1. Have a Very Sexy Christmas
8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday at The Spot; $10
The Flaming Dames, a rock-out-with-your-tits-out local burlesque troupe, presents that most glorious of all hybrids: a holiday bar striptease show. "Sexy Christmas" features relatively little skin, but Centerstage digs the dirty-minded twist that the singing, wiggling Dames bring to yuletide music. Get a drink, and enjoy original songs, sexed-up standards and classic rock/carol mash-ups with a side of ass.
Mustard Plug rocks the Midwest Ska Fest on Sunday.
Already sick of the family? The Metro feels your pain. That's why it reserves some of its best shows for this time of year in its annual Home for the Holidays series. Downers Grove punk/reggae group Lucky Boys Confusion headlines on Friday and Saturday, while Sunday sees the Midwest Ska Fest, with Mustard Plug, Deals Gone Bad, The Drastics and more. If rock's not your thing, Smartbar hosts House for the Holidays downstairs on Saturday, with Colette, Lady D and Brenda D.
3. Home for Xmas
10 p.m. Friday at Rednofive; $20
This night of holiday cheer is guaranteed to bring old-school tunes and new beats together by featuring nine of Chicago's top DJs. The newly rehabbed nightclub will transform its upper level into "Rudolph's RedNo Room," where new-school Chicago DJs like Miss Honey Dijon, Paul Johnson and Lady D spin holiday jams. The lower level, dubbed "Frosty's Ice-Cold Groove Room," will have guests grooving to old-school house tunes provided by local Julian Jumpin' Perez, Mario Smokin' Diaz, Martino Spinnin' Ramos and White Knight.
4. A Commedia Christmas Carol
8 p.m. Saturday at BoHo Theatre @ Heartland Studio; $15
Commedia dell'Arte. If you think that sounds like something that only appeals to theater nerds and 16th century Italian villagers, you're right. Usually. Via some strange alchemy, the theater nerds of-Chicago Dell Arte have transformed Commedia into something that is damn funny (if not relevant) to modern audiences, something that delivers guiltless, Looney Tunes-style belly laughs. Their holiday show, about a "Waiting for Guffman"-like community-theater group trying to put on "A Christmas Carol," should be worth checking out.
5. Kidz in the Hall
6 p.m. Saturday at Beat Kitchen; $14
Unlike most club-rap artists, Kidz in the Hall (Naledge and Double-O) have managed to forge their identity with slick in-depth lyricism and choice beats. From Camp Lo and Phonte (Little Brother) to Travis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes) and the Cool Kids, KITH have collaborated with a balanced mix of underground and mainstream artists, making their latest album, The In Crowd a nationwide success. Double-O produced most of the album, employing a blend of old-school sensibility and new-school flavor that has gained the group a mainstream following from both BET and MTV. The upcoming year looks to be even more lucrative as Naledge is slated to release a solo album featuring production from 9th Wonder, Just Blaze and Pete Rock, to name a few.
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