Sound check: Four nights of Wilco; Holiday Hang with Sister Hazel
Welcome, Wilco
Illinois native Jeff Tweedy has a soft spot in his heart for Chicago. From his connections on the scene to his collaborations with hometown gospel-singing superstar Mavis Staples, his love for the city keeps him and his rock band Wilco coming back. The group blends punk and folk into solid Midwestern rock for a mix of edgy, yet chill, favorites that defined and inspired the rebellious streak of the last few decades of Chicago music. Wilco returns for four nights of "Winterlude 2019" at the Chicago Theatre.
7:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Dec. 15-16, with Robyn Hitchcock; and Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 18-19, with Sharon Van Etten at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. Tickets start at $59; supplies are limited. (312) 462-6300 or msg.com.
Tunes, toys and wings
Bring a donation of new, unwrapped toys to the Villa Park VFW Toys for Tots Rock and Wings Benefit Thursday, and you can catch a show featuring the Lombard-based The Minors of Rock. The band - Willowbrook High School sophomores Keith Harris, Parker Noesen and Jesse Vasel plus Jackson Middle School student Jaden Vasel - specializes in its own original songs and a wide variety of rock and classic rock covers and already has a debut album in the works.
6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at the Villa Park VFW, 39 E. St. Charles Road, Villa Park. Free. (630) 834-8191 or facebook.com.
Twenty Bands of Christmas
Penny Road Pub unpacks rock for the holidays with the Twenty Bands of Christmas. Featuring Masked Intruder, Papa Squat and the Magic Treehouse, 20 Spot, Mr. Blotto, Lost Pyramids, Never Better, The C-Sides, One Small Step and many others, the two stages will be packed for two days of mid-December face-melting rock, searing punk and groovy jams.
6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Penny Road Pub, 545 Penny Road, Barrington. $15 for Friday; $20 for Saturday. (847) 428-0562 or pennyroadpub.com.
Hangout with Sister Hazel
The platinum-selling rock group Sister Hazel heads to Chicago for The Holiday Hang, a three-day visit full of fan events and performances with some holiday pizzazz. First, join the band Friday, Dec. 13, at O'Callaghan's for appetizers and beverages, merch, photo ops with the band and an ornament exchange. Saturday, Dec. 14, catch the guys when they play a full set at House of Blues along with Chicago's own The Hoodie Life and Fairview. And then follow up Sunday morning for a Back Porch Sunday Brunch at HOB and an "Holiday and Hazel Favorites" acoustic performance.
Pre-party at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at O'Callaghan's, 29 W. Hubbard St., Chicago. $75. facebook.com. Show at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $29.50. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com. Brunch seatings start at 9 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at House of Blues. $65 at houseofblues.com.
Swing into the holidays
Chicago-area comedian, stage and TV star Jane Lynch teams with Kate Flannery, Tim Davis and the Tony Guerrero Quintet to bring "A Swingin' Little Christmas" to town for three performances at two venues. Expect jazzed-up arrangements of holiday staples when the touring show hits the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake and City Winery in Chicago.
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13 and 14, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $35-$70. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 5 and 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $55-$78. (312) 932-9950 or citywinery.com.
56 Yule Fix
Starting at 11 a.m., the holidays will invade Mount Prospect as the Yule Fix & Toy Drive takes over the Moose Lodge for its second year of musical celebration. The Yule Fix, which is also a benefit show for the Mooseheart residential child-care facility, features musical performances of the rock, a cappella, indie folk and instrumental varieties, Christmas caroling and even two visits from Santa. Headliners Two Weeks Notice and DJ Meteor (artist and Music Fix designer Joey LaLa) close out the night. Head over to celebrate, give to charity and get back a little holiday spirit.
11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at The Moose Lodge, 601 N. Main St., Mount Prospect. Free admission. 56musicfix.org.
Charlie Brown Christmas
What are the holidays without the Peanuts gang dancing around Schroeder's piano? The Chris White Trio brings the jazzy classics from the beloved holiday special (as well as other wintertime favorites) to Hey Nonny's listening room for two family-friendly performances of "A Charlie Brown Christmas With The Chris White Trio."
7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $15-$30. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.
Sleep On It benefit
Give a little back as Chicago-based pop-punk band Sleep On It collects unopened packages of socks to be donated to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless at its Lincoln Hall show this weekend with Bearings, Young Culture and Better Love. As a special thank you, donors will get first access to the band's limited edition holiday merch at the show.
7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $15-$18. (773) 525-2501 or lh-st.com.
Have a Ball
Unwrap a holiday celebration of pop as the Jonas Brothers, Zara Larsson, Niall Horan, Lewis Capaldi, AJR and more hit Rosemont for the 103.5 Kiss FM's Jingle Ball Wednesday, Dec. 18.
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $35-$250; parking fees $15-$25 cash only. allstatearena.com.
• Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music junkie. Find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter (@thatshamieguy) or Instagram (@chicagosoundcheck). Brian also keeps tabs on the Chicago-area music scene at chicagosoundcheck.com.