For the Chicagoans who skipped Cubs postseason baseball to see Kanye West rock both the United Center and Allstate Arena on his floating stage during the Saint Pablo tour, it’s going to be tough for a show to come close to being as impressive as that. I get it, Ye’s one of the best showmen alive, but to be fair, there’s a slew of awesome concerts on this week’s docket—even if they’re featuring artists not as famous.
Check one or five of these out, enjoy the fall weather and tip your venue’s bartenders.
Tuesday, Oct. 11
Cymbals Eat Guitars, Field Mouse, Wildhoney
The Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave. 773-276-3600
Cymbals Eat Guitars have quietly become one of indie rock’s finest acts, shooting for more sweeping arrangements and grander ambitions songwriting-wise than their peers. Coming off the heels of their most recent album, “Pretty Years,” which is just as fantastic as their 2014 effort “LOSE,” the Empty Bottle’s always-vibrant Tuesday night crowd is in for a treat.
Tickets: ticketweb.com
Yeesh, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Vampyre, Fitness
Emporium (Wicker Park)
1366 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-697-7922
With “Confirmation Bias,” the sophomore album from Chicago’s Yeesh, this trio has one of the city’s best rock albums of the year. Fans of RedEye favorite Meat Wave will find a lot to love (the album does get incredibly loud), but Yeesh’s mathy guitars and knotty arrangements will give listeners tons to chew on for repeat listens. There are a few hilariously titled bands from Texas in support and also local punks Fitness, whose stellar 2015 album was recorded by none other than Meat Wave’s Joe Gac.
Tickets: Free, 21+
Thursday, Oct. 13
Palm, And The Kids, Oshwa
Subterranean
2011 W. North Ave. 773-278-6600
Even before I became the music reporter at RedEye, I knew that I wanted to write about Oshwa—one of the longtime favorite Chicago outfits. Heck, I even used the art-pop act in my job application. But what was once a four-piece band is now just the vessel of singer and songwriter Alicia Walter, who released the excellent and long-awaited LP “I We You Me” in August. Walter is moving to New York next month, which is really bumming me out, but on Thursday, Chicago will have one of its last opportunities to bid this phenomenal talent adieu. Oh yeah, Palm and And The Kids are headlining. They’re fine too.
Tickets: subt.net
Friday, Oct. 14
Oozing Wound, Rabble Rabble, Dim
The Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave. 773-276-3600
My favorite thing about Chicago thrash-trio Oozing Wound is that their music doesn’t need any frills to effectively be the sonic version of a punch in the face. They’re a loud rock band who are absolutely killer live, and conveniently they’re releasing their sprawling and gut-punching third album, “Whatever Forever,” on Friday via local label Thrill Jockey.
Tickets: ticketweb.com
Saturday, Oct. 15
Joyce Manor, The Hotelier, Crying
Metro
3730 N. Clark St. 773-549-4140
I’d list this concert in Show Up even if just one of these three acts were playing. All three? That’s a slam dunk. Speaking of successful shots, Joyce Manor made a great new album in “Cody,” their most ambitious foray into making palatable punk. Here, they split the difference between pop punk with fuzz-laden indie rock, giving the best of both worlds throughout the record’s lean 10 tracks. I’d also be an idiot if I didn’t mention former Pitchfork Fest performers The Hotelier, whose album “Goodness” I was rightfully roasted online for not including in RedEye’s Top 25 Albums of 2016 mid-year roundup.
Tickets: etix.com
Sunday, Oct. 16
Sia, Miguel, AlunaGeorge
United Center
1901 W. Madison St. 312-455-4500
I’m not the hugest fan of Sia, but I do love many of the songs she’s been a part of writing, like Beyoncé’s “Pretty Hurts” or Rihanna’s “Diamonds.” That said, Miguel is the best, and if you were unlucky enough to miss his sexy-AF Pitchfork set, you’d be smart not to miss this one.
Tickets: ticketmaster.com
@joshhterry | jterry@redeyechicago.com
