Ooh You're A Holiday

Celebrate an American holiday weekend with a quintessential English band.

Thanksgiving is one week from today, which means there will be four nights to explore Chicago's vibrant club scene without having to get up early for work or classes the next morning. Here are few options.

EXPO '76 is throwing a Thanksgiving Eve Party next Wednesday night at FitzGerald's in Berwyn. The cover band is comprised of four musicians with vast experience in other groups, like The Slugs, Poi Dog Pondering, The Service, etc. They're often joined on their eclectic selection of cover tunes by the Total Pro Horns. EXPO '76 has also been booked to welcome in the new year at FitzGerald's.

Also on Thanksgiving Eve, there will be a four-band showcase at Live Wire on Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago featuring The Safes, The Differents, The Red Plastic Buddha, and The Regals. I haven't had a chance to hear The Safes' latest effort , but their 2014 effort Record Heat served up an impressive collection of punk/garage rock songs with an occasional hint of power pop and country. The Red Plastic Buddha's third and most adventurous album Songs For Mara had a number of psychedelic classics, such as "Stuck On Zero" and "Cosmonaut." The Differents play easy-going and catchy pop tunes, while The Regals pursue a more hard-edged punk sound.

The day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday Record Store Day. Even those of us who have never risen before the crack of dawn to stand outside a Target or Sears, will brave the elements in order to snag some of the one-day only vinyl treasures on this holiday edition of Record Store Day. Some of the more notable offerings next Friday will come from The B-52's; Beck; Big Star; David Bowie; Garbage; Houndmouth; The Kinks; The Sonics; Spoon; Lush; and The Zombies. See the RSD website for the full list.

Squeeze will be at Park West in Chicago November 27 and 28 for acoustic performances featuring founding members Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford. The songs on Cradle To The Grave, the band's first full album of new material in 17 years, showcase the witty lyrics, catchy melodies, and harmony vocals fans have come to expect. This is a rare opportunity to see Squeeze in an intimate setting, and the shows are part of WXRT's Holiday Concert For The Kids series. If you plan on going, be sure to bring a new or like new book or toy that can be passed along to a child in Chicago area hospitals during the holiday season.

Singer-songwriter (and author-model car maker) Dean Milano will be performing on November 27 at the Port Edward seafood restaurant in Algonquin. Milano has a classic folk vocal style, and he frequently adds a satiric edge to his original material.