Sound check: Two decades of Lucky Boys Confusion at Joe's Live

Lucky Boys at 20

The West suburban-based Lucky Boys Confusion first caught my attention not long into my career at the Daily Herald when I was putting the band in a package about Naperville's Ribfest. Recognizing the name from Q101's rotation of their catchy "Dumb Pop Song," I checked them out and I was hooked. Being steeped in the suburban experience at roughly the same age as the members, I felt like I was growing up with them. Even though our lives were quite different, they sang about feelings I was feeling at the time, like emotional milestones we all needed to cross on the way to adulthood - the aggressive need to enjoy a good party, the heartbreak that follows failing friendships, the fear of being a disappointment but also wondering whether you ultimately care or not. At their shows we all sang along and danced, sweaty and broken and full of life, knowing that for a little while we were all brothers and sisters in something destined to last. We've all grown out of it some since those days, but the songs - and the live shows - aren't any less powerful. LBC will play selections from this entire catalog, going all the way back to the house party days, for their 20th anniversary show at Joe's Live in Rosemont, also featuring Swizzle Tree, The Punch, a one-night-only reunion of Treaty of Paris and many other area acts. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $25. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.

Lovett & Hiatt together again

Grammy Award winner Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, bring their incredible combined talent to the stage for "An Acoustic Evening With Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt." When these two old friends get together, they bring solo performances, duets, harmonies and stories, along with a few laughs. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $45-$97.50. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com.

Estate showcase

McLeod Media Company, Wami Live and The Tasting Room Radio present The Taste at Estate, a music showcase featuring emerging pop and rock artists OUTDrejas, Welcome to Jonestown, Mixed Company, Bullet to the Heart and Jury of Fears, as well as Boston five-piece metal band Aversed. Head to Estate on the Chicago River for some great food and music under a sparkling view of the skyline. 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at Estate, 1177 N. Elston Ave., Chicago. $8 (plus fees). (312) 523-4296 or events.wamilive.com.

It's Lucinda's 'World'

Three-time Grammy Award-winning musician Lucinda Williams recently finished and released "This Sweet Old World," a reinterpretation of her 25-year-old album "Sweet Old World." She'll play the album in its entirety, along with some other favorites, when she headlines two nights at Chicago's Park West. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 7-8, at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago. $45. (773) 929-1322 or parkwestchicago.com.

Concerts

Sleep On It (acoustic album release show): 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at Reckless Records, 1379 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Free. (773) 235-3727 or sleeponitband.com.

Chicago Master Singers with "Handel's Messiah" fall concert: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at Techny Towers, 2001 Waukegan Road, Techny (Northbrook). Chicago Master Singers perform with the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra and soloists Michelle Areyzaga, soprano; Sarah Ponder, mezzo-soprano; Klaus Georg, tenor; and Gerard Sundberg, baritone. $15-$48. chicagomastersingers.org.

BoDeans: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Rock. Tickets start at $55. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

Dream Theater: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. Metal/rock. Tickets start at $29. ticketmaster.com.

Mulligan Stew: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail, Arlington Heights. Irish tunes, rock, folk, country and more. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

Jeff Brown: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at Church Street Brewing, 1480 Industrial Drive C, Itasca. Free. (630) 438-5725 or churchstreetbrew.com.

Echoes of Pompeii - a tribute to Pink Floyd: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Rock. Tickets start at $29. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

Anne Hills, Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at Unitarian Church of Hinsdale, 11 W. Maple St., Hinsdale. Folk and more. $16-$18. acousticren.com.

The Matthew Whitaker Trio: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in Bennett Gordon Hall at Ravinia, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. The group includes Matthew Whitaker on piano, Edward Peter Morcaldi III on guitar and Sipho Kunene on drums. $11. ravinia.org.

Wayne Newton Up Close and Personal: 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Songs, stories and more from the legendary entertainer. Tickets start at $39. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

Northshore Concert Band with "Star Wars: A New Hope": 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. Program is conducted by artistic director Mallory Thompson. $10-$20. northshoreband.org.

Trace Adkins: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Country. $35-$64.50. (800) 982-2787 or ticket master.com.

Guns N' Roses: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison, Chicago. Rock. Tickets start at $59. ticketmaster.com.

The '90s Pop Tour: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, at Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Featuring Fey, OV7, Aleks Syntek, Grupo JNS, Grupo Calo, Litzy and The Sacados. Tickets start at $59. ticketmaster.com.

Elgin Symphony Chamber Ensemble with "Beers Brats & Beethoven": 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. The Elgin Symphony Chamber Ensemble performs works by Beethoven. Each ticket includes a brat, one beverage (beer or nonalcoholic), potato salad and access to a cash bar. $35. (847) 649-2222 or searscentre.com.

• Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor who doesn't want to stand here and say he's sorry; he just wants to drink beer and play Atari. You can follow him on Twitter at @BShamieDH.