Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Downtown Live Music & Entertainment Scene - April 21-May 2

We're rolling out two weeks worth of live music coverage in this giant size issue of "The Scene"!

In addition to some red hot live bands rocking a variety of venues this coming weekend throughout Downtown Elgin, we thought we would give you an advanced heads-up by previewing two major music events in Downtown happening the following weekend (April 30-May 2).





MELODICROCKFEST 2
Coming to The Roadhouse/Main Event Elgin

April 30-May 2

Some of the biggest and best names in melodic rock will once again gather for the biggest party of the year when MELODICROCKFEST 2 comes to Downtown Elgin for the weekend of April 30-May 2.

Hosted by THE ROADHOUSE at 200 Prairie Street in Elgin, MelodicRockFest 2 is the second major concert event organized by the popular hard rock website http://www.melodicrock.com/ - one of the most respected and leading music websites in the world, tallying 42 million hits and currently servicing 275,000 unique users per month.

Spread over two full days (Saturday May 1 and Sunday May 2); with an additional VIP ticket holder night on Friday April 30; the event will feature 20 bands and additional special guests in a display of classic melodic and hard rock music.

Here is the weekend rundown:

FRIDAY, APRIL 30

The Friday VIP Meet & Greet night is open to VIP ticket holders and will feature some acoustic performances from more melodic rock stars.

Headlining the night will be a rare special 30-minute set from ALIAS, featuring vocalist Freddy Curci and guitarist Steve DeMarchi.

Chicagoland rockers MECCA made an immediate impact with their debut album in 2000, but has never played live – until now. This will be a very special set not to be missed.

ROCK SUGAR couldn’t help but get involved again and will warm up for Saturday with some acoustic tracks.

And joining us again from MRF1 is US melodic rock band GOODBYE THRILL, who might just ignore the acoustic night premise to deliver some rocking tunes.

A number of the weekend guests will be on hand to meet and greet fans, sign autographs or possibly share a drink or two.


SATURDAY, MAY 1

Saturday’s show will be headlined by San Francisco hard rock legends Y&T. The band will be taking a break from the studio, preparing the release of their new studio album due mid-year to rock Chicago.

DANGER DANGER is one of the most popular hard rock acts to come out of the late '80s and in 2009 the band delivered one of the genre’s best new albums. They’ll be playing all their biggest hits and some new tracks too.

PRIDE OF LIONS needs no introduction – featuring Chicago’s favourite rock legend Jim Peterik (ex-Survivor, Ideas Of March, World Stage) and vocalist Toby Hitchcock, plus members of the World Stage band, Pride Of Lions will appear for one of their rare live appearances.

EDEN’S CURSE features members from 4 different countries, but they will converge on the USA for the very first time to perform the best tracks from two acclaimed albums and maybe even preview the upcoming third opus. And they’ll record and film the set for a DVD release!

TERRY BROCK has been in the business for 20 years and is the current lead vocalist for much loved AOR act Giant and classic rock band Le Roux. But Terry has a solo career also and in his feature set, he will cover all the favourites and perhaps a surprise or two. His backing band will be popular New York melodic rockers Valentine.

ROCK SUGAR might just be one of the most talked about bands of the weekend. Their unique take on twisting songs into each other, or ‘mashing them’ together will have everyone talking. Fast becoming a YouTube sensation with their Metallica/Journey mash-up, these guys are going to rock the house.

US rockers TALON are another band bubbling under and will debut their new vocalist and film a live DVD at the same time.

Opening the day is FARCRY – a band with the attitude of any stadium act of the '80s.


SUNDAY, MAY 2

Headlining Day 2 of MelodicRockFest is multi-platinum rockers WINGER. Famed for their musical prowess and fresh off a European tour, the band are supporting the release of their latest hard rock masterpiece Karma.

For the first time in 14 years, acclaimed NJ rockers TRIXTER will return to the mid-west to perform a true greatest hits set as they continue the tour that commemorates the 20th Anniversary of their debut album.

Pulling double duty for the show is Danger Danger frontman TED POLEY. Ted will do his own set, concentrating on some D2 rarities and solo material, plus tunes from his Poley/Rivera release. Ted will be joined by guitarist Vic Rivera and band.

JIMI JAMISON (ex-Survivor) returns from a guest appearance that brought the house down at MRF1 to perform a solo set of new solo tracks and some much loved Survivor classics. Who knows what guests might join him on stage?

VOICES OF ROCK RADIO are just that. Kevin Chalfant (The Storm, Two Fires) and Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent) and the Two Fires Band perform their best known hits before inviting former Survivor vocalist Jimi Jamison to join the fun.

CROWN OF THORNS, featuring Jean Beauvoir and Tommy Lafferty will play a rare US soil live show in support of their latest studio album and a catalogue of much loved tunes that go back to the Paul Stanley (Kiss) produced debut album.

No Chicago based show would be complete without local legends 7TH HEAVEN – the hardest working band in the Midwest and recently featured on American Idol.

Opening up Day 2 is melodic hard rockers BOMBAY BLACK, a heavy duty live act that will get the day off to a thunderous start.

Tickets for this very special event are on sale now. For full show information or to purchase tickets online, visit the festival website: http://www.melodicrockfest.com/ or call Revolution Tickets for credit card phone sales at 312-675-8025.

The event hotel for MRF2 is the Holiday Inn in Elgin. Discount rates are available by logging on to the event website.

For additional information regarding MELODICROCKFEST 2 show, please contact Andrew McNeice via e-mail at ajm@melodicrock.com or call Geoff Sands from The Roadhouse/Main Event Elgin at 773-619-0441


THE GASTHAUS PRESENTS VEHICLE ALBUM RELEASE SHOW

Proceeds to benefit Friends of Lords Park Zoo Fund

On Friday, April 30, Gasthaus Bar & Grill will team up with MY LAZY ELEPHANT and VEHICLE, local bands doing classic rock covers, to raise money for the Friends of Lords Park Zoo fund.

Russ Barnes, Steve Barnes, Chad Fredrickson, Samantha Parsons and John Bordsen make up My Lazy Elephant - www.myspace.com/MyLazyElephant

Scott Barnes, Steve Barnes, Tim Radloff, Sam Heckman and Tim Jones make up Vehicle - http://www.musicvehicle.com/

Show starts at 8pm. Donation buckets will be set up at the door and a $5 minimum donation will be required. Larger donations appreciated!

This special event includes:

- Great Live Music
- Prizes
- 50/50 Raffle
- Cash Bar

For more information contact The Gasthaus Bar & Grill at 15 N. Grove Avenue, 847-695-8828.


And let us not forget all the fabulous live music to choose from this weekend (April 23-25)! Check it out:

Mad Maggies
51 S. Grove
847-531-5883
http://www.madmaggies.net/

Friday, April 23
3 If By Air with Face for Radio - 5:30pm

Saturday, April 24
Lateralus - 10:30pm


The Roadhouse/Main Event Elgin
200 Prairie Street
847-695-4454
http://www.roadhouseelgin.com/

Friday, April 23
First Band - 9pm
Lounge Puppets - 10pm

Saturday, April 24
First Band - 9pm
Echoes of Pink Floyd - 10pm
JakTripper - 10pm


Elgin Public House/Pub 217
219 E. Chicago Street
847-468-8810
http://www.elginpublichouse.com/

Friday, April 23
Hyperplasia (EPH)

Saturday, April 24
Bagshot Row (EPH)
50's & 60's "power pop" rock n' row

Astrobirds (Pub 217)


Douglas Street Sports Bar & Grill
231 Douglas Avenue
847-695-5659
http://www.douglasstreetsportsbar.com/

Friday, April 23
Blind Roosevelts


The Gasthaus Bar & Grill
15 N. Grove Avenue
847-695-8828

Friday, April 23
Doomsday Luck with Second Seal

Saturday, April 24
The Return of Chris Musatto with The Repulsators


The Hemmens Cultural Center
45 Symphony Way
847-931-5900
http://www.hemmens.org/

Sunday, April 25
The Flying Karamazov Brothers - 6pm

The Flying Karamazov Brothers, named after the novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, are a continuing experiment in comedy, theatre, music and, of course, juggling. With the intention of blending the worlds of performance art, improvisation, word play, harmony, emotion and, above all, virtuosity into a unique form of theatre and entertainment, the Flying Karamazov Brothers continue to find new ways to astonish by air, by laughs and by scene. Taking their cue from Shakespeare, they bring art and accessible entertainment to the stage. Comedy is their bread and butter and they layer it on so that children of 2, or 92 will laugh at the same moment for very different reasons. Among their many accomplishments, the Flying Karamazov Brothers have won an Obie Award, and were America’s representatives of classical theatre at the Olympic Arts Festival in Los Angeles. In 2004, the Flying Karamazov Brothers were honored with an award of excellence by the International Juggling Association.

"4PLAY" is the latest show by the Flying Karamazov Brothers.

This original production is directed by Paul Magid. The show is a unique blend of nouveau cirque, visual music, dance and theatre.

Tickets on sale now at The Hemmens Box Office! Golden Circle: $50 ~ Premium: $30 ~ Main Floor: $25 ~ Balcony: $15

Visit http://www.hemmens.org/ for tickets or more information


Please call or visit each venue's website for ticket information, performance times or for any applicable cover charges.