Incoming

Brotherly love is back in fashion. Definitely Maybe. As various websites and several people on social media have noted, Oasis has a reunion tour titled live ’25 coming up next summer. So far, the only shows that have been announced are located in the U.K. and Ireland. 

Pearl Jam will likely showcase impressive songs such as “Wreckage,” “Scared Of Fear,” “React, Respond,” and “Running” from their 2024 album Dark Matter when the Pearl Jam Dark Matter World Tour comes to Chicago for concerts this Thursday and Saturday nights at Wrigley Field.

Hello there, ladies and gentlemen. The Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, IL, which offers a definite nod to hometown heroes Cheap Trick, will be have its grand opening this Thursday. 

The annual Irish Days festival will take place August 31 – September 1 in Long Grove, IL. Several acts will perform at the outdoor event, including Academy Of Irish Music; Shannon Rovers Pipe Band; the Without U2 tribute band, and the always wild and funny The Larkin And Moran Brothers. There will also be Irish dancers, food and beverages.

Happy Birthday to Dolph Chaney, the vocalist-guitarist and Big Stir Records recording artist who’s become quite popular with his backing band The Phins on the Chicago club scene. 

Whether you drop by after work on a weekday, or at your leisure on the weekend, The Northman Riverwalk continues to offer live music and food outdoors with an impressive view of downtown Chicago. The venue’s Wednesday live DJ series continues tomorrow with Johnny Price, AKA DJ J.P. GUNNz spinning soul, disco, pop-dance, and house music. Visitors on Thursday can discover why Down Beat magazine strongly recommends the freewheeling jazz sound of drummer Jimmy Bennington. Both of the previously mentioned performances start at 5:00 pm. Friday’s show kicks off at 6:00 pm and features Dolph Chaney And The Phins. The band’s power pop expertise is Chicago-bred, but has been getting noticed nationwide via its albums. And, it would be entirely proper to wish Dolph a happy birthday even if it will be four days after the actual date. On Saturday at 3:00 pm, the trio Honey Whites will pay tribute to the ground-breaking Boston-based alt rock band Morphine. Things will get pretty strange at 6:00 pm on Saturday with the self-described “psychedelic lounge band from Dimension Zero” The Metalliques and its imaginative costuming. The Northman Riverwalk is located on the Chicago River at 233 N. Riverwalk.

 

For those who can’t wait until Saturday afternoon to see the Honey Whites, the band will also be paying tribute to Morphine tomorrow (Wednesday) night at Montrose Saloon. They’ll be part of a double bill with Made Of Stone, who’ll be performing songs by the U.K. band Stone Roses.

 

Sixteen chefs from successful Chicago area restaurants will compete in the Hamburger Hop event taking place September 27 on the Harris Theater Rooftop. A Judges’ Choice Award will be determined by a panel of eight judges; and there will also be a People’s Choice Award. Joe Flamm of Rose Mary restaurant, BLVD Steakhouse, and being my nephew fame will serve as host, along with James Beard Award nominated chef and cookbook author Adrienne Cheatham. Joe and Adrienne were finalists on Season 15 of the Bravo series Top Chef, and are both very cool people. Hamburger Hop will also feature DJs and a variety of spirits will be available. (Special thanks to Ryan of the local indie rock band The Unswept for calling this event to my attention.)