The Empty Can Band at The Venue – photo by Lynne Glynn

Empty Can Band Celebrates 20 Years with Benefit for Pancreatic Cancer at The Venue in Aurora, Illinois

Tickets on sale soon at http://themusicvenue.org

Aurora, Illinois. The Empty Can Band, Aurora’s hometown rock and blues band will celebrate 20 Years on Saturday, November 14, 2020 with two shows at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. at The Venue.  Proceeds from the show will go to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – https://www.pancan.org.  This illness is very near and dear to the members of The Empty Can Band.  In November 2010, we lost the band’s original drummer, Paul Wegman, to the disease.  Paul was an amazing husband, father and bandmate. He was taken at the early age of 52 and his loss shocked all of us and left a void that could never be filled.  Join us for two power-packed live sets at The Venue, the best sound music room in the Fox Valley!

Hambone from Hambone’s Blues Party calls The Empty Can Band, “The best bar band in the land.” The Empty Can Band, with two original albums to their credit, has been performing for Fox Valley and Chicago audiences for 20 years.  Performances have included headlining Aurora’s Downtown Alive, where they have also opened for international touring acts Koko Taylor, The Outlaws, The Marshall Tucker Band and Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees. They have played all of the local clubs including Two Brothers Roundhouse, Ballydoyle, The Shore Club, The Phoenix Club and The Venue in Aurora.  Their music is a crowd-pleasing mix of rock, blues and Americana, and covers several decades of music.

The Empty Can Band has enjoyed several members over the years.  Founding members Rich Van Ham, Dave Glynn and John Mackniskas are still driving the band forward. JD Klatt, another founding member and bass player, left the band prior to Paul’s passing but has played with band several times since then on bass, keys, tuba and trombone. Jim ‘Chevy’ Chevalier replaced JD and had performed with Dave for several years in the Dave Glynn Band before the ECB was formed. Todd joined the band in 2010 and has been the heartbeat of the band providing drums and vocals since the loss of Paul.  Ray Rehberg joined the band in 2010 and played with the band for about seven years providing tasty guitar and mandolin. Ray also gets called back on occasion as do the Empty Can Horns featuring Lori Klatt on saxophone, Theresa Muir on flute and Dale Muir on trumpet.

Each performance is limited to 50 people due to the State of Illinois COVID-19 regulations.  The Venue takes COVID-19 very seriously, read more about it on their website:  http://themusicvenue.org

The evening’s performance will feature both current and past members of the band.

The band’s website can be found at http://emptycanband.com

For a live video from Two Brothers Roundhouse – visit YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy4LSbuUHZA

For the two albums by the Empty Cans, also visit YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf9RntP-uERl_st2dpBIv7A/playlists?view=50&sort=dd&shelf_id=17666223384013636040

The two ECB albums, ‘Still Alive’ and ‘Beautiful Man’, dedicated to Paul Wegman, can also be found on Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music.

Richie and I will be performing live and in person at Ballydoyle in Aurora this Saturday, June 27, 2020.  Seating is outside for social distancing and fresh air.  If you’re missing live music, Rich and Dave plan to be alive on Saturday.  Ballydoyle is located at 28 W. New York Street, Aurora, IL  60506. We’ll play from 7 to 10 pm.  If you need to call ahead, here’s the number:  630-844-0400.  See you then!  We miss you!

ECB member, Dave Glynn, is hosting and performing at a Songwriter Showcase this Thursday, March 12th at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway, Aurora, IL on Thursday, March 12th at 7 PM with Megon McDonough, Lee Murdock and Ralph Covert. I’ll be sharing the stage with three seasoned songwriters – Megon and Lee grew up in the Chicago folk scene in the 70’s and are nationally-recognized, Ralph is a Grammy nominee. Forget your troubles and join us. This is a round-robin style, intimate evening of songs and stories. Tickets here.

For a very comfortable way to celebrate St. Pat’s, join us this Saturday, March 14th at 8 PM for a St. Pat’s Party with The Empty O’Can Band – first set will be Irish traditional (Clancy Bros, Wolf Tones, etc.), second set will be Irish Rock (Van the Man, Thin Lizzy, U2)! Plenty of room for everyone unlike other celebrations that may be going on over the St. Pat’s weekend. Rollicking Irish fun! Tickets for The Venue – here.

We’ll play a few Irish songs at the Phoenix Club this Saturday, Feb 29th at 8 PM… and then it’s a Songwriter Showcase at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway, Aurora, IL on Thursday, March 12th at 7 PM.  After that a return to The Venue on Saturday, March 14th at 8 PM for a St. Pat’s Party – first set will be Irish traditional, second set will be Irish Rock!  Get your Irish on!!

The Empty Can Band will be rockin’ 2020 at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway in Aurora on Jan 25th at 8:30 pm

Don’t miss the fun at the Phoenix Club on Sadie Hawkin’s Day – Saturday, February 29th at 8:30 pm.

And get your Irish on as the Band will be hosting a rollicking St. Paddy’s Party as the Empty O’Can Band at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway in Aurora on Saturday, March 14th at 8 pm.

Here are the Empty Can Band’s upcoming performances:

This just in… The Empty Can Band will be playing a double-bill with Pawn Shop at Ballydoyle, 28 W New York St, Aurora, IL 60506 in Aurora on Tuesday, December 31st.  The Cans go on at 8:30 p.m. and will leave the stage at 10:00 p.m. for Pawn Shop to take over.  Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to bring in the New Year with two of Aurora’s best bands!

We especially love playing charity events, so the Empty Can Band will be performing on Thursday, November 21st at 5:30 p.m. at the Mid-America Club in Chicago for the Charity Classic: Land of Oz Party to benefit three charities:  Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, ClubCorp Employee Partner Foundation and Facing Forward to End Homelessness.  So all of your folks who work downtown can join in the fun for three great causes.  Tickets are $50/General Admission, or $450/Roundtable of 10.

More gigs ahead:  The Empty Can Band will be at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway in Aurora on Jan 25th and will be hosting a St. Paddy’s Party as the Empty O’Can Band at The Venue in Aurora on Saturday, March 14th.

The Empty Can Band rides again and kicks off the Fall schedule with a Few Empty Cans on Saturday, October 26th at 8 PM at AC’s Pub in Aurora, 2124 W Galena Blvd, Aurora, IL 60506.  There is no cover charge for this gig. Great food, plenty of liquids and a couple of fun sets by a Few Empty Cans.

The Empty Can Band will be heading to Chicago on Thursday, November 14th at 8 PM and performing at Sylvie’s Lounge, 1902 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613, where we will be supporting some old friends that night including Tim Gainer – who has a new album coming out, Jean Doyle and Dave Bonnan in their band, Steal The Rain.  This will be a reunion of old friends, and some of us will be playing some old songs in case you were worried that you wouldn’t know the words.  Rumor has it there is a $10 cover charge, but that will include at least three bands and might pay for a set of guitar strings after we pay the sound guy.  We’re nostalgic for the 80’s club scene, what can we say?  Stay up all night, just like the old days and crawl into work tired or hung over or both. 

We especially love playing charity events, so the Empty Can Band will be performing on Thursday, November 21st at 5:30 p.m. at the Mid-America Club in Chicago for the Charity Classic: Land of Oz Party to benefit three charities:  Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, ClubCorp Employee Partner Foundation and Facing Forward to End Homelessness.  So all of your folks who work downtown can join in the fun for three great causes.  Tickets are $50/General Admission, or $450/Roundtable of 10.

Save the dates:  The Empty Can Band will be at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway in Aurora on Jan 25th and will be hosting a St. Paddy’s Party as the Empty O’Can Band at The Venue in Aurora on Saturday, March 14th.

Listen to the Empty Cans on Spotify and YouTube!