JUST ANNOUNCED 🧑🚀💙 Weezer with The Flaming Lips & Dinosaur Jr. at Allstate Arena on Friday, September 6 on the Voyage to the Blue Planet Tour. Weezer will be playing the Blue Album in full for its 30th anniversary. Get tickets Friday, March 15 at 10AM pic.twitter.com/k49YJRiMXK
New York’s Division of Food Safety and Inspection has the case of a lifetime. The agency announced that they’re conducting a “full investigation” against Cindysnacks, a company that claims to be entirely vegan and gluten-free. The controversy surrounding the company comes from the accusation that the company has simply been repackaging Dunkin’ Donuts and selling them as they’re own.
Chicago legend Bake & Destroy explains below.
Who knew a controversy between two vegan bakeries in Long Island would be the most engrossing story of the week?
Since Cindy’s Snacks published their original post on Instagram, Savory Fig has deleted its social media presence, and local food safety officials in New York have… pic.twitter.com/eMwfGQCTdL
The Bouncing Souls at Epiphany Center for the Arts, Bottom Lounge (Friday-Sunday)
New Jersey punk legends The Bouncing Souls are in town for a triple-shot in Chicago this weekend. The band kicks off the festivities on Friday night at the Epiphany Center for the Arts with a special acoustic set before moving to Bottom Lounge on Saturday and Sunday for the usual Souls-related fun. Tickets are available here.
Harrison Gordon at Beat Kitchen (Friday)
Remember the name Harrison Gordon. The emo standout from Normal, Illinois has been making a name for himself by hustling in the DIY scene for the last few years, but you can’t help but feel like bigger and better things are on the horizon for Gordon. A brilliant lyricist, Gordon is the most exciting emo artist to hit the scene in a few years. This show is sold out, which could be a reoccurring theme throughout Gordon’s career if things continue to go the way that they are now. If you find yourself at Beat Kitchen on Friday, be sure to say “ahoy” to Case the Producer.
The Moss at Lincoln Hall (Friday)
Q101 is proud to present The Moss at Lincoln Hall on Friday. With one of the best songs of 2023 under their belts with “Insomnia”, this is sure to be a good time with an evening full of feel-good indie rock.
The Strokes at Credit Union 1 Arena (Friday)
The Strokes and Beach Bunny storm the former UIC Pavilion on Friday for a fundraiser for Kina Collins. Tickets can be purchased here.
Uncorked: Chicago Wine Festival (Saturday)
The Museum of Science and Industry hosts the annual Uncorked Wine Festival, where guests can enjoy more than 150 wines and Champagnes as well as a variety of exhibitions and experiences. Spring for a VIP ticket to get an extra hour of tastings and a food voucher card, plus gain access to a private lounge with higher end wineries.
Sausagefest in the West Loop (Saturday)
Love sausages and beer? Then join Haymarket for its annual Sausagefest, where guests can sample over 20 encased meats and 30 craft brew selections. Guest sausage makers and brewers will be paired up and competing for people’s choice awards, which is voted on by the people.
Blue October at The Riv (Saturday)
Blue October, the kings of “hey, they have more great songs than I remembered”, are back at The Riv on Saturday night for what should be a raucous night of rock. Grab a ticket here.
St. Patrick’s Day at Gallagher Way (Sunday)
Gallagher Way celebrates St. Patrick’s Day a week early with a host of family-friendly activities. Catch live performances by Trinity Irish Dance, Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band and Old Town School of Folk Music; take introductory Irish dancing mini lessons or sip on festive green beer and Irish coffee. For the little ones, there will also be face painting, balloon artists and a make-your-own Rainbow Stuffie craft station.
Blackhawks host the Coyotes (Sunday)
The Blackhawks ended their torturous losing streak against the Coyotes earlier this week, and luckily, they have a chance to double-up this Sunday.
As discussed yesterday with Brian & Kenzie, McDonald’s has sadly taken a lot of amazing things off of the menu over the years. The most infamous menu-removal is the McDLT, which Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander beautifully sang and danced about prior to his role as George Costanza.
McDonald’s, please bring back the McDLT, snack wraps, and Chicken Selects.
There’s more tension in Dolton. Mayor Tiffany Henyard is accused of using village money for personal reasons as Dolton’s unpaid bills have piled up, which she has denied time and time again.
People asked Henyard to step down at a meeting on Monday night but Henyard insisted that she had done nothing wrong and that in future meetings, they would address other issues.
It appears she won’t be going away any time soon, sadly.
The band told me that their song Hard Times was inspired by Talking Heads, so I learned it and recorded my version of their great song with a horn section. This was fun! The 12" is available on Record Store Day 2024 -More info and a store near you at https://t.co/sFcvL4wQuRhttps://t.co/CS7Wpme3F1pic.twitter.com/3WdUfsVTT1
Paramore’s cover of “Burning Down the House” will also appear on the upcoming Talking Heads’ tribute album, Everyone’s Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense.
The Sweet Stuff Foundation, is a non-profit created by the Homme family in 2013 to provide assistance to career musicians, recording engineers and their families struggling with illness and disability. For more information visit: https://t.co/S2j6yhFnNB
For their 90th anniversary, Brookfield Zoo is undergoing an identity crisis.
The zoo will be renamed “Brookfield Zoo Chicago” with the new mantra “Connect. Care. Conserve.” In a press release, the zoo said “This powerful call to action invites the public to embrace their role as stewards of the environment, nurturing understanding, empathy, and personal action to preserve and protect wildlife and nature.”
As the Zoo approaches its centennial in 2034, it prepares to unveil its “Next Century Plan” to the public this summer. Rumors are that for 2034, they’ll be renamed “Brookfield Zoo Chicago 2: Electric Boogaloo”.
Sublime with Rome family! We present to you the Sublime with Rome Farewell Tour. These last few shows are about celebrating the end of this special era and to commemorate a decade plus of music, memories, fun times, and electric shows. See you all soon 🤘❤️. pic.twitter.com/MjXjdGrPC0
— Sublime with Rome (@SublimewithRome) March 4, 2024
The dates for Sublime With Rome’s farewell tour overlap with Sublime’s planned dates. Sublime (Jakob Nowell, Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson) will perform at Coachella on April 13 and 20. Sublime With Rome will be in Texas, Connecticut and New Jersey during those dates.
Paramore just released the new music video for “Thick Skull” off of the “This is Why” album. Said to be a new start for the band, they are reinventing themselves and are ready to show the world the new vision for the future!
01 Hell Is Near 02 Reckless 03 Broken Man 04 Flea 05 Big Time Nothing 06 Violent Times 07 The Power’s Out 08 Sweetest Fruit 09 So Many Planets 10 All Born Screaming [ft. Cate Le Bon]
One of the newest and hottest bands in Chicago, Friko, comes to the Metro on Friday night for a celebration of their new album, Where We’ve Been, Where We Go From Here. The trio’s music combines the franticness of early Modest Mouse with the sweet sounds of Belle & Sebastian. A brilliant band that will only get better, this is your chance to see them before they play much bigger venues. Get your tickets here!
Lauren at Dave & Buster’s (Friday)
Join Lauren and the Q101 Crew for the Grand Opening celebration at the DAVE & BUSTER’S located at 601 North Matingale Rd in Schaumburg on Friday, March 1st from 6pm – 9pm. Stop by the Q101 table and enter to win tickets to amazing concerts from Bush, Alkaline Trio or All Time Low! Play games to win Q101 apparel and swag!
Bulls host the Bucks (Friday)
In a genuinely bizarre move, this Bulls game tips off at 9pm on Friday night. In a rare Bulls nationally televised appearance, the middling Bulls will host the Bucks at The UC.
Brigitte Calls Me Baby at Schubas (Saturday)
For the first time since Twisted XMAS, Chicago’s own Brigitte Calls Me Baby returns home for an intimate gathering at Schubas. After tearing up the East Coast for the first part of the year, which included a three-song set on CBS Saturday Morning, Chicago is welcoming them back with a show that a show has been sold out since the day it went on-sale.
The Bollweevils at The Burlington Bar (Saturday)
Punk legends The Bollweevils return to the stage at The Burlington Bar on Saturday night! Get there early, dance hard, and have fun!
Empire Venue Fundraiser Party(Saturday)
Head to the Fireside Bowl on Saturday night for a fundraiser for Empire Venue, a mainstay in DIY booking in Chicago. Open bowling, refreshments, silent auctions of rare merch, records, fest passes, concert tickets, and more! Tons of gift card raffles too!
SHANE IS OPENING A VENUE! and there’s a fundraising party on saturday at Fireside Bowl. ticket includes bowling and food!
There will be auctions and raffles for rare merch, records and whatever else
Both teams are very, very bad at hockey, which means the Blackhawks have a chance. See you at the Madhouse on Saturday, folks!
Chicago Fire host FC Cincinnati (Saturday)
Yes, MLS season is here. I’m as shocked as you are. The Fire drew the Philadelphia Union in their first match of the season, so they’ll be looking for a victory in their home opener against Cincinnati this weekend.
Brewsology Beer Fest (Saturday)
Hopheads, grab tickets to Brewsology Beer Fest at the Museum of Science and Industry, where dozens of breweries and cideries (Two Brothers, Revolution, Three Floyds and Right Bee among them) will offer samples of their brews. Wander around with a beer in hand, chat with brewery reps and feel free to check out the museum’s exhibits.
Forest Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Saturday)
Get the St. Patrick’s Day festivities started early with Forest Park’s annual parade. The march will proceed down Madison Street starting at 1pm and feature over 65 entrants, including bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local businesses and more.
The Price is Right Live! At The Chicago Theater (Saturday)
“Come on down” for this touring, non-televised edition of the long-running game show The Price is Right. Randomly-selected contestants will have the chance to win appliances, vacations and more by playing favorite games like Plinko, Cliffhangers, the Big Wheel and the Showcase. A celebrity presenter (sorry, no Drew Carey) will be on hosting duties, and all audience members can take home prizes even if they’re not called on stage.
Glitterer at Beat Kitchen (Sunday)
If you yearn for the days of Title Fight, fear not, because frontman Ned Russin is continuing to make his mark. His newest venture, Glitterer, returns to Beat Kitchen on Sunday night. Glitterer’s distinct style of short, electro-punk songs should blast throughout the intimate venue. This is a show worth grabbing a ticket to.
Katy Kirby at Lincoln Hall (Sunday)
Indie singer-songwriter Katy Kirby is back in Chicago on Sunday for what should be a gorgeous show. Kirby’s combination of intricate songwriting and heartfelt vocals have made her a standout among the recent crop of singer-songwriters.
Chicago Polar Plunge (Sunday)
Brave the cold and head to North Avenue Beach this March for the Chicago Polar Plunge, which sends thousands of shivering participants into the icy waters of Lake Michigan to raise money for the Special Olympics Chicago. Can’t make it to North Avenue this year? The fundraiser is also offering a virtual edition, giving you some creative freedom to jump into a snowbank, a cold shower or pour a bucket of water over your head as you support Chicago’s Special Olympians.
Every Friday, Case the Producer rounds up the most exciting new tunes in music and serves them up in one easy-to-find blog for you, the Q101 Crew Members.
Faye Webster: Underdressed at the Symphony
The elegant Faye Webster is back with her fifth studio album and her first since 2021’s head-turning I Know I’m Funny haha. Webster is one of many incredible singer-songwriters who seems to be thriving at this current moment in time. There’s a strong chance that Underdressed at the Symphony is one of the strongest records of the year.
Liam Gallagher & John Squire: Liam Gallagher & John Squire
It’s mad, innit? Liam Gallagher [Oasis] and John Squire [The Stone Roses], two legends of BritPop, have teamed up for an epic album. The duo collaborated once in 1997, but not to this magnitude. Gallagher’s voice, matured and aged, sounds crisp and full-of-heart. Squire’s guitar has never sounded better.We can only hope that Chicago is graced with these two legends at some point in 2024.
Pissed Jeans: Half Divorced
Pissed Jeans are pissed off. The Pennsylvania-based quarter are working through their issues on Half Divorced, the first album from the group since 2017. Tracks like “Cling to a Poisoned Dream” and “Sixty-Two Thousand Dollars in Debt” don’t hold back with their aggression, but the clear standout on the record is “Moving On”, a thumping, unforgiving track about forging new beginnings.
Twenty One Pilots: Overcompensate
In case you’ve been living under a rock, TØP are back and they’re back in a big way. Q101 premiered “Overcompensate” on Thursday to a roaring ovation. Clancy, the band’s latest record, will be out on May 17.
Neon Pill, the band’s sixth full-length album, arrives on May 17th. The 12 song album was recorded following a series of traumatic events for the band, including the death of Matt and Brad Shultz’s father.
NEW ALBUM! NEW SONG! NEW TOUR!
NEON PILL: NEW ALBUM COMING 05.17.24. PRE-ORDER SIGNED COLORED VINYL FROM OUR SHOP 🔮 https://t.co/TGQXcFSgMI
We’re so excited to be hitting the road with our friends @CageTheElephant this summer for their Neon Pill tour🤘 Sign up now for early access to tickets at the link in bio 🖤 pic.twitter.com/GPBmEEMiM8
Yesterday, the world lost Richard Lewis, a brilliant comedian who had a number of memorable roles, including himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Please enjoy this incredible compilation of Larry David and Lewis bickering at one another on Curb.
“This story takes place around a seminal UFO event that I believe happened,” DeLonge says of the book, which will be released June 11 through his To the Stars Media company and distributed by Simon & Schuster. “Although the location may have been changed, the importance of what I believe transpired remains. AJ and I wanted to capture a sense of what it was like to be in this pivotal moment in American culture in 1962: the cars, the space race, the beginnings of social change, but also under the pressures of Vietnam, the Cold War and a new skepticism about government secrecy.”
