• • The Chicago Reader has raised the ire of the Chicago hip-hop community with its recent cover story, “Scratch and Stitch,” about the relationship between Chicago rappers and the streetwear companies that release their music. The cover depicts local rapper ShowYouSuck with a circle over his face that reads: “Insert Chicago Rapper Here,” which many including ShowYouSuck (AKA Clinton Sandifer) interpreted that action as the Reader saying that all rappers are the same. Gapers Block has responses from both The Chicago Reader’s editor-in-chief Mara Shalhoup and ShowYouSuck about the controversy.
• • The Congress Theater’s owners have filed a lawsuit against the city for what it calls an unfair crackdown on the concert venue’s ability to sell alcohol during concerts. Chicago Pipeline reported last week that the Congress’ general manager was taken into custody and charged with “failure to cooperate with police regarding illegal activity in a licensed premise and with violation of hours of operation.”
• • Archie Powell (of Archie Powell & The Exports) recently appeared on the podcast Ice Cream Headache with two radio DJs from Louisville, Kentucky. If you can get past the stereotypical DJ banter, Powell talks Mustaches vs Goatees, the hits of Collective Soul, and his love of Ke$ha despite the fact that she looks “gamey.”
• • Jessica Hopper charts the journey of Chicago electro-pop duo the Halamays from their early acoustic open mic nights in Ohio to collaborating as a dreamy pop husband and wife team in Chicago.
• • Windy City Rock catches up with Jim Carroll of Chicago noise-pop trio Unicycle Loves You.

• • Problems just keep following the Congress Theater. On Friday night, a concert featuring 16-year-old Southside rapper Chief Keef (who is currently under house arrest and sporting an ankle-monitoring device) was interrupted by a fight among patrons inside the venue, which led to a huge police response and the temporary closure of Milwaukee Avenue. As WBEZ blogger Jim DeRogatis points out, this new incident comes just days before The Congress is set to defend itself at its Deleterious Impact/Public Nuisance hearing at City Hall on Tuesday, April 17.
• • Gapers Block has the deets on Chicago’s latest summer electronic music festival, Wavefront. The two-day fest takes over Montrose Beach the weekend of June 30 and boasts appearances by Erick Morillo, Sasha, and Duck Sauce as well as DJ sets by Matthew Dear and James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem.
• • If you ever needed confirmation that Kanye West is “a jackass,” wonder no more! The May issue of The Atlantic profiles the rapper and when President Obama was asked his thoughts on the eccentric performer he replied, “He is a jackass, but he’s talented.” Case closed.
• • The Chicago Tribune’s Jessica Hopper talked to Mary McKane, lead singer of garage poppers The Runnies ahead of their Township show this past Saturday. McKane talks about the band’s beginnings, learning how to write songs and what is like being in a band with her fiance, Russ Calderwood.
• • In his latest column for the Chicago Reader, Miles Raymer tackles the “Tumblrfication” of music and what it means for the future of original creative expression.

• • The drama between Congress Theater owner Eddie Carranza and First Ward Alderman Proco Joe Moreno continues. After a lengthy interview with WBEZ blogger Jim DeRogatis in which DeRogatis questioned Carranza and his lawyer about a variety of topics including the condition of the venue’s bathrooms, Carranza responded with a point-by-point rebuttal of the accusations levied against his management and his venue on Chicago-Pipeline.com. The Deleterious Impact/Public Nuisance hearing against the Congress is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17, at 11:30 a.m. at City Hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
• • Gossip Wolf talks Lollapalooza predictions in this week’s issue of the Chicago Reader. And yes, you guessed it, one pick is… Marilyn Manson. Maybe he’ll tear a couple of pages from the Bible for old time sake.
• • Greg Kot catches up with Chicago’s best kept secret, garage poppers Radar Eyes and talks about the group’s HoZac debut, lead singer Anthony Cozzi’s love of cassettes, and why Radar Eyes is not a hobby band.
• • Time Out Chicago has some great shots of Andrew W.K. partying hard at The Riviera.
  
• • Jessica Hopper chats with Daniel Smith, one of Neon Marshmallow Fest’s co-organizers, about his stint at The Whistler DJ’ing House music.

• • First ward alderman Proco Joe Moreno calls the Congress Theater “a dump” in a recent interview with WBEZ blogger Jim DeRogatis. Moreno has scheduled an Deleterious Impact/Public Nuisance hearing for Tuesday, April 17, at 11:30 a.m., which will be held at City Hall, to address public safety and noise concerns. The community is invited to attend. If the Congress doesn’t meet its community commitments, it stands to lose its liquor license.
• • Michael Orlove, one of this city’s prolific music programmers for the city’s many free music events like Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays and World Music Festival among others, has been hired away by the National Endowment for the Arts. No word on how this will affect Downtown Sound.
• • Leor Galil chronicles the story of DIY venue Summer Camp which hosted its last show last year. The final show will be commemorated with a four track 7-inch and a two and a half hour DVD to be released in April.
• • Are you ready for the return of R. Kelly’s Trapped in the Closet? Because it’s happening.
• • It’s about time OK Go started their own dating website.

• • The Tribune’s Bob Gendron attended this weekend’s sold-out Morrissey show at the Congress and was particularly struck by the British singer’s flair for the dramatic.
• • Gapers Block captured some excellent photos from The Joy Formidable’s appearance at the Metro last Wednesday night.
• • Time Out Chicago’s music editors Brent DiCrescenzo and Areif Sless-Kitain named their “Best Chicago Albums of 2011” lists and came to an agreement about including CAVE’s Neverendless.
  
• • A.V. Club Chicago spoke to I Fight Dragons vocalist Brian Mazzaferri about money, namely what the band would do with a cool $1 million.
• • During Wilco’s Chicagoland takeover last week, frontman Jeff Tweedy stopped by WGN’s morning show to deliver not only the rock, but also the weather with a side of “supplemental hair.” Don’t quit your day job, Jeff.

Oh, what a weekend Chicago has in store for us all. Riot Fest, which technically kicked off yesterday, continues with big, big, big shows around town including DANZIG, Smoking Popes and Weezer. But if you’re not into the insanity of our annual punk-a-thon, look no further than T-Bone at Quenchers, Great Society Mind Destroyers at the Viaduct and a few more fests we think you’d enjoy immensely.

You don’t want to find hell with me, mother. So let’s get to it.

FRIDAY

DANZIG
Just shut your pretty mouth. I’ll be seeing you again. I’ll be seeing you in hell. Danzig is the crown jewel in Riot Fest’s punk rock tiara. The master of horror punk will take the stage with former Misfits guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein and perform the songs Misfits fans have been waiting to hear. Sure, Jerry Only won’t be there, but it’s DANZIG. DANZIG. Dude is magical. (Audrey Leon)

7:00 p.m. Friday, 10/7. Congress Theater. All Ages. $45 – $106.66

T’BONE
Even though I reviewed T’Bone’s very awesome debut, Mt. Trashmore, back in July, tonight’s the record release show. Why the delay? Because Mt. Trashmore and it’s post-rock attack and oddball humor will be available on vinyl. So, yeah, that’s pretty much worth a party. Also rocking Quenchers tonight are raunchy rock and rollers Vamos and synth-poppers We All Have Hooks For Hands. Get ready for/to laugh/cry/sneeze/fun/dance/party/drink/eat/drink/rock/riffs/guitar/repeat. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 10/7. Quenchers. 21+. Free.

SATURDAY

THE SMOKING POPES
When we last left hometown heroes Smoking Popes, I was highly recommending you see them live, because the band sounds incredible on the stage. And you were probably all like, “Yeah, well, that show was sold out, and I’m broke anyway, so shut up.” But this weekend is your chance to make amends with me without paying even a dime: Smoking Popes is playing a free–that’s right, zero down and zero later–show at Double Door. For no dollars, you can see on of the best power-punk bands of (and this is not hyperbole) all time in an intimate venue. So let’s recap the pros: Smoking Popes, free, Double Door. And the cons: none. Get your ass out there. (Andy Kondrat)

8:30 p.m. Saturday, 10/8. Double Door. 21+ FREE!

CLOCKWORKED CHAOS ARTS FEST
From the creators of Bleeding Hearts Fest, it’s Clockworked Chaos Arts Fest! The event brings together Chicago’s art scene including visual and performance art, poetry, film and, of course, music! And there’s certainly no lack of that with a lineup that includes, but is not limited to, orchestral indie-poppers Panoramic and True, melodic space rockers Earth Program, psychedelic garage outfit Soft Candy and so.much.more. Get all the info, and RSVP at the Fest’s Facebook page. (Richard Giraldi)

5:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/8. Think Tank Theatre and Deagan Music (1770 W. Berteau Ave.). $10 donation.

BIKE FALL 2011
Rock out for a good cause. The Hideout is hosting a benefit for West Town Bikes that features the gritty swing of rockers Ornery Little Darlings, the all-femme punk sounds of Cathy Santonies, Elia Einhorn of Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Nonagon and Illinois First. The music starts at 6 p.m., but the fun begins at noon with a performance by Racketeers Bicycle Dance Troupe and screenprints by New Belgium Brewing and a vegan food truck by Ste Martaen. You can even watch a BMX and fixed gear free style competition at 3 p.m. This benefit will be bananas. (Audrey Leon)

Noon – 3 a.m. Saturday, 10/8. The Hideout. 21+ $20.

GREAT SOCIETY MIND DESTROYERS
Talk about getting the most bang for your buck in this rough economy. The Viaduct is hosting not one, not two, but four bands and none other than self-described glitter connoisseur DJ Philly Peroxide playing some jams between sets. If you haven’t seen Great Society Mind Destroyers, prepare to have your mind blown. The group plays explosive psych rock with killer guitar solos and the most fearsome drum beats known to man. Also on hand are dream poppers Panda Riot (who just released an excellent new demo called “Serious Radical Girls“), shoegaze quartet Lightfoils and Minneapolis experimental rockers Chatham Rise. Sounds win/win to me. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/8. The Viaduct Theatre. 21+ $8

SUNDAY

WEEZER
Ah, Weezer at Riot Fest. The Gods of early 90s pre-emo are letting us indulge in our darkest dreams by performing all of its legendary debut (blue) album. So if you want to scream along to “The Sweater Song” and talk about your dungeon master’s guide, look no further than the Congress. Also on hand are Chicago alternative rockers Urge Overkill, Wyoming punks Teenage Bottle Rocket and local garage rock duo White Mystery. Let them rock your faces off with its latest creation “Toxic Sugar,” which we introduced you to yesterday. (Audrey Leon)

5:30 p.m. Sunday 10/9. Congress Theater. All Ages. $45.

Mad Decent Block Party

I believe it was rock legends (ha!) Loverboy who said, “Everybody’s working for the weekend.” Well, it looks like we’ve reached that miraculous part of our week where we can shrug off the fatigue and get ready to party.

If you thought the summer festival season ended with Lollapalooza, you’d be wrong. We’re talking about Mad Decent’s Block Party in Bucktown this Saturday as well as fabulous shows by Birth (last show!), White Mystery, Pretty Good Dance Moves and Tyler Jon Tyler, to name a few.

Let’s get to it!

FRIDAY

BIRTH
Birth sound exactly like a loud band from Chicago, and I mean that as the highest form of complement–this trio would be right at home on a bill with Shellac or Jesus Lizard. However, come next week, Birth will be playing even fewer shows than either of the other two aforementioned bands. After this show on Friday, Birth pack it in and their singer/bassist moves to LA for the most LA of reasons (a PhD in Sociology), and then you’ll have missed your chance to have your brain rocked to sufficient levels. So make your way to Water Works and watch the triumphant death of a band that you should have been loving all along, and in five or ten years when all the new post-hardcore bands cite Birth as their number one influence, you can say you were there. (Andy Kondrat).

7:00 p.m. Friday, 8/12. Water Works (651 S. Clark St.) 21+ $8.

WHITE MYSTERY
So, there’s a new venue in Loqan Square called the Ultra Lounge. You may not have heard of it… yet, that is. See tonight, those rowdy red-headed revelers White Mystery are set to blow the roof off the joint and give it a proper Chicago opening. But that’s not all, dirty garage rockers Magic Milk, the hellish Unstoppable Death Machines, Australian noise duo DEAD and the sweet, sweet fuzz of Unmanned Ship. So, head to the Ultra Lounge tonight before this show leaves it in a pile of rubble. (Richard Giraldi)

8:00 p.m. Friday, 8/12. Ultra Lounge. 21+. $7.

RABBLE RABBLE
What can I say that I haven’t already said about this awesome rag-tag Chicago quartet. These cool cats play some groovy, body moving psych rock that is wild and crazy and absolutely fun to watch. If you haven’t paid attention to our past pleas to check Rabble Rabble out, do yourself a favor and run over to Treasure Town tonight because it’s likely the band’s last show until October. Also playing this show are atmospheric Indiana noise rockers We Are Hex, saxophone-loving Chicago experimental rockers Cool Memories and dark local pysch rock trio Killer Moon. Get some! (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 8/12. Treasure Town.. 21+ Donations accepted.

SATURDAY

MAD DECENT BLOCK PARTY
Mad Decent’s not just a clever name. The acts the Diplo-heded label attract are actually, you know, decent. On tap for the Chicago party are locals Dawn Golden & Rosy Cross, the ambient electropop sideproject of Houses frontman Dexter Tortoriello; groove rocker Bosco Delrey, dance rockers Reptar and headliners Dillon Francis and Curren$y, just to name a few. The party starts at noon and will occupy North Milwaukee Avenue between Western and Oakley. You probably don’t want to miss this. Don’t forget to RSVP at MadDecentBlockParty.com. (Audrey Leon)

Noon. Saturday, 8/13. North Milwaukee (Between Western and Oakley). ALL AGES. FREE!

PRETTY GOOD DANCE MOVES
If you needed a good excuse to put on those dancing shoes this weekend, Pretty Good Dance Moves on a Saturday night at the Empty Bottle seems like the perfect reason. They do cool groves, they do pretty vocals, they do music with drum machines and synths that’s updated for today’s rock and roll scene. What I’m trying to say is, they’re the perfect band to book at the Empty Bottle on a Saturday night. So, go. Listen to music. Be friendly. Enjoy dancing. This show is what the weekend is all about. (Andy Kondrat).

10:00 p.m. Saturday, 8/13. Empty Bottle. 21+ $6.

SUNDAY

TYLER JON TYLER
I love the smell of record stores in the early afternoon. Garage rock trio Tyler Jon Tyler are no strangers to playing in-stores at Chicago record shops. During Record Store Day, singer Rebecca Flores appeared at both Laurie’s Planet of Sound as a DJ and Reckless for some casual rocking. Now the group is popping into the brightly lit Logan Square shop Saki. Should be a good afternoon for some browsing and watching some fun garage pop goodness. (Audrey Leon)

3:00 p.m. Sunday, 8/14. Saki. All Ages. Free!

BULLY IN THE HALLWAY
Chicago alt-rockers Bully in the Hallway are back for another rowdy show at the Hideout. If you’re unfamiliar, the quartet’s energetic brand of indie rock is highly reminiscent of fellow locals Braid. From the vocals, which also have a hint of Fugazi thrown into the mix, to the guitars and drums, there is a definitely a big, familiar mid-90s-era alt-rock vibe going on. Headlining the show are Seattle blues rockers My Goodness. The duo summon the sound of genre legends Jon Spencer and Black Keys, and deliver. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Sunday, 8/14. The Hideout. 21+ $8.

All’s well that ends well. Sure, it rained all week, but it’s nice and sunny outside with just a tiny nip in the air. Naturally, that means it is time to party down while we still can. This weekend, especially, is a doozy. There are so many great shows that it is almost impossible to choose among them.

Some of the shows we’re all abuzz over are Gypsyblood at Liar’s Club, Dead Milkmen at Congress Theater and Local H at the Metro. Let’s hop to it, Chicago…

FRIDAY

SOFT SPEAKER
Our own Ross Meyerson practically gushed over Soft Speaker’s debut album I’ll Tend Your Garden. The album is chock full of songs that are simply put, a mish mash of grungey guitar riffs and smoky psychedelic and brit rock influence with a dab of Thom Yorke-ness. The net result is a brilliant first release by the Logan Square quartet. Also on hand this evening are the ghostly 60s girl-group throwback Hollows, scratchy-voiced pop rockers Michael Lux and the Bad Sons (who will have free copies of its debut ep Neat Repeater available) and jangly experimental rockers Dozens. Talk about getting more bang for your buck. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 4/29. Subterranean. 21+ $8.

MOGWAI
The instrumental onslaught that is Mogwai keeps chugging along, with the band having released yet another album of soft-loud awesomeness with the best title we’ve seen this year: Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will. Live, the band does something extremely difficult to pull off: though possibly the loudest show you’ll see this year, the technical wizardry of the band is never drowned out. A Mogwai show always has the potentiol of making your top ten shows of all time (Coachella 2006), and I’d have to imagine that seeing them at the Metro is going to be a mind-blowing and ear-numbing experience. (Andy Kondrat)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 4/29. Metro 18+ $25.

GYPSYBLOOD
Locals Gypsyblood have been generating quite a bit of buzz lately with their debut record Cold In The Guestway, what with it’s guitar-heavy, occasionally early ’90s vibe. But let’s not get it twisted, Gypsyblood are their own band as they add in touches of playfulness and humor that some of those alt-90′s bands simply whiffed on. Seeing how tonight’s Liars Club (Yes, THAT Liars Club) show is Gypsybloods’ record release for their debut, they’ve invited along labelmates Cast Spells, who are the folk-pop side project of Maps & Atlases crooner Dave Davison. Opening is a Loud Loop favorite Radar Eyes, who always impress with their dark psych-garage tunes. If you miss this, you will regret it dearly. Yes, that’s a threat. Get over it, crybaby. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 4/29. Liar’s Club. 21+. FREE!

FIELDED
There’s nothing simple about the one-woman band Fielded. The only instrument Lindsay Powell, who is also vocalist for Ga’an, really needs is her voice. Powell uses synths and samples to twist and manipulate her voice into a rhythm section for haunting ambient pop stylings. To see her music recreated live is well worth the relatively small price of admission. Psych-rockers Verma and Zath, the metal side project of Ga’an drummer Seth Sher, will also appear. (Audrey Leon)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 4/29. The Hideout. 21+ $8.

SATURDAY

BATTLES
Battles’ first full-length album Mirrored is kind of, well, the best thing ever (hitting No. 3 on my top ten albums of last decade). The live show, as well, was beyond stellar. There might not even be a word in the English language to describe how good their shows were. Since that record was released, however, guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Tyondai Braxton has left the band, and Battles’ new record, Glass Drop, is sure to be divisive–the Loud Loop staff has already started drawing lines in the sand over it. The questions, then, are these: will the live show still be phenomenal? Can they play tracks off of Mirrored? Will the lack of guest vocalists live help or hinder the band? There’s only one way to find out the answers to all these questions, and just to sate your curiosity will be worth the price of admission. (Andy Kondrat)

10:00 p.m. Saturday, 4/30. Lincoln Hall. 18+. SOLD OUT.

DEAD MILKMEN
I’ll just go ahead and put this bluntly: The Dead Milkmen is the most essential inessential band I can think of. That is to say, these guys blur the already-sometimes-hazy line between punk rock and novelty, with song titles off my favorite record of theirs – Beelzebubba – including “Born to Love Volcanoes,” “Sri Lanka Sex Hotel,” and “Bleach Boys.” Either in spite of, or because of, the silliness inherent to some of the band’s songs, combined with the actual real punk rock music they produce, this show is guaranteed to be nothing short of a blast. Revered local punks The Lawrence Arms will also appear. (Andy Kondrat)

7:30 p.m. Saturday, 4/30. Congress Theater. All Ages. $18.

MANNEQUIN MEN
According to the Chicago Tribune, locals the Mannequin Men play “math rock, punk, metal, free jazz”. Huh. Well, isn’t that interesting. Here we were all along thinking they played jangly, garage rock with folky hooks. Boy, aren’t our faces red? Anyway, we’re still awaiting their next batch of tunes to get an official release. Maybe that’s where the free jazz shows up? Either way, we’re excited. And so should you for the opportunity to see the band positively wreck it at the Empty Bottle with local indie poppers Sleep Kitty ands E+.

9:30 p.m. Saturday, 4/30. Empty Bottle. 21+. $8.

SUNDAY

LOCAL H
Who doesn’t love a good homecoming? The members of Local H (Scott Lucas and Brian St. Clair) have been traversing the US, supporting of its recent “greatest hits” collection from the band’s Island Records years (i.e. The 1990s). Sunday, the hard rocking duo finally come home to Chicago’s majestic Metro. The 90s were a magical decade and Local H were produced many a great album, but if you are jonesing to hear 1996’s uber popular “Bound for the Floor,” you’re finally in luck. So c’mon and feel the nostalgia. (Audrey Leon)

7:00 p.m. Sunday, 5/1. Metro. All Ages. $15.

TIM KINSELLA & FRIENDS
Tim Kinsella, the mastermind behind such Chicago institutions as Cap’n Jazz, Joan of Arc and many more, is bringing his indie rock prowess to the Whistler stage with some friends. The friends? Why it’s John Herndon from Tortoise, Theo Katsaounis from Joan of Arc and A Tundra, and Donny Malhmeister, also from A Tundra. The Whistler’s website describes the evening as a “duel” between a “double duo,” but no word on just who will duel to the death. Electro rockers Relay Beken will open the festivities. (Audrey Leon)

9:30 p.m. Sunday, 5/1. The Whistler. 21+ FREE

Word on the street is that you “adults” are celebrating Halloween now. Very fascinating. Well, if you “adults” enjoy jamming out, then you’ve come to the right place.

It’s time for Weekend Diversions (Halloween Edition), where we give our picks for top weekend shows. Now, if you’re looking for strictly Halloween-themed events, let us point you in the direction of WindyCityRock.net’s Halloween show guide or the Reader’s all-encompassing Halloween event schedule.

We’ll talk a few of those fun cover shows, but there are quite a few other kick ass show going on this weekend. There’s Chromeo at the Congress, Kurt Vile and Soft Pack at the Empty Bottle, Double Door’s 14th Annual Halloween Bash and a whole lot more.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

FRIDAY

BORN RUFFIANS
Canada’s Born Ruffians employ that same guitar sound that Paul Simon ripped off so that Vampire Weekend could then rip it off second-generation-style. Being Canadian, I’ll give them a wider berth. Fellow Canadians Meligrove Band keep up the quirky indie vibe with hand claps and dry guitar tones. It’s pop. Chicago’s In Tall Buildings open, and we have good things to say about them. They are the musical equivalent to your best friend. (Ross Meyerson)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 10/29. Empty Bottle. 21+. $12.

SATURDAY

THE MORNING BENDERS
San Francisco’s The Morning Benders must really like Chicago.  This year alone they’ve opened for Broken Bells at the Vic, played Lollapalooza and now they’re bringing their melodic brand of breezy west-coast indie pop back to Lincoln Hall for their second headlining gig there. Their album Big Echo is one of the year’s best and they should be in good spirits with their Giants slaying the Rangers.  They may get sick of playing here so don’t miss your chance with Twin Sister, Holiday Shores and Oberhofer opening. (Andrew Kahn)

9:00p.m. Saturday, 10/30. Lincoln Hall. 18+. $15.

KURT VILE & SOFT PACK
Philly’s Kurt Vile may want to change his nickname from Philly’s Hitmaker to Philly’s Hitmaker That Seems To Be In Chicago An Awful Lot. Sure, it doesn’t roll off the tongue the same way, but it is quite fitting. I’ve seen the guy three times already, and I don’t get out much. San Diego’s The Soft Pack are also no strangers to our home town. They’ve been touring the shit out of their self-titled debut. Purling Hiss also hail from Philly and seem to have out lo-fi’d themselves on their (His – It’s just one dude) debut, Purling Hiss LP, released by our very own Permanent Records. They open and are also doing an in-store at Permanent. On top of that, all three play two nights at the Bottle with Vile and Soft Pack switching off headlining duties. That is a shit ton of face time for them all. (Ross Meyerson)

4:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/30. Permanent Records. All Ages. Free (Purling Hiss In-Store)
10:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/30. Empty Bottle. 21+. $13 (Soft Pack headlining)
7:00 p.m. Sunday, 10/31. Empty Bottle. 21+. $13 (Kurt Vile headlining)

CHROMEO
Freaky Deaky 2 brings Chromeo back to the Congress for a killer Halloween show.  Make sure your costume allows you to move your feet and won’t get ruined if you get a little sweat on it because Chromeo’s infectious grooves will surly move you to shake your ass.  Just like last year, the French duo will no doubt throw down a high energy, beat heavy set full of the funkiest shit out there today. An impressive opening lineup of A-Trak, Gemini Club, Kid Sister, and Theophilus London means you’re going to get your money’s worth. (Andrew Kahn)

7:30p.m. Saturday, 10/30. Congress Theater. 17+. $35.

DOUBLE DOOR’S 14TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN BASH
The Double Door will be bringing you a plethora of bands playing dress up this Halloween weekend as Saturday kicks off their 14th Annual Halloween Bash. This year they feature a gutful of Chicago bands including power pop trio The Sweeps as The Cars, glam band The Last Vegas as Aerosmith, funk rockers The Midnight Show as Duran Duran and garage rock duo Blackbox as Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Put on your Halloween best and creep on over to the Double Door for a night of frightful fun. (Britni Day)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/30. Double Door. 21+. $12 – 20.

SUNDAY

INDIAN
Chicago’s mighty Indian are finally in the studio recording a new album. To be released early in 2011, it is the band’s first for the venerable metal label Relapse and is being produced Sanford Parker. This is good news. I saw them at this year’s Wicker Park Fest, and they literally made my pants move. No, not in a sexual way. France’s Monarch are slow as molasses metal. Like pulling teeth slow. Ambient black metal with creepy female screams, Monarch are not a bad soundtrack to Halloween. Chicago’s experimentally metal Rabbit Rabbit open. Go get your freaky metal on. (Ross Meyerson)

9:00 p.m. Sunday, 10/31. Hideout. 21+. $10.

MUMFORD & SONS
Though their country/bluegrass/folk sound may seem like it came from the American South, this group of talented musicians and songwriters comes to Chicago from across the pond. The London quartet’s critically acclaimed 2009 debut Sigh No More made them a quintessential buzzband. Evidenced by the massive crowd at their Lollapalooza set this summer folks liked what they heard. The more intimate Riv on All Hallows Eve seems like the perfect setting for those looking for a cozy show. Cadillac Sky and King Charles open. (Andrew Kahn)

7:30p.m. Sunday, 10/31. Riviera Theatre. All Ages. Sold Out.

THE SHOW THAT NEVER HAPPENED
Halloween is often a night of reflection as we look to pay homage (or outright mock) the past. With that said, put on your Blagojevich mask or Trent Reznor fishnet body suit and come down to the Darkroom on Sunday night because Rodeo is in town. And they’re playing a set comprised of material strictly from Nirvana’s Bleach-era. If you see one Nirvana Halloween cover band in Chicago, it better be Rodeo. If that’s not enough, Chicago psych-rockers The Earth Program will perform as Joy Division; Fuck you Kiss my Asses will perform as Free Wheelin’ era Bob Dylan and Terrible Spaceship will perform a recreation of 1938 “Invaders from Mars” radio broadcast featuring samples of Orson Wells reading and Mercury Theater Company. (Audrey Leon)

7 p.m. Sunday, 10/31. Darkroom. 21+. $5.

Riot Fest Founder Mike Petryshyn

A collection of pioneers and up-and-coming bands from across the country and spanning an array of different branches of punk music will come together this week for the sixth year of Chicago’s prominent Riot Fest.

It all started in 2005 with a two-day festival of mostly local bands along with some well-known headliners at the Congress Theater. “It happened all accidentally,” said Mike ‘Riot’ Petryshyn, one of the founders of Riot Fest. “I was doing the daily grind as an editor at a law firm when the idea popped into my head.”

The festival has been expanding ever since. This year the festival will take place over five days in seven venues and almost 80 bands will play.

“Every year I make a wish list on a dry-erase board and just go after it.” More and more bands are coming on board. “It’s much easier to get the bands we want to play,” Petryshyn said.

Now that the festival is established, bands are starting to make an event out of it. “Bands actually want to reunite for Riot Fest or do something special during their performance.” This year, Less Than Jake will be playing their entire fan-favorite album Losing Streak during their show. “That’s pretty cool and something that wouldn’t have happened five years ago.”

Riot Fest will also be holding several ‘secret shows’ during the festival this year for three and five-day pass holders. Some of the headliners, names not yet announced, will be playing at small, makeshift venues. “Those kinds of shows are generally the best received and the ones everyone talks about afterward.”

The festival also brings plenty of local talent to the table. South-suburban band X is for Eyes will open Saturday’s show at the Congress.

“If I could go back in time and meet my ten-year-old self…and tell him that he would be opening for Bad Religion he never would have believed me,” said Mike Noonan, one of the band’s guitarists. At the only other festival they’ve played, “a carnival worker ripped me off for forty dollars,” Noonan joked. “Mike really hooked us up.”

As Noonan puts it, Riot Fest has “[set] the stage for lovers of various styles of punk music to come together for one badass week all over the city.”

There is certainly no shortage of shows and bands to choose from this year.

After every fest, Petryshyn said, “I take a few weeks off to recover and decide whether I will continue with it.” But each year Riot Fest has come back bigger than ever.

“My partner Sean McKeough and I realize that we do have something cool going on,” Petryshyn said. “It’s really pretty simple. We love this music and we’re lucky that we have 30-plus years to choose from.”

Riot Fest runs from October 6-10 at the Congress Theater, Metro, Double Door, Subterranean, House of Blues and Cobra Lounge. The secret shows will take place at AAA and Exit. Headliners include Bad Religion and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. For more information, visit Riotfest.org.