Backyard Tire Fire to play at Chord on Blues
Generating some heat
Backyard Tire Fire, an up-and-coming indie-rock band with a rootsy sound, brings its live act to the suburbs this weekend. The band, based in Bloomington, is touring behind its latest record, "Good to Be," which was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos.
Info: 9 p.m. Friday, May 7, at Chord on Blues, 106 S. 1st Ave., St. Charles. Call (630) 513-0074.
Local singerChicago singer-songwriter Michael McDermott, who scored a big hit in the 1990s with "A Wall I Must Climb," hits the stage at the Montrose Room this weekend with special guest Carl Broemel of the band My Morning Jacket.Info: 8 p.m. Friday, May 7, at the Montrose Room in the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont. $15 at the door. Go to icohare.com/montrose room.Punk pioneersBack in the late 1970s, before many people around here even knew what punk music was, Chicago's own Tutu the Pirates was thrilling (and often confusing) local audiences with outrageous stage names (Little Richie Speck, Mel Torment), over-the-top live show and funny, snotty punk songs ("I Wanna be a Janitor"). The group is back to celebrate the release of a compilation LP. Info: Tutu the Pirates play with Da at 10 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, Chicago. $10. Go to emptybottle.com.