Down in St. Louis Jackson Browne is at The Fox Theatre Friday and Joe Bonamossa checks in at the Fox on Saturday. Jorma Kaukonen from Hot Tuna is at The Old Rock House on Saturday and American Idol winner Lee DeWyze visits The Old Rock House on Tuesday.

Up in Chicago there are quite a few interesting choices both Friday and Saturday. Ben Gibbard from Death Cab For Cutie brings a solo show to The Athenaeum Theatre, Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson is at The Chicago Theatre and The Wallflowers play the Park West. If you’re a fan of David Letterman’s band, bassist Will Lee brings his Beatles tribute band, the Fab Faux to the Vic on Saturday…(Attention…due to Hurricane Sandy, the Fab Faux show has been rescheduled to Jan. 12)… and a band with what I feel is one of the best band names ever, The Tragically Hip is at The Riviera on Saturday as well.

Drag all of your ‘80’s duds out of the back of the closet and head to Braden Auditorium Saturday for Rick Springfield. Local legends JammSammich does the opening honors for Mr. Springfield…maybe Rick will let JammSammich have a Jessie’s Girl playoff…who knows?

The Canopy Club features G. Love and Special Sauce on Friday and The Motown Junkies are your Live At The Five Spot band at the Contemporary Art Center tomorrow night.

Now let’s see what’s going on in the clubs this weekend…West MacQueen Street is at Martini’s on Saturday, Phat Kitti is at Goodfellas on Friday and also at Goodfellas on Wednesday is the November Blues Society show with blues legend John Primer. Three and a Half Men are at The Fieldhouse on Saturday, Prom Squad is at Burnzees in Brimfield and Cole Hollow is at the Country Saloon grand opening in East Peoria on Saturday.

Finally, I’ve called this band out before, but The Brazillionaires are venturing out of their weekly gig on Wednesdays at The Black Rabbit and playing at The Tavern on Prospect Saturday night. Although I haven’t seen the group yet, it sounds like one of the coolest live music options out there in P-town. Bossa Nova, Samba, Lounge-y type tunes sung in Spanish, Portuguese and English and with a crack lineup that can’t be beat. I can’t wait to see them. Could be Saturday night!  Who knows!