advertisement

Sound check: Spend NYE with emo icons American Football; Dan Tedesco with the BoDeans

A night with American Football

Members of American Football put out “LP1” as a way to say “Hey, we were here” before parting ways post-college. They could not have known that two decades later they'd have two further albums and a following of fans new and old who found the band's music resonating through the years. Band members - Mike Kinsella, Steve Holmes and Steve Lamos from the Wheeling area, now with the addition of cousin Nate Kinsella - are playing a three-night series to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of that debut, culminating in a big New Year's Eve show Tuesday, Dec. 31. (Technically, the first two nights are already sold out, but, hey, never say never.) Reunite with American Football - still emo, but now more maturely so - at Chicago's Schubas. 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $45-$50; Dec. 29 and 30 shows are sold out. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.

Devon Worley and her band bring their edgy hits to St. Charles' Pheasant Run Mainstage Theatre Friday, Dec. 27. Courtesy of Creative Jam, Inc.

Country ... Worley-style

The success of crossover country stars has spawned new subgenres across the country music landscape. Riding a soulful wave through that territory is Devon Worley, a performer who is equal parts country and rock. She and her band, the Devon Worley band, bring their edgy hits to St. Charles' Pheasant Run Mainstage Theatre. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, at Pheasant Run, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $15. (630) 584-6300 or pheasantrun.com.

Singer-songwriter Dan Tedesco returns to his native St. Charles when he opens for the BoDeans Saturday, Dec. 28, at the Arcada Theatre. Courtesy of Rio Chavez

Dan Tedesco's homecoming with the BoDeans

Dan Tedesco's opening set for the BoDeans when the band plays the Arcada Theatre will be a homecoming of sorts. The St. Charles native, who grew up playing piano, violin and guitar before settling into jazz at St. Charles High School and Arizona State University, maneuvered his sound into singer-songwriter territory while playing around Chicago, drawing heavily from influences such as Dylan and Springsteen, especially on his lush and engaging recent release “American Darkness.” Tedesco, who now lives in Des Moines, Iowa, connected with The BoDeans when he opened for them there in 2017. That connection paid off, as he's opened for the alt-rock band a number of times across the country, but reuniting with old friends at the Arcada is a standout for him. “It's a place I spent a lot of time growing up, so being able to go back there and do this now is a really cool experience. And it's going to be not only my last show of the year, but my last show of the decade, so it's going to be a nice exclamation point on this period in time. I'm very much looking forward to sharing it with everybody back in that area.” Seats for the BoDeans/Dan Tedesco show are close to selling out, so get your tickets now. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$89. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

NYE and more with Mungion

With an ever-growing fan base, Mungion is a clear choice when you're looking for an upbeat, celebratory experience. The band, a jam-funk explosion on stage, brings a genuine and positive energy to every performance. Mungion plays three performances - sadly, the last three for drummer Matt Kellen - leading up to a New Year's Eve celebration at Martyrs' in Chicago. 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, with Lunar Ticks, $20; 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, with Desmond Jones, $20; and 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 404-9494 or martyrslive.com.

<i> 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.</i>

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.