Sound check: Local H, Jimi Falls bring rock to H.O.M.E. Bar

Listen Local

Local H, one of the suburbs' musical claims to fame, brings 27 years of experience perfecting alternative rock to the H.O.M.E. Bar stage in Arlington Heights. Hard-rocking Jimi Falls joins the show, supporting their recent dual-single releases, “Rise” and “For the Broken.” Don't miss this epic local bill. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at H.O.M.E. Bar, 1227 N. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. $7. (847) 749-0253 or homebarchicago.com.

Halfway to AMB Fest 2018

Penny Road Pub and JBC Entertainment present the Halfway to AMB Fest 2018, a three-day festival of performances ­- all for $10! - marking six months out from the annual festival celebrating artists, musicians and bands. Friday features sets by Bloody Bill and the Bushwhackers, Blackjack Sass, Grain of Sand, Rachels Bully, Brown Bag Charley and The Bad Applez. Saturday catch The Last Generation, Unlikely Souls, Chick Norris, Reanimate The Fallen, Convoy, Chørd Cabäll, BoneShaker, Ten96, WRECKED, Shokker, Blacken The Day and the Blacklist Regulars. And Sunday brings Josh Robson, SoulPatchMonkey, Forbidden Fruit, 12:30 Something, Decibel Junkies, Mistaken EyeDentity and Miles. 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15; 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16; and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at Penny Road Pub, 545 Penny Road, Barrington. (847) 428-0562 or pennyroadpub.com.

98° in December

Boy bands were royalty at the turn of the century, and one of the top groups holding court was 98°. Catch Nick and Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons and Justin Jeffree as they heat up the holidays with the dance moves and harmonies you remember with “98° at Christmas” at the Genesee Theatre this weekend. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Tickets start at $40; VIP and meet-and-greet packages are available. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com.

Concert highlights

Ball in the House - “Holiday Magic”: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St., Batavia. Tickets start at $28. (630) 937-8930 or bataviafineartscentre.org.

7 Minutes In Heaven, Story Untold, Plans, Arvia: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Evolution Music, 1834 W. North Ave., Chicago. $10. (872) 206-2485 or evolutionmusicstore.com.

Mannheim Steamroller: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $39. (847) 671-5100 or rosemont.com/theatre.

The Tenors “Christmas Together”: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Pfeiffer Hall, North Central College, 310 E. Benton Ave, Naperville. $65-$85. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu.

Brett Young's “Caliville Tour”: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $20. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.

Ego Mechanics, One More Moon, Like Language and Pretty Beggar: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

Gallery-81, Julianne Q and Two Filipinos with live art by Bojitt: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $8; bring an unopened toy for free admission. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

Rosie and The Rivets “Jingle Bell Rock” Holiday Show: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Hard Rock Cafe, 63 W. Ontario St., Chicago. Free. (312) 943-2252 or hardrock.com/cafes/chicago/.

12th Planet “Soo Sick Tour” with Downlink, Svdden Death, Yakz, Stratus: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Concord Music Hall, 2047 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $20. (773) 570-4000 or concordmusichall.com.

Maggie Speaks: 8:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $5. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.

Classic Rock Charity Brunch: Noon Saturday, Dec. 16, at Lockdown Bar & Grill, 1024 N. Western Ave., Chicago. No cover; donations from the event (hosted by Joe Domingo and Good Looks Chicago) and raffle proceeds will go to help Move the World Operations pack meals and care packages to hand out to the homeless at the holidays. (773) 451-5625 or lockdownbar.com/.

Mike Mentz & Steve Everett: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Uncommon Ground Edgewater, 1401 W. Devon Ave., Chicago. $20. (773) 465-9801 or uncommonground.com.

“98° at Christmas”: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $40-$99.50. VIP tickets are $149-$499. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com.

Ides of March Christmas Show with Jim Peterik: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Tickets start at $39. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

John Denver Christmas Show: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $29.50. (847) 671-5100 or rosemont.com/theatre.

Cairo Holiday Party featuring Mammoth Cannon, Kadooge and Our Broken View: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Cairo Ale House, 2009 Franciscan Way, West Chicago. $10. (630) 876-9600 or cairoalehouse.com.

Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers, The North 41: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $10-$15. (847) 492-8860 or evanstonspace.com.

Bottle of Justus w/Miles Nielsen & the Rusted Hearts, Mike Himebaugh (of Hello Dave) & Nathan Holley: 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $10. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Postadelic: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

7th heaven: 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $10. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.

Dark Side of the Yule with Classical Blast, Dina Bach: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $20. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

<i> Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor. You can follow him on Twitter at @BShamieDH. Listen to Brian's “2017 Chicago Sound Check” Spotify playlist for a sampling of many of the great local bands he's included in the Daily Herald this year.</i>