Asobi Seksu

It’s the autumnal equinox, Charlie Brown! In celebration of the first real day of fall, we’ve got a fine selection of shows for your weekend party planning. We’re talking up The Hideout Block Party, Deerhoof, Asobi Seksu and much more!

Come on. Feel the Illinoise, already!

FRIDAY

NEWVILLAGER
Some bands make art for the sake of art. Naturally, I get a little worried, and somewhat intrigued when a band calls themselves a cross between Michael Jackson and the Beatles. Especially, when that really isn’t the case at all. NewVillager has some dance beats, albeit not Jackson-esque grooves, but they are there. Especially on the single “Lighthouse” from its 2011 self-titled album. And there’s some good-time pop sounds, though it’s certainly not Beatles-esque. For ambient electro-pop – with deep, slow jamz tendencies – NewVillager is as decent as it gets. New Zealander computer-generated pop solo artist Annabel Alpers aka Bachelorette will also appear alongside the delightfully sweet sugar plum pop fairies Tiny Fireflies. I can’t rave about this Chicago duo anymore than I already have. (Audrey Leon)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 9/23. Empty Bottle. 21+ $12.

SATURDAY

HIDEOUT BLOCK PARTY
After a couple years off in which Bloodshot Records threw a BBQ and the Mad Decent Block Party threw a, um, Block Party, the Hideout Block party returns to its root. Those being a celebration of one of Chicago’s most recognizable venue and some of Chicago’s best talent. This time around, the Hideout went for the firepower with headliners Andrew Bird and Mavis Staples. But there’s more including, but not limited to, the always lovable White Mystery will bring the riffs, Kids These Days will bring the soul and The Eternals will bring the funk. (Richard Giraldi)

12:00 p.m. Saturday, 9/24. The Hideout. All Ages. $25.

VILLAGE
Chicago rockers Village have a real Pretenders vibe going on. Sure, they have a male singer, but they do the whole new wave, punk-pop thing with a hint of bluesy pysch rock thing very well. Also on hand are fellow Chicagoans Radar Eyes who will serve up some dark and sensible garage pop. Be sure to check out their new bassist. Opening the show are Oklahoma scratchy post-punk poppers Broncho. Broncho at Pancho’s. Dig it. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 9/24. Panchos. 18+ $6.

SUNDAY

ASOBI SEKSU
Sometimes you need a little upbeat dream pop to brighten your day and make the week pass by, as if you’re riding on a soft, fluffy cloud. Singer Yuki Chikudate has a beautiful, just stunning voice that utilizes plenty of endearingly high falsettos that allow the listener to escape. On Asobi Seksu’s latest album Fluorescence branch out farther into the smooth pop style 90s rockers The Cranberries did so well – though with plenty of shoegaze elements present. Chikudate even sounds like singer Dolores O’Riordan on a few of Fluorescence tracks like “In My Head” and “Sighs.” Distortion-laden garage poppers White Birds will open. An excellent pairing all around that is well-worth the price of admission and then some. (Audrey Leon)

8:00 p.m. Sunday, 9/25. Schubas. 21+ $14.

DEERHOOF
It seems like Deerhoof stops in Chicago a couple times a year, but, hey, we’re not complaining. We’re always up for some spastic art-pop, which the San Fran quartet did quite well on their latest LP Deerhoof vs. Evil (Read my review of it here.) While not as frantic as their older work, Deerhoof vs. Evil finds the band going for some mellowers, spacey grooves. The Cloak Ox and Trin Tran open. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Sunday, 9/25. Bottom Lounge. 17+. $15.

The revered music venue announced the lineup for its 15th anniversary block party on Tuesday evening. The event, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24, is packed with powerhouse names such as Mavis Staples, Andrew Bird, Big Freedia, White Mystery, Booker T Jones, Jon Langford, The Eternals, Opera-Matic and up-and-comers Kids These Days.

The Hideout’s mega-watt block party goes on sale this Friday, July 22 at 10 a.m. Tickets are $25. Of course, you don’t have to wait for the “official” on-sale. WXRT is having a good, old-fashioned pre-sale. Get your password here.

As if you couldn’t love The Hideout more, the Chicago Tribune’s Greg Kot reports that The Hideout has raised $250,000 for local charities through its annual block parties.

For more information on the block party and the acts playing, check out hideoutchicago.com.

Previously, Useless Creatures was only available with the deluxe edition of his 2009 album, Noble Beast. But we’ve got a little taste of Useless Creatures to tide you over until next week.

Check out “Hot Math”, a seven minute-plus, raw instrumental that features a lot of plucking action. Listen below:

And if you haven’t gotten tickets to any of the three Gezelligheid concerts Bird is performing in December, then you’ll have to hit up Cragislist or Ebay! All three shows are SOLD OUT!

UPDATE: Well, the 12/16 and 12/17 shows sold out rather quickly. But good news! Bird has added a additional Gezelligheid on Wednesday, December 15. Tickets will go on sale to the public this Saturday, October 2, at 10:00 a.m. the Vic Theatre Box Office and through Etix.com and are $35-40. Set your alarm clock!

After last year’s successful three night run at the Fourth Presbyterian Church last December, Bird is not only bringing the Gezelligheid, which is dutch for coziness, shows back to Chicago, but will also do similar gigs in Washington D.C. and Boston. The shows, like last year, will feature Bird playing solo through his trademark horn speakers with ambient light sources while he builds loop after loop.

The Chicago edition of the Gezelligheid shows will be December 16 & 17 at the Fourth Presbyterian Church, located at 126 East Chestnut St., just like last time. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, September 25, at 10:00 a.m. the Vic Theatre Box Office and through Etix.com and are $35-40.

Bird’s instrumental album, Useless Creatures, was only available in the deluxe edition of his 2009 release Noble Beast, until now that is. He’s releasing Useless Creatures as a stand alone CD and vinyl LP this October 25. You can preorder the record right now at Fatpossum.com. And for you overseas Bird loves, Useless Creatures will be release in Europe via Bella Union sometime this fall.

And don’t forget! Tickets for the Gezelligheid shows go on sale this Saturday, September 25, at 10:00 a.m. the Vic Theatre Box Office and through Etix.com and are $35-40.

• • Windy City Rock recorded an interview and live music session with Soft Speaker.
• • The New York Times went and hung out at the newly re-opened Fireside Bowl in Logan Square.
• • Fresh off a hot set at the Pitchfork Music Festival, Jon Spencer had a few choice words regarding “fucking asshole” Jim DeRogatis.
• • Gaper’s Block took some time to chat with Jason Davis of the prolific Archeology
• • The Smashing Pumpkins benefit concert at Metro for Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone netted over $80K and featured an appearance from Gov. Pat Quinn.
• • Andrew Bird wrote two new songs and the score to the soon to be released independent film “Norman.”

A/V Club Chicago reported yesterday that Bird will partner with the Chicago non-profit organization Rock for Kids to give one local student the gift of music education.

The only catch? To qualify for the “Rock For Kids Andrew Bird” scholarship, the student must be enrolled at Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts).

The scholarship will be awarded to the ChiArts student who demonstrates a real financial need. The “Rock For Kids Andrew Bird” scholarship will pay for one year of private music instruction, according to the scholarship Web site. Donations to the fund are welcomed and can be given through the above mentioned Web site.

Rock for Kids specializes in providing music education to low income neighborhoods around Chicago.

• • Time Out Chicago went to the Grammy’s Blues Fest kick-off party at Buddy Guy’s Legends and posted a picture gallery to prove it.
• • Kidz in the Hall tried to clear up the controversy surrounding their show in Atlanta that never took place and never was going to.
• • Andrew Bird will appear alongside an impressive roster of artists on a tribute album to Shel Silverstein.
• • NPR took a little time to explore The Nels Cline Singers and provided a free mp3 to listen to as well.
• • Kanye West appears on a list of artists named for the upcoming DJ Hero 2 release.

Andrew Bird » Cass McCombs from The Voice Project on Vimeo.