February 2012

Hey, blogspot readers, where can you find love, learn about history, celebrate with a couple of dead presidents, sleep with a ground hog, eat, drink and get beads and still have an extra day to do it?

Why, February of course!

SouthSide highly recommends checking out these events happening during this rockin' month.

1 Feb - Dead heads (re)unite at Double Door for the Grateful Dead Tribute show! Begins 7:30p
Visit http://www.doubledoor.com for more info.

Meanwhile good friend, Matthew Alfano (of Mason's Case) will begin hosting a weekly Local Music showcase at Elbo Room. 21+ / FREE
Visit http://www.elboroomchicago.com for more details and lineup.

3 Feb - the lovely Estelle will be rockin' the Double Door stage.

Meanwhile frieds, Dot Dot Dot and AM Taxi will be rockin' House of Blues along with State & Madison and The Scissors.

4 Feb - Rockin' Bada Brew (located in Crest Hill, IL) is the Benefit for The Fallen. SouthSide highly recommends showing love and support for her friend Nate who recently lost everything to a fire (including most of the band's, Bleed For The Fallen, gear) before Christmas. With your generous $7 donation, you get to rock to metal-tastic performances by Devils in Angels, IN2 The Inferno, Catalyst, Renegade and more. 21+ show

At Quenchers Saloon, good polka-loving friend, The Polkaholics will be rolling out the beer barrel for a rockin' triple birthday celebration there. $5 donation / 21+

Meanwhile at Reggie's, it's the annual SXSW showdown where SouthSide's friend Yellow Jackets will be competing against other local bands for the final spot on the lineup. Each band will be judged on the following: performance, music originality and (most importantly) crowd reaction. Good luck to all! $10

6 Feb - head to NiteCap for Devil's Playground and celebrate David Bates' birthday too. FREE entry at this 21+ show - also rock with the house band of the month: Deadmanswake.

7 Feb - it's another HOT topic to debate during this month's Intelligence Squared US Debates. If in the NY area, check out the topic - Obesity Is The Government's Business - "...With 33% of adults and 17% of children obese, the U.S. is facing an obesity
epidemic. A major risk factor for expensive, chronic conditions like heart
disease, diabetes, and cancer, it costs our health care system nearly $150
billion a year. Should government intervene, or is this a matter of
individual rights and personal responsibility?" For tickets - http://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/9045265

10 Feb - SouthSide gets an early jump on Valentine's day with Alpha Clef Project band at Darkroom for "The Love Before" Concert. Also featured in the lineup - Khari B, Aniba Hotep & The Sol Collective, Ish and Soltre Jones.

Meanwhile at Double Door, it's a winter camp in! Join other campers at Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival rockin' this hip Wicker Park venue. Visit http://www.doubledoor.com for details and more.

11 Feb - get an awesome workout and/or Valentine's gift at these two charity events supporting two great causes. First head to TriCity Health Club for a workout from 10:30a to 1:30p where your $15 donation will get your bod into shape ($10 will be donated to Animal House Rescue, a non-kill animal shelter in Huntley, IL and Ken Gussy fund - to help pay for surgery in which Ken's sister will be donating half her liver to save his life). Then after working out head to Ray's Evergreen Tavern (in St. Charles) for an urban market - vendors will be donating 20% of their sales to both causes.

Meanwhile love, peace, happiness and groovy sounds will be rockin' this year's Winter Peace Fest happening at the historic Portage Theatre (located near six corners Irving Park/Milwuakee/Cicero). This all day ALL AGES event will feature bands (Digometric, General Patton & His Privates, Monk 9, Awdazcate - to name a few), DJs, Spinners, Speakers, Lasers and other surprises until 2a. Tickets are $15 - get them now! Visit http://www.peacefestchicago.com for more info.

Over at Elbo Room - Life After Liftoff will be rockin' the stage with friend RayIsDude.

And finally, SouthSide will make her debut at NOCTURNA'S monthly show happening at Bottom Lounge where the fashionably dressed of the Goth/music scene will be partying. This month, they will be celebrating new loves and broken hearts at this Valentine's themed party. GlitterGuts (cool photo folks) will be there to document everyone's best holiday black and red attire while good friend DJ Scary Lady Sarah spins your favorite "dark" loves songs (send requests in now). And as an added bonus - heart-shaped treats for all.

12 Feb - over at Mellow Yellow restaurant (located in Hyde Park), check out good friend Jesse Charboneir along with musicians Adrian (on piano), Michael (on bass), and Nils (on drums) as they jazz up your pre-Valentine's Sunday brunch from 10a to 2p. It's ALL AGES so bring the kids for a wonderful music experience ...musicians are encouraged to jam with the band too.

Meanwhile at Fitz's Spare Keys (located in Elmhurst, IL), friend Ivory Theory will be hosting a SXSW fundraiser to help finance their rockin' trip to Austin, TX in March. ALL AGES (except afterparty is 21+ only) / $7 donation

17 Feb - hey, do you want to know a hot secret ...promise not to tell anyone - sorry, blogspot readers, it's SO hot that even SouthSide cannot tell you but she can only say it's involves a local band ...a good friend and it's happening at Metro.

19 Feb - good friend, I Can Hear Myself Levitate will be rockin' a special Sunday Elbo Room appearance along with Disarmed, Curio and Track & Field.

21 Feb - MARDI GRAS partying

23 Feb - check out good friends, Kelsey Montanez and Kona Villamil (of Trainwreck Symphony) with SouthSide as they rock the stage at Elbo Room.

24 Feb - SouthSide returns to Elbo Room for more music and fun as good friend Alaya Conscious rocks the stage with Chicago Trash Ensemble, Artist vs Athlete and Zero to End featured in lineup.

25 Feb - a special, non-review outting for SouthSide. She's ditching the pad and pen for a relaxing evening at The Drake's famous Coq d'Or lounge with good friend and jazz crooner, Jesse Charboneir who will be performing three of her favorites (this reviewer has many standards and rarely heard favorites) by Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday.

Also happening this month - Urban Circuit Market ...stay tuned here for date and details.

Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide