West Town: January 2009 Archives

Nevermind plays the music of Nirvana. What do you think — wig? (Photo from Nevermind MySpace)

January has been some unofficial tribute band month in Chicago's clubs. The preposterous posing culminates Friday night in a 1990s tributapalooza at the Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace. The bill features the bands Nevermind (a Nirvana tribute) with the Chicago-based bands Given 2 Fly (a Pearl Jam tribute) and Angry Chair (an Alice In Chains Tribute). Doors at 8 p.m. Friday; tickets $10 in advance and $12 at the door.

Also, if you're still on a high from the Metllica shows (or if you missed them), try out this odd twist: Beatallica is part tribute band, part live music mash-up, playing the music of the Beatles and Metallica — at the same time. Songs include "Sgt. Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band," "I Want to Choke Your Band" and, our favorite, "And I'm Evil," a campy take on "And I Love Her." Sounds like a trly weird outing for father and son. Doors open at 8 p.m. Saturday at Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee; admission is $8.

Beatallica - Hey Dude : live

Beatallica performing "Hey Dude"

Self-proclaimed “Whiskey Professor” Steve Cole presents a bourbon whiskey training program called Whiskey University next Saturday at Five Star Bar in Ukranian Village. Ten bucks (five for industry folks) gets you two hours with the prof, learning about the history and heritage of bourbon through tastings of Knob Creek, Baker’s and Booker’s Bourbons, among others.

The event starts at 4 p.m., and you can buy tickets at the door. We can’t wait to get our Ph.D in bourbonology, with an emphasis in partying all night.

Five reasons the Chiditarod, the annual charitable shopping-cart race/bar crawl through Wicker Park, is way cooler than Alaska's Iditarod:

1. We've never seen a sled cross the Iditarod finish line with 25 pounds of food in it.

2. Hungry Robot costumes don't mix too well with the Alaskan tundra.

3. Sabotage!

4. Apparently, they frown upon competitors drinking during the Iditarod. We have no idea why.

5. Iditarod entry fee: $4000 Chiditarod entry fee: $30-$50. 'Nuff said.

The 4th Annual Chiditarod is on March 7; visit the Web site for details on registration, volunteering, rules and more.

Beer aficionados (read: snobs) will want to head out to Bottom Lounge’s Dogfloydapalooza tonight to chat with Nick Floyd of Three Floyds Brewery and Dogfish Head owner Sam Calagione. There will be plenty of Dogfish Head and Three Floyds brews on hand, and the Waco Brothers will provide the entertainment.

Unfortunately, in order to get a first taste of Popskull, a new creation from the two renowned brewmasters, you’ll have to head out to the Three Floyds brewery in Munster, Ind. on Thursday.

The party starts at 9 p.m. and your $10 ticket (which you can only get at the door) may or may not get you a free pint.