With a massive influx of club rappers over the past two years, the local hip-hop scene has gotten a bit one-dimensional. But, thanks to newest Molemen recruit Astonish, brighter days are on the horizon. Since releasing his debut album From Now Until Forever, Astonish has impressed critics with his throwback raps and commanding stage presence—drawing comparisons to a grittier Lupe Fiasco. His performances have shown a steady growth, but it’s now to the point where fans are expecting the Humboldt Park native to really let loose and let his lyrics fly. Sub-T will be the perfect stomping ground for his "next big step," and if Astonish is anything like his fellow Molemen, he'll be more than up for the challenge. (J. Min)
Thursday, November 20 at 10pm Venue: Subterranean Tickets: $10
The Hard Lessons are not your average indie-rock band, or even your average two-guys-a-girl-and-an-organ indie-rock band. I mean, when's the last time you were at an indie-rock show and the sweaty frontman handed his guitar to someone in the balcony, then climbed up for a wicked solo, while his sultry bandmate did her best Tina Turner impression down below? I'm betting never. Unless of course you've been to a Hard Lessons show, in which case you don't need to be convinced to go to another one. Especially not one with local subversive singer-songwriter Cameron McGill on the ticket. (Ben Rubenstein)
Friday, November 21 at 9:30pm Venue: Beat Kitchen Tickets: $10
As one of the last heel-stomps of the Brit Blues rising, Savoy Brown paved one of the greatest rock and roll paths of all time with Led Zeppelin. Blues with sexy brass fills and loud-to-quiet soul bursts gave this artist his signature sound and swooned listeners with tracks like 1969’s "Train To Nowhere." Guitarist Kim Simmonds, who has crusaded for the continuation of Brown, will bring in the acoustics and those sultry Brit-blues sessions of yore. (Gavin Paul)
Friday, November 21 at 9pm Venue: FitzGerald's Tickets: $20
Here's a show that really highlights the diversity of the local rock scene. The M's have appeared on the brink of stardom for some time now, thanks to a strong catalog of tunes that has inspired comparisons to everyone from the Beatles to Bowie. Meanwhile, it'd be hard to compare Detholz! to anyone in particular. The band boasts one of Chicago's most unique frontmen in Jim Cooper, and has a major penchant for simultaneously mocking and respecting its bible-school past. Know this, Royal Bangs from Knoxville: You have a lot to live up to. (Ben Rubenstein)
Friday, November 21 at 10pm Venue: Hideout Tickets: $10
Qwel's status as a Christian rapper is a glaring deterrent, but before you dismiss his skills altogether give a good listen to his latest album The New Wine (2008). The album (produced by Kip Killagain) is one in a four part series that attempts to match sound with the graphic visual imagery portrayed in Revelations (the final chapter in the Christian Bible). And not only do Kip and Qwel capture the menacing vibe perfectly, they do it in a way that never gets overtly didactic. It's a great concept from one of Chicago’s most talented MC’s, and his show at Reggie’s will be a perfect display of how religion and rap can coexist. He'll be joined by a stellar group of openers including live hip-hop band Royce (think Gorillaz), Robust, Hellsent, Ecid and Jam One. (J. Min)
Mike Raspatello had a dream to marry bluegrass and blues, and he’s finally found a way to do it with this unique one-day festival that brings both genres into new and defining musical moments. Co-sponsored by Alligator and Bloodshot Records, the lineup boasts major talent and innovators including Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials, Ha Ha Tonka and Dollar Store. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Saving Tiny Heart Society, an organization that raises awareness and supports research about congenital heart defects in children. This festival, capped by the Avett Brothers (who recently signed with American/Columbia Records) is not to be missed. (Gavin Paul)
Alligator Records’ family trio, The Kinsey Report (Donald, Ralph and Kenneth) will debrief some rough and tough Mississippi-bred pain with Mama Rosa’s famous baked pasta and eggplant. Vocalist/guitarist Donald endured stints with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, of whose influences can’t help but breathe bits of rasta warmth from time to time. Expect organ-saturated and achy guitar solos backed by gritty lines like, "I'm gonna tell you something brotha/This city, it ain't nobody's friend," either dressed up by Donald’s past, or the group's collective past, when disco stole their spot on late 1970s charts, and they were forced to make people dance. (Gavin Paul)
Friday, November 28 at 9:30pm Venue: Rosa's Lounge Tickets: $10pm
Rejoining in Chicago, one of its two hubs of residence, Elliot Bergman's NOMO gives both highbrow music fans and casual listeners a chance to dance. Bergman is the mastermind behind the group’s funky, Afro-centric sound, and though he is a saxophonist by trade, recent years have found him also handling electronic loops and homemade electric versions of African metal-key instruments such as the mbira and kalimba. Bergman’s chops are nothing at which to sneeze, but his more recent role has allowed baritone saxophonist Dan Bennet to shine on stage. The split residence of NOMO’s members between Chicago and Ann Arbor can make it hard to catch all nine of them in one place, so don't miss the group's good-time tunes at Schubas. (Scott Morrow)
Friday, November 28 at 10:30pm Venue: Schubas Tickets: $12
Unsung shredder OSee Anderson joins Morseland this weekend as part of its free Saturday Blues Dinner series. The burly Chicagoan, who got his start in Alligator Records’ sessions as Lonnie Brooks’ lead and rhythm guitarist, now has three self-produced records of his own since his 1992 solo plunge. As a newly christened frontman, OSee pays respect to his mentor Willie Dixon, pairing meat and potatoes, electric grit with sewing machine-fast jazz tangents, glossy keys and Randy Newman drawl, finely showcased in the title and tracks of his debut LP, Old School, Nu School, but much more supremely self-dubbed "blusion." (Gavin Paul)
Saturday, November 29 at 7pm Venue: Morseland Tickets: $0
FREE
A native of Chicago and a member of the AACM, Matana Roberts is a spirited saxophonist and composer who resides in New York City. Her ties to Chicago have remained strong, and earlier this year, she released The Chicago Project, a three-pronged collaboration with some of the city’s free-jazz luminaries. The album’s guests include local legend Fred Anderson, who hosts Roberts at his Velvet Lounge and joins her gang for the second of two Chicago record-release shows. Roberts is a powerful and multi-faceted bandleader, and one of her many projects (Matana Roberts' Coin Coin) gave a stirring, eclectic performance earlier this year at the Chicago Cultural Center. Here she is aided by the rest of her usual Chicago cohorts, who follow her through free/out pieces, melodic creations and duets with Anderson. These guests include guitarist Jeff Parker, bassist Josh Abrams and drummer Frank Rosaly. (Scott Morrow)
Saturday, November 29 at 9:30pm Venue: Velvet Lounge Tickets: $15
