This is the first of five consecutive nights of live streams provided by Spin in celebration of its 25^th Anniversary. Other acts streaming this week include The Flaming Lips (7/27), The Black Keys (7/28), The National (7/29) and Spiritualized (7/30).

In order to view the streams you must connect via a Facebook account. Tonight’s stream starts at 6:45 p.m.

The Pumpkins and Kill Hannah play tomorrow at Metro as part of a benefit concert for Matthew Leone, bassist and singer for Madina Lake.

The concert is a benefit for Matthew Leone, bassist and singer for Madina Lake, who was brutally beaten while attempting to stop a man from attacking the man’s wife. Police arrested and charged Justin Pivec, 33, with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm.

Leone, 35, who reportedly had swelling in his brain as a result of the assault, is out of the hospital but is expected to require further surgery.   Like many independent artists, Leone has no medical insurance. Those not able to attend the Metro concert can contribute to ThroughthePain.org “the official concert series, auction and donation site” for Leone.

There are three ways to get tickets to the fundraiser, on sale today at noon, with all proceeds going to the Matthew Leone Fund at Sweet Relief:

$10 Raffle includes:
- entry to win 2 tickets

$100 Balcony VIP includes:
- ticket to the show
- access to Metro balcony

$500 Soundcheck VIP includes:
- ticket to the show
- reserved seat at table in Metro balcony
- admission to private soundcheck
- meet and greet + photo with the Pumpkins
- merchandise items

There’s a two ticket limit for the VIP tiers, and here’s the fine print regarding the raffle ticket contest:

RAFFLE TICKET PURCHASERS:
YOU ARE ENTERING THE CHANCE TO WIN 2 TICKETS. TICKETS TO THIS EVENT ARE NOT GUARANTEED WITH THE PURCHASE OF A RAFFLE TICKET. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF RAFFLE TICKETS YOU CAN PURCHASE BUT YOU CAN ONLY WIN 2 TICKETS MAXIMUM. ALL WINNERS MUST ARRIVE WITH THEIR GUEST AND VALID GOVERNMENT ID TO CLAIM TICKETS. YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE YOUR TICKETS UNTIL YOU ENTER THE VENUE AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RE-ENTRY. ALL TICKETS ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE.

Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins took to his Twitter feed today to share his thoughts on the event:

1. 
   Billy Very honored to be playing the Metro again next week. Hard to believe it has been almost 10 years since the last SP show there!!! Wow… 21 Jul 2010 from txt
2. 
   Billy The SP is honored to try to help this young man out by playing Metro. He has shown tremendous courage + I encourage everyone to help him. 21 Jul 2010 from txt
3. 
   Billy I am really, truly proud at the way the Chgo music community has rallied around to help one of our own. I couldn’t be more proud of Chi-town 21 Jul 2010 from txt
4. 
   Billy + GOOD LUCK to anyone taking a chance in ticket raffle!! Remember the more you give the better your chance to win. We want to see you there! 21 Jul 2010 from txt

The headliners announced so far include Bad Religion, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Circle Jerks, Snapcase and Less Than Jake. The bill also includes locals The Lawrence Arms, Articles of Faith, Smoking Popes and a few bands in the metal sector such as High On Fire and Corrosion Of Conformity are thrown in for good measure.

Last year’s fest played host to a reunion from Cock Sparrer , this year’s Riot Fest features reunions of Buffalo’s Snapcase, Articles of Faith who will play with their original lineup for the first time in 25 years and Corrosion of Conformity return for the first time with their Animosity-era lineup of Mike Dean, Reed Mullin and Woody Weatherman.

Riot Fest 2010 will feature 21 shows at Congress Theater, Metro, House of Blues, Double Door and Subterranean, and this doesn’t even include the top secret shows. Additionally, in an effort to make traveling to and from shows easier, Riot Fest will be running shuttle buses from the Cobra Lounge to each venue and back, where there may be some late-night show shenanigans going down. Finally, some secret shows that will take place at undisclosed locations in the late summer and fall will be announced at RiotFest.org, so pay attention!

Early-bird 5-day passes that are good for all 21 Riot Fest 2010 shows go on sale in limited quantities on Saturday, July 10 for $115. All Riot Fest 2010 tickets go on sale on Saturday, July 17 at Ticketweb.com. Be sure to check back with RiotFest.org for new additions and secret show information.

Check out the current lineup (more headliners should be announced soon) for Riot Fest 2010 below:

Bad Religion, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Circle Jerks, Articles of Faith, Snapcase, Less Than Jake, The Lawrence Arms, Bouncing Souls, Corrosion of Conformity (Animosity lineup), High on Fire, Smoking Popes, “Busted At Oz” Reunion, Cro-Mags, Fun, Negative Approach, RedOktoberFest presented By Red Scare, Zero Boys, Riverboat Gamblers, Bhopal Stiffs, The Meatmen, Agnostic Front, Off With Their Heads, Brendan Kelly, The Toasters, Roy Ellis aka Mr. Symarip, Mr. T Bone, Easy Action, Shot Baker, Cobra Skulls, Eastern Standard Time, The Flatliners, The Copyrights, Banner Pilot, The Dopamines, Have Nots, The Brokedowns, Explode and Make Up, Vultures United, Mother of Mercy, New Lows, Green Room Rockers, Whut?, Righteous Fool, DJ Chuck Wren, The Infected, X Is For Eyes and many more to be announced

Photo by Audrey Leon

Chicago rock staple Local H wrapped up its “Six Angry Records” tour with an electrifying home town show at the Metro on Sunday, May 23.

Before the festivities began, singer Scott Lucas emerged on stage, dressed in a faded black t-shirt with multiple holes and brown corduroy pants, holding a black cowboy hat containing slips with the names of all six full-length Local H albums.

As he dipped into the crowd, he asked a few audience members what they came to see. When one couldn’t answer, Lucas responded with good humor, “You don’t even know who the hell I am, do you? I’ll give you a hint I’m not Nick Jonas.”

The crowd erupted in cheers when one lucky audience member pulled out a slip with the much underrated Pack Up The Cats written on it.

Photo by Audrey Leon

Local H effortlessly whipped through the now 12-year-old album, sounding remarkable tight throughout. Lucas didn’t waste time with stage banter, although he later quipped that the band was selling “pieces of British Petroleum’s ass” at the merch table.

From time to time several members of the opening act, Kinch, accompanied Local H onstage throughout the night, serving as an extra guitar, drummer, or bassist. The extra hands gave Local H a much appreciated fuller sound on songs such as “Lucky Time” and “Manifest Destiny Pt. 2.”

Clearly happy to be back in Chicago, Lucas happily urged the crowd to sing-along with its more well-known tracks such as, “All the Kids Were Right,” “Bound for the Floor,” and “California Songs,” which received the loudest response from fans as they shouted, deafeningly, the line “Fuck New York, too!”

During “Bound for the Floor” the band switched things up by incorporating a portion of Dio’s “Rainbow in the Dark” as an unspoken tribute to the legendary heavy metal vocalist.

As the band transitioned from Pack Up The Cats to a more inclusive set, Lucas climbed behind a keyboard to play “Grrrlfriend” from 1995’s Ham Fisted, a real rarity. Local H closed out the night with a cover of TV on the Radio’s “Wolf Like Me.”

Local H performs ‘Grrrlfriend’ at the Metro on May 23, 2010. (Video by Audrey Leon.)

For a man who has been abusing his throat for 20 years now, Lucas can still scream with fierce, guttural intensity.

Drummer Brian St. Clair was even more impressive as he mercilessly assaulted his kit with each blow from his drum sticks. St. Clair sported a t-shirt tribute to the band’s close friend and message board moderator Michael Rosenquist who died earlier this year.

It’s not every day that a band such as Local H plays one of its classic album in its entirety; though, most bands are not as consistent as Local H to have a few good albums let alone an entire catalog of excellent tunes.

For Local H, Sunday’s show at the Metro was a well-deserved victory lap, jam-packed full of die-hard fans who were more than whipped into a frenzy during the 24-song set.

Now if only more bands were willing to celebrate their catalogs with a copy cat tour, the world might be a better place.

Check out more of Audrey Leon’s Local H pictures on Flickr.

Set List:

“Pack up the Cats”
All-Right (Oh, Yeah)
Cha! Said the Kitty
Lucky
Hit the Skids or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Rock
500,000 Scovilles
What Can I Tell You
Fine and Good
Lead Pipe Cinch
Cool Magnet
She Hates My Job
Stoney
Laminate Man
All the Kids Are Right
Deep Cut
Lucky Time

Grrrlfriend
Bound for the Floor (with “Rainbow in the Dark”)
White Belt Boys
Hands on the Bible
California Songs
24 Hour Break Up Session
High Fiving MF
Manifest Destiny Pt. 2
Wolf Like Me

If you were one of the unlucky ones who did not pick up the album in 2004 before the CD became so hard to find, get it while you can. No word yet on whether the band plans re-release Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles on CD and vinyl.

In other Scott Lucas news, the Local H frontman is back in the studio with his solo outfit The Married Men. The group is recording a few tracks for its Absolute Beginners EP, including a cover of the David Bowie song of the same name.

Local H resumes its “Six Angry Records” tour, where one lucky fan will choose which album the band will play in full, on May 14 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and wraps up at The Metro on May 23.

Six Angry Records Tour Dates

May 14 - Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
May 15 – Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club
May 16 – Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
May 17 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Khyber
May 18 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater
May 19 – Allston, MA @ Harpers Ferry
May 20 – Providence, RI @ Jerky’s
May 21 – Syracuse, NY @ Westcott Theater
May 22 – Toledo, OH @ Frankies

May 23 – Chicago, IL @ The Metro
Tickets are $12; Doors at 6 p.m.

Photo by Audrey Leon

The eight-date tour concludes Saturday, Feb. 20, with two home-town shows; Scott Lucas and the Married Men will appear first at an in-store at Reckless Records, 1532 N. Milwaukee, at 5 p.m. and later that night at Schubas.

If that wasn’t enough, Lucas embarks on a 20-date US tour with Local H beginning March 6 in Elgin, Ill., dubbed the “Six Angry Records” tour. Taking inspiration from its 2008 residency at Chicago’s Beat Kitchen, Local H will perform one of its six albums in its entirety, chosen at random by an audience member. Local H brings the tour through Chicago on Sunday, May 23, at the Metro.

You can catch Scott Lucas on tour with either the Married Men or Local H at the dates below:

Scott Lucas and the Married Men Tour

Feb 12 Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
Feb 13 Washington, DC – The Red and the Black
Feb 14 Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
Feb 15 New York, NY – Cake Shop
Feb 16 Cambridge, MA – TT The Bears
Feb 18 Pontiac, MI – The Pike Room
Feb 19 Columbus, OH – The Summit
Feb 20 Chicago, IL – Reckless Records (In-store), 1532 N. Milwaukee, 5 p.m.
Feb 20 Chicago, IL – Schubas

Local H “Six Angry Records” Tour

Mar 06 Elgin, IL – Road House
Apr 09 Glendale, IL – Shark City
Apr 11 Louisville, KY – Zanzabar
Apr 13 Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
Apr 14 Orlando, FL – The Social
Apr 15 Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbit’s
Apr 16 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Apr 18 Houston, TX – Scout Bar
Apr 21 Fort Worth, TX – Lola’s Sixth
Apr 24 Dekalb, IL – Otto’s
May 14 Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig
May 15 Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
May 16 Washington, DC – Rock And Roll Hotel
May 17 Philadelphia, PA – The Khyber
May 18 New York, NY – Gramercy Theater
May 19 Allston, MA – Harpers Ferry
May 20 Providence, RI – Jerky’s
May 21 Syracuse, NY – Westcott Theatre
May 22 Toledo, OH – Frankie’s
May 23 Chicago, IL – Metro

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

Alternative rockers The Academy Is… announced a special show  in celebration of the 5 year anniversary of their debut release Almost Here.

The all ages show is slated for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, February 6, 2010 at the Metro and will include an opening set by Minneapolis based pop group Sing it Loud.

Tickets for the show go on sale to the general public at 12:00 p.m. on December 19.  Those who are part of the fan-club will have access to a pre-sale on December 17.  Members of the band will be at the Metro box on the 19th when tickets go on sale until 2 p.m. for an informal meet-and-greet and to collect canned food other non-perishable items for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

For those who can’t wait until February for a taste of TAI, this Saturday, December 19 at 5:00 p.m. (early show) at Reggie’s Rock Club lead singer William Beckett will perform a solo acoustic set along with Danny Stevens of The Audition,  The Graduate,  Mathletes and Take Cover.  Tickets are $15 and are on sale now.

PHOTO CREDIT: Audrey Leon

Portland-based soul punks The Gossip brought sexy back to the Metro stage on Friday night. Outfitted in a slinky, glittery black dress with neon red hair Gossip vocalist Beth Ditto captivated the near-capacity audience with her dynamic stage presence and powerhouse vocals. Ditto never once let up, jumping and screaming along to each pulsing dance beat. Her enthusiasm so infectious, those in attendance could not help but go completely wild.

The Gossip began the night with “Dimestore Diamond” off 2009’s Music for Men and proceeded to serve up a decent mix of songs both new and old. By far, the biggest crowd reactions were reserved for new song “Love Long Distance” and “Your Mangled Heart,” off of 2006’s Standing in the Way of Control. Both songs had audience members off their feet, dancing and pogoing as Ditto testified from on high.

The ever-charismatic Ditto apologized to the audience for being too sick to hit the right notes, but if this was Ditto’s voice at its worst the crowd did not notice. Ditto’s southern roots seeped out of every note sung in the heavily gospel hymn-inspired “Don’t (Make Waves)” from 2003’s Movement, much to the crowd’s delight.

The Gossip brought the evening to a close a rousing rendition of the Tina Turner classic “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” although it was not the only time the Gossip sampled the work of others Friday night. After dedicating “8th Wonder” to Bikini Kill founding member Toby Vail, Ditto briefly launched into the Bikini Kill classic “Rebel Girl.” As the Gossip slowed things down during “Standing in the Way of Control,” Ditto sweetly crooned the opening verse of Nirvana’s “Smells like Teen Spirit” before frantically screaming her way back to her own song.

A Gossip live show has a little something for everyone whether that may be songs infused with pulsating, dance-pop beats, songs with politically-charged lyrics or a vivacious, soulful vocalist who can belt it out like nobody’s business. Either way, at a Gossip show you’re going to dance and you’re going to like it.

Audrey Leon’s Flickr Photo Gallery from the show.

Mogwai, The Twilight Sad

Everyone’s favorite post-rockers are in town. And that too with fellow-countrymen, The Twilight Sad! Lots of Scottish accents, reverb, and epic tunes to go around for all.

8:00 PM, Friday, 5/8 at Congress Theatre. $ 20.

Richard Lloyd

The former Television guitarist returns with crunchy/intricate guitar rock worthy of his former band. With the Sufi-Monkey Trio and Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra.

6:30 PM, Saturday, 5/9 at Abbey Pub. $ 12/$15.

The Kills

Bluesy, dirty rock n’ roll with plenty of depth. Band members, VV and Hotel, have been consistently playing enthralling, engaging shows for the past five years now. With gothic-tinged garage band, The Horrors.

8:00 PM, Saturday, 5/9 at Metro. $ 16.