues to tour in support of September's Mockingbird Time. Isn't it nice when reunions actually result in new music?
An Acoustic Evening With The BoDeans (8PM Saturday at Symphony Center. $25-70, All Ages) - Sam Llanas left the band in August which leaves Kurt Neumann as the only original member so it should be interesting to see how Saturday's show by the roots rockers turns out...
Dr. Dog (8PM Saturday at the Vic Theatre. 18+, SOLD OUT) - Purling Hiss opens. Lo-fi, psychedelic rock. Enough said.
Flogging Molly (7PM Saturday at the Aragon Ballroom. $40, All Ages) - Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears and The Devil Makes Three open. An eclectic but solid bill. The Irish influenced punk of Flogging Molly will be preceded by the soulful sounds of Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears... and you will have a damn good time.
Magic Slim & The Teardrops (11PM Saturday at Buddy Guy's Legends. $20, 21+) - Joe Moss opens at 9PM. Sam Lay performs a free acoustic set from 6-8PM. Still going strong at seventy-four years of age, the fiery guitarist is one of Chicago blues' finest.
North Mississippi AllStars Duo (Luther and Cody Dickinson) - (7:30PM Saturday and Sunday at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Each show $24-28, All Ages) - Alvin Youngblod Hart opens. Luther and Cody Dickinson are the sons of legendary producer Jim Dickinson (who played with The Rolling Stones down in Muscle Shoals on Sticky Fingers) and their live brand of rootsy blues is generally quite raucous live. Enjoy!
Asobi Seksu (7PM Sunday at Reggie's. $15, 21+) - Sybris and Fox the Cat open. Shoegazer rock with lyrics in both Japanese and English. I saw them in 2006 at Schubas and they were great. If you like shoegazer, you will adore this band.
Guns N' Roses (10PM Sunday at House of Blues. 21+, SOLD OUT) - A rare club show from Axl Rose and company. The band was really good in November at Allstate Arena and seeing Axl up close should be pretty cool. Expect a long set and a late night.
Screaming Females (5PM Sunday at Permanent Records. FREE) - Caught them in October at Schubas and can honestly say that Marissa Paternoster is one of the best guitarists that I saw live in 2011. Check 'em out. You won't be sorry.
In The Suburbs...
Gallagher (7PM Friday at John Barleycorn in Schaumburg. $20-50, 21+) - A strange venue for a strange comedian. Gallagher has been a bit off his rocker lately in interviews (plus he had a heart attack on stage not that long ago) so there's really no telling what in the hell you will see on Friday so pack your patience. Good luck!
Jill Sobule (7PM Friday at SPACE in Evanston. $15-28, All Ages) - Primarily known for her 1995 hits "I Kissed a Girl" and "Supermodel," Sobule has actually remained quite prolific. Her latest release A Day at the Pass was a fan-funded project that she collaborated on with John Doe, Don Was and more.
Jerry Butler and The Chi-Lites (7:30PM Saturday at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, IN. $49-59, All Ages) - A night of soulful vocals courtesy of some of the city's coolest.
Joe Ely (9PM Friday and Saturday at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn. Each show $20, 21+) - Go Long Mule opens Friday and Kevin Gordon Band opens Saturday. He was good enough for Joe Strummer so he's good enough for me. The Texas songwriter culls from rock, country and punk and absolutely cooked when I saw him last June.
5th Annual After Brunch Bash and Barndance with Sunnyside Up and The Teflons (1PM Sunday at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn. $2-12, All Ages) - The perfect cure for the Joe Ely hangover you'll probably be experiencing Sunday morning so just stay in Berwyn. Sunnyside Up is a string trio while The Teflons are a quintet known for great harmonies. Family friendly Sunday fun.
Gospel Buffet with The Blind Boys of Alabama (12:30PM Sunday at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN. $34-51, 21+) - A great way to finish the weekend. The Blind Boys formed in 1937 and are still at it. That's impressive in and of itself. More impressive is how their soulful, Gospel stylings have not only remained vital but have managed to cross over into the mainstream more in the last fifteen years than ever before. Having recorded in the past few years with everyone from Peter Gabriel to Ben Harper to Willie Nelson certainly didn't hurt.
Filed under: Weekend Music Spotlight
JimRyan
1 day, 5 hours ago