‘A fun one’: Why Chicago band Sincere Engineer’s show at a South Elgin strip mall restaurant is a big deal

Deanna Belos said it’s no big deal to be playing a concert at a restaurant in a strip mall in South Elgin.

Her band played an earlier iteration of Legit Dogs & Ice in 2018, and with her boyfriend living nearby in Elgin, she occasionally pops in for a bite at the new Legit Dogs & Ice, 322 S. Randall Road.

Despite Belos’ claim, the Saturday, July 19, show is a big deal. Since she started as a solo act in 2015 under the pseudonym Sincere Engineer and added Crystal Lake musicians Nick Arvanitis and Kyle Geib and Highland Park’s Adam Beck to record their first album in 2017, the punky outfit is as exciting as any current Chicago band.

“Yeah, this is going to be a fun one, definitely more intimate and smaller,” said Belos, from Orland Park.

“A lot of friends around, it might get a little looser than usual,” said Belos, who has played Riot Fest three times and Lollapalooza in 2023.

“Sometimes those are the best shows. The pressure’s not as big with, like, a big show, or I can’t just talk to the audience.”

Appropriate for the room, Belos confirmed they’ll play “Corn Dog Sonnet No. 7,” the first track off the band’s 2017 debut album, “Rhombithian.”

Sincere Engineer’s strong last album, “Cheap Grills,” was released by Hopeless Records in 2023. “Still working on writing the next record,” Belos said June 25. The band will play American festivals and halls in September before Belos’ October solo acoustic tour in Europe and the United Kingdom.

Legit Dogs talent booker Curt Harrison announced the July 19 concert on the restaurant website, social media accounts and on flyers on April 22, and opened ticket sales the next day. It sold out in hours.

“It’s definitely pretty cool,” said Harrison, a Huntley resident and Elgin High School graduate who, through his company, Put It Here Productions, is a partner in the restaurant with co-owner Matt Habib, his wife, Jennifer Polit, and others, including Harrison’s wife, also Jennifer.

Curt Harrison met Belos about a decade ago at Elgin’s The Dutch Inn when the band he sings for, The Usuals, supported one she was there to see, The Brokedowns.

“Deanna’s a really cool person. She has a very kind heart. I liked her from the first time I met her. I thought she was a really unique personality and a fellow musician, and liked what she was doing at the time,” Harrison said.

“It’s been really cool to know her and watch her become what she is now as Sincere Engineer with the full band.”

Since they are pals and he’d booked gigs for her previously, Harrison reached out to Belos directly about playing Legit Dogs. She discussed it with the band and when they agreed, Harrison worked with the band’s agent to book the show.

“Sure, it’s a little odd to play the ‘hot dog’ show, but it’s very on-brand,” Belos said. “ … It was an easy ‘Yes.’”

Roughly 225 tickets were sold, with additional tickets reserved for the band and staff, but still below standing-room capacity of 300, Harrison said.

With ticket proceeds going to the talent instead of the house, Harrison said, he’s also able to offer more money to opening acts than they might get elsewhere.

“What Curt’s doing is super cool,” said Aiden Hansen, drummer with the 9 p.m. opener, Reely Big Moose. A Larkin High School graduate, he’s the son of Belos’ boyfriend, Jeremy Hansen.

“It’s bringing bigger bands from the local area, giving back to smaller bands the opportunity to be seen by a bigger crowd, put them on a larger stage,” Aiden Hansen said.

This will be Reely Big Moose’s biggest show to date. Same for second band Paper Boy Riot, said guitarist and vocalist Gavin Harrison, Curt Harrison’s son. Through his father, he’s “forever” known Belos, Aiden Hansen and his father, Jeremy, former drummer for The Usuals.

“It’s super comfortable,” said Gavin Harrison, a fresh Huntley graduate whose senior year with the school choir helped him gain confidence as a singer. “Something that big is scary stuff, but it’s less scary because of people I know.”

Habib and Curt Harrison have had to jump through municipal code hoops to offer shows like Sincere Engineer and prior concerts with veteran punks The Queers, and the legendary Smoking Popes, who played March 22 for Legit Dogs’ opening. An agreement with the village of South Elgin limits the number of big-name shows.

Generally hosting comedy nights, karaoke, podcasts and smaller bands, they’ve also pushed back concert start times to placate next-door neighbor Giordano’s.

“We’re trying to be mindful and respectful,” Harrison said.

Neither Habib nor Harrison term Legit Dogs a true concert venue. Habib, from Chicago, was inspired by places like Fireside Bowl that would offer live music.

“It’s not a venue. Just like the bowling alley, Fireside Bowl was a full-time bowling alley and shows were supplemental to the restaurant. And it’s the same thing here,” said Habib, who credited Harrison’s contacts for landing bigger names.

“Here, you’re in it, man. It’s like being at the Fireside. You’re trading sweat, you’re trading spit,” Habib said.

Belos may not go that far, but admitted it might get rowdy. She’s “stoked” about Saturday’s show.

“It’s just going to be a fun time. We’re probably going to know most of the crowd. It’s going to be like a homecoming sort of, to my not-hometown.”