Sound Tribe Sector 9 (18 and Over) - Night One
Monday, December 29 • 9:30 PM
Ramova Theatre
3520 S. Halsted St
Chicago 60609
Sound Tribe Sector 9 (18 and Over) - Night Two
Tuesday, December 30 • 9:30 PM
Ramova Theatre
3520 S. Halsted St
Chicago 60609
Gimme Gimme Disco
Wednesday, December 31 • 9:00 PM
The Salt Shed Indoors (Shed)
1357 N Elston Ave
Chicago 60642
Sound Tribe Sector 9 (18 and Over) - Night Three
Wednesday, December 31 • 9:30 PM
No, your third eye isn't playing tricks on you—their shows are indeed an audio-visual spectacle, a sensory overload that makes even the most blasé hipster crave for more. If you're tired of humdrum band performances, STS9 is your high-octane antidote.
This isn't your typical indie band tucked away in a grimy basement; STS9 is a full-on, synesthesia-inducing experience. Catch them on the third and final night for a symphony of sound and light that'll make your Monday morning blues look like the palest shade of gray. Get ready to dance, head-bang, or just get lost in the rhythmic ether—whatever floats your cosmic canoe.
Ramova Theatre
3520 S. Halsted St
Chicago 60609
Laerz
Friday, January 9 • 9:00 PM
Bottom Lounge
1375 W. Lake St
Chicago 60607
Cate Le Bon with Frances Chang
Thursday, January 22 • 8:00 PM
Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport St
Chicago 60608
Dry Cleaning with YHWH Nailgun
Friday, January 23 • 8:00 PM
Lyricist and front-person, Florence Shaw, dredges up the hidden and unspeakable, making confessions that are as haunting as they are addictive. Armed with their latest release, they're not just playing songs, they’re hosting a spoken-word seance, summoning the spirits of Laurie Anderson and Sue Tompkins. Prodigious producer Cate Le Bon describes it as akin to walking through a city - and she's not wrong; each track is a borough, a street, a hidden alleyway you're compelled to explore.
Opening act YHWH Nailgun complements the engrossing headliner with a raw indie ferocity that'll make your heart skip a beat. This isn't just a concert, it's a revelation. The kind of night that makes you feel like you've discovered fire, the wheel, and the secret of the universe all at once.
So, if you're tired of scrolling through your feed, looking for that jolt of coolness to snap you out of your ennui, here's your chance. Say goodbye to the humdrum, say hello to Dry Cleaning. You'll thank us later.
Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport St
Chicago 60608
What's Her Face with Front Desk and AG & The Groove
Friday, January 23 • 8:00 PM
Sharing the stage, of course, is Front Desk. The genre-bending sextet straight out of Chicago's electrifying music scene. Their unique flavor - a thrilling fusion of funk, soul, rock, and jazz - has a reputation for making shows a playful improvisational playground, with tunes that have the crowd singing along and begging for more.
And let's not forget, AG & The Groove, offering a sound that's equal parts nostalgic and refreshingly new. These cats know how to set the theme for an impromptu night of sonic exploration.
Again, this is your last chance to see What's Her Face, as they are, before they morph into their next avatar. So, grab your plus one, soak in the tunes, and bid adieu to a name that sparked many a memorable night. This is not just another show—it's an indie rite of passage. The only question left is, are you in or out?
Joe's on Weed Street
940 West Weed St.
Chicago 60642
shame
Sunday, January 25 • 8:00 PM
Ditch the ennui, because Cutthroat isn't about wallowing in self-pity - it's a riotous "fuck you" to the status quo. The record dissects the bleak reality of our current era with a biting humor and a merciless eye, painting a vivid portrait of conflict, corruption, and the primal hunger for something better. This is shame at their most unapologetic - with a fresh, confrontational sound that's as explosive as a live wire, and just as electrifying. And when that slams into their new electronic experimentation? It's the sonic equivalent of igniting a can of gasoline.
From the blistering title track to the final echoes of the closer, Cutthroat is a masterclass in indie fury and dancefloor hedonism. So strap in, because this joyride is about to go from 0 to 100 - and you won't want to miss a single, heart-stopping second.
Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport St
Chicago 60608
Purelink / Pan-American
Thursday, February 5 • 9:00 PM
Having proven their mettle on the Lot Radio residency roster, Purelink has been making waves in North America's electronic music hotbed. Their recent 2023 album, "Signs", launched via the revered Peak Oil imprint, has been strafing run across the echelons of the music scene—racking up accolades from the likes of Pitchfork, Resident Advisor, and Crack Magazine, to name just a few.
Now, the anticipation is building towards their next full-length release, "Faith", due out on June 6th. The new project features vocal contributions from Loraine James and spoken word from Angelina Nonaj, bringing a fresh perspective to their signature sound.
Get yourself to the nearest dancefloor or risk missing the chance to witness the evolution of a future classic. With the number of gigs they've racked up alongside innovators like Huerco S, Tirzah, Loraine James, & DEBONAIR, their performances are a sonic kaleidoscope you just can't afford to miss.
Whether you're looking for an evening of introspective electronic journeying or the catharsis of a dancefloor moment, don't sleep on Purelink. This immersive, effervescent, and utterly epochal event promises to shake up your perception of what electronic music can be.
Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave.
Chicago 60622
Swimming Paul (18+ Event)
Thursday, February 5 • 10:00 PM
Concord Music Hall
2047 N. Milwaukee
Chicago 60647
Woof, What's Vital, Violet Waves, Zeno Camera
Friday, February 6 • 8:30 PM
We're talking Woof, the lo-fi trailblazers, bringing their distinctive blend of dream pop and bedroom folk that feels like listening to a Smith's record in a rain-soaked attic. Then there's What's Vital, coming in hot with their anthemic post-punk ballads that can turn even the most mundane Monday into an age of rebellion.
And just when you think you've hit peak indie, Violet Waves cascades in with their synthpop symphonies that make you feel like you're living in a pastel-infused, VHS aesthetic. Closing the show, we've got Zeno Camera—part experimental noise band, part existential philosophy seminar, their set is set to be the kind of dizzying existential ride that leaves you questioning everything but their talent.
This isn't just a gig. It's the indie equivalent of Woodstock. And missing it? That's about as cool as not knowing who Pavement is.
Reggies Music Joint
2105 South State Street
Chicago 60616
The Rock and Roll Playhouse plays Music of The Beatles + More for Kids
Sunday, February 8 • 11:30 AM
Can you imagine a mini mosh pit of toddlers bouncing to the Beatles? It's avant-garde. It's whimsical. It's the kind of subversive spectacle that makes you reconsider the boundaries of genre and generation. And, with a gentle nod to little eardrums, the volume's turned down, so no need to worry about your niece developing a taste for tinnitus.
As the kids thrash, you'll be consenting to your image being captured in all its glory - so style accordingly. Get there early to nab advanced tickets because, like a limited run of vinyls, these won't last. Oh, and remember to opt into The Rock and Roll Playhouse mailing list—it's the secret handshake to a whole new world of indie for the under 10s.
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Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport St
Chicago 60608
MELT ICE - A Stand With Minnesota Benefit Show
Friday, February 20 • 7:00 PM
Beware of third-party tricksters selling bogus tickets online—Bottom Lounge won't vouch for those. But don't worry, you'll snag your authentic entry pass in good time for the event. If your e-ticket hasn't fluttered into your inbox by T-minus three days, holler at the Lounge and they'll get you sorted.
Prepare for a Minnesota winter's night that'll leave you more stirred than a pensive Sufjan Stevens track and more electrified than a synthpop shockwave. This is a night not to be missed, a beacon of cool in the dark depths of a mellowed-out mid-winter.
Bottom Lounge
1375 W. Lake St
Chicago 60607
Ruby w/ Coach House, The Fighting Godot
Friday, February 20 • 7:30 PM
The names on the bill may be unassuming, but their artistry is anything but. Ruby's heartrending lyricism, Coach House's fusion of electronic and acoustic textures, and The Fighting Godot's confrontational yet cathartic energy come together for an evening that is sure to be etched into the annals of indie lore.
So, dust off your Doc Martens, don your most ironic graphic tee, and prepare for a night where the vibrations of the bass linger in your chest long after the last note has faded. This unmissable lineup is a siren call for the city's indie-obsessed, a promise whispered in the dark corners of the underground that nights of potent, unfiltered music are still alive and kicking. The only question left is, do you dare to dive in?
Cubby Bear
1059 West Addison
Chicago 60613
goodkitty w/ Jawson Dell, damsel.
Saturday, February 21 • 6:30 PM
Cubby Bear
1059 West Addison
Chicago 60613