[caption id="attachment_20875" align="alignleft" width="445" caption="Blah Blah Blah"][/caption] If you are not already at Pitchfork Music Festival, then this edition of Weekend Diversions is for you, Mr./Ms. Non-conformist. Let's get to it, shall we?

FRIDAY

BITCHPORK Sure, the main topic in Chicago this weekend is Pitchfork’s annual smorgasboard but if you’re looking for something a little more underground, look no further than the three-day rock-a-thon Bitchpork. On tap for Friday night are the recently reunited lo-fi experimental rockers The English Softhearts and feedback enthusiasts Bad Drugs. Spacey noise rockers Mayor Daley and the also recently reunited experimental synth rockers Mahjongg will perform on Saturday night. Brooding Chicago punks Running and (Loud Loop Press faves) post punks Radar Eyes will close out the fest on Sunday night. 6:00 p.m. Friday, 7/15-Sunday, 7/17. Mortville. 21+ $10. WILD NOTHING Dreamy, shoegazers Wild Nothing may be playing a set at the juggernaut that is Pitchfork this weekend but before they step foot on Union Park’s sandy lot, they’ll make an special appearance at Subterranean. Our own Joseph Montes gave the group a glowing review in our Pitchfork preview, but I’ll echo the sentiment. Wild Nothing's shimmering rhythms takes you back to those special days in pop music where you could prance about and be moody, but still poetic. It’s a good thing. 9:30 p.m. Friday, 7/15. Subterranean. 17+ $15. SAILOR JERRY PITCHFORK AFTERPARTIES As we reported earlier this month, Rum brand Sailor Jerry is sponsoring three nights of Pitchfork afterparties at Cobra Lounge, a stone’s throw a way from Union Park. There re some great bands attached to each night including hard rockers White Mystery on Friday night, garage rockers Mannequin Men on Saturday and alt rockers Gypsyblood on Sunday night. The best part? The shows are free if you RSVP at this website. So whether you plan to attend Pitchfork it looks like you have plans after the fest is over. 9:00 p.m. Friday, 7/15-Sunday, 7/17. Cobra Lounge. 21+ Free!

SATURDAY

JC BROOKS & THE UPTOWN SOUND Funky soul rockers JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound will headline Saturday’s edition of Taste of River North. With so many damn festivals happening this weekend, we’d give you one reason to check out the three-day festival and I can seriously think of none better than the Uptown Sound. The group’s modern take on Motown-style is enough to pump up your day and get you grooving under Chicago’s hot sun. Not to mention frontman JC Brook’s swagger and sweet crooner singing style is a must-see. It’s a jamming throwback that can’t be beat. 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 16. Taste of River North (Erie & Kingsbury Sts). All Ages. $5 donation. RABBLE RABBLE In the midst of all this festival madness there’s one band who can get us all through it: pysch rockers Rabble Rabble. The quartet released a brand-new 7-inch back in May and if you haven’t heard it, it is swinging. There’s thundering drums, swirling guitars and some major bass action taking place on the 7-inch’s lead track “Why Not”. With all that hard rocking goodness, I’d just as soon ask you, “Why not go to this show?” Seriously. Fellow Chicagoans and alt rockers Model Strangers will headline. 9:00 p.m. Saturday, 7/16. Martyr's. 21+ $8.

SUNDAY

BLAH BLAH BLAH You look like you need some new wave in your diet. Chicago’s Blah Blah Blah has adopted a dignified brit pop sound that is dreamy and totally sensual. Foggy guitars rise from a sea of wavy gravy synths. Singer Solomon Moss even has a bit of a less bothered (read in a cockney Catherine Tate voice) Morrissey thing going on. Get there early because Blah Blah Blah is opening for Brooklyn rapper Theophilus London (I see what you did there, Double Door) and experimental hip-popper Kenna. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 7/17. Double Door. 21+ FREE!! By   \  comments