Music notes: Smoking Popes fetes Double Door's 20 years

Posted June 13, 2014 5:30 am

Matt Arado

Popes show

Suburban pop-punk band the Smoking Popes will perform this weekend at the Double Door as part of that great venue's 20th anniversary celebration. The Smoking Popes emerged from McHenry County (Lake in the Hills, Crystal Lake) in the 1990s. The band delivers soaring, crunchy melodies that support frontman Josh Caterer's heartfelt croon of a voice. The band is always a treat to see live, so this would be a show to consider. Braid and Rollo Tomasi are also on the bill. 9 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $20. Go to doubledoor.com.

On their way

Right on Red, a suburban pop-punk band featuring five Buffalo Grove natives, has a couple of shows on tap in the city this weekend, one at the Hard Rock Cafe and the other at Subterranean. Right on Red's latest EP, "Take Some Time," showcases the band's mix of driving guitars and pop melodies. Right on Red will perform with The Reserve and On A High Wire at 10 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at the Hard Rock Cafe Chicago, 63 W. Ontario. $10. Go to hardrock.com/cafes/chicago. The band also will perform at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 15, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $8. Go to subt.net.

Great deal

Chicago's multiple neighborhood festivals offer a great chance to see top-shelf live music at a rock-bottom price. Case in point: the 6 Corners BBQ Fest happening this weekend at the intersection of Irving Park Road and Cicero in the Portage Park neighborhood. Headlining the festival on Saturday is Ha Ha Tonka, a Missouri band that combines the rustic sounds of Americana with the idiosyncratic songcraft of the best indie rock. Ha Ha Tonka's last record, "Lessons," came out on the local Bloodshot label, and it's a great one. Ha Ha Tonka will perform at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at the 6 Corners BBQ Fest, located at the corner of Irving Park Road and Cicero Avenue in Chicago. (The fest starts at noon and features lots of food and family-oriented entertainment.) Admission is $5. Go to 6cornersbbqfest.com.

Indie-Americana band Ha Ha Tonka will perform at the 6 Corners BBQ Fest on Chicago's Northwest Side on Saturday.

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