After what seems like all of my friends called a rough week, it’s awesome that the Chicago music scene has several exciting shows on the way to help lift our spirits.
Thursday
Hoops, Stef Chura
The Hideout
1354 W. Wabansia Ave. 773-227-4433
Hailing from Bloomington, Ind., indie rock four-piece Hoops released one of the year’s best EPs with their short and sweet self-titled effort. Live, they’re as energetic and engaging as local band NE-HI, which is incredibly high praise coming from me
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.Tickets: Ticketfly.com
Saturday
Lydia Loveless
Metro Chicago
3730 N. Clark St. 773-549-4140
While she enjoyed Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” in our recent Blind Spots interview, the album didn’t exactly blow her away. I know for a fact that folks seeing Loveless at Metro Chicago this Saturday will be blown away by her firebrand nature and affecting brand of country-tinged rock ‘n’ roll.
Tickets: Etix.com
Saturday and Sunday
Thee Oh Sees, Running, GRÜN WASSER (Saturday)
Thalia Hall
1807 S. Allport St. 312-526-3851
Thee Oh Sees, The Blind Shake, Torture Love (Sunday)
The Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave. 773-276-3600
I’ve been lucky enough to see Thee Oh Sees several times at the Empty Bottle, and at each show, the John Dwyer-led garage rockers never disappoint. With a new album in their sights, the weirdly titled “An Odd Entrances” (the band’s 18th), it’ll be awesome to hear how the new songs sink in during a live show. Another plus about this band? Two drummers.
Both shows sold out.
Monday
Marrow, Fell Runner, V.V. Lightbody
The Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave. 773-276-3600
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We haven’t heard much from Marrow recently, but that’s because the band’s co-leader Macie Stewart and drummer Matt Carroll went on an extended tour with Pitchfork-fest alums Homme (which features Sima Cunningham). Since this feature will be taking a break next week for Thanksgiving, we’re including next Nov. 28’s free Empty Bottle set. It’s a perfect chance to catch the former RedEye cover stars as they continue to debut songs off their as-yet-unannounced follow-up to 2015’s promising “The Gold Standard.” V.V. Lightbody (aka Grandkids’ and Santah’s Vivi McConnell) opens, and I hope she plays her excellent cover of Jessica Pratt’s “Back, Baby.”
Tickets: Emptybottle.com