Sound check: America, Buckinghams take the Genesee stage
America at the Genesee
50 years after America's debut album went platinum, the folksy rockers are still going strong. The Grammy-winning band behind the hits "A Horse With No Name" and "Sister Golden Hair" heads to Waukegan's Genesee Theatre this weekend, joined by Chicago's own sunshine pop-rockers The Buckinghams.
7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $47.50-$97.50. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com.
Out Cold Vol. 3
The Piazza in Aurora is set for a hot night of house music as it presents Out Cold Vol. 3, featuring headliner Bad Boy Bill along with WavePoint, Tim Spinnin' Schommer DJ Cross, Tsunami and more on the main stage. The Afterlife Lounge will be alive with dance music from Nikho and Bobby De Maria, Russ Christopher, Richie Olivo, Dynami and a full lineup of acts. Tony O, Spanky D and the WRM Sky Loft flesh out the evening for the 21-and-older show.
7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at The Piazza, 85 Executive Drive, Aurora. $30-$35 for general admission, $50 for four-pack flash sale for GA; VIP and table packages also available. (630) 978-2088 or piazzaaurora.com.
A cappella series
Chicago a cappella presents an inspirational set of concert performances - "Coming Out of the Dark" - to celebrate the art world's ongoing recovery from the pandemic setbacks. Peppered with personal stories of change and growth and featuring harmony-rich songs drawn straight from the ensemble members' own pandemic playlists, the four-concert series will share the moments that kept the ensemble feeling the light when stages went dark. Tickets for all performances are $33-$45 and can be purchased at chicagoacappella.org/.
• 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, at St. Josephat Church, 2311 N. Southport Ave., Chicago.
• 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston.
• 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St., Oak Park.
• 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville.
"Coming Out of the Dark" will also be streamed live at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at chicagoacappella.org for $33.
Dashboard livestream
Chris Carrabba and Dashboard Confessional present a "Lonely Hearts and Lovers" Valentine's Day livestream with favorites you love and new songs from the band's upcoming release "All The Truth That I Can Tell," due out later this month.
8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14. $15 (with VIP, after-party and merch bundles also available) at momenthouse.com/dashboardconfessional.
Andy Grammer
Multiplatinum singer-songwriter Andy Grammer visits Chicago's Park West for an intimate stop on his "The Art of Joy Tour." Armed with his chart-topping radio hits "Honey I'm Good," "Keep Your Head Up" and "Don't Give Up On Me," Grammer is celebrating the release of his newest video, "Love Myself," as he prepares to finish up his fifth full-length album, due out later this year. R&B/pop artist Alt Bloom hits the stage with him for this late-week, 18-and-older performance.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago. $35-$40. (773) 929-1322 or jamusa.com.
In other news ...
• Josh Marcanti, Chris Marcanti, Dane Erbach and I talk about newspaper writing, happy accidents, Chicago Sound Check and our favorite discoveries from the Chicago and suburban music scenes on the Rock and Roll Brunch podcast, now streaming on YouTube and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
• As the pandemic continues to take its toll on Chicago's live music venues, the Empty Bottle dove into its vault for some rare concert posters to raise funds to help out the bar's hourly staff. Check out the selection at emptybottle.com/poster-sale.
• If your Valentine's Day date hinged on a serenade from North Shore native crooner Richard Marx, you might want to make other plans. Both of his weekend shows - at the Arcada Theatre and Des Plaines Theatre - have been postponed to Oct. 20 and 21 respectively.
• 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). He also keeps tabs on the Chicago music scene at chicagosoundcheck.com.