Chicago is My Home

27
Dec

Top Chicago Music Picks For the Weekend of Dec. 28, 2007

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Music

Are you all ready to let your New Year’s freak flag fly? There are a few warm-up shows you should check out before Monday’s annual amateur night.

To kick things off Friday night, “Come Sail Away” to Merriville, Ind. to see the Midwest’s own ode to below-average classic rock in Styx. While I would say this is a reunion tour for the men from Mulletville, I don’t think they ever left us in the first place.

If you’re looking to put a groove on your core a bit further, swing on by the House of Blues on Sunday night for a dual bill of Rusted Root with Doko Benjo. Perhaps you will even see them cover The Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and relive their breakthrough moment from an early “Ally McBeal” episode.

If you’re still in need of a jam-band fix, Chicago’s very own Umphrey’s McGee will dispense its own tonic during a hat trick of performances at the Aragon Ballroom in Uptown. Though the group may not have the national following of bands like Phish and Widespread Panic, they can still get a groove on and will be ringing in 2008 on Monday night.

Finally, for you 30-somethings out there who don’t really want to go out but don’t want to stay in, I recommend hedging your bet by seeing Tributosaurus become Ray Charles at Martyrs’ in North Center. That is “What’d I Say” for this holiday weekend. Enjoy!

By Brad Spirrison