Sound check: Story of the Year, Davlin play Bottom Lounge

St. Louis' Story comes to Chicago

St. Louis-based Story of the Year has written a long-awaited (Has it really been seven years?) new emo-peppered pop-punk chapter with December's release of “Wolves,” the band's latest album. They'll come packing the new songs when they visit Chicago's Bottom Lounge, along with local post-hardcore foursome Davlin and St. Louis metalcore act Make Room. Make sure you get there early to catch Face the Fire, a South Suburban hard rock/metal band, when they kick the night into gear. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $22. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.

Wayland, Werewolves in West Dundee

West Dundee's Rochaus is continuing to build up steam, with shows coming more regularly. Michigan's Wayland hits the new stage this weekend with their harmony-packing rock sound. Chicago's own Werewolves at Hour 30 join the party with their groove-rock originals. Nashville's Stone Senate rounds out the bill. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Rochaus, 98 W. Main St., West Dundee. $15-$28. (815) 893-9768 or rochaus.com.

Evanston Rocks with Sinatra, Buddy Holly

Ron Onesti and Onesti Entertainment are bringing music to a new market with the recent opening of the Evanston Rocks Music Hall, sharing a space in the former 27 Live building on Church Street with the Rock 'N Ravioli Italian Restaurant and Bourbon 'N Brass Speakeasy Bar. Visit the new space this weekend for two shows: The Nick Pontarelli Band celebrates the classic music of the greats, such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin and more Friday, Jan. 19; and Buddy Holly and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll takes the stage Saturday, Jan. 20. Evanston Rocks Music Hall, 1012 Church St., Evanston. The Nick Pontarelli Band plays at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19; $8. The Buddy Holly tribute is Saturday, Jan. 20; $15. (630) 962-7000 or evanstonrocks.com.

Rock the blues with Julianne Q

Singer Julianne Q's strength lies in walking the line between dynamic blues (“Honey Blues”) and an upbeat pop flavor (“Heroine”), but she's always championing soulful sounds and powerful vocals. Together with her band - Jeff Mills, Ricky Hendrix and Egan Franke - they produce power-packed rock that has earned them a recent residency at the Elbo Room along with gigs throughout the city. Catch the suburban-based rockers when they bring some new songs back home for a show with Red River Limited this weekend in Clarendon Hills. 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Tracy's Landmark Tavern, 401 55th St., Clarendon Hills. $3. (630) 654-9451 or tracystavern.com.

Tomorrow Never Knows kicks off

Don't forget Tomorrow Never Knows launches five nights of local indie artists, national performers and up-and-coming comedians at five Chicago venues: Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave.; Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave.; The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave.; Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.; and Smart Bar, 3730 N. Clark St. The fest runs Wednesday through Sunday, Jan. 17-21. Five-day pass is $125; individual shows range from $10-$22. See tnkfest.com for full schedules and ticket info.

Concert highlights

Motherfolk, The Regular, Like Language: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

Passion Pit, slenderbodies: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., Chicago. $35-$129. (773) 275-6800 or rivieratheatre.com.

MER's Music Showcase: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. Free. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

McKinley James and The Dyes: 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $8-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Gin & Jokes comedy and hip-hop open mic hosted by Mikey to the P: 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at Rhyme or Reason, 1938 W. Division St., Chicago. Free; drink package is available. (773) 687-8240 or rhymeorreasonchicago.com.

The Footlight District, The Smoking Revolvers, Two Ton Heads, Rotten Mouth, Saltwater Tap: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $9-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

Divinity Compromised, Soulsharer, The Kahless Clone: 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $8-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Suburban Cowboys: 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $5. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.

The Belvederes, Jay O'Rourke: 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $10. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

Hello Weekend, Exit 147: 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $7. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

latenightsinmycar., High Wire, A Better Hand, Almost, Maine, Aiming For Average: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

Arbor Creek, Starship Pilgrims, The Brass Kicks, IDK: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $6-$8. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

2018 Blizzard Bash, featuring Burned, Stars Aligned, Bullet to the Heart, Threatening the Order, Vent To Atmosphere: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at LiveWire Lounge, 3394 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $10-$15. (773) 756-5363 or livewire.do312.com.

Chris Young “Losing Sleep World Tour” with Kane Brown, LANCO: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Sears Centre, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $38-$58. (847) 649-2222 or searscentre.com.

V Is for Villains, Colonel Gunn's Wild West Music Show, Bloodman: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $10. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.

Minds of Madness Vol. 5 w/ Linkin Experience, Jay-Z Tribute: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $5-$7. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.

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

There Goes the Neighborhood, The Throwbacks: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Thirsty Whale, 1700 S. Randall Road, Algonquin. Free. (847) 458-8555 or thirstywhalebar.com.

Fool House: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $8. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Terrapin Flyer - A Grateful Dead Tribute Band: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $10. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

North of Eight: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Spot on 66, 6542 Joliet Road, Countryside. Check with venue for more information. (708) 588-1702 or spoton66.com.

MER's Music Showcase: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. Free. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

David Hayes, Trick Shooter Social Club, Noah Gabriel, bluefront: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $8. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

Ryan Powers & Daniel Wade acoustic: 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. Free. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

Gin & Jokes comedy and hip-hop open mic hosted by Mikey to the P: 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at Rhyme or Reason, 1938 W. Division St., Chicago. Free; drink package is available. (773) 687-8240 or rhymeorreasonchicago.com.

Tedeschi Trucks Band with JJ Grey & Mofro: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $19-$60. (312) 462-6300 or msg.com.

An Evening with the O'Jays: 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $38-$58. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com.

<i> Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor. You can follow him on Twitter at @BShamieDH. Listen to Brian's “2017 Chicago Sound Check” Spotify playlist for a sampling of many of the local bands he included in the Daily Herald last year.</i>