When it was time to do a video for its mostly instrumental song “Bad Advice” electro-pop duo Eight Bit Tiger decided to compile a video montage of life’s hilarious mistakes. What do I mean? Dance routines that end with someone getting hurt. Parkour tricks that go horribly awry. Are there people getting punched in sensitive areas? Of course! It’s all set to an insanely catchy dance tune with tons of funky bass and sparkling synths. Just make sure you’ve swallowed your orange juice before watching this clip. Eight Bit Tiger will celebrate its new album Parallel Synchronized Randomness with a release party tonight (Nov. 4) at Schubas with Boutros and Ghosthouse. Tickets are $10. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

[caption id="attachment_23398" align="aligncenter" width="445" caption="Rival Schools | Photo by Jon Boulier"][/caption]The sun is out and the temperature is down, but that is no reason not to go out and enjoy this weekend to the fullest. On tap this weekend are the post-hardcore sounds of Rival Schools at Schubas, the always enjoyable R&B groove of The Velcro Lewis Group at the Empty Bottle, plus a Halloween bash at Beat Kitchen featuring Magic Milk, Gabe Liebowitz from Dastardly and more. Step into the light already.

FRIDAY

RIVAL SCHOOLS Ten years in between albums is a tad unusual, but Rival Schools just aren’t any band. The post-hardcore supergroup - containing members of Quicksand, Gorilla Biscuits and CIV - released its rough and tumble debut United by Fate in 2001. The combination of Walter Schreifels’ hoarse vocals coupled with explosive, grinding guitars and thick, thumping rhythm section drew out every heavy emotion from your body just to let you know you still feel something. Fast forward to 2011 and the group has returned a little older and wiser with its sophomore effort Pedals. All the previous elements are still there - especially on “Shot after Shot” - if not a bit more melodically mature. Connecticut pop punkers Hostage Calm and Chicago post-hardcore punks All Eyes West open. (Audrey Leon) 10:00 p.m. Friday, 10/21. Schubas. 21+ $15.

SATURDAY

THE GREATEST COVER-UP Halloween comes early this weekend because our friends over at Betta Promotions are throwing a super fun shindig with your standard Halloween set-up: Cover sets! This bill is quite eclectic and spans quite a few genres. Gabe Liebowitz of Dastardly will become Morrissey, Rachel Sarah Thomas will be Joni Mitchell, Late in the Playoffs becomes pop punk stalwarts Save The Day, Old Soul Company is folk rockers Avett Brothers, indie outfit Carbon Tigers will be Pink Floyd, garage rockers Magic Milk go as the Rolling Stones and post-punkers Droughts will be Cursive. Whew. If you just can't wait one more week for Halloween shenanigans, dress on up for the greatest cover-up (Eh? Eh? Yeah.) (Richard Giraldi) 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 10/22. Beat Kitchen. 17+. $10. YAWN + A LULL Saki continues their always awesome Epitonic sessions this weekend with a double bill that makes perfect sense. Both locals Yawn and A Lull offer a psychedelic, electronic-tinged pop sound. Yawn does it with a whimsical, sample-based approach, while A Lull's songs are are a bit more moody as they ebb and flow like Lake Michigan during a storm. Add to the fact that both bands have released some of the best local records this year, and this show might just be a...wait for it...must see. (Richard Giraldi) 6:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/22. Saki. Free!

SUNDAY

IS/IS How about some good, old-fashioned dirty rock-and-roll? Minneapolis trio IS/IS straddles the line between dreamy shoegaze and noisy, fuzzed up garage rock. These femmes-fatales attack with their gritty as hell attitude and disarm you with plenty of atmospheric wailing. Kansas City hybrid psych-folk rocking singer-songwriter David Seume will open. Delightful Chicago baroque poppers The Hemmingbirds will headline. (Audrey Leon) 8:00 p.m. Sunday, 10/23. Reggie’s Music Joint. 21+ $5. VELCRO LEWIS GROUP Laissez les bons temps rouler! If there is any one group that get people to get down and have a good time, it would certainly be R&B rockers The Velcro Lewis Group. Singers Andy Slater, Hawk Colman and Lawrence Peters combine magic and soul into one hell of a Joe Cocker-style groove. If you haven’t check out the Chicago outfit’s Coach House Sounds performance, then you haven’t lived. Also bringing the heavy on Sunday night are local psych-rockers Dark Fog as well as like-minded lo-fi groove rockers Strychnine. Immediately following the show, stay for a FREE DJ set by Matt and Ralph from Rabble Rabble at 10 p.m. (Audrey Leon) 7:00 p.m. Sunday, 10/23. Empty Bottle. 21+ $3. By Staff  \  comments

[caption id="attachment_23319" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Screaming Females"][/caption]Three I-need-to-somehow-reinforce-my-umbrella-to-withstand-windstorms reasons to head down to Schubas tonight... 1. New Jersey trio Screaming Females have made a strong name for themselves in the few years that they’ve been together, catching the eye of bands such as Dinosaur Jr and The Dead Weather. And the fame is well-deserved because the trio – bassist King Mike, drummer Jarrett Dougherty and lead singer and guitarist Marissa Paternoster – play heavy garage pop with punk and blues rock tendencies. Their influences bleed through almost every composition; just try not to hear a bit of Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker’s vocal prowess on Screaming Females’ track “Dinosaurs” from its latest album Baby Teeth. If the ferocity behind Paternoster’s vocals doesn’t draw you in, her nimble guitar licks surely will. 2. The middle child of tonight’s festivities are San Pedro’s The Underground Railroad To Candyland. The group emits an old school power pop-punk vibe where almost every song (such as “Square Ball”) has potential for audience participation. Vocalist Todd Congelliere boasts some powerful vocal chops as he repeats every lyric to let you know it’s OK to chant along with the band. The end result is full of bouncy, fast-paced fun that you can slam-dance to. 3. And then there was The Treasure Fleet. The group contains Neil Hennessy of Chicago punks The Lawrence Arms and Smoking Popes as well as Dave Merriman and Issac Thotz of The Arrivals; rounding out the lineup are Todd Congelliere (pulling double duty) and Jimmy Jackets from San Pedro’s Toys That Kill. The outcome of all punk gumbo is a delightfully poptastic 60s-inspired, sometimes acoustic, rock. Killer. 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, 10/19. Schubas. All Ages. $10. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

[caption id="attachment_22884" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Netherfriends"][/caption] Shawn Rosenblatt (AKA Netherfriends) is truly the music lover's gift that keeps on giving. Even though he just released Netherfriends does Nilsson, Rosenblatt decided to celebrate the return of fall by writing the season’s first fiery, slow jam. “Fall (In Love Every Night)” expresses the softer, yet randy, side of Netherfriends while set to some slick sampled beats and soothing ambient background noise. It’s truly the new feel good hit of the fall. (Sorry, !!!) If you’re in need of a Netherfriends fix, you can catch them along with Cross Record and Bobby at Schubas on Monday, Oct. 3. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. By Audrey Leon  \  1 comment

[caption id="attachment_22800" align="aligncenter" width="445" caption="Asobi Seksu"][/caption] It's the autumnal equinox, Charlie Brown! In celebration of the first real day of fall, we've got a fine selection of shows for your weekend party planning. We're talking up The Hideout Block Party, Deerhoof, Asobi Seksu and much more! Come on. Feel the Illinoise, already!

FRIDAY

NEWVILLAGER Some bands make art for the sake of art. Naturally, I get a little worried, and somewhat intrigued when a band calls themselves a cross between Michael Jackson and the Beatles. Especially, when that really isn’t the case at all. NewVillager has some dance beats, albeit not Jackson-esque grooves, but they are there. Especially on the single “Lighthouse” from its 2011 self-titled album. And there’s some good-time pop sounds, though it's certainly not Beatles-esque. For ambient electro-pop – with deep, slow jamz tendencies – NewVillager is as decent as it gets. New Zealander computer-generated pop solo artist Annabel Alpers aka Bachelorette will also appear alongside the delightfully sweet sugar plum pop fairies Tiny Fireflies. I can’t rave about this Chicago duo anymore than I already have. (Audrey Leon) 10:00 p.m. Friday, 9/23. Empty Bottle. 21+ $12.

SATURDAY

HIDEOUT BLOCK PARTY After a couple years off in which Bloodshot Records threw a BBQ and the Mad Decent Block Party threw a, um, Block Party, the Hideout Block party returns to its root. Those being a celebration of one of Chicago's most recognizable venue and some of Chicago's best talent. This time around, the Hideout went for the firepower with headliners Andrew Bird and Mavis Staples. But there's more including, but not limited to, the always lovable White Mystery will bring the riffs, Kids These Days will bring the soul and The Eternals will bring the funk. (Richard Giraldi) 12:00 p.m. Saturday, 9/24. The Hideout. All Ages. $25. VILLAGE Chicago rockers Village have a real Pretenders vibe going on. Sure, they have a male singer, but they do the whole new wave, punk-pop thing with a hint of bluesy pysch rock thing very well. Also on hand are fellow Chicagoans Radar Eyes who will serve up some dark and sensible garage pop. Be sure to check out their new bassist. Opening the show are Oklahoma scratchy post-punk poppers Broncho. Broncho at Pancho’s. Dig it. (Audrey Leon) 9:00 p.m. Saturday, 9/24. Panchos. 18+ $6.

SUNDAY

ASOBI SEKSU Sometimes you need a little upbeat dream pop to brighten your day and make the week pass by, as if you’re riding on a soft, fluffy cloud. Singer Yuki Chikudate has a beautiful, just stunning voice that utilizes plenty of endearingly high falsettos that allow the listener to escape. On Asobi Seksu’s latest album Fluorescence branch out farther into the smooth pop style 90s rockers The Cranberries did so well - though with plenty of shoegaze elements present. Chikudate even sounds like singer Dolores O’Riordan on a few of Fluorescence tracks like “In My Head” and “Sighs.” Distortion-laden garage poppers White Birds will open. An excellent pairing all around that is well-worth the price of admission and then some. (Audrey Leon) 8:00 p.m. Sunday, 9/25. Schubas. 21+ $14. DEERHOOF It seems like Deerhoof stops in Chicago a couple times a year, but, hey, we're not complaining. We're always up for some spastic art-pop, which the San Fran quartet did quite well on their latest LP Deerhoof vs. Evil (Read my review of it here.) While not as frantic as their older work, Deerhoof vs. Evil finds the band going for some mellowers, spacey grooves. The Cloak Ox and Trin Tran open. (Richard Giraldi) 9:00 p.m. Sunday, 9/25. Bottom Lounge. 17+. $15. By Staff  \  comments

Do you like records? How about cheap booze? A pig roast? Schubas Tavern is throwing its first ever “Pig, Swig and Record Dig” event on Saturday, Oct. 1. From 11-4 p.m., the curious and the hungry can peruse CDs and LPs from Saki, Laurie’s Planet of Sound, Dusty Groove, Permanent and others while imbibing Sailor Jerry cocktails. That’s not all. If you ever admired the gig posters hanging up at Schubas, this is also your chance to snag a couple by great area artists such as Jay Ryan, Spike Press, Delicious Design League, Justin Santora and more. The all ages event is free, but the records and booze are not. So bring your money down to Schubas, located at 3159 N. Southport Ave. near Belmont. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Monday Afternoon Quick Fix runs every Monday afternoon to showcase the best of Chicago music news, views and stories from around the interwebs and blogosphere that we might have missed. Except, you know, today's Tuesday.

• • Bluesman David “Honeyboy” Edwards passed away last week at the age of 96.
• • Did you do "The Jerk" at the 40th anniversary Soul Train concert at Millennium Park on Monday? The Sun-Times has the lowdown on the event and where you can find host Don Cornelius’ honorary street sign.
• • Hipsters love Michael McDonald's dulcet vocals, didn't you know? Jessica Hopper talks to the DJs behind the dance party “Stay Smooth.”
• • Did you make the trek to see Pearl Jam’s 20th anniversary mega fest in the woods of Wisconsin this past weekend? Time Out Chicago did.
• • Gaper’s Block had some nice things to say about Paper Thick Wall’s video release party at Schubas last Friday, which featured performances by Dastardly and Sleeping in the Aviary.

By Audrey Leon  \  comments