Music notes: Durty Nellie's hosts up-and-comer Andrew Ripp
Local music
Singer-songwriter Andrew Ripp, a native of Palatine, will play a hometown show this weekend. Ripp has released two albums of driving pop-rock, the most recent being 2010's “She Remains the Same,” and he tours relentlessly. Here's a chance to see a local talent as he makes a name for himself.
7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $7. Go to durtynellies.com or andrewripp.com.
Rocking hard
The California band Buckcherry emerged in the mid-1990s, just as the “grunge” sound was giving way to something a bit more raucous. The band plays songs to party to — driving hard rock that flirts with grunge and heavy metal. After a hiatus in the 2000s, the band is back and releasing music at a brisk pace. Its next record, “Confessions,” is due early in 2013. The band makes a stop in the suburbs next week.
9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, at Austin's Fuel Room, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville. Tickets start at $25. Go to austinsaloon.com.
Last-minute gifts
Still need to find a gift for the music lover on your list? Don't panic. Here are a few suggestions that should please most rock fans:
Ÿ Rage Against the Machine, “XX” (20th Anniversary Edition) — Libertyville native Tom Morello and his bandmates in Rage Against the Machine landed on the music scene like a hand grenade 20 years ago with an incendiary debut that now gets the reissue treatment. This blend of rock and hip-hop is as fiery and political as music gets. (Legacy)
Ÿ The Beatles, stereo vinyl box set — For better or for worse, the Beatles just won't fade away. Here's the latest big release from them, a lavish set of the group's 14 studio albums on pristine 180-gram vinyl, the format that current audiophiles are drooling over. It ain't cheap — the set costs more than $300 — but few gifts will get you a bigger smile than this one. (Capitol)
Ÿ Peter Gabriel, “So” (25th Anniversary Edition) — One of the signature albums of the 1980s is back in a deluxe set that includes remastered sound and a concert DVD. “So” is a pop masterpiece, and this reissue should give the album its due. (Real World Productions)