Go To There: May 15 - 20

By Gene Wagendorf III 

Jamaican Queens

Wednesday, May 15th: Majical Cloudz at Permanent Records (5:15pm, All Ages, FREE)
Montreal native Devon Welsh made waves as Majical Cloudz with last year's delightful Turns Turns Turns EP, and now he's back. Touring in support of the full length Impersonator (streaming now on Pitchfork), Welsh is bringing his minimalist, baritone pop to Permanent before he plays later in the evening at Metro. Get there a bit early to secure a spot!

Thursday, May 16th: Jeremy David Miller and Ryan Anderson at The Hideout (9pm, 21+, $5)
Jeremy and Ryan have been making great music in Chicago for a while now, together as members of Rambos and separately with the likes of Go Long Mule and The Louvin Lovers. Both are accomplished singers and songwriters, and this intimate evening in the The Hideout's front room should provide a little magic and plenty of laughs.

Friday, May 17th: Dick Wolf!/Vaya and Automata at The Burlington (9pm, 21+, $8)
Local math pop group Dick Wolf! are shedding their excellent moniker and re-branding themselves as Vaya. The new Bandcamp has a free, two-song preview of Vaya's upcoming LP- a preview good enough to take the edge off my disappointment at the loss of the old name. Genre blenders Automata play as well, which means you can expect a seductive and energetic mix of reggae, soul and psychedelic rock. Proceeds from this show go to benefit Haitian musicians.
 
Saturday, May 18th: Outer Minds at The Hideout (9pm, 21+, $12)
One of the cooler Chicago Craft Beer Week events going on is Saturday at The Hideout. Logan Square's Revolution Brewing take's over the bar's taps while Outer Minds sprays psychedelic garage pop about the place.

Sunday, May 19th: Mountains For Clouds at Neverland (7pm, All Ages, $5)
New DIY space Neverland has had a busy first month full of solid bookings. Sunday's show features a set from Mountains For Clouds, whose 2010 release Some People Buy Scenery Like This blends elaborate, Explosions in the Sky-style meditations with bursts of emo tantrums.

Monday,  May 20th: Jamaican Queens and Netherfriends at Empty Bottle (9pm, 21+, FREE)
Detroit trap pop trio (you decipher that) Jamaican Queens return to Chicago almost exactly two months since their last visit (read the review here!). The band's debut record, Wormfood, is a disturbingly brilliant piece of music and their live show does it perfect justice. The songs are heart-breaking, mystical, exuberant and plain fucking strange. Locals Netherfriends are also on the bill, playing a set sure to be loaded with tracks from their impossibly ambitious 50 Songs 50 States project. Appropriately set for release on July 4th, you can pre-order and get acquainted with the first 12 songs via their Bandcamp.