This weekend boasts the Christmas holiday, which I’m sure you’re going to spend with family and loved ones and not at a rock show. But what’s stopping you from checking out a show before you get blitzed on eggnog and your fifth viewing of “A Christmas Story”? Nothing, that’s what.
*** = RedEye’s Show of the Week.
Tuesday
David Bazan
Thalia Hall
1807 S. Allport St. 312-526-3851
While you probably know Bazan through his excellent solo work and his earlier career with the great Christian indie rock band Pedro the Lion, he’s doing an “In The Round” show at Thalia Hall doing Christmas songs. If that’s surprising, his latest record, “Dark Sacred Night,” is a 10-song LP of holiday songs he’s released throughout his career. He’s also got a “Christmas Bonus” EP of tracks that, as Bazan says, are, “a heartfelt and sincere take on four traditional carols that is in stark contrast to much of the commercial Christmas pop that dominates the winter soundscape.”
Tickets: thaliahallchicago.com
Wednesday
Grandkids, The Hecks, Homme, Seth Engel
Schubas
3159 N. Southport Ave. 773-525-2508
Close followers of RedEye’s music page will recognize the top three bands on this bill. We just premiered Grandkids’ excellent single “Seamripper” last month, the Hecks are staples in this weekly shows column and Homme are obvious favorites of ours. All three in the same room is too good to pass up.
Tickets: Lh-st.com
Thursday
Bill MacKay and Ryley Walker, AZITA, Gabriel Wallace, Charles Joseph Smith
The Hideout
1354 W. Wabansia Ave. 773-227-4433
Dubbed “Bill and Ryley’s Holiday Feel Good Real Good Night of Live Music and Cheer,” Thursday’s stacked lineup at The Hideout is going to be the best of the week for guitar-based music. Local guitarists Bill MacKay and Ryley Walker teamed up for a residency at The Whistler last year and later a full-length LP called “Land of Plenty,” which was released through The Whistler’s label.
Tickets: hideoutchicago.com
Friday
Jimmy Whispers, Cullen Omori, Today’s Hits, DJ Bobby Burg
The Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave. 773-276-3600
Even though Jimmy Whispers moved to Los Angeles, it’s been nice seeing the quirk-pop auteur back in Chicago opening for Whitney and Twin Peaks at their respective homecoming shows. On Friday, Whispers, along with the return of Chicago’s Cullen Omori and another guaranteed great show from local boys Today’s Hits, makes this a must-see to properly ring in the Christmas weekend.
Tickets: emptybottle.com
@joshhterry | jterry@redeyechicago.com
