I’ve scoured the Interweb and Chicago’s finest print show listings so you don’t have to. Here’s what’s going down around our fair city this week:
Monday, March 24
Schubas: Oppenheimer/Wiitala Brothers/Rademacher - Oppenheimer has been described by the BBC as “poetic and all blip-tastic,” and any quasi-regular readers of this blog will recognize my affinity for all things “-tastic.” The Northern Irish duo is highly entertaining electro-pop at its twiddliest.
Empty Bottle: British Sea Power/The 1900s (2 shows) - Widely considered one of modern British music’s finest exports, British Sea Power makes good on their forefathers’ tradition of epic, sweeping pop scapes. The 1900s show why they’re one of Chicago’s great white musical hopes, with fancy boy-girl harmonies and stellar musicianship.
Tuesday, March 25
Schubas: The Mekons/Ha’s Horse (early show)/Puerto Muerto (late show) - Chicagoans by way of 1970’s England, the post-mod country and shimmery guitar melodies of The Mekons continue to freak people out a quarter century later.
Subterranean: Tilly and the Wall/Capgun Coup/Skybox - Pitchfork calls the latest from Conor Oberst-sanctioned Tilly and the Wall “a ature take on immaturity,” and that’s pretty spot on. There’s a fine line between ‘whimsical’ and ‘really lame,’ and they walk it well with teen-approved, indie snob-proof pop. Chicago’s own Skybox have been known to incorporate AV projection, confetti, and record execs in chicken suits into their live show, so watch out.
Wednesday, March 26
Schubas: Beach House/Papercuts/The Night Owl Choir - 2006 blog darlings Beach House make plaintive, haunting, boy-girl love rock that’s big enough to sweep you away but refreshing as, well…a day at the beach.
Empty Bottle: Boredoms/Soft Circle/Human Bell - Iconic pioneers of ‘Japanoise’ Boredoms still bring the unique, ambient noise and cartilage-jarring tribal drumming to the live stage, and their ageless charm won’t be lost on anyone who makes it out to the Bottle.
Thursday, March 27
Empty Bottle: Howlin Rain/Thunderwing/The Protomen - Love their Southern-spirited, brainy rock or hate it as derivitive and trite, no one can argue that Howlin Rain don’t bring it live. Sweat flies from the first chord and an amp or two usually meets a smoking demise.
Friday, March 28
Schubas: Bodies of Water/Le Loup/The Ruby Suns/Throw Me The Statue - Holy baby indie bands. Bodies of Water are boys and girls from LA who rock a bit, albeit with some cutely harmonies to smooth it out. Le Loup is the (live) musical incarnation of one Sam Simkoff and his MacBook, and Throw Me The Statue’s infectious, GBV-reminiscent pop gets immediate consideration for heavy rotation from me due to their presence on the Secretly Canadian label.
Reggies: OFFICE/Ultra Sonic Edukators/Unicycle Loves You/SND ON SND - This is probably the best straight-up local rock bill this month (and yes, I’m aware that my band is fucking lucky to be on it). OFFICE’s new wave-y, hooks-for-days pop is perhaps Chicago’s tightest live act, followed very closely by the second wave (read: 90’s) British Invasion-leaning Ultra Sonic Edukators and the bouncy, dark, concise melodies of Unicyle Loves You have made their rise to Second City prominence quick and clean. Then there’s good old SND ON SND, the finest purveyor of D.C.-eyeing, Texas born-and-bred post-punk that this town’s ever seen. Um, yeah.
Saturday, March 29
Schubas: Jason Collett/Sleep Out - Jason Collett the secret man crush of indie boys everywhere, and he backs up his notoriety and keen fashion sense with some of the most reserved, well-crafted, and heartfelt country rock this side of Jeff Tweedy.
Empty Bottle: Black Moth Super Rainbow/Brilliant Pebbles/Magical, Beautiful - Don’t try to understand BMSR, just get high and get lost in mutant, freaky folk drenched in shiny melodies and some seriously wild vocoder antics.
Sunday, March 30
Schubas: Jason Collett/Sleep Out
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