Sound check: Cold Waves puts industrial fest online
Cold Waves weekend
With live festivals mostly on hold, Metro's long-running Cold Waves industrial festival is still grinding out a weekend of hard rock and electronic activities - virtually. Break out your fog machines and turn the lights down for the three-day "The Lost Weekend Virtual Experience." With musical sets by The Young Gods, Chris Connelly, Ash Code, Severed Heads and more, rare video performances, DJ sets and live auctions streaming free on Twitch each evening, event coordinators hope to keep the spirit of the festival alive. Along with auction items and rare band merch, fest goers also will have access to the exclusive Cold Waves "Lost Weekend" compilation, featuring Stabbing Westward and a number of other festival alums. Proceeds from the sales and donations will go to supporting the staff of Metro and Darkest Before Dawn, an organization that benefits the Chicago night life community. Find the schedules and details at coldwaves.net. Watch the stream at twitch.tv/coldwaves2020.
Live from the Lot
Duff Entertainment, in partnership with 101-WKQX and 94.7 WLS, hosts a weekend set of local favorites with four Live from the Lot shows at Boomers Stadium. The series kicks off Thursday, Sept. 17, with Tropidelic and Palmer Squares. On Friday, Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press take the outdoor stage, with Sixteen Candles Saturday and Led Zeppelin 2 with Of Perception on Sunday. Drive-in shows will be socially distanced following state health guidelines and masks will be required.
Tropidelic plays at 8 p.m. (gates at 6:30) Thursday, Sept. 17, $90-$120 for general admission for a car of up to six people; Rod Tuffcurls headlines at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept 18, $60-$100; Sixteen Candles plays at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, $60-$100; and Led Zeppelin 2 performs at 5 p.m. (gates at 4) Sunday, Sept. 20, $60-$100. Concerts are at Boomers Stadium, 1999 Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. Get details and tickets at duffentertainment.com.
Blues with Mike Zito
When bluesman Mike Zito's 30-city European tour was canceled because of the pandemic, he settled in to pen "Quarantine Blues," a new album created and produced during quarantine. Now that shows are creeping back, Zito is back on the road with his touring band and their "Social Distancing Tour," heading to Lombard's BrauerHouse Live this weekend with a set of raw, powerful new songs. Ricky Liontones kicks off the night.
8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $15-$20, $150 for VIP. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.
Jukebots getting tricky
Looking for something really different this weekend? Head to Asylum Skate Park as the Illiana Skateboard Circuit makes stop No. 4 on their flip-tricking, point-scoring journey around the arena. While they're on the move on the indoor obstacles pursuing the grand prize, the audience can catch live music from Chicago's own Jukebots as they entertain with their electro-influenced rock.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Asylum Skate Park, 29850 N. Skokie Hwy., Lake Bluff. Free to spectate. More info at facebook.com.
Playing together
Last year, Chicago arts advocacy organization Play Together collaborated with indie rock band Violet Crime and visual artist Julius Bautista, raising money to support the music education organization Intonation Music. Play Together recently announced this year's collaboration - Chicago rapper femdot. and fine artist and muralist Liz Flores. Through this project, femdot. plans to release two new singles - "Back Home" and "Lifetime" - this November, choosing songs that he feels tell his story. "As a Black man in America, who has seen what wealth looks like and what poverty looks like, I understand that gap and how we are left without resources," femdot. said. "College was a struggle for me to afford; becoming an artist was even more challenging." Flores will draw from his music as inspiration for her visual artistry, creating pieces to raise money supporting this year's charitable foundation, Delacreme Scholars, which provides scholarships to students of color to help continue their college education in the arts. Find information about the collaboration, pre-order the limited-edition art or make a donation at playtogether.co.
• Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music junkie. Email him at bshamie@dailyherald.com, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter (@thatshamieguy) or Instagram (@chicagosoundcheck). Brian also keeps tabs on the local music scene at chicagosoundcheck.com.