Brooding hometown psychedelics Cool Memories break the fourth wall between ambient and face-melting rock, howling like glory days Soundgarden. That's not even taking into account the Pink Floyd funky British folk quirks. Even if so, they pull it off in theatrical fashion. Openers the Art Department get off on working with notes capoed above the seventh fret, pitching their nasally folk not unlike clicking the wrong speed on a 45, that's addictively winsome if you're into plainspoken squall about "Standin' Around" and "Looking." (Gavin Paul)
Friday, September 3 at 10pm Venue: Hideout Tickets: $7
Champaign-Urbana's Kilborn Alley are mighty young contenders for best of the new-gen; a versatile five-piece with a stink-eye for studio gloss, and a love affair with post-war exuberance. Counting Chuck Berry, Junior Wells and Hubert Sumlin as influences, they pull off the gaps in generation and soul without missing a step. Their third effort, Better Off Now, just dropped this past March. (Gavin Paul)
Friday, September 3 at 9:30pm Venue: Rosa's Lounge Tickets: $10-$12
When these New York City preppies played Pitchfork two years ago, they seemed a little overwhelmed by the initial acclaim and ensuing critical backlash for their sprightly self-titled debut. What resulted were faithful-to-the-record renditions of those songs, highlighted by Ezra Koenig's earnest singing and Chris Tomson's always spot-on drumming. Now playing the tunes from this year's more far-ranging "Contra," the boys should be a little more at ease on stage. (Mike Clark)
Sunday, September 5 at 6pm Venue: Aragon Ballroom Tickets: $38
Hailed Brooklyn's most likely to kick up a cult, Not Blood, Paint, are a peculiar set of art rockers, swelling in Muse shimmering black fury, when not dragging gutty four-part harmonies not too far off the Yeasayer tribal affect. They’ve been known to stage tricks on the audience – i.e. a mock fight between two Abe Lincoln figures. You’ll hear some Cold War Kids, some Queen, all threaded in bits of soul and prog while a crew of back-up dancers color it glitter and glam. In other words, you will be entertained. (Gavin Paul)
The grandson of blues virtuoso R.L. Burnside, Kent brandishes the same, inherent master-tweak soul, of which he dubs "cotton field disco." Equipped with a five-piece band, and strung-out on lap-steel pulls, Kent digs his Americana as well. (Gavin Paul)
Krautrock founding father Michael Rother has rallied Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley, Tall Firs’ Aaron Mullan and the Secret Machine’s Ben Curtis to jam the ambient glory days of Rother’s immediate step outside of Kraftwerk. Neu! opened the floodgate to experimental guitar sounds and all of the new noises we so adore today. Chicago’s garage rock set, Disappears, gets the privilege of opening. (Gavin Paul)
Wednesday, September 8 at 9pm Venue: Lincoln Hall Tickets: $20
Despite several years of inactivity, Typical Cats is still a name that resonates deeply amongst underground loyalists. Together Qwazaar, Qwel and Denizen Kane (as well as DJ Natural and Kid Knish) have branded their style of hip-hop into the history books, and it's a shame their progress as a group has come to relative halt. The trio does, however, seem to come together often in support of one another's solo work and this time is no different, as Qwel is celebrating a new album with production demigod and label mate Maker. Owl is the duo's third full-length together, and it is full of the same potent, abstract grim and grit that fans have grown to love. Reggie's will be a perfect (and familiar) stomping ground for the G4 fam to congregate, so if you're a fan of the movement this will be a great opportunity to reacclimate yourself with some hometown legends. (J. Min)
Arkansas native Tail Dragger, a.k.a. James Yancy Jones, leads with the same "Back Door Man" rasp he's been spewing in dive bars before Jim Morrison ever saw a five-o’clock shadow. He's paired here as a special treat with Maxwell Street alum and Blues Hall of Famer Willie Buck and his 73 years young golden-soul ache. (Gavin Paul)
Saturday, September 11 at 10 p.m. Venue: Rosa's Lounge Tickets: $12
He was chewed and spit out by the blogosphere for his trash guitar distortions and indiscernible lyrics, culminating in some odd drug cocktail-exiting career hiatus at a Spanish music festival. But San Diego's Nathan Williams is riding a new comeback kid wave with sophomore drop King of the Beach, with two middle fingers and a joint in his mouth. "Laugh, I beg you laugh, right behind my back," he shreds in glistening pop clarity, heel-kick crunching, "I won’t ever die. I'll go surfing in my mind." Hipsters do forgive, it's true. SD tour-mates Christmas Island strip it down lo-fi, but still glimmer from the beach as openers. (Gavin Paul)
Sunday, September 12 at 7pm Venue: Lincoln Hall Tickets: $12-$14
Swan songing a surge of late-career panache, Blues Hall of Famer Willie Buck and fellow Chicagoan Billy Flynn stud the support at this annual Evanston winded throw-down. The event showcases Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton's old sideman, Jerry Portnoy, and a handful of session harpists from Highway Rickey to Japanese dynamo Shoji Naito leveling the energy something all at once lofty, hoedowny and threatening. (Gavin Paul)
Sunday, September 12 at 6pm Venue: SPACE Tickets: $15-$25
With his distinct baritone voice, dexterous wordplay and cool hand demeanor, South Side native Chali 2na is one of the most amiable personalities in hip-hop. For years he's been defined through a group setting — from the Cold Crush stylings of J5 to the bombastic musical orgies of Ozomatli — but it seems only now is he looking to venture out leafless and test his hand as a solo artist. Sure, Fish Outta Water dropped last year, but like the title implies, he's still trying to carve himself out a niche. His newest project, Fish Market Part 2, is a continuation of that process, and it reflects his growth as a father, husband, son and most recently, as a burgeoning painter. As far as his stage presence goes, Chali will always have that J5 moxie, which ought to make his performances a must-attend for any fan of great showmanship. Opening for Chali will be another blossoming emcee, All Natural alum Rita J. (J. Min)
