Sound check: Helping Harper College with Kevin Prchal
Kevin Prchal tackles Giving Tuesday
Naperville native, folk artist and Harper College staffer Kevin Prchal tackled the spirit of this giving season with his song “Believe” and a music video featuring students and staff from Harper. The mission of the video is to champion the mission of the Palatine community college and to help raise funds for Promise Scholarships for students on Giving Tuesday, a global day advocating charitable causes. Check out the video and learn how you can help provide opportunities for students at goforward.harpercollege.edu.
Young Americans
New Age Americans, up-and-coming rockers from West Chicago and Bartlett, are working hard to deliver a new album, out for streaming this Sunday on Spotify and iTunes. In the meantime, catch some of the new tunes the young quartet has been working on when the band plays EvenFlow in Geneva, supported by The Local and Downers Grove's Fredo Disco. EvenFlow, 302 W. State St., Geneva. $5. (331) 248-0269 or evenflowmusic.com. 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24
Who's neXt2Rock at Joe's?
Celebrate rock on Black Friday when Chicago radio legend James VanOsdol and Joe's Live in Rosemont host the neXt2rock Chicago Finals, where 10 stellar area bands will duke it out to move on to the national finals. An $8 ticket, with proceeds going to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, nets you sets from finalists The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club, Black Bear Rodeo, Brent Brown, Bullet to the Heart, Comfort Scarcity, The Evictions, Kerosene Stars, Marina City, OUTDrejas and Punch Cabbie. Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $8. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com. 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6) Friday, Nov. 24
North of Eight, Rebel Soul at Skyline series
BaseCamp Pub in Lisle hosts another installment of the Skyline Music Concert Series, with a Black Friday edition featuring the crazy energy of North of Eight's jamfest, funk-influenced Southern rockers Rebel Soul Revival and alternative rocker and founder of the feast, Aaron Williams. Work off that pumpkin pie with a night of great original music. BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $6. (331) 777-4712 or aaronwilliamsmusic.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24
Chill at Chillfest
The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce is heating up the weekend with the fifth edition of its popular Chillfest, a day when 27 storefront businesses and restaurants throughout the neighborhood shield you from the cold with an afternoon of free acoustic performances from more than 60 area musicians. Plant yourself at a favorite location or spend the day venue-hopping to catch some great performers. Visit wickerparkbucktown.com for the full schedule of venues and musicians. 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25
'Geronimo!'
Australia's Sheppard stormed onto the indie pop scene to the chorus of “Bombs away!” with the 2014 release of “Geronimo,” a driving and uplifting confection that saw them shoot to the top of the Australian charts. Try to fight the beat when the six-person powerhouse group brings favorites to Lincoln Hall with Canadian soul-pop band Romes. Spoiler: You won't win. Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $15. (773) 525-2501 or lh-st.com. 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27
Shuffled tracks
Power pop duo Vesper (Zak Fox Jablow and Samantha Rose Humphreys) recently released the haunting “Ghosts” with a melody that you won't be able to get out of your head. “You have a light but something's trying to dim it.” Check it out on Spotify or SoundCloud.
Jimi Falls hits hard with their sophomore EP, recently dropping two singles on SoundCloud: The heavy, powerful “Rise” is a brilliant showcase for Brandon James' vocals, and “For the Broken” is a moving chorus for those suffering PTSD and struggling with homelessness.
Chicago hip-hop artist Charlie Curtis-Beard just dropped his new neo-soul-inspired album, “Existentialism on Lake Shore Drive,” a look at the internal struggles we all face in the commotion of today's society. Give it a listen on Spotify. (Make sure you check out “Can't See Clear.”)
Concert highlights
Madina Lake, That Lying (Expletive), Marina City, El Famous: 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at Cobra Lounge, 235 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. $20. (312) 226-6300 or cobralounge.com.
The Verve Pipe “I've Suffered A Pop Smear” acoustic performance: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $28-$40. (312) 733-9463 or citywinery.com.
Face The Fire, Sky Machine, One Steel Wound, Fools' Brew, 9th Street Memory: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $10. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.
Moon Money & The Darbles: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at MT Barrels, 1712 W. Wise Road, Schaumburg. $5. (847) 285-1169 or mtbarrelsbar.com.
The String Cheese Incident: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 24 and 25, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $74.95. (312) 462-6300 or msg.com.
Princegiving - A Live Prince Tribute: 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at Durty Nellie's, 1809 N. Smith St., Palatine. $10-$19.99. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.
Twenty Over: 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at Bannerman's Sports Grill, 858 IL-59, Bartlett. Check with venue for ticket info. (630) 213-2400 or bannermanssportsgrill.com.
Cannonball: 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at FitzGerald's Sidebar, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $5 donation. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.
Local H, The Run Around: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Tailgaters, 431 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. $10-$20. (630) 679-1994 or tailgatersgrill.com.
After The Fight, Fetch The Burn Book, From The Start: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Burlington, 3425 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago. Check with venue for ticket info. (773) 384-3243 or theburlingtonbar.com.
Twista, Bekoe, Gee Dubb, Mayfair Mafia, DJ Crazy Eddie: 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Wire, 6815 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $25-$200. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.
Observing With Annie, The Shindiggas, Waves Shore, Sage: 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at Wire, 6815 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $8-$10. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.
<i> Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor. You can follow him on Twitter at @BShamieDH. Listen to his “2017 Chicago Sound Check” Spotify playlist for a sampling of great local bands included in the Daily Herald this year.</i>