It's been a bad week for local music fans (at least, for those who like options). Over the past several days, we've learned that...
Sonotheque is closing on Sunday, having been sold to a group that includes Paul Devitt, owner of the Beauty Bar franchise. It's too early to tell what the new space will become, but you can bet that the final few shows will be packed with folks paying their respects.
Bill's Blues Bar in Evanston has closed, citing financial difficulties.
Add this to the recent news that the city would be cutting or at least downsizing some of its biggest lakefront music festivals (a move that sparked an ever-growing "Save Chicago Music" petition), and things aren't looking so hot. Here's hoping next week brings some better news...
What Chicago music venue could you not bear to lose? Tell us in the comments.
Mike Doughty 7 p.m. Thursday at Schubas, 9 p.m. Friday at Lincoln Hall, $20-$22
If you like studio works from Doughty (of Soul Coughing), like the recent Golden Delicious album, you absolutely can't miss seeing him in person. If possible, ind yourself a ticket to Friday's sold-out show at the brand-new Lincoln Hall, a live music venue just recently opened by the Schubas crew. Doughty will be joined on stage by cellist Andrew "Scrap" Livingston, who played guitar on Golden Delicious.
In this town, when you hear the word "sketch," you probably think of comedy -- Second City, ComedySportz, etc. But the word has more than one meaning, and local artists aim to let you know about it with this week's launch of Sketch Thursdays, a rotating, once-a-month (second Thursday) event in West Town.
The first free installment (you must be 21 to enter) goes down from 6-9 p.m. at The Architrouve, and will feature local emerging artists sketching or painting throughout the night, then offering those works for sale until close.
But this isn't all about buying, or even drinking; you can bring along your own pens 'n' paints and create your own art -- just don't expect a seat, as those are mostly reserved for invited artists. If you want to get an invite to a future installment, or just find out when and where the next one will be, contact Matthew Westfallen, (312) 850-9390.
8 Bold Souls are among the many jazz acts performing on Saturday.(Photo: via www.aacmchicago.org)
Hyde Park Jazz Festival Saturday in Hyde Park; free
This 14-hour, multi-venue event is like a marathon for music fans, and, like any long race, the true rewards are near the finish line, with exciting performers like 8 Bold Souls, Garaj Mahal and Dee Alexander. Remember to pace yourself and stay hydrated as you travel to unlikely music spots like the International House of Chicago, Hyde Park Bank and Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center.
Trend alert! In the past week, we've told you about a Samsung-sponsored Jay-Z show and The Roots and Common's Hennessy-sponsored set at The Shine. Now comes news (via Time Out Chicago) that Kia Motors will host the latest of its free Soul Collective events in Chicago this weekend.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, guests will have the opportunity to test-drive the new Kia Soul, watch videos and, oh yeah, hear some music at the EnVent Event Space in West Town. Whether this trend of product-sponsored shows disturbs you or not, you've gotta admit, this looks like a pretty good lineup for a free event:
Friday, September 11 (noon-8 p.m.)
Plain White T's
DJ sets by Shala, Kid Color, MoneyPenny
Saturday, September 12 (noon-8 p.m.)
Times New Viking
DJ sets by Skyler, Kid Color, and Jubot of Yellow Fever
Sunday, September 13 (noon-4 p.m.)
The Walkmen (must test-drive a Kia Soul to get tickets)
DJ sets by Willy Joy, Black Holes
The next two weeks are a very good time to have a badass mustache.
This Saturday, Lakeview party joint Uncle Fatty’s Rum Resort hosts “Fatty’s Fan Favorite Party,” honoring its fan favorite cover band, ’Stache.
The band will play starting at 8, and mustache homages will include fake mustaches given out at the door, 100 bucks for the person with the best real ‘stache and Cubs tickets for the best fake ‘stache. The bar will also serve $4 Dos Equis bottles (normally $5) and 32-ounce “Bone Fish” fishbowls (rum, OJ, cranberry juice, grenadine) will be $6.
But the ‘stache party is just getting started. Join the Young Irish Fellowship Club on August 29 for “The ‘Stache Bash” pub crawl in Wicker Park. Participants are encouraged to grow out their finest cookie dusters and party for a good cause (namely the Maeve McNicholas Memorial Foundation to fight pediatric brain tumors, the Matthew Lee Bailey Foundation, the Michael J. Murphy Music Scholarship Fund and Raising Awareness, which supports MS awareness).
The crawl costs $20 and kicks off at Pint at 12:30 p.m., followed by Wicker Park Tavern (2-3 p.m.), Northside (3:15-4:15), Cans (4:30-5:30) and Lottie’s Pub (until 8 p.m.). There will be specials at each bar, and you gotta imagine anyone who can grow out a halfway decent handlebar deserves a free drink or three.
So your fantasy football draft is coming up next week, and you think you're ready. You've done all the research on sleeper picks and injury risks. You've got your cheat sheet printed out, checked your wi-fi connection more than once, and stocked the fridge with beer. All set, right? Um, no. If you're going to have upwards of 10 football enthusiasts in your house for three solid hours, you'd better have some food on hand.
Enter Wicker Park's Smoke Daddy, whose new "Pig in a Box" promotion will please pigskin fans with -- you guessed it -- pork. Make that lots of pork. For $48, you'll get four sections of baby back ribs, eight spare ribs, six rib tips, one pound of pork, six buns and two pints of side items (sweet potato fries, smoked pit beans, mac 'n' cheese, etc.). We'd recommend at least two orders for a full league gathering -- we'd also recommend ordering a day in advance. Actually, that's what they require to prepare such a meaty feast. And it'll be worth it, trust us. Just make sure you're not so distracted by BBQ that you end up drafting a kicker in the third round.
Bicycle Film Festival Through Sunday in various venues, $10 per screening, $25 for a festival pass
Bike, movie and art enthusiasts come together for this five-day show throughout the city. Some of the highlights (full schedule here) include Thursday's Joyride Art Show (6 p.m. at the MCA Warehouse), Friday's Fun Bike Shorts (9 p.m. at Columbia College) and Saturday's afterparty at the Empty Bottle with DJs Matt ROAN and E-Six (9 p.m., free with movie admission).
Did you miss out on our first ticket giveaway for the Wicker Park Festafter-party, featuring unpredictable R&B/pop star Jamie Lidell? Now you've got another chance! The first 5 people to email us (subject line: Lidell) will each win a pair of tickets to the show. As a bonus, we'll sign you up to Centerstage's EventFile newsletter, which features info on tons of cool events like this each week. Get on it!
Pierogi Fest Friday-Sunday at 1900 Indianapolis Blvd., Whiting, Indiana; free
Make your way to Whiting for this unique ethnic event featuring pierogi, polka bands, a parade and Mr. Pierogi. This costumed character, along with his friends The Pieroguettes and Miss Paczki, makes the rounds of the fest and performs a number of musical spoofs. There will also be plenty of family fun, a pierogi toss contest, a beer garden and an art show. Don't want to travel? Check out Centerstage's guide to the best pierogi right here in Chicago.
Built to Spill headlines Pitchfork on Friday night.
Pitchfork Music Festival Friday-Sunday at Union Park; $35/day
If you don't know about the country's most consistently interesting fest (yeah, we said it), get learnin'. This year's lineup features a who's who of indie music, from Built to Spill and Yo La Tengo on Friday (doing request-driven sets, no less) to The National, The Black Lips and Lindstrom on Saturday, to Grizzly Bear and The Flaming Lips on Sunday. Add to that a ton of cool vendors and, for once, mild weather, and you've got a recipe for an amazing musical weekend. Check out Centerstage's schedule picks and plan where to eat around the park.
...and that's just the start of it. Wednesday night's Gateway Green poker event at Galleria Marchetti will feature a number of minor Chicago celebrities, including Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer and Kathy Hart of 101.9 FM's "Eric and Kathy" fame. While the opportunity to show a former Bull who's boss should be incentive enough, here's something else: the grand-prize winner of the charity event gets a spot in the 2010 World Series of Poker tournament in Las Vegas.
Sign up as a player ($150) or a spectator ($25), and be sure to arrive by 5:30 p.m. for registration. The tournament beings at 6:30, and there will be other games (roulette, craps, blackjack) plus food, cocktails and more. If you can't pony up the cash, you can at least head to the official after-party at the Bull & Bear.
Chicago Folk & Roots Festival Saturday-Sunday at Welles Park; $8
The Old Town School of Folk Music's eclectic annual fest may fly a bit under the radar of many Chicagoans, but to know it is to love it (especially if you've got kids in tow). Don't be fooled by the name, as you'll find a whole lot more than just folk music here; this year's eclectic lineup includes throwback soul (Austin's Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears), Mediterranean electro (France's Watcha Clan) and what we'll describe as Indian-inspired club sounds (Karsh Kale, from New York).
Here are some recent restaurant/bar openings and closings.
Hot Woks Cool Sushi OPEN: Hot Woks Cool Sushi – The Pulaski location of this popular sushi spot has been jumping since it opened last year, so here comes a Loop incarnation. Hey, when something works, you might as well double up. Too much of a good thing? We’ll see.
90 Miles Cuban – Ditto here; just sub “Cuban” for “sushi” and “Logan Square” for “Loop.”
Bucktown Soup Café – As much as we like soup (dig the bread bowls at Soupbox) and as good as some of these sound (chipotle chicken tortilla, pot roast & vegetables, spicy jumping bean & vegetables) we just cannot get on board with soup being an entire meal. It just seems so … not right.
Built to Spill headlines Pitchfork on Friday night.
