Yeah, it might be pretty, um, snowy outside. But, like, there’s some totally awesome shows going this weekend. We’re talking Psych Fest at the Hideout, The Runnies at Ultra Lounge, Gaberdine at Subterranean and more!

Let’s go…

FRIDAY

THIRD EYE VISIONS: CHICAGO PSYCH FEST 3
The best of Chicago psych, kraut and rock that implements sonic elements that are on the fringe of the aforementioned genres are featured in a two-night festival at the Hideout tonight and Saturday. If you just casually keep up with the Chicago You already know some of the names: CAVE, Dark Fog, Rabble Rabble, Plastic Crimewave. But don’t sleep on the supporting acts like bombastic guitar twirlers Killer Moon, rhythm and blusers The Velcro Lewis Group, mind melters Verma, dirty garagers Strychnine and more. Let’s get heady, ya’ll. (Richard Giraldi)

7:00 p.m. Friday, 1/20 & Saturday, 1/21. The Hideout. 21+. $10.

DJ JONATHAN TOUBIN BENEFIT
First the sad part: Recently while in Portland, New York soul/R&B DJ Jonathan Toubin was injured in a freak accident while sleeping in his hotel room. The good news: Friends of Toubin have rallied in support and offered support. This brings us to tonight where the Empty Bottle has put together on excellent show in his honor. Melodic noise rockers Radar Eyes (whose new HoZac LP will be dropped soon), garage poppers Outer Minds, noisy surfers House Sounds and a slew of great local DJs. And if snowed in? Then go ahead and donate via paypal to ihearttoubin@gmail.com. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 1/20. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $8 minimum donation.

SATURDAY

THE RUNNIES
If you’re jonesing for a garage rock fix, look no further than Ultra Lounge tonight. Chicago trio The Runnies pack a powerful retro punch to the senses with Mary McKane’s gritty vocals sung over lingering organ and plenty of jangly guitar. Also appearing are headliners and fellow body-grooving garage poppers Hollows, noise rockers Dirty Dancing, and 60s revivalists Little Boy Jr. (Audrey Leon)

8:00 p.m. Saturday, 1/21. Ultra Lounge. 21+ $7.

WHITE/LIGHT
If there’s a better term than “artful noise” for Chicago duo White/Light, I’d love to hear it. The duo have played The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and even fleshed out friends Disappears’ already experimental rock sound, just to name a few of their mighty endeavors. White/Light (Matthew Hale and Jeremy Lemos) contort soundwaves from guitars, pedals, keyboards, etc. to create a house of worship filled with their own joyful drone. Also appearing tonight are headliner and Cap’n Jazz guitarist Victor Villareal who will be celebrating the release of his solo new album; experimental poppers A Tundra; and Austin pop rockers Meryll will open. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 1/22. Panchos. 21+ $6.

SUNDAY

GABERDINE
Cleanse yourself of the week past by checking out the soothing folk pop of Chicago outfit Gaberdine. The sextet’s sophomore album When We Land has all the sparkle and grace of fine orchestral pop, filled with plenty of drama and rising action. Frontman Mark Federighi enchants with his soulful sermon sung high over atypical equipment such as a harmonium, glockenspiel and autoharp. Also on hand tonight are the gentle acoustic stylings of Milwaukee’s Comrade Plymouth, Acoustic duo Jen & Jim and indie rockers Parker. (Audrey Leon)

8:00 p.m. Sunday, 1/22. Subterranean. 21+ $8.

• • Sound Opinions hosts Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis have compiled their year end lists into mixtape form. Curious to see what made the list? Oh, you know, the usual: Wilco, White Mystery, CAVE, — Lindsey Buckingham.
• • Windy City Rock’s Andrew Hertzberg has compiled a nifty list of New Year’s resolutions aimed at becoming a better music blogger.
• • TThe Chicago Tribune thought the MCA’s “sound garden” exhibit was the perfect fit for Andrew Bird’s music.
• • Hopefully, you’re not sick of “Best Of” lists yet, because the Sun-Times broke down the best Chicago concerts of 2011.
• • Gaper’s Block has the deets on reggae outfit Midwest Hype’s EP release party this Thursday at Schubas.

Seeing how our staff has distinct tastes and opinions on music, it would be nearly impossible for us to determine a 10 Albums of 2011 list as a single entity without excessive bloodshed. So over the next couple of days, we’ll be posting Top 10 Albums of 2011 lists as determined by individual Loud Loop Press staff members. Today, associate editor Audrey Leon offers up her list for Top 10 Albums of 2011.

I decided to do it a little differently this year. I honestly didn’t think I could find another way to describe how great the new St. Vincent or Wild Flag or Le Butcherettes records were. Therefore, I decided to keep things local and give you my favorite Chicago records of the year. Sounds good, right?And for those who might get perturbed about this list only having 14 albums (including the Honorable Mentions) instead of an (even?) 15, let’s just say the fifteenth was, uh, Wilco? Sure, why not. So, behold my favorite records in 2011 from some very rad windy citizens…

HONORABLE MENTION:

14. Architecture – When We Were Young
There’s just something enchanting about the sparse but melancholy dream pop from Architecture. Featuring Panda Riot’s Rebecca Scott and Melissa Harris (also Erin Dorr during live performances), these locals do a fantastic job pairing stretchy sweet vocal melodies with a dark but lush foundation.

13. Anatomy Of Habit – Anatomy Of Habit
Anatomy Of Habit may cause some to question their definition of metal with their self-titled debut, and that in itself is impressive. But this record, full of industrial, ambient and even psychedelic touches, works well because of the ominous mood it strikes in the listener. This one is not for the faint of heart or the non-adventurous.

12. White Mystery – Blood & Venom
White Mystery pulled no punches on their 2011 release, Blood & Venom, which takes their signature rowdy garage sound and gives a bit more of a shine. And I’m not just talking about the harmonica on “Kickin My Ball” or the phaser on “Smoke,” but their ability to tap into their hookiness with such tracks as the ridiculously fun “Birthday” or quirky self-referential opener, “White Mystery.”

THE TOP 11:

11. Company of Thieves – Running From A Gamble
Company Of Thieves sophomore effort, Running From A Gamble, really spoke to my love of smart power-pop. This time around, the band did it by sounding more organic and fleshing out some tunes that even reach into heavy, blues rock territory. And, I mean, it’s just hard to deny lead singer Genevieve Schatz’s heavenly voice.

10. The Cool Kids – When Fish Ride Bicycles
I probably don’t ingest enough local hip-hop as I should. But of what I did check out, When Fish Ride Bicycles is the only one that really stuck with me. After much hype built by a number of delays, the local duo thoroughly satisfied with a smooth record full of summertime Chicago vibers that nicely brought their minimal electro-beats to new level of accessibility.

9. The Runnies – You Can’t Win
A late entry into the running, but you really can’t not win with the latest from The, uh, Runnies. This local trio goes easy on the guitar and heavy on the organ, but it works for a sonic delivery that’s part ’60s garage, motown and church revival. Not to mention it’s powered by Mary McKane’s smokey vocals that fit somewhere between Janis Joplin and Robert Allen Zimmerman.

8. The Canoes – Roger
The Canoes manage to marry warm Midwestern folk-pop and dirty garage antics on Roger. While much of it sounds like a bedroom recording (which, to be fair, it pretty much is), it’s that rough-around-the-edges quality and clever wordplay that make it a very impressive debut.

7. Mannequin Men – Mannequin Men
On their latest self-titled effort, Mannequin Men remind us why great, smart songwriting will always defeat the chillwave and blip-blop rock that has seemingly infiltrated the indie landscape these days. It’s difficult to shake the addictive chorus of “Hobby Girl,” the ramshackle country feel of “Why Do I Get?” or the jangly crunch of opener “Don’t Grow” (which also happens to have my vote for best “In a convertible with the top down driving 65 mph down lake shore drive” song of 2011).

6. Gypsyblood – Cold In The Guestway
While their guitars are less crunchy and more glassy, Gypsyblood take on Jesus And The Mary Chain and Pixies-esque alt-rock on their debut LP, Cold In The Guestway. But the band adds in their own folky and quirky leanings to create a very sharp rock album. Oddball hooks such as the Muppets-like “Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba” in “My R.K.O. is MIA” or the smooth-funk of “Superstition” help make Cold In The Guestway a record that begs for repeated listens.

5. T’Bone – Mt. Trashmore
File this one under “local bands you aren’t listening to, but you really should be.” You could maybe call T’Bone’s Mt. Trashmore a math rock record due to their penchant for wild dynamics and sudden tempo shifts, but there’s probably just as much influence from big ’70s arena and punk rock. Also, the band’s ability to craft tongue-and-cheek hooks that fit perfectly is freaking rad.

4. Heavy Times – Jacker
It must be said that HoZac Records had one hell of a year with so many great releases, but my personal favorite may be from Chicago’s own Heavy Times. What I loved about Heavy Times’ Jacker is the obvious punk influence. Sure their songs are covered in a scratchy film, but the band plays well to that aesthetic with dark and bleak subject matter and frighteningly huge riffage. This one is an absolute banger.

3. Yawn – Open Season
It was quite the year for psych-pop in Chicago, but in my opinion, no one did it better than Yawn. I’ve written about Yawn quite a bit before, but the thing I like to stress about the band is that they actually have a knack for pop song structure. They never get too heavy handed and keep their melodic, sample-powered tunage to near the three-minute range, which makes Open Season both refreshing and intoxicating.

2. CAVE – Neverendless
I might just be a sucker for instrumental krautrock, but Neverendless is just a really good record. It takes prog slash psychy antics and folds them up tightly into a very clean cut and accessible package. Yes, CAVE does include a couple 10-minute plus epics, but even those are anchored by shifts are are somehow both subtle and obvious. Oh, and the band has a lot of fun with synths on this record, and that’s never a bad thing.

1. Disappears – Guider
Disappears may have not only taken my top spot for Chicago record of 2011, but I’ll go ahead and throw them at the front of Best Band of 2011 and Best Live Show of 2011 as well. Guider is a ridiculously great exercise in garage-y, psych rock not just because the songs are good, but because the record is explosive. It’s hard to sit still when the opening reverb strikes of “Superstition” smack you in the face or when the bass line of “Guider” gently walks up before falling into a vat of chugging guitars. Do I even need to mention the 15-minute trance rock opus, “Revisiting?” Looks like I just did. And at only six tracks long, Guider is one of those few records that you’ll want to instantly want to flip over and start again once the needle clicks.

Brooklyn Vegan Chicago revealed yesterday afternoon that this year’s edition, dubbed “Third Eye Visions,” will once again take place at The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia Ave).

Kraut rockers CAVE and experimental jammers Dark Fog headline on Friday, Jan. 20, and Saturday, Jan. 21, respectively. Also tapped for the fest are LLP’s rowdy faves Rabble Rabble, The Velcro Lewis Group, Killer Moon and Verma.

Tickets for Chicago Psych Fest are $10 and can be purchased through the Hideout’s website. The event is 21+.

Get the complete lineup below.

Friday, January 20

CAVE
Bil Vermette
Velcro Lewis Group
Killer Moon
Strychnine

Saturday, January 21

Dark Fog
Classic Crimewave Sound
Rabble Rabble
Verma
Red Plastic Buddha

• • Windy City Rock has the deets on The Empty Bottle’s new book club. First meeting is this Sunday!
• • Gapers Block reviewed JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound’s record release party and included a few sweet photos.
• • Per the AVClub, Jeff Mangum is coming to Chicago! Get ready for a road trip, April Ludgate!
• • Local boys CAVE, who play for FREE at the Bottle tonight, get the 7.9 treatment from Pitchfork.

Bird Names

1. It takes a few moments for Bird Names’ brand of bizarro-pop to truly sink in. The Chicago-via-Athens, GA group’s disheveled melodies, whimsical percussion and oddball vocals sound like a mismatch during a casual listen, but more focus reveals intriguing, slinky tempos and an ethereal delivery. LISTEN: “I Caught the Bus to Shit Town Blues”

2. CAVE’s applied a subtle accessibility to their stirring brand of krautrock on their latest, Neverenedless. Its mostly synth-driven songs never plod along and offer a tight and concise harmonic payoff. In short: It’s fun. LISTEN: “Adam Roberts”

3. Turbulent guitars over a furiously punky rhythm give Running their sonic shape. At times, the reverbed vocals and minacious riffage stray from center and into more heady territory. WATCH: Running Live at the Empty Bottle” [via Gonzo Chicago]

9:30 p.m. Monday, 11/7. Empty Bottle. 21+. FREE!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=03O-gSOYITo

• • Local Krautrockers CAVE made it into the reviews section of the New York Times! Congrats boys!
• • Andrew Hertzberg of WindyCityRock reviews last Friday’s Cymbals Eat Guitars show at Lincoln Hall.
• • Online mag Refinery 29 calls Archie Powell and the Exports “cute” and then proceeds to interview them.
• • Miles Raymer of the Chicago reader introduces local duo Sich Mang, and, inevitable, proposes the question: What is “wurkstep?”.
• • Not exactly musically related, but Gonzo Chicago has some sweet photos of last week’s Two Kids One Hall show at Mayne Stage, which featured a surprise appearance by Dave Foley. And who DOESN’T like Kids In The Hall?

Dum Dum Girls

Thank Urkel it’s Friday, y’all. There are a lot of great options for this weekend’s entertainment and, as we do every week, we’re picking out our faves. We’re talking Dum Dum Girls, Cave, Melt Banana and more.

Treat yo self!

FRIDAY

DUM DUM GIRLS
Good news for all those Dum Dum Girls fans who didn’t get tickets for tonight’s Empty Bottle show. The retro-rocking indie fashionistas are playing a FREE in-store at Reckless Records in Wicker Park (1532 N. Milwaukee Ave.) tonight at 7. Dum Dum Girls shook things up on their new album Only in Dreams after passing of singer Dee Dee’s mother. The album is deeply personal and conjures a sparkling smooth sound that is more pop than garage. Only in Dreams is an impressive showcase for Dee Dee and her velvety pipes. (Audrey Leon)

7:00 p.m. Friday, 10/14. Reckless – Wicker Park. All Ages. FREE. / 10:00 p.m. Friday, 10/14. Empty Bottle. 21+ Sold out.

TYLER JON TYLER
Chicago rockers Tyler Jon Tyler have all the right ingredients for a power trio: A howling, bass-playing frontwoman backed by jangly guitar and, steady, danceable drum beats. And You can really hear TJT singer Rebecca Flores turn into a young Chrissie Hynde on this WFMU live set from April. Doesn’t get much better than that. Also on hand for this FREE show are dark cabaret poppers Magic Key. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 10/14. Burlington Bar. 21+ FREE

SATURDAY

CAVE
When they’re not jamming in the bed of a truck driving around Chicago, CAVE create some of the city’s most impressive kraut and/or progressive rock. Their latest, Neverendless, may just be their best yet as its filled with synth-heavy but rocking jams that are very accessible. Also performing are locals Chandeliers who go for glitchy, hypnotic dance sounds, and garagey, psych outfit Jerusalem and the Starbaskets. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/15. The Hideout. 21+. $10.

CMJ SEND-OFF PARTY
We hate to see you go, but we love to watch you leave. Our friends at CHIRP, HeaveMedia, Windy City Rock, Wine from the Moon and many more came together to give a proper farewell and good luck party to several Chicago bands heading East for CMJ Music Festival. On the bill are local folk poppers Paper Thick Walls – who wrote probably the most romantic love song ever, “Orange Tree.” Joining them are the gritty acoustic pop stylings of The Damn Choir as well as bedroom pop of Kellen & Me and Portland’s own Radiation City.

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/15. Ultra Lounge. 21+ $8 adv. / $10 day of

SUNDAY

MELT-BANANA
Since 1992, Japan’s Melt-Banana have gained quite the reputation as, um, quite crazy. Their experimental, punk and noise rock leanings have drawn comparisons to John Zorn and Mike Patton. On Sunday, they take the stage at Subterranean with support from some very fine local acts. Those being your favorite flower punks Rabble Rabble and the now-quartet riot poppers Swimsuit Addition. (Richard Giraldi)

7:30 p.m. Sunday, 10/16. Subterranean. 17+. $12.

• • Peter Margasak catches up with local krautrockers CAVE to talk about their totes rad new album Neverendless.
• • Chicagoist has photos and a brief review of Social Distortion and The Tossers’ Riot Fest show last Thurday at the Congress.
• • Speaking of Riot Fest, the Tribune reviews Danzig’s stop at the Congress last Friday.
• • And some sad news, former Weezer bassist Mikey Walsh died in Chicago this past weekend.
• • The Sun-Times reports that local crap rockers The Academy Is… break up to which Chicago responds, “Who?”