Rocking for kids
Interested in sheet music signed by Billy Joel? A Gibson SG guitar signed by Pete Townshend? How about James Brown's suit? Those items plus other goodies courtesy of Bjork, the Flaming Lips and others, will be available for auction at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 during the 19th annual Rock For Kids Rock & Roll Charity Auction at the Park West. Items are available in every price range, from $20 to $50,000 and raise money for Rock For Kids, the charity organization that helps Chicago's needy children. VIP tickets, which include complimentary cocktails and food from 6-7 p.m., are $50 and general tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Visit rockforkids.org.
Pearl Jam art
If you've seen Pearl Jam live, it's likely you caught wind of one of the posters collected in the new art book "Pearl Jam VS Ames Bros: 13 Years of Tour Posters," which features more than 200 posters from the band's touring life between 1995-2007. It's available via pearljam.com or amesbros.com for $50 and includes a forward by Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament plus interviews between artists Cob Schultz and Barry Ament.
Blues tour
Need to brush up on your Chicago blues history? The city of Chicago is offering a free, 50-minute audio tour hosted by Buddy Guy that features photos, video, music clips, interviews and a guided tour through historic landmarks on the city's South Side. The download is available in Chinese, German, Japanese and Spanish too. Find it for free here: downloadchicagotours.com or iTunes.
-- Mark Guarino