Mike McCready's side project, Shadow '86—now officially a "Jimi Hendrix tribute band"—will headline a Treehouse for Kids benefit show at the Tractor on December 6. Former Lazy Susan singer Kim Virant, honky-tonk-y Star Anna, and singer-strummer Kristen Ward will also appear. If we didn’t have you at McCready, consider this: The Tractor will buy you a drink if you bring a new toy for Treehouse—and your toy will help make a foster child’s holiday brighter.......

You'd never know by listening to Pearl Jam records that lead guitar player Mike McCready might have been in excruciating pain or at risk of losing his bowels at any moment in the studio. Seeing the band live at a large venue like KeyArena probably wouldn't clue you in, either. McCready doesn't play as if he suffers from an inflammatory bowel disease. He's all over the place—running, jumping, and flailing with his guitar. Seeing the......

If you're not a Pearl Jam fan, you don't suffer from Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, and you aren't familiar with England's hard-rockin' UFO, chances are you don't know about PJ guitarist Mike McCready's tribute band, Flight to Mars. You should. Not because McCready is one of the planet's greatest guitar players. (Ever.) And not because Flight to Mars' covers—"Rock Bottom," "Too Hot to Handle," "Lights Out," etc.—rock harder and sound better than UFO's......