IT’S HERE! Pitchfork Music Festival 2010 starts TODAY! Who’s excited? Of course, you’ll probably be sweating yourself silly in Union Park this weekend, but there are some other shows worth checking out this weekend.

This weekend we’re highlighting Radar Eyes at Cal’s, the Radar Brothers at Schubas, Sybris at Millennium Park, Black Arrow at the Mutiny and, of course, Dickfork!

And before we go, we’re going to have some really cool Pitchfork Music Festival coverage right here all weekend long beginning today with the first of three live blogs! Oh yeah! It should go up around 3 p.m.-ish this afternoon. Before you hit up the fest, check out our Pitchfork Music Festival 2010 Preview, where we dish about all our must-see acts.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

FRIDAY

RADAR EYES
After having my mind blown by Radar Eyes last week at their Laurie’s Planet of Sound in-store, I had to include them in Weekend Diversions. So tonight you’re all chilled back after Broken Social Scene and Modest Mouse, want to see some music that will get your blood pumping again? Look no farther than Cal’s Bar. Not only will Radar Eyes bring their dark, ocean-of-reverb psych-rock to the party, but Minneapolis’ Fuck Knights and those crazy Dumpster Babies. Should be a goon’un. (Richard Giraldi)

9:30 p.m. Friday, 7/16. Cal’s Bar. 21+. FREE (?)

RADAR BROTHERS
Southern California’s Radar Brothers is Jim Putnam’s new project. Putnam used to front the Radar Bros..See? Who am I fooling? Basically the rhythm section changed and Putnam extended the abbreviated Bros. to the fully spelled out Brothers. Musically, they are pretty much the same old Bros. 2010′s The Illustrated Garden is a little more raw than previous efforts but still retains their trademark slow and breezy sound. It’s good. Opener Bill Janovitz still fronts the insanely underrated Buffalo Tom. At first dubbed Dinosaur Jr. Jr. both for their big ass guitar sound and for being produced by J. Mascis himself, Buffalo Tom quickly steered towards a more countrified brand of big ass guitars. Janovitz’s solo material natural skews to the acoustic folky side of things. Either way, the dude writes great, earnest songs and deserves more recognition than he seems to get. Right now you’re probably thinking, “Bill who?” See. Check these two out. They’ve been kicking around the scene forever and know what they’re doing. (Ross Meyerson)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 7/16. Schubas. 21+. $12.

DICKFORK
Dickfork? On the same weekend as Pitchfork? GASP! But seriously, tonight’s Pitchfork aftershow at the Darkroom, cleverly titled Dickfork, is almost a mini-DJ fest that should be one heck of a time. Chicago DJ-duo The Hood Internet, who just released a rousing summer mixtape, headline the show. But there’s also Only Children, Les Trois Stooges and local MC Kid Static. Plus there will be really cool visuals from HEY! Cliché! video club. Rock on! (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 7/16. Darkroom. 21+. $12 ($10 with P4K fest bracelet or ticket stub).

SATURDAY

SYBRIS
Chicago’s own Sybris – which sounds like every city has a Sybris – are pretty much what you’re looking for if you’re looking for indie rock. I mean, this is in the pocket classic style indie rock. How so? Because it’s first and foremost rock. That used to actually be a criteria in order to be considered indie rock. It’s right in the name, folks. You can hear Sonic Youth in there. Maybe a little Helium. I hear a smidge of Butterglory but you don’t know who they are. What I’m saying is that Sybris do this crazy thing we call indie rock right. And they seem genuinely excited for this show at Pritzker Pavilion so that can only mean good things. You’d be well served to set your alarms and catch them before heading over to that big old festival you’re probably heading over to later. (Ross Meyerson)

12:00 p.m. Saturday, 7/17. Pritzker Pavilion. All Ages. FREE!!!!

BLACK ARROW
Chicago’s Black Arrow are fresh. Like newbies to our city’s musical landscape. Be nice to them. If we nurture them and love them they just might grow up to be another fine addition to a fine fine scene. Their brand of old school pop punk (I know what you’re thinking but pop punk started long before Hot Topic even was a glimmer in some douchebags eye) reminds me of all those long forgotten tapes I used to gobble up at Gilman Street shows. This was when Green Day had mullets and Jawbreaker was being spat upon for not being punk enough. In a world where everything old is new again this kind of emo/punk is certainly not a bad thing to re-examine. Now where are my Dickies cut-offs and black and blue Air Jordans? (Ross Meyerson)

10:00 p.m. Saturday, 7/17. Mutiny. 21+. FREE!!!