Sound check: Ataris celebrate 'Astoria' anniversary with Guardrail, Bury Me

So long, Astoria!

Childhood perceptions can defy explanation sometimes. Sometime in 1985, my young brain inextricably linked the movie “The Goonies” and Don Henley's “The Boys of Summer” over the “deadhead sticker” and “don't look back” lines in the song. (Skull and crossbones, car chases and summer adventures with your best buds. Makes sense, right?) Imagine my sense of validation when in 2003 the Indiana-born pop-punk band The Ataris released “So Long, Astoria” (a song packed with references to “The Goonies”) on the album of the same name that also featured a cover of the Don Henley song. The band is celebrating the 15th anniversary of that nostalgia-laced, emo-punk classic with a show at Bottom Lounge, featuring Chicago's own Guardrail and Bury Me in Lights, a hard-rocking alternative band with roots in the western suburbs. 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $17. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.

Postmodern Jukebox

Get ready to jump back in time as Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox crafts retro musical treats from current and classic pop hits. He, along with his rotating cast of artists, will bring the collection of tunes to Waukegan's Genesee Theatre for a celebration of real vocal and instrumental talent through a multitude of styles and genres. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Waukegan Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $35-$195. (800) 982-2787 or geneseetheatre.com.

Thriller night

Nightmare on Chicago Street takes over downtown Elgin Saturday, Oct. 20, with shuffling zombies, toxic waste and burning debris (but also food, drinks, entertainment and Svengoolie). The Main Stage at Douglas and Chicago streets features the Zombie Homecoming Pageant throughout the night, along with sets by Karma Committee at 7:30 p.m. and Recycled Percussion at 9:30 p.m. The Second Stage on Chicago Street features DJ Flipside and DJ Speed spin throughout the night. And the Lounge Puppets (6:30 p.m.) and Modern Day Romeos (9 p.m.) play the Third Stage on Grove Avenue. 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, in downtown Elgin. $12-$15. See nightmareonchicagostreet.com for more information and entry points.

Jimi Falls and the '90s

After touring the country, Chicago hard-rocking alternative band Jimi Falls is returning for a night of original and '90s alternative rock in Palatine. Make sure you're there early to catch the premiere of the music video for their recent single “For the Broken” before the set. 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $9.20. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Talking music on the radio

Tune in at 6 p.m. this Sunday for my makeup appearance with hosts Adela and Dan on “The Underbelly Hours,” their weekly radio show exploring the Chicago area's underground music scene on Elmhurst College's student-run radio airwaves at WRSE-88.7 FM. The show will also feature chats with and performances by 8-bit crEEps and The Weekend Run Club.

Concert highlights

• Wildered with The Steady North: 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at River City Roasters, 114 N. Main St., Wheaton. (630) 909-3480 or fiveandhoek.com

• The Gaia Collective's Debut Showcase featuring Earth Radio, Seet and Sin Thetic: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at PAPS Ultimate Bar & Grill, 1904 S. Elmhurst Road, Mount Prospect. Free. (847) 806-7733 or papsbarandgrill.com.

• Robbie Fulks & Linda Gail Lewis, Lindsay Beaver: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at FitzGerald's, 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $25. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

• Avon Dale, Hitsleep, Ludlow, Pumpkinseed: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

• Florence and the Machine, Perfume Genius: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at United Center, 1901 W. Madison, Chicago. Tickets start at $44.50. (800) 745-3000 or unitedcenter.com.

• moe.: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., Chicago. $31-$70. (312) 526-3851 or thaliahallchicago.com.

• The Logan Center Blues Festival: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20; 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at the Logan Center for the Performing Arts, 915 E. 60th St., Chicago. $15-$25 general admission; $35 evening concerts. (773) 702-2787 or loganbluesfest.org.

• The Copyrights, The Usuals, Take The Reins: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Legit Dogs & Ice, 51 S. Grove Ave., Elgin. $10-$12. (708) 738-8306 or legitdogsandice.com.

• Mulligan Stew: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

• Mr. Blotto: 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $12-$15. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Hello Weekend, Teenage Mutant '90s Turtles: 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $3. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

• The Throwbacks: 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Mickey Finn's Brewery, 345 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Free. (847) 362-6688 or mickeyfinnsbrewery.com.

• 7th Annual Halloween Spectacular with Future Hits, Nordic Thunder, The Ravens: 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $10 2 and younger free; all ages show. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.

• Aria 51, 13-Monsters: 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Wolfden Brewing, 112 W. Lake St., Bloomingdale. (847) 610-5117 or facebook.com/wolfdenbrewing.

• Bad Jokes, Just Noise, Giant City, White Hen, Good & Gone, Annie's Takeout, Fiction (acoustic): 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Evolution Music, 923 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. $10. (630) 541-5022 or evolutionmusicstore.com.

• The Black Lillies, Paul Moody & the Revelators: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at FitzGerald's, 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $15-$20. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

• Julianne Q & the Howl (EP release), Myrcenes and The Smokin' Tones: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Bourbon on Division, 2050 W. Division St., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 796-5879 or bourbonondivision.com.

• The Pettybreakers: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $29-$39. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

• lovelytheband, Morgan Saint, Blacktop Queen: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $15. (773) 525-2501 or lh-st.com.

• NOVA: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

• Breakfast Beer: 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at D Hangout Bar & Grill, 550 S. McLean Blvd., Elgin. Free. (847) 717-0511 or d-hangout.com.

• Decent Criminal, Western Settings, Johnny Automatic: 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

• Canyon City, The Most Low, Yeah Yeah Man, Mayor's Kids: 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $8-$12. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

• Hellogoodbye, Family of Geniuses, Suburban Living: 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $18. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

• Fleurie, Dear Rouge, Phangs: 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $12-$13. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.

• Pet Symmetry, Lifted Bells, The Firewood Project, What Gives: 9:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at Sleeping Village, 3734 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $5. (773) 654-3971 or sleeping-village.com.

• An Evening with Pete Yorn — “You & Me Solo Acoustic Tour”: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago. $35-$285. (773) 929-5959 or parkwestchicago.com.

• Desert Noises, Morning Teleportation, Con Davison: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.

• David Paige: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Miller's Ale House, 1300 N. Meacham Road, Schaumburg. Free. (847) 598-1090 or millersalehouse.com.

• Roo Panes, Frances Luke Accord: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $18-$20. (773) 525-2501 or lh-st.com.

• Mikaela Davis “Delivery Tour,” Gia Margaret: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $12-$15. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.

• Revolt Coda, Dead Lucid, Casserole: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Burlington, 3425 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago. (773) 384-3243 or theburlingtonbar.com.

• Hoodie Allen, Gianni & Kyle: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $30. (773) 525-2501 or lh-st.com.

• Jake Owen “Life's Whatcha Make It Tour” with David Lee Murphy, Morgan Wallen: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at Sears Centre, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $29.95-$60; $93-$108 for platinum package; parking is $20. (847) 649-2222 or searscentre.com.

• Cub Sport, Capital Soirée, Earthgrazer: 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at Subterannean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $12. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

• Rebel Soul Revival: 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

• Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music fanboy. You can follow him on Twitter at @thatshamieguy. Listen to Brian's “2018 Chicago Sound Check Vol. 7” Spotify playlist for a sampling of some of the local bands he's written about recently for the Daily Herald.