It’s the dog days of summer, blogspot readers, with PLENTY
of things to do ...to see and to fun left before autumn winds and weather roll
into town. SouthSide highly recommends checking out the following shows/event
that will be rockin’ Chicago and elsewhere this August.
Please note, many are listed as 21 and older unless otherwise stated.
Also music festivals listed are AA unless otherwise stated.
July 31 – August 3:
Pilsen neighborhood – celebrate Fiesta Del Sol
August 1 – 3:
Den Theatre Studio 2A – it’s the world premiere of Alyssa
Zaczek’s play “Real People”, a story about an American writer who travels to
England to find his muse.
$15
August 1:
Whiskey Trust Tavern & Distillery (3206 N. Halsted) –
it’s the debut of an all new drag show “Mannequin” by Sissy Spastik happening
every 1 st Friday of the month which will feature JoJo Baby, Ruby Dee, Anita
Borshen, Miss Tosh and DJ Adam Black.
Space is limited so arrive early.
9p / after party at Berlin
Elbo Room – hey, nerdy and gamer fans, it’s Nerd Night at
this venue featuring Dr. Who themed rock by Time Crash, Final Fantasy metal by
Knight Of The Round and Video Game rock by Arc Impluse.
$10
Abbey Pub – it’s The Coop sharing the stage with EGI and The
Funky Nuggets.
$10 adv / $12 dos
Cubby Bear – Pale Horseman will be celebrating its album
release featuring Sacred Monster, Shifting Totem and Central Disorder in the
lineup.
$7 adv / $10 dos
The Bluebird Theatre (Denver, CO) - it's Rowdy Shadehouse's CD release party featuring Eldren and Champagne Charlie
August 2 & 3:
Logan Square neighborhood – it’s Taste of Latin America
August 2:
Roosevelt University – attend the Youth Hearing on Police
Violence
2p / FREE
Aragon Ballroom – Marin Garrix with special guest Chromeo
(DJ set) at the official Lollapalooza after show.
Elbo Room – check out Shapes & Colors sharing the stage
with Kobrakai, Manhattan Chess Club, The Golden Rule, Flashwave and Jack
Rabbit.
$10
Reggie’s – it’s Lynch opening for Blue Coupe (Al & Joe
Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult and original Alice Cooper bassist Dennis Dunaway)
Navy Pier (The Land Shark Beer Garden) – get saucy with The
Hot Sauce Committee here. Also check out the band’s site at
http://www.thehotsaucecommittee.com for other August show dates.
AA / 5:30p
August 3:
R Place (Forest Park, IL) – it’s “Say My Name, Chevy Debbie”
birthday and comedy show!
6p
McHenry County Fair Grounds (Woodstock, IL) – check out live
music performances by Ruine The Lion, Deb Firak, Tim Merkel, Melissa DeGott and
many more.
The 2040 – Juventud Podrida (from Panama) along with
Pleasure Industry (from New York), Poliskitzo and Rayos (both from Los Angeles)
and Rumores will be performing here.
$8 / AA / BBQ at 3p / Show starts at 7p
August 4:
Empty Bottle – The Grisly Hand (Kansas City, MO) returns to
Chicago promoting their latest release “Country Singles”.
FREE
August 5:
James Park (Evanston, IL) – dance to the music performance
by Los Vicios de Papa.
7:30p / FREE / AA
Elbo Room – check out Wormwood Collective Poetry night. Join
others for a night of open mic spoken word action with some of Chicago’s most
dedicated poets. Then it’s followed by Wiretripped (around 11p) featuring DJ
Circutry and Peter Propaganda.
NO cover / sign-in starts at 7p
August 6:
Livewire Lounge – it’s another edition of The Devil’s
Playground featuring host David Bates (of Sinister Bates) along with burlesque performances
by Misfit Dolls Jezzibel and Cherries Jubalie, Millie May and Shirley Knot
FREE
August 7 & 8:
Casa De Linda (Custer Park, IL) – it’s the Beard Metal Fest
2014 featuring performances by No Conviction, The HYSS, Pale Horseman,
Relentless and more.
August 7:
Red Line Tap – check out Malcolm Holcombe (from North
Carolina) will be performing tracks off his current release, “Down The River”.
$5 adv / $7 dos
Reggie's Rock Club - Romiti along with Logan, YP, Saint Millie, Natureal and many more will be rockin' the stage here.
18+ / $10
August 8 & 9:
Signal Ensemble Theatre – it’s Produce-Final Season
featuring dance/movement sets by Ashley Deran and dancers along with The
Special Movement Project, Door Ascender’s Merkaba and more. Saturday’s
performance will feature an after party with DJ Wak spinning from 9p – 12a
August 8:
Logan Square Auditorium – Cuba’s most popular band Me Dicen
Cuba will be performing an exclusive Chicago concert along with Alexander Abreu
and Havana D’ Primera.
GA $35 adv / $40 dos
VIP (reserved tables) $50
There are limited “meet and greet” VIP Gold packages
available.
The Mid – it’s Mayhem featuring DJs Emba, Mr. Carmack,
Vindeta and Zebo.
Elbo Room – SoundPrism presents Digeometric, Business As
Usual, Red Rose and My Boy Elroy rockin’ the stage.
$10 adv / $12 dos
Mojoe’s (Red Room) – rock out with It Lies Within, Curses,
Wicked Deception and Dark Entropy.
AA / 21+ to drink
Hard Rock Café (Chicago) – rock with Ignescent and Shannon
Richardson Band
Township – Cooler By The Lake will be celebrating their
latest release “Summer’s Over” (on vinyl and CD)
The Mutiny – rock with Filter Free Rodeo (from Milwaukee,
WI) touring in support of their latest release “Local Motives” along with
Aircobra. Airraid, and Blind Martyr.
Double Door – attend this performance featuring Simpleton
& Cityfolk, Burnside & Hooker, Taylor Page and Western Automatic
7:30p doors / $10
Door No. 3 – it’s Interstellar Beats featuring Radius and DJ
Moppy with special guests TBA
FREE / 10p
Fuller’s Pub (3203 W. Irving Park Rd) – attend Mike Felten’s
“No 2 nd Rides” CD release show.
Hattrix Baby! (Kenosha, WI) – rock with Thunder Driver,
Indonesian Junk and Self Destruckt here
$5 / 9p
Goose Island Wrigleyville Brewpub – Villains unite when V Is
For Villains share the stage with Colonel Gunn’s Wild West Music Show, Sneezy
and Next 2 The Tracks at this venue.
$8 adv / $10 dos
Cubby Bear – Calm Like A Bomb and 311 tribute band From
Chaos rockin’ the stage.
For tickets, visit http://www.cubbybear.com.
Gallery Cabaret - Bullet Called Life will be headlining this lineup featuring Night Cleaners and The Smoking Section.
August 9 & 10:
Lakeview neighborhood – attend the annual North Halsted
Market Days
August 9:
South King Drive – it’s the annual Bud Bullliken Parade
& Picnic (held at Washington Park afterward).
Foundation Room (House of Blues Chicago) – attend Aryk
Crowder’s “2x4” Vol. 1 release party featuring Angela Anise and DJRC. Please be
advised, there’s a strict dress code – NO baseball caps, NO tank tops, NO
shorts and NO open-toed shoes.
$12 adv / $15 dos
Door No. 3 – Akasha presents Simmer Down Sound Jamaican
Independence Day Celebration featuring special live performances by Mobile
Disco Unit and guest selection by Rickshaw.
FREE
Another Hole In The Wall (Steger, IL) – attend the Once In A
Lifetime tour featuring performances by Axe Man’s Bridge, Steadfast, 3 Hour
Catalyst, Masquerade and many more.
$10 adv / $15 dos / AA
Ye Olde Town Inn (Mount Prospect, IL) – it’s Sinister Fate
rockin’ the stage with Marked 4 Deletion, Now I’m Nothing and TBA
$7
Concord Music Hall – Riot Fest presents
“She Sells Sanctuary” rockers The Cult!
AA / 5:30p
August 10:
Overflow Coffee Bar (1550 S. State ST) – it’s time to Break
All The Chains celebration and learn how be revolutionize the way society
treats women.
Lizard’s Liquid Lounge (3058 W. Irving Park Rd) – rock with
Vintage Blonde while the band performs 2 sets here.
7p / NO COVER
August 12:
Twiggs Park (Evanston, IL) – DJ Rob featuring Yemi, Marie
and TL Williams performing here.
7:30p / FREE/ AA
Tonic Room – check out Glostik and Fresh Shaped Metric
Grooves (featuring members of Fresh Hops, Shapest Colors, Digeometric and
Family Grooves Company) rockin the stage here.
August 13:
Mayne Stage – CAU presents Common Shriner’s “Social
Mediasochist” video release featuring Jeff Brown & The New Black (“Cutting
Ties” EP release) and Brittany Moffitt.
$5 / AA / 7:30p doors
Aftershocklive Musicvenue (Merriam, KS) – rock with One-Eyed
Doll, Adriel’s Tragedy, Kill The Lights, The Fludist and Jericka & Johnny
Door No. 3 – it’s FABITAT 1st anniversary! This LGBTQ event for those in the community and their supporters will
feature DJs Adam El and Ldy Prblms.
FREE
August 14 – 25:
Chopin Theatre – Aloft Circus Arts presents Dinner Of Our
Discontent, a contemporary circus show about terrible people.
$25
For tickets, visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com.
August 14:
Elbo Room - check out FLINTface (from PA) when Joe and the band performs tracks off debut release - HOPE. SouthSide recommends listening to "Army of Rejects" and the title track.
August 15 & 16:
Gulch Road (Dixon, IL) – it’s 2 Days and 2 stages of rock
and metal performances by headlining band Generation Kill (with Rob Dukes,
former member of Exodus, and Rob Mashetti, former member of Pro-Pain/M.O.D.)
along with Armored Assault, Spyderbone, Redneck Remedy and more at Beaman Fest
Annual 2014.
August 15 – 17:
Rogers Park neighborhood – it’s the Glenwood Avenue Arts
Fest featuring after parties at Red Line Tap with live performance by The
Mudflapps, The Future Laureates, Simpleton & Cityfolk, The Outlaw Family
Band and more.
August 15:
Abbey Pub – NSP Live presents The Mahones sharing the stage
with 6’10 (with Tobin of Flatfoot 56), Dead Town Revival and Night Cap Night
Cap.
$10
Tonic Room – SoundPrism presents Half Baked and Deuce Funk
Monsters.
$8
The Mutiny – attend the Queer Fest America Benefit featuring
Ziggy 2000 with Stardust The David Bowie tribute band, Big Sur, Jollys and
more.
Ravinia – it’s the Midwest Young Artists and Lang Lang
International Music Foundation Young Scholars concert.
Goose Island Wrigleyville Brewpub – rock with Saved By The Belvedere
and Luke Schmitt.
$5 (BOGO free – bring a friend for free when ordering
tickets online) / $7 (BOGO not available at door)
visit http://www.ticketdriver.com to get tickets online.
The Throne Room - Polarizer will be headlining this lineup featuring Ferris & The Wheels, Black Cat Heart Attack and White Heat.
$8
August 16 & 17:
Navy Pier – it’s The Great American Lobster Festival
featuring music performances by Local H, Akasha, Jackpot Donnie, Paper Thick
Walls, Trippin Billies, White Mystery, Bailiff and many more
GA $10 adv / $15 dos
GA with lobster meal - $35 (by Aug 12)
August 16:
House of Blues (Chicago) – it’s the annual I AM Fest
featuring Trainwreck Symphony headlining featuring Battle of the Bands winners
- Steady echo and Delilah opening along with RayIsDude, Avon Dale, Pirates!!
and many more. The after party (at Elbo Room) will feature Moon and DJ Kings
(21+)
AA
August 17:
Grandbar – it’s Faster Pussycat along with Black 4,
Ironfinger and El Segundo.
$10 / 7p
August 19:
Centennial Park (Evanston, IL) – check out Nelson Gill and
the Caribbean Rhythm Band performing here.
7:30p / FREE / AA
Hard Rock Café (Chicago) – rockers Adora will be performing
here.
FREE
Double Door – rock with Romantic Rebel opening for Bobaflex.
$10 adv / $12 dos
Cobra Lounge – rock with GRENDEL and Ludevico Technique when
their tour comes to Chicago.
$17 adv / price increases at door dos
Elbo Room – check out touring band The Adarna (from Seattle,
WA) when they perform here.
August 20:
Elbo Room – Free Spirited presents a night Free of Hate.
This event is dedicated to speaking out against hate, violence and everyday
darkness encountered within our lives featuring live performances by The
Walking Shadows, Lokk Boxx and The Golden Rule.
$10
evilOlive – Rouge! Chicago’s premiere night of Electro Swing
turns 1! RSVP at http://www.Do312.com/Rouge for free entry and a chance to win FREE stuff.
This party will feature special guests South of Roosevelt along with Lady Lenux
and resident DJs Vourteque and Mr. Automatic
10p
Concord Music Hall – check out PROPAGANDHI with Rvivr, War
On Women and La Amada
AA / 6p
August 21:
Lincoln Hall – check out M.P. “Pulp” release show featuring
Fletcher Rockwell, Andrew Faker & Sons and Leonum
Schuba's - singer/songwriter Brandon Cunningham will be celebrating the release of his EP here.
August 22:
Double Door – it’s Ideamen and Get Up With The Get Downs
(James Brown tribute band) rocking the stage.
$6 / 8p
Red Line Tap – it’s Rikk Agnew Band
along with Vortis, The Headspins and Modem Advances.
Cobra Lounge – Riot Fest presents Zero
Boys along with The Brothers Gross, Flesh Panthers and Yeowulf.
Tiger O’Stylies (Berwyn, IL) – rock out
with Mobcore 666 featuring Sir Vixx, tooth_eye, Idiom, Benzo live, Common,
Dominator and Pink Abduction Ray ...plus Darkmatter Soundsystems and Diskore.
$5
ToucheChicago – it’s Holidays in the
Sun, a night of everything punk rock with DJ Germ of Modern Day Rippers and
Brickwall Vultures.
NiteCap – it’s Sinister Fate with Rue
The Day, Approaching Dawn and 29 Needles rockin’ out this Portage Park
neighborhood bar.
$6
Cubby Bear - Hero Monster Zero with 8090 will be sharing the stage with Bury Me In Lights, Derek Boyke and Seth Mercer.
$7
Schuba's - check out Todd Kessler & The New Folk's new single and video "Exactly Where I Should Be".
Uncommon Ground (on Devon) - Bassel & The Supernaturals along with Mike McKay and River Rising will be here.
AA / $10
August 23:
Metro – Deer Tick with The Weeks will be performing here.
Double Door – it’s the Midwest Ska Fest featuring Green Room
Rockers, The Crombies, On Your Marx, Los Vicios de Papa, Run & Punch,
Something To Do, The Bishops and Malafacha
5p / $12 adv / $14 dos
Reggie’s Music Joint – Scottish artist Dave Arcari will be
performing here as part of his 30-date US tour.
Elbo Room – check out this 5 th Element movie
reference band – Leeloo Dallas Multipass rockin’ the stage at this Lakeview
venue.
August 25:
Elbo Room – legendary guitarist Eliot Lewis of Hall &
Oates and Live From Daryl’s House will be bringing his tour to Chicago
featuring opening act Robby Celestin.
$15 / 9p
August 27:
Double Door – T-Pain performs with a live band featuring
special guests Snootie Wild, Bando Jonez and Mykell Vaughn plus David Lopez.
$25 GA / $35 balcony / $75 seated VIP
VIP “meet and greet” packages:
$125 Artist package 1 (GA ticket, t-shirt, poster and photo)
$250 Artist package 2 (stage access, GA ticket, t-shirt,
poster and photo)
7p doors
August 28 & 29:
Elbo Room – check out the Atlantic Sound Music Fest
featuring Dubliners Cold Comfort and The Hot Sprockets performing both nights.
$20
August 28 – 31:
Millennium Park/Cultural Center – check out Chicago’s Jazz
Festival featuring legendary performances by Rufus Reid, Gary Burton, Cecile
McLorin, Prism and many more.
FREE
August 29 – 31:
Union Park – it’s North Coast Music Festival’s 5 th
Anniversary featuring headlining acts Snoop Dogg (on Sunday), Kid Cudi and STSS
(on Saturday) and Bassnectar (on Friday) along with Adventure Club, Boombox,
Papadosio, Midnight Conspiracy, Milk-n-Cookies and many, many more.
August 29 – September 2:
Jefferson Park neighborhood – check out Taste of Polonia
August 30:
Quimby’s Bookstore – attend “Twelve Gems” book release and
launch party with cartoonist Lance Milburn.
7p / FREE
27 Live (Evanston, IL) – indie folk/rock group Twin Brothers
will be here in support of upcoming albums “Swallow The Anchor”
Drunken Donut (Evanston, IL) - it's Muddy Diggs, a flea market, vintage/antiques and so much more.
$3 to vend / 1p
August 31:
Schuba's - check out Julian Velard (NYC) sharing the stage with local Jake Foy.
Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide
Continuing her journey meeting visiting bands currently on tour, blogspot readers, SouthSide's next adventure took her back to Lakeview's Elbo Room where the duo, The PBJs (The Peanut Butter Jelly Sandwiches) were acoustically rockin' the upstairs lounge while the main lounge was preparing for the I AM Fest Battle of the Bands finale! It was definitely looking to be one exciting night of music at this popular venue. At the end of this review, SouthSide will reveal the winners of the battle of the bands who are vying for a chance to perform as opening acts at I AM Fest 2014 happening at House of Blues Chicago on Saturday August 16th.
When SouthSide arrived, this acoustic duo, Nalani and Jason, were already settled into their opening act as they performed a lively selection off their current 20-track CD, I Wonder If This Is How Dogs Feel ...songs, according their Facebook page, "...that will melt your heart..." Well, blogspot readers, that part was actually true. While reviewing their Chicago performance (after having performed at a festival earlier that same afternoon), SouthSide enjoyed fun splashes of imagery that had a touch of vivid realism within the lyrics amidst the vibrant twang of indie folk pop heard throughout the music. For instance, take their song "Road Trip" in which the upbeat tempo had you picturing life on the road traveling to parts unknown with The PBJs. To this reviewer's ears, it sounded like an adventure she wished could have been there to experience with them.
Then there were also moments during this opening performance when the music was a little more melodic and less poppy which was done to spotlight their vocal dynamics to the audience, blogspot readers. SouthSide liked how the change in the music helped to compliment the unique vocal pairing while mellowing out either the energy in the tempo and/or acoustic sound so Nalani's voice could take center stage. Taking a listen to their CD, this reviewer recommends checking out "It's The Way You Look At Me" - a tender ballad that will definitely get you melting due to the heartfelt emotions being expressed not only in the lyrics but also in the music itself and the confidence-builder "Love Yourself". The entire album was a joy to listen to but those two particular songs had SouthSide's feeling the love and melodic vibe from The PBJs. There was something else that she immediately got from their set. During their Chicago performance, the duo demonstrated they were more than just two musicians performing together on stage. She doesn't know if her inklings are correct but they mesh so wonderfully as a couple that it definitely made observing their live show even more enjoyable to behold.
SouthSide highly recommends checking out The PBJs as they currently cruise along on their "Road Trip" to a venue near you, blogspot readers. For more information, visit Nalani and Jason at http://www.thepbjs.com.
