This is your guide to catching the best live music both in the city and throughout the suburbs... This weekend Ladysmith Black Mambazo hits the area for two shows, George Clinton brings the funk to a Museum of Contemporary Art fundraiser (funk you very much!), and several great shows take place across the suburbs including the likes of Bobby Womack, Joe Pug and C.J. Chenier. All of this plus much more...
In The City...
Ladysmith Black Mambazo (7:30 & 10PM Friday at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Each show $41-45, All Ages) - At it for almost fifty years, the South African vocal group finally got their notice in the U.S. after backing up Paul Simon on the Graceland album in 1986.
Smith Westerns (9PM Friday at Metro. $15, 18+) - Porcelain Raft and Bleached open. Last summer's band du jour, the local trio brings it's indie rock, glam stylings to Metro.
The Tossers (9PM Friday at Abbey Pub. NO COVER, 21+) - I write this every month but it's so true and you certainly can't beat the price. It's the first Friday of the month... As a child growing up in Catholic school on the south side, that meant going to Church. Now, as an adult living on the north side, first Friday services take place in the form of acoustic performances by The Tossers at Abbey Pub. I've probably seen The Tossers twenty times and these acoustic shows at the Abbey always end up being amongst my favorites. Traditional Celtic meets contemporary punk and for my money, only The Pogues do it any better. Drink up... The band will be!
Voodoo Glow Skulls (7PM Saturday at Beat Kitchen. $15, All Ages) - Authority Zero opens. It has been quite a while since I thought about the Voodoo Glow Skulls. I caught the California ska/punk band quite awhile ago with the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and had a blast. Plus, it's hard to go wrong with most shows at Beat Kitchen. Enjoy.
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic (9PM Saturday at the Museum of Contemporary Art. $150) - Have seen George twice... once in 1994 with the P-Funk All-Stars at Lollapalooza (which was awesome) and once a few months back at The Venue at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond. George is now over seventy years of age so he relies on his band to do the heavy lifting (I believe I counted nineteen people onstage in Hammond). But the band is solid and it's clear that George still loves what he's doing. This is a Museum of Contemporary Art fundraiser (which explains the ticket price) so there are many perks that come with the ticket (get all of the details HERE). I can't say enough about what a good time I had seeing George Clinton only months ago and highly recommend this show.
White Mystery (8PM Saturday at Metro. $5, 18+) - Part of the Glitter Guts Dance Punk Circus. Environmental Encroachment, Perfect Kiss, Blue Ribbon Glee Club, Clique Talk and Pure Magical Love also perform (with DJ sets by Front 312 and The Underground Dollar Store). I've written quite a bit recently about the local garage rock duo that is White Mystery. Francis Scott Key White drums in a simple but effective, straightforward manner that accompanies Miss Alex White's fuzzladen guitar and vocals nicely. They also channel a more seventies influenced version of the White Stripes (on their facebook page, they cite Gary Glitter, MC5 and Black Sabbath as "artists we also like"). Caught them at the Hideout Block Party last September and they were one of my favorite acts of the day.
In The Suburbs...
Joe Pug (7PM Friday at The Union in Naperville. $5-12) - Julia Klee opens. I absolutely loved Pug's set last weekend at the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival. There he performed as a trio accompanied by upright bass and guitar. The now local artist also channeled Bob Dylan at times on harmonica and guitar and "Speak Plainly, Diana" is a gorgeous song.
C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band (9PM Friday and Saturday at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn. Each show is $15, 21+) - The "King of Zydeco" at one of the best rooms in the suburbs? Yes. Hell yes. An accordion fueled party not to be missed.
Bobby Womack (8PM Saturday at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN. $67-98, 21+) - Millie Jackson and Latimore open. Once Sam Cooke's back-up guitar player, I'd say the sixty-seven year old artist has done quite alright for himself. Whether it's R&B, soul, rock, etc., Womack runs the gamut with a style all his own.
Richard Marx (8PM Saturday at the Stardust Event Center at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, IN. $35-62, 21+) - People forget just how many hits this man has. I caught him at the Vic in 2009 and he remains in great voice with a band that rocks. Working primarily as a songwriter for the likes of Keith Urban, NSYNC and Luther Vandross for several years, Marx has returned with Stories to Tell in 2010 and The Christmas EP in 2011.
Fuel (9PM Saturday at Viper Alley in Lincolnshire. $20-35, 21+) - Venrez and ACIDIC open. One of the better bands to come out of the murky alternative scene that closed the nineties, Brett Scallions and company had several decent hits in "Shimmer," "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" and more.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo (8PM Saturday at Ramsey Auditorium at Fermilab in Batavia. $15-30, All Ages) - At it for almost fifty years, the South African vocal group finally got their notice in the U.S. after backing up Paul Simon on the Graceland album in 1986.
Jim Peterik (7:30PM Saturday at The Theatre of Western Springs in Western Springs. $25-35, All Ages) - Yet another local artist to write about this weekend! There's been a lot of that in this weekend spotlight and that is what makes living in the Chicagoland area great! Peterik has worked with everyone and with The Ides of March, "Vehicle" remains his biggest hit.
Filed under: Weekend Music Spotlight
Great Article and nice meeting you at Chicago Live! Have to add you to my favorite blog roll!
Thanks a bunch Ray. It was greating meeting you as well. Have enjoyed what you've posted so far as well!