Sound check: Matchbox Twenty, Counting Crows lead string of '90s shows
Matching Matchbox with Crows
The '90s was a time all its own musically. The decade saw the birth of grunge and its stepbrother post-grunge, along with a resurgence of alternative rock, prodded by MTV's early-'90s efforts to keep the radio on TV. “Mr. Jones” was the breakthrough song for the California-based Counting Crows, which achieved mainstream success when the music video station started playing the song in heavy rotation. Rob Thomas and his band Matchbox Twenty joined the alternative-rock fray several years later, pounding the airwaves with “Long Day,” “Real World,” “Push” and “3 A.M.,” followed up by Thomas' collaboration with Carlos Santana on the Grammy-winning “Smooth.” Open a time capsule from the '90s when Counting Crows and Matchbox Twenty join forces for the “A Brief History of Everything Tour” stopping in Tinley Park this weekend at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park. Tickets start at $28; VIP packages are available. (708) 614-1616 or matchboxtwentyconcerts.com. 6:45 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17
The '90s on tour
Saturday brings even more '90s musical joy to the Chicago area with two tours hitting town. “I Love the '90s: The Party Continues Tour,” featuring Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath, Biz Markie All-4-One, O-Town and more, takes over Highland Park's Ravinia Festival. And the “Love in the '90s Tour” brings Keyshia Cole, Case, Soul for Real, Total and more to the Chicago Theatre for a second year.
“I Love the '90s: The Party Continues Tour” starts at 7 p.m. (gates open at 4 p.m.) Saturday, Sept. 16, at Ravinia Festival, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. $46-$102. (847) 266-5000 or ravinia.org.
“Love in the '90s Tour” takes the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $58.50-$128.50. (312) 462-6300 or thechicagotheatre.com.
Ocular rock?
Sing along to songs you know when XEB (X Eye Blind) brings together Kevin Cadogan, Tony Fredianelli and Arion Salazar, original members of Third Eye Blind and contributors to many of the band's best-loved hits, including “Semi Charmed Life,” “How's It Going To Be,” “Graduate” and one of my favorites, “Motorcycle Drive By.” XEB plans to play through “Third Eye Blind,” the band's self-titled 1997 platinum album, including other hits and rarer favorites. Come early to see Naperville alternative rockers Seven Corners - Eric Binder, Vijay Ramasami, Bill Karmia and J.J. Jung - tear up the stage as they check “Intimate club show with an influential band” off their collective bucket list. S.P.A.C.E., 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $15-$75; VIP seats available. (847) 492-886 or evanstonspace.com. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19
Shuffled tracks
What I've been listening to this week:
“Superhuman,” a hauntingly hard-rocking song by Blacklist Regulars. Check out the surreal new video on YouTube, too. (Spotify, iTunes)
High school ennui takes a clever twist in “Catfish” from Downers Grove's Fredo Disco (aka Clear Confusion's Fredo Fosco). (SoundCloud)
“Better Way,” an upbeat look at human encounters recently released by Chicago's pop rockers On Division. (Spotify)
Concert highlights
Kashmir, Friday at Five: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $7. (331) 777-4712 or ticketweb.com.
Remod, Blumenkohl, The Kings Rising: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at Tivoli Bowl, 938 Warren Ave., Downers Grove. Free. (630) 969-0660 or tivolibowl.com.
JC Brooks, The North 41: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at S.P.A.C.E., 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $17-$30. (847) 492-8860 or evanstonspace.com.
Captain Coopersmith, Lunar Ticks, The King of Mars: 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 404-9494 or martyrslive.com.
Welcome to Jonestown: 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at Silvie's Lounge, 1902 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. $10. (773) 871-6239 or silvieslounge.com.
Rock-It Science: 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at Fitz's Spare Keys, 119 N. York St., Elmhurst. $5. (630) 379-5007 or fitzs.publishpath.com.
Kevin Mileski: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at Bliss Wine & Gifts, 201 S. Main St., Wauconda. (847) 526-7133 or blisswineandgifts.com.
Fall Out Boy: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $40. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.
Black4, OUTdrejas, Fist-A-Gon: 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $10. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.
Brian Allison: 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at Board and Barrel, 218 S. Washington St., Naperville. Free. (630) 946-6823 or boardandbarrel.net.
Fairview, The Watsons: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, at Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $12-$15. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.
Coast Modern, Salt Cathedral: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $15. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.
Wilde, Revolt Coda, Tall Green Pine: 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, at Emporium Wicker Park, 1366 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Free. (773) 697-7922 or emporiumchicago.com.
Frances & the Foundation, Stereoviolet, Rebel Soul Revival, Arc & Stones: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $9-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.
Shooter Jennings, The Royal Hounds: 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $20-$25. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.
Scotch the Filmmaker, Mama Jimi, Daylight Sinners, The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club, Half Full: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $10. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.
<i> Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor. He may not be a musician, but he plays one in “Guitar Hero.” You can follow him on Twitter at @BShamieDH.</i>