Stage Buzz: Sacred Rose, Alice in Chains, Framing Hanley, Blondie, Soft Cell
Framing Hanley
Often touted as one of “The Big Four” of grunge rock, Alice in Chains stood out from their peers with the distinct vocal stylings of Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell and for their incorporation of heavy metal in their music. The band, fortunately, continued on with acclaimed vocalist William DuVal, who’s been continuing their legacy since he took over frontman duties in 2006. Catch Alice in Chains with special guests Breaking Benjamin and Bush at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park this Wednesday, August 24. Doors open at 5:30 PM. Tickets.
The jam-centric, three-day Sacred Rose festival makes its debut this weekend at Bridgeview’s Seat Geek stadium. The lineup boasts former Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh teaming up with Wilco under the instant classic moniker Philco.  It also brings together Umphrey’s McGee (doing multiple sets), The War On Drugs, Goose, Lettuce, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Dawes, and an undercard of up and comers (Yves Tumor, Blu Detiger and Syzgal). Margo Price has also been billed as an “artist at large,” which affords her the option of popping up at various stages all weekend, wherever she pleases.  Tickets: sacredrose.com (A pay-per-view streaming option was just offered for Philco and JRAD shows) – Curt Baran
Culture Club and its androgynous leader Boy George have been ingrained in the pop culture consciousness since they burst onto the scene back in the early ’80s. Their songs are as fearless as their frontman, blending new wave with soul, reggae, salsa, and calypso. If you want to revisit your ’80s heyday or just see one of the new wave’s most influential bands in the flesh, catch their show with Berlin at the Ravinia this Friday, August 26. Doors open at 4:30 PM. Tickets.
Nashville’s Framing Hanley burst onto alt-rock radio with the anthemic “Here Me Now” in 2007, and along with Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, and Flyleaf – forged a new aggressive emo-tinged genre that rewrote the playbook. The band broke up in 2015 but reformed in 2018 and has been powering through ever since. They come to WC Social Club on Friday.
Blondie remains one of the most influential punk rock bands that kicked the door down to new wave. They invented a sound truly their own, thanks to their eclectic mix of musical styles, which includes disco, pop, synth, and even early rap. And with their latest album, Pollinator, dropping in 2017, they show no signs of stopping soon. See punk rock royalty for yourself when they play the Chicago Theatre with special guest The Damned on Saturday, August 27th at 8 PM. Tickets.
Synthpop duo Soft Cell’s success and influence go far beyond their number hit “Tainted Love.” Their tongue-in-cheek lyrics, unapologetic lyrics about sex and sleaze, and the sass of singer Marc Almond garnered them twelve top 40 hits and four top 20 albums. Now, they’ll celebrate their debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret by performing the album in its entirety for the first AND last time in the states, along with fan favorites and material from their new album *Happiness Not Included at the House of Blues this Sunday, August 28 at 7 PM. Tickets.
-Ashley Perez Hollingsworth
Category: Featured, Stage Buzz
