Sound check: Flat Five hits harmonies at Hey Nonny, FitzGerald's

Two nights of Flat Five

Fans know when The Flat Five hits the stage (at two suburban venues this weekend), they're in for a lighthearted musical mix of '60s pop, jazzy instrumentation and catchy vocal melodies. Rooted in optimistic grooves and watered with delicious harmonies, this Chicago supergroup of sorts - Kelly Hogan, Nora O'Connor, Scott Ligon, Casey McDonough, Alex Hall - released its last album "It's a World of Love and Hope" in 2016 with a punchy follow-up twist on Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" in 2017. Expect to hear many of those favorites and more at Hey Nonny's sold out show Friday and at FitzGerald's Saturday. 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $25-$40. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com. And at 9 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $20. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

For your a-Muse-ment

If you haven't already checked out Muse's latest album, "Simulation Theory," now's your chance. The hard-driving progressive rock band hits Chicago's United Center this weekend with its "Simulation Theory World Tour," joined on the bill by upbeat pop icons Walk the Moon. What's more? Every ticket purchased online also gives you the choice of the October-released album on CD or digital editions. 8 p.m. Friday, April 12, at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. Remaining tickets start at $39. (800) 877-7575 or unitedcenter.com.

Holly at Chop Shop

When Tanner Bednar of Elgin-area garage-soul band Holly takes the mic, he channels the heart of the classics with Otis Redding and Sam Cooke-like style. The rockers dig deep, meshing modern rock, Chicago blues and a little dose of nostalgia for an iconic sound that's a hidden gem on our local music scene. Holly headlines an all-ages show at Chicago's Chop Shop this weekend, joined by funky blues-rockers Wilde. 7 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 537-4441 or chopshopchi.com.

Vesper homecoming

Chicago may have lost native electro-pop due Vesper to the wilds of Nashville last year, but Zak Fox Jablow and Samantha Humphreys still venture north to dazzle friends back home with their sparkling, energetic songs. Fresh off last week's visit to celebrate the release of the vinyl edition of the band's latest full-length, "Years," the two head to the Empty Bottle for a night of heartfelt, danceable numbers along with indie duo Zigtebra and art-popsters Big Syn. 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago. $8-$10. (773) 276-3600 or emptybottle.com.

'Are You The Next Big Thing?'

1126 Entertainment and Onesti Entertainment present the grand finale for the battle of the bands' spring series. Thirteen local musical acts will put their best feet forward in front of a panel of judges for a prize package including a professional video or photo shoot, studio time and an opportunity to perform with a national band at the Arcada Theatre. Finalists include When The Sun Sets, The Frizz, Double Ontendre, Wunderlick, Middlemen, Swiss Mistress, Brian Mares, Kayla, Voodoo Children, jonfin, Whiskey Creek, Last Generation, Cool Plant Names, Rachel's Bully and Alex & Colleen. The finale is free and open to the public, so come support local music and find some new favorite bands. 7 p.m. (doors at 6) Wednesday, April 17, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Free. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

International Pop Overthrow schedule

LiveWire Lounge, 3394 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $10 per session. (773) 756-5363 or internationalpopoverthrow.com.

• 8 p.m. Friday, April 12: Catherine Tecktiel, Magnaphonic, Too Much Saturn, Gal Gun, King Mixer, Reaction

• 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13: Kontrolled Kaos, Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold, The Pickpockets, Blameless Lake, The Jeremy Band;

• 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13: Athanor, Beyond, Steve Ramone & The Pensioners, Enuff Z'nuff, The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club, The Jay Goeppner Band

• 8 p.m. Sunday, April 14: Almond & Olive, Christopher Elam, Arwin, Mark Watson, The Red Moons

• 8 p.m. Monday, April 15: Van Go, Dave Rave and Hailee Rose, The Red Wigglers, Pelicans and Their Allies, I Am Spartacus

• 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 16: Michael Steven Cohen, Troy Anderson, Rob Schultz Band, The Webstirs, Drew Neely & The Heroes

• 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 17: Johnny Stanec, Andrew Robert Palmer, Phil Yates & The Affiliates, Leisure McCorkle, Rollo Time

• 8 p.m. Thursday, April 18: Aaron Williams, Scott Niekelski (of Go Time), Treeshakers, The Artist Formerly Known As Vince Band, Mike Vanderbilt & The Suburban Garage Sound

• 8 p.m. Friday, April 19: Waiflike, The Unswept, Collectors, The Spindles, Thrift Store Halo, BingBong

• 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20: The Injured Parties, Celia Rose, Freetoed, Kenny Sommer, Tom Schraeder, Rainy Day Crush

• 8 p.m. Saturday, April 20: Vee Sonnets, Douglas & Tucker, Three Hour Tour, The Band Calderisi, The Mixture, Young Distractions

Concert highlights

I Heart Halal festival featuring Lupe Fiasco, Brother Ali, Neelam Hakeem and more: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 12 and 13; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at Navy Pier Festival Hall A & B, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $10-$20 general admission; $5-$10 kids ages 2-13; $50-$75 all-access; $100 VIP pass. (312) 595-7437 or ihearthalal.com.

The Belvederes, The Revolutionary The Romantic: 7 p.m. Friday, April 12, at RocHaus, 96 W. Main St., West Dundee. $15-$20. (815) 482-2870 or rochaus.com.

RDGLDGRN, Tropidelic, Midwest Hype, jonfin: 7 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $15. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

Bad Bad Hats, Peach, Con Davison, Sunday Cruise: 8 p.m. Friday, April 12, at The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. $12. (815) 517-1788 or ticketweb.com.

Rock the Blues with Ronnie Baker Brooks, Head Honchos: 8 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Tailgaters, 431 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. $14-$20. (630) 679-1994 or tailgatersgrill.com.

Muse "Simulation Theory World Tour" with Walk the Moon: 8 p.m. Friday, April 12, at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. Remaining tickets start at $39. (800) 877-7575 or unitedcenter.com.

OMT, Mixtape Junkies: 8 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Frankie's Blue Room, 16 Chicago Ave., Naperville. $7. (630) 416-4898 or frankiesblueroom.net.

Chris Smither: 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $25-$30. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

The Illogical, The Freedom Paradox, Dreadwolf, Too Tough To Die: 9 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Sugar Skull, 9743 Franklin Ave., Franklin Park. $4. (847) 916-2690 or sugarskullchi.com.

Nasty Snacks, New Nostalgia, Low Spark: 9 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $12. (773) 404-9494 or martyrslive.com.

The Radio Buzzkills, The Kobanes, Imbecile Missile: 9 p.m. Friday, April 12, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $5-$8. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Jared & the Mill, Michigander, Twinsmith: 9 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $15-$18. (773) 525-2501 or lh-st.com.

Mr. Blotto: 10 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Tonic Room, 2447 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $12. (773) 248-8400 or tonicroom.ticketfly.com.

Deadships, Growing, Synovial, Dear Deadly: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $10. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.

Holly, Wilde: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 537-4441 or chopshopchi.com.

What Lies Ahead, Bury Your Past, Fools' Brew, Atlanta Is Burning: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at RocHaus, 96 W. Main St., West Dundee. $10-$13. (815) 482-2870 or rochaus.com.

Alabaster, The King of Mars, The Smokin' Tones, Beau Diamond & the Collective Dreamer Band: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

Boys of Fall, Oh, Weatherly, Never Loved, Late Nights, Tougher Than You Thought: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Cobra Lounge, 235 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. $12. (312) 226-6300 or cobralounge.com.

Guster, Saintseneca: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., Chicago. $32.50. (773) 275-6800 or rivieratheatre.com.

Ax and the Hatchetmen: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at J's Sports Bar & Grill, 816 W. Grand Ave., Fox Lake. (847) 629-5925 or jssportsbarandgrill.net.

Invisible Cartoons, The Beach Street Cheetahs: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Alibi, 12 N. 3rd St., St. Charles. Free. (630) 443-0011 or ouralibi4u.com.

Mellencougar: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Frankie's Blue Room, 16 Chicago Ave., Naperville. $7. (630) 416-4898 or frankiesblueroom.net.

JC Brooks Band, Mike Maimone: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $20 for general admission; premier seating sold out. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.

Local H, Stoop Goodnoise, Silverside: 9 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Quarry Pub & Grill, 1015 State St., Lemont. $12; table and dining room packages also available. (331) 757-5465 or quarrylemont.com.

Ben Miller Band, Donnie Biggins: 9 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Tonic Room, 2447 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $20-$25. (773) 248-8400 or tonicroom.ticketfly.com.

Stop the Insanity Part 5, featuring Grimm Trigger, When the Sun Sets, Cleveland Avenue, BoxHouse and Misstep Forward: 5 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. $1o, proceeds benefit Hope for the Day. (815) 517-1788 or thcdekalb.com.

Haley Reinhart "Lo-Fi Soul Tour" with Jennah Bell: 7 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago. $30-$75. (773) 929-1322 or parkwestchicago.com.

Solution Unsatisfactory, This Obsession, Dead Freddie, CHX Collective Acoustic: 7 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at Cairo Ale House, 2009 Franciscan Way, West Chicago. $7. (630) 876-9600 or cairoalehouse.com.

Fire Cat, Torch the Hive: 8 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at Crown Liquors, 2821 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Free. (773) 252-9741 or crownliquorschicago.com.

Whitney Rose, David Quinn: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $10-$25. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.

Hed PE, Ravens, Dear Deadly: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at RocHaus, 96 W. Main St., West Dundee. $15-$18. (815) 482-2870 or rochaus.com.

Fletcher Rockwell: 8 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at FitzGerald's Sidebar, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $5. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

Honey & the 45s, Old Grand Dad, Local Motive: 8 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

The Belvederes: 9:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $5-$8. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music fanboy. Find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter at @thatshamieguy. Brian also keeps tabs on the Chicago-area music scene at chicagosoundcheck.com.