The Weekend In Music

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 14, 2005 11:46AM

There aren’t too many big names in town this weekend. Mike (nee M.) Doughty will be at Park West after a free in-store at Borders on Michigan and Son Volt will prevent several people from accidentally seeing the atrocity known as The Fantastic Four by performing at The Vic on Saturday night. (Chicagoist thanks them for this gift to humanity). Anyway, we’re giving full vent to our indie leanings this weekend.

Thanks, in part, to an opening spot on Arcade Fire’s current tour, the Wolf Parade show at Schuba’s tonight is sold out. So we’re thinking of catching the Nada Surf show at Metro instead. You remember them as the band that sang “Popular” back in 1996 while your younger brother knows them as the band that covers OMD on The O.C. Mix Volume 2. Their latest album, The Weight Is A Gift, features some gorgeous indie pop without all the esoteric lyrical silliness that weighs down acts that have come after them.

Speaking of Metro, the indie rock high school kid that Chicagoist sees at its volunteer job has been telling us that we should check out The Dresden Dolls show there on Saturday. If you’re of the mind that rock music would be better if it were more influenced by the movie Cabaret then they might be for you. We know it sounds strange but check out their cover of "War Pigs" (.mov file). Now we know where Ozzy got the idea for all the eye makeup.

Lastly, Tight Ship Records is having a showcase at Hideout this Friday and Saturday night. The locally-based label is known for keeping costs low by recording most of its albums within a day and splitting profits 50/50 with the bands themselves. Every artist who’s recorded with them over the past year will be playing this weekend. With Holiday Music making their Chicago debut and The Like Young at the top of the bill on Saturday, we think that’s the show to see. By the way, are we the last ones to know that Thax Douglas has a record out?