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Local Concert Watch for Chicago & Milwaukee:
December 19-31, 2008
First Appeared in The Music Box, December 2008, Volume 15, #12
Written by John Metzger
Fri December 19, 2008, 06:30 AM CST
12/19 - Ten out of Tenn Christmas Tour - Schuba's - Chicago - 10:00 p
 There is something to be said for finding strength in numbers. To celebrate
the holiday season and stand out amongst the insanely crowded, year-end concert
schedule, Butterfly Boucher, Griffin House, Trent Dabbs, Katie Herzig, Tyler
James, Matthew Perryman Jones, Erin McCarley, K.S. Rhoads, Jeremy Lister, and
Andy Davis joined forces for a Yuletide album and full-fledged tour. Billed at
Ten out of Tenn, the entourage will perform the second-to-last show on its trek
on December 19 at Schuba’s. In particular, keep a close eye on Griffin House.
Based upon his latest set Flying Upside Down, his future is filled with
promise.
12/26-27 - Waco Brothers - Schuba's - Chicago - 10:00 p
 Jon Langford formed this offshoot of the Mekons back in the mid-1990s as a
means of exploring his cowpunk tendencies. Since then, the group has become a
regular fixture on the Chicago scene. Schuba’s served as host for the outfit’s
recent concert album, but fans can get a taste of the real thing when the Waco
Brothers returns to the venue for a pair of shows on December 26 and 27. Not for
the faint of heart, the band often will out-drink its audience. There is no
better way, though, to burn off the pent-up aggression that stems from having a
house filled with out-of-town relatives.
12/27 - BoDeans - Genesee Theatre - Waukegan - 8:00 p
12/28 - BoDeans - Rialto Square Theatre - Joliet - 7:00 p
 For its latest set Still, the BoDeans enlisted the help of
T Bone Burnett, but for some strange reason, their union didn’t bear the dividends for
which many had hoped. Instead of traversing bold, new terrain, the outfit
remained firmly tied to its past. Nevertheless, the BoDeans will bring its
infectious melodies and shimmering harmonies to Waukegan’s Genesee Theatre on
December 27 and Joliet’s Rialto Square Theatre on December 28, where it will
perform material from its new album as well as its time-tested, roots-rock hit
Closer to Free. 
12/27-28 - My Morning Jacket - Chicago Theatre - Chicago - 7:30 p
 My Morning Jacket was originally supposed to perform at the Chicago Theatre
in early October, but the group was forced to postpone the shows after front man
Jim James fell off the stage and injured himself in Iowa. Instead of marking the
end of a tour, these concerts will serve as a prelude to My Morning Jacket’s
blockbuster, New Year’s Eve gig at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The
band issued Evil Urges, its fifth studio effort, earlier this year.
12/27-28 - Rusted Root - House of Blues - Chicago - 9:00 p
12/29 - Rusted Root - Eagles Club - Milwaukee, WI - 8:00 p
 For more than a decade, Rusted Root has made a ritual of performing in and
around Chicago in the days that fall between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Somehow, the band has managed to stay afloat despite a dearth of new material.
More than six years have passed since the outfit issued Welcome to My Party,
its most recent studio set, but hope is on the horizon. Rusted Root is planning
to release Stereo Rodeo in 2009. Fans can expect to hear a few cuts from
the album as well as old favorites like Lost in the Crowd, Cruel Sun,
and Ecstasy when Rusted Root takes the stage with Backyard Tire Fire at
House of Blues on December 27 and 28 before heading north to Milwaukee for a
show at the Eagles Club on December 29.
12/30 - Blues Traveler - House of Blues - Chicago - 9:00 p
 Blues Traveler quietly issued its new album North Hollywood Shootout
in August. Lately, however, it has been making up for lost time by elevating its
profile via stints on the Late Show with David Letterman and The Adam
Carolla Show. Although the group performed a pair of festival gigs in the
area in August, it hasn’t headlined a concert in Chicago since November 2007,
which makes its appearance at the House of Blues on December 30 welcome to many.
12/29 - Umphrey's McGee - Auditorium Theatre - Chicago - 8:00 p
12/30 - Umphrey’s McGee - Auditorium Theatre - Chicago - 7:00 p
12/31 - Umphrey's McGee - Auditorium Theatre - Chicago - 8:30 p
 Sandwiched between extended runs of The Nutcracker and Grease,
Umphrey’s McGee will assume control of the Auditorium Theatre for a three-night
engagement on December 29 through 31. In addition to ticking down the final
moments of 2009, the group also is counting the days until its new album
Mantis will be released. Shortly thereafter, Umphrey’s McGee is planning to
hit the road for an extensive string of tour dates that will continue well into
Spring.
Of Further Interest...
Local Concert Watch for Chicago: February 19-22, 2009
Local Concert Watch for Chicago: February 12-18, 2009
Local Concert Watch for Chicago: February 1-7, 2009
Local Concert Preview for Chicago: January 24-31, 2009
Local Concert Watch for Chicago: January 8-23, 2009
Copyright © 2008 The Music Box
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