Pelican

First off thanks to everyone who came out to the Ugly Christmas Sweater last night! We had a great time and met some really cool people from some sweet Chicago blogs and Web sites.

Feel free to discuss the party here or at the Windy Citizen’s party recap thread.

This weekend, we’re spotlighting tonight’s Flaming Lips performance at 93 XRT’s Big Holiday Concert, Pelican, the Chicago Bluegress & Blues Festival and Russian Circles.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

The Flaming Lips
Coming off a visually impressive yet slightly under whelming Pitchfork festival headlining spot this past summer, the Flaming Lips had no intentions of slowing down. In October they released Embryonic, their most organic and psychedelic album in years. They’ve replaced the subdued orchestral pop from Yoshi… and the sunshine-glazed rock from At War With The Mystics with intense, bass-heavy and twisted jams on their latest effort. Sweeting the pot at the 93 XRT’s Big Holiday Concert are openers Phoenix who with out a doubt released the pop album of the year with Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. – Richard Giraldi

7:00 PM. Friday, 12/11. Allstate Arena. All Ages. $40-50.

Pelican
Friday night brings quite possibly the finest line-up top to bottom that I’ve seen in a really long time. Chicago’s instrumental darlings Pelican may be the headliner but every band playing the Empty Bottle tonight is worthy of top billing. Opener Boston’s Disappearer are poised for their ascent up the metal ladder. Just a good, good band. Then there’s Black Cobra and you know a little bit about them already. You might get home with a little less of your face than you started the night with. – Ross Meyerson

10:00 PM. Friday, 12/11. Empty Bottle. 21+. $12 advanced/$14 door.

Chicago Bluegress & Blues Festival
An event for the whole family! The Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival is an all day event that kicks off tomorrow at 11 a.m. and runs until midnight. This year’s lineup offers some big names includes Chicago’s own Dr. Dog, Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, The Emmitt-Nershi Band plus 20 other local & national acts! – Richard Giraldi

11:00 AM. Saturday, 12/12. Congress Theatre. All Ages. $35 – Kids 12 & Under are FREE!.

Russian Circles
Haven’t been to the new Lincoln Hall yet? Or better yet you just saw Pelican and want to compare them to Chicago’s other fine metal-like instrumental band Russian Circles? Well here’s your opportunity to scratch both itches. Despite what may have sounded like a little bit of a negative review of their latest effort, Russian Circles do know their way around an epic, often heavy sometimes beautiful, tune. I may have invented a Pelican vs. Russian Circles death match in my head but the rest of the line-up only serves to fuel my imagination. Opening is Chicago’s Sweet Cobra who are heavy and great in their own rite, but is it coincidence that Black Cobra open the Pelican show the night before? You decide. And Kentucky’s Young Widows are also on the bill having just finished a split album with…Pelican. I’m not saying, I’m just saying. – Ross Meyerson

9:00 PM. Saturday, 12/12. Lincoln Hall. 18+. $12 advanced/$14 door (sound familiar?).