September 2010

Wed, Sept. 1
Main Club closed. SideBar will be open.

Thurs, Sept. 2
Main Club closed. SideBar will be open.

Thurs, Sept. 2
Euchre, 7:30pm in the SideBar, free. [CARD GAMES]
Grab a partner or just show up and we will attach one to you. Not sure how to play? We can teach you! Euchre is a four-player card game. The object is to score as many tricks as you can. When you reach the set point amount, your team will win the game!

Fri, Sept. 3
Nick Curran & The Lowlifes plus The Honeybees, 9:30pm, $10 TW/advance tickets. [ROCKABILLY]
Nick Curran describes his music as a cocktail consisting of the sounds of no less than seventeen widely differing musicians blended together with a cup of broken glass. That only begins to characterize the wallop packed by the 98-proof elixir of this singer, songwriter and monster guitarist who effortlessly carries the past with him as he blazes across the musical landscape in perpetual forward motion.
Reform School Girl, Nick Curran and the Lowlife’s new release on the Eclecto Groove label, is a culmination of his multitude of talents: a throwback to his roots, only amped up to the limit. “I’ve written more songs on Reform School Girl than on any other records. I wanted it to have no filler – only good stuff. All my influences are there, from old blues like Lazy Lester and T-Bone Walker to girl groups like the Ronettes and the Shangri-Las, to Guns N Roses.”
Catch Nick Curran as he shakes, rattles and rolls a head-spinning combination of genres and tunes into a cool, irresistible cocktail that is rough and ready for action.
myspace.com/curranrock

The Honeybees are a 5 piece band from Chicago. They play late ’50s/early ’60s rock n’ roll. Some rockabilly, some blues, some twist, some r n’ r – Americana!
thehoneybees.yolasite.com

Sat, Sept. 4
Waco Brothers and The Yellowhammers, 9pm, $15 TW/advance tickets. [ROCK]
The Waco Brothers’ mix of hellfire country and mournful punk truly inspires. They are working to save music so you don't have to. “The band's songbook is filled with political parables fused to a lost highway aesthetic and loads of black humor... pass the bottle and turn up the jukebox.” – Time Out Chicago
myspace.com/wacobrothers

The YellowHammers’ latest recording is self-titled. With this album, it’s as if they’re brand new, and being introduced; yet the new life they have created is in fact their fourth record. Fixed in an American blend of rock that draws from blues, country, and folk, the band is loose not sloppy, tender not soft, forlorn not pitiful, but always hopeful. This is roots rock from Chicago’s West Side.
yellowhammers.com

Sun, September, 5
Closed for private event.

Mon, Sept. 6
Closed.

Tues, Sept. 7
Open Mic. in the SideBar, signup at 8pm, starts at 9pm, free.

Wed, Sept. 8
Chicago Singer Spotlight with Becca Kaufman, 8pm, $8. [ECLECTIC]
Chicago Singer Spotlight is a showcase open to anyone: male or female, from the seasoned professional to the aspiring beginner. And the diversity doesn’t end there. A typical show encompasses music genres of all types including: jazz, rock, country, musical theater and original material. Each show consists of four vocalists performing a four-song set with a professional house band.
singerspotlight.com

Thurs, Sept. 9
Spade Kitty Showcase, 8pm, $5. [rock]
8 pm – Dave Kay
9 pm – Jack Swain
10 pm – Rosie Healy
11 pm – Matt Brown
spadekitty.com

*Also on Thurs, Sept. 9
Euchre, 7:30pm in the SideBar, free. [CARD GAMES]
Grab a partner or just show up and we will attach one to you. Not sure how to play? We can teach you! Euchre is a four-player card game. The object is to score as many tricks as you can. When you reach the set point amount, your team will win the game!

Fri, Sept. 10
Velvet Jimis + New Faces of Soul, 9pm, $5. [ROCK]
velvetjimis.com

Sat, Sept. 11
Cliff Johnson & The Happy Jacks plus The Romeros, 9pm, $12 TW/advance tickets [POP/ROCK].
Cliff Johnson (founder of Off Broadway) and Power Pop Pioneer with his all new band, The Happy Jacks, make a live performance.
cliffjohnson.net

The Romeros represent all the best elements of rock and roll. Punk that’s not stupid, pop that’s not saccharine, rock that’s not boring and real country twang. All these elements come together in songs that are short and sweet with hooks around every corner. The Romeros might remind you of a great 45 single that you found digging in your mom’s record collection or a band your older sister played on her college radio show in 1984, sometimes during the same chorus. The tunes are by no means dated, they are more so timeless with lyrics that sing of heartache, lust, late night telephone calls and love gone wrong.
myspace.com/theromeros

Sun, Sept. 12
Chicago Grandstand Big Band, 5pm door, 6pm showtime, $10, 17 & under $5. [jazz]
The Chicago Grandstand Big Band has been an integral part of Chicago’s entertainment community for over 25 years. This band has an extensive selection of arrangements that encompass everything from the Swing Era (Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, Artie Shaw, etc) to Big Band Jazz (Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman etc.
chicagograndstandbigband.com

Jazz programming at FitzGerald's is generously sponsored by public radio 90.9 FM WDCB, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Mon, Sept. 13
Closed.

Tues, Sept. 14
Open Mic. in the Club, signup at 8pm, starts at 9pm, free.

Wed, Sept. 15
Rob Parton Big Band, doors open at 7pm, showtime 8pm, $10, 17 and under $5. [JAZZ]
The Rob Parton Big Band features a group of the finest musicians in Chicago. Musically, the band mirrors that of the European Radio Orchestras, where new music is the focus. The music features the sounds of the electric guitar, electric bass, percussion and musical styles outside of the traditional swing setting, hitting upon funk grooves, hip hop grooves, latin grooves and of course the essence of it all, swing. In some ways it might be very similar to Gordon Goodwin’s Big PHAT Band intersecting with Maria Schneider’s Jazz Orchestra.
rparton.com

Thurs, Sept. 16
April Verch, 8pm, $15 TW/advance tickets. [FOLK]
April Verch is a dynamic Canadian fiddler, singer and stepdancer. With her band, she plays a traditional and original repertoire that is deeply rooted in the styles she grew up with, in the Ottawa Valley region of Ontario.
aprilverch.com

*Also on Thurs, Sept. 16
Euchre, 7:30pm in the SideBar, free. [CARD GAMES]

Fri, Sept. 17
Eddie C. Campbell, 9pm, $10 TW/advance tickets. [blues]
Eddie C. Campbell paid his sideman dues on the bandstand with everyone from Howlin' Wolf and Little Walter to Little Johnny Taylor and Jimmy Reed. Koko Taylor recommended Campbell to Willie Dixon, who hired him as a Chicago Blues All-Star in 1976. Campbell cut his own debut album, the rousing King of the Jungle, in 1977 for the Steve Wisner's short-lived Mr. Blues label (now available on Rooster Blues, it includes the guitarist's lighthearted Yuletide perennial “Santa's Been Messin' With the Kid”). But he split the country for calmer European climates, recording a nice 1984 album with a Dutch group, Let’s Pick It!   Happily, Eddie returned to Chicago after spending a decade in Europe. His shimmering West Side-styled guitar playing and unusually introspective songwriting have been a breath of fresh air on the Windy City circuit.   ... more
myspace.com/eddieccampbell

*Also on Fri, Sept. 17
Happy Talk Band & Camille, 8pm in the SideBar, pass the hat. [ROCK]

Sat, Sept. 18
The Shams Band CD Release Party: Champagne, + special guests Cole DeGenova & the People's Republic, and Fatbook;   doors: 8pm, show: 9pm, $10 TW/advance tickets. [rock]
9:00 - 9:40pm: Cole DeGenova and the People's Republic - myspace.com/thepeoplesrepublicmusic
10:00 - 11:00pm: The Shams Band - (Headliner) myspace.com/theshamsband
11:15 - 12:15: Fatbook - myspace.com/fatbookmusic

Sat, Sept. 18
Peter Case, 8:30pm in SideBar, $20 TW/advance tickets. [ROCK]
Singer-songwriter Peter Case has enjoyed a wide-ranging career ranging from new wave music to folk rock to solo acoustic performance. After youthful stints with the Nerves and the Plimsouls, Case struck out on his own with a self-titled album released in 1986 on Geffen Records. Produced by T-Bone Burnett, the record included a number of songs co-written by Victoria Williams, and also featured the talents of John Hiatt and of Roger McGuinn of The Byrds. One of the songs on the album, “Old Blue Car,” was nominated for a Grammy™ award.  ... more
petercase.com

Sun, Sept. 19
Bill O’Connell’s Chicago Skyliners Big Band, 6pm, $10, 17 & under $5. [JAZZ]
A house band at FitzGerald’s since 1991, the Chicago Skyliners Big Band is one of the top big bands in Chicagoland. Besides original material by contemporary big band arrangers, the band also features the music of Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, Count Basie, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. Blue Birdland recording artists. The band has recorded 7 CDs. Big band is alive and well. Celebrate this great art form most every Sunday at FitzGerald’s. On your way there, check Bill’s big band radio show Sundays at 5pm on 90.9FM WDCB.
chicagoskylinersbigband.com

Jazz programming at FitzGerald's is generously sponsored by public radio 90.9 FM WDCB, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Mon, Sept. 20
Closed.

Tues, Sept. 21
Open Mic. in the SideBar, signup at 8pm, starts at 9pm, free.

Wed, Sept. 22
 

Thurs, Sept. 23
An Evening with W.C. Clark, 8pm, $15 TW/advance tickets. [BLUES]
“If the blues is played right,” says Austin, Texas native W.C. Clark, “it makes your soul feel clean.” Indeed, master guitarist/vocalist Clark – known as “The Godfather of Austin Blues” – has been playing the blues right and cleansing souls from the east side of Austin to stages around the world for over 40 years. He's been mentoring countless young blues and soul players in the finer points of the music for almost as long. Blues stars from Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan to Angela Strehli to Lou Ann Barton to Marcia Ball have all perfected their craft under Clark's tutelage. Clark's mix of modern Texas blues, searing guitar and heartfelt, Memphis-style soul vocals have made him a favorite of blues and R&B fans alike.
wcclark.com

Fri, Sept. 24
The Spampinato Brothers, 9:30pm, $15 TW/advance tickets. [ROCK]
Joey Spampinato is a founding member of the legendarily diverse, critically acclaimed and much-loved NRBQ, the only band to appear at the Berlin Jazz Festival, the New York Folk Festival and the Grand Ole Opry in the same year. Some twenty-five or so years after NRBQ’s formation, Joey had the distinct pleasure of welcoming his brother Johnny into the band. During Johnny’s tenure, NRBQ continued to make great music in the studio and in concert while also becoming the first band to appear on "The Simpsons" in both live and animated form.
Now, Joey and Johnny turn a page and do what they always knew was their destiny: to write, record and perform music together as The Spampinato Brothers. They are joined by Aaron Spade on guitar and Jay Cournoyer on drums.
spampinatobrothers.com

*Also on Fri, Sept. 24
Cannonball, 8pm in the SideBar, pass the hat! [ROCK]

Sat, Sept. 25
Heartsfield Benefit for Perry Jordan, 9pm - 2 sets! $20 TW/advance tickets. [BENEFIT]
Perry Jordan has been recovering the past few months from a heart attack and is in a rehabilitation center in Wisconsin where he continues his recovery. He is looking pretty good, having lost some weight and being on a good diet. While he is physically doing fairly well, he is working on his memory as part of the rehab process. We know you all will have Perry in your thoughts over the coming weeks as this process continues.
The proceeds will benefit Perry's expensive recovery process. There will be a number of guests and Heartsfield will perform with Freddie Dobbs from the original band. Others from the original band have already committed to attend, along with other notables from the Chicago music scene.
heartsfield.com

Sun, Sept. 26
John Burnett Orchestra, 6pm, $10, 17 & under $5. [jazz]
The John Burnett Orchestra specializes in '40s-style big band swing - keeping alive the sounds of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and others. Each musician is highly professional and most have played with many of the top American big bands such as the Miller, Herman and Buddy Rich Bands. In addition to swing music the orchestra performs current big band jazz charts and many vocal ballads such as those of Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn. The orchestra is directed by John Burnett, morning host of 90.9FM WDCB - Public Radio From College of DuPage - Chicago’s leading jazz radio station. John hails from England and attended the Royal Academy of Music. The orchestra consists of five saxes, four trumpets, four trombones, piano, bass, drums and at least one vocalist. It is rapidly establishing the reputation of being one of the best bands in Chicago, grabbing the attention of both old and young alike.
johnburnettorchestra.com

Jazz programming at FitzGerald's is generously sponsored by public radio 90.9 FM WDCB, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Mon, Sept. 27
Closed.

Tues, Sept. 28
Open Mic. in the SideBar, signup at 8pm, starts at 9pm, free.

Wed, Sept. 29
Two Tons of Steel, 8:30pm, $7 per person, $10 per couple. [country-rock]
Two Tons' rambunctious brand of country-rooted rock has been inspiring listeners in the great republic – and far beyond – for more than two decades, and with its 10th album, Not That Lucky, the band is ready to throw its weight around even more.
Not That Lucky, which reached #4 on the Americana Music Charts in Sept/Oct 2009, is the band's first studio album since 2005’s Vegas (which ranked among the top 20 Americana albums for 2006) is its fourth helmed by Lloyd Maines, Texas’ most in-demand producer (the Flatlanders, Dixie Chicks, Pat Green, James McMurtry). Explaining why he always clears his schedule for Two Tons of Steel, Maines simply declares, "They're one of the best bands in Texas."
twotons.com

*Also on Wed, Sept. 29
Quiz Night, 7pm registration in the SideBar Music Rm, competition starts at 7:30pm, $20 per team. [GAMES]
Test your trivia skills at our monthly Quiz Night!

Thurs, Sept. 30
Country Night in Berwyn, 8pm, $5. [COUNTRY]
Tonight’s bands include:
Long Gone Lonesome Boys – myspace.com/longgonelonesomeboys
Sarah & The Tall Boys – sarahandthetallboys.com
Jessica Jane plus special guest John Ballentyne