Three party-like-it's-the-last-day-of-November reasons to get on down to the Empty Bottle tonight... 1. When a musicians label themselves as "acoustic country punk," it is easy to dismiss them outright for attempting to do way too much. However, Chicago duo, sometimes trio, Bad Bad Meow prove that sometimes it works; because on the group's debut album Big Phat Pussycat, Bad Bad Meow exhibit some good, ol' Violent Femmes-style pop rock with a side of twangy acoustic guitar and thudding back beats. LISTEN: "Drink and Regret". 2. Tonight's middle slot goes to the delightfully poppy space rockers Pinto and the Bean. The duo are able to produce a much larger and more vibrant sound by melding jangly acoustic guitar, wild harmonies and danceable synths. The end result is kind of like bedazzling a jean jacket with rhinestones. (It's pretty rad.) LISTEN: "Into the Ocean". 3. Starting this show off the right way is Peoria-based acoustic folk singer Jared Bartman (not to be confused with Steve Bartman). Don't let Bartman's clean-cut (think: Ben Folds) appearance fool you, this kid has soul. Bartman mixes in a little blues with his already well-defined gyspy-folk pop sound on his recent two-track covers EP Grinnin' in Your Face available via Bandcamp. LISTEN: "Jesus Gonna Make up my Dying Bed". 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, 11/30. Empty Bottle. 21+ $8. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

[caption id="attachment_24004" align="alignleft" width="245" caption="Secret Colours"][/caption] Chicago psych rockers Secret Colours are preparing to release a brand new EP EP3 on New Year’s Day and already the first single has been unleashed on our unsuspecting ears. Secret Colours take a page from throwback bands like The Dandy Warhols and their frenemies The Brian Jonestown Massacre on single "Faust." The song takes clattering garage rock and pairs it with twangy, blues guitars weaving in and out of ear range as front man Tommy Evans’ spacey vocals hover over steady beats that eventually simmer to a controlled boiling point. Listen to “Faust” here. Catch Secret Colours at the Empty Bottle on Saturday, Jan. 7, for the group’s EP release. The show is free with RSVP. Just email “Secret Colours” to rsvp@emptybottle.com. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="445" caption="My Gold Mask | photo by Audrey Leon"][/caption] Hopefully, you have all managed to get through this blackest of Black Fridays without getting trampled upon for a $2 waffle maker, Chicagoans, because we’ve got an incredible line-up of musical acts setting up shop all round this fair city. We’re talking Scott Lucas and the Married Men at Hard Rock Cafe, My Gold Mask at Empty Bottle, Tandoori Knights at Bottom Lounge and so much more. Come on, Pilgrim!

FRIDAY

SCOTT LUCAS AND THE MARRIED MEN When Scott Lucas isn’t playing and recording as part of the long-time Chicago duo Local H or mentoring young musicians with rock star aspirations, he is off showing his softer, Americana side with The Married Men. The septet is working on its follow-up to 2010’s George Lassos the Moon and have already let slip a taste of what is to come with a cover of Johnny Cash’s “(Ain’t No Grave) Can Hold My Body Down.” However, tonight, Lucas busts out his old acoustic guitar for a solo performance. Also on the bill tonight are Brit pop-inspired indie rockers Blah Blah Blah and swinging pop songstress Kirby Kaiser. 9:00 p.m. Friday, 11/25. Hard Rock Cafe. All Ages. $10. MY GOLD MASK I generally can’t say enough nice things about experimental dance poppers My Gold Mask. The husband and wife duo of Gretta Rochelle and Jack Armondo craft hauntingly beautiful pop gems that are simply inescapable and intoxicatingly beautiful. Last year the duo released not one, but two EPs that made my top ten albums of 2010 list and now that the band’s music has made its way onto the TV show Gossip Girl, I can only hope this means bigger and better things for My Gold Mask in 2012. Also appearing tonight are gypsy surf rockers La Scala and The Baby Magic, a band that somehow manages to make being singing about vulgarities incredibly adorable. 10:00 p.m. Friday, 11/25. Empty Bottle. 21+ $10.

SATURDAY

TANDOORI KNIGHTS Bluesy 50s rock-inspired showman King Khan is making his second appearance in Chicago since this past July, now with his other dirty, distortion-laden surf rock side project Tandoori Knights. The group switches on the time machine and transports us back to a time when we’d all do the Mashed Potato with Buddy Holly and Little Richard. This bill is packed to the gills with five bands in all, including Oakland garage punks Nobunny, One-man-rock-band Bloodshot Bill, Chicago psych rockers Outer Minds, and jangly post-punks Radar Eyes. Five bands, $15? That's $3 per band. Talk about more bang for your rock'n'roll buck. 8:00 p.m. Saturday, 11/26. Bottom Lounge. 17+ $15.

SUNDAY

MAGIC MILK Party one last time this holiday weekend with the sleazy garage rock stylings of Magic Milk. The group creates sweaty, danceable grooves with plenty of ‘60s-esque metallic-toned guitars and bouncing rhythms backed by wailing, distorted vocals and bluesy harmonica solos. Magic Milk will be joined by experimental Chicago noise poppers Small Wonder and from Detroit, twinkling, melodic indie rockers PK Fire. 8:00 p.m. Sunday, 11/27. Panchos. 18+ $5. By Staff  \  comments

[caption id="attachment_23939" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="The Safes"][/caption] Three there’s-only-one-day-til-turkey-(or Tofurky)-day reasons to get yourselves down to Quenchers for a little rock-n-roll stuffing... 1. Chicago rockers The Safes straddle the unspoken line between rowdy punk and nerdy power pop. The trio absorb many influences from Teenage Fanclub to Superchunk while spitting back out wailing alternative rock riffs and rumbling rhythms that ebb and flow between bratty-cute and bratty-menacing. The end result is pretty damn catchy. WATCH: “The Sky is Falling” 2. If you like the headliners, you’ll love tonight’s neglected middle child (the Jan Brady of the gig, if you will) The Sonnets. The Chicago outfit is the brainchild of former Maybenauts guitarist and Panda mask-wearer Vee Sonnets. The trio plays a special brand of power pop that shimmy and shakes with all the rock glory of mod bands as the Kinks and The Who. LISTEN: “Mystery Girl.” 3. Chicago trifecta! Last but certainly not least is No Enemy. The quartet is bound to shock you awake from your post-work hangover with some fast and furious punk rock with rapid guitar solos, military-grade drum fire and a lead singer who summons his own fierce inner-Henry Rolins. No Enemy! just released its most recent LP Unwind this spring. LISTEN: “I’d Rather be Dumb.” 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, 11/23. Quenchers. 21+ $5. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Photographer and LLP contributor Craig Shimala has created an amazing multi-media project compiled from still photographs and videos he shot during M83’s concert last Thursday night at Lincoln Hall. The French indie pop group fronted by Anthony Gonzalez stopped by the Lincoln Park venue to promote its latest album Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. Shimala’s video, set to the album’s first track “Intro,” is pretty amazing given the depth of actions conveyed through several tiny moments in time. The surreal nature of the compilation matches the sweeping dream pop contained within the song itself.

M83 at Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL - 11/17/2011 from Craig Shimala on Vimeo.

By Audrey Leon  \  comments

When the weather outside is frightful, Chicago's rock venues are so delightful this time of year. All holiday song rewrites aside, this is the perfect weekend to check out our fair city's fine local acts. We're chattering about Sissy Mena and Soft Speaker's record release shows at Subterranean and Beat Kitchen, respectively. Plus Heaving Mass at Empty Bottle and a whole lot more! Increase your blood flow and let's hop to it.

FRIDAY

SISSY MENA Alt-rockers Sissy Mena are celebrating the release of its brand-new full-length album Record Machine with a fancy little shindig at Subterranean. We previewed the band's first single earlier this month and the track anchors the album with its fun, nerdy take on 90s groups like Superchunk and Siamese Dream-era Smashing Pumpkins that is chock-full of dominating guitar riffs and bouncy beats. Also on the bill are an additional trio of local groups like dream poppers The Record Low, Chicago groovy electro-pop duo Rites, and shoegazers Lightfoils. (Audrey Leon) 8:30 p.m. Friday, 11/18. Subterranean. 21+ $10. AN AESTHETIC ANAESTHETIC With their latest, Before the Machinery of Other Skeletons, Chicago's An Aesthetic Anaesthetic, in our opinion, have joined the ranks of their heavy instrumental windy city brethren Russian Circles and Pelican. An Aesthetic Anaesthetic, however, are less metallic and instead go for an epic post-rock slash punk approach that draws influence from Fugazi, Explosions In The Sky and even Chicago elders Sweep The Leg Johnny. Also performing is Harps of Tartarus, Planetsexploder, Droughts and Cave Bear. (Richard Giraldi) 8:00 p.m. Friday, 11/18. El Mamey (2645 W. North Ave). 21+. $7.

SATURDAY

SOFT SPEAKER Chicago quartet Soft Speaker only released its debut back in April and the group is already back with a follow-up. And, you guessed it, it's pretty impressive. Vortrobos - recorded in Villa Park - picks up where its debut I'll Tend Your Garden left off with plenty of smoky psychedelic guitar solo jams and plenty of Brit-pop smothered goodness. On hand to celebrate Soft Speaker's record release are local psych rockers Secret Colours, San Diego pop rockers Hotel St. George, and local alt-rockers Headshadow. (Audrey Leon) 8:00 p.m. Saturday, 11/19. Beat Kitchen. 17+ $8. GIRL IN A COMA San Antonio's Girl In A Coma is truly a rock 'n' roll powerhouse. Drawing inspiration from Joan Jett to Green Day to Nirvana, their dirty, guitar-heavy punk rock makes any Saturday night alright for fighting. Opening the show are Atlanta's The Coathangers who have made a name for themselves vibrant, jagged and sometimes anthemic indie rock. (Richard Giraldi) 8:00 p.m. Saturday, 11/19. Double Door. 21+. $10-$12.

SUNDAY

HEAVING MASS $3 Metal show! Our beloved metal dude Ross Meyerson once commented that Chicago heavy metal rockers Heaving Mass have a great name. And they do, indeed. In fact, in terms of descriptions, it's probably the best you can get. The Chicago trio thrusts some tasty, lead-weighted guitar riffs right at you while the drums knock you around hard. Heaving Mass remind me of the old days of theatrical metal. In particular, "Dark Ages," gives me a Judas Priest vibe. Good stuff. New all-Chicago-star doom metal enthusiasts Witchbanger headline. (Audrey Leon) 7:00 p.m. Sunday, 11/20. Empty Bottle. 21+ $3. By Staff  \  comments