T.G.I.A.F. (Thank God It’s Almost Friday)

Country-music fans (yes, both of you) rejoice: Chicago transplant Kelly Hogan will play a pair of shows tonight at Hideout. But the real music story is tomorrow night, when there are so many quality bands playing in the area that we decided to give you a day’s warning to make the torturous decision. At the Empty Bottle will be the Mountain Goats, a.k.a. John Darnielle. (Chicagoist just loves singer-songwriters that pretend to be full-fledged bands, e.g. Cat Power, (smog), Destroyer, Iron & Wine, and Bonnie “Prince” Billy.) Darnielle will perform his unique, literate brand of lo-fi folk pop, and here’s hoping his awesome acoustic cover of Ace of Base’s “The Sign” makes the setlist. Archer Prewitt from local heroes The Sea & Cake will open. At Metro, weirdo Neutral Milk Hotel wannabes the Decemberists will play – probably in costume – their songs about pirates, soldiers, movie characters, and real-life novelists after the equally strange Chicago-area popsters Head of Femur open. And at House of Blues, check out Danger Mouse – the brilliant mind behind the justly lauded Beatles-Jay Z mash-up “The Grey Album” – performing with Brooklyn cohort Jemini. The duo’s recent collaboration “Ghetto Pop Life” evidences further wizardry with hip-hop tricks both underground and mainstream. No matter which show you choose, each will be a great way to kick off the weekend.