Jemina Pearl performs with her band at the Beat Kitchen in Chicago, Ill., on Feb. 6, 2010. | Photo Credit: Audrey Leon

With one listen to Jemina Pearl’s solo debut album Break It Up, one might wonder if the ex-Be Your Own Pet vocalist had lost her gritty, punk rock edge. Yet, when Pearl climbed onto Beat Kitchen’s stage on Saturday, all doubts were erased.

I’ll come right out and say it — Jemina Pearl is better live than on record. Pearl’s solo effort Break It Up offers up much cuter fare than her work with Be Your Own Pet – not lyrically, but definitely musically – with tracks like the misleadingly upbeat tune “I Hate People,” which features the legendary Iggy Pop, and the cutesy rocker “Heartbeats,” both of which were played Saturday night.

When Pearl and her band of fresh-faced (read: baby-faced and extremely young-looking) backing band appeared on stage, they exploded on each note of every song as Pearl wiggled, twisted and shook her body furiously to every chord and drum beat with pure punk rock authority. She did this without any regard for the microphone wire, trampling upon it repeatedly, forcing it to eject from the base at least twice. Finally, the microphone died, leaving Pearl with no other option than to use one of her bandmates’ microphones for the remainder of the show.

Dressed in what appeared to be 1970’s era high-waisted jeans, baggy black shirt and jean jacket with The Runaways cherry logo sewn on back, Pearl looked as if she was an extra in the Kristen Stewart/Dakota Fanning film based on the legendary group.

Proving her toughness, Pearl announced to the audience, after being called “Aunt Jemima” by someone in the crowd that her name was “Jemina (Jeh-MEAN-uh), not Aunt Jemima, or even Jeh-MINE-uh.” Endearing the audience to her aggressive stage persona, Pearl sang in guitarist John Eatherly’s face; pulled on his curly brown hair and checkered shirt and gingerly touched his face during the song “Looking for Trouble.” It was almost kind of sweet.

Just when the audience became accustomed to Pearl’s assault, the night came to an abrupt end. It was 12:30 a.m. and the band was finished. The ending was perfect if you consider the technical difficulties openers White Mystery endured earlier that night.

Brother/Sister duo White Mystery perform at Beat Kitchen in Chicago, Ill., on Feb. 6, 2010. | Photo Credit: Audrey Leon

Brother/Sister duo White Mystery had played only a few songs before singer Alex White’s amp blew out. White said shyly, “I think I broke my guitar.” While White worked diligently to fix the problem, her brother Francis White performed a drum solo. He eventually left the room to have a smoke, leaving his sister to climb onto the drum stool and show off her skills behind the kit. White told told the crowd that she had played in several countries and had never had this happen to her.

With the problem fixed, White plugged into her fireglo Rickenbacker and proceeded to rock out with dizzying precision. Like Pearl, White is an highly energetic frontwoman, dancing around the stage with her guitar as her partner.

Despite all the difficulties the two bands faced during their respective sets at the Beat Kitchen, each weathered them gracefully and without skipping a beat they accomplished what they came to Beat Kitchen to do, to put on a great rock show.

Check Out Audrey Leon’s complete photo gallery from Jemina Pearl’s Beat Kitchen show at her Flickr page.

Jemina Pearl

It’s Superbowl weekend, but there are still a bunch of awesome shows happening this weekend! But before we get to the shows, a reminder that Loud Loop Radio will be back on the air tomorrow, Saturday, February 6, at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Radio DePaul.

Lets get to it, shall we?

HIDEOUT’S INTERVIEW SHOW
The Hideout’s Interview Show, hosted by Mark Bazar, turns two this Saturday. They are calling it an extravaganza and who am I to quibble. Featured this time around is Paul Kahan, executive chef and partner at the Publican, Avec, Big Star, and Blackbird. But wait, there’s more. Co-founders and owners of Chicago’s own Bloodshot Records, Rob Miller and Nan Warshaw will also be there. Need music? Bloodshot Records own The Blacks, a handsome group if ever I saw one, will be reuniting and playing their brand of boozey burlesque country. But I like to laugh, you say. Well I wasn’t done. There will also be sketch comedy from Dominizuelan. Man, this is an extravaganza. (Ross Meyerson)

6:30 PM. Friday, 2/5. The Hideout. 21+. $5.

JEMINA PEARL
Pop-Punk badass Jemina Pearl will bring her wild and unpredictable live show to the Beat Kitchen stage on Saturday, Feb. 6. The former Be Your Own Pet vocalist will perform tracks off her solo debut record Break it Up. If the all-too-real possibility of Jemina Pearl beating the tar out of someone in the middle of her set isn’t enough to entice you, Chicago’s own White Mystery will open. (Audrey Leon)

Here’s a clip of Jemina Pearl performing the song “Looking for Trouble” at Subterranean on Oct. 15, 2009.

9:00 PM. Saturday, 2/6. Beat Kitchen. 17+. $10.

VENEFICUM
The Chicago metal scene is way more vibrant and downright scary then you know. Pelican and Russian Circles garner most of the attention but lesser known Chicago bands really take genre bending to new heights. You can check out 2 of them Saturday at Reggie’s Rock Club. Veneficum play gruesome black metal swimming in nightmarish keyboards. Picture a jack in the box played at extreme speed while your mom yells at you. Or don’t. It’s just too evil. Centaurus opens and brings a slower, more progressive take. They may be less evil but are no less heavy. And, hey, both bands are recording new albums, Centaurus their debut, so go check them out before everyone and their little brother is wearing these band’s illegible shirts. (Ross Meyerson)

7:00 PM. Saturday, 2/6. Reggies Rock Club. 18+ $10.

THE GOLDEN HORSE RANCH BAND
Hmmm. So something’s going on Sunday, like all day Sunday, but for the life of me I can’t think what it is. It’s probably nothing important. So…head on down to the Whistler and spend the evening with The Golden Horse Ranch Band. There’ll be some good old 5-part harmonies and they are even raffling off a sweet 5 inch portable black and white tv! Weird. Why a tv? Let me check the site real quick. Ok. Seems they’ll be showing some game on the tv while the band plays. A big game. Anyways, cool. Music and sports. You can’t lose. I’ll see you there although I still have that nagging feeling I’m supposed to be doing something else. (Ross Meyerson)

7:00 PM. Sunday, 2/7. The Whistler. 21+. FREE!

Photo Credit: Carrie Musgrave - livebabylive.com

It’s that time again, we’ve looked ahead and started filling in our calendars with all of the awesome upcoming shows headed to Chicago in the next few months. Being the good guys and gals that we are, we’re sharing our favorites with you, all of which will surely be not-to-miss performances of artists from around the globe that includes an impressive line-up of local acts. Check out below what we think are the hot Winter/Early Spring concerts, local acts are BOLD for easy access, and let us know in the comments what we may have missed.

MONDAY, JANUARY 25

Cacaw – Empty Bottle

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27

DJ Krush – Empty Bottle

Streets on Fire – Double Door
One of our 10 Chicago Bands to Watch in 2010, they bring angular and frantic guitar riffs as lead singer Chadwick spouts his gnarled, rambling messages over at tight rhythm section. It’s fun yet dark and, at times, nearly psychotic.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29

Adam Franklin – Hideout

Earth Program – Ronny’s
One of our 10 Chicago Bands to Watch in 2010, and it’s their record release party!

The New Deal – Park West

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30

Cold War Kids – Vic Theatre

Pentagram – Empty Bottle

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3

Asobi Seksu – Schubas

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4

State Champion – Bottom Lounge

The Entrance Band, Lights, White Mystery – Empty Bottle

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Dark Star Orchestra – Vic Theatre

Gov’t Mule – House of Blues

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6

The Academy Is… – Metro
A special show in celebration of the 5 year anniversary of their debut release Almost Here with and opening set by Minneapolis based pop group Sing it Loud.

Dark Star Orchestra – Vic Theatre

Mavis Staples – Old Town School of Folk Music

Jemina Pearl – Beat Kitchen

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7

D.R.I – Reggie’s Rock Club

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11

Mako Sica – Hideout

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13

DOOM, Mos Def – Congress Theater
Rescheduled from January 29th.

Fucked Up, Kurt Vile – Empty Bottle

Gene Ween Band – Lincoln Hall

Mariah Carey – Chicago Theatre

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14

Mariah Carey – Chicago Theatre

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Editors, The Antlers – Vic Theatre

An Evening With The Residents – Logan Square Auditorium

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

Nosaj Thing – Lincoln Hall

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18

St. Vincent – Metro

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Four Tet – Empty Bottle

Trey Anastasio – Riviera Theatre

Smoking Popes – Reggie’s Rock Club

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20

Chicago Underground Duo – Hideout
Album release party for 2010’s Boca Negra on Thrill Jockey.

Patti Smith – Park West

Smoking Popes – Reggie’s Rock Club

Tortoise – Lincoln Hall

Scott Lucas and the Married Men – Schubas
Local H frontman Scott Lucas is striking out on his own with his new group The Married Men. This show at Schubas is a record release party for their debut album “George Lassos the Moon.”

The Sweeps – Bottom Lounge
One of our 10 Chicago Bands to Watch in 2010

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21

Bela Fleck and The Africa Project – Old Town School of Folk Music

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22

El Perro Del Marr – Lincoln Hall

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Paul Di’Anno (original singer of Iron Maiden), Bible of the Devil – Reggie’s Rock Club

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26

Screeching Weasel – Reggie’s Rock Club

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27

Alkaline Trio, Cursive – Metro

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28

Cursive, Alkaline Trio – Metro
Cursive live is not to be missed. Frontman Tim Kasher is hilarious and unpredictable, which are all necessary components for a great live performance. Additionally, according to Audrey Leon Cursive’s “Mama, I’m Swollen” is one of the best albums of 2009.

TUESDAY, MARCH 2

Furthur – Auditorium Theatre

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3

Furthur – Auditorium Theatre

Streets On Fire – Empty Bottle

One of our 10 Chicago Bands to Watch in 2010

THURSDAY, MARCH 4

Gomez – Vic Theatre

FRIDAY, MARCH 5

Citizen Cope – Vic Theatre

J. Davis Trio – Bottom Lounge

moe. – Riviera Theatre

SUNDAY, MARCH 7

The Avett Brothers – House of Blues

Magnetic Fields – Harris Theater

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

Magnetic Fields – Harris Theater

TUESDAY, MARCH 9

Califone – Lincoln Hall
All My Friends are Funeral Singers will be shown along with a live performance of the soundtrack.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10

Califone – Lincoln Hall

JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound – Tonic Room

Vetiver – Empty Bottle

FRIDAY, MARCH 12

Hockey – Lincoln Hall

Kreator, Voivod, Nachtmystium – Bottom Lounge

Muse – United Center

Pelican – Beat Kitchen

SATURDAY, MARCH 13

RJD2 – Metro

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – Bottom Lounge
Ted Leo is heading back to the Windy City to blow the roof off of the Bottom Lounge with songs from his latest release “The Brutalist Bricks,” many of which were performed at Lincoln Hall’s grand opening last October.

SUNDAY, MARCH 14

Orphaned Land, Indian – Bottom Lounge

MONDAY, MARCH 15

My Gold Mask – Empty Bottle
One of our 10 Chicago Bands to Watch in 2010.

THURSDAY, MARCH 18

Experience Hendrix – Chicago Theatre

P.O.S. – Bottom Lounge

FRIDAY, MARCH 19

Gil Mantera’s Party Dream – Empty Bottle

Appleseed Cast – Bottom Lounge

SATURDAY, MARCH 20

Alice In Chains – Aragon Ballroom

Norah Jones – Chicago Theatre

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24

Air – Riviera Theatre

JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound – Tonic Room

Matthew Good – Double Door

THURSDAY, MARCH 25

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Metro

Vampire Weekend – Riviera Theatre
Check out Andy Kondrat’s review of Contra, and let us know what you think of the band’s sophomore effort.

FRIDAY, MARCH 26

Tegan and Sara – Aragon Ballroom

Vampire Weekend – Riviera Theatre

THURSDAY, APRIL 1

The Black Lips – Logan Square Auditorium

Spoon, Deerhunter – Aragon Ballroom

FRIDAY, APRIL 2

Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O, Plastic Crimewave Sound – Empty Bottle

Passion Pit – Congress Theater

SATURDAY, APRIL 3

Xiu Xiu – Lincoln Hall

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7

Henry Rollins – Vic Theatre

THURSDAY, APRIL 8

The xx, jj – Lincoln Hall
Each group put out killer albums last year making several of our top 10 lists.  This pairing of double consonant named bands will be grooving and moody and is already sold out.

FRIDAY, APRIL 9

Japandroids – Lincoln Hall
Check out Dan Henshaw’s review of their 2009 release, Post Nothing, a favorite of Andy Kondrat’s.

SATURDAY, APRIL 10

Mission of Burma – Double Door

FRIDAY, APRIL 16

Dr. Dog – Metro

King Sunny Ade and His African Beats – Old Town School of Folk Music

MONDAY, APRIL 19

Hot Chip, The xx – Riviera Theatre

FRIDAY, APRIL 23

Trans Am – Empty Bottle

SUNDAY, APRIL 25

B.B. King – House of Blues
The legend returns for another show at the HOB. If you haven’t seen him and Lucille do yourself a favor and get out for this concert.

THURSDAY, APRIL 29

Yeasayer – Metro

FRIDAY, APRIL 30

Owl City – Aragon Ballroom