Sufjan Stevens

Hey Chicago! Like most other weekends in our fair city, there’s no shortage of music. We’ve got shows both large and small including Sufjan Stevens at the Chicago Theatre, King Sparrow at Schubas, Ume at Mayne Stage and so much more.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

FRIDAY

SUFJAN STEVENS
Sufjy is back! The Detroit singer-songwriter that made “Indie” a household term as early as 2001 hits the Chicago Theatre tonight. Sure, he never quite finished his “50 States” project, in which he intended to write an album of our each of the 50 states, but we can forgive him right? Just this past Tuesday, Stevens release Age Of Adz, his first album full-length of all original music since 2005′s Illionis, which offers his trademark, heavily orchestrated indie folk tinkerings in a sleek, digital casing. Lest we not mention his free EP, All Delighted People, that he dropped on an unsuspecting public back in August. He’s got quite a bit of new material to share and no doubt it will sound exquisite in the Chicago Theatre. (Richard Giraldi)

8:00 p.m. Friday, 10/15. Chicago Theatre. All Ages. $45.

KING SPARROW
King Sparrow will be holding court tonight at Schuba’s for their long anticipated record release party. Dubbed King Sparrow, my recent review of the album had nothing but high praise (and dance moves) for the British inspired garage rock trio. It’s easy to hear the inspiration of Fugazi and The Kinks threaded throughout their songs, but King Sparrow also emits a raw electricity of their own. Hailed by music critics as some of the best rock in Chicago, King Sparrow will be a lively, captivating show for garage rock fans. Indie rockers This Is Versailles and Pet Lions will also be in attendance for the festivities. Miss it and you’ll wish you had been drawn and quartered. (Britni Day)

10 p.m., Friday 10/15. Schubas. 21+ $10

DEI FELIX
You’ve heard the saying “quality over quantity”, I take it? Well, how about both? Tonight at 7 p.m. at 1325 S. Wabash is DEI FELIX whereyou can catch 10 bands…for FREE! Yes, the magic word “FREE”. Performing are Chicago’s spooky rockers The Earth Program, psych-indie outfit The Clams, Kenosha’s big voiced tribal rockers Donoma and so much more. Did we mention it was free? (Richard Giraldi)

7:00 p.m. Friday, 10/15. 1325 S. Wabash (across the street from Jewel). All Ages. Free!

SATURDAY

EXPO 70
Ah, minimalist drone. There’s something about it that is compelling. Kansas City’s Expo 70 have been pumping out the drone since 2003. Theirs isn’t the deep and heavy drone of Sunn0))) or the glitchy keyboard heavy landscapes of Brian Eno but it does fall somewhere in between those two a bit. Describing drone is ridiculous anyways. Chicago’s Deep Earth don’t quite test your patience as much but still take their time washing their Tangerine Dream-like sound scapes over your ears. According to their bio, Cleared actually do want to test your patience. Chicago’s Red Electric Rainbow is Daniel D. Smith’s one man swirling keyboard parade. Yes, this is a night of slowly having your mind blown. That is, if you have the time. (Ross Meyerson)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/16. Rueben’s Place. All Ages. $5 Donation.

STAY AHEAD OF THE WEATHER
Chicago’s Stay Ahead Of The Weather bring the straight ahead goodness of pop punk and early indie/emo. You know, before that kind of thing became mall accessible. Iowa’s Former Thieves add a touch of heaviness and screaming vocals to the evening’s festivities. I feel like if i asked you to guess where Mountain Asleep were from Kentucky would come to your mind quickly. Also, this is their last Chicago show as they are calling it quits. So…that brings us to Chicago’s Coping who, in a few words, are like Superchunk about to fall apart. They’ve got a tape which you might be able to purchase so keep a few bucks on you. Opener, yes there’s another, Rest Assured also hail from Kentucky and like the noodling emo you probably grew up on. Cool? Cool. (Ross Meyerson)

7:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/16. Summer Camp. All Ages. $5 Donation.

BLACK ARROW
Yeah, Chicago’s Black Arrow are opening this show but maybe you want to get out, support a little local pop punk, then grab a bite to eat? I’m just giving you options, people. Naperville’s Jynx Never Sticks are slick. Michigan’s Outervibe and Chicago’s Jip Jip round out the bill. Boy, doesn’t a nice early evening sound appealing? You can support local music AND still get to bed at a reasonable hour. Win. Effing win. (Ross Meyerson)

8:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/16. Elbo Room. 21+. $10.

Sunday

UME
If I ever, EVER hear anyone say of Ume’s singer/guitar player Lauren Larson “Yeah, she’s pretty good, for a girl,” I swear to God I will punch that person in the nuts. Because, the simple fact of the matter is, Larson’s pretty amazing for a guitar player, period. The band rocks hard and Larson shreds harder, making for that awesome combination of a band that writes really good material with a band that can crank those songs to 11 onstage. Seriously. This is show you want to see. It’s live rock at its finest. Opening are Chicago’s pop-rockers The Secret Colours. (Andy Kondrat)

8:00 p.m. Sunday, 10/17. Mayne Stage. $10.