April, Rock She Will

April is always an adventurous month in the Chicago area, and that holds true for 2019 even with C2E2 and the CHIRP Record Fair moving to March and May respectively. Here’s a quick look at what to expect. I’m sure I’ve missed some worthy events, but I’ll keep watching social media and the local press and posting April updates.

Any month that kicks off with Mott The Hoople’s first Chicago concert in 45 years has to be considered outstanding. Ian Hunter, Morgan Fisher, and Ariel Bender—the heart of the U.K. band’s 1974 lineup—will be at the Chicago Theatre this Wednesday, April 3.

A recently restored print of the 1968 BBC special The Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus will be shown in select theaters today through Wednesday. The Beatles and The Who are among the other top notch English bands featured in the show. See the website for a theatre near you.

If you think you’re in love with eccentric British rocker Robyn Hitchcock, this has been an exciting few months for you. He’s back for another gig in the Chicago area, this time on April 3 at SPACE in Evanston.

Fee Waybill will lead The Tubes into St. Charles this Thursday night for a performance of the band’s The Completion Backward Principle album. Chicago-based power pop masters Off Broadway are the opening act.

Lily Hiatt, daughter of John, and an engaging performer in her own right, will be at FitzGerald’s this coming Friday, April 5.

Power pop master/singer-songwriter Marshall Crenshaw and roots rock/pop band The Bottle Rockets have two shows in one day at The Old Town School of Folk Music this coming Saturday, April 6.

Record Store Day returns April 13, offering limited-edition vinyl releases in every known genre of music. Major acts coming out with must-have treasures include The Rolling Stones; Queen; James Cotton; Badfinger; David Bowie; Herbie Hancock; Cheap Trick; Fleetwood Mac; Aretha Franklin; Eric Clapton; Al Green; L7; Emmylou Harris; Jethro Tull; and Elton John. Watch for in-store performances at Reckless Records, Laurie’s Planet Of Sound; Val’s Halla, and other record stores throughout the area.

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago starts Friday, April 12 and runs through Saturday, April 20 at its brand new location, the LiveWire Lounge on Milwaukee Avenue. This year’s schedule of multiple band showcases is packed with favorites like Three Hour Tour; Van Go; The Jeremy Band; The Spindles; Enuff Z-nuff; The Injured Parties; The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club; Dave Rave; Scott Niekelski from Go Time; Mike Vanderbilt; The Webstirs; Michael Steven Cohen; The Unswept; The Artist Formally Known As Vince; Collectors; Thrift Store Halo; Catherine Tecktiel; Magnaphonic; King Mixer; Rose Cora Perry and The Truth Untold; and The Rob Schultz Band.

Chicago area supergroup and amazing vocalists Flat Five will be at FitzGerald’s on April 13.

Singer-songwriter and New Pornographers member Neko Case is playing at The Vic Theatre on April 26 and 27.

The Social Act will be performing at Martyrs’ on Friday, April 26. Soul Honey Records and Liz Toussaint will also be on the bill that night.