Sound Check: CELLRS is back in the spotlight
CELLRS returns
After two years away from the stage, Chicago rock band CELLRS - Adam Novak and Weston Reynolds - is making a return to the spotlight with a few new players - Jake Hackett on bass and Jacob Powell on drums - and debuting a fresh set laced with old favorites and some newer material. The talented and theatrical performers headline Lincoln Hall, supported by singer-songwriters Dave Tamkin and Bryan Sansom, dreamy alternative rock band Scotch the Filmmaker, and indie rock from CASE. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $10-$15. (773) 525-2501 or lh-st.com.
Jonny Lang at Arcada
Jonny Lang - who's been at the blues game for more than two decades - dropped his first platinum-selling record at 15. And he's been causing jaws to drop ever since with his soulful voice and skilled musicianship. Catch him as he brings the heat to St. Charles' Arcada Theatre this weekend. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $49-$89. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.
'Madness' of Shawn Rieke
Green Oaks singer-songwriter Shawn Rieke has been juggling a close-to-launch audio/video studio and the development and production of his new album, “Madness,” which will be out on Spotify this weekend. You can hear it (and purchase CDs) before its streaming release when Rieke plays a release concert at Wire Friday, Feb. 22. Stolen Enterprise and Alex Wolfe will be joining the Lake County musician on stage for the night. 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $10-$12. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.
A million reasons ...
The Million Reasons ran off with my heart with November's single release, “Dizzy,” an intoxicating and searing lament of the uncertain nature that grows between people in a relationship. The band headlines Chicago's House of Blues, joined by the hard-rocking Werewolves at Hour 30, Bubbles Erotica, Over the Sun and Coyote Man. 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $10. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.
Battle of the Bands
Suzie Jessen of 1126 Entertainment and Ron Onesti of Onesti Entertainment co-host this season's local Battle of the Bands finale on the Arcada Theatre's main stage Thursday, Feb. 28. The free finale production will feature 14 local acts playing two songs each, judging by a panel of industry professionals and a headlining performance from 10:30 p.m. to midnight by last season's winner, Ask the Natives. 6:30 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.), Thursday, Feb. 28, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Free; all ages. arcadalive.com or call Suzie at (630) 276-3825.
Artist networking
It's time to connect with Chicago-area music artists, vendors and industry professionals when Evan Price and Artist Collective hosts the bimonthly Artist Collective Meetup next week. Get to know some of the sound engineers, fine artists, photographers, promoters, producers and the like who work with musicians to make Chicago's music community so strong. Head to Houndstooth Saloon to network, check out the vendors and enjoy food and drink specials for the evening. 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at Houndstooth Saloon, 3369 N. Clark St., Chicago. $5-$10. eventbrite.com.
Concert highlights
Gin Blossoms “New Miserable Experience Live”: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $27.50. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.
Kelly Clarkson “Meaning of Life Tour” with Kelsea Ballerini and Brynn Cartelli: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $49-$254; $15-$25 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com.
The Movement, KBong, Revolt Coda: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb, 22, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison, Chicago. $15-$17. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.
Walker Hayes, Filmore: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $20; VIP for $79. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.
Bob Mould Band, Airstream Futures: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Metro Chicago, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago. $31-$36. (773) 549-4140 or metrochicago.com.
The Dead Seahorses, Eddy And The Arsons, Invictus: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $10. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.
Rosie & the Rivets: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $15-$30. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.
Gravity - The John Mayer Experience: 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $7. (331) 777-4712 or ticketweb.com.
Diego Martir, Zoe, Cody, Jesse Underhill, Mackenzie Sol, Camb: 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $15-$125. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.
35th Annual Salute to Gospel Music Concert: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $28-$33. (847) 543-2431 or clcillinois.edu.
Get Happy! Angela Ingersoll sings Judy Garland: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 2350 E. Dempster St., Des Plaines. $45. (847) 682-3951 or angelasingsjudy.eventbrite.com.
Off Broadway, Phil Angotti Band, The Evictions, Dead Freddie: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Reggies, 2105 S. State St., Chicago. $20-$25. (312) 949-0120 or reggieslive.com.
Blaqrock, Sincerely Sarlacc, Led Pig, Ludlow: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison, Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.
Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Blue Water Highway: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago. $40-$65. (773) 472-0449 or victheatre.com.
Bob Mould Band, Beach Bunny: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Metro Chicago, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago. $31-$36. (773) 549-4140 or metrochicago.com.
Leftover Salmon “Stories from the Living Room”: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $35-$65. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org.
Mulligan Stew: 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Feb. 23, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.
Thundershark, Norman Rocks Well: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $10-$12. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.
Grow The Scene Winter Warm Up featuring The Sunkin Suns, The Give and Go, Ask the Natives, Olivia Port Band, Marshall Hayes, Dear Daze and Inside the Spiral: 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, at Reggies Rock Club, 2105 S. State St., Chicago. $11.50-$15. (312) 949-0120 or reggieslive.com.
Twice Removed, The Handpan Project, Ulises R, Fun Monkey, Left In The Rain: 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $10. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.
Live for Tomorrow, As We Divide, Westmore, Glory Years: 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, at Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $10. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.
Set It Off, With Confidence, Super Whatevr, Lift: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, at Metro Chicago, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago. $20-$22. (773) 549-4140 or metrochicago.com.
The Neal Morse Band: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $29-$69. (630) 692-7000 or arcadalive.com.
Maddie & Tae: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $15. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.
“Oh Glory! A Black Lives Matter Concert”: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, at First Congregational Church of Elgin, 256 E. Chicago St., Elgin. $20. (847) 741-4045.
Cold Cave, Adult., Vowws, DJ Scary Lady Sarah: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Metro Chicago, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago. $22-$25. (773) 549-4140 or metrochicago.com.
Corey Dennison Band: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $15-$30. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.
Michael Ray, Ryan Griffin: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $20. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.
<i> Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music fanboy. You can follow him on Twitter at @thatshamieguy. Also check out new music he's listening to from some great local acts on “Chicago Sound Check 2019v2” on Spotify.</i>