It sounds weird saying “Uh, oh, watch out for these concerts.” It’s also a lie. Of the thousands of shows that I have been to over a concert going lifetime, I have witnessed one fight: at a Pantera show at the Aragon. It was sparked by mosh pit excesses and was over in a heartbeat, complete with a goodly puddle of head blood. Not pretty.
I did once threaten to throw a guy down a flight of stairs because he wouldn’t shut up at a Bob Mould acoustic show. But this is more of an example of just what sort of thing can spark a more serious conflagration, right?
There are things that make a show more likely to have that unfortunate spark, and they include: a mosh-friendly band, a tardy-as-heck late rap act, lots and lots of booze or an incongruous opening band, to name just a few. Heck, there was even a ladies room altercation before a string quartet performance, between the group’s members (just heard that one, folks. Didn’t witness it.).
In other words, things can get crazy at almost any concert, such as:
Slipknot: It’s the band your mother warned you about. Mayhem, moshing, metal, madness — and they’re from Des Moines. For a while this band was inescapable and infamous, all at the same time. The hair, masks and identical red jumpsuits were all that it took to turn parents to a music player confiscating frenzy. The group’s latest, “All Hope is Gone,” debuted at No. 1. Take that, mom and dad.
7 p.m. Fri., Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Rd., Rosemont. $37.50-$45; 312-559-1212; ticketmaster.com.
Yo Majesty: These women tear it up, with live shows that inspire an adulatory frenzy. It’s going to be crazy. (see story below)
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Combichrist: What is there to say about a band with a song titled “This [Stuff] Will [Mess] You Up?” Behind the makeup and bombastic, heavy industro-rock, you have KMFDM almost 20 years ago. It’s brash and aggressive, even danceable. Still, hearing this stuff makes me want to ram my head into something, and I’m old.
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St. $14.50-$17; 312-923-2000.
Pat Green: This is a guy whose YouTube videos inspire comments such as, “Every time I hear this song I just wanna have sex with my girlfriend and drink a beer.” How about a Jagermeister? As freelance writer Alison Bonaguro wrote in April, “Pat Green’s been at this — raucous live shows — for more than 15 years.” Did we mention that this show is sponsored by Jagermeister?
10 p.m. Feb. 20, Joe’s Bar, 940 W. Weed St. $28; 312-377-3486.