Photo by Audrey Leon

Spring has sprung. Not officially for another week, but it sure feels that way. Snow is gone, and heavy coats are no longer outdoor necessities. Yay!

Don’t have plans yet? Plenty of great shows this weekend including Pelican at the Beat Kitchen, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists at Bottom Lounge, the Hideout’s SXSW send off and more!

But first, a reminder that Loud Loop Radio will be back on the air tomorrow, Saturday, March 12, at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Radio DePaul.

Lets get to it, shall we?

FRIDAY

KREATOR
So that Slayer/Megadeth show that was supposed to destroy you last Friday isn’t happening till August. But if you really wanted to be destroyed, fear not. Two more old school metal bands are rolling through town to do just that. And they are coming from foreign lands. Germany’s Kreator have now been making mind bending speed metal for 25 years, at times rivaling that of the mighty Slayer. And Canada’s Voivod defy explanation. Metal, space, atom smashing, it’s all there. Remarkably, they’ve pulled together a really solid record almost 5 years after the passing of original guitarist, Denis “Piggy” D’Amour, using riffs he had recorded prior to his death. Rounding out this already sweet bill is Chicago’s genre bending but pretty black metal at its core Nachtmystium. Prepare to meet your doom. (Ross Meyerson)

6:00 p.m. Friday, 3/12. The Bottom Lounge. All Ages. $28.

PELICAN
Sponsored by Chirpradio.org, Chicago’s instrumental prog rockers Pelican hit the quaint Beat Kitchen tonight for a show that will surely blow your face wide off. It’s a small room – so small, I’m not sure it can contain some of their mighty riffs. Locals Pinebender and Follows open. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 3/12. Beat Kitchen. 17+. $14.

SATURDAY

TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS
To support their latest effort, The Brutalist Bricks, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are bringing their signature political pop-punk sound to the Bottom Lounge this Saturday. Leo and co. debuted many of the tracks that would be on Bricks during his set at Lincoln Hall’s grand opening party back in October. New songs “Bottled in Cork” and “Even Heroes Have to Die” are sure to delight newcomers and old fans alike. Ex-Q and Not U drummer John Davis will open the show with his new group Title Tracks. (Audrey Leon)

7:00 PM. Saturday, 3/13. Bottom Lounge. All Ages. $15.

SENDING THE FOUR-STAR CITY TO THE LONE STAR STATE
Unless you’ve been literally living under a rock for the past few months, you are probably aware that South By Southwest is already under way in Austin. This year it seems like everybody under the sun will be there, and if you’re not there then you obviously aren’t cool. Well, call us sqaures because, unfortunately, none of us will be down in the Texas sun next week to bask in the musical glory. However, there are plenty of Chicago bands making the trip down south, and the Hideout is giving them a swell send off tomorrow night. The Chicago-centric 11-act bill includes Mittens On Strings, Via Tania, Love Of Everything, Hollows, Tyler Jon Tyler, The Hood Internet, Plastic Crimewave Sound, Mickey, Waco Brothers, Tom Schraeder & Life During Wartime DJs. (Richard Giraldi)

3:00 p.m. Saturday, 3/13. The Hideout.21+. $10.

SUNDAY

ORPHANED LAND
I’m desperately trying to figure out a way to tell you about Orphaned Land. An Israeli band that is self-described “Jewish Muslim Metal” who, musically, confuse the hell out of me. I want to say it’s heavy, but it’s not. It’s like what you’d hear at a Middle Eastern restaurant but with fat guitar riffs thrown in..Anyways, Chicago’s Indian are heavy. As fuck. And they are on the bill. As are pagan metalists Suidakra who play lightning fast and then throw in bagpipes and stuff. Brooklyn’s Storm of Light bring the slow sludge with a side of ambiance and opener, Scottsdale’s Via Vengeance, are another in an increasing number of one man bedroom metal bands. What I’m saying is this line-up is confusing as fuck but shows the expansiveness of the metal world despite the masses feeling that it’s all the same. (Ross Meyerson)

6:00 p.m. Sunday, 3/14. Bottom Lounge. 17+. $10.

But, after all those years of hard work the good folks at Q4 are not willing to go down easily. And here’s where you come in: they’re asking for donations, which can be easily pledged at their Kickstarter page.

They are looking for anyone, from artists who have benefited from the space to plain folks who know the importance of keeping places like Quennect4 going, to donate money, time, skill, what have you. We often take advantage of places like Quennect4 without thinking about what it takes to maintain them. Here’s your chance to give a little something back.

Charlotte Gainsbourg has a pretty voice, but it’s more or less just that: pretty. What I mean to say is that she doesn’t possess a lot of range, which makes it all the more astonishing that her new album IRM is such an enjoyable listen. Despite her lack of raw vocal talent, the fourteen tracks that compose the album are a relatively varied and interesting bunch. Gainsbourg herself deserves credit here for switching up her style and delivery from song to song, but the real congratulations should be directed at Beck, who wrote and produced all but one of the album’s songs.

The album’s feel and style varies so much over its course that it never gets boring despite the relative sameness of Gainsbourg’s vocals throughout. She keeps her singing to a soft, middling call for most of the songs, but like I said, she switches up her cadence and delivery to the point where she at least seems like she has some range, at least enough to keep things from getting boring.

Still, it’s Beck’s superb songwriting that deserves the most credit. He tries a wide variety of stylistic approaches, and is for the most part successful. Check the straightforward and acoustic “Heaven Can Wait” versus the mechanical and impatient title track, easily two of the best songs here, and you get an idea of what I mean. Both songs are smashing successes and worlds apart stylistically, and it’s this variance that makes IRM a winner.

Like I said before, Gainsbourg’s voice is very pretty, and she could get away with that for a while, but not for the forty-four minutes she puts in here, not without some great production and songwriting. There’s really too much happening here to mention in one short review, but I’ll try to hit on some of the ideas Beck tries out.

“Greenwich Mean Time” has traces of Midnite Vultures’ “Get Real Paid” all over it, and bonus track “Looking Glass Blues” rocks out and gets funky, recalling any number of Beck staples, specifically Odelay! – era material. Some of my favorite stuff here happens to be some of the slowest and prettiest tracks on the record. “In The End”, “Vanities”, and “La Collectionneuse” all feel linked stylistically without being too similar, and these slower songs give Gainsbourg some room to breathe and let her voice do its thing, and the results are beautiful. Also among this group is the one track Beck did not work on, and the only song performed entirely in French, “Le Chat du Café des Artistes”, and it too is irresistible, owing it’s beauty to the lovely vocals and beautiful instrumental arrangement.

Other tracks are a bit more aggressive and up tempo and they too play an important part in keeping the album from getting boring. “Trick Pony” and “Voyage” are much more in your face than the aforementioned tracks, and the two styles provide excellent breaks from one another. I can’t overstate how much this variety contributes to the success of IRM, as do Beck’s songwriting and production. The album may have Charlotte’s name on the cover, and her lovely pipes are certainly part of the equation, but don’t forget to mention IRM the next time you find yourself explaining to someone why Beck is awesome.
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Catch Charlotte Gainsbourg Wednesday, April 21 at the Park West. Buy tickets at Etix.com when they go on sale tomorrow, Saturday, March 13, at 10 a.m. CST.
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Charlotte Gainsbourg -- “One Trick Pony” -- Live on Letterman -- 1/22/2010

Photo by Bill Selak

There’s something comforting about an open mic. Have a little acoustic ditty you’d like to share with an audience? Then sign up, and hit the stage. Too timid to play in front of a crowd just yet? Then head on over, grab a beer or a cup o’ joe and feel the scene, man. One thing’s for sure, we’re exceptionally lucky to live in a city with a wealth of great open mics for musicians (Sorry, comedians. Maybe next time). Here, in no particular order, are 10 of our favorite spots to see some very talented locals play their hearts out…

1. Subterranean
Subterranean holds two open mics during the week – just incase you couldn’t get enough of one. On Monday nights from 9pm – 2am the lounge has an acoustic open mic hosted by Ciso Lobo. Musicians are requested to do their own pieces and not get up there with a whole lot of covers. On Tuesdays, Hip-Hop mic night takes over, presented by 606 Entertainment and hosted by Strike III of The Pacifics and Undecided 1. Claiming to be one of the most influential Hip Hop open mics, Subterranean opens its doors (and mics) to underground musicians and poets of the Hip Hop persuasion. Subterranean gives you the best of both open mic worlds two nights in a row. Open mics are on Monday and Tuesday from 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. Subterranean is located at 2011 W. North Avenue. (Britni Day)

2. Quenchers
Quenchers Monday Night Open Mic, which started as Indie Rock Open Mic Night in 2002, is a loose and open affair. Currently hosted by Darren Amaya, Quenchers welcomes anyone and everyone to the stage. Feel free to bring your own instruments (except drum kits but who would lug one of those around) or saddle on up to their historic August Cross of Chicago upright piano and get your 15 minutes of fame. Open mic starts at 10:30 p.m. every Monday night. Quenchers is located at 2401 North Western Avenue. (Ross Meyerson)

3. Uncommon Ground
On Monday nights SHURE Microphones sponsors an open mic at Uncommon Ground on Clark St. It’s a hushed and personal atmosphere filled with the delicate finger picking of acoustic guitars, quiet moan of harmonicas and beautiful voices of all types. Musicians like Arthi Meera from Fair and Kind, and Genevieve Schatz from Company of Thieves started out as regulars and quickly rose as favorites among the crowds. At the end of the show, the crowd picks their favorite performer for that night and they get some tip money and a chance to be in the running to perform at a showcase. The open mic normally starts around 7 p.m., but I suggest arriving a little early to get a good seat and a good time slot on the card. Open mic is on Monday nights from. 7 p.m – 9 p.m. Uncommon Ground is located at 3800 North Clark Street. (Britni Day)

4. Gallery Cabaret
Named Best Open Mic by the Chicago Reader in 2008, Gallery Cabaret’s Sunday night double set is filled with acts that consistently defy expectations. The crowd is eclectic and supportive, the music is generally above usual open mic standards, and the $5 Leinenkugel Pitchers and free dinner buffet are hard to pass up. The early open mic is more welcoming to newcomers, and space is limited so don’t expect to find a seat easily after dinner’s been served. Sunday open mics are from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. – close. Dinner served around 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. with a rarely enforced 2 drink minimum. Gallery Cabaret is located at 2020 N. Oakley. (Josh Reed)

5. Bucktown Pub
On Sunday nights, John Kimler hosts a rowdy, exciting open mic at Bucktown Pub complete with free popcorn. With an endless variety of musical styles and a room full of jaw-dropping regulars, the open mic here is always an adventure. The crowds here are very relaxed and you really can feel the excitement they have for new musicians. The open mic regulars are always extremely impressive, but are the most humble and personable people in the room. It’s like one big family in there and everyone seems to want to help everyone else out and give them a big round of applause at the end. Open mic is on Sunday nights and starts at 9:30 p.m. Bucktown Pub is located at 1658 W. Cortland. (Britni Day)

6. Town Hall Pub
Directly after the Uncommon Ground open mic ends, Ryan Suzuka starts up the Town Hall Pub open mic on Monday nights. Suzuka usually performs his beautiful but melancholy songs done on a ukulele with his powerful and lush Jeff Buckley-esque vocals. Unlike Uncommon Ground, Town Hall Pub is a place where open mic-ers get to let their hair down and turn loose on the crowd. Suzuka gives them plenty of time and lots of freedom to perform just as they like. At Town Hall Pub, musicians are encouraged to be loud, diverse and a little wild. Open mic is every Monday night at 10 p.m. Town Hall Pub is located at 3340 N Halsted St. (Britni Day)

7. Red Line Tap
Every Thursday night at The Red Line Tap is the Flatts & Sharpe open mic presented by the, oddly enough, Flatts & Sharpe Music Company. The night is hosted by Micki Croisant. Again, performers are asked to bring their own instruments, but a drum kit is provided. Need some liquid courage to get up there and let free your inner rock star? The Red Line Taps gives every performer one free drink (draft beer and well drinks only, folks). You might also win a snappy little prize courtesy of your friends at Flatts & Sharpe. Open mic is on Thursday nights. Sign up is at 8:00 and performers hit the stage beginning at 9:00 p.m. Red Line Tap is located at 7006 N.Glenwood. (Ross Meyerson)

8. The Store
Never been to the Store? Maybe you have but your memory is hazy because it was at 3:34 a.m. after stopping at several other bars only to stumble upon the one that was open until 4 a.m.? Well, The Store (til 4) hosts an open mic on Monday nights in the Lincoln Park neighborhood and is definitely worth checking out in a more coherent state of mind. Founded in 2004 by owner Kevin Kostelecky and Rick LaCour this open mic has a cool feature in that each musician is recorded and given a free CD of their performance moments after they leave the stage. There’s a house guitar, keyboard and top notch PA system available to use. Each performer is given 3 songs and 15 minutes to play. Past Mondays have seen members of Hello Dave, Umphrey’s McGee and even the late Vince Welnick of the Grateful Dead get up on stage to play a few songs. If that’s not enough they have $2.00 pints on sale all night long. Open mic starts around 9 p.m. with sign-up at 8:30 p.m. The Store is located at 2002 N. Halsted St. (Andrew Kahn)

9. Windy City Open Mic
Hosted by the lovely Kat Fitzgerald of A Left Turn At Albuquerque, Windy City Open Mic happens every Tuesday at the schmancy little wine bar Joie DeVine. Knowing the musical company that Fitzgerald keeps as a drummer for A Left Turn At Albuquerque (Jeff Churchwell and his heavenly tenor voice), the amount of singer/songwriter talent that comes across the stage is very impressive. Yet, Fitzgerald’s philosophical endless love of music makes sure that everyone gets their chance and support at this open mic. It’s a breath of fresh air to see a hostess who is there to mentor and support the newcomers as they step on stage for the first time. Open mic is on Tuesday nights. Sign up at 7 p.m. open mic starts at 8 p.m. Joie DeVine is located at 1744 W. Balmoral. (Britni Day)

10. Tonic Room
“Dan the Man” Chris Zonada opens up the rockin’ PA system at Tonic Room on Monday nights for their open mic. Not only do they provide you with a good sound system, they also offer up plenty of mics, various cables, and even a guitar for your performing needs. Tonic Room welcomes more than just acoustic performers, they also encourage rap artists, comedians and rock groups to come in and take a whack at it. Performers like Arthi Meera, Adam Hitchell, and The Gorilla Press have all played there. The Tonic Room has a relatively less intimidating stage, with it’s size leaning on the small side, the room being very dim and the crowd being an arms length away. It makes for an intimate setting that will calm the nerves a little more. Tonic Room is always looking for talent to perform the rest of the week, so if you have a set and want to play let them know. Open mic is on Monday nights. Sign up at 9:00pm open mic starts at 10pm. Tonic Room is located at 2447 N. Halsted. (Britni Day)

Several venue websites have indicated the post-rock group is planning an extensive tour that will take them from coast to coast in June and September of this year.

The Troubadour in Los Angeles has the band slotted for a June 12 performance.  New York City’s (Le) Poisson Rouge lists a June 23 show and The Bishop in Bloomington, Ind. has them booked for June 26.

A show on Sept. 7 appears on The Paradise in Boston’s website.  Richmond, Virgina’s The National indicates a Sept. 9 concert and The Orange Peel in Ashville, NC posted a Sept. 10 date.

Tickets for some of the shows are already on sale (The Troubadour, (Le) Poisson Rouge) while others will be open to the public on Saturday, March 13 (The Paradise and The National) and Friday, March 19 (The Orange Peel).

Shapers | Photo by Carl Sweets

1. You love a party. You love a record release. Therefore, you love a record release party. Tonight is just such a deal. Come celebrate Chicago’s own Shapers, a band willing to take their sound wherever they damn well please, as they celebrate the release of Little, Big.

2. Also on the bill, you ask, in that broken way you ask questions is another Chicagoland band, Old Fake, and their very Chicago sounding sonic, angular rock. If you’re an older gent like myself theirs is the sound you’ve been missing in your recent diet of indie rock.

3. And then there’s Driftless Pony Club, yet another Chicago band working their asses off for you. How the Hideout continues to roll out top notch, local, quality from head to toe shows is beyond me. This one might have the ability to restore your faith in the rock side of indie rock. So grab your best short sleeve plaid button down, belt up your Dickies, lace up your Cons and go. Don’t make me tell you twice.

9:00 p.m. Thursday, 3/11. The Hideout. 21+. $5.

Mako Sica are still in no hurry. On their second, Dual Horizon, the band follow the same path, a slow, meandering path at that, as they did on their debut, Mayday At Strobe, and god bless them for it. In a world of easy pay-offs and cheap thrills, Mako Sica force you to pay close attention to what they are doing. The reward doesn’t come at specific points mind you. Your reward comes with the whole. Dual Horizon is an album, three songs total, that gets inside of the listener as it gently guides from start to finish.

Mako Sica, comprised of Brent Fuscado, Michael Kendrick, and Przemyslaw Krys Drazek, have once again recorded live without overdubs. The big difference this time is that they went into the studio to do it, lending Dual Horizon a clearer sound. For a band that relies on subtlety this makes a huge difference. The restraint shown in not stuffing the record with overdubs only serves to cement the band’s commitment to their sound.

As for that sound? Is it experimental? Free form? Progressive? I’m not sure I have the answer. As with Mayday At Strobe the songs come apart, wander, and hang by a thread. The opener, “I’Itoi”, hits a double time early on that is somehow fast without feeling it at all. Later, it hits a groove that is as straight forward as can be. This lasts maybe a minute before falling into a wind chime filled chant. It may sound frustrating on paper, this inability to maintain a rhythm, but Mako Sica move so effortlessly and comfortably from rhythm to chaos that you find yourself anticipating and hoping for the unexpected.

“5th One Is The Dark”, the second track, is all atmosphere. It may be the most soundtrack-like of any of their songs, although quite possibly to the saddest movie ever made. The song feels like the band just blowing in the wind, as if they hung their instruments out to dry and recorded what nature made. Mako Sica’s music has an uncanny ability to conjure those kinds of images.

No song better encapsulates that than the 21 minute “Dunes”, which covers all of side B. It quite literally rolls along on a deep bass line and quietly grooves as actual dunes after which it is named. It does find longer and more sustainable grooves, which Przemyslaw and Brent twist dry guitar lines over. When it does break down, it’s not so much dunes that are felt but the ocean’s rolling tides. Both the song and album come to an increasingly creepy end as the guitars fade away and deep chants take over. It feels like being alone as night falls, and the sounds begin to surround you. The trumpet flurry that follows only adds to the chaos. What starts out so hopeful ends in a much darker place. “Dunes” is one scary tune.

Rarely do albums conjure up so much imagery. Bands like Calexico, for example, feel Southwest. But you’re mostly left thinking about the culture behind their music. Mako Sica somehow get inside your head and make you see and feel places. Places I’ve never been. And like those places, whether you see the desert, forest, dunes, whatever, their music is both as pretty and, at times, as scary. It’s a pretty remarkable feat, and one that like so many truly remarkable things, takes some time and patience to be fully realized.

Mako Sica -- “5th One is the Dark” -- Live at the Hideout

NovaRoma at The Bottom Lounge:

1. You’ve had a hard beginning to your week. To blow off a little steam, you’re looking for a night of ear-melting metal to slam into your friends to. Chicago’s newest Middle Eastern inspired progressive metal band, NovaRoma, will happily devour your souls on stage tonight.

2. Along with NovaRoma, punk rockers Samantha and three piece metal rockers Arbogast will grace the stage and make you bang your head. Only $8 for all this metal? It’s a steel! (Pun intended).

3. The Bottom Lounge is not just another dive bar with a grungy floor. It’s a big, pretty venue with a plethora of drinks, good food, and free parking. Go there for a nice dinner, get whiplash – make a night of it! The sound on the main stage is always very impressive and knowing NovaRoma’s sound, I assure you this will be a show you won’t ever forget.

8:00p.m. Wednesday, 3/10. The Bottom Lounge. 21+. $8.

Not in the mood to have your auditory system bruised? Arthi Meera at Charleston:

1. Chicago’s sweetheart and better half of Fair and Kind, Arthi Meera, will be performing tonight. With her acoustic guitar, heavenly voice and uncanny knack for doing some pretty rocking covers (Pearl Jam, The Smiths), Arthi Meera will make for a nice dreamy night.

2. Meera will be opening for electroacoustic, indie, folk mistress Via Tania. Two very talented women with the kind of music that makes you feel like you are floating on a cloud.

3. Charleston is a cozy little venue with cheap drinks, perfect to snuggle up to the music of Meera and Tania. It will be a wistful evening with a couple of incredible indie, acoustic ladies opening their hearts and voices for you.

8:00 p.m. Wednesday, 3/10. Charleston. 21+

Gauge – Autopilot @ Bottom Lounge 3/6/10 from Ray Zschau on Vimeo.