Sound check: Paula Cole, Madeleine Peyroux jazz up North Shore Center
Cole and Peyroux in Skokie
Paula Cole busted onto the national scene in 1997 with her Grammy-nominated romantically tragic single “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” But it wasn't until a few months later that she left an indelible mark on the late-'90s soundtrack with the release of “I Don't Want to Wait,” the at-the-time omnipresent song tapped as the “Dawson's Creek” theme. Cole brings those hits and many others to Skokie this weekend along with Madeleine Peyroux, the jazz and blues songstress who found mainstream success with her 2004 album “Careless Love.” 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $55-$75. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org.
Get Disturbed
The twice Grammy-nominated Disturbed - the hard-rocking band behind hits “Down With The Sickness,” “Inside The Fire” and “The Sound of Silence” - is on tour promoting the release of its latest album, “Evolution.” With a mix of singles from the new album along with old favorites, the band hits Allstate Arena for a weekend show joined by Ontario's Three Days Grace. Ticket purchases for the “Evolution World Tour” include a CD or digital copy of October's “Evolution.” 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 8, at Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $29.50. (800) 745-3000 or rosemont.com/allstate.
Strange '90s benefit
Sometimes we need a little help from our friends. Chicago's Metro, Charity Bomb & 101WKQX are hosting Strange '90s, a benefit concert raising funds to help defray medical costs for Jerry Bryant, the Emmy-winning host of Chicago's JBTV undergoing chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. The evening will include performances by numerous musical artists, many from the Chicago area, including Naked Raygun, Andrew W.K., and Local H as well as Jonny Radtke & Mat Devine of Kill Hannah, Stabbing Westward's Walt Flakus, Tom Higgensen of the Plain White T's, Jimmy Gnecco of OURs and many others. Ticket proceeds will directly benefit Bryant's cancer treatment fund. 8 p.m. Friday, March 8, at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago. $40; VIP packages and tables are also available. (773) 549-4140 or metrochicago.com.
Angel, Annie and Baertrum at Martyrs'
Three Silvie's alums reunite at Martyrs' to bring some life to your Hump Day evening. Observing with Annie, Angel Colón Band and Baertrum all return to the stage with some fresh new songs to share. In addition, OWA and Baertrum have partnered with Sing Me A Story, a Nashville-based organization working to pair musical performers with stories written and illustrated by children in hospitals, youth organizations and hospices across the country. Inspired by those imaginative writings, both bands have conjured up their own musical takes on the tales, which they will perform and record live that evening. Anyone interested in partnering with Sing Me A Story, hearing the songs or donating to the children's funds can find more information at singmeastory.org. 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 404-9494 or martyrslive.com.
Side Street battle opens
Elgin's Side Street Studio Arts recently opened submissions for its sixth annual summer Battle of the Bands. Sixteen local acts will perform throughout the summer for the chance at cash and a prize package. The battles will kick off on Friday, May 31, and end Saturday, Aug. 3. Submissions for the contest will be open through 5 p.m. Monday, April 15. See sidestreetstudioarts.org or facebook.com for more information.
<i> Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music fanboy. Find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter at @thatshamieguy. Also check out some of the new music he's listening to from great local acts on “Chicago Sound Check 2019v2” on Spotify.</i>