Music notes: JC Brooks heats up Naperville's Union Friday

Posted October 21, 2015 5:50 am

Matt Arado

JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound will bring their incendiary brand of neo-soul to Naperville Friday. courtesy of Marisa Klug-Morataya

<h3 class="briefHead">A new shade of soul</h3>

JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound have both reclaimed and reinvented classic soul music. The band delivers the sweaty grooves and no-holds-barred emotion that fans want from the genre, but with a punky, contemporary spin. And frontman Brooks is a singularly powerful presence on stage. The group brings its incendiary live show to the suburbs this weekend. 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at the Union, 311 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Tickets cost $15 online and $13 by phone; no door sales. (630) 637-SHOW or theunionnetwork.com.

<h3 class="briefHead">Sultry sounds</h3>

Grammy-nominated R&B singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brian McKnight will perform in the suburbs this weekend. McKnight has sold millions of albums and delighted fans around the world with a silky and heartfelt take on R&B. His new record, "Better," is due out in January 2016. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Tickets start at $28. Go to geneseetheatre.com.

<h3 class="briefHead">Major tribute</h3>

Major Threat is the best kind of cover band - punk rockers paying tribute to other punk rockers. The band covers songs by the seminal punk group Minor Threat, which helped define 1980s hard-core music after bursting out of the Washington, D.C., area. Major Threat, the cover band, was launched by Dan Precision of the acclaimed Chicago-based punk band 88 Fingers Louie, and it includes members or ex-members of other local bands, including Rise Against. Johnny Vomit and MG Baily are also scheduled to perform. 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Brauerhouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road #13, Lombard. $8. Go to brauerhouse.com.

<h3 class="briefHead">Post-punk heroes</h3>

Detroit post-punk band Protomartyr has been earning critical and popular acclaim for its prickly guitar sound and the forceful, offbeat vocals from singer Joe Casey. It's latest album, "The Agent Intellect," came out earlier this year to glowing reviews, and the band has been a favorite on the indie festival circuit. Protomartyr plays in Chicago this weekend. Amanda X and Negative Scanner are also scheduled to perform. 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $15. Go to lh-st.com.

Brian McKnight, a Grammy-nominated R&B crooner, will perform in Waukegan Saturday. COURTESY OF EMC/BOWERY

Acclaimed Detroit post-punk band Protomartyr will headline a show Sunday at Lincoln Hall. Courtesy of Zak Bratto

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