Chicago's Thalia Hall is a true landmark. Modeled on the Prague Opera House and opened in 1892, this Romanesque Revival structure served as a community space for Chicagoans till the 1960s. The beautiful hall was then closed for decades but recently reopened after restorations that brought the space back to its original splendor. Serving as a beacon for some of the best music and comedy acts to visit the area, Thalia Hall hosts such top acts as Dave Chappelle, Mavis Staples, David Crosby, Peaches and more.

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The English Beat is a band with an energetic mix of musical styles and a sound like no other. The band’s unique sound has allowed it to endure for nearly three decades and appeal to fans, young and old, all over the world.

When The English Beat rushed on to the music scene in 1979, it was a time of massive social and political unrest and economic and musical upheaval. This set the stage for a period of unbridled musical creativity, and thanks in large part to the Punk movement and it’s DIY approach to making music, artists like The Beat were able to speak out and speak their mind on the news of the day, as in “Stand Down Margaret”, things that mattered to them and the youth culture, as in “Get A Job”, and universal matters of the heart and soul, as in their classic hits “I Confess” and “Save It For Later”.

The original band consisted of singer-songwriter Dave Wakeling on vocals and guitar, Andy Cox on guitar, David Steele on bass, and Everett Morton on drums – later additions Ranking Roger (toasting) and foundational First Wave Ska legend Saxa (saxophone) completed the outfit. The band crossed over fluidly between soul, reggae, pop and punk, and from these disparate pieces they created an infectious dance rhythm.

Consummate showman that he is, Dave Wakeling has continued to keep The Beat alive and strong. Dave continues to tour the world as The English Beat with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing all the hits of The Beat, General Public, and songs from his new album “Here We Go Love”.

Soul Asylum: “A friend asked me what kind of records I want to make, and my answer was that I always want to make a record that I want to hear that’s not already in my record collection,” says Dave Pirner. “I think we got that on this one.”
Pirner is referring to Change of Fortune, Soul Asylum’s eleventh studio album, and its first for Entertainment One Music (eOne Music). The dozen-song set embodies the band’s trademark balance of rocking abandon, infectious melodic craft and raw-nerved emotional depth, boasting a compelling set of new Pirner compositions while showcasing the strength and versatility of Soul Asylum’s current lineup, which teams founding singer/guitarist Pirner with guitarist Justin Sharbono, bassist Winston Roye and drummer Michael Bland.
Three and half decades down the road from the band’s indie-punk origins, Change of Fortune — co-produced by the band and longtime studio collaborator John Fields — is classic Soul Asylum, with such musically and lyrically pointed new tunes as first single “Supersonic,” “Can’t Help It,” “Doomsday,” “Make It Real,” and the title track packing a familiar sonic and emotional punch, while carrying a hard-won sense of survival and perseverance that honors Soul Asylum’s storied history while pointing towards the future.