Weekend picks: 7 Minutes in Heaven plays Wire showcase

Live outside the lines with 7MIH

7 Minutes in Heaven, the four-piece pop-punk band behind last year's release "Symmetry," is heading out on a mini-tour next week with a stop at suburban venue Wire first. Catch them when they play a pop-punk showcase with City Mouth, Cliffhanger and Howell. 7 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Wire, 6815 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $10-$12. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.

Sew good

The International Quilt Festival promises more than 40 classes, over 300 merchant booths and more than 700 quilts starting on Thursday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. Daily admission: $10; $8 seniors/students; $25 full show; kids 10 and younger admitted free. (847) 692-2220 or quilts.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, April 13, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 14

Audiophile gathering

Find out about the latest home entertainment hardware, trends and more at "AXPONA: Audio Expo North America" this weekend at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $25; $40 two-day pass; $50 three-day pass; $98 gold pass; $10 student one-day pass. (847) 303-4100 or axpona.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Local laughs

Midwestern comedian Michael Palascak initially built up his standup career in Chicago. Catch him this week at two Zanies locations: first at Parkway Bank Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont, $22 plus a two-item purchase, (847) 813-0484; then at 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, $25 plus a two-item purchase, (312) 337-4027 or zanies.com. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, April 13, in Rosemont; 7, 9 and 11:15 p.m. Saturday, April 14, in Chicago

'Idol' Daughtry

"American Idol" may not have made a star of every competitor, but it did lead North Carolina musician Chris Daughtry to a career on stage. He parlayed his exposure from his fifth season appearances on "Idol" into his very own rock group, Daughtry. The band, slinging alternative rock since 2006, is visiting the Chicago suburbs twice in the coming week - Friday, April 13, at Waukegan's Genesee Theatre, followed by a Monday night show at Joliet's Rialto Square Theatre on April 16. 8 p.m. Friday, April 13, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $39.50-$95. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com; and 7 p.m. Monday, April 16, at the Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet. $35-$69. (815) 726-7171 or rialtosquare.com.

Get Blotto

Jam band Mr. Blotto has been a stalwart on the Chicago rock scene going back to the '90s. Catch the band's exciting homegrown rock blend when it plays two suburban shows this weekend - Friday, April 13, at Pheasant Run's Mainstage Theater, and Sunday, April 15, at Berwyn's Wire, when they headline the Rock4Autism Benefit show. 8 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Pheasant Run Mainstage Theater, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $10-$20. (630) 584-6300 or pheasantrun.com. Also at the Rock4Autism 10th Annual Benefit featuring Mr. Blotto, Jay Vonn, Smokey & Friends, Jonny V & the Wild: Noon, Sunday, April 15, at Wire, 6815 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $25; kids 12 and younger admitted free. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com or rock4autism.org.

Malkovich & Lincoln

Hollywood star and Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble member John Malkovich narrates Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra starting on Thursday. Riccardo Muti will conduct Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World") at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $39-$230. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17

Comedy pro

If you miss seeing comedian Jay Leno hosting "The Tonight Show" on TV, then catch him live this weekend at two different venues: first at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora; $89-$109; (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com; then at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $48-$128. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, April 13, in Aurora; 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14, in Waukegan

Poisoned love

Sonya Yoncheva, Piotr Beczała and Plácido Domingo star in a Metropolitan Opera revival of "Luisa Miller." Verdi's early tragedy is simulcast as part of the Live in HD series Saturday and in encore screenings Wednesday at select suburban movie theaters. Prices vary by venue, but largely $19-$27. Sung in Italian with English subtitles. For exact locations and tickets, visit fathomevents.com. 11:30 a.m. live simulcast Saturday, April 14; 1 and 6:30 p.m. encore screenings Wednesday, April 18

Singing reunion

Broadway veteran and Schaumburg native Sal Viviano ("The Phantom of the Opera," "The Full Monty") is featured in Harper College's "ENCORE II: A 50th Anniversary Alumni Celebration Performance." Viviano and other esteemed alumni perform Saturday at the Performing Arts Center, Building R, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. $15 suggested donation. (847) 925-6100 or events.harpercollege.edu. 7 p.m. Saturday, April 14

Country legacy

Country music royalty Roseanne Cash brings her "Black List River" tour with John Leventhal Saturday to College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $50-$60. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14

'Glued to the tube'

Comedian Mike Toomey pairs reminiscences of how television shaped his life with impressions of TV celebrities and observations about his favorite programs in "TV & Me," part of the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre's ongoing comedy series. The one-man show proves Toomey's grade school principal was wrong when she told him "no one ever made a career out of watching television." 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $30, $35. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

What happens

Fans of CNN and Bravo TV won't want to miss the discussion "AC2: An Intimate Evening with Anderson Cooper & Andy Cohen." Tickets are scarce for the event Saturday at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $58.50-$128.50. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14

Eclectic mix

Rock out to the massed music forces of the eclectic band Poi Dog Pondering ("Pulling Touch," "Everybody's Trying") Saturday at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$79. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14

Benefit concert

Former "Jersey Boys" star Jeff Leibow is behind the benefit "NF Hope Concert," which raises funds for the Neurofibromatosis Network. Hear some great singing by the likes of Buffalo Grove High School grad Jessy Schram of "Nashville," Christopher Kale Jones and John Michael Coppola of "Jersey Boys" and more Sunday at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Tickets start at $44. nfhopechicago.org. 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Checking in

An ailing bookkeeper living out his final days, a destitute baron, a fading ballerina, a typist dreaming of stardom and an honest businessman gone bad converge at a Berlin hotel in 1928 in the musical "Grand Hotel," by writer Luther Davis and composer/lyricists Robert Wright and George Forrest with additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. John D. Glover directs and Libertyville's Brenda Didier choreographs Kokandy Productions' revival of this show about dreams and despair, success and failure, endings and beginnings. Previews at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 15, Monday, April 16, and 8 p.m. Thursday, April 19. Opens April 20 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $25-$40. (773) 975-8150 or kokandyproductions.com.

Concert highlights

Another Lost Year, No Resolve, Locust Grove: 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 13, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $12. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Benefit for Adrian Lemberger: 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 13-14, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. Friday features The Burst and Bloom, The Waiting Game, Mark Rose and Daniel Wade; Saturday features Inept, Bob Nanna, Chris Broach, Buick Audra and Nice Motor. $10 each night. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.

There Will Be Blood Friday the 13th Party featuring Grain of Sand, Hi/Jack, Blacklist Regulars, Special Quest, Saint Tragedy, Three Left: 7 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Liar's Club, 1665 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago. $7. (773) 665-1110 or events.wamilive.com.

The Cadillac Three's "Long Hair Don't Care Tour": 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $23. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.

Summer Son: 8 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Basecamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $7-$10. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.

Jim Brickman: 8 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $49-$79. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

Mr. Constant, The Red Moons, Poor Calvin, SoulTrek: 8 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $9-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

Dark Heart News, The Million Reasons, Madema: 8 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

Last Chance Band: 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

Convoy & Blackmarket Democracy: 9 p.m. Friday, April 13, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $8-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Midnight North, Packy Lundholm: 9 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 404-9494 or martyrslive.com.

Boy Band Review: 10 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Austin's Fuel Room, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville. $8. (847) 549-1972 or fuelroom.com.

Charlie Foxtrot, Twenty Over: 10 p.m. Friday, April 13, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $7. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Dead Hands, Out for Hours, Helicopters, Neon Creek, Kildare: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $12-$15. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

Tempest: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $15. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Too White Crew: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at Basecamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $10. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.

Do or Die: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at Wire, 6815 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $20-$160. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.

The Outfit, Kevin Lee & The Kings: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at Rochaus, 96 W. Main St., West Dundee. $10-$15. (815) 893-9768 or rochaus.com.

Polarizer, Pino Farina Band, Ryan Powers & the Secret Weapons: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $9-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

Anthony Gomes: 9 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $15-$20. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

The Ron Burgundy's: 9 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $8. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.

Hexheart, The Rain Within, Antonym, DJ Scary Lady Sarah: 8 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$12. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Lez Zeppelin, The Gingers: 8 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $20-$25. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Thy Neighbors, Solo Sam, Sundé, Vesper, Revolt Coda: 6 p.m. Monday, April 16, at Reggies Rock Club, 2109 S. State St., Chicago. $8-$10. (312) 949-0120 or reggieslive.com.

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, The Phonographs: 7 p.m. Monday, April 16, at Reggies Music Joint, 2109 S. State St., Chicago. $5. (312) 949-0120 or reggieslive.com.

Matt & Kim, Tokyo Police Club, Future Feats: 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, at Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., Chicago. $35. (773) 275-6800 or rivieratheatre.com.

Eraserhead, Vagora, Robby Bloodshed: 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $7-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Dave Davies of the Kinks with Robin Wilson (of the Gin Blossoms) and The Smithereens: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19, at Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $39.50-$89.50. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com.

Darlingside, Henry Jamison: 8 p.m. Thursday, April 15, at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $18. (847) 492-8860 or evanstonspace.com.

• Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with the venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings or to add an event, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.