Stage Buzz: Local H, André 3000, Rise Against, SAGA, Mushroomhead
Local H is back at Metro on Wednesday, October 16
You can’t keep Local H down. From lineup changes to last-minute tour cancellations, the Illinois natives keep moving forward. After their tour with Helmet was axed in August, the duo regrouped and planned a new tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fifth album, Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles? The duo will perform the 2004 album in its entirety during their sold-out show at the Metro on Wednesday, October 16, at 8 PM.
The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles has been a haven for fans of hard rock and progressive rock, as Onesti Entertainment has brought bands to the area that have been otherwise infrequent visitors. Canadian progressive rockers Saga‘s cachet was elevated by the success on radio and MTV of singles “On the Loose” and “Wind Him Up” from the 1981 album World’s Apart. The group has maintained regular output since then, with its latest studio album, Symmetry, released in 2021. After an exceedingly rare midwest US show at the Arcada in 2019, the venue welcomes Saga for a return visit on Thursday, October 17, as part of the It Never Ends Tour. Singer and captivating frontman Michael Sadler underwent cancer surgery early last month. A September 18 update from Sadler’s Facebook account reported that all went well, and despite earning a “decently impressive scar,” plans are on track for Saga to perform all scheduled shows through the end of the year. The band’s touring lineup also includes veteran keyboardist Jim Gilmour, who joined for the band’s third album Silent Knight in 1980 and contributed heavily to signature fare, including “Don’t Be Late.” Fans can anticipate favorites, including debut single “Humble Stance” and a selection from the band’s song puzzle dubbed The Chapters. Spanning 16 songs, The Chapters were released across multiple albums to form a science fiction story about preserving Albert Einstein’s brain and an alien race’s concern over humankind’s potential for self-destruction. Grab tickets here. (– Jeff Elbel)
In 2004, local heroes Rise Against released their breakout single “Give It All,” a punk rock anthem about what it means to be a punk rocker. Twenty years later, the band still delivers boot-stomping anthems and rallying cries that pump up fans. Expect to hear a mix of their latest and greatest when Rise Against plays a sold-out show at The Salt Shed with Microwave and Spiritual Camp on Friday, October 18, at 7:30 PM.
Masked rockers Mushroomhead returned this year with their ninth album, Call the Devil, proving that nu-metal wasn’t just a phase. Brace yourself for an onslaught of industrial metal that sounds ripped from a horror movie when the band plays Joliet’s The Forge this weekend with Upon a Burning Body, There Is No Us, and Mind Incision. It all goes down on Saturday, October 19, at 7 PM. Grab tickets here.
André 3000’s New Blue Sun is one of the most buzzworthy albums of 2024. The musician continues celebrating its release with the second leg of his “New Blue Sun Live” tour with support from Meshell Ndegeocello. The tour rolls into Chicago’s Salt Shed on Monday, October 21, at 7:45 PM. You can still get tickets here.
-Ashley Perez Hollingsworth
Category: Featured, Stage Buzz
