Sound check: Anita Baker says 'Farewell' at Chicago Theatre

Anita Baker, John Butler Trio+

The Chicago Theatre is hosting some big shows to get you out of the house the week after Thanksgiving. First, say goodbye as soulful songstress Anita Baker brings her “Farewell Concert Series” to the stage Monday, Nov. 26. A few days later, the roots-rocking John Butler Trio+ lightens things up as they hit the spotlight for a Thursday, Nov. 29, show. Tickets are still available for both shows. Anita Baker headlines at 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26; tickets start at $84. John Butler Trio+ plays at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29; tickets cost $28-$53. The Chicago Theatre is at 175 N. State St., Chicago. (312) 902-1500 or msg.com/the-chicago-theatre?cmp=van_chicagotheatre.

State & Madison benefit show

Chicago-based alternative rock band State & Madison is helping out a friend when they headline “FRIENDS, GIVING: A Rock 'n' Roll Formal Fundraiser for Our Friend Kat Lewis” at Wicker Park's Subterranean Saturday, Nov. 24. The benefit show, which also features Molehill, Jess Godwin and Tall Doug, will raise funds to help defray expenses related to Lewis' medical therapy. Lewis suffers from a rare degenerative disease called x-linked hypophosphatemic rickets, which prevents her body from processing vitamin D, causing her bones to become brittle and leaving her in excruciating pain, according to the GoFundMe page. Hope comes in the form of a gene-editing drug, which could help strengthen her bones and relieve her pain. But the therapy is expensive. “She's got hope,” said Nick Blazina, guitar and vocals for State & Madison. “This gene therapy trial gives her eyes a new twinkle. ... We thought we'd do our part to bring people together for her.” 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $15-$20. (773) 278-6600, subt.net or ticketweb.com.

Kid Yuki, Face Time Police play pop culture con

Chicago Pop Culture Con, a celebration of fandoms at St. Charles' Pheasant Run this weekend, brings together actors, cosplay, comic artists, athletes, musicians and gamers for performances, discussions, exhibits, memorabilia sales and more. This year, catch two anime- and game-inspired performances from Chicago-area acts: Kid Yuki and the Otakus plays at the music panel from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Ballroom, and Schaumburg's Face Time Police, featuring brothers Brian and James Serra, caps off the weekend playing from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at Pheasant Run Mega Center and Ballroom, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $12 passes are good for both days; kids 12 and younger admitted free with a paying adult. chicagopopculturecon.com.

Cardi B and the Big Jam

Rapper Cardi B headlines the Big Jam 2018 presented by 107.5 WGCI at the United Center this weekend. Kodak Black, Tory Lanez, Young Dolph, Lil Baby, Flipp Dinero and DreamDoll join the always-amusing Cardi on stage for a fast-paced night of tunes. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. $51-$140. (800) 745-3000 or unitedcenter.com.

Concert highlights

The Struts “The Body Talk Tour 2018” with The Glorious Sons: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $22.50-$32.50. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.

The Powdered Toast Men: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at 2 Fools Cider, 1665 Quincy Ave #155, Naperville. (630) 995-9973 or 2foolscider.com.

King By Friday: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at Post Time Sports Bar & Grille, 13860 Rockland Road, Libertyville. Free. (847) 367-7170 or posttimesportsbar.com.

Blacklist Regulars: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at Alibi, 12 N. 3rd St., St. Charles. (630) 443-0011 or ouralibi4u.com.

The Hallow, The Evictions, Parker, Butchered: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at Burlington, 3425 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago. (773) 384-3243 or theburlingtonbar.com.

Louis The Child “Dear Sense Tour”: 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. $33.50. (844) 425-5923 or aragonballroom.org

Jay O'Rourke and The Belvederes: 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $7-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Tonic Freight Train, Where's Fernando?, The Laughing Hearts, Lime Forest: 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at Bourbon on Division, 2050 W. Division St., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 796-5879 or bourbonondivision.com.

Rematch, The Weekend Run Club, Qualia, Farhampton, Like Wilde: 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Evolution Music, 923 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. $10. (630) 541-5022 or evolutionmusicstore.com.

Sunday Cruise's EP release with Saad, Binx, Bummed Out: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin. $5 suggested donation. (847) 429-2276 or sidestreetstudioarts.org.

The Struts “The Body Talk Tour 2018” with The Glorious Sons: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $22.50-$32.50. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.

Twenty Over: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Alibi, 12 N. 3rd St., St. Charles. Free. (630) 443-0011 or ouralibi4u.com.

The Throwbacks: 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Galati's Hideaway, 800 Feinberg Court, Cary. (847) 516-3663 or galatishideaway.com.

7th heaven: 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $8-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Reflexicon, Black4, Ditchwater: 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $8-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Mike & Joe: 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $7. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Tapestry Unraveled - A Tribute to Carole King: 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $25-$34. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

Real Friends, Boston Manor, Grayscale, Eat Your Heart Out: 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $25-$29. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.

Tougher Than You Thought, 45Fix, Fluorescents: 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

Bayside (acoustic), Golds: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at Cobra Lounge, 235 N. Ashland Avenue, Chicago. $27. (312) 226-6300 or cobralounge.com.

Morgxn, Ember Oceans, Marina City: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Reggies Rock Club, 2109 S. State St., Chicago. $10. (312) 949-0120 or reggieslive.com.

P.O.D., Nonpoint, Islander, Dear Deadly: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, at The Forge, 22 W Cass St., Joliet. $25.50-$47.50. (815) 280-5246 or theforgelive.com.

Daniel Cronson Band, Radda Radda, Supervisor: 7 p.m. Thursday, Noc. 29, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

101WKQX The Nights We Stole Christmas with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Houndmouth, Alice Mertsn: 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. $63. (844) 425-5923 or aragonballroom.org.

Ministry, Carpenter Brut, Alien Weaponry: 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at The Forge, 22 W Cass St., Joliet. $39-$85. (815) 280-5246 or theforgelive.com.

Jane Lynch - A Swingin' Little Christmas featuring Kate Flannery, Tim Davis and the Tony Guerrero Quintet: 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $50-$70. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

<i> 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. 9” Spotify playlist for a sampling of some of the local bands he's written about recently for the Daily Herald.</i>