Magic Ian

Three Taco-Tuesday-can-be-a-public-event-or-a-private-moment-and-who’s-to-say-which-is-better-really reasons to maybe read a book for once and then head over to Ronny’s tonight…

1. Chicago’s Magic Ian is a one man band. A goofy one man band. He’s beholden to no one genre as his songs run from fuzzed out lo-fi to blues-like acoustic. Unlike Jon Spencer and his shtick soaked blues, oddly enough Magic Ian’s seems to have a strange legitimacy to it. Yes, it’s shticky as well, but still it’s one man playing his acoustic guitar. And, well, isn’t that what you think of when you think of the blues? Kind of? Close enough.

2. Another Chicago venture, Merryweather are the polar opposite of Magic Ian. Or pretty far away. Both have a sense of humor, sure, but Merryweather keep things hushed. A song such as “Shake The Demon From Me” practically stops halfway through as if they got distracted and had to be reminded that they were indeed playing a song. Merryweather may have invented ambient folk without knowing it.

3. Rounding out another eclectic Ronny’s bill are locals Teenage Rage who suppress their teenage rage enough to pump out some pretty sweet alt-folk tunes. The vocals remind me of an indie Paul Burch if that helps. I’m sure it does not. Krystee opens and also hails from our hometown. Four for four tonight at Ronny’s.

8:00 p.m. Wednesday, 9/1. Ronny’s. 21+. $5.