Sound check: Set sail with The Mild West cruise shows on the Chicago River
On deck with The Mild West
The warm days of summer are slipping away, but you're not out of opportunities for a boat party just yet. Chicago rock band The Mild West is setting sail aboard Chicago Line Cruise's 65-foot Ft. Dearborn down the Chicago River, treating guests to a 90-minute set of their pop-infused originals and a few choice favorites. Both cruises — 7 (sold out) and 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 — are limited to 50 passengers each, with social distancing, public health protocols and sanitization procedures in place. Ogle the city's architecture while enjoying music produced right here in town.
9 p.m. (arrive at least 15 minutes before departure) Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Ogden Slip Docks across from 465 N. McClurg Court, Chicago. Free to register for tickets at eventbrite.com, but $32.70 is due at the time of boarding.
Indigenous Peoples Day livestream
Channeling the power of Indigenous cultures and their different musical forms, organizer OPLIAM brings together three vibrant artists for his second annual Indigenous Peoples Day musical showcase. This year's virtual performances will feature multi-instrumentalist OPLIAM of the Iroquois nation, Sicangu Lakota hip-hop artist Frank Waln and trio V4Loops with their traditional South American music-inspired prog rock. The free livestream will be hosted at the Old Town School of Folk Music at oldtownschool.org at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12.
Happy birthday, Hey Nonny!
Hey Nonny, the downtown Arlington Heights' restaurant/music venue that opened two years ago, is celebrating its anniversary with a week's worth of shows in its listening room. The party kicks off Sunday, Oct. 11, with Jon Langford, shredder for The Mekons and The Waco Brothers (among many other musical projects through his long and colorful career), as he plays an early-evening solo show at 6 p.m. Dag Juhlin — of Poi Dog Pondering, The Slugs, Sonic45 and more — continues the celebration when he takes the stage Tuesday, Oct. 13. Chicago sports fan and former Blackhawks singer Wayne Messmer shares an eclectic and spirited mix of jazz, cabaret, Broadway and pop standards from his eclectic catalog Wednesday night. Langford returns Friday, Oct. 16, with three of his Four Lost Souls compatriots, Bethany Thomas and John Szymanski. And he's back again Saturday, Oct. 17, as The Waco Brothers play a stripped-down acoustic set at the venue. Tickets are limited, so check availability soon.
Jon Langford solo at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, $40 per table of two; Dag Juhlin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, $30 per table of two; Wayne Messmer at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, $40 per table of two; Jon Langford and the Four Lost Souls at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, $40; The Waco Brothers at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, $40. Additional seating is available at each show. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com.
Something Wicked
Elgin's Side Street Studio Arts launches its eighth annual Something Wicked visual art gallery, featuring more than 30 artists dabbling in creations both wonderful and creepifying, with its opening reception event Friday, Oct. 9. Something Wicked, which will be up for viewing through Nov. 1 and is an annual favorite exhibit for the gallery, is inside with a patron cap and social distancing and mask protocols in place. In addition, the event will feature a musical performance by The Waterfall King outdoors, as well as a pumpkin-carving contest where guests can bring their already-decorated creations to be judged.
6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin. $5 suggested donation at the door. Normal gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. (847) 429-2276 or sidestreetstudioarts.org.
• Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music junkie. Email him at bshamie@dailyherald.com, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter (@thatshamieguy) or Instagram (@chicagosoundcheck). Brian also keeps tabs on the local music scene at chicagosoundcheck.com.