So that’s where we’re headed, on Friday September 28. And you too, if you’re chosen as the lucky winner of two free tickets to see them!

To enter to win, visit our partners at Windy City Weekly (http://windycityweekly.com) and subscribe to receive the weekly newsletter. It’s free, and awesome. If you’re already a subscriber, you’re already entered.

The winner of the two free tickets to see The Avett Brothers at Chicago’s Northerly Island will be chosen in August, and you’ll be notified via email.

Good luck!

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As I handed over my ticket, I grumbled about the “convenience” charge. Nine dollars–50 cents under half of the cost of the ticket itself. Not really “convenient” for me. We walked in and the crowd was sparse, and there was plenty of seating around the main floor. That’s convenient. We ordered $7 beers. Not so convenient. We picked a good spot, stage right, and found a couple of stools where we could perch for the evening. But there’s a sign taped to these stools. “See Security.”

“Hi. So what’s the story with these stools?”

“Oh hello. Tonight, we’re offering these seats for $20. Or, $30 for two seats.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No.”

“That’s for every seat in the building?”

“Yep.”

What the fuck?

To recap: I paid $18.50 per ticket. Plus, a $9 “convenience” charge for each ticket. For two tickets, that’s $55–$18 of which goes toward my convenience. But you know what’s not convenient? Paying more than the cost of the ticket… to sit down. In the venue you just paid to enter. Where, I’m buying one beer for the cost of a six-pack at the store. Now really, whose convenience am I paying for, exactly?

This is like paying to enter Wrigley field, only to discover that if you want to sit in your seat–the seat you just paid for–it’s going to cost you about the same amount as what’s printed on the ticket. Otherwise, you’re required to stand next to your seat for the next three hours.

I’ve always enjoyed you, House of Blues. I’ve always respected you, and I’ve never much minded your high-priced tickets and libations because you’ve always taken care of me. You’ve always made me feel welcome, and I’ve always left satisfied, sometimes even elated. I’ve always looked forward to coming to visit.

Now?

I feel nickel-and-dimed. I feel duped. You feel cheap. And you’ve cast a toxic black cloud that stinks up the place. Once, you were special. Now, you’re conniving. Greedy. And an all-around asshole.

You blew it.

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This Chicago group is coming off their first tour of select Southern and Midwestern states, spreading the sounds from their latest release, When Darkness Glows. You’ll find some bluegrass and country, spots of jazz, and rock and roll; all accompanied with airy vocals and executed with purposefully loose precision.

Amanda Crumley pieced together Mandy & the Bandits, forming a talented crew of seven musicians, and two special guests including Nick Ascher, who provides an effortless pedal steel. For many bands, such a large group presents problems. Mandy & the Bandits, on the other hand, thrive.

When Darkness Glows showcases Mandy & the Bandits’ versatility, and deep commitment to their own style. Country can be a tough sell around here. But having already played some of Chicago’s best venues (Martyr’s, Uncommon Ground, Jerry’s), we expect Mandy & the Bandits to keep turning heads, and tapping toes.

Have a listen below to Heartless Man.

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One night — December 4, 1956 — four legends in the making came together and made history. Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash converged on historic Sun Records Studios in Memphis for the first and only time, while Sam Phillips recorded what came to be the Million Dollar Quartet — a once-in-a-lifetime, impromptu jam session that will never be equaled.

Million Dollar Quartet is an absolute must-see show for any music fan. The extremely talented cast tells the story of that amazing night through live performances of some of the most important songs of rock and roll’s infancy, including “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Great Balls of Fire”, and “Folsom Prison Blues.”

Enter to win now by subscribing to Windy City Weekly, and tell a friend (who you wouldn’t mind sitting next to) to increase your chances of winning! The winner will be announced in the January 12 edition of Windy City Weekly.

A big thanks to Broadway in Chicago for providing this evening of unparalleled entertainment!

*Upon winning, a voucher for two tickets to a Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday evening performance of Million Dollar Quartet will be emailed to the winner, with instructions on how to redeem. The voucher is good between January 25 – February 23, 2012, excluding February 12, 2012.

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You can expect an honest rock album. But while you will hear a few traditional styles, The Bishop remains true to what they want to create, and it shows. Songwriter/singer/lead guitarist Billy Giricz crafts simple but compelling stories and he gets his point across, but not without his own style and sometimes a subtle sense of humor – even in the song titles themselves. You might expect “Mice and Elephants” to be on the bubbly side. And you might think “Timebomb” would be threatening, and aggressive. The truth is, they are both quite the opposite. And while “Promises Made” (hear it below) is a fairly straightforward tale of a hidden path to manhood, you can’t help feeling that Giricz takes it all with several grains of salt.

Of course, it never hurts to be surrounded by precision talent.

Paulette Bertrand provides depth and dimension, while Dan Passareli, drummer Luke Smith, and Darin Gregg keep the momentum charging. Five Minutes of Panic and Thrills comes together to provide a well-balanced and fun, and authentic rock album. It’s a hit — and you can expect The Bishop to start appearing regularly on the marquees of Chicago’s best music venues and some of their favorites such as Beat Kitchen, The Abbey, Martyrs, and the Double Door. But we suspect it won’t stop there, and this Chicago band will breeze across borders.

Below, have a listen to “Promises Made.” And visit The Bishop’s website for more!

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We have two passes to give away for FRIDAY and SATURDAY (Nov. 11-12). To enter to win, sign up with our partners, Windy City Weekly. (If you’re already signed up, send an email to soundcitizenmike@gmail.com and we’ll put you in the drawing.) The show is ages 21+ and sponsored by Windows Phone. Winners will be notified Thursday and Friday!

The location … is a secret. I can tell you it’s in Chicago at a very cool spot. We’ll let you know when you win!

If you don’t win you can RSVP for entry, on Facebook. Admission is on a first-come basis.

If you don’t know about The Drums, have a listen below!

The Drums – Money by WorkItMedia

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Why the postponement? According to the release:

“Due to a visa administration error, Morrissey’s lead guitarist is unable to perform in the US this week. Thursday’s sold out concert at the Congress Theatre in Chicago has been rescheduled for Saturday December 17, 2011. The issue is out of Morrissey’s hands but it will not affect Monday’s concert at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, nor will it affect the rest of the tour.”

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You can win a free pair of tickets to see them live, October 14 at Chicago’s Congress Theater. All you have to do is visit our partners at Windy City Weekly, sign up for the newsletter and you’re entered. We will announce the winners in the Oct. 13 edition of Windy City Weekly, at 9:40 AM.

The show will feature two full sets from Les Claypool and gang, so fans are sure to hear a great catalog, far beyond standards like “Winona Has a Big Brown Beaver” and “My Name is Mud” (although hopefully you’ll hear those, too). Primus is one of those shows you don’t want to miss, and one you’ll never forget.

To enter, sign up to Windy City Weekly, Chicago’s newsletter.

If you’re scared, go buy a dog.

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It’s going to be a great show, and you can go — for free. To enter to win, simply “Like” Sound Citizen’s Facebook page or subscribe to Sound Citizen updates via email, on the right side of this page. Current Sound Citizen fans and email subscribers are already eligible to win, but leave a comment if you want to be in the mix.

Good luck!

Click here to view the embedded video.

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(Set list and video below.)

It took a long time for me to see a Pogues concert. Thirty-some-odd years, actually. But it was an experience that was well worth the wait. And I use the word “experience” because, frankly, I have no more appropriate way to describe this show.

A forever-feeling 60 minutes after opening band Titus Androgynous completed their set, the crowd of mostly 20- to 30-something beer swilling fans was primed to party with the legendary Irish folk/punk Pogues and frontman Shane MacGowan.

After apologies for being late and a few slurred words from the always-interesting (and always intoxicated) Shane MacGowan, the group gently began the set-opener with “Streams of Whiskey;” proving that, while warranted, concerns over MacGowen’s ability to perform could be put aside. His his booze-laced, groggy, smoke-aged voice was surprisingly up to task, in spite of his hard-earned, hard drinking reputation (and toothless grill). The Pogues’ original eight — MacGowan (lead singer and songwriter), Spider Stacy (tin whistle, vocals), Jem Finer (banjo), James Fearnley (accordion), Darryl Hunt (bass), Andrew Ranken (drums), Phillip Chevron (guitar) and Terry Woods (mandolin) — then rolled into the classic “If I Should Fall From Grace With God” and the brash rockers were on their way to playing all the high notes of their catalog; including “A Pair Of Brown Eyes,” the MacGowan-less “Tuesday Morning” (Spider Stacy took the lead vocal duties), “Sunny Side Of The Street” and a perfectly-paced “And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.” The crowd responded too, as a familiar mosh pit stirred up in the front of the stage from the jump.

(review continues below)

Click here to view the embedded video.

There were a few low points. On “Thousands are Sailing,” Chevron took the vocals and was out of key more than once — possibly because it seemed the band started the song a key too high. There were also sound issues all night,including ear-piercing feedback from the main vocal mic throughout the set. And, unsurprisingly, McGowan forgot some words and his timing was a bit off on “Matilda.” But given his state and his history, it’s surprising that more songs didn’t suffer the same fate.

All that being said, it’s easy to overlook a few shortcomings. Everyone, like me, was there for the experience of The Pogues. That’s the respect and love they have earned as music legends and received on this night. They’ve been driving hard for almost 30 years, almost fully intact. Signs of wear become revered, not reviled. So, the mosh pit churned and the sing-a-longs rollicked while MacGowan puffed on a few cigarettes between songs, as if to give a metaphorical middle-finger to the Chicago indoor smoking ban and purveyors of a healthy lifestyle everywhere. In the end, the band that once opened for The Clash in 1984 effortlessly channeled their true punk roots and did whatever the hell they wanted to. And we drank up all of it.

At various times during the show, the band-mates would give dedications (or as the kids call them today ‘shout-outs’) to loved ones and friends. That might sound a bit out of place for a band with such a long history as The Pogues (haven’t they thanked these people before?) but recent online rumors have suggested that this show would be the last for The Pogues in Chicago — after all, this U.S. tour is titled “A Parting Glass With The Pogues.” Even so, during some of their famous fast-paced songs like “Bottle Of Smoke” and “Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn,” Fearnley pranced and jumped across the stage, lifting and throwing his accordion around and bending on his knees like he was in his 20’s again. The crowd loved it. And it hardly seemed the behavior of someone at the end of the line. Let’s hope not. Because every fan of a rock and roll life should see The Pogues.

Setlist: The Pogues – “A Parting Glass” tour, Congress Theater, Chicago, March 3rd, 2011 (more video below)

Streams Of Whiskey
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Broad Majestic Shannon
Boat Train
A Pair Of Brown Eyes
Tuesday Morning (Shane left the stage for this one)
Irish Lullaby
Sunny Side Of The Street
Repeal of the Licensing Laws
And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Body Of An American
London Girl
Thousands are Sailing (Phil on lead)
Dirty Old Town
Bottle of Smoke
Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn

-Encore #1-
Sally MacLennane
Rainy Night In Soho
Irish Rover

-Encore #2-
Poor Paddy On The Railway
Fiesta

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sean Sweeney is a life-long Chicagoan, musician and live concert fanatic who has attended more than 300 concerts. You can find him on Twitter @MusicalSean. Sean plays drums in Chicago’s B-Side Social (www.bsidesocial.com)

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