Sound check: Knuckle Puck, Real Friends at Nellie’s; Music Frozen Dancing at Empty Bottle; Anthems of Muse at United Center

Punk night in Palatine

South suburban Knuckle Puck and Tinley Park’s Real Friends celebrate the latter’s newest EP release “There’s Nothing Worse Than Too Late” (out Friday, Feb. 24) and kick off a co-headlining pop-punk/emo tour at Palatine’s Durty Nellie’s next week. The Palatine show will also sport a set by opening act Bearings. 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at Durty Nellie’s, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. Tickets start at $29.99 at kickstandproductions.net.

Twice the Jones

Stage star Ben Jones plays two nights at Hey Nonny this weekend, bringing two completely different cabaret acts. Friday night, he swoons and croons along to the best love/infatuation/obsession songs Broadway and pop have to offer with his “I Think I’m in Love” show. Saturday, he follows up with the heartfelt but comedy-tinged “I Think We Should See Other People,” channeling breakup vibes of Joni Mitchell, Stephen Sondheim, Bruno Mars, John Mayer and more. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $15-$45 at heynonny.com.

Marc Anthony

Latin crooner and actor Marc Anthony brings his “Viviendo Tour” — featuring his hits “Vivir Mi Vida,” “I Need To Know” and more — to the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $99 at rosemont.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24

Heartthrob hits

Grammy-winning Australian power-pop musician Rick Springfield — the man behind the hits “Jessie’s Girl,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “Human Touch” and many other songs integral to the makeup of ’80s pop culture — plays the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Relive some nostalgia with this bona fide musician, actor and all-around stage charmer. $37-$87 at geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24

Music Frozen Dancing

Spitting in the face of old Jack Frost, Chicago’s Empty Bottle and Goose Island Beer Co. present their annual winter block party as Music Frozen Dancing takes over Cortez Street outside the famed establishment. Featuring Special Interest, Meat Wave, Snooper, MS Paint, and James Marlon Magas, the outdoor party will fill the afternoon with tunes leaving your evening open to head inside for Smiths Night at Danny’s inside the Empty Bottle. The block party is free, but any donations made will benefit the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. 1 p.m. until dark Saturday, Feb. 25, outside the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago. Free and for all ages. musicfrozendancing.com.

A-Muse-ing

Grammy-winning electro-centric rock group Muse takes over the United Center Saturday with its anthemic and electrifying songs as it makes a stop on its “Will of the People World Tour.” Concertgoers will be treated to sets by goth-rock band Evanescence and Japanese power-pop/punk band ONE OK ROCK. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. Tickets start at $65 at unitedcenter.com.

Strikers on stage

The Crystal Lake Strikers’ “An Evening of Percussion” continues the group’s mission to share education about and excitement for the music of percussive instruments at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. The evening will include performances by the Strikers along with a number of featured performances by Girls on the Drum (drum line for middle school girls), the Crystal Lake Thunder (competitive winter drum line), the Strikers All-Stars (high school drum line), the Kingpins (drum line for special needs performers), the Convergence Winter Guard and more. The Strikers will also award scholarships to local high school musicians at this annual community benefit show. $15 and $8 for students at events.rauecenter.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25

Talking Heads revisited

Talking Heads founder and keyboardist Jerry Harrison and longtime collaborator and touring partner Adrian Belew visit Chicago’s Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., on the “Remain In Light Tour,” celebrating the band’s 1980 album. Joined by an 11-piece ensemble, the duo will perform iconic hits from the era, supported by Cool Cool Cool. $38 for general admission; mezzanine and balcony seats start at $100 at jamusa.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25

‘London Calling’

Music of the Baroque continues its 2022-23 season with a performance of “London Calling” lead by guest conductor Nicholas Kraemer at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, and Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago. The program, built around music centralized around the city, will include works by William Boyce, Mozart, Handel and Haydn. An on-demand video option will be available starting Friday, March 3. $35-$100 for the 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, concert at the North Shore Center; $25-$100 for the 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, concert at the Harris Theater; $15 per household for the virtual presentation at baroque.org.

Bowen * Young

Nashville duo Bowen * Young packs a hefty dose of Americana for its stop at Chicago’s City Winery. The husband-and-wife team — singer and actor Clare Bowen (Scarlett on TV’s “Nashville”) and acclaimed touring artist Brandon Robert Young — will share their recent singles “Dangerous Love” and “Skeletons,” as well as favorites from their catalogs at the concert, which also includes a special VIP Experience (with a brief Q&A, special acoustic song and a photo opportunity) available for purchase. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $25-$38 for reserved seats, additional charge for the VIP Experience. citywinery.com.

• Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music junkie. Email him at soundcheck@dailyherald.com or follow him on Instagram (@chicagosoundcheck).

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