I don’t know if you’re into garage, punk, psych or chasing whiskey with Schlitz (or not chasing it at all), but if you are into any of these, go to this show. Mannequin Men, Radar Eyes and Le Tour are some of the most compelling bands in Chicago right now and a show combining all of these forces should not be missed.
Mannequin Men have been playing together for about eleven years and consequently present an air of experience as well as general bliss on stage. Their sound is rough and upbeat; they kind of sound like the Black Lips’ tougher dads. Radar Eyes are lower key than Mannequin Men, mixing the beach vibes with grungy basement sounds. Le Tour is a furious force of pedals, screeches and ballsy guitar solos that, if you listen closely, are neatly constructed by somebody who really knows what they’re doing.
Perhaps the most important factor linking all of these bands is that they are all composed of musically experienced and educated people who have made enough weird music in their time to do it right. Every act featured here is exceptional because they are unique, avoiding strict alternative rock classifications to make music that suggests several aggressive subgenres working together. Luckily for concertgoers, all of these subgenres combined with the showmanship of these bands amount to a feel-great, rowdy time. (Reilly Gill)
August 9 at Empty Bottle, 1035 North Western, (773)276-3600. 9:30pm. $10. 21+.
Cooling It: A Preview of Colleen Green at Cole’s Bar When Green strums power chords or chiming notes on top of her backing track, you might think you’re at Ramones karaoke night and Madonna is taking her turn.
Brutal Finesse: A Preview of King Crimson at Ravinia There have been few new compositions from King Crimson these past two decades, but the live arrangements of songs from its catalog are often strikingly different than the recorded versions.
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