The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is once again highlighting some of the windy city’s most exciting music with another round of performances for “Face the Strange: New Music Chicago and Beyond.”

The concert series kicks off on October 25, and runs every fourth Tuesday of the month until April 24 and features the acts performing, “one-hour sets of new music you may not have heard but should.”

“Face The Strange” kicks off on Tuesday, October 25, with a set from locals The Eternals, whose funky art-pop blends together electronic, indie rock and reggae elements.

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By Richard Giraldi  \  comments

Three reasons to get your drink on and listen to some fine tunage at the Whistler tonight…

1. Magic is definitely in the air. Local pop songstress Aleks Tomaszewska (formerly of Aleks and the Drummer) will take the Whistler by storm with her dulcet, yet powerful vocals, and edgy-circus music-producing Russian synthesizer under the name of her new outfit Magic Key. Tomaszewska’s art is rhythmically haunting and simultaneously beautiful. Magic Key is dance music at its finest and darkest.

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By Audrey Leon  \  1 comment

Three congratulations-workers-you-get-one-day-of-recognition-before-going-back-to-toiling-long-and-hard reasons to brave the wind and hit up the Empty Bottle tonight…

1. It’s labor day. Take the day off, I say. Oh, you already have it off? Well, then head over to the Bottle tonight. After last week’s unexpected $15 show, you can once again save your hard earned money for things like beer because tonight is free. There’s music, too. Chicago’s own Charlie Deets for one. His is electronic filled but with a pop flair. Underneath those bleeps is a singer songwriter tugging at your heartstrings.

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By Ross Meyerson  \  comments

Another Friday, another chance to beat the crap out of the workday. What better way to do so than check out these soon-to-be-big (if not already) hometown acts:

Russian Circles

Russian Circles offer powerful, deft instrumental rock. Brings to mind fellow instrumentalists (and Chicagoans), Pelican. With Plague Bringer (industrial/grindcore insanity/awesomeness) and Lichens.

Friday, 5/1 at Bottom Lounge. $12/14

OFFICE

OFFICE = lively pop collective with taut guitars, synth-driven euphoria, and hooks that would have Nick Lowe dancing along to. With The Loyal Divide, Kyle Andrews, The Seedy Seeds, Coltrane Motion.

Sat, 5/2 at Double Door, $18/20.

Aleks and the Drummer

Aleks and the Drummer are an echo-y grimy keyboard/drum duo with an enticing cabaret-pop awareness. Fresh off their recent Dave Sitek-produced EP, the band will likely not disappoint. With Jeremy Jay(breezy, Californian pop), Kristeen Young, Bengal Lancer.

Sat, 5/2 at Empty Bottle, $ 8

By Justin Aier  \  comments