Under The Radar

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 29, 2006 6:54PM

This weekend is really just too jam-packed with music we want to check out. We mean, WAY too jam-packed. We’ve already mentioned Veruca Salt tonight, but that’s sort of a high-profile show that most folks probably already know about. There are a couple bands coming through town this weekend that you’ve a) probably never heard of and b) are well worth your time.

Early tonight, Thunderbirds Are Now! fly into the Beat Kitchen with a mixture of danceable rock off their forthcoming release, Make History. 6:00 p.m. is a little early to be getting your dance on, but if anyone can urge the crowd into some semblence of rhythmic gyration before sundown, its these cats. Later tonight Schubas is hosting an appearance by indie-rapper Astronautalis. Well, no, that’s not right, he’s not really a rapper. Or an indie rocker. He’s sort of both while avoiding the stereotypes of either. We don’t know what you would call him, but we do know we would call his latest, The Mighty Ocean & Nine Dark Theaters, infectious ear-candy with ingenious beats and shambolic melodies. If forced into a dark corner and made to create comparisons, we wouldn’t be ashamed to utter “Astronautalis” in the same sentence as “early-career Beck.”

Tomorrow night The Mugs drop by The Hideout. We hear the other band on the bill is hosting some sort of “disguise party,” but we’re primarily going to see the winsome pop on The Mugs' debut full-length grunt, grind, and grow its way through the PA as they gear up for a multi-week Fall tour. Chicago is only the second stop so far, but they’ll sweep back through Schubas on October 20, so this might be a good chance to catch ‘em twice and compare and contrast the following: how tight their set is, how bright their whites are, how long their beards are.

Also of note, and related since we gave tickets away for their show, don't miss Chicagoist favorites Priestess at The Abbey either.