Chicago Music Legends Play Bowie, T. Rex & Kraftwerk for Cancer Relief

Early New year prediction: I pull my numb face off a mirror, peel my withered tendril of a former feather boa off the sticky club floor and grope about in the dark For my shades….it’s a brand new year, is that howling I hear outside?..is it the year of the diamond dogs? No-not quite, however I do know that I, Chris Connelly , am fulfilling a secret dream of mine to step into the shiny black brogues of the THIN WHITE DUKE and be him for a night, and not just ANY night, January 11^th, just 3 days after his 66^th birthday! And where? Oh-the METRO, my favorite venue! and why? Apart from why NOT!?  Because it’s for the Pablove foundation  an amazing organization established to provide relief for the patients and families of pediatric cancer .

Okay-I’ve found my shades, I ‘ve found my battered and somewhat shapeless bolero hat and I had to call someone so  picked on my friend & co conspirator in all this MATT WALKER , he is playing drums. He’s played with the Smashing Pumpkins, he’s played with Filter and he’s played with Morrissey, and right now he’s asking why I’m not at rehearsal yet, so I tell him I’m on my way. Leave the charred remains of whatever club this was, I notice the elevator’s broke, so I slide down a rope, down to the streets, y’know…..

On the way down, I shout out to my friend SHIRLEY MANSONof GARBAGE  ..tells me she’s not busy that night, and even if she was, she’d dump everything to sigh like twig the wonder kid, get up on the metro stage and belt out some Bowie with me-so, along with the best musicians in Chicago we are SONS OF THE SILENT AGE, we play the music of DAVID BOWIE,  it sounds AMAZING, we are doing it with the incredible JON LANGFORD’S WACO BROTHERS, who will play the music of Bowie’s peers T.REX, and the enigmatic DEATH ON THE AUTOBAHN who will play the music of KRAFTWERK…ALL ON ONE NIGHT!!! All for a sweet charity, and for $20…IT’S A CRASH COURSE FOR THE RAVERS!

-Chris Connelly

Tags: chris connelly, DEATH ON THE AUTOBAHN, families of pediatric cancer, GARBAGE, january 11th, KRAFTWERK, metro, new years eve, pablove foundation, SHIRLEY MANSON, thin white duke

A celebration of life, community, and music!

Hey Readers! This is Pat Gilroy from the Chicago rock band The Super Happy Fun Club!  I’ve known and worked with Billy throughout the years and I’m excited to be a guest blogger today! In the summer of 2010 I received a troubling text about a friend who was part of a brutal attack.  He stood up for someone who was in harm’s way, and in a terrible turn of events, became the victim.  (check out the full story here).  Matthew Leone (bassist for the rock band Madina Lake) was at the beginning of a very long journey back to normal life.

Musicians from across the country heard Matthew’s story and came together to help.  Artists like Metallica, Fall Out Boy, and Madonna donated items to auction. The Smashing Pumpkins put together a benefit concert at the Metro with Kill Hannah.  With the help of the organization Sweet Relief, fans and friends alike kept track of the fundraising efforts and helped Matthew raise the money in order to pay down his medical bills.

Now Matthew has decided it is time to give back.  He is taking $60,000 from his medical bill fund and starting a new Midwestern Musicians Fund for Sweet Relief.  These funds will be available for musicians battling cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and other life threatening challenges.

Join Matthew and friends on Wednesday May 2^nd 2012 at the Foundation Room at House of Blues where you can hear Matthew and Sweet Relief Executive Director Rob Max speak about the work that Sweet Relief does for the community.  Additionally, Tom Higgenson of the Plain White T’s will give a special performance. The event runs from 6:30 – 8:30PM.  Join us in this celebration of giving! Click here for more information.

- Pat Gilroy

Tags: chicago, Chicago attack, Fall Out Boy, Foundation Room, fundraiser, house of blues, Kill Hannah, Madina Lake, Madonna, Matthew Leone, Metallica, metro, Midwestern Musicians Fund, musicians, Pat Gilroy, plain white t's, Rob Max, Sweet Relief, the smashing pumpkins, The Super Happy Fun Club, Tom Higgenson

“The Interrupters” via Chicago-Based Kartemquin Films

The warm weather is on its way out – signaling the end of the Summer Blockbuster. Throughout the past few months countless movies have made their debut; some reaching the coveted ‘blockbuster’ status, while others simply just fizzled. A majority featured A-list cast members and numerous explosions, but few had substance. If you’re looking for something true, local, and inspiring, check out Kartemquin Films (KTQ) newest feature: The Interrupters. Approaching their 45th Anniversary Celebration on September 15th at the Metro, KTQ is world renowned for producing grounding breaking documentaries right here in Chicago. Past films include Hoop Dreams (1994) and No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson (2010). There are various showings of The Interrupters throughout the city. Take a look!

Centered around members of CeaseFire, “The Interrupters tells the moving and surprising stories of three Violence Interrupters who try to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they once employed.” Thought of as a virus, these individuals seek to stop the spread of hatred at its source: “go after the most infected.” Ameena Matthews, daughter of Jeff Fort, one of Chicago’s most infamous gang leaders, joins the cause to help educate and promote a positive message of rising above the violence. “From  acclaimed director Steve James and bestselling author Alex Kotlowitz, this film is an unusually intimate journey into the stubborn, persistence of violence in our cities.”

-  Evan Jones, Intern

@ewjonesy

Tags: acclaimed director, alex kotlowitz, ameena matthews, bestselling author, cease fire, chicago, chicago based movies, chicago metro, film making, hoop dreams, jeff fort, kartemquin films, metro, no crossover, steve james, the interrupters, the trial of allen iverson, violance in chicago

Gym Class Heroes’ TRAVIE MCCOY Concert Tickets Giveaway!!

Travie McCoy, lead singer of Gym Glass Heroes, is as you know, the indelible gold-selling group that credits local Pete Wentz as a buddy and collaborator. Travie has taken a quick break from the band to bust out a solo album, the famed Lazarus which of course features the monster hit “Billionaire” with Mr. Bruno Mars. Well I have great news Travie McCoy fans! He’s here in concert tomorrow – Friday, March 25  and I have 3 pairs of tickets for you!

He’ll be performing at 5:30pm at one of my favorite venues in the city, Metro (3730 N Clark St). Travie has also brought along XV, Donnis, Bad Rabbits and Black Cards for the evening.

If you want a chance at winning a pair here’s what you need to do : Comment below on why you love Travie McCoy AND why you think Metro rocks! Best 3 comments win a pair of tickets!

Sidenote….if you bring your concert ticket in to Rockit Wrigley (we’re just down the street) after the show, we’ll give you 20% off — BONUS!

Have at it guys – winners announced 5pm TONIGHT!

Tags: 20% off, bad rabbits, billionaire, billy dec, black cards, bruno mars, chicago, concerts, deals, Donnis, gym class heroes, metro, music venues, rockit, rockit wrigley, ticket giveaway, travie mccoy, travis mccoy, wrigleyville, XV

J.O.E.(Joyous Outdoor Event) w/ Redmoon Theatre & Metro/Smart Bar

If you’re looking for something totally new and different to do this Labor Day Weekend, I think I might have just come across it! Metro/Smart Bar and Redmoon Theatre have teamed up to bring us The 1st Annual  J.O.E.(Joyous Outdoor Event) Festival. A really unique mix of talented Chicagoans combining art, theatre, music and family fun. Starting tonight through Monday evening you can most definitely find something that fits your taste among the musical acts, spectacle performances, games, food and more.

This video of the luminarium especially caught tripped me out! Making it’s Chicago debut, this monumental maze-like inflatable installation looks unreal! Going through it is supposed to be an experience of surrounding yourself in iridescent color and light and to appreciate the pure forms of geometry and nature.  The creators, UK’s Architects of Air, said they draw inspiration from Islamic Architecture, Gothic Cathedrals and modern architectural innovators such as Buckminster Fuller and Frei Otto.

Check out www.joyousoutdoorevent.org for all the info, lineup and where you can get tickets. Happy Labor Day!!

Tags: chicago, festival, food, games, labor day, luminarium, metro, Music, redmoon theatre, smart bar

Who do you think is best in Chicago!?

Just voted for the Chicago Reader “Best in Chicago” awards online! Figured I would share my answers since everyone asks me on Twitter and Facebook about my Chicago favs! (BTW, sorry did these fast, was in a rush, sorry if missed anyone!) You should vote too! (Especially for my places! haha) Voting ends this weekend so go to http://bestof.chicagoreader.com/ now!

Tags: alice in wonderland, amc on illinois, andrew lee, andy lee, arthur murray, ashkenaz, assault.it, avenues, back up, best of, bill and phil movers, billy dec, binny's, carrie seacrist, chicago reader, conan o'brien, connie's, dance center chicago, dj rock city, dr. wax, el tapitio, elevation, equinox, golden triangle, hero fitness, house of blues, house of glunz, hubbard, improv olympic, jim bean club, joe's, kanye west, kinsella landscaping, kith kin, lolla, lookingglass theatre, loveabulls, lovehammers, medinah country club, merchandise mart, metro, niketown, paws, plain white t's, que rico, reeza's, richard's, riverside cafe, rockit bar and grill, rockit wrigley, second city, skinny cows, smart rooms, south of 80, sue, sunda, the peninsula, trex, u of i, u2, underground, vermillion, village cycle, whole foods, wiener circle

u2 in town for a reason (and for a chicagoan)

Rumors are true- U2 snuck in town to kick it at the Metro last night doing a super chill personal down and dirty Q & A with a select hundred or so guests- I was super honored to be there- props to them for such a unique and different way to promote the new album and North American tour- which kicks off in Chicago on Sept 12 ‘09 at Soldier Field!  And of course by picking chicago as a place to have this special experience, and to start launch their entire tour, certainly makes it evident that they know the value of chicago fans, exposure and influence.

But behind all of this- I think we need to give props to one special Chicagoan that helped make this happen- and that most U2 fans that praise their appearance don’t know about- and that’s my really wonderful friend- metro owner joe shanahan.  We had our “monthly lunch” together at uncommon ground Monday, day before all this went down, and I was just so proud to hear about how his great relationships he created and developed with bands like U2 (REM, New Order, Smashing Pumpkins,… list goes into the hundreds…) over decades of promoting them and their performances in Chicago, for Chicagoans- has turned into a comfort and love for being in our city- and a feeling of true friendship- that these bands, talents, icons,… truly value our city and want to be here, at the level exemplified by U2 above.  It’s just amazing joe- as just another Chicagoan trying to welcome the world to love our city- thank you for what you do.

Tags: bono, metro, u2