Go to There: May 8 - 14

By Andrew Hertzberg

Dastardly (photo: C.B. Lindsey)

Tuesday, May 8th: The Hudson Branch at Lincoln Hall (8PM, 18+, $10)
Looking for some music appropriate for the constantly dreary weather we’ve been experiencing? The fancy guitar stuff brings to mind American Football, but fronted by Ben Gibbard as opposed to a Kinsella (although I found myself thinking of a more grandiose Owen while listening to World Kid).

Wednesday, May 9th: Architecture at Township  (9 PM, 21+, $5)
Keep the dreamy and somber sounds going. But this time it’s a bit more minimal and electronic based. The trio seems to have been everywhere this year so far so if you haven’t seen ‘em yet, go get to it.

Thursday, May 10th: Dastardly at Subterranean  (8 PM, 21+, $10)
This is gonna be the alt/country/folk/whatever quintet’s last Chicago gig until September. But more importantly, things have been flaring up between them and openers the Shams Band. The latter have recently started a community parks clean-up program, but Dastardly’s not too into it. Check this link to the AV Club that recaps the stories (with videos too!).

Friday, May 11th: Ryley Walker at Gallery Cabaret  (8 PM, 21+, FREE)
Why not keep the folk thing going? Except this night is based more around solo artists, creating ominous backroad country. Walker is a John Fahey for the modern world. Johnny Young headlines, with Walker in the middle, and it’s opened by the Sacred Mountain Singers and Bowl of Dust & Co.

Saturday, May 12th: Mutts at Burlington (9 PM, 21+, $5)
Near the end of last year, Mutts released Pray For Rain, an 11 track album that finds inspiration all over Tom Waits’ catalog. Singer/keyboardist Mike Maimone has an energy that is all entirely his though, and creates quite the thrilling live performance.

Sunday, May 13th: Bike-In Movie Theater at the Hideout (8 PM, 21+ (or kids accompanied by adult), FREE)
The Hideout greens up the idea of a Drive-In Movie. The film in question is “The T.A.M.I. Show” which was a 1964 concert featuring Marvin Gaye, Chuck Berry, James Brown, the Rolling Stones and oh so much more.

Monday, May 14th: Roommate at the Whistler (7:30 PM, 21+, FREE)
Going over last year’s Guilty Rainbow, you’ll notice a lot of drum machines, synths, layered vocals, and various other digital sounds. But hidden amongst the synthetic soundscape are hints of the more natural and acoustic – vibraphone, sax, banjo, prepared piano. It’s quite a ride, and will be interesting to see how a lot of it translates live. Biographer opens.