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A short work week would usually get us super-excited for all sorts of live music goodness since it should, theoretically, give us more time to catch some kick-ass concerts. Unfortunately, when that four-day weekend is triggered by Thanksgiving that means not only do we generally lose Thursday, most of the week is given up for lost in face of the biggest amateur night of the year.
However, if you look closely enough, there is plenty going on this week, even if it’s not in the form of high-profile, big ticket items.
For instance The Venom Lords perform at The Empty Bottle tomorrow. No one seems to be able to agree on just genre what their sound falls into (New wave? Punk? Garage rock? Mod? None of the above? All of the above?), but what everyone seems to agree upon is that the band’s sound is winning more and more fans through slap-happy live sets and a winning mixture of menace and drunken silliness. Opening is the classic rock inflected urgent sounds of another up-and-comer Farewell Captain. Any band that shreds as much as they do on-stage plugged-in, and can still slay just as heavily acoustically, as they did a number of weekes ago at a benefit they played, gets a big thumbs-up from us.
The Empty Bottle, Tuesday, 9:30 p.m., $7, 21+.
Wednesday, avoid the obvious frat-bars turned puke holes that you usually frequent with all your pals on amateur night, head over to Double Door for a show that snaps opposite ends of the spectrum in a meshing attempt to prove P.T. Barnum wrong. Brad Peterson’s moody pop might seem an off fit with The Ladies & Gentlemen’s hyper-drive synth-rock, but we suspect that both band’s love of melody in it’s purest form will work to create a comfortable bridge between both bands.
Double Door, Wednesday, 9 p.m., $8, 21+.
Friday Wilco is playing. Whatevs. While we admit that Nels Cline may yet turn the band around, we’re skipping them again because we still can’t believe Tweedy spent all of his political capitol with A Ghost Is Born. Tenacious D is in town too, but we think their live set is better served in smaller rooms and can’t imagine the band being as satisfying in the echo chamber that is the UIC Pavilion.
No, if you’re going out Friday you must go to SmartBar and catch Diplo’s Chicago appearance. Even if you’re not impressed by the mind behind M.I.A.’s best beats, who also discovered the amazing Bonde Do Role, this is a must not miss gig since local openers Flosstradamus are sure to raise the bar so high that Diplo will have to bring his absolute best to protect his cred. So the whole thing promises to be an eyebrow singer.
Wilco, Auditorium Theater, Friday & Saturday, 9 p.m., SOLD OUT, all ages.
Tenacious D, UIC Pavillion, Friday, 8 p.m., $40, all ages.
Diplo & Flosstradamus, SmartBar, Friday, 9 p.m., $8, 21+.
Oh yeah, Sunday The Sounds and Assassins are at The Metro. The Sounds (pictured left) released one of our favorite dance-rock albums last year, and Assassins have crafted one of our favoites of this year, full of eyeliner and menace.
The Metro, Sunday, 6:30 p.m., $17.50, all ages.
Top Venom Lords photo by Lee Klawans
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The Lovely Feathers are at Schuba's on Friday, and Wolfmother is at the Riveria on Saturday. Lots of good stuff this weekend.
We've talked about Wolfmother so much on the site I decided not to feature them this time around, especially since tickets appear to be sold out for their show. And rightfully so.
Thanks for pointing out the The Lovely Feathers show, though. Theirs is a quirky album that has slowly grown on me.
Is Chicagoist waiting until spring training to report on the Soriano deal or do they just not care?
I think tankboy has the best posts here. Great post, tankboy!
What exactly does, "Jeff Tweedy spent all of his political capitol [sic] with A Ghost Is Born," mean? Just wondering.
Also My Morning Jacket is playing the Riv on Friday - yet another show worth attending.
um, hulloh, MORRISSEY at the Brawlroom Tuesday night? THE only concert that matters? huh? Oh, but then it is sold out already and I've got my ticket! weeee! I'm going to see Morrissey, so all will be right with the world for at least a few hours this week -- that's MY Thanksgiving!
Again, james, unless I'm going to subtly mock a band, I try not to feature sold out gigs in event samplers such as this. But that doesn't mean I'm not jealous of your Morrissey ticket!
And Matt, the Tweedy crack means exactly what it says. You don't have to agree with me on that one. However I see we do both agree My Morning Jacket are a pretty cracking live act, even if people are forced to sit through The Slip to get to them.
No, seriously tankster, what does that mean?
He used up all his good will at the record company?
He no longer commands the blind faith of fans because of the quality of "Ghost"?
He ruined his chances at the Cook County Board presidency in the next election?
One can hardly agree or disagree if one is confused about your meaning.
Try again, this time for readers who don't have the unique benefit of reading your thoughts.
vise77, the answer to your question is b.
re: post no. 8 and tankboy's response which is no. 9, for some reason, now i have a mental picture of tankboy singing 'if you could read my mind...' who was that -- gordon lightfoot? oh, i wish i could make it to the chicagoist karaoke bash...
Yes, that is Gordon Lightfoot.
And I admit I made a supposition based on my rather regular critique of Wilco and Tweedy's direction post-YFH within this site, but vise77 certainly has a point when he / she points out that I should flesh said belief out in print more fully each time I mention it.