For_Immediate_Release:
It has to be something pretty special to drag me away from the proverbial fireplace, but there are a few shows that offer strong contenders as we bid farewell to 2006 on Sunday night.
For rock fans, the most exciting show in town is probably the Raconteurs at the Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine. In 2004, Jack White's other band memorably rang out the year at the Aragon Ballroom with the Flaming Lips. His side-project collaboration with Detroit power-pop favorite Brendan Benson and the rhythm section of Cincinnati's garage-rockin' Greenhornes is even more tuneful and high-energy than the White Stripes -- or at least it's better suited to a party. The Features open at 10 p.m., and tickets are $80. Call (312) 559-1212. (The same bill plays the Riv at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, but that show is sold out.)
My other top pick is an inspired Chicago-centric pop-punk tag team at Metro, 3730 N. Clark. In a bill sure to make many nostalgic for the Fireside Bowl circa 1997, the reactivated Smoking Popes, who are gearing up to record a new album in 2007 (and are providing samples of the new tunes online at www.myspace.com/smokingpopes) will share the stage with their old pals the Alkaline Trio, who recently left Vagrant to sign to V2 Records. The show starts at 10 p.m. and tickets are $66. Call (773) 549-4140.
The main room offering at the House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn, is an odd one, bringing Canadian roots-rockers the Tragically Hip together with Orthodox Jewish rapper and jam-band favorite Matisyahu starting at 9 p.m., and at $145 per ticket, it's pretty pricey, too. But plenty of rock fans raved about "Boys and Girls in America," the 2006 album from emo-punk Springsteen fans the Hold Steady, and the Brooklyn band will perform on the club's smaller backporch stage starting at 10 p.m., for the more reasonable price of $45. Call (312) 923-2000 for more information about either show.
Source: http://www.msn.com
POSTED BY JIM DeROGATIS
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