Empty Out Your Wallet

By Julene McCoy in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 10, 2006 4:01PM

We're always looking for ways to max out that credit card. This week it seems that this plan may be a little more difficult than usual. We've picked a few events that go on sale Saturday that will help ease the obesity of our pocketbooks.

We skipped the John Mayer set at ACL, but heard of all the Lance/Jake/Matthew sightings over the entire weekend. We don't think the power trio will be at John's shows in the Illinois area next year, but one never knows the kind of man love that the trio actually has for Mayer.
Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m., NIU Convocation Center (DeKalb), $43, On sale Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

Local legends, The Blacks, have a show coming up at Schuba's with The Thin Man. We caught the "secret" show at the Hideout a couple months back and had a great time. See them at the Hideout next Friday if there's a need for a Blacks fix earlier. Small venue - large sound!
Jan. 6, 10:00 p.m., Schuba's, $12, 21+, On sale now.

Another New Year's Eve show goes on sale tomorrow night and least this one includes free booze. Ring in 2007 with the sounds of Collective Soul. We saw them once on New Year's Day and it was a great way to start our year off. Hotel packages also available.
Dec. 31, 8:00 p.m., Sheraton Chicago, $85, On sale Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

These are just some of the shows on sale this weekend and hope that a few of these will help us make 2007 the best year in rock yet. Okay, we know that is not going to happen, but let us have some optimism for just a while longer.