How awesome would it be to play Rock Band in a great venue like Lincoln Hall? Well here’s your chance! Chicago Loot Drop is giving you the opportunity to watch, and even perform, at Lincoln Hall.  All in the name of charity.  Local band, I Fight Dragons will be judging and there’s even a raffle!  Band signups close at 5pm tonight, but if you miss it, don’t worry. You can still be a spectator!  The proceeds go to Child’s Play Charity and the goal is to raise funds to buy toys and games for children in hospitals. More details, tickets and band signup here: chicagolootdrop.org

Wed., Dec. 15th, 2010 @ 7 pm
Lincoln Hall (map)
2424 N Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614

Time for the weekly concert announcements! Lykke Li is going to be awesome! Who are you excited to see?

JUST ANNOUNCED – ON SALE NOW IN METRO:
Thursday, November 18: Red Bull Big Tune…. A HEAD TO HEAD PRODUCER BEAT BATTLE featuring JUST BLAZE and DJ PREMIER and a live MPC performance by ARAAB MUZIK and EXILE
Sunday, December 19: JUST LEFT * THE RAILS * JUST THE KID * LIGHTS OUT DANCING * THE SHAKES * GOODBYE COASTLINE

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 11/20 @ NOON IN METRO:
Wednesday, December 29: Official Umphrey’s McGee After Show…. THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS * LUBRIPHONIC
Saturday, April 9: WIRE
Monday, May 23: LYKKE LI

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 11/20 @ NOON IN SMART BAR:
Sunday, November 28: KID COLOR * MICHAEL SERAFINI * ADULTURE
Wednesday, December 8: RON TRENT * JEVON JACKSON * DIZ
Saturday, January 1: MARK GRANT * LEGO * FLX
Friday, January 14: BOTTIN * JACQUES RENAULT * ONLY CHILDREN

JUST ANNOUNCED – FREE EVENTS IN SMART BAR:
Wednesday, December 1: D-VO * Yann M * Jeekoos * Pseudonym
Wednesday, December 22: PAUL JOHNSON * REES URBAN * CZBOOGIE
Wednesday, December 29: JUSTIN LONG * TYREL WILLIAMS * JULIAN PENA * STEPHEN P * BLUE J

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 11/20 @ NOON IN DOUBLE DOOR:
Monday, January 24:  SIMPLETON & CITYFOLK * JOSH ROWE
Thursday, January 27: HACKENSAW BOYS
Saturday, January 29: ROOM 11 * JESS GODWIN * BORROW TOMORROW
Thursday, February 24: THE BRIGHT WHITE * SECRET COLOURS

JUST ANNOUNCED – FREE EVENT IN DOUBLE DOOR:
Monday, December 20: 1^ST ANNUAL TREATY OF PARIS AND FRIENDS HOLIDAY PARTY

Metro/Smart Bar is located at 3730 N Clark Street. Tickets to Metro and Smart Bar shows are available through the Metro and Smart Bar websites – www.metrochicago.com and www.smartbarchicago.com – and the Metro Box Office. Call (773) 549-0203 for more details.

Double Door is located at 1572 N. Milwaukee in historic Wicker Park. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Double Door Box office. Call (773) 489-3160 for more details.

Time for the weekly concert announcements! Who are you excited to see?

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 11/13 @ NOON IN METRO:
Monday, December 27: MUSTARD PLUG * DEALS GONE BAD * GREEN ROOM ROCKERS * WE ARE THE UNION * WASTE BASKET

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 11/13 @ NOON IN SMART BAR:
Saturday, December 25:  RON TRENT * TEVO HOWARD LIVE * SPECTER * LUIS BARO * TIM BIARS
Saturday, January 8: DERRICK CARTER (Extended 5 hour Set)
Saturday, January 15: DONATO DOZZY * ERIC CLOUTIER * SPINOZA * JEFF DERRINGER

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 11/13 @ NOON AT DOUBLE DOOR:
Saturday, January 8: SHOESHINE BOY PRODUCTIONS SHOWCASE
Friday, February 4: SPLIT LIP RAYFIELD

JUST ANNOUNCED – ON SALE NOW IN DOUBLE DOOR:
Sunday, November 14: THE RETAR CREW * RAMSEY JUDSON

Metro/Smart Bar is located at 3730 N Clark Street. Tickets to Metro and Smart Bar shows are available through the Metro and Smart Bar websites – www.metrochicago.com and www.smartbarchicago.com – and the Metro Box Office. Call (773) 549-0203 for more details.

Double Door is located at 1572 N. Milwaukee in historic Wicker Park. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Double Door Box office. Call (773) 489-3160 for more details.

Time for the weekly concert announcements! Who are you excited to see?

JUST ANNOUNCED – ON SALE NOW IN METRO:
Wednesday, November 24: ONE NIGHT STAND’S WOBBLE WOBBLE WOBBLE with VERY SPECIAL HEADLINER TBA * WILLY JOY * TEAM BAYSIDE HIGH * SPECIAL GUEST DJs & LIVE ACTS TBA
Friday, January 14:Tomorrow Never Knows Festival 2011… FREDDIE GIBBS * RITA J. * SPECIAL GUESTS TBA
Saturday, January 15: Tomorrow Never Knows Festival 2011… TANLINES * YOUNG EMPIRES * SPECIAL GUESTS TBA
Friday, April 29: MOGWAI

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 11/6 @ NOON IN METRO:
Saturday, November 27: NOCTURNA with DJ SCARY LADY SARAH
Thursday, December 16: STUNNA * SUBMORPHICS * THE EARSMITHS (BRC & RM JOINT)
Saturday, December 25: NOCTURNA with DJ SCARY LADY SARAH
Friday, February 4: (JAM) YO LA TENGO

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 11/6 @ NOON AT DOUBLE DOOR:
Friday, January 7:MARCY PLAYGROUND
Thursday, March 3: CADILLAC SKY

JUST ANNOUNCED – FREE EVENTS IN SMART BAR:
Wednesday, November 3: MAJOR TAYLOR
Wednesday, November 10: MAJOR TAYLOR
Wednesday, November 17: MAJOR TAYLOR

JUST ANNOUNCED – FREE EVENTS IN DOUBLE DOOR:
Tuesday, December 7:  D2G * JASON GATZ * TOMORROW KINGS

Metro/Smart Bar is located at 3730 N Clark Street. Tickets to Metro and Smart Bar shows are available through the Metro and Smart Bar websites – www.metrochicago.com and www.smartbarchicago.com – and the Metro Box Office. Call (773) 549-0203 for more details.

Double Door is located at 1572 N. Milwaukee in historic Wicker Park. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Double Door Box office. Call (773) 489-3160 for more details.

There are still a couple hours left to buy raffle tickets for the Matthew Leone benefit concert at Metro, featuring The Smashing Pumpkins and Kill Hannah (more details HERE).  If you miss out on that, there are several other benefit concerts listed in the RedEye this morning.  Details below:

August 17th
6pm
Reggie’s
2109 S. State St.
$20 -Liquid Soul, The P1 Move, Fifth World, Dirty MF & Smoking Sexton and Just Infinite

August 21st
8pm
Double Door
1572 N. Milwaukee Ave.
$25 -AM Taxi, The Lifeline, David Costa and Madina Lake (Nathan and Mateo acoustic set)

August 22nd
8pm
Hard Rock Hotel
230 N. Michigan Ave.
$25 -The Lovehammers, Kill Hannah, Scott Lucas, Makeshift Prodigy and The Frantic

The Smashing Pumpkins will perform a benefit concert next Tuesday, July 27 at Chicago’s Metro to raise money for medical care for Matthew Leone, bassist for Chicago band Medina Lake.  Tickets will go on sale Wednesday July 21 at noon and the information is below.

Last month, Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone was hospitalized with severe brain trauma after intervening to stop a woman he passed on the street from being beaten by her husband.  Matthew had left twin brother Nathan’s Chicago apartment to meet a friend at a bar a few blocks away when he walked past the man beating his wife on the 1300th block of Ohio St. Even though the attacker was twice his size, Matthew immediately intervened and managed to subdue the attacker but as he waited for police to arrive, the attacker suddenly turned on Matthew, beating him severely.  He then walked away with his wife, leaving Matthew unconscious on the street.  Matthew was taken to UIC Hospital for emergency brain surgery wherein a third of his skull was removed to alleviate swelling.  He’s currently in stable condition awaiting an additional brain surgery to reapply the removed portion of his skull.  Alleged suspect Justin Pivec is currently charged with Aggravated Battery Causing Serious Bodily Harm and out on bail pending a forthcoming hearing.  As a musician, Matthew spends most of his life on tour and unfortunately his medical insurance had lapsed just two months prior to the incident.   Friends of the band and the Chicago music community are rallying to help provide for Matthew’s medical needs.

There will be a raffle for tickets.  Individuals can enter the raffle as many times as they wish for $10 each entry.  A majority of the venue will be sold to raffle winners.  Each winner will receive two tickets to the concert.  Tickets are not transferable and winners must show ID matching their raffle entry.  Raffle tickets will be available for sale through Metro website only beginning Wednesday July 21 at noon at http://www.metrochicago.com. The raffle will end at 2pm on Saturday July 24, 2010, and winners will be notified via email at 5pm on Saturday July 24, 2010.

There will also be a very limited amount of balcony VIP tickets put onsale for those fans who want to make a larger donation and ensure entry into this special event for $100 each.  Balcony VIP tickets will go on sale Wednesday July 21 at noon.

Additionally, a limited amount of soundcheck VIP tickets will be available for $500 each.  The soundcheck VIP event (approximately 30 minutes), set for the late afternoon, includes a meet and greet/photo with the Pumpkins and merchandise items, plus a seat at a table in the balcony for the show; this package is priced at $500 per person.  Soundcheck VIP tickets will be available Wednesday July 21 at noon at http://www.metrochicago.com.

All proceeds from the raffle and concert will go to the Matthew Leone Fund at Sweet Relief. Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is a non profit 501(c)(3) organization provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems.  For more information on Sweet Relief, visit http://www.sweetrelief.org.

Metro is the club where, on October 5, 1988, the Pumpkins truly landed on the musical map. They also chose the venue for a farewell concert on December 2, 2000, a four-hour-long show that featured 38 songs spanning the group’s career at that time.  The Pumpkins have a long history of supporting other Chicago musicians.

“Matthew and I have been completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of compassion and support during this impossible time. It has proved that there are far more amazing people in the world than any other kind and we’re grateful beyond words,” said Nathan Leone, Matthew’s twin brother and Madina Lake bandmate. “Being among the biggest Smashing Pumpkins fans in the world, we still haven’t processed the fact that they are contributing in such an unprecedented way.  Not only is this going to be a monumental event in our lives but more importantly it’s a massive statement against domestic violence, violence against women and violence in general.”

Tuesday, July 27:                                    ON SALE WEDNESDAY 7/21 @ NOON:

Q101 Welcomes…

A Benefit For Matthew Leone…

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS * KILL HANNAH

$10 raffle entry, $100 Balcony VIP tickets, $500 Soundcheck VIP Tickets / All Ages / Doors: 6:30PM /Show: 8PM

TICKETS:
All tickets will go on sale Wednesday, July 21 at noon at the Metro website, http://www.metrochicago.com.

Raffle Tickets – Raffle tickets are $10 per entry and you can purchase as many entries as you wish, but you can only win one pair of tickets.  Raffle ticket sales end at 2pm on Saturday July 24 and winners will be notified via email on Saturday July 24 at 5pm.  Tickets to the event are not guaranteed with the purchase of a raffle ticket.  Winning tickets will be redeemed the night of the show and the winner must arrive with their guest and a valid government ID to claim winning tickets.  All tickets are non-transferable.

Balcony VIP Tickets – A limited amount of balcony VIP tickets will be available for $100 each.   There is a limit of 2 balcony VIP tickets per person. Duplicate purchases via credit card number or billing address will be cancelled.  Balcony VIP tickets will be picked up at will call the night of the show and the ticket holder must arrive with their guest and a valid government ID to pick up tickets.  You will not receive your tickets until you enter the venue and there is absolutely no re-entry. All tickets are non-transferable.

Soundcheck VIP Tickets – A limited amount of soundcheck VIP tickets will be available for $500 each. There is a limit of 2 soundcheck VIP tickets per person. Duplicate purchases via credit card number or billing address will be cancelled.  Soundcheck VIP tickets will be picked up at will call the afternoon of soundcheck show and the ticket holder must arrive with their guest and a valid government ID to pick up tickets.  You will not receive your tickets until you enter the venue and there is absolutely no re-entry. All tickets are non-transferable.

This is great!  Which album do you vote for?  I say “As Good As Dead”, mainly because that album brings back so many good memories. *sigh*

These Chicagoans never could do anything the easy way, and playing a random record chosen by the audience the night of the show is the next challenge in store for the band.  Local H has kept on going through trying times that would have finished off most others. Although Scott Lucas is the sole remaining member of the original band—which once numbered four, then dwindled to three and finally the two-man lineup that’s been in place since 2000—Local H has always been a maverick outfit. The deliberate decision to work sans bassist—Scott covers the bottom via bass pickups added to his guitar—confused some record labels but Lucas has remained insistent that his vision would not be compromised. The earliest albums—Ham Fisted (1995), As Good as Dead (1996) and Pack Up the Cats (1998)—went a long way toward establishing Local H as a new creative force. Formed in Zion, Illinois, the band quickly established a loyal following, with both the second and third albums, as well as the single “Bound for the Floor,” making their way into the Billboard charts.

But Local H didn’t truly find a unique voice until Brian St. Clair came aboard at the turn of the century. Formerly of the band Triple Fast Action, Brian had been working as a drum tech for another Illinois institution, Cheap Trick, when Scott auditioned him for the recently vacated drum spot. All it took was one song and they instantly formed an alliance that continues to strengthen today. Here Comes the Zoo (2002), the first album by the new duo, kept the buzz going, and both 2004’s Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles? (named after the actress who’d starred in the Ramones’ flick Rock ’n’ Roll High School) and Alive ’05 were well received by fans and critics alike. 12 Angry Months, their seventh album in a career well into its second decade, was released in 2008.

This year, it’s all in the numbers… To promote their first live DVD, 68 Angry Minutes, Local H is taking a cue from their sold out, 7 night stand in Chicago and taking all 6 of their studio albums on the road.  68 Angry Minutes was filmed on the final night of a week of shows which saw the band performing every one of their records (plus a night of B-sides) in their entireties. It worked out so well, the guys have decided to take it on tour. One problem, though – Is it really a good idea to have Local H in every city for that many days in a row? We think not.  The solution? Every night, all 6 of their records will be put in a hat (sorry, guys. No B-sides); one lucky (?) member of the audience will be selected to pull a record out of that hat-and Local H will play it front to back. On the spot. No…really. The odds of hearing your favorite record live-plus an encore of choice cuts? 1 in 6. Odds of seeing a Local H show like you’ve never seen before? Well, that depends on if you were in Chicago for one of those 7 nights.

And the nominees are:
Ham Fisted
As Good As Dead
Pack Up the Cats
Here Comes the Zoo
Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles?
12 Angry Months

Sunday, May 23:
Q101 Welcomes…
LOCAL H * KINCH
$13 adv. – $15 day of / All Ages / Doors: 6PM / Show: 7PM
Local H will perform one of their six albums, randomly selected, in its entirety

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT:
The Metro Box Office in the Official Metro Store (no service fee)
Internet sales at www.metrochicago.com

Time for the weekly concert announcements! Who are you excited to see?

JUST ANNOUNCED – ON SALE NOW IN METRO:
Friday, March 19: MINDSIGHT * AMRITA * THE FIRESHIP * THE RAILS * THE LOVE SHOTS

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 2/27 @ NOON IN METRO:
Wednesday, April 21: (JAM) ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN * HATCHAM SOCIAL

JUST ANNOUNCED ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 2/27 @ NOON IN SMART BAR:
Thursday, March 18: MRK1 * SWOOP * WHOA-B
Friday March 19: THE GLAMOUR (LIVE) * KID COLOR * BUTCH CASSIDY & JOHN TWATTERS (Chances Dances)
Saturday March 20: JUSTIN LONG * ACID CIRCUS
Friday March 26: PEZZNER- THE PEZZNER MIXES * JOHNNY FIASCO * FORTUNE
Saturday April 3: GIOM * DJ MES * FRANK SOLANO

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 2/27 @ NOON AT DOUBLE DOOR:
Sunday, March 14: AMARAL * THE RIGHT ONS * MAIKA MAKOVSKI
Thursday, March 18: “Reclaiming Zionism – What’s YOURS?” Israeli photography exhibit: Israel: Land of Contrast & Faith featuring photos of Oded Fromovitz & Michael Steinberg
Sunday, March 29: CURTIS EVANS
Sunday, April 18: LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS * THE HACKENSAW BOYS
Thursday, June 10: PERSEUS NOBLE * SPLENDID APE * MORITAT

JUST ANNOUNCED – FREE EVENTS AT DOUBLE DOOR:
Monday, April 5: KARRETTA
Wednesday, April 14: Chicago’s Ambassadors of Soul: SUPREME COURT * BEN PIRANI * DAVE MATA * RISK * SLOPPY WHITE
Thursday, May 20:  Chicago’s Ambassadors of Soul: SUPREME COURT * BEN PIRANI * DAVE MATA * RISK * SLOPPY WHITE

Metro/Smart Bar is located at 3730 N Clark Street. Tickets to Metro and Smart Bar shows are available through the Metro and Smart Bar websites – www.metrochicago.com and www.smartbarchicago.com – and the Metro Box Office. Call (773) 549-0203 for more details.

Double Door is located at 1572 N. Milwaukee in historic Wicker Park. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Double Door Box office. Call (773) 489-3160 for more details.

Time for the weekly concert announcements! Who are you excited to see?

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 2/20 @ NOON IN METRO:
Sunday, April 11:(JAM) K’NAAN * WALE * JOHN FORTE
Saturday, May 22: THE SPILL CANVAS * TYLER HILTON * AM TAXI * NEW POLITICS

JUST ANNOUNCED – FREE EVENTS IN METRO:
Thursday, March 18: Columbia College Story Week 2010 Presents…. LITERARY ROCK & ROLL: ROCK THE GENRE Readings from ALEKSANDAR HEMON * BONNIE JO CAMPBELL * MARCUS SAKEY * Performance by THE BREAD AND PUPPET THEATER * DJ Sets by JOE SHANAHAN and DON DEGRAZIA

JUST ANNOUNCED – FREE EVENTS IN SMART BAR:
Friday, March 19: Columbia College Story Week 2010 Presents… STORY SHOWCASE with RICK KOGAN * Readings from PHYLLIS EISENSTEIN * MIKE BLACK * SEAN CHERCOVER * STEPHANIE KUEHNERT * MARC PAOLETTI * EARL SEWELL

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 2/20 @ NOON AT DOUBLE DOOR:
Saturday, March 27: BILAL
Tuesday, April 20: RADIO MOSCOW * NAAM
Friday, April 30: KINETIX

JUST ANNOUNCED – FREE EVENTS AT DOUBLE DOOR:
Thursday, March 25: WE LOVE YOU * POP EMPIRE * COLTANE MOTION

Metro/Smart Bar is located at 3730 N Clark Street. Tickets to Metro and Smart Bar shows are available through the Metro and Smart Bar websites – www.metrochicago.com and www.smartbarchicago.com – and the Metro Box Office. Call (773) 549-0203 for more details.

Double Door is located at 1572 N. Milwaukee in historic Wicker Park. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Double Door Box office. Call (773) 489-3160 for more details.

If you’re looking for something to do tonight, check out a great musician, Chris Greene, perform at Katerina’s (1920 W Irving Park Rd. [google map]) tonight at 8:30pm! For more info about Chris, visit his website at www.chrisgreenejazz.com or read below!

The Chris Greene Quartet MERGE Jazz Tradition With A Modern Style

- The Chris Greene Quartet continues to honor the history and tradition of
jazz while enticing new fans to this American born music genre with their latest release MERGE.
Their latest music has been well received at their many live performances along with leading
media outlets including WGN-TV which recently featured the group on their midday newscast in
a live performance.

The album MERGE presents the sound and style of The Chris Greene Quartet that has won them
fans of all ages. The group’s ability to inject their unique identity combined with influences from
blues, gospel, funk and hip-hop are all creatively balanced to produce an audio experience that
reaches the heart and soul of the listener. The Chris Greene Quartet has been recognized by jazz
reviewers as well as fellow musicians with a long series of positive reviews and comments.
Trey Thompson, whose career has led him to perform with Joe Cocker and Larry Carlton among
others, has said that The Chris Greene Quartet “plays strong and there is obvious joy and
interplay within the group.” Renowned drummer and percussionist Kalyan Pathak called The
Chris Greene Quartet’s music “a tight and progressive jazz sound that comes from
innovativeness.”

Jazz Times wrote that the quartet “threads each tune with high-octane uplift.” A review by Gods
of Music stated that The Chris Greene Quartet “brings to the table new interpretations with a
wholesome willingness to explore and redefine the past.”

MERGE, the latest album released by The Chris Greene Quartet, presents the perfect audio
experience for fans of the quartet as well as an introduction for those who have just discovered
this group of musicians who understand and value the heritage of the music they love. MERGE
features a combination of original material along with works that reflect the influences that move
and motivate the members of the group. There are even a couple of examples of what happens
when a contemporary hit song gets The Chris Greene Quartet treatment.

MERGE is more than just an album title for The Chris Greene Quartet. It symbolizes where the
group and their outlook are. A merge takes place as two separate objects meet with two
possibilities before them. They can collide at a cost or come together for a greater reward. The
Chris Greene Quartet and their music have enjoyed the great reward of new ideas and
discoveries on a personal and technical scale while continuing to receive a positive excited
reaction from their fans, both veteran and new.

Chris Greene is a music and performing veteran who started playing saxophone at the age of ten.
His studies at Indiana University fueled his path to the launch of his professional career at the
age of 21. The Chris Greene Quartet features Greene on tenor and soprano saxophones, Damian
Espinosa on piano and keyboards, Marc Piane on double bass and Tyrone Blair on drums and
percussion. MERGE is the third album released by The Chris Greene Quartet. Previous titles are
SOUL AND SCIENCE VOLUME ONE and VOLUME TWO. Before forming The Chris
Greene Quartet, Greene recorded two additional albums.

The Chris Greene Quartet has been featured performers at the Chicago area’s leading venues for
jazz including Jazz Showcase, M Lounge, Pete Miller’s, Andy’s Jazz Club, Red Kiva and Taste
of Chicago. Since the release of MERGE, the demand for the group has grown. The Chris
Greene Quartet has a series of performances coming up to specifically spotlight and celebrate the
music featured on MERGE.

The first of these special events will be a return to their home base at M Lounge at 1520 South
Wabash in Chicago – February 17th – where they perform every third Wednesday of the month.
Start is 7 PM, and there is no cover charge. Next, on March 7, The Chris Greene Quartet will be
performing at Vintage 51 at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond Indiana. 6PM start.
When asked about the many reactions and responses to The Chris Greene Quartet, Chris took
into account all of the very positive things said and written about the group’s music by
journalists, fellow musicians and said, “I always think back to what a lady told us after a
performance. She said that she had been going out to see live jazz for fifty years. She looked me
straight in the eyes and said that we play the music like it’s supposed to be played.”