December 2014

It's hard to imagine that an entire year of music, entertainment, fun and more has been posted on this blog, blogspot readers! 

However, just because the winter chill came earlier than expected, it shouldn't keep you away from attending a show or two during the month of December. 

There's plenty to see and do ...free shows ...some all-ages ones as well as notable charity events happening too. Lastly, don't forget to ring in 2015 with your special someone or amongst friends...

Please note, the following events/shows listed are 21+ unless stated otherwise...

Dec 1:

JD Muggs (Addison, IL) - check out mhxradio.com's Toys For Tots 3rd Annual Toy Drive ...donate an unwrapped toy (no stuffed toys or toy weapons) at this kid-friendly event. Meet Santa from 7p - 8p!

Free / AA

Hungry Brain - this will be the Final Chicago Songwriters Alliance showcase at this venue because it will be closing (soon) after 15 years of business ...featured performances by Julie Meckler, Donnie Biggins, Timothy Young and many more.

Free / 8p

Dec 3:

Door No.3 - check out Emigrate Silent's "So Long" listening party!

Free / 8p

Dec 4:

Skooters Road House (Shorewood, IL) - check out A.D.D. when the band performs not only in acoustic and plugged in but rare covers too!

8:30p

Red Line Tap - check out Mod Bread with Dead Horses performing at this Rogers Park venue.

$5 adv / $7 dos

Double Door - it's The Clash (performed by Guns & Ammunition), The Smiths (performed by Handsome Devils), Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (performed by Phil Angotti) and The Cars (performed by Nightlife Babies) rockin' live on this Wicker Park stage!

$8 adv / $10 dos

Quencher's - if you like a blend of rock, folk, electronica, hip hop with a side of introspective, off-bent lyricism and pop smoothie? SouthSide highly recommends checking out her new friend - The Saturday Giant. View the video "When Death Comes" at http://www.vimeo.com/33752501

Cairo Ale House (West Chicago, IL) - attend this music showcase night featuring Amy Stephen performing live as well as audience karaoke.

Dec 5 & 6:

Wicker Park / Lakeview neighborhoods - be on the look out for Krampus as a group of performing artists create mischief and mayhem during their annual Krampus Nacht 2014 Crawl. Revelers are encouraged to come costumed as Krampus, Santa, St. Nicholas, elves etc 

Dec 5:

Chicago Cultural Center - check out Chicago Artists Health Care Town Hall ...a free health care information event designed to assist the indie band / artist in navigating the many health care options and choices. Also get a FREE flu shot!

FREE / 4p - 8p

Columbia College Chicago (618 S. Michigan) - fluff up your holiday shopping with Sid Yiddish and his Candy Store Henchmen at Shop Columbia's 6th Annual Holiday Market.

Free / all ages

Berlin Nightclub - it's Creature Feature:Krampus / Cosmix Friday featuring guest DJ Peter Propaganda with DJ Greg Haus and a special performance by host Baby JoJo!

Double Door - check out the Rory Tyler Band sharing the stage with Jordan Engelhardt, Redfield and Wax Works.

$8 adv / $10 dos

LiveWire Lounge - GET UP & GO (x-members of Rule 22), Apathy Cycle, Burn Rebuild and Butchered will be rockin' live on stage at this Avondale bar/venue.

Empty Bottle - come celebrate with Model Stranger during their 5th Anniversary show featuring special performances by Moon and Stereospeak

$10 / 10p

Metro - SouthSide's friend Honey & the 45s will be celebrating the release of their album MAD featuring Burnside & Hooker, Arbor Creek, Midwest Hype and Mike Flood and Company.

18+ / $12 adv / $15 dos

Dec 6:

Brauerhouse Lombard (Lombard, IL) - celebrate the holiday season with the fun-loving, beer guzzling masters of Polka music - The Polkaholics at their annual bash featuring songs like "I'm Dreaming of a Polka Christmas" and "Sausage and Sauerkraut for Santa" off their Jingle Bells, Schmingle Bells CD,

18+ / 8p

Ye Olde Town Inn - it's Ditchwater, Speedfreak and Hostile rock this venue's stage

$6 / 9p

Elbo Room (downstairs) - Hero Monster Zero will be celebrating an EP release featuring live performances by Starlight & Asphalt, Seth Mercer and The End and Jeff Brown & The New Black.

$10 / 8p

Elbo Room (upstairs) - attend the annual Chords For a Cure Chicago VI featuring live acoustic performances by A Friend Called Fire, MER, The Morning Stares and UMF (Unvisioned Metal Family). 

$10 donation - all proceeds from this event will benefit The Leukemia Research Foundation.

8p

27 Live (Evanston, IL) - Pink Floyd fans check out SouthSide's friend In The Flesh when they perform at their Pink Floyd holiday party! This will be their last performance until 2015...

$12 - $15 / 9p

Harte's Saloon (Evergreen Park, IL) - Digeometric will be rockin' their favorite Southside saloon all night long.

10p

The Old School Records (Forest Park, IL) - it's the Merry Fucking Happy CD release party featuring an in-store performance by Sid Yiddish and His Candy Store Henchmen!

Free / 1p

Metro - attend Gapers Block Holiday Concert featuring Mutts, Archie Powell & The Exports, The Kickback and Pop Goes The Evil

18+ / $9 adv / $12 dos

Dec 7:

Kings Hall Banquets (Lombard, IL) - check out Charytatywne Mikolojki featuring Maggie D, Asia Si, Wanta, DJ Slowak and many more at this event.

 $50 / 12p

Old Town School of Folk Music - Chicago's very own singer/songwriter Linda Marie Smith will be presenting a multi-media show "Mearra - Selkie from the Sea" adaption of the classic  Celtic tale told with original songs and performed with a 6-piece orchestra.

Slippery Slope - it may be too cold outside but attend this unique approach to outdoor movie viewing without the feel of winter's chill ...snuggle under a blanket with that special someone (under weather-proof setting) with fake grass, animals and all the adult juice you can handle when viewing  Bad Santa. Immediately following the movie, there will be a DJ set by $tay Gold.

Free / 8:30p movie start time / Bring a picnic basket too

Dec 8:

Old Fifth-Whiskey, Pizza and Social Fare (1027 W. Madison) - it's Jax's Christmas Mingle ...featuring cocktails, appetizers and music of course holiday cheer and fun benefiting Northern IL Food Bank. The organizers of this event will be collecting non-perishable food donations. Local musician Karl Hafner will be performing an acoustic set.

The $35 admission includes 2drinks, appetizers and a monetary Northern IL Food Bank.

Door No.3 - want to rock to the 80s again? Check out Latest 80s featuring new music by Alternative 80s artists and new artists with 80s influence featuring DJ Detroit aka Andy spinning.

Free / 10p

Dec 9:

Mojoes (Joliet, IL) - it's SNOT performing "Get Some" album in its entirety along with He Is Legend and Thira!

Dec 10:

Door No.3 - attend FABITAT's XXXmas Seasonal Drag Show & Bazaar featuring local artists and pop-up shops for your last minute, one of a kind, unique holiday gift-giving ideas! DJ sets by Adam El and Ldy Prblms with drag performances by Lucy Stoole,  Curlene Ribbon, and more.

Free / 9p

Dec 11:

Arcada Theater (St. Charles, IL) - attend Gary Ho-Ho Hoey's Rockin Holiday Tour which puts a rock edge on your favorite Christmas classics,

tickets are $29 - $49 / 7:30p

For more information, visit http://www.oshows.com or http://www.garyhoey.com.

Progress Bar - have you been "naughty" or "nice"? Find out at Equality IL's "Naughty or Nice" Holiday Social.

Tickets are available at http://www.eqil.org,

$15 adv / $20 at door / 7p

Dec 12:

Liar's Club - rock out with The Fuckers, Gunner's Daughter, Thirty Case Chase and This Obsession at this venue.

Elbo Room - it's a creepy Christmas show not featuring those 3 ghosts from Dicken's A Christmas Carol but live performances by I:Scintilla, Lokk Boxx, The Walking Shadows and 4 Without.

8p

Buddy Guy's Legends - attend the Johnny Winter Remembrance Show with Paul Nelson and The Johnny Winter Band featuring Edgar Winter ...there will be a screening of the documentary"Down and Dirty: The Johnny Winter Story" as well as an acoustic set by Anthony Moser.

Dec 13:

Subterranean - Join local rapper / hip hop master Show You Suck for his free pizza homecoming show featuring special guest BBU.

17+ / Free / 9:30p

Red Line Tap - attend Rock For Tots, a Toys For Tots benefit show featuring live performances by The Telepaths, The Rut, whitewolfsoniceprincess, Elizabeth Gomez and many more.

Admission is FREE by donating an unwrapped toy (NO stuffed toys or toy weapons) / $5 without toy donation

8p

Leo's Music Club (Oakland, CA) - SouthSide's friend Quinn DeVeaux and The Blue Beat with be performing live on stage featuring opening acts Bear Lincoln and Kendra McKinley.

Bada Brew Bar (Crest Hill, IL) - attend Deathamas 2 ...Deathamas Gets Punked! This Toys For Tots benefit show will feature Mandatory Abortions, Sky Doctor, Prison City Brigade and many more.

$5 (with unwrapped toy donation) / $10 (without toy donation) / 7p

Metro - get workout when Workout Music takes over this Wrigleyville venue featuring Sex Therapy, JJ & Dre, Mi Pi and The Aaron Williams Band sharing the bill.

18+ / $12 adv / $15 dos

Bobby McGees (Chicago Ridge, IL) - attend the Heavy Holidays Food Drive/Fundraiser 2014 (night 1) ...featuring live performances by Scientist, Faces of the Bog, Pale Horseman, Oxblood and Running with Tarantulas.

$5 (with non-perishable food donation for Greater Chicago Food Depository) / $10 cover

Dec 14:

Bottom Lounge - attend this show featuring the art rockers The Red Paintings in support of their debut album The Revolution's Never Coming ...check out songs "You're Not One of Them"
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6NSmhxn9V0 and "Wasps"
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-iUVFcwZE4.

Also appearing on stage will be New Year's Day and The Birthday Massacre.

AA / 5:30p

LAMA Chicago HQ (3519 W. Fullerton) - check out the 7th "Holiday Vortex" Pastry, Craft and Vintage Market which will feature a diverse group of Chicago-based vendors selling 100% cruelty-free wares for your unique, one of a kind gift-giving ideas.

Free / 11a

Dec 17:

Door No.3 - be fashionably seen at Rogue! Vintage Holiday Party with special guest Angela Eve! There will be a vintage holiday dress contest with prizes as resident DJs Vourteque and Mr. Automatic spin your favorite electro-swing tunes ...guest sideshow performance by Adam Black as "Babyface" Krampus

FREE with rsvp at http://www.do312.com/RougeChicago.

9p

Dec 18:

Old Town School of Folk Music (Maurer Hall) - pianist George Winston will be featuring his melodic compositions for the fall and winter seasons as well as a few Vince Guaradli's Peanuts pieces and compositions inspired by the New Orleans piano and stride piano traditions ...and perhaps some songs from his upcoming album Spring Carousel - A Cancer Research Benefit.

Dec 19 - 21:

Hyatt Regency O'Hare (Rosemont, IL) - attend CON + ALT + DELETE, an anime convention that celebrates Japanese animation and nerd culture from Dragon Ball Z to Yu-Gi_oh, My Little Pony and so much more. This convention will also feature live appearances by Chicago's very own local villains - V Is For Villains.

Dec 19:

Underground Lounge - it's Heavy Holidays Food Drive/Fundraiser 2014 (night 2) ...featuring Without Waves, Pig Champion, Air Raid and Everything Must Die rockin' this lineup!

Non-perishable food items will be collected and then donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Dec 20:

Dutch Inn West (Elgin, IL) - The Brokedowns will be rockin' the stage along with Meat Wave, Rad Payoff and The Usuals.

$6

Side Street Studio Arts (Elgin, IL) - it's the Jingle Bell Jam 2014 featuring Ness, Little Yellow Dog, Crybaby, Red Sulfur Springs and more!

The $12 suggested donation will go to Food for Greater Elgin's "Feed A Family" Holiday Drive.

Reggie's - JFM and Reggie's presents David Costa, SoLo SaM, Cos and Rebecca Brunner Music along with Brandon Fox Project performing on stage. Brandon recently gave SouthSide a sneak peek of his latest single "FeFe" set to drop on Dec 5th - she highly recommends checking it out.
AA / $12 adv / $15 dos / 6p

Dec 21:

Double Door - check out The Retar Crew's Ghost of Christmas Smashed Party featuring special guests The Dirty Dollars and DJ Super Nova!

Free / 9p

Dec 23:

Elbo Room - it's JD3 rockin' the stage live with Mod Syndicate and Goat Motor.

Dec 26 - 29:

City Winery (Chicago) - it's 4 musical nights of performances featuring Poi Dog Pondering!

Dec 26:

Door No.3 - Beyond Luck presents another edition of Interstellar Beats

Free / 10p

Reggie's - it's the 17th Annual Holiday of Horrors featuring Macabre Jungle Rot, Scythe and Armored Assault rockin' the lineup!

17+ / $15 adv / $17 dos / 8p

Dec 31:

Double Door - ring in 2015 with Mucca Pazza featuring My Gold Mask and Fess Grandiose performing a DJ set.

$25 adv / $30 dos / doors 8p

Mayne Stage - Ellis Clark & The Big Parade will be celebrating the new year here along with Liquid Soul and Amazing Heeby Jeebies!

$23 / 8p

House of Blues (Chicago) - Steepwater Band will be performing live at this New Year's Eve show.


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide

28 Nov 14

"...Black lives matter ...Black lives matter..."

 

That was the chant at yesterday's Black Lives Matter Friday protest across from Chicago's famous Water Tower Place. Despite the crowd of hurried Black Friday shoppers ...some passing by without a glance or two unless stopping to snap or film and the windy bitter winter chill, a steadfast group of protestors joined in solidarity with those protesting in Ferguson, MO against the unfair treatment and injustice by police towards all persons of color. 

Each and every person who stood outside was there to seek justice for Michael Brown's (the young teen who was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in August) parents and family ...to see that it doesn't happen again to another unarmed person of color. Under the (somewhat) watchful eyes of Chicago's finest, it was a relatively peaceful demonstration in which no one was agitating or inciting a riot. There was no reason to do that. It featured various speakers loudly advocated for justice and change in police tactics. 

There was one person counter protesting the group by holding a sign saying "I love Chicago police and firemen". Please, note not once did any of the protesters said or made a claim of hating the police. They merely questioned the validity of police and its officers use of excessive force against unarmed suspects (i.e. persons wanted in questioning of a crime but not yet formally charged). It was kind of disheartening, blogspot readers, to watch people walk by showing very little interest ...shaking their heads or fists at the protesters and or commenting to themselves "...this doesn't concern me..." 

Actually it does. Injustice should concern everyone ...every man, woman and child. 

It's sad, blogspot readers, ...really that we shall never know or hear Michael Brown's account of what on that Friday afternoon August 8th...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

06 Nov 14

Terror

Thrills

Chills

Horror ...now scream, blogspot readers, as this musician warps the mind and soul with his horrific, terrifying eerie musical sounds within his EDM spectacle - Terrorvision! Inside the darkest of Logan Square's Concord Music Hall, no one will hear you scream when Figure lets the blood (and body parts) fly all around you amidst his heavy bass DJ music performance. Yet it wasn't just the music creating this ominous atmosphere tonight. It was the montage of horror movie clips behind Figure providing the additional spooky creepiness to scare the bejesus out of you, blogspot readers.

That, in a nutshell, blogspot readers, is a fair description of what Terrorvision is all about without giving too much away in this review. Well, SouthSide can mention one more thing - be prepared to dance all night long while listening to the haunting music and viewing the movie clips. Being amongst the spectacle of neon lighting within the dark setting and video, this popular venue was totally transformed into a dark version of Spring Awakening as the fashionable (and mostly costumed) crowd bounced, jiggled etc to Figure's dark EDM sound.

From Chucky to the classic three - Jason, Freddy, Michael to horror classics like Nosferatu and everyone and everything else in between, Figure's Terrorvision was nightmarish trip into the darkest reaches of this musician's twisted mind, blogspot readers. Take caution. It's very, very dark and scary in there. And if you have a weak heart condition, well, don't say SouthSide didn't warn you when you experience this dance scene event yourself. As frightening and terrifying as Terrorvision was, this reviewer loved it! It was like experiencing all the creeps and spookiness of Halloween one week later. 

It was amazing what Figure could do during this show. For example, while showing scenes of  lycan/werewolf transformation (think American Werewolf in London), the rhythmic beats and techno sounds were running in sync to the video clips. Like zombies? Well, so does Figure, blogspot readers, and he gave them their big moments on screen by showing every zombie movie you could think of. Hey, there's a brief (more like a "blink and miss" moment) scene of SouthSide's friend - Kyra Schon aka ghoul girl from Night of the Living Dead!

Not scared yet? Well, you will be the longer you stay within Terrorvision's horrifying realm. And according to Figure, "...there's no turning back..." This reviewer enjoyed how this musician found movie clips rarely shown on tv or found in the local video store. Scenes so disturbing with its many terrifying ways to die at the hands of demented psychopath, blogspot readers. Just remember, you're only getting a small glimpse of what's churning inside Figure's head. Peek any further we all might die from the madness that lurks within. His brainwaves are indeed supersonic ...and should not be taken lightly.

Time for SouthSide's Freddy (of Nightmare on Elm Street - the original with actor Robert Englund) moment. It was so awesome that Figure paid homage to this pop culture horror icon ...even used the iconic Freddy nursery rhyme as part of his music was quite creepy. Oh wow - he pulled out another horror classic ...The Creature from the Black Lagoon ...then it was The Munsters ...and some Beetlejuice - just for fun, blogspot readers. Totally loving the iconic Danny Elfman theme remixed. Wait, since when are Ninja Turtles scary? SouthSide guesses when they're the original movie version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sort of dancing on screen to Figure's dark music. And for the crowning touch - Dario Argento's Susperia! Besides Profondo Rosso (Deep Red also by Argento), this reviewer was backing happily within Figure's love for the horror and terror. Then it was onward to sci-fi horror scenes like Event Horizon and the Alien movie montage.

Ek ...it's The Blob ...creeping all over the screen!

More just for fun - Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas...

Before SouthSide gives too much away, she'll stop here by recommending all horror and EDM fans to check out Figure's Terrorvision when and where he brings the screams and heavy bass madness to venue near you! For more information including tour dates, visit his Facebook page or follow him on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/ImFigure. You can find free music tracks at http://www.soundcloud.com/figure.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide