Asobi Seksu

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.

The official lineup for this weekend’s party has been revealed and it’s a doozy. Chicago’s own Kid Sister, Ghetto Division, and Freddie Gibbs will appear at the party. And there’s going to be airhorns!

Mad Decent and Diesel are also holding a pre-party on Friday, August 20, featuring a DJ set by Willy Joy. There will be complimentary drinks and “Diesel Dollars” for use at the block party so you can buy Mad Decent swag and airhorns!

Official Chicago Block Party Lineup:

7:30 Kid Sister
7:15 Willy Joy
6:45 DJ Rashad
6:00 Blaqstarr
5:30 Bosco Delrey
5:15 Paul Devro
4:45 Maluca
4:30 Venus X
4:00 Freddie Gibbs
3:30 PO PO
2:45 Ghetto Division
2:00 Paul Devro
1:00 Willy Joy

The Mad Decent Block Party is happening Saturday, August 21 at the Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia Ave.) from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Diesel/Mad Decent Pre-party is going down Friday, August 20, at the Diesel store on 923 N. Rush St., from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Mad Decent Block Parties 2010 from Mad Decent on Vimeo.

And here’s the Mad Decent promo video featuring Diplo again for good measure. It’s not as awesome as the gathering of the Juggalos infomercial, but it’s just as good.

While no official details have been announced yet, Pitchfork unveiled DJ/record producer Diplo’s plans to take his Mad Decent records block party on the road with stops in several cities including Chicago at — you guessed it — the Hideout on August 21.

Not one to let the Juggalos have all the fun, Diplo made his own video, which you can watch below, urging everyone to catch the block party when it comes to your town (provided you live in Philadelphia, New York, Chicago or Los Angeles).

Mad Decent Block Parties 2010 from Mad Decent on Vimeo.

The Mad Decent block party will feature performances by its stable of artists such as Bosco Delrey, PO PO, Paul Devro and Maluca at all four dates. Each block party will have a special, secret headliner, according to Diplo.

Per Pitchfork:

“The rest of the bill changes from city to city, but at various points it’ll include the likes of Freddie Gibbs, Kid Sister, the Deathset, Blaqstarr, Ninjasonik, Theophilus London, and the Gaslamp Killer.”

Stay tuned for more information on the Hideout’s block party, featuring the likes of Diplo and his fellow Mad Decent artists.

This year’s block party will be devoted entirely to the 15th Anniversary of Chicago’s Bloodshot Records and is titled the Bloodshot Beer-B-Q. The good news is that the event will still take place outside the music club on West Wabansia starting at noon on Sept. 12.

The lineup from Jim DeRo’s Sun-Times blog is as follows:

Alejandro Escovedo, the Waco Brothers with Rico Bell, Bobby Bare Jr., Deadstring Brothers, the reunited Blacks, the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Scott H. Biram and a reunion by Moonshine Willy, playing one show only after a decade-long break.

According to bloodshotrecords.com, a $10 donation is required for admission and will benefit Rock For Kids and 826 Chicago. The event is also ALL AGES. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.