Monday, April 1
"Push The Sky Away," the latest record from Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds is a brooding and haunting collection of polished and intense indie rock. Sharon Van Etten released, "Tramp," her excellent third full-length record last year and also appears with J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. on "The Music is You," the John Denver tribute album that comes out tomorrow. Listen to their version of Denver's 1972 song, "Prisoners," here. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Sharon Van Etten perform Monday at the Chicago Theatre. 8 p.m.
Catch a lively triple-bill at Subterranean headlined by Los Angeles based garage-pop band Wavves. The band is touring in support of "Afraid of Heights," their fuzzy and extremely fun new record. The band recently made their network television debut on "The Late Show with David Letterman" performing "Afraid of Heights" single "Demon to Lean On," which you can watch here. This will be your chance to see Wavves in an intimate club setting before they come back later this year for Lollapalooza. The snotty Los Angeles-based garage-rock band FIDLAR, released their debut record earlier this year. Opening this show is London-based indie-rock band Cheatahs, who are celebrating the North American release of "Extended Plays," which contains both "Coared" and "SANS," two previously released EPs that were only available in the U.K. Subterranean. 7 p.m.
Peach Kelli Pop is the project of Allie Hanlon, drummer in the awesome power-pop band The White Wires. Peach Kelli Pop recently released, "Peach Kelli Pop II," an irresistible record filled with delightfully sunny garage-pop. Local garage rockers Summer Girlfriends released the equally infectious "Shockwaves," last year. Opening the show is local psychedelic-pop duo Palmflower. The Burlington. 9 p.m.
Détective is a new garage-pop trio featuring James Greer, writer and former member of Guided by Voices. Take a listen to a rough mix of three songs from, "Hilarious Heaven," the bands' forthcoming double LP, here. With Walking Bicycles and Art Decade. Empty Bottle.
Also Monday: Local radio station WXRT is presenting a free show with Dawes at Reggie's. The Los Angeles-based rock band is set to release, "Stories Don't End," their third full-length record next week. Reggie's Rock Club. 6 p.m.
And: Miami-based rapper SpaceGhostPurrp released the dark, "Mysterious Phonk: The Chronicles of SpaceGhostPurrp," last year. See him at Bottom Lounge. 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 2
Ducktails is the side project of Matthew Mondanile, guitarist in New Jersey-based indie-rock band Real Estate. This year, the band released, "The Flower Lane," a gorgeous set of languid, dream-pop. Local indie-pop band Pet Lions just released, "Popular Nature," a five-song EP that is the follow-up to "Houses," their terrific full-length record released in 2011. With Monopoly Child Star Searchers. Empty Bottle. 9 p.m.
Catch Icelandic band Sigur Rós preview songs from their forthcoming record, "Kveikur," due out in June. You can watch the video for "Brennisteinn," the opening track from "Kveikur," here. With the experimental pop of Daniel Lopatin, a.k.a. Oneohtrix Point Never. UIC Pavilion.
Powerful Welsh trio The Joy Formidable come to town in support of "Wolf's Law," their second full-length studio album. Tunes such as "This Ladder is Ours," and "The Leopard and the Lung," are glossy arena-rock anthems. Opening the show is Los Angeles-based rock band Kitten, fronted by Chloe Chaidez, the daughter of drummer Mike Chaidez of the Los Angeles punk band, Thee Undertakers. You can watch a recent interview that Chloe Chaidez did with Carson Daly, here. The Vic. 8 p.m.
The Hideout presents another great residency series this month featuring the many projects of musician Janet Bean (Eleventh Dream Day, Freakwater). The show this evening will highlight songs from Bean's project, The Concertina Wire and will feature James Baker, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Nick Macri, Charles Rumback and Jon Spiegel. The Hideout. 9 p.m.
Also Tuesday: Winnipeg's quirky indie-poppers Boats come to town in support of their recently released record, "A Fairway Full of Miners." With Philadelphia-based indie-rock quartet Cheers Elephant and local pop duo Nervous Cloud. Double Door. 8:30 p.m.
And: Electro-pop outfit Stepdad will play bouncy jams from their 2012 record, "Wildlife Pop," at Bottom Lounge. 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 3
"Hymnal," the latest record from Thomas Meluch under his Benoît Pioulard moniker is a lush and beautiful set of lo-fi and experimental folk-pop. Chicago's Chris Hefner created a gorgeous video for the song "Reliquary" and the interlude "Homily" from "Hymnal" and you can watch that here. With locals Victor Villarreal and Ken Camden. Empty Bottle. 9 p.m.
In the mid-90s, Garbage, a band formed in Madison, Wisconsin by famed producer Butch Vig (Nirvana's "Nevermind," Smashing Pumpkins' "Gish," Sonic Youth's "Dirty") and featuring Scottish lead-singer Shirley Manson, was all over MTV and modern rock radio with such songs as "Only Happy When it Rains," "Stupid Girl," and "When I Grow Up." In 2012, the band released, "Not Your Kind of People," their fifth studio album, and this year for Record Store Day, they will release a cover of Patti Smith's "Because the Night," on 10" vinyl that was recorded with the Screaming Females. The 10” will also include an additional Garbage original song titled “Love Like Suicide." With Los Angeles duo IO Echo, whose debut record, "Ministry of Love," was released this week. Riviera Theatre. 7:30 p.m.
Nashville-based brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall are the duo who comprise fuzzy garage rockers JEFF the Brotherhood. Their excellent 2012 record, "Hypnotic Nights," was produced by Dan Aeurbach of The Black Keys. See them with their Infinity Cat labelmate, Cy Barkley and local post-punk trio Meat Wave. Subterranean. 8:30 p.m.
Also Wednesday: Canadian singer-songwriter Hayden comes to town behind, "Us Alone," his seventh full-length record and first for Arts & Crafts. Lou Canon, who provides back-up vocals on "Us Alone" highlight, "Blurry Nights," opens the show. Canon's self-titled record, which was produced by Hayden, is out now. Schubas. 8 p.m.
And: British pop-singer Mika performs an intimate show at Lincoln Hall behind his recent record, "The Origin of Love." Lincoln Hall. 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 4
Zammuto is the new project fronted by former member of the Books, Nick Zammuto. "Zammuto," the bands' debut record is an exciting set of experimental electro-pop. Check out the new band Thursday with Toronto-based electro-folk duo Snowblink, whose gorgeous record, "Inner Classics," was released last year. Watch the recently released video for "Inner Classics" track, "Inner Mini-Mississippi, here. SPACE. 8 p.m.
Celebrate the release of "Object Permanence," the latest record from local indie-rock trio Mutts. Last year's excellent "Separation Anxiety," at times sounded like a combination of Tom Waits' growl and the sneer of Mike Watt. Opening the show is outstanding local orchestral-pop band Paper Thick Walls. The Hideout. 9 p.m.
Doldrums is the project of Montreal-based musician Airick Woodhead and he recently released, "Lesser Evil," a charming batch of electro-pop. With Sean Nicholas Savage and Gold Cult, who released their debut EP in January. Schubas. 9 p.m. Doldrums will also being doing a free in-store performance at Reckless Records (Broadway) at 5 p.m.
Get some rock and roll into your system with local garage rockers Magic Milk, who just released a rad three-song record featuring the burning, "Black Rolls Royce." Columbus, Ohio trio Day Creeper recently released the fine "Raging Beast EP." Opening the show is New York City's Organs. Check out the video for "Why Couldn't She?" from Organs' forthcoming debut record, "Headin' for the Door," here. The Burlington. 9 p.m.
Also Thursday: A DJ set from producer Mark Ronson at The MID. 10 p.m.
And: Legendary Jamaican reggae outfit Toots & The Maytals at the House of Blues. 9 p.m.
Friday, April 5
It will be a night of ripping garage rock courtesy of Athens, Greece quartet Acid Baby Jesus and Montréal's Hellshovel Friday at Cobra Lounge. Acid Baby Jesus released a fiery full-length back in 2011 and hope to have a new record out this year. Hellshovel dropped, "Hated by the Sun," a psych-influenced gem last year. Both Acic Baby Jesus and Hellshovel collaborated on a 10" EP for a project called Voyager 8 that was released by Slovenly Recordings last year. Also on the bill is the similarly minded local garage duo White Mystery, whose new record, "Telepathic," is due out later this month. Opening the show is the fine Alabama-based garage pop four-piece Nightmare Boyzzz. Cobra Lounge. 9 p.m. Acid Baby Jesus and Hellshovel will also be doing an in-store performance earlier this evening at Permanent Records at 6 p.m.
Long-running Los Angeles-based punks Bad Religion come to town in support of, "True North," their recently released 16th studio album. Uptempo anthems such as "Robin Hood in Reverse," "Land of Endless Greed," and "Dept. of False Hope," are all welcome additions to the already stacked Bad Religion canon. The Bronx is a Los Angeles-based punk band who released, "The Bronx (IV)," earlier this year and it is a blistering collection of loud, fast, and catchy rock and roll. With upstate New York punks Polar Bear Club. Congress Theater. 6:30 p.m.
Oklahoma quartet Broncho top off a great night of music at the Empty Bottle. The bands' 2011 debut, "Can't Get Past The Lips," is an aggressive and extremely catchy collection of garage rock. Surf rock trio Beach Day play wonderful garage-pop with influences ranging from '60s girl group artists like The Ronettes and The Shangri-La's to contemporary artists like Best Coast and The Black Lips. Opening the show is Vancouver garage-soul six-piece Chains of Love. Empty Bottle. 9:30 p.m.
It's a Three Floyds tap takeover Friday at the Bottom Lounge with Sybris, Rabid Rabbit and Killer Moon. The night is a celebration of Sybris' new EP, "Voyage of the Stag Party," that commemorates the six years that the members of Sybris and brewers from Three Floyds have been playing the classic role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons together. The EP is also a classic-era Dungeons & Dragons adventure module and features artwork from Stephen Poag, Erin Page, Jason Naumann, Ben Naumann and Zachary Baker. And if all this isn't enough to make your nerd heart flutter, the EP features a song, "Critically in Love," that is told entirely in Dungeons & Dragons jargon. Bottom Lounge. 8 p.m.
Also Friday: Legendary metal band Anthrax play songs from their 1987 breakthrough record, "Among the Living," at House of Blues. Also part of this "Metal Alliance Tour" are thrash metal pioneers Exodus, the punishing metal of High on Fire, Municipal Waste and Holy Grail. House of Blues. 7 p.m.
And: Chillwave artist Neon Indian does a DJ set at The MID. With Moon Boots. 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 6
The recently released fifth solo album from Jamie Lidell is another smart and funky set of danceable jams with perfect beats and electronic flourishes. Songs on "Jamie Lidell" like "I'm Selfish," "Big Love," and "Do Yourself a Favor," are all fun slices of highly energetic electro-pop. See him with Empress Of, the electro-pop project of Brooklyn's Lorely Rodriguez. Empress Of just released, "Systems," a new EP featuring the fantastic first single, "Hat Trick," which you can listen to here. Opener Ludwig Persik released an EP last year that was co-written and produced by Jamie Lidell. Lincoln Hall. 10 p.m.
Indie-rock quartet Cold War Kids just released, "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts," their fourth full-length record. Check out, "Miracle Mile," the uplifting piano-driven first single, here. Electro-pop duo Houses open the show. Their new record, "A Quiet Darkness," is out later this month, but give a listen to their excellent remix of the Cold War Kids single, "Miracle Mile,'' here. Metro. 9 p.m.
Last year, the San Francisco-based sextet Monophonics released "In Your Brain," an awesome collection of vintage psychedelic-funk and soul that calls to mind Funkadelic and Sly Stone. "All Together" featuring the vocals of Fanny Franklin is an absolute scorcher. Local soul-funk outfit The Jordan Years released an impressive debut full-length record called, "Homemade Hustler," earlier this year. Martyrs’. 9:30 p.m.
If you somehow missed being at The Burlington in February for a performance by Girl Group Chicago, then do what you can to get to the Double Door Saturday. Twenty women culled from many great Chicago bands crammed on the stage in vintage '60s clothes and hair and absolutely killing songs from girl group bands like The Shangri-La's and The Shirelles. Girl Group Chicago headline a fantastic bill with legendary garage rock outfit The Goblins, local four-piece garage rockers Blizzard Babies and The Revelettes. Double Door. 9 p.m.
Singer-songwriter Michael Nesmith goes it alone for his first U.S. solo tour in over 30 years. You know him from The Monkees, but his genre-spanning career also includes success in business, writing, producing, acting and inventing. Saturday's show will touch on his long musical career going back to his time as a folk singer. Old Town School of Folk Music. 8 p.m.
Local psychedelic rockers Pink Frost have recently finished mastering their new record which should be out soon. Check out a preview of the forthcoming record by watching the video for single, "The Sun," here. Opening the show is local shoegaze band Panda Riot, who will play tunes from their dazzling new record, "Northern Automatic Music." The Burlington. 9 p.m.
Singer-songwriter Matt Costa plays Schubas in support of his latest, self-titled record. California-based garage-pop trio The Blank Tapes' forthcoming record, "Vacation," is due out in May, but you can watch the official video for the breezy first single, "Coast to Coast," here. Schubas. 9 p.m.
Lake Forest College radio station WMXM will put on their first musical festival with an impressive array of local artists including Joan of Arc, Heavy Times, Rabble Rabble,Twin Peaks, and others. Reid Hall and Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel. 7 p.m.
Rock and roll never forgets, indeed. If you like your classic rock to be played in a cavernous basketball arena, you could do a lot worse than Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band and Joe Walsh at the United Center. In 2012, Walsh proved that he's still the only relevant member of the Eagles by releasing, "Analog Man," which is filled with his typical incendiary guitar work. United Center. 8 p.m.
Also Saturday: The infectious Oakland garage-pop trio Warm Soda play Chicago behind their terrific new record, "Someone For You." Space Club. 8 p.m.
And: No, thanks. I like my toast dry. Maroon 5, Neon Trees and Owl City all play at Allstate Arena. 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 7
A night of face melting riffs will be headlined by noisecore monsters Today is the Day, who are celebrating 20 years since, "Supernova," their 1993 debut record. With Georgia metal trio Black Tusk, Winnipeg-based noise rockers Ken Mode and Fight Amp, a heavy power-trio based in New Jersey. Empty Bottle. 7:30 p.m.
Also Sunday: Brooklyn-based pianist and composer Marco Benevento comes to town in support of his 2012 record, "TigerFace." The record is comprised of a host of talented musicians including Mike Gordon of Phish and John McEntire of Tortoise and The Sea and Cake. Uplifting songs like "Limbs on a Pine," and the soaring "This is How it Goes," feature Kalmia Traver on vocals and are blissful dance-pop tracks. Schubas. 8 p.m.
And: Long-running jazz ensemble Liquid Soul gets together for a gig at the Abbey Pub. 8 p.m.
