The Cubs are very hot. The Marlins are very not. The Cubs could establish themselves as a threat to the entire league with a strong performance this weekend.
Maggie Rogers at House of Blues (Friday)
Maggie Rogers, in celebration of her new record Don’t Forget Me, is playing an intimate show at the House of Blues for only $25 a ticket. Rogers will be working the HOB box office rom 10am to 5pm and selling tickets to this incredible gig for a low price as a way to combat bots and scalpers.
The Black Crowes at the Aragon (Friday)
If Maggie Rogers is not your speed, perhaps The Black Crowes are. The Robinson brothers head to the Aragon on Friday night for their first club gig in Chicago since a 2013 appearance at The Riv.
The Magnetic Fields at Thalia Hall (Friday, Saturday)
The Magnetic Fields are underground legends, primarily as a result of their infamous triple-album, 69 Love Songs…which features exactly 69 songs. The group is back at Thalia Hall for shows on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, all of which sold out instantly.
Motel Breakfast at Metro (Saturday)
Motel Breakfast make feel good music. Their songs are not inherently positive – it’s not like you’re listening to Train – but there is something soothing about the way that a Motel Breakfast song comes together. This gang of misfits comes to the Metro on Saturday with emo upstarts Harrison Gordon and Scarlet Demore, who is playing Lollapalooza. Tickets can be purchased here.
Waxahatchee at Salt Shed (Saturday)
Waxahatchee put out a strong contender for 2024 Album of the Year with Tigers Blood. For those that are maybe just hearing about her through this, sadly, her show at The Salt Shed is booked solid. That is no excuse not to listen to Waxahatchee this weekend, however.
Chicago Fire host Real Salt Lake (Saturday)
The struggling Chicago Fire host Real Salt Lake on Saturday at Soldier Field for what should be a fun evening of soccer.
Chicago Rum Festival (Saturday)
Presented by the experts at the Rum Lab, the Chicago Rum Festival (formerly the Midwest Run Festival) brings together producers from across the world for an afternoon of tastings and mingling. Guests can choose from one of four different tickets and work their way through a variety of rum expressions, accompanied by complimentary snacks and live music. All attendees will receive a three-ounce souvenir cup.
Grilled Cheese Fest in Wicker Park (Saturday)
Love cheese and bread? Then head to Cheesie’s in Wicker Park on April 20 for a Grilled Cheese Fest. Sample a variety of sandwiches—General Admission gets you four tastings while VI-Cheese tickets include eight and a cocktail or beer—complemented by bottomless tomato soup. The hungriest attendees can compete in a grilled cheese eating contest, and the event will be capped off with a screening of Half Baked.
Good Green Classic Golf Fundraiser “420 in Chicago” at Odyssey Golf Club in Tinley Park (Saturday)
Not only do you get to enjoy a day of golfing, but you also contribute to the noble cause supported by Cann-I-Just charity, making every swing count towards making a positive impact in the community. Get a ticket here.
Celebrate 420 On Weed St (Saturday)
The SESH mobile lounge will be onsite for customers to enjoy along with local Chicago influencers, The Herb Buddies. Enjoy beats by DJ JINXD, Serna’s food truck, and extra special deals on your favorite products. Whether you’re a seasoned smoker or new to the scene, there’s something for everyone at this event.
Record Store Day (Saturday)
Record Store Day is here! This year’s list includes exclusive titles from The 1975, The Cure, Death Cab for Cutie, Noah Kahan, and more. A full list of music can be found here and a list of participating stores can be found here.
Join Q101 for the Pickleball Pit Stop Talladega Watch Party at SPF Chicago (Sunday)
Buckle up, race fans! Q101 and NASCAR Chicago are revving up the excitement with a chance to win tickets to the 2024 NASCAR Chicago street race. But wait, there’s more! We’re throwing in additional chances to win concert tickets for shows featuring Third Eye Blind and Heart. Get more info here.
Cigarettes After Sex are back and they’re on a white-hot run. Their new single, “Dark Vacay”, is more of the same from a band that seems to have honed in on their own aesthetic and sound. This is yet another dreamy, melodic masterpiece that captures the ideal sound of the band.
They’re back! The twelfth studio album from one of the greatest rock bands of all-time has arrived and it’s already being dubbed one of the best Pearl Jam records of the 21st century. It’s heavier than the recent batch of PJ records, especially 2020’s Gigaton. It’s hard to deny the brilliance of the title track, which you heard first on Q101, or any number of album cuts that have the energy and vigor that you’ve come to expect from Pearl Jam.
SeeYouSpaceCowboy – Coup De Grâce
San Diego’s SeeYouSpaceCowboy have a ton of momentum and they aren’t slowing down any time soon. The band has become one of the premier metalcore acts in the scene, and with the release of Coup De Grâce, their fourth studio album, they’ve taken their game to another level.
White Reaper & Spiritual Cramp: Whatever You Say Man
Two of the most exciting bands on the planet have joined forces for one exciting song. Spiritual Cramp spent the first two months of the year turning heads while opening for Militarie Gun, who did the same thing opening for White Reaper at this time last year.
After losing $22 million over the last year, partially by way of consumers taking advantage of the ‘Endless Shrimp’ promotion, Red Lobster is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The outlet reported that the seafood restaurant chain is being advised by law firm King & Spalding on the subject, and that while discussions about restructuring are ongoing and that no final decisions have been made about a bankruptcy filing.
Red Lobster did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A top aide to Dolton mayor and Thornton Township supervisor Tiffany Henyard has been indicted for bankruptcy fraud. Keith Freeman, who has been in the headlines for his alleged-corruption alongside Henyard for months now, not only failed to report his income from the village of Dolton, but actively hid it during bankruptcy proceedings by using a pass-through company and new bank.
This could be a sign of things to come as the corruption in Dolton. “We are aware of the indictment made against Mr. Freeman,” read an emailed statement from a public relations firm that represents both governments. “As this is an ongoing investigation, we will refrain from making any further comments at this time.”
Say whaaattttt? Dookie has been inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress!! What an honor! 🤯🤘🏼 #NatRecRegistrypic.twitter.com/trxJBwFr3K
The White Sox held a team meeting before the game yesterday to address the ongoing issues within the organization. For those that haven’t been tuned into baseball this season: everything is a problem. They can’t pitch. They can’t hit. No one is at the ballpark.
Grifol’s words fell on deaf ears as they Sox were shut out for a record-tying sixth time in sixteen games. Eloy Jimenez, who returned from the IL last night, struck out to end the game in his only plate appearance.
They currently sit 29th out of 30 teams in Team Batting Avg., 30th in Home Runs, 30th in OPS, and 30th in total bases. Their pitching staff is 25th in ERA, 27th in home runs given up, and 25th in WHIP. No team meeting is going to fix these problems. Unfortunately, not even their farm system offers a glimmer of hope, as former White Sox catcher A. J. Pierzynski explained.
“I no longer work for the White Sox because of this exact conversation.”@aj_pierzynskiFT on his frustrations with this team.
Former manager Ozzie Guillen lambasted the team in the post-game show and advocated for pitchers on opposing teams to do what they can to play against the Sox if given the opportunity.
Ozzie Guillén on the White Sox continued struggles.
"It's hard to hit .300. It's harder to hit .090. When you hit .300, you're playing. When you hit .090, you shouldn't be playing."
"If I was a pitcher, I'd say, 'Skip, can you skip me? I want to face the White Sox?'" pic.twitter.com/HTL8Dto4ZZ
The first of two weekends of Coachella 2024 is in the books and for the first time what feels like a decade, the alternative bands are making headlines.
It started on Friday when Deftones played their first-ever set at Coachella. While the band has played a limited schedule over the last few years, they’re clearly ramping up this year with sets here and then later this year at Lollapalooza. The most notable thing to come from this set was their surprise cover of “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want”, a classic from The Smiths.
On Saturday, Jakob Nowell, the son of the late Bradley Nowell, took the stage with Sublime for what turned into an incredibly emotional and moving set. The band ripped through Sublime hits like “April 29, 1992”, “Badfish”, and of course, “Santeria” in front of an awe-stricken crowd.
That night, No Doubt closed the show with their first set in nine years. During the set, the band brought out Olivia Rodrigo, who joined them during “Bathwater”. Stefani reaffirmed her status of the queen of rock with an incredibly charismatic performance throughout.
🩸Available on vinyl for the very first time, our deluxe release of ‘Bleed Like Me’ is out everywhere today! 🩸 This expanded version includes alt versions, remixes, and rare b-sides including “Nobody Can Win”.
Shirley sat down with @NME to discuss the ‘Bleed Like Me’ reissue, the inequities young musicians are experiencing as a result of music streaming, and the recording of what will be the band’s 8th studio record. https://t.co/U4fCengM9u
No Robert, no Jimenez, no Moncada…that’s not going to stop the White Sox from waiving the white flag, though. They host the Cincinnati Reds this weekend.
Blackhawks host the Predators (Friday)
The Blackhawks limp to the end of their season as they host the Nashville Predators on Friday afternoon.
Kublai Khan at Metro (Friday)
Metal powerhouses Kublai Khan come to the Metro on Friday night for a sold out gig. Given the timing of this gig, there’s a good chance that the next time we see this group is at Riot Fest later this year. If you’ve ever had the thought that a metal band should headline the Super Bowl halftime show, you’ll love what Kublai Khan brings to the table.
Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies at House of Blues (Friday)
Me First…headline the House of Blues on Friday night. They’ll be joined by openers The Defiant, a group made up of Dicky Barrett (Mighty Mighty Bosstones), Pete Parada (The Offspring), and Greg Camp (Smash Mouth). Tickets are still available here.
Art on THE MART Spring Season Begins (Friday)
This new projection will explore contemporary society’s fixation with self-optimization while also continuing the artist’s exploration of language.
Northwest Brew Fest in Avondale (Saturday)
Celebrating breweries on the Northwest Side of Chicago, Guild Row hosts an afternoon of tastings that allow guests to sample local beer, cider, mead and more. Breweries like Revolution, Old Irving, Twisted Hippo and Ravinia will be in attendance, alongside Eris Cider House and Second City Meadery. There will also be food for purchase on site and a DJ bringing the beats. Upgrade to VIP for early entry.
C2E2 Kickoff Cosplay Party at Revolution Brewing Taproom in Avondale (Saturday)
C2E2 is still weeks away, but Revolution gets the festivities going early with its annual cosplay party. Come dressed as your favorite character for a chance to win prizes; competitors will present their cosplay to the room and judges, and the audience will determine a winner.
Blackhawks host the Hurricanes (Sunday)
The Blackhawks play their final home game of the season on Sunday as they host the Carolina Hurricanes.
GALLI Lucha Libre at Thalia Hall (Sunday)
Galli Lucha Libre invites you to Lucha Libre at Thalia Hall as DD Inframunfo (f.k.a. Drago), Lucha Libre AAA’s Aero Star, NWA’s Brothers of Funstruction, El Torero, Septico, Mágico, Rafael Quintero, Joey Marx, Mason Conrad and so much more.
Red Hot Chili Pipers at Des Plaines Theater (Sunday)
Global rock stars the Red Hot Chili Pipers, the celtic cover band that has taken the world by storm, will be at the Des Plaines Theater on Sunday afternoon. You can grab a ticket here.
Some people wear yoga pants every day and never go to the gym. Then there’s Lenny Kravitz, who is so hardcore he works out in a mesh tank top, leather pants and biker boots; at 60 years old!
These must have a serious reinforced crotch area after the… um… incident… <3 Lauren
Thank God for today! Grateful. Never been better. There are no shortcuts so seize your day. It is all possible. Love! pic.twitter.com/BHqQ63oNOt
Geneva’s Major League affiliate team the Kane County Cougars are just as obsessed with the cicadas as Brian & Kenzie are. As we’ve discussed, cicadas are coming, and they’re coming to have an orgy on your porch and pee on you.
On June 20, the team will rebrand for one night as the Kane County Cicadas as they take on Kansas City. The team has promised, alongside with the rebrand, to have numerous food items related to cicadas.
JUST ANNOUNCED: The Kane County Cicadas will invade Northwestern Medicine Field on June 20! In addition to all of the cool things we have going on, there will also be food items in conjunction to cicadas and other insects! Join us! #ChooseCicadashttps://t.co/25rMMl34Gkpic.twitter.com/Yw8ItFcZs9
MISSING GUITAR: Unfortunately over this past weekend we believe Jerry Cantrell’s original Blue Dress G&L guitar was stolen from his car in either LA or San Bernardino/Highland. It is pictured here and was encased in a black G&L gig bag. The serial number is G016467. If you have… pic.twitter.com/gXWFsR0iI0
“I bought that in 1985. That guitar has been on everything I’ve ever recorded, pretty much — 98.9% of every song, that guitar’s on there somewhere. I tried for decades to wreck it and it still exists. I’ve surfed it across the stage, jumped in the audience with it, fans running up and getting their hair caught in the keys, and then trying to jump back in the audience pulling me with them…”
Someone stole Jerry’s Original G&L Blue Dress guitar. Either in Highland/San Bernardino or in Hollywood. If ANY one gets that guitar back to us, we will make it worth your while. No questions asked. We just need it to come back home where she belongs. #aliceinchainspic.twitter.com/H60RJdzCOQ
Gen Z has caused Scrabble to make some changes to their iconic board game. The group is now preparing to release a version of the game that has “no scoring”. Mattel said in a press release on Tuesday, “Instead of competing, players collaborate to complete goal cards, and there are helper cards if assistance is required.”
Scrabble Together is marketed for those who find the classic game to be intimidating or for people who have ever thought “word games aren’t for me.”
More information on Scrabble Together can be found here.
Vampire Weekend has been added to Coachella's weekend one lineup. The band will play an early evening set at the Outdoor Theatre on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/OLe2rcq6Dh
BREAKING some solar eclipse glasses have been recalled by the Illinois Dept of Public Health & should not be used. The recalled glasses are labeled as “EN ISO 12312-1:2022”; proper safety glasses should carry the ISO designation of 12312-2.
Those recalled were reportedly sold through Amazon as Biniki Solar Eclipse Glasses AAS Approved 2024 – CE & ISO Certified Safe Shades for Direct Sun Viewing (6 Packs) and at several Southern Illinois retail establishments as listed in the press release below:
