The Great Pumpkin cometh - 2011 Chicago Halloween show roundup

By Sasha Geffen

The veil is thinning again. Basic cable has steadied its classic horror assault and everything tastes vaguely of cinnamon and fear. Benevolent anthropomorphic pumpkins will undoubtedly fail to appear yet again no matter how carefully you tend to your patches and Chicago's venues are once again loaded with rollicking costume parties. We've got all sorts of doomy celebrations to look forward to, from local outfits dressing up as their favorite bands to international indie-metal stars stopping by to terrorize your eardrums. Be sure to stimulate your horror receptors with at least one of these Halloween festivities. 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

darkroom (2210 W. Chicago): Unicycle Loves You will light up Ukrainian Village's darkroom with their bombastic psych pop, possibly even playing a few new tracks from their upcoming LP, which will drop this Valentine's Day. The Wheelers and The Melismatics will also make appearances and Jack Armondo of My Gold Mask will be DJing. Tickets are only $7 if you come in costume so be sure to break out that zombie makeup and/or robot mask. 8pm, $7 advance or at door in costume, $10 at door uncostumed, 21 and over. More info and tickets here.

The Vic Theatre (3145 N. Sheffield): If you like your Halloweekend heavy and smeared with the primal goo of the Dark Lord, the Vic has you covered on Friday. Legendary Scandinavian metal outfit Opeth will be swinging by these parts. Fellow Swedish dark rockers Katatonia will open. 7:30pm, $28.50 in advance, all ages. Details and tickets here. 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29

Elbo Room (2871 N. Lincoln): A whole slew of bands will be playing dress-up at Elbo Room's Halloween Extravaganza. Swing by to hear a ton of classics covered. We'll get Pine Cone Alley as Weezer, The Plastic Boots as The Who, Bullet Called Life as Sly and the Family Stone, Model Stranger as Nirvana, Lucid Ground as Tom Petty, and The Hot Sauce Committee doing double duty as both the Beastie Boys AND Limp Bizkit. Everyone will be in full costume so it's probably just going to be awkward if you show up plainclothed. 8pm, $10, 21 and over. RSVP here, tickets here.

This week: Jane's Addiction, Swans, Peter Hook & more

By Gene Wagendorf III

Jane's Addiction play Metro Saturday and Sunday

Yes, the summer has wound down, but that's no reason to start moping over hot chocolate and bad TV. This week is loaded with tons of great shows that will make it easy to wait another seven days before beginning your fourth attempt at reading War and Peace.

Wednesday - Kaki King at SPACE

Kaki King has developed a reputation as a strong songwriter with out-of-this-world picking skills, but on her new album Junior she takes a huge step towards smashing any thoughts that she might be a one-trick-pony. Produced by Malcom Burn (Patti Smith, Emmylou Harris), the album's songs find King collaborating with multi-instrumentalist Dan Brantigan and drummer Jordan Perlson. The result is a lush, fluid album that is both saccharine and haunting. The show ought to be a mellow affair, but definitely a great kickoff to a string of excellent shows.

Swans

Thursday - Swans at Bottom Lounge

The legendary Michael Gira is bringing his revamped Swans back to Chicago on Thursday night in a show that has the potential to steal the thunder from anything that happens afterward. The group's recently released My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky, is a dynamic assault on the senses, at times brutal and grainy, at times highly melodic and almost understated. Swans are notorious for their visceral live performances, being described by Gira himself as "soul-uplifting and body-destroying." Not bad for a Thursday night, huh? The band is winding down an eighteen month tour and in a world that guarantees nothing for the future this show is not to be missed.

Post-Snowpocalyptic weekend show preview

Posted by Andrew

(photo: Chicago Tribune)

So you finally realized it’s safe to leave the house. The world still exists and despite a continuous stream of natural calamities and political unrest flooding your Twitter feed, you want to take in the best of how contemporary musicians are dealing with the condition of man. And free being that you are, you recognize you have choices and are subsequently defined by the choices you make. Perhaps your choice was to procrastinate and fail to purchase a ticket for the now sold out Decemberists show at the Riv. Maybe Yo La Tengo’s spin-the-wheel concept is too far out for you. No worries. There are plenty of other fantastic options for the weekend. Check ‘em (WARNING: Lots of things to click on up ahead, try to remain calm):

Friday, February 4th:

• Luster is hosting a record release show at the Beat Kitchen before hitting the road for a bit with their heartbreaking balladry. Twin Tigers open with their Athens, GA blend of garage/shoegaze.

• It doesn’t take the promo pics of the Moondoggies gentlemen all dressed in flannel to let you know they hail from the same home as Band of Horses and Fleet Foxes: the music does the talking. Catch their sweet harmonies at the Hideout.

• Get down with the swagger of Tin Tin Can at the Viaduct Theater. Opening the show is Distractions, who I am placing at the top of my list for next Chicago band to get national attention. They’re reminiscent of a wide variety of laid back 60s sounds (r&b, lounge, girl-group) without sounding derivative. Catch ‘em local while you still can.

Black Weekend show picks: White Mystery, Bear Hands and more

Posted by Andrew

White Mystery

What am I thankful for? Family and friends of course, but living in a city that’s home to a strong music scene is at the top of the list as well. Plenty of local talent we’ve showcased on the site before are sticking around home for the holiday weekend and some are even giving back with free shows; the best deals aren't found only at retail outlets, folks. Check out our Thanksgiving weekend picks. Enjoy: 

Wednesday, November 24^th:
- White Mystery @Cole’s (FREE) (21+)
(Watch the red-and-white-all-over video for 'Power Glove' filmed at the Empty Bottle)
- This Must Be the Band (Talking Heads Tribute) @Bottom Lounge (18+)
- Empires, King Sparrow @Subterranean (17+)
(Check out an interview and acoustic set with King Sparrow's Eric Georgevich here) 

Friday, November 26^th:
- Bear Hands, Netherfriends @Schubas (18+)
(Here's a recent interview with Shawn Rosenblatt of Netherfriends. Keep an eye out for their second Daytrotter session)
- Bad Bad Meow @Gallery Cabaret (FREE) (21+)
(This is not a band you want to sleep on. Catch 'em for free while you can and read an interview with drummer Sarah here)
- Tame Impala, Stardeath and the White Dwarfs @Double Door (21+) 

Saturday, November 27^th:
- Gold Motel @Subterranean (A/A)
(Refresh your memory with this interview and music video from May. Don't forget the chapstick)
- Bird Names, Distractions @Empty Bottle (FREE w/RSVP) (21+)
- Calm Palm Vapor @Panchos (FREE) (21+)
(CPV continue to remain busy on the heels of the EP Morning Pacific reviewed earlier this month)
-Voice of Addiction @Mutiny (FREE) (21+)

This day anything goes: Halloween show roundup 2010

Posted by Sasha

I dig Halloween a lot. I always feel like dressing up like an idiot and it is the one day I get to without being judged. I wanted to be Danzig this year and then I realized I was five foot two and a hundred pounds and also a girl. And I feel that if I tried it ironically, Glenn himself would rise up from the netherworld and destroy me with disdain. So that won't work out so well for me. Maybe it will for you.

If you feel like bringing your costume-clad self to a show this year, worry not, for there's plenty of opportunity to flaunt your dress-up skillz. Here are some of the Samhain celebrations we're most excited about.

We're giving away tickets to Devo and Dirty Projectors at Congress Theater!

Interested in catching one of new wave's most iconic bands along with one of today's most hyped acts...for free? Windy City Rock is giving you the chance! We've got a pair of guest list spots up for grabs to see Devo with the Dirty Projectors at bands' pre-Lollapalooza show on Thursday, August 5 at Congress Theater, and we want you to have them.

All you have to do is shoot us an e-mail with the subject line "Devo show" and your first and last name in the body of the message, and we'll select a winner at random to receive spots for you and a friend on the guest list courtesy of React Presents. Entries will be accepted until 6 p.m. CST on Tuesday, July 13, and we'll notify the winner by responding to their e-mail.

It's that simple, so get sendin'. Good luck!

Update 7/13/10 - The contest is now closed. Thanks to all who entered. Stay tuned for more ticket giveaways coming up soon!

Five shows this weekend

The Whigs (photo by Jordan Noel)

Friday, April 23

- The Whigs at Bottom Lounge with Empires and Old Fake - In March, Athens garage rockers The Whigs released their third album, In the Dark, marking a shift to a bigger, broader sound. For details, click here to read Colleen O'Neill's record review on WCR. 8 p.m., $15, 17 and over. More info and tickets.

- Carbon Leaf at Lincoln Hall with Alex Band of The Calling - This long-running rootsy rock act released their eighth LP, Nothing Rhymes With Woman, last Spring. 9 p.m., $15, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

Saturday, April 24

- The Styrenes at The Empty Bottle with Daily Void and John Bellows - Since forming in 1975 the Styrene's sound has been tough to summarize, though Rolling Stone once referred to it as "post-punk before punk ever happened." Find out for yourself at the Bottle, which is sure to be an excellent setting for the band. 9:30 p.m., $5 advance, $9 at door, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

-Camera at Schubas with makeshiftprodigy - Chicago's Camera will take over Saturday night at Schubas for The Mary Onettes, who were originally scheduled to play, but had to cancel because of the volcanic eruption in Iceland. The band's live energy and experimental, post-punk-inspired sound are well worth heading out for. 10:30 p.m., $5, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

Sunday, April 25

- White Rabbits at Metro with Here We Go Magic and Pet Lions - This show promises a night of great NYC indie rock in the form of White Rabbits and Here We Go Magic, and get there early because Chicago's own Pet Lions always bring a good time (check out their excellent EP, Soft Right). Doors 8 p.m., show 9 p.m., $12 advance, $15 at door, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

Weekend show picks: The Magnetic Fields, Fruit Bats and more

The Magnetic Fields

Unfortunately some good stuff happening this weekend is already sold out (such as Robyn Hitchcock at Schubas), but there's still plenty of worthy live music options to choose from:

Friday, March 5

- Judson Claiborne at Hideout - Release show for the Chicago act's new record, Time and Temperature. Sonoi and Eiren Caffall will open. 9 p.m., $8, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

- Foreign Born at the Empty Bottle - Also with Free Energy and CLOVERS. 5 p.m., $10, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

Saturday, March 6

- Fruit Bats at Lincoln Hall - Also with Blue Giant and The Singleman Affair. 10 p.m., $14, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

- Gauge at Bottom Lounge - Also with Runner, American Heritage and Big Science. 10 p.m., $10, 17 and over. More info and tickets.

Sunday, March 7

- The Magnetic Fields at the Harris Theater - Also with Laura Barrett. 7:30 p.m., $35, all ages (there is also a show on Monday night that will feature a different setlist). More info and tickets.

- The Heligoats at Schubas - Record release show. Also with Ami Saraiya and Robert Sarazin Blake. 8 p.m., $7, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

Tonight: Free show at Double Door

Get your mid-week live music fix tonight, January 27, at Double Door (1572 North Milwaukee Ave.) with a FREE show featuring four Chicago bands - Gunners Daughter, Last Minute, The Streets on Fire and Gypsy Fly. You might remember The Streets on Fire, in particular, from our recent review of their debut disc, Hot Weekend, an excellent set of super-charged, fuzzed-out rock 'n' roll fun. Doors open at 7:30, show at 8:30. More information here.

New Year's Eve shows in Chicago

Local H

Still undecided on plans for New Year's Eve? If so, ring in 2010 with one of the many excellent musical offerings on tap in Chicago. Here's a roundup of the options that, at the time of writing, still have tickets available:

- Local H at Double Door - Also with Electric Six and local brother-sister garage rock duo White Mystery. Doors at 9 p.m., show at 9:30 p.m., $65 (includes hosted bar: Draught Beer, Well Drinks, Wine, Water and Soda). 21 and over. More info and tickets.

- The Jesus Lizard at Metro - Also with Disappears. Doors at 9 p.m., show at 10 p.m., $50 advance, $60 day of ($125 VIP tickets also available), 18 and over. More info and tickets.

- The Fiery Furnaces at Lincoln Hall - Also with Cryptacize. 10 p.m., $20 advance, $25 at door, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

- The Tossers at Reggie's - Also with Yakuza and Scott Lucas & His Married Men. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., $25, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

- Crystal Castles at Logan Square Auditorium - With both a live set and a DJ set from Crystal Castles, and also with DJ Alex Zelenka. 8:30 p.m., $50, 17 and over. More info and tickets.

- Bobby Bare Jr. at Schubas - Also with David Vandervelde and Ben Clarke. 9:30 p.m., $20 advance, $25 at door, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

- Pegboy at Beat Kitchen - Also with Shot Baker and Anxiety High. Doors at 9 p.m., show at 10 p.m., $20 advance, $25 at door, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

- Urge Overkill at House of Blues (Back Porch Stage) - Also with A Friend Called Fire. Doors at 9:30 p.m., show at 10 p.m., $40 advance, $44 day of, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

- Tight Phantomz at Quenchers - Also with White Savage. 9 p.m., $10, 21 and over. More info.

- Margot & the Nuclear So and So's at Subterranean - Also with Everything, Now!. Doors at 9 p.m., show at 10 p.m., $30 advance, $40 day of, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

Weekend show picks

The Flaming Lips

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11

- The Flaming Lips, Phoenix and Pete Yorn at Allstate Arena – "WXRT Big Holiday Concert." 7 p.m., $40-50. More info and tickets.

- Pelican at the Empty Bottle with Black Cobra and Disappearer - 10 p.m., $14, 21 and over. More info and tickets. Check out the recent Sun-Times interview with the band by Jim DeRogatis.

- Cains & Abels at Bottom Lounge with Cavalier Rose, In Tall Buildings and All the Creatures of the Sea - 8 p.m., $10, 17 and over. More info and tickets. Click here for a WCR article and free download from the band.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12

- Mahjongg at Hideout with White Car - 9 p.m., $10, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

- I Fight Dragons at Metro with Pretty Good Dance Moves and Cobalt and the Hired Guns - 9 p.m., $10, 18 and over. More info and tickets. Check out our I Fight Dragons CD review here.

- Russian Circles at Lincoln Hall with Young Widows, Sweet Cobra and Phantom Family Halo - 9 p.m., $12 advance, $14 at door, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13

- Marcus Foster at Abbey Pub with Blue Roses - 8 p.m., $10, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

Win a Weezer CD, vote for the band to play your school

Want a free copy of Weezer's new CD Raditude? In honor of T-Mobile's "Motorola CLIQ Challenge" YouCast Corp has provided Windy City Rock a copy to give away to one lucky reader. For a chance to win, all you have to do is send an e-mail to us at windycityrock@gmail.com with your name, mailing address and "Weezer contest" as the subject line by 7 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 20. We'll randomly select and notify a winner from all entries.

The CLIQ challenge is a competition that gives Weezer fans the chance to vote for the band to play a show at their local college campus by voting for their school of choice on Facebook. The winning school will not only score the Weezer show, but also $1 for every vote it received, up to $25,000. Chicago-area schools are currently lagging behind, so be sure to go vote and spread the word. Voting is open through November 30.

Separate from the contest, Weezer currently has a Chicago show scheduled for Tuesday, December 1 at the Aragon Ballroom. Tickets are $44.75 and at the time of writing are available through Ticketmaster.

Halloween weekend show roundup

Chicago music fans have no excuse to stay at home this Halloween. Not only does the holiday fall on a weekend this year, but the Windy City is once again offering up plenty of excellent shows to check out. Below is a roundup of promising selections for both Friday and Saturday night to help make sure your Halloween rocks. If you're heading to a show not listed, be sure to leave a comment with the details.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30

Double Door (1572 N. Milwaukee)
In keeping with its annual tradition, the Wicker Park club will serve up another batch of Chicago-based acts performing as other bands. On the roster this year are Black Angus as Black Sabbath, The Midnight Shows as Huey Lewis and the News, Catfish Haven as Nirvana, Viceroy as Cheap Trick, Blackbox as Snoop Dogg and Hobo and the Boxcar as the White Stripes.

Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., $12. More info and tickets.

Abbey Pub (3420 W. Grace)
While the Double Door has only one night of Halloween extravaganza this year, the Abbey Pub will offer two, kicking off Friday night with six bands masquerading as some excellent acts. The lineup: Penthouse Sweets as The Sex Pistols, Pleezer as Weezer, Broken China as the Bangles, Phil Angotti as Squeeze, Chris Dorf and friends as R.E.M. and Benge & Short as Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe.

Doors 8 p.m., show 8:45 p.m., $10 advance, $12 at door, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31

Carmichael's Warehouse (1052 W. Monroe)
No, this isn't a new music venue. It's a 9,000 square foot warehouse in the West Loop that will hold XPLO Massacre, a Halloween art and music festival featuring 10 Chicago bands and 100 visual artists. The bands include Midstates & the Choir of Ghosts as Pulp, Darling as ELO, Word and Number as Aphex Twin, Panda Riot as Helium, The Nothingheads as Beck, The Clams as Black Sabbath, Flame Shark as The Band, Bogdog as Pink Floyd, Aviary Ghost as Tom Waits, and Abbot Smile as The Clash.

7 p.m., $10, 21 and over. More info.

Subterranean (2011 North Ave.)
A benefit show with all proceeds going to The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, who recently suffered serious injuries and damages in a van accident on the way to an out of state gig (click here for details). The lineup includes BBU, New Duncan Imperials, Canasta, and Kevin Flynn and the Avondale Ramblers.

Doors 8 p.m., show 8:30 p.m., $10, 17 and over. More info and tickets.

Metro (3730 N. Clark)
This year, Metro will also join in the "bands playing other bands" fun with their 1st annual Halloween tribute show featuring Love Me Electric as Blink 182, Color Radio as Radiohead and Plunket as Limp Bizkit.

Doors 5:30 p.m., show 6 p.m.. $10, all ages. More info and tickets.

The Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western Ave.)
The Ponys will headline the club's Halloween night "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah," with France Has The Bomb, A/V Murder and The Get Drunk DJs also playing.

10 p.m., $12. More info and tickets.

Bottom Lounge (1375 W. Lake)
Psych-rock pioneer Roky Erickson will headline, with Land of Lincoln and The Great Society Mind Destroyers opening.

8 p.m., $20, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

Abbey Pub (3420 W. Grace)
The second night of the Abbey's Halloween bash will feature the Shaking Hand as AC/DC, Tomorrow the Moon as Psychedelic Furs, Androgynous Mustache as the J. Geils Band, the Delafields as the B-52s, the Webstirs as Fleetwood Mac and Tiny Speakers as the Everly Brothers.

Doors 8 p.m., show 8:45 p.m., $10 advance, $12 at door, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln)
If you haven't yet had the chance to check out Chicago's newest rock club, you might want to catch the venue's first Halloween show featuring Detholz!, with Bobby Conn and Loto Ball Show opening.

9 p.m., $10, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

Quenchers (2401 N. Western Ave.)
Three Chicago-based bands are on tap, including Knife of Simpson, mbconn (who, according to Twitter pal @rarestock, will play a set of scary movie themes) and The World In Heat.

9 p.m., $5 donation, 21 and over. More info.

Weekend show picks

The Raveonettes

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23

- Welcome to Ashley with Hallelujah The Hills and at Soft Speaker at the Empty Bottle – 10 p.m., $8. More info and tickets.

- Drummer with Royal Bangs at Schubas - 10:30 p.m., $12, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

- Lucero with Amy Lavere and Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcom at Bottom Lounge - 8 p.m., $16, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

- David Bazan with Say Hi… at Lincoln Hall – 10:30 p.m., $15, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25

- The Raveonettes at Metro – 8 p.m., $18. More info and tickets.

- Ted Leo & the Pharmacists with The Jai Alai Savant at Lincoln Hall - Official grand opening event. 8 p.m., $15, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

Weekend show picks

The Gossip (myspace.com/gossipband)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16

- The Gossip at Metro - 9 p.m., $20, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

- Old Canes at Bottom Lounge - Check out our show preview, including an mp3 download, here. 8 p.m., $10, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

- Rough Cut at Kinetic Playground - 8 p.m. More info.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17

- Liam Finn at Lincoln Hall - 10 p.m., $15. More info and tickets.

- King Sparrow at Hollywood Lounge (3303 w Bryn Mawr Ave) - Check out our Q&A here. More info.

- Sarah Pray at Uncommon Ground - 9 p.m. More info.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18

- Wilco with Tortoise at UIC Pavilion - 7 p.m., $38.50, all ages. Tickets.

- Inspector Owl at Double Door - Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., $5, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

Hideout to host 11/12 benefit show for Scotland Yard Gospel Choir

Scotland Yard Gospel Choir (Bloodshot Records)

Late last month the six members of Chicago's Scotland Yard Gospel Choir were injured in a van accident while driving to an out of state gig, resulting in a heap of medical bills and damaged equipment. To help out the group during this difficult time, two fellow Chicago-based bands, The 1900s and Brighton, MA, will play a benefit show at Hideout on Thursday, November 12. Tickets, available here, are $12. All proceeds will go to SYGC.

According to updates from the band's label, Bloodshot Records, one member, Mark Yoshizumi, remains hospitalized, while another, Mary Ralph, was just released this week. Here are the three latest updates:

UPDATE (10/2): Mark had another successful surgery yesterday, but remains in serious condition.

UPDATE (10/12): Great news! Mark has been transferred out of ICU.

UPDATE (10/14): Mary is leaving the hospital today -- she says, "I've still got a lot of physical and occupational therapy in my future, but I've progressed to walking with a cane already."

If you can't make it to the show, but would still like to help the band, you can do so via a PayPal account set up for donations here.

For more information on The 1900s, check out our reviews of the band's various releases:
- Cold and Kind (LP)
- Plume Delivery (EP)
- Medium High (EP)
- Everybody's Got a Collection (single)

Ted Leo to headline Lincoln Hall's grand opening

Photo by Shawn Brackbill

Last week Chicago's newest concert venue, Lincoln Hall, announced most of its fall show schedule (kicking off October 16 with Mike Doughty), and today the club has revealed details for its official grand opening show on Sunday, October 25. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists will headline the event, with $15 tickets on sale this Friday, October 16, at noon. The Jai-Alai Savant will open.

Click here for more information.

Weekend show picks

Japandroids (Photo by Leigh Righton)

The major live music happening around town this weekend is punk rock extravaganza Riot Fest, which runs through Sunday at various clubs around town and features bands such as Screeching Weasel, Naked Raygun, Alkaline Trio and The Dead Milkmen. For more information on that, check out loudlooppress.com's excellent preview.

If you're not in the Riot spirit, here are some other solid show options this weekend:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9

- Big Bang TV at Hideout - Per the band's online bio, "Frantic, post-punk guitars stumble in and out of pools of atari synth and turntable chirps. Male/female vocals lazily dance around each other until they’re swept up by a driving break beat and booming bass." Also with Serengeti & Polyphonic and Kid Static. 10 p.m., $8, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

- Inchworm at Darkroom - Taking cues from the likes of Neil Young and the Stones, Chicago's inchworm deliver a fresh, memorable take on a classic rock formula. Also with Deanna Devore and Where Astronauts Go to Hide. 9 p.m., $8 advance, $10 at door, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10

- Van Ghost at Empty Bottle - Chicago-based Americana rock. Check out our recent Q&A with front man Michael Berg here. Also with Nathan Xander and 500 Miles to Memphis. 9:30 p.m., $5 advance, $8 at door. More info and tickets.

- Japandroids at Schubas - A Canadian garage rock duo that released their debut LP, Post-Nothing, this year. To learn more, check out this new interview with the duo from Jim DeRogatis of the Sun-Times. Also with Little Girls. Japandroids are also playing Schubas on Friday, but that show is already sold out. 3 p.m., $12, all ages. More info and tickets.

- Lonely, Dear at Bottom Lounge - Otherwise known as Emil Svanängen, Lonely, Dear is a Swedish indie pop mult-instrumentalist. Also with Asobi Seksu and Anna Ternheim. 8 p.m., $15, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

- Girl in a Coma at Reggie's - A punk-influenced rock trio made up of sisters Nina and Phanie Diaz as well as Jenn Alva who are signed to Joan Jett's Blackheart Records. Also with Evil Beaver and Black Gold. 5 p.m., $10, all ages. More info and tickets.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11

- The Horrors at Double Door - A British shoegaze/garage rock act that released their sophomore album, Primary Colors, in May. Also with Crocodiles. Doors 8 p.m., show 9 p.m., $15, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

Weekend show picks

Chairlift

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

- Chairlift at Schubas -Chairlift's captivating and eclectic sound - channeling everything from dream pop to jazz rock to 80s-style synth pop on their breakthrough record Does You Inspire You - has brought them quite a bit of attention over the past year, leading to a number of high profile appearances (check out our coverage of their performance at Lollapalooza here). 10 p.m., $15, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

- The Weakerthans at Bottom Lounge - It's tough to classify this Canadian band beyond the generic indie rock tag, but their nostalgic, bittersweet sound has gathered them a dedicated following. They released their last album, Reunion Tour, in 2007. 8 p.m., $17 advance, $20 day of show, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

- Built to Spill at the Vic - After coming to town to play a set at Pitchfork Music Fest this summer, the band is back to promote their forthcoming seventh full-length record, There Is No Enemy, due out October 6. 7:30 p.m., $24, all ages. More info and tickets.

- Oh My God at Double Door - As we detailed earlier this week, the Windy City's own Oh My God will celebrate the release of their new record, The Night Undoes the Work of the Day, on this hometown stop of a current nationwide tour. Doors 9 p.m., show 10 p.m., $10. More info and tickets.

- Brilliant Pebbles at Subterranean - The release show for this Chicago glam-pop act's debut record will also feature Aleks and the Drummer, Lord of the Yum Yum and Heart Shaped Hate. Doors 9 p.m., show 9:30 p.m., $8, 17 and over. More info and tickets.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

- The Dø at the Empty Bottle - This French/Finnish duo was recently described by Drowned in Sound as sounding like "a female Eminem backed by a brass band, like The Cardigans stripped to nothing but a jazzy guitar strum and a sexy whisper, like ‘Iko Iko’ by The Dixie Cups re-imagined by Pingu, like Moldy Peaches with a hint of continental sophistication, like ‘The Block Party’ by Lisa Left-Eye Lopez if she’d grown up listening to Pavement, like PJ Harvey on the moon, and like Os Mutantes at their most chilled-out." How could that not make for an entertaining show? 8 p.m., $10, 21 and over. More info and tickets.

Long weekend show picks: The Innocent, Titus Andronicus and more

The Innocent play Bottom Lounge tonight

Friday, September 4

- The Innocent at Bottom Lounge - Fronted by one of our favorite local singer-songwriters, Michael Hardey, the Innocent's hook-filled material falls somewhere in-between Americana and college rock. You can check out a full review of the debut EP here. Also with Inspector Owl, The Part V and Crayolala. 8 p.m., $8, 18 and over. More info and tickets.

- The Joans at Schubas - With a musical formula of trashy new wave and garage rock that was devised to channel the spirit (and look) of Joan Crawford, nobody can accuse the Joans of blandness. Also with the Handcuffs and the Wanton Looks. 10 p.m., $8. More info and tickets.

Saturday, September 5

- Dead Meadow at Empty Bottle - L.A.-based neo-psychedelia act Dead Meadow released their fifth album, Old Growth, last year, and are currently working on a live release dubbed Three Kings. Also with Follows and the Great Society Mind Destroyers. 10 p.m., $12. More info and tickets.

- The Frantic at Metro - Chicago pop-punk. Benefit show for Share Your Soles. Also with State and Madison, the Get Go and the Scissors. 6 p.m., $8 advance, $11 day of show, all ages. More info and tickets.

Sunday, September 6

- The Spits at Double Door - Garage punk out of Seattle. Also with Woven Bones and Mother of Tears. 9 p.m., $10 advance, $13 at door. More info and tickets.

Monday, September 7

- Titus Andronicus at Bottom Lounge - Named after the Shakespeare play of the same name, New Jersey's Titus Andronicus have attracted quite a bit of attention with their debut record, The Airing of Grievances, a blend of shoegaze guitars and punk rock spirit. Also with the So So Glos and CoCoComa. 8 p.m., $10 advance, $12 at door, 18 and over. More info and tickets.