Jeffrey Kahane opens the Skyline Piano Series at Northwestern’s Galvin Recital Hall on Friday. Credit: E.F. Marton Productions
Well, the calendar page has flipped to October, so Happy Hallothanksmas! The mashed-up holiday season brings an uptick in musical activity in Chicagoland, and our local scene reflects this bump.
In the next week, you can catch a world-class pianist and conductor at Northwestern’s Galvin Recital Hall on Friday night. The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America makes a rare appearance in our area at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday — it’s a fundraiser for Ukrainian wounded warriors. South Evanston’s favorite fancy taco joint, La Principal, is jumping into the music scene with a Sunday matinee featuring local legend ¡Ex Maquina¡ There is even going to be a show for fans of Mongolian and Tuvan overtone throat singing next Wednesday when the Tuvergen Band hits the stage at SPACE! Whew!!
Thursday, Oct. 3Steely Dad, 7 p.m. at Double Clutch Brewing, 2121 Ashland Ave. Steely Dad is a cover band that plays a variety of music from all eras – from Steely Dan (of course) and ZZ Top to the Killers and Nathaniel Rateliff. Free admission.
Ben Paterson Organ Trio, 7 p.m. at Le Piano, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. Downbeat Magazine said Paterson is “as soulful a pianist/organist as exists anywhere.” He played for several years with the great Chicago tenor player Von Freeman. Paterson also has a wonderful singing voice. LePiano has a Hammond B3 organ performance every Thursday evening. $15.
Willy Porter Band Falling Forward 25th Anniversary Celebration, 7:30 p.m. at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave. Porter is a semilocal boy; he grew up near Milwaukee. When he was young, Porter was inspired by Leo Kottke to switch from the viola to the guitar, and he became an up-and-coming singer songwriter in the 1990s. In 1999, Porter released Falling Forward, produced by multiple Grammy winner Neil Dorfsman. Porter was backed by a full band on this album — he tends to work mostly as a solo artist. He will perform the entire Falling Forward album at SPACE along with selections from his more recent recordings. Porter is a darn good songwriter with a blues-flavored vocal style. $20/$35.
Open Mic Jazz Jam, 8 p.m. at Prairie Moon,1635 Chicago Ave. This jazz jam session is scheduled for the first Thursday of each month. The hosts are veteran Clark Sommers (bass) and young lions Chase Wilkins (drums) and Brendon Harper (piano). Musicians are invited to bring their gear and sit in. Free admission.Friday, Oct. 4DJ Jay Queens, 7 p.m. at Evanston Pour, 528 Dempster St. Have a fancy cocktail or a frothy coffee drink and move to the house music groove pumped out by Evanston’s DJ Jay Queens (aka Jake Wiens)! He can create a great vibe. Queens is also a visual artist and a creative jack of all trades. Free admission.
Chad Willetts Quartet, 7 p.m. at Le Piano, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. Willetts is a drummer, pianist and owner/operator of this excellent East Rogers Park jazz club/restaurant. His jazz quartet features a guest artist every Friday night. $15.
Jeffrey Kahane, piano, 7:30 at Galvin Recital Hall, Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University, 70 Arts Circle Dr. This is part of Bienen’s Skyline Piano Artist series. Kahane can make the piano produce heart-wrenching, beautiful music. He is committed to the core classical piano repertoire, but he can improvise and is fully conversant with nonclassical genres. Kahane is in the fifth decade of a stellar career as a pianist, conductor and educator. He has played with major symphonies around the world and currently is conductor of the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra. In summing up his career to date, Kahane said, “Over the years, I have tried my best to bring a sense of moral and ethical purpose to everything I do as a musician, and to transmit the sense that we are not just making beautiful sounds, but engaging in storytelling, in acts of imagination and ethical choices.” This man is a musical giant! $40/$15 students.
South Pacific, 7:30 p.m. at the Skokie Theater, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. This classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical opened earlier in September and runs through Oct. 6 – it has received positive reviews. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the show deals with war, love and racism. It is jam-packed with classic songs like Some Enchanted Evening and I’m Going To Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair. The song from this wonderful show that has remained topical is You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught. $48/$42 seniors and students.
American Aquarium, 8 p.m. at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave. Formed in 2006, American Aquarium is an alternative country/rock band from Raleigh, N.C., but they have a Chicago connection — the band took its name from the first line of Wilco’s I Am Trying To Break Your Heart from the classic Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album. Front man/lead vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and founder BJ Barham launched American Aquarium from his college dorm room in 2005. The band has had quite a few lineups and has released 16 albums including 2024’s The Fear of Standing Still. This band pumps out twangers and bangers, and I love the pedal steel sound in a straight-up rock tune. $25.
Casey McDonough, 8:30 p.m. at Cary’s Lounge, 2251 W. Devon Ave., Chicago. McDonough is a highly skilled multi-instrumentalist — bass, guitar, piano and drums – and a solid vocalist, too. He has played bass with NRBQ for 12 years. NRBQ is a legendary, groundbreaking band that was launched in the 1960s. The band is renowned for its live shows, which mash up rock, pop, jazz and blues. McDonough is also a member of some terrific local Chicago bands such as the Flat Five and the Western Elstons. Free admission.
Christy Bennett, 11 p.m. at Le Piano, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. Bennett is a busy jazz vocalist who performs a late-night set at Le Piano every Friday. She is accompanied by Kevin Fort on piano. $15.Saturday, Oct. 5Rachel Drew and John Szymanski, 4 p.m. at Cary’s Lounge, 2251 W. Devon Ave., Chicago. Drew and Szymanski were both born and raised in Chicago. They grew up listening to the oldies, drawn to catchy melodies and song structures from decades earlier. As a duo, Drew and Szymanski blend their talents, creating electric, intimate performances of melodic originals and deep-cut covers. Szymanski is currently working on his first solo album, and he frequently plays with Chicago punk legend and founder of the Mekons, Jon Langford. Free admission.
Chad Willetts Quartet, 7 p.m. at Le Piano, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. Willetts is a drummer, pianist and owner/operator of this excellent East Rogers Park jazz club/restaurant. His Saturday night quartet features Dez Desormeaux on tenor sax. Desormeaux has that full-throated Chicago tenor sax tone! $15.
Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America, 7 p.m. at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. This all-male chorus was formed in 1918 to serve as ambassadors of Ukrainian culture, music and the unique 60-stringed instrument, the bandura. The sound is heroic and provides a window into the rich culture of this war-torn nation. Proceeds from the concert will support humanitarian aid for Ukrainian wounded warriors and the Bandura Education Fund. $30/$60.
The Bart Attacks, 7 p.m. at Sketchbook Brewing, 821 Chicago Ave. These two versatile musicians (Mike Ferriter on guitar and Bart Piet on guitar and vox) will play original songs and covers of tunes by the Grateful Dead, Johnny Cash, the Beatles and others. The duo sometimes adds a couple of friends to become a quartet to play some funky music. Free admission.
Paul O’Dette, lute, 7:30 at Galvin Recital Hall, Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University, 70 Arts Circle Dr. This concert is part of the Bienen School’s Segovia Classical Guitar series. Lutenist O’Dette is one of the most influential figures in the world of early music. His performances of Bach’s work are emotionally expressive. O’Dette has made over 155 recordings. He is also a conductor of Baroque operas and an avid researcher of early music. This program will focus on recently discovered Italian lute music manuscripts. $40/$15 students.
South Pacific, 7:30 p.m. at the Skokie Theater, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. See the write-up for Friday, Oct. 4. $48/$42 seniors and students.
Verböten with Uniflora, 8 p.m. at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave. Verböten is one of Evanston’s musical legends. In 1982, four young friends — Jason Narducy (11 years old), Zack Kantor (12 years old), Chris Kean (13 years old) and Tracey Bradford (15 years old) — formed a punk band, named it “Verböten” and played gigs at the Cubby Bear and a few other places before breaking up. The band only lasted 18 months and recorded four songs. The band’s primary claim to fame is its connection to the superstar rocker, Dave Grohl — Tracey Bradford was Grohl’s cousin and Jason Narducy’s wild punk guitar inspired him to pursue a career in rock music. The story was so interesting, it was made into a play that was a hit in early 2020. The band reunited to play at Riot Fest on Sept. 20 and they are coming home to Evanston for another show. Opening act Uniflora is a trio of teens from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago. Their post-punk energetic music is getting a lot of attention around town. $35.
Toad the Wet Sprocket with Jackopierce, 8 p.m. at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St. This show has been brought to Evanston by the folks at SPACE. Back in 1986, a group of musical teenagers in Santa Barbara, California, entered an open mic contest. The band didn’t have a name, so they grabbed Toad the Wet Sprocket from a Monty Python sketch. They didn’t win the competition that night, but that temporary name became their permanent name. The band had some hits in the 1990s and broke up in 1998. Toad the Wet Sprocket re-formed in 2010 and has been performing actively ever since. Opening act Jackopierce is an alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Jack O’Neill and Cary Pierce. Their style is focused on vocal harmonies and acoustic guitars. $44/$89.
Petra Van Nuis, 11 p.m. at Le Piano, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave. Van Nuis is a jazz vocalist with a light, delicate voice who performs the late-night set at Le Piano every Saturday. She’s very active in Chicago and often works with her husband, jazz guitarist Andy Brown. Pianist Dennis “Deluxe” Luxon accompanies Van Nuis during the late-night set at Le Piano. $15.Sunday, Oct. 6Suzuki Sunday, 1 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave. If you love seeing young musicians in their early performances, this afternoon showcasing The Music Institute of Chicago’s Suzuki students will make you smile. Students will be playing pianos, violins, guitars, cellos, violas and flutes. Free admission.
The JetSet, 4 p.m. at Cary’s Lounge, 2251 W. Devon Ave., Chicago. The JetSet are a Chicago-based music duo built around the singing and songwriting of Al Engelmann and Joanne McMahon. Their music combines elements of folk, rock and pop. Their set list includes a mix of popular and eclectic song covers, in addition to their own original music. Engelmann and McMahon met at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Free admission.
¡Ex Maquina!, 4 p.m. at La Principal, 700 Main St. ¡Ex Maquina! is a band led by Evanston residents Tony Vick and Susie Lofton. The band’s music is impossible to categorize – a mashup of rock, funk and punk that utilizes a very interesting combination of nonstandard instruments (cellos!), harmonies, rhythms and some spoken word vocals. Free admission.
Amr Fahmy Trio, 7 p.m. at Le Piano, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave. Fahmy is the pianist for the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective, a hard-grooving group of top-notch musicians who often perform with the marvelous vocalist Dee Alexander. He brings his trio to Le Piano every Sunday. $15.
Wesley Stace aka John Wesley Harding with Dag Juhlin, 7 p.m., at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave. Stace is a very interesting guy. He was born in Hastings, East Sussex in England. In his mid-30s, he relocated permanently to the United States and currently resides in Philadelphia. Stace is a singer/songwriter who often performs under his stage name — John Wesley Harding. He is also a published novelist and has had a couple of bestsellers. Stace has attracted a cult following with his engaging live shows; he is often compared to Elvis Costello. He has toured with major names including John Hiatt and Bruce Springsteen. Opening act Dag Juhlin has been a mainstay of the Chicago rock scene for decades, playing with Poi Dog Pondering, the Sunshine Boys and Expo ’76. Juhlin has also written music for commercials, has been a voice-over artist and was part of the on-air team for the Steve Dahl Radio Show. $20-$30.Monday, Oct. 7
Ian Ball and Ben Ottewell (of Gomez) with Buddy 8 p.m., at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave. Ball and Ottewell are the guiding lights of Gomez, an English indie rock band that made a splash (primarily in the UK and Australia) beginning in the late 1990’s. Ball & Ottewell have toured as a duo in addition to their duties with Gomez. To fill out the duo, they have linked up with the frontman of the Los Angeles-based indie rock band Buddy (the band is named after the frontman – yes, his name is Buddy). The result of the collaboration is surprisingly fresh and relatable. $25-$35.
Tuesday, Oct. 8Irish Music Session, 7 p.m. at Sketchbook Brewing Evanston, 821 Chicago Ave. Traditional Irish music session with a shifting cast of players; Sketchbook owner Shawn Decker usually brings his fiddle and joins in the session. Folks who can play Irish music can join in! Free admission.
Cabaret Night featuring Nitz and Friends North, 7 p.m. at Le Piano, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave. Daryl Nitz has been performing and producing cabaret shows in Chicago for years while teaching for 30 years in Chicago-area public schools. He retired recently from his teaching career and is devoting his full efforts to his art. This is a recurring show every Tuesday night. $15
Billy Bremner, 7:30 p.m. at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave. Scottish guitarist, Billy Bremner founded the legendary band Rockpile in 1976 with Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds. Bremner is known for his work on many of Dave Edmunds’ and Nick Lowe’s albums and has played with The Pretenders, Shakin’ Stevens and Carlene Carter. In addition to his long history of working with other artists, Bremner also released four solo albums during his career. This guy is an old-school rocker! $15/$22.
Open blues jam, 8 p.m. at Fritzy’s Tavern, 6156 N. Clark St., Chicago. We have no open blues jams in Evanston — the Tuesday night jam at the defunct Bill’s Blues Bar was epic, but it’s gone. This jam is a 10-minute drive from Evanston’s southern border, and it’s worth the trip. The “jam master” is Ed Genne, a solid blues guitarist, and a fine human being. Fritzy’s is owned by Karen King. She is a tenacious small businesswoman who managed to keep her bar from dying during the Covid crisis. The drinks are reasonably priced, and the jammers are often amazingly talented. Free admission.The Tuvergen Band brings traditional Mongolian music to SPACE on Wednesday. Credit: Tuvergen Band websiteWednesday, Oct. 9The Tim Fitzgerald Guitar Trio, 7 p.m. at Le Piano, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. Fitzgerald is a skilled guitarist who is heavily influenced by jazz great Wes Montgomery. Organist Tom Vaitsas often joins Fitzgerald. This is a recurring show on Wednesday nights. $15
Tuvergen Band and Bowmanville, 7:30 p.m. at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave. Tuvergen (“galloping” in Mongolian) Band is a Chicago-based world music trio founded by Tamir Hargana (lead vocals, folk lutes, morin khuur), Naizal Hargana (morin khuur, vocals) and Brent Roman (percussion, didgeridoo, vocals) in 2020. They are both from Mongolia and play the traditional Mongolian instruments. Tamir is also a specialist in Mongolian and Tuvan overtone throat singing. Roman is an ethnomusicologist and percussionist who has studied and played music from many cultures. Also on the bill is Bowmanville, a Chicago-based gypsy jazz group led by violinist Ethan Adelsman and featuring Graham Nelson on vocals and harmonica and Jason Miller on guitar. $15/$25.
Kyle Madsen Trio, 9 p.m. at Prairie Moon, 1635 Chicago Ave. Saxophonist/multireedist Madsen will lead his drumless trio (the performance space at Prairie Moon is limited). His work on the soprano sax is particularly fluid and his solos can build to a fever pitch. Madsen will be supported by Jon Gould on guitar and Matthew Coglianese on bass. $7.
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Chris Gillock is a blues harmonica player, vocalist, non-profit board member and retired investment banker. He is also an occasional blogger – you can find his blog at https://g-freethoughts.blogspot.com/….
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