Now Here This - Week of April 23, 2012

Here is our weekly list of recommended shows to catch in, and around, the city. We promise never to waste your time, or our virtual ink, on shows we are not willing to plunk down our own hard-earned cash and time on ourselves. You can put these all down as shows worth your time and money as well.

Tuesday, April 24

Mice Parade (acoustic trio) @ The Hideout
$8 - 9pm
Opening: Cloudbirds

 

 

Folktronica outfit, Mice Parade offer an acoustic set at the fantastically quaint Hideout on Tuesday night. Their gorgeous blend of beaten percussion and candied acoustic guitar drizzling through mellow melodic vocals should work beautifully at the one of the city's best small-sized venues. The band's last album, What It Means To Be Left-Handed, was the very definition of dreamy indie cool, and we expect nothing less at the show.

 

Friday, April 27

JD McPherson @ Lincoln Hall
$15 - 10pm 
Opening: Mar Caribe

 

 

Regardless of your baseball alliances, JD McPherson's slick rockabilly offering "North Side Gal", fueled with his gritty vocals and a swaying dance of sock hop guitar and horns, is a winner. His album, Signs & Signifiers gained the attention of Rounder Records and is now getting re-issued for a larger audience this spring. With the popularity of Alabama Shakes' vintage take on rock n roll, this is prime time to jump on the JD McPherson bandwagon.

 

Electric Guest @ Schubas 
SOLD OUT - 10pm
Opening: Brother George

 

 

If rockabilly is not your thing, might we suggest the next Danger Mouse-produced hotness? We can only figure that the pre-release status of LA's Electric Guest's debut, Mondo, is why they are playing the wonderful bite-sized venue. One of the reasons we created this site is to give you the head's up on great up-and-coming bands playing venues far too small for their talent before they head to the giant-sized venues they deserve. This is one such case. Pick up the album tomorrow and get yourself a ticket to the show ASAP!

 

Saturday, April 28

Canasta @ Beat Kitchen
$10 - 10pm 
Opening: Hotel Lights, Milano

 

 

One of the best bands going out of Chicago, or anywhere for that matter, Canasta is one of the most consistently great bands we have ever had the pleasure of seeing. It is impossible to head to a Canasta show and not have a great time thanks to the breezy cheer of their eclectic take on indie pop is an absolute delight to behold. Come for "Mexico City", stay for their endearing take on Blackstreet's "No Diggity".

 

Monday, April 30

The Wombats @ Park West
$17.50 - 7pm

 

 

 

The Wombats' electro-laced sophomore album was one of 2011's best albums thanks to thumping synth-dipped gems like "Our Perfect Disease" and "Jump Into The Fog". Losing none of the sharp tongued writing that made their debut work, their shift to a more danceable side might have taken fans a little time to get used to, but last time the band was playing the tiny, but awesome, Subterranean and now they are at the expansive Park West. Amazing what a hit song and a little time for the album to sink in can do.

 

Looking ahead to next week
Tuesday, May 1 - Great Lake Swimmers @ Lincoln Hall - $15 - 8pm - Opening: Cold Specks
Thursday, May 3 - The Weekend @ Lincoln Hall - SOLD OUT - 9pm
Friday, May 4 - Emily Wells @ Schubas - $13 - 10pm - Opening: Portland Cello Project
Friday, May 4 - Over The Rhine (Acoustic) @ Space - $25-$45 - 8pm
Saturday, May 4 - Over The Rhine (Acoustic) @ Space - $25-$45 - 8pm
Sunday, May 5 - Suckers @ Empty Bottle - $12 - 10pm - Opening: Turn To Crime