One of my most anticipated club shows of the summer is finally here. This Tuesday, Aug. 16, Atlanta’s Omni, who has one of my favorite records of the year in “Deluxe,” will be playing the Empty Bottle with Chicago standouts Melkbelly and Deeper. On top of that, shows from Celine Neon and, of course, Wilco and Twin Peaks round out a super-solid week of local concerts.
*** = Josh Terry’s pick for top show of the week.
Tuesday, Aug. 16
***Omni, Melkbelly, Deeper
The Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave. 773-276-3600
Front to back, this is my favorite bill of the week, and for a mere $8, it’s a total steal. Kicking off with Deeper, a Chicago band that premiered their single “Transmogrified” with RedEye back in May. Next is another excellent Chicago band Melkbelly, who will undoubtedly have some newish material to debut now that their “Elk Mountain” seven-inch record is set to drop this month. Topping off the lineup is Atlanta trio Omni, who, like I said earlier, do guitar jangle incredibly well with their most recent full-length, “Deluxe.” A show like this is one of the most perfect ways to get through the week, and the Empty Bottle couldn’t be a better place for it.
Tickets: $8 at ticketweb.com
Wednesday, Aug. 17
Celine Neon, Natalie Grace Alford, Wingtips
The Empty Bottle
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1035 N. Western Ave. 773-276-3600
The Empty Bottle’s Glitter Creeps night this month is a special one. We’ve written about Chicago duo Celine Neon pretty often at RedEye, and we’re not stopping anytime soon: This group is going to bring their charming and endlessly listenable pop music to the Empty Bottle. Like the sign on that venue’s awning, it’s a sure bet there’s going to be friendly dancing on Wednesday. Veteran local singer-songwriter Natalie Grace Alford is also celebrating her new EP release.
Tickets: $5 at ticketweb.com
Thursday, Aug. 18
Big Eyes, Endless Column, Polish Gifts
The Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave. 773-276-3600
I admit I’m a little late to the game on Brooklyn’s Big Eyes, a punk-minded garage rock outfit. However, the band’s upcoming album, “Stake My Claim,” is just the awesome record I’ve been waiting to listen to incessantly for the rest of the year. Frontwoman Kait Eldridge is a force to be reckoned with, and if you don’t believe me, I’m sure you will if you go to this show.
Tickets: $10 at ticketweb.com
Sunday, Aug. 21
Wilco, Twin Peaks
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
201 E Randolph St., 312-742-1168
Two generations of Chicago rock bands, who are both arguably the best of their respective classes, share the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage. It’s a big show for both acts. For one, Twin Peaks have never played Millennium Park, and while it’s not their biggest show to date, it may end up being their biggest Chicago show to date. Wilco, on the other hand, are gearing up to release their upcoming tenth studio album, “Wilco Schmilco.” When they released their last effort, “Star Wars,” they premiered the entire thing live at Pitchfork Music Festival, so here’s hoping they do the same at Millennium Park.
Tickets: Sold out.