Nothing says holiday cheer like some Lil’Weezy. The celebrated Southern rapper/alien is probably the biggest name hitting Chicago over the next few weeks, but he’s definitely not the only one. My Morning Jacket is heading back to town for their rescheduled two-night stand (before they head to New York for a New Year’s blowout at the MSG). Flosstradamus will be playing the Abbey Pub, while Blues Traveler and Rusted Root are both slotted for post-Christmas shows at the House of Blues.
And then there’s New Year’s Eve. Chicagoans lookin’ to ring in 2009 with their dancing shoes have plenty of options. Local boys Umphrey’s McGee (pictured above) have become New Year’s Eve mainstays in Chicago, but this year they’ll switch it up a little by playing the more intimate Auditorium Theatre instead of the Aragon. Big names like Buddy Guy, Joshua Redman and Koko Taylor will join the band for their annual NYE extravaganza. Indie favorites The Sea and Cake, another hometown band, will be counting down to 2009 with a double dip at Schuba’s on Dec. 30 and 31.
One of the more intriguing NYE options is the Justice DJ set at the Congress Theatre. I’m not exactly sure what a DJ set entails, but hopefully the French duo will be playing some music from their phenomenal 2007 debut album. For the headbanging crowd, the critically-acclaimed punk rocker Jay Reatard will be raging the Empty Bottle. And Canadian electro-rock instrumentalists Holy Fuck provide yet another attractive bill at the Subterranean.
Here’s a rundown of the aforementioned concerts and some other notable shows.
Thursday, Dec. 18
Bon Iver @ The Vic Theatre
Cold War Kids, Scott Weiland @ House of Blues
Saturday, Dec. 27
Lil’ Wayne, T-Pain, Gym Class Heroes @ United Center
My Morning Jacket @ The Chicago Theatre
Flosstradamus @ Abbey Pub
Kidz in the Hall @ Beat Kitchen
Rusted Root @ House of Blues
Sunday, Dec. 28
My Morning Jacket @ The Chicago Theatre
Rusted Root @ House of Blues
Monday, Dec. 29
Umphrey’s McGee @ Auditorium Theatre
U-Melt @ Reggie’s
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Umphrey’s McGee @ Auditorium Theatre
The Sea and Cake @ Schuba’s
Blues Traveler @ House of Blues
Wednesday, Dec. 31 (NYE!)
Umphrey’s McGee @ Auditorium Theatre
The Sea and Cake @ Schuba’s
Justice (DJ set) @ Congress Theatre
Jay Reatard @ Empty Bottle
Holy Fuck, Aleks and The Drummer @ Subterranean
The Dandy Warhols @ Metro
Future Rock @ Abbey Pub
Local H @ Bottom Lounge
Print
E-mail
Jim Collins
Jim Collins follows Chicago's live music scene for the Windy Citizen with his Live Wire blog. He recently graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a master's degree in new media. Prior to that, he worked as a reporter for one of the Sun Times News Group's suburban newspapers and a small daily in southwestern Michigan. Jim's also a music junkie, who appreciates a wide range of musical tastes. From hipster to hippy, raver to rapper, he likes it all. More
Comments
I saw the show by My Morning Jacket and it was fantastic.
Painfully unhip, I'd never heard of them before but was dragged to the show by some out of town family who were visiting for the holidays.
My companions were disappointed that they didn't include a cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up" but Not knowing any different I loved the show.
I've been listening to Lowdown (from the At Dawn album) ever since the show.
That stinks I missed these shows. That would have been a good time!
I love Justice. I saw them when they were here in Los Angeles, at the Shrine, on Halloween. The set was so long and I almost had a house music overload, lol
There were a ton of good musical performances over the holidays. I was able to check out Umphreeys Mcgee and they put on a great show.
Post new comment