Sound check: After two years, Space Mafia is back
Space Mafia returns
Just two days shy of marking two years since their last show together, Space Mafia brings all its psych-influenced garage rock glory back as it headlines Reggies this weekend. The fivesome — Caleb Butcher, Lane Hume, Kent Lanier, Charlie Nesler and Ryan Tedder — has been writing fresh music and revisiting unfinished songs for a release later this spring. While they plan to share a little of that at the show, guests can also expect all the gleeful fun and cosmic energy of their grungy fan favorites as they're joined by Amuse and Ghoul for a Goblin for the 21-and-up show.
8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at Reggies Music Joint, 2105 S. State St., Chicago. $13-$15; (312) 949-0120 or reggieslive.com.
Folk, rock at Brother Chimp
Brother Chimp Brewing in North Aurora hosts two sessions of great Chicago-area musicians this weekend in the taproom. Friday night, Aurora's Jason Benefield straps on his guitar for a solo set of eclectic folk rock. Saturday, Naperville's Michael Rawls and his band take the stage for some rollicking rock, country and folk.
Jason Benefield at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7; The Michael Rawls Band at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8; at Brother Chimp Brewing, 1059 W. Orchard Road, North Aurora; (630) 800-1724 or brotherchimpbrewing.com.
Happy birthday, Jimmy Page
Legendary guitarist Jimmy Page's birthday falls this weekend, and Chicago-area fans can celebrate twice as Ron Onesti hosts a party at his two suburban venues. Tribute act Kashmir brings the best of Led Zeppelin as the band pays homage to Page Friday at the Des Plaines Theatre and Saturday at the Arcada Theatre.
• 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at the Des Plaines Theatre, 1476 Miner St., Des Plaines; $29-$49 at (630) 962-7000 or desplainestheatre.com.
• 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $29; (630) 962 7000 or arcadalive.com.
A good Example
Glen Ellyn's Grammy-nominated songwriter Ralph Covert and his band The Bad Examples treat fans to a night of high-energy indie rock as they take over The Venue in Aurora.
8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway Ave., Aurora. $20-$25; (331) 212-8490 or themusicvenue.org.
The Procrastinator's Ball featuring Mr. Blotto: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $15-$30; (630) 962 7000 or arcadalive.com.
Blackberry Jam: 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $7; (847) 358-9150 or nelliespalatine.com.
Rachel Baiman, Pierce Edens: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $12-$80; (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.
Oracle Blu, Lost Pyramids, The Jeeps: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. Free; (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.
The Boy Band Night: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $12; (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.
Andrew Robert Palmer: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, at Montrose Saloon, 2933 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago. $5; montrosesaloon.com.
Terrapin Flyer: 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway Ave., Aurora. $15-$20; (331) 212-8490 or themusicvenue.org.
The Laughing Hearts, Dunedogs, Modern Nun: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $13-$15; (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.
• 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). He also keeps tabs on the Chicago music scene at chicagosoundcheck.com.