Music notes: '80s heartthrob Rick Springfield returns to Genesee

Posted July 09, 2014 5:45 am

Matt Arado

Heartthrob returns

Rick Springfield hit the jackpot in the early 1980s with the song "Jessie's Girl" from his record "Working Class Dog." He became a worldwide superstar and won the Grammy for Best Male Rock Performance. (He also played a heartthrob doctor on the popular soap "General Hospital.") He's stayed active since, scoring more pop hits and touring regularly. He makes a stop in the suburbs this weekend, where he'll be joined by suburban singer-songwriter William Beckett. 6:45 p.m. Friday, July 11, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Tickets start at $24. Go to geneseetheatre.com.

Punk pioneers

Death, a trio of brothers from Detroit, recorded an album in the mid-1970s that many say made them the first black punk band. But the band didn't connect with a wide audience until recently, when Chicago label Drag City reissued those 1970s tracks. They're playing in Chicago this weekend. Sharing the bill is Tutu & the Pirates, often referred to as the first Chicago punk band. Led by Glenview native David Springer, the band was notorious in the late '70s/early '80s for its raucous (and hilarious) songs and outrageous live act. 9 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago. $20. Go to emptybottle.com.

Festivals galore

Music-festival season has arrived. Pitchfork, the Warped Tour and Lollapalooza all take place within the next four weeks. But while you prepare for those, don't forget about a couple of late-season fests that include suburban bands. Wild Belle, a brother-sister duo from Barrington, will be part of the North Coast Music Festival, an eclectic mix of electronic, hip-hop and pop bands. The punk-oriented Riot Fest, meanwhile, will have a number of suburban-rooted bands in the lineup, including Rise Against, the Orwells and Naked Raygun. Tickets are available now for both fests. The North Coast Festival runs Aug. 29-31 at Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Three-day passes are available for $169, with single-day tickets to be available soon. Go to northcoastfestival.com. Riot Fest runs Sept. 12-14 at Humboldt Park, Division Street and Sacramento Avenue in Chicago. Three-day passes are available for $189.98. Go to riotfest.org.

The Orwells, a punk-pop band from Elmhurst, is one of the bands with suburban roots in the lineup for Riot Fest, the annual three-day rock event taking place in September. Tickets for the fest are available now.

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