Whew! Anybody else have a long week? Well, good news, the weekend has finally arrived. Summer is slowly fading away, so better get out there and enjoy the warmth while you still can. But if the heat and outdoors aren’t for you, no worries, there are plenty of great reasons to stay inside…inside one of this city’s many amazing music clubs!

There are tons of great shows we’re highlighting this weekend including the Mad Decent Block Party at the Hideout, Slayer and Megadeth at the UIC Pavilion, Through The Pain: Benefit for Matthew Leone at Double Door and Hard Rock Hotel, Elsinore at Lincoln Hall and so much more!

Let’s get to it, shall we?

FRIDAY

SLAYER/MEGADETH
After much delay, and an historic Big Four siting in Prague, the American Carnage Tour finally arrives in Chicago. Slayer and Megadeth have come to reclaim what it rightfully theirs: your poor, tattered eardrums. Shit, I’m too excited to sit here and tell you why you should go. It’s Slayer playing all of Seasons In The Abyss and Megadeth plowing through Rust In Piece. It’s years of one band – Slayer – forging their singular vision despite trends, and another – Megadeth – bowing to trends while trying to find its way. Sure, Slayer comes out of the 90′s and early 2000′s smelling a lot sweeter, but Megadeth have redeemed themselves of late. So, here we are, August 20, 2010, and tonight some of the greatest riffs of all time will be on display like a living, breathing behemoth of metal history. (Ross Meyerson)

Doors 6:00 p.m./Show 7:00 p.m. Friday, 8/20. UIC Pavilion. All Ages. $38-$58.

ELSINORE
Prepare yourself for a melodic barn-burner at Lincoln Hall tonight. The utterly musical Elsinore, from Urbana, Illinois, will headline to celebrate their first indie-label record, “Yes Yes Yes”, which Parasol released on Aug. 10. The group will bring a massive string and horn section with them that they Elsinore used on the album, including violins, saxophones, a cello, a trumpet, and, get this, even a flugelhorn. Judging from the album, the band knows how to use these symphonic sound-makers to help produce solid indie rock with folk influences, a slight post Brit-pop quality, and all fused together with operatic dynamics and catchy melodies. As if to throw more gas on the fire, two stellar Chicago bands — Canasta and The Bears of Blue River — will also adorn the stage at LH. Canasta, which we wrote about yesterday, lays down a straightforward and peppy rock that is taking the Chicago indie scene by storm. The Bears of Blue River are a crafty band that offers groovy electric folk. Needless to say, you’ll leave this show tonight with plenty of melodies to hum. (Jason Shough)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 8/20. Lincoln Hall. 18+. $10.

AUTOLUX
Autolux took six years between releasing their debut Future Perfect and this year’s follow-up Transit Transit, but what else would you expect from a band whose musical philosophy seems to be, “Yeah, we’re fucking awesome, but you’re gonna miss it if you’re not paying attention.” Autolux doesn’t try to show you how talented they are, but instead want you to figure it out yourself – there are no gimmicks here, just great craftsmanship and flawless execution. That isn’t to say, though, that Friday night at Bottom Lounge isn’t going to rock. I’m relatively sure that seeing these tracks you love on the album come to life is going to be nothing short of awe-inspiring. (Andy Kondrat)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 8/20. Bottom Lounge. 17+. $17.

SUNS
Chicago’s Suns aren’t new comers to the scene. The band’s comprised of members from local outfits Wax On Radio, Eli, They Found Me They Named Me, and Blame Twilight, and it shows as their influences come together for some epic-sounding, mighty indie rock. Suns released a dual EP, titled Close Calls In the U.S. Space Program / The Howl and the Many, as a free download back in June, and it’s filled with big rhythms, earnest vocals and intriguing arrangements all wrapped up in beautiful production. Also on tonight’s bill are Long Island’s Robbers and locals Gaberdine and Brontosaurus. (Richard Giradi)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 8/20. Double Door. 21+. $7.

NEON MARSHMALLOW FEST
Although upon reading this you will have missed day one day of this four day fest, fear not. There are about 4,178 more bands yet to play this weekend so plenty of wildly exotic noise still to be heard. Think I’m kidding? Just go to Neonmarshmallowfest.com and see for yourself because I’m certainly not going to sit here and type out every band that is hitting the stage. Plus, they promise surprises and collaborations so even if I did it still wouldn’t cover everything. If experimental music is your bag this here fest might just make you explode. (Ross Meyerson)

7:00 p.m. Friday, 8/20. $25 12:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. Saturday, 8/21. $20 (day only). $25 (night only). 3:00 p.m. Sunday, 8/22. $25. Viaduct Theater. $75 (4-day pass)

SATURDAY

MAD DECENT BLOCK PARTY
Saturday’s Mad Decent Block Party at the Hideout is more than decent. Sure, it might be the second year in a row that the Hideout’s annual block party might be taken over by someone else, but that doesn’t stop it from being a great time. I mean you’ve got Chicago’s own Kid Sister headlining, not to mention performances from Blaqstarr and a return from Freddie Gibbs coming off a killer appearance at Pitchfork Music Festival 2010. We’ve got the complete lineup and all the little details for you right here. (Richard Giradi)

1:00 – 8:00 p.m. Saturday, 8/21. The Hideout. All Ages. Free.

SUNDOWNER
Lawrence Arms frontman Chris McCaughan brings his acoustic folk/punk side project Sundowner to Subterranean this weekend to celebrate the release of his most recent album We Chase The Waves. Check out the band’s myspace page to hear the anthemic new tracks “In the Flicker” and “As the Crow Flies.” Ohioans The Sidekicks and American War will open. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 8/21. Subterranean. 17+. $12.

HOSPITAL GARDEN
Chicago hard rockers Hospital Garden return to the stage this Saturday, this time at Abbey Pub, to promote its recently released self-titled album. If you are in the mood for indie rock that is reminiscent of early 90s pioneers Dinosaur Jr and Guided by Voices, then you won’t want to miss this show. (Audrey Leon)

8:00 p.m. Saturday, 8/21. Abbey Pub. 21+. $8.

THE MAYBENAUTS
Come welcome home the talented ladies and one lucky space pands of the Maybenauts when they return home to Chicago from a mini-tour of Wisconsin this weekend at Lucky Number Loft. The band is guaranteed to blow the roof off the joint with sweet melodies and blistering guitar solos from its Big Bang EP. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 8/21. Lucky Number Loft. No cover.

THROUGH THE PAIN: BENEFIT FOR MATTHEW LEONE
After being brutally beaten, Madina Lake frontman Matthew Leone is on the road to recovery, but it’s going to be expensive. Like most musicians, Leone did not have health insurance to help with medical costs. The Chicago music community is rallying around Leone by holding two benefit shows this weekend at the Double Door and Hard Rock Hotel on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The lineup at the Double door will include a special acoustic performance by Nathan and Mateo of Madina Lake as well as AM Taxi, and the Fold. The Hard Rock Hotel will host Lovehammers, Kill Hannah, Scott Lucas of Local H and The Frantic. Both nights will also include an auction of limited edition merchandise. Who can resist coming together for a good cause and a night of great music? (Audrey Leon)

8:00 p.m. Saturday, 8/21. Double Door. 21+. $25. 8:00 p.m. Sunday, 8/22. Hard Rock Hotel. 21+. $25.

SUNDAY

NEON MARSHMALLOW FEST
See Above.

3:00 p.m. Sunday, 8/22. Viaduct Theater. $25.

THROUGH THE PAIN: BENEFIT FOR MATTHEW LEONE
See Above.

8:00 p.m. Sunday, 8/22. Hard Rock Hotel. 21+. $25.