BLOODIEST | Photograph by Saverio Truglia

Summer is in full swing and there are plenty of outdoor activities to satisfy your musical lust including two chances to picnic outside the Logan Square Monument and watch some sexy local rock provided by the likes of Rabble Rabble or Califone and Bloodiest. As if that could be enough, adrenaline-pumping indie rockers Les Savy Fav are in town. There’s so much rock, we’ll have to start a new pile.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

FRIDAY

SONGCIRCLE: CHICAGO SHOWCASE
The New York Songcircle, some crazy ass collection of folks that give performers a place to play as well as an online community with which to online communitize, comes to Chicago to showcase some of what we’ve got, I made up a word in that previous sentence. Anyway, we’ve got some talent, see. There’s the oddly sung jazz of John Cicora, the tragic Americana of Kevin Rieg (yeah, that’s the link provided), the incredibly delicate Tom Waits meets Neil Young of Teddy Rankin-Parker, the quirky acoustic blues of Jimmy Zangrilli, and the god damned loveliness of Glad Fanny and her magic ukulele. Sure, there’s a line up but get there on time because this is a circle which means the performers will all be sharing the stage playing their tunes one after another. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. (Ross Meyerson)

7:00 p.m. Friday, 6/24. Schubas. 18+. $10.

AN EXERCISE IN NARCISSISM
Looking for something a little more underground? Then perhaps the mini-fest an Exercise in Narcissism is right up your alley. What’s most impressive is its eclectic lineup of local bands. There’s the abrasive alt-rock leanings of The Fuck You Kiss My Asses and the noisy cacophonies of We Repel Each Other tonight, while Saturday evening offers sets from melodic indie spooksters Earth Program and the alt-country meets modern indie grooves of The Minneapolis Henrys on Sunday to name just a few. Plus, there will be live painting, and that always means a party. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 6/24 and Saturday, 6/25. Q4 (1000 N. Milwaukee). 21+. $5 suggested donation.

SATURDAY

GREEN MUSIC FEST
One Chicago summer fest that surprised up with their lineup was Green Music Fest, which went for the gusto with this year’s headliners: indie stalwarts Yo La Tengo, punchy post-punkers Les Savy Fav (more on that below) and indie punks The Thermals. And yet the environmental-friendly festival still managed to fit some killer local acts on what appeared to be a top heavy till. You’ve throwback psych-rockers Secret Colours and edgy rockers The Life & Times on Saturday, and the melodic prog rock of Bland Fonda and the wild guitar work of Soft Speaker on Sunday. There honestly might not be a better use for $5 this weekend. Dig it. (Richard Giraldi)

12 p.m. Saturday, 6/25 and Sunday, 6/26. Damen Ave (North to Schiller). All ages. $5 donation.

SUMMER SESSIONS ON THE SQUARE
The Illinois Centennial Monument in Logan Square is about to be the most popular summer destination in Chicago. From June to September, every fourth Saturday of the month will celebrate local music. Or to put it more aptly by using the organization’s mission statement: “Unity through music in Logan Square.” This season, Summer Sessions on the Square is partnering with The Whistler and CHIRP to bring you the most awesome music. This weekend starts things off with a loud bang, featuring the likes of groovy psych-punks Rabble Rabble, the experimental pop sounds of Thin Hymns and the Afrobeat swingers L’orchestre Super Vitesse. (Audrey Leon)

5:30 p.m. Saturday, 6/25. Logan Square Monument (North Milwaukee Avenue between Kedzie and Logan). All Ages. $5 suggested donation.

LES SAVY FAV
If the sight of Les Savy Fav vocalist Tim Harrington’s magnificently sweaty, gyrating body hasn’t graced your eyeballs, you’re doing something wrong. Really, morally wrong. The band is in town to promote last year’s frantic indie rock effort Root For Ruin, which our own Andy Kondrat placed on his Top 10 of 2010 list. As Herbert Hoover once said, “Be there or be square.” (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 6/25. Subterranean. 17+ $15.

SWIMSUIT ADDITION
Swimsuit Addition embody both the fierceness of Rrrrriot Girrrrl rock and the melodic sense of power pop. It’s a pretty provocative combination if I do say so myself, and even though they only have one song on their Bandcamp right now, the band promises there’s much more coming real soon. Also performing the same night is The Life Champions and their chugging punk riffage, The Neutron Bombs, Lucky Shot 7 and The Dead End Yuppies. You know you want to. (Richard Giraldi)

8:00 p.m. Saturday, 6/25. Memories. 21+. $5

SUNDAY

CALIFONE/BLOODIEST
It’s the first of the Logan Square Music Series: Sundays in the Park, a monthly show at the Logan Square monument sponsored by I Am Logan Square, the Empty Bottle, and 312. This week? Oh, just a couple local bands you may have heard of: Califone? Anyone? Yeah, you kids know Califone. But there’s more. In what may seem like an odd pairing but if you really wrap your brain around it you’ll realize it’s merely genius… Chicago’s metal supergroup Bloodiest open. Sure, these two seem different and all but they both explore dense yet delicate sounds, one just a bit heavier than the other. You figure out which. For those of you that abhor free and the outdoors, these two will also be playing at the Empty Bottle later that night, indoors and for money. It’s your lucky day. (Ross Meyerson)

4:00 p.m. Sunday, 6/26. Logan Square Monument. All Ages. Free with RSVP.
9:30 p.m. Sunday, 6/26. Empty Bottle. 21+. $12.