Assault The Weekend!

March 11th, 2010 by Oswald Hobbes / Comment on this post

Here at Assault HQ, we know how difficult it is to plan a weekend in Chicago. With so much good live music to choose from (and so much alcohol to drink to while you listen), who can decide? We can. Just follow this itinerary and you’re guaranteed an awesome time:

THURSDAY:

Start your weekend a little early with awesome Chicago band The Webelos -- they’re playing Martys’ at 9pm. Tickets are only $7, and trust me when I say that’s money well spent -- their upcoming EP is streaming free on their MySpace, and it’s the kind of hooky, charming indie pop that makes us stop punching each other in the nuts and start staring out the window wistfully. Catch these guys now, before Zach Braff ruins them by putting their excellent songs in a horrible movie! The Outbreaks and Push are supporting.

FRIDAY:

There’s really no choice this Friday if you’re in Chicago and you like to get pumped up: Direct Hit! is bringing their rambunctious brand of pop-punk to Slam Castle (3738 Addison). If you haven’t picked up the band’s wicked new EP #4, get it now so you can memorize the lyrics before show time! This has been described to me as a house party where they will “not be checking IDs,” so grab everyone you know and tell them it’s time to get pumped! The music starts at 8pm and these other rad bands will also be there: Bust!, Black For A Second, and Putter Sanford & The Gang. Make sure you bring some dough for t-shirts and beer! (Third World Timmy, Cory Tendering, and Oswald Hobbes will all be in attendance at this event, so bring a pen and something to sign -- we’re only charging $5 for atuographs.)

SATURDAY:

Saturday is actually a no-brainer as well, as Ted Leo & the Pharmacists are playing an all ages, $15 show at Bottom Lounge. Fistfights have been breaking out in here at Assault HQ about Leo’s new record, The Brutalist Bricks, and whether it represents enough of a step forward in the man’s musical evolution. I say fuck the “evolution,” personally -- Bricks is another wickedly infectious winner from the punk lifer, and I will get drunk while playing it a lot this summer. Title Tracks and Chicago Stone Lightning Band are providing support, and the show kicks off at 7pm.

(And if you need even more rock on Saturday, Titus Andronicus are playing a free in-store at the Reckless Records on 1532 N. Milwaukee. It starts and 4pm, and I bet the band is gonna unleash some tunes from it’s brand new powerhouse Civil War-concept album The Monitor. Titus is a whirlwind of fury and destruction -- I wouldn’t trust them inside my record store, but I guess that’s why my name isn’t Reckless.)

SUNDAY:

Friday and Saturday were just way too much fun: you gotta bring it down a little. Copeland will do that; they non-ironically describe themselves as “classically emo,” so you know exactly what to expect. I’m not hating, though -- I had a brief love affair with the second Brand New album in my younger days, so I can get into it. The band is playing at Metro, which means you’ll have a great view of the melodic moping. Also playing: I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business, Person L, and Deas Vail. Tickets are $16 for this (obviously) all-ages show, and it starts at 6pm.

MONDAY (BONUS!):

Since you rocked so hard all weekend, have a mellow Monday at Schubas with some prime indie folk: John Doe, who you probably best remember from the legendary X, will be cranking out some tunes from his new solo record, backed by Danny Black (from Assault favorites The Blacks). The show is 21+ and tickets are $12($14 at the door). The show starts at 8pm.