By Gary Barlow

Staff writer

Dec. 19

• The Annoyance Theater, 4840 N. Broadway, presents Dick O’Day’s Big, Lovely Holiday Bingo at 8 p.m. Call (773) 561-4665.
• Cooking superstar Rachael Ray signs copies of her book “Just in Time” at 12:30 p.m. at Borders, 150 N. State, (312) 606-0750.
• Violinist Yang Xu and pianist Janet Kau perform works by Brahms, Kreisler and Saint-Saens at 12:15 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Call (312) 744-6630.
• Trista Smith and Jason Grimm perform at 10:30 p.m. tonight and at 8 p.m. tomorrow night at Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee.  Call (773) 278-1830.
• Ai ensemble, featuring Alejandro Acierto and Isabel Castellvi, perform classical music at 6:30 p.m. at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Call (773) 227-4433.
• A Vocal Journeys recital featuring Michelle Areyzaga and Ricardo Herrera begins at 6:30 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Call (312) 744-6630.
• Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, presents Gil Mantera’s Party Dream and Baby Teeth at 9 p.m. Call (773) 276-3600.
• Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark, presents Old Dog Music at 7 p.m.
• Megan Krantz plays two sets, with Smentek and Mullen and Carlo Navarro, at 9 p.m. at the Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln. Call (773) 549-5549.

Dec. 20

• Mekole Wells is the special guest at Life is a Song, hosted by Rob Dorn and accompanied by Joshua Kartes with Amy Cole, at 8 p.m. at Gorilla Tango Theater, 1919 N. Milwaukee.
• Subterranean, 2011 W. North, presents Via Audio and Tigercity. Call (773) 278-6600.
• Black and Blond performs at 9 p.m. at FitzGerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt in Berwyn. Call  (708) 788-2118.
• Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, hosts the Tour:Smart after-party with a Martin Atkins DJ set in support of Rock for Kids at 12:30 a.m.
• Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark, presents Mer at 9 p.m.
• Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln, welcomes Noise Machine, Collectors, The Spins and Whiskey Sin at 9 p.m. Call (773) 549-5549.

Dec. 21

• Miss Richfield 1981 brings her holiday extravaganza “Fall On Your Knees” to the Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway, tonight and tomorrow night at 10 p.m.
• Metro’s Home For The Holidays Weekend kicks off with a show featuring Office, The 1900s, Mannequin Men and The Narrator at 9 p.m. at Metro, 3730 N. Clark. Call (773) 549-4140.
• Katie Todd and others play Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 404-9494.
• The first Chicagoland solo concert by operatic pop singer David Miller, of the multiplatinum pop quartet Il Divo, performing with the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra, begins at 8 pm. at the Rosemont Theater, 5400 N. River in Rosemont.
• American English, perhaps the most accomplished international Beatles tribute band, performs at 9 p.m. at FitzGerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt in Berwyn. Call  (708) 788-2118.
• Red Villain, Big Dump and The Columbines play The Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood. Call (773) 274-5463.
• Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, hosts the “Project Peanut Butter” benefit, featuring Robbie Fulks, Dolly Varden, Devil In a Woodpile and Split the Difference, at 9 p.m.
• Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark, presents Cedarwell and Bryan Cherry at 9 p.m.
• Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln, welcomes The Attraction, Best Days Behind, DG, Amanda Sena and Doug Robinson and the Reason Why at 9 p.m. Call (773) 549-5549.

Dec. 22

• Evil Beaver gaily rocks the Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, at 10 p.m.
• Shelley Miller, Rebecca Rego and Dawn Xiana Moon play the Heartland Café, 7000 N. Glenwood, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 465-8005.
• The Vic, 3145 N. Sheffield, welcomes Kill Hannah, Action Action and Powerspace at 7:30 p.m.
• Foiled Again Trio performs two shows tonight at 8 and 10:30 p.m. and tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee. Call (773) 278-1830.
• Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie, hosts the Rock N Roll Christmas Weekend, featuring SSM, The Countdown, The Ivorys, The Silent Years, Alex Winston and Ezra Furman, at 6 p.m.
• Ronny’s Bar, 2103 N. California, presents Picture Books, Kindle and Spiller Whale at 9 p.m.
• Chicago Calling IV: Another Very Special Clash Christmas, featuring London Calling with All Mods Conned plus Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers, Abitight and Roni P of Abstract Giants and Chris Dorff of Skapone, is a benefit for The Carole Robertson Center for Learning in memory of John Slater III at 10 p.m. at Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport. Call (773) 525-2508.
• Hunting the Rabbit and Driving Forward play The Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood at 9 p.m. Call (773) 274-5463.
• Day two of Metro’s Home For The Holidays Weekend features performances by Skybox, Company of Thieves, The Young Sea and Contest Winner at 6:30 p.m. at Metro, 3730 N. Clark. Call (773) 549-4140.
• Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln, welcomes Cries Tiger, Hannah Wolff Band, The Lucas Cates Band, and Kitty Mortland, at 9 p.m.    Call (773) 549-5549.

Dec. 23

• Heartland Café, 7000 N. Glenwood, hosts The St. Nicholas Markos Annual Christmas Revue at 8 p.m.  Call (773) 465 8005.
• Celebrate the holiday spirit with Lynne Jordan and the Shivers at 3 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Call (312) 744-6630.
• On the third day of Metro’s Home For The Holidays Weekend, Spitalfield plays its final show with The Audition, The Forecast, Holy Roman Empire and Beardog at 5:30 p.m. at Metro, 3730 N. Clark. Call (773) 549-4140.
• At 9 p.m. the Second Annual A Very Punk Rock Christmas begins at The Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood. Call (773) 274-5463.
• Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark, presents Tristen and Eliza Lynn at 7 p.m.

Dec. 24

• KFAR presents its 6th Annual Knishmas!, featuring Even Sh’Siyah and RavShmuel, plus special guests Moshe Averick, Miriam Brosseau, Adam Davis, Rachel Kohl Feingold, Even Jacover and Alan Sufrin
  
  at 8 p.m. at the Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison.
• Alexia Kruger, soprano, and pianist James Morehead perform seasonal songs by Ravel, Strauss, Morton Lauridsen and others at 12:15 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Call (312) 744-6630.

Dec. 25

• Merry Xmas! Don yourself some gay apparel!

Dec. 26

• Painkiller Hotel brings it on at 7 p.m. at Walter Payton’s Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway in Aurora. Call (630) 264-2739.
• Pianist Jonathan Yates performs works by Schubert at 12:15 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Call (312) 744-6630.
• Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, presents Cruciforms and Comorevi ButtEr fly at 9 p.m.
• Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln, welcomes Chloe Day, Sinister Fate and All Else Fails at 9 p.m. Call (773) 549-5549.

Dec. 27

• Ben Lerman brings his “Ukelear Winter 2007” tour to the Acorn Theater, 107 Generations Dr. in nearby Three Oaks, Mich., at 9 p.m. Call (269) 756-3879.
• Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace, presents Flosstradamus and Pase Rock at 10 p.m. Call (773) 478-4408.
• FitzGerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt in Berwyn, presents Vertigo USA: A Tribute to U2, at 9 p.m. Call  (708) 788-2118.
• The Flat Five plays jazz and blues at 9 p.m. at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Call (773) 227-4433.
• At 9 p.m. Riddle of Steel, Roma 79 and Rollo Tomasi play The Note, 1565 N. Milwaukee. Call (773) 489-0011.
• Obscure Productions presents The Phenoms, Destroy Everything, Hollywood Nightmares and Bread and Bottle at 9 p.m. at the Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln. Call (773) 549-5549. 

Dec. 28

• The Locals play The Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood, with A Common Enemy and Girl Activity, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 274-5463.
• Tonight and tomorrow night at 8 p.m., Colleen McHugh and Miriam Plotkin perform “There’s Noel in Chanukah” at Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee. Call (773) 278-1830.
• The 23rd annual Pete Norman’s Post-Christmas Blues Fest begins at 8:15 p.m. at the Two Way Street Coffee House, 1047 Curtiss in Downers Grove. Call (630) 969-9720.
• James McMurtry performs at 10 p.m. tonight and tomorrow night at Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln. Call (773) 404-9494.
• Ernie Hendrickson plays a record release show with The Chicago Farmer and The Fluffers at 10 p.m. at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia.  Call (773) 227-4433.
• Jazz Conspiracy performs tonight and tomorrow night at 9 p.m. at Pops For Champagne, 601 N. State. Call (312) 266-7677.
• The Exceptions play The Note, 1565 N. Milwaukee, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 489-0011.
• Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark, presents Lure and The Villains of Verona at 10 p.m.
• Lucky Boys Confusion performs at 8 p.m. at Metro, 3730 N. Clark. Call (773) 549-4140.
• The 3rd annual Alex Chilton Birthday Bash, featuring Aviette, The Certain Stars, Christine Flores-Cozza, Daemon Familiar, For All the Sweet Children, The Injured Parties, Kasper Hauser, Kevin Junior, Dann Morr & the New Fiction, The Pawners Society, Paletazo, The Saturday Nights, Star and The Uncontrollable Few begins at 9 p.m. at the Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western.
• Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln, welcomes The Villers, Hello Operator and The Hustlers at 9 p.m. Call (773) 549-5549.

Dec. 29

• The special holiday edition of the Flesh Hungry Dog Show featuring The Joans and The Pussy Pirates begins at 8:30 p.m. at Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark. Call (773) 743-5772.
• Ronny’s Bar, 2103 N. California, presents Long John Thomas and The Duffs at 9 p.m.
• Lucky Boys Confusion plays an early show at 6 p.m. at Metro, 3730 N. Clark. Call (773) 549-4140.
• Reggie’s Rock Club, 2105 S. State, welcomes Asphodel Fields, What Happened In Vegas and The Redline District at 5 p.m.
• Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark, presents Dean Windemuller, Carlo Navarro and Dave Wilson at 9 p.m.
• Chamber Strings, Bronze and About A Girl play the Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, at 10 p.m.
• Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln, welcomes The Fishdogs, Matt Robinson, The Bones Brothers, Factor-4, White Wolf and Sonic Princess at 9 p.m. Call (773) 549-5549.

Dec. 30

• Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark, presents Julie Loyd and John Moony, at 8 p.m.
• Robbie Fulks plays FitzGerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt in Berwyn. Call (708) 788-2118.
• Tributosaurus becomes Ray Charles tonight at 9 p.m. at Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln. Call (773) 404-9494.
• Reggie’s Rock Club, 2105 S. State, presents The Ivorys,  Ultra Sonic Edukators, The Suede Brothers and Fair Herald at 8 p.m.
• Margot and The Nuclear So And So’s, with special guests Catfish Haven, blast into Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 525-2508.
• The Chicago Taiko Legacy performance features Shunojo Fujima, Melody Takata, Jason Matsumoto, as well as master shamisen (Japanese lute) artists Chizuru Kineya and Koujime Yoshimura, at 3 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Call (312) 744-6630.
• Tigerpaw,  People Will Blink and American Draft play a record release show at 9 p.m. at the Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western.

Dec. 31

• Come celebrate New Year’s Eve with The Joans at 9 p.m. at the Acorn Theater, 107 Generations Dr. in nearby Three Oaks, Mich. Call (269) 756-3879.
• Spend New Years Eve with Roundeye and 1/2 Mad Poet at 9 p.m. at The Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood.  Call (773) 274-5463.
• Chicago’s Hawaiian-themed rockers Suzy Brack and The New Jack Lords kick off New Year’s Eve at 9:30 p.m. at the Horseshoe, 4115 N Lincoln. Call (773) 248-1366.
• Grammy nominated composer, producer and musician Jon Brion, performs a special New Year’s Eve concert featuring two sets at 9 p.m. in the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago’s Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Drive. Call (312) 334-7777.
• At 6 pm., DANK-HAUS German Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western, hosts the Silvesterball, with dancing to Chicago’s favorite German-American band, The Paloma Band. Call (773) 561-9181.
• The Temptations and Marvelettes take you back and then move you forward at 9 p.m. at Centre East at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie. Call (847) 673-6300.
• Ring in the new year at the Velvet Lounge, 37 E. Cermak, with the Organ Dynasty featuring Isaiah Spencer and special guest Ari Brown, beginning at 9 p.m. Call (312) 791-9050.
• Hollis Resnik performs two shows, at 8 and 10:30 p.m. at Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee. Call (773) 278-1830.
• Charge into 2008 with The Polkaholics, the band that brings you the "high-speed collision of rock and polka" at 8 p.m., in the fifth floor ballroom at the DANK-HAUS German Cultural Center, 4740 N Western. Call (773) 561-9181.
• FitzGerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt in Berwyn, hosts a New Year’s Eve Party with Mr. Blotto. Call  (708) 788-2118.
• Tributosaurus becomes Ray Charles tonight at 10 p.m. at Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln. Call (773) 404-9494.
• Pegboy, The Methadones, Arrivals and The Brokedowns play The Note, 1565 N. Milwaukee, at 8 p.m. Call (773) 489-0011.
• Reggie’s Rock Club, 2105 S. State, welcomes Deals Gone Bad and Flatfoot 56 at 8 p.m.
• Flutist Beth Bryngelson performs Bach’s Sonata in G minor, Martinù’s Flute Sonata and Phillipe Gaubert’s Fantasie at 12:15 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Call (312) 744-6630.
• Metro, 3730 N. Clark, presents New Years Eve with Spoon at 10 p.m. Call (773) 549-4140.

Jan. 1

• Haven’t you had enough?  Get some rest!