This Weekend In Music: Three To See

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 21, 2014 9:30PM

Pontiak plays Saturday at The Hideout

Secret Colours at House Of Blues
We admit we've had a hard time wrapping our head around local psychedelic pop outfit Secret Colours but recently we've seen them up their live game and the forthcoming Positive Distractions (Part I & II) (out April 29) shows the band is finally maturing into an entity with its own personality. They're losing the more cliché and expected moves and building up a stronger sound and delivery they can confidently claim as their own. You can see this transformation in action at their Martyr's show tonight.

Friday, Feb. 21 at Martyr's, 3885 N Lincoln, 9:30 p.m., $10, 21+

Ava Luna at The Observatory
Angular funk and post-rock blues clash in Ava Luna's blend of discordant elements made musical. Their latest album Electric Balloon, doesn't grab you right away, but after a few listens it does insinuate it's way into your brain and won't let go. Their record is sparse but these songs sound like the sorts of things that, when amplified and pumped into a small room of human bodies, transform into otherworldly dance jams that will get a room writhing. Oh yeah, and they sound a lot like Wire too, so that certainly helps.

Saturday, Feb. 22, at The Observatory, 3036 N Lincoln, 8 p.m., $5

Pontiak at The Hideout
We raved about their latest album and our appreciation of its charms hasn't diminished since we wrote that review. The Hideout is the perfect room for these real-life siblings to unfurl their knotty take on a swampy mix of stoner rock and Southern charm. This is pretty much a no-brainer.

Saturday, Feb. 22, at The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia, 9 p.m., $10, 21+