FRI. 10/1/04 (5:30pm; donation)
Hard Country Honky-Tonk with
The Hoyle Brothers
The HOYLES consider themselves the ‘real thing’ and use traditional instrumentation to play Texas shuffle, rave-up and honky-tonk music from country’s ‘true’ musical legends, for those of you who long for and recall the days when ‘country was country’.

FRI. 10/1/04 (10:00pm; $8)
The Like Young label: Parasol
New Black label: Thick
Midstates label: Mental Monkey
THE LIKE YOUNG headline in the place of a cancelled ELECTRELANE, and are a pop music duo that features former members of beloved local outfit WOLFIE. They'll recently issued engaging new full length, So Serious, which is available now on Parasol Records. Energetic electropop locals NEW BLACK will also perform, playing in support of their recently issued Thick Records debut. Symphonic pop group MIDSTATES will open, who themselves released one of the finest localband albums last year, Shadowing Ghosts.

FRI. 10/1/04 (8:30pm; $13 advance, $15 door)
The Empty Bottle and the Onion present: (@ the Logan Square Auditorium - 2539 N. Kedzie, Chicago - ALL AGES)
The Wrens label: Absolutely Kosher
The Race label: Flameshovel
The Court & Spark label: Absolutely Kosher
Beloved rock act THE WRENS return, after playing a sold out show at the Logan Square Auditorium space back in March. A success story of sorts, THE WRENS have spent the better part of two decades now laboring over their craft, and in the face of various pitfalls are finally beginning to receive the sort of long deserved approbation they so justly deserve. They’ve found some stability within the industry these last couple of years and their third album, issued on Absolutely Kosher records, has received near universal acclaim. Local favorites THE RACE will play second, a group that has found critical success with recent EP release The Rose and more recently with new Flameshovel longplayer If You Can, an album that should finally earn them recognition as one of Chicago’s finest acts. San Francisco’s COURT & SPARK will open, a group influenced equally by country and rock, bringing the genres together to create bootcut mood music for fans of progressive Americana.

SAT. 10/2/04 (10:00pm; $13 advance, $15 door)
Contraphonic Showcase Featuring:
The Wrens label: Absolutely Kosher
Lesser Birds of Paradise label: Contraphonic, Loose Thread Recordings
The Five Mod Four label: Contraphonic
A success story of sorts, THE WRENS have spent the better part of two decades now laboring over their craft, and in the face of various pitfalls are finally beginning to receive the sort of long deserved approbation they so justly deserve. They’ve found some stability within the industry these last couple of years and their third album, issued on Absolutely Kosher records, has received near universal acclaim. LESSER BIRDS OF PARADISE will play second, supporting new long player, String of Bees. Released on Contraphonic, the album possesses an “informed sense of (the) American musical ancestry” and features “lush string accompaniments and subtle experiments with recording and digital manipulation.”Energetically incessant rockers FIVE MOD FOUR will be playing in support of their latest recorded endeavor, Portnoy, issued by the Contraphonic label earlier this year. Contraphonic has also recently reissued an earlier FIVE MOD FOUR EP, a split release with THE WRENS. Additional acts to be announced shortly...

SAT. 10/2/04 (9:30pm; $12)
The Empty Bottle presents: (@ the OpenEnd Gallery - 2000 W Fulton - ALL AGES)
Mountain Goats label: 3 Beads of Sweat, 4AD, Absolutely Kosher, Emperor Jones, Shrimper
Jon Vanderslice label: Barsuk
Will Johnson label: Undertow Music, Misra related: Centro-Matic
The Empty Bottle is extremely pleased to be presenting a special all ages performance with THE MOUTAIN GOATS at the OpenEnd gallery space. Over the course of a nearly fifteen year career, GOATS frontman JOHN DARNIELLE has been wildly prolific, releasing countless albums, cassettes, EP and singles on an equally daunting number of labels. Ardently 'lo fi' for most of his career, DARNIELLE has, with his signing to the regarded 4AD imprint, shifted gears somewhat, polishing some of the production values and interjecting a lushness not found on earlier works. (To great effect, we might add.) DARNIELLE will be joined contemporary and occasional collaborator JOHN VANDERSLICE, playing in support of newly minted Barsuk release Cellar Door. Former CENTRO-MATIC frontman WILL JOHNSON will open. After issuing a strong solo debut with Murder of Tides, JOHNSON has recently followed up that release with Vultures Await, another outstanding entry in what should ultimately prove to be a fine catalog of releases. Tickets are extremely limited, so purchasing tickets in advance is strongly encouraged.

SUN. 10/3/04 (3:30pm; donation)
Sinner Sundays with:
The Hoyle Brothers
THE HOYLE BROTHERS phenomenon continues, with an additional Sunday engagement, one that in this case features 'Texas two-step' lessons, an hour of original HOYLE BROTHERS material, and than another hour of 'THE HOYLE BROTHERS presents', sixty minutes of country music classics that features special guests invited weekly to join them live on the floor. The boot-scootin' stomps on…

SUN. 10/3/04 (9:30pm; $12)
Mountain Goats label: 3 Beads of Sweat, 4AD, Absolutely Kosher, Emperor Jones, Shrimper
Jon Vanderslice label: Barsuk
The second of two Chicago performances, THE MOUNTAIN GOATS headline a special Sunday show here at the Empty Bottle. Over the course of a nearly fifteen year career, GOATS frontman JOHN DARNIELLE has been wildly prolific, releasing countless albums, cassettes, EP and singles on an equally daunting number of labels. Ardently 'lo fi' for most of his career, DARNIELLE has, with his signing to the regarded 4AD imprint, shifted gears somewhat, polishing some of the production values and interjecting a lushness not found on earlier works. (To great effect, we might add.) DARNIELLE will be joined contemporary and occasional collaborator JOHN VANDERSLICE, playing in support of newly minted Barsuk release Cellar Door. Demand for tickets should be high, so interested parties should secure tickets well in advance.

MON. 10/4/04 (9:30pm; Free!)
Miles Tillman label: Consumers Research and Development, Sub:Marine Records, Toytronic Records
OMAC related: Mark Denardo
Signaldrift label: Outward Music Company, Wobblyhead
Innerstance Beatbox label: Consumer's Research & Development, Wobblyhead related: Def Harmonic
DJ Touchmaster Infinity
Our wildly successful 'free Mondays' series continues, and the shows themselves continue to get better and stronger with each successive month. On this particular occasion, we've got a full program of beat-based music. Subtly abstract electronics producer MILES TILLMAN will headline, playing alongside gameboy manipulator OMAC, the moniker of electrofolkie MARK DENARDO. Producer SIGNALDRIFT creates ambient discofunk that moves both the ass and the mind, and INTERSTANCE BEATBOX brings the dark electronic hip-hop, featuring flyguy emcee J.TODD of DEF HARMONIC.

TUE. 10/5/04 (9:30pm; $5)
The Chicago Improvisers Series presents:
The Tallest (a rock and roll band) related: Stories for Boys
Theater 521 performing 'Tales of the Tallest'
THEATRE 521, in association with THE TALLEST, proudly present Tales of the Tallest: a rock and roll radio play. "Written by THE TALLEST bass player MR. JOHNNY XYBOT, Tales of the Tallest is the first installation of a 1930's style sci-fi radio drama. The play is an account of the band's rise from a 'scrappy group of misfits to a crime-fighting super-band'. The radio play will be performed by THEATRE 521and will be followed by live music from THE TALLEST."

WED. 10/6/04 (9:30pm; $5)
The Empty Bottle Jazz Series Presents:
Charlie Kohlhase / Matt Langley Duo with Jason Adasiewicz, Axel Döerner, Fred Lonberg-Holm label: Boxholder, Accurate, CIMP
The Empty Bottle Jazz Series is pleased to be presenting a special concert program with Boston-based reedist CHARLIE KOHLHASE. KOHLHASE is an inventive composer with a wry sense of humor who has, since the late eighties, fronted a quintet under his own name. Fellow CHARLIE KOHLHASE QUINTET reedist MATT LANGLEY will also perform and the two will open the program with a set of material playing as a duo. For the second set, they will be joined by vibes player JASON ADASIEWICZ, renowned German trumpeter AXEL DÖRNER and cellist FRED LONGBERG-HOLM, an amazing gathering of talented improvisers performing in what promises to be a remarkable setting.

THU. 10/7/04 (9:30pm; $10)
Natural History label: Startime International
The M's label: Brilliante
The Dead Science label: Absolutely Kosher related: Xiu Xiu
New York postpunk popsters the NATURAL HISTORY return, playing in support of Startime International release Beat Beat Heartbeat. The group craft angular, economic pop rock influenced equally by the new wave and postpunk sensibilities of the late seventies and early eighties. Promising locals the M’s have recently issued their self-titled debut, an album of melodic noise pop that has earned them fans in both critics and fans alike. Arty experimentalists DEAD SCIENCE will open. The trio share members with Absolutely Kosher labelmates XIU XIU, and themselves entwine dark pop elements with various avant garde idioms. This marks their Empty Bottle debut.

FRI. 10/8/04 (5:30pm; donation)
Hard Country Honky-Tonk with:
The Hoyle Brothers
The HOYLES consider themselves the ‘real thing’ and use traditional instrumentation to play Texas shuffle, rave-up and honky-tonk music from country’s ‘true’ musical legends, for those of you who long for and recall the days when ‘country was country’.

FRI. 10/8/04 (9:30pm; $8)
Lair of the Minotaur (record release) label: Southern Lord related: 7000 Dying Rats, Pelican
Behold! The Living Corpse label: Original Sound Recordings
Zombi label: Relapse
Borne of the remains of 7000 DYING RATS and featuring members of local drone metal ensemble PELICAN, LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR play crushing metal of the finest sort. After releasing their own self-titled EP debut in 2003, the group moved quickly to doomsday imprint Southern Lord, and readied their first full length, Carnage, shortly thereafter. Brutal heavies BEHOLD! THE LIVING CORPSE return, and have issued a new retrospective collection of material on the Original Sound Recordings imprint. Pittsburg-based doomscape artists ZOMBI will open. The group compose dark ambient soundcapes using drums and synthesizer - reverent odes to the horror movie soundtracks of decades past – and have just recently released their Relapse debut, Cosmos.

SAT. 10/9/04 (10:00pm; $8 advance, $10 door)
Solvent label: Ghostly International, Morr Music, Suctino
Lusine label: Ghostly International, Isophlux, Mad Monkey, U-Cover
Skeletons label: Shinkoyo
Toronto based producer SOLVENT has been recording his unique style of elegant, sophisticated 'robot music' since the late nineties, having issued albums on his own Suction imprint, as well as Morr Music and - with the release of Apples & Synthesizers - Ghostly International. He'll be joined by new labelmate LUSINE, an abstract, ambient electronics producer and sound designer that has issued several remixes and singles for Ghostly, in additional to releases on Isophlux, Mad Monkey and U-Cover. SKELETONS producer MATT MEHLAN creates delicate electronic compositions using innovative and at times contrasting musical elements. He'll be playing in support of forthcoming Shinkoyo release I'm at the Top of the World.

SUN. 10/10/04 (3:30pm; donation)
Sinner Sundays with:
The Hoyle Brothers
THE HOYLE BROTHERS phenomenon continues, with an additional Sunday engagement, one that in this case features 'Texas two-step' lessons, an hour of original HOYLE BROTHERS material, and than another hour of 'THE HOYLE BROTHERS presents', sixty minutes of country music classics that features special guests invited weekly to join them live on the floor. The boot-scootin' stomps on…

SUN. 10/10/04 (9:30pm; Free!)
Singledom be Damned! A Bachelor / Bachelorette Party featuring
DJ Le Beast
DJ Junior
DJ High Life
and more...

SUN. 10/10/04 (9:00pm; $10)
The Empty Bottle and the Onion present: (@ the Logan Square Auditorium - 2539 N. Kedzie, Chicago - ALL AGES)
Q And Not U label: Dischord
El Guapo label: Dischord
Et At It label: Northern Liberties
The Empty Bottle is pleased to be presenting an all ages event with enigmatic spazz pop outfit Q AND NOT U at the LOGAN SQUARE AUDITORIUM. The DC based group has issued three albums for the venerable Dischord imprint, and their latest, Power, is as infectious and rousing as its predecessors, an album that thoroughly bests many of their less talented contemporaries. Experimental art ensemble EL GUAPO has been one of the most provocative trios in music since forming in the late nineties, and have incorporated a wide range of musical idioms into their consistently evolving songcraft. Both groups will be joined by newcomes ET AT IT. ET AT IT have just released I Count, the third album issued by IAN MACKAYE on his new Northern Liberties imprint, a label dedicated to critical but ‘obscure’ musics.

MON. 10/11/04 (9:30pm; $8)
Old Canes label: Second Nature Recordings related: The Appleseed Cast, The Casket Lottery, Minus Times
Son, Ambulance label: Saddle Creek related: Bright Eyes
The Glass label: Makeshift Music
OLD CANES is a newer project from APPLESEED CAST frontman CHRISTOPHER CRISCI. Joined by multi-instrumentalist JORDAN GEIGER, the two play casual, scattered lo fidelity pop music that is by turns catchy, haunting, lighthearted and loose. Omaha’s SON, AMBULANCE is the project of another multi-instrumentalist, JOE KNAPP, a prominent working member of the underground music community there. SON issued a full-length on Saddle Creek some year’s back, and will purportedly be previewing some newer material here. Memphis’ THE GLASS will open, playing in support of new Makeshift Music release Concorde.

TUE. 10/12/04 (9:30pm; $8)
Fly Pan Am (Canada) label: Constellation
Mono (Japan) label: Arena Rock Recording Company, Tzadik, Temporary Residence
Timeout Drawer label: SomeOddPilot
Montreal-based FLY PAN AM is the main project of GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR guitarist ROGER TELLIER-CRAIG. Though both groups create sophisticated instrumental compositions, PAN AM maintains a more reserved, minimalist approach. They’ve just issued a fantastic new longplayer in N’Ecouterz Pas, released by the Canadian imprint Constellation. Fellow instrumentalists MONO will be making a rare stateside appearance in support of two fine new releases, New York Soundtracks and Walking Cloud and Deep Red Sky, Flag Fluttered and the Sun Shined. Like many of their noiserock contemporaries, MONO use clashing harmonies and fragmented power chords, but where they differ is in their use of spacing and sonic quietude, which allows them to create smartly orchestrated compositions that are inherently unique. Subtle, understated space rockers TIMEOUT DRAWER will open, playing in support of last year’s Chocolate Industries EP release Presents Left for the Living Dead.

WED. 10/13/04 (9:30pm; $7)
The Empty Bottle Jazz Series presents:
What We Live featuring Saadet Turkoez (Turkey) with Donald Robinson, Lisle Ellis, Saadet Turkoez, Larry Ochs related: Rova
The Empty Bottle is pleased to be hosting WHAT WE LIVE, featuring SAADET TURKOEZ. WHAT WE LIVE is a trio that features former CECIL TAYLOR bassist LISLE ELLIS, ROVA SAX QUARTET founder LAWRENCE OCHS and percussionist DON ROBISON. The three will be joined by Turkish free music vocalist SAADET TURKOEZ. This will be the first extended tour of the US for TURKOEZ, and her first stateside performance with a jazz-based rhythm section.

THU. 10/14/04 (10:00pm; $10 advance, $12 door)
Solex (Netherlands) label: Matador, Arena Rock Recording Company
On!Air!Library! label: Bellhop, Arena Rock Recording Company
Worm is Green (Iceland) label: Arena Rock Recording Company
Techno pop collage artist SOLEX returns to the US. She’ll be supporting a new album, The Laughing Stock of Indie Rock, her first for new label Arena Rock Recording Company. She’ll be joined by experimental post rock trio ON! AIR! LIBRARY! ON! AIR! have a couple of EPS to their credit – one a split with ALBUM LEAF – and have just recently released their first full self-titled full length. This show marks their Empty Bottle debut. Icelanders WORM IS GREEN will be making their Chicago debut, playing in support of new Arena Rock release Automagic, an album that features dreamy pop vocals layered upon rich ambient textures and the occasional dancefloor beat.

FRI. 10/15/04 (5:30pm; donation)
Hard Country Honky-Tonk with:
The Dan Whitaker Band
The HOYLES consider themselves the ‘real thing’ and use traditional instrumentation to play Texas shuffle, rave-up and honky-tonk music from country’s ‘true’ musical legends, for those of you who long for and recall the days when ‘country was country’.

FRI. 10/15/04 (10:00pm; $8)
Poster Children (record release) label: Frontier, Hidden Agenda, Reprise, Sire, spinART
Headlights label: Polyvinyl
The Idle Hours
The POSTER CHILDREN return for a special record release party, playing in support of new politically-charged EP On the Offensive. The album is a collection of politically inspired covers, recorded, in the words of PCHILDREN guitarist RICK VALENTIN, "because we're pissed off and we don't feel like keeping it to ourselves." The CHILDREN will be joined by new Polyvinyl outfit HEADLIGHTS, a group fashioned by former members of ABSINTHE BLIND and MASERATI, as well as fellow Champaign denizens THE IDLE HOURS.

FRI. 10/15/04 (8:30pm; $10 advance, $12 door)
The Empty Bottle and the Onion present: (@ the Logan Square Auditorium - 2539 N. Kedzie, Chicago - ALL AGES)
Explosions in the Sky label: Temporary Residence
Adem (United Kingdom) label: Domino related: Fridge
The Motion label: Sad Loud America
The Empty Bottle is pleased to be presenting an all ages event with stirring instrumental ensemble EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY at the LOGAN SQUARE AUDITORIUM. With the release of their first effort, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever, the group was quickly embraced by critics, fans and peers alike, an appreciation and fondness that only grew deeper with the release of the heady, meditative Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place. Multi-instrumentalist ADEM will also perform. Bassist for regarded post rock outfit FRIDGE, ADEM has just released debut full length Homesongs for Domino, an album of eclectic, pastoral music that features languid, wistful vocal narratives. Local rock act THE MOTION will open.

SAT. 10/16/04 (7:00pm; $8)
Don't Quit Your Day Job II featuring:
Twin Wrecks the Memory
Los Gatos Diablos
Centre
Shaista Bosch
Computron
Ludus Lovestyle
Naughty Candy
Johnny Moe
Palliard
Paul Stauffer
Join us for this special showcase, the second featuring employees of venerated Chicago mainstay THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO. Art world workers by day, many of the members of the AIC staff have an active interest in music as well and participate in a variety of musical projects on their own time. Don't Quite Your Day Job is a showcase that seeks to celebrate and highlight many of these acts, a full program that will include live performances by TWIN WRECKS THE MEMORY, LOS GATOS DIABLOS, CENTRE, SHAISTA BOSCH, COMPUTRON, LUDAS LOVESTYLE, NAUGHTY CANDY, JOHNNY MOE, PALLIARD and PAUL STAUFFER. Musically, the evening will include a wide range of styles, everything from Americana, funk, garage, groove, noise, pop and psychedelic musics.

SUN. 10/17/04 (3:30pm; donation)
Sinner Sundays with:
The Dan Whitaker Band
THE HOYLE BROTHERS phenomenon continues, with an additional Sunday engagement, one that in this case features 'Texas two-step' lessons, an hour of original HOYLE BROTHERS material, and than another hour of 'THE HOYLE BROTHERS presents', sixty minutes of country music classics that features special guests invited weekly to join them live on the floor. The boot-scootin' stomps on…

SUN. 10/17/04 (9:30pm; $8)
Cerberus Shoal label: North East Indie, Pandemonium, Stella White, Temprorary Residence
Born Heller label: Locust Music
Michael Columbia
Experimental collective CERBERUS SHOAL return, a free spirited ensemble informed by a wide, wide ranging of musical elements, pulling them together to create a unique form of open-ended avant folk. Tirelessly prolific, SHOAL has released an album a year since the late nineties and have recently issued their finest effort to date, Bastion of Itchy Preeves. BORN HELLER will play second, a group that features bright-light local talents JOSEPHINE FOSTER and JASON AJEMIAN. The two will be playing in support of their self-titled Locust debut, an album of discerning, 'earthen' folk that ably captures the spirit of musics both present and past. Arty locals MICHAEL COLUMBIA will open.

MON. 10/18/04 (9:30pm; Free!)
Chin Up Chin Up label: Record Label, Flameshovel
The Race label: Flameshovel
Tight Phantomz label: Southern
Another in our beloved series of 'free Monday' shows, this particular evening will serve as a record release show for local pop outfit CHIN UP CHIN UP. The group will be celebrating the release of new Flameshovel longplayer We Never Should Have Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers, an album of meticulous, tender pop. Two very special guests will be announced shortly, so do stay tuned...

TUE. 10/19/04 (9:30pm; $6)
The Chicago Improvisers Series presents:
The Erickson / Lonberg-Holm / Zerang Trio with Sture Erickson, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Michael Zerang
The Chicago Improvisers Series is pleased to welcome a trio featuring Scandinavian saxophonist STURE ERICKSON. ERICKSON will be joined by cellist FRED LONBERG-HOLM and percussionist MICHAEL ZERANG, and the trio will perform two sets of composed and improvised material.

WED. 10/20/04 (9:30pm; $10)
Do Make Say Think (Canada) label: Constellation
Mobius Band label: Ghostly International, Prescription Rails
Sainte Chapelle (record release) label: Cardboard Sangria
Toronto-based improv ensemble DO MAKE SAY THINK return to the US, playing in support of last year's Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn. The sextet play vaguely psychedelic instrumental music using bass, drums (two sets!), guitars, keyboards and trumpet. For this performance, they'll be joined by new Ghostly signing THE MOBIUS BAND. MOBIUS is a trio that use a variety of tuneful elements - electronic, experimental, pop and rock - to create music that deftly and smartly ensconces the ideas and sensibilities of each. Haunting experimentalists SAINTE CHAPELLE will open, and will be celebrating the release of new album Soon to Fail.

THU. 10/21/04 (9:30pm; $8)
Decibully label: Polyvinyl
Shearwater label: Misra related: Okkervil River
El Oso label: Contraphonic
DECIBULLY return to the Empty Bottle, playing in support of their latest Polyvinyl release City of Festivals. The group reference a variety of influences to create a “rich blend of finely interspersed layers tinged with country-esque flourishes, subtle electronic twinges and rockist undertones, topping it all of with a mix of wry, lyrical quixotism.” Originally conceived as a one-off collaboration between OKKERVIL RIVER members WILL SHEFF and JONATHAN MEIBURG, SHEARWATER was intended to be a one-time songwriting vehicle for the two. However, they were so pleased with the results they decided that SHEARWATER would be an ongoing concern and have since released three albums worth of material, the latest of which, Winged Life, was issued by Misra earlier this year. Opener to be announced shortly...

FRI. 10/22/04 (5:30pm; donation)
Hard Country Honky-Tonk with:
The Dan Whitaker Band
The HOYLES consider themselves the ‘real thing’ and use traditional instrumentation to play Texas shuffle, rave-up and honky-tonk music from country’s ‘true’ musical legends, for those of you who long for and recall the days when ‘country was country’.

FRI. 10/22/04 (10:00pm; $10 advance, $12 door)
VHS or Beta label: Astralwerks, On!
The Fever label: Kemado
Assassins
Disc Jockey CB (Life During Wartime)
Discopunk outfit VHS OR BETA return, playing in support of new Astralwerks release Night on Fire. The group issued their debut, Le Funk, on their own On! Records, an album that was well received in underground circles upon its release. Their clever blending of disco, funk and house musics makes like a houseparty on record, but VHS are no joke live, so one can expect that they'll try to tear the roof of this piece. New Yorker glam rock outfit THE FEVER continue to receive the 'heavy' hype, and have been collecting their fare share of hyperbolic superlatives (and have the press clippings to prove it) in the overground media at large. The group play high energy party rock music informed by a wide range of influences. The Fader called released EP release Pink on Pink "frickin' awesome", an EP that was recently followed up with the Red Bedroom full length, issued by the Kemado label. Much hyped locals ASSASSINS will open, marking their Empty Bottle debut, and LIFE DURING WARTIME deejay DISC JOCKEY CB will deejay throughout.

SAT. 10/23/04 (10:00pm; $10)
David Thomas and two pale boys label: Smog Veil related: Pere Ubu, Rocket From The Tombs
Stag Party
Uncut label: Paperbag
PERE UBU vocalist and underground artpunk icon DAVID THOMAS performs, with his TWO PALE BOYS project. PERE UBU issued their debut, Modern Dance, in 1978, following it up with two more masterworks – Dub Housing and Art of Walking, respectively. The albums received rousing acclaim from critics but were met with general indifference by consumers. The group disbanded, but then reformed sporadically over the years since, with THOMAS fronting various offshoots all the while. DAVID THOMAS and TWO PALE BOYS released their first album Surf’s Up several years ago, and have recently followed it up with a new Smog Veil release 18 Monkeys on a Dead Man’s Chest. Beguiling, indomitable locals STAG PARTY will play second, and brooding Canadian dancepunk group UNCUT will open.

SUN. 10/24/04 (3:30pm; donation)
Sinner Sundays with:
The Dan Whitaker Band
THE HOYLE BROTHERS phenomenon continues, with an additional Sunday engagement, one that in this case features 'Texas two-step' lessons, an hour of original HOYLE BROTHERS material, and than another hour of 'THE HOYLE BROTHERS presents', sixty minutes of country music classics that features special guests invited weekly to join them live on the floor. The boot-scootin' stomps on…

SUN. 10/24/04 (9:30pm; $8)
City on Film label: Post436 related: Braid, Hey Mercedes
Narrator label: Flameshovel
Novi Split label: Sunset Alliance related: Kind of Like Spitting
Former BRAID and HEY MERCEDES member BOB NANNA returns with a new project, THE CITY ON FILM. He's just issued debut I'd Rather Be a Wine Drunk, an arty, poignant album that was purportedly recorded in a hotel room in a single afternoon. Emotive noiseniks THE NARRATOR, one of Chicago's most promising young groups, will play second, and KIND OF LIKE SPITTING offshoot NOVI SPLIT will open.

MON. 10/25/04 (9:30pm; Free!)
Actually, Records showcase, featuring:
Enemy Sun
The Handshake label: Actually
XYZR_KX label: Actually
Maria Photopulos label: Actually
Our series of 'free Monday' shows continues, this time out with a label showcase organized by the promising Actually, Records imprint. The evening will feature live performances by THE HANDSHAKE, VOLCANO!, XYZR_KX and MARIA PHOTOPULOS.

TUE. 10/26/04 (9:30pm; $3)
The Chicago Improvisers Series presents:
The Paul Hartsaw Quartet with Paul Hartsaw, Anton Hatwich, Tobias Kaemmer, Frank Rosaly
The Chicago Improvisers Series is pleased to present a concert with saxophonist PAUL HARTSAW. HARTSAW will be leading a quartet that features several prominent Chicago-based improvisers, a group that includes ANTON HATWICH on bass, TOBIAS KAEMMER on trumpet and FRANK ROSALY on drums.

TUE. 10/26/04 (10:00pm; $8)
The Empty Bottle presents: (@ Sonotheque - 1444 W. Chicago)
Beans (record release) label: Warp related: Anti-Pop Consortium
DJ John Herndon related: A Grape Dope, Tortoise
DJ Joel Kriske related: Pulseprogramming
Former ANTI-POP CONSORTIUM emcee and producer BEANS will be celebrating the release of a new Warp longplayer with a special live show performance at Sonotheque. The new joint, Shock City Maverick, features the sort of janky beats and perverse lyrical stylings fans have grown accustomed to, and he continues to blow minds and turn heads with each outing. Special guests will be announced shortly...

WED. 10/27/04 (9:30pm; $5)
The Empty Bottle Jazz Series presents:
The Aoki / Wilkerson / Zerang Trio with Michael Zerang, Edward Wilkerson, Tatsu Aoki
The Empty Bottle is pleased to be hosting a Jazz Series program with outstanding improvisers TATSU AOKI, MICHAEL ZERANG and EDWARD WILKERSON. Bassist TATSU AOKI is one of the city’s finest bass players, and has worked with the likes of FRED ANDERSON, MALACHI FAVORS and VON FREEMAN, among others. Percussionist MICHAEL ZERANG has himself played alongside many of free music’s brightest talents, including PETER BRÖTZMANN, JOHN BUTCHER, AXEL DÖRNER and HAMID DRAKE, again among many others. AACM member EDWARD WILKERSON is a saxophone legend, leading prominent, regarded ensembles 8 BOLD SOULS and SHADOW VIGNETTES. This is a rare grouping for the three, so don’t miss this opportunity to see three of the city’s finest musicians perform in a comfortable, intimate small club setting.

THU. 10/28/04 (9:30pm; $8)
The Peelers label: Orange Recordings
The Bamboo Kids label: Big Dipper
The Blackouts label: Lucid
Loud as hell and even more energetic, rock and roll outfit the PEELERS have recently issued their full length debut, the TIM KERR produced THEGETDOWNSYNDROME, hot on the heals of their Midwest Royalty seven. Last year, they were polled in New City as Chicago's best new band, and have since maybe become one of the city's best live acts. NYC trio BAMBOO KIDS have been receiving many accolades themselves, and were recently voted the 'Best Unsigned Band' in New York by the NY Press. Timeout New York describes their sound as "foot stomping, guitar string snapping, head swinging rock and roll that would make THE KINKS and THE JAM proud." Champaign based rock ensemble THE BLACKOUTS have long been a favorite of ours, and return after a bit of an EB absence to open the show here.

THU. 10/28/04 (10:00pm; $12)
The Empty Bottle presents: (@ the OpenEnd Gallery - 2000 W Fulton - ALL AGES)
Deerhoof label: 5 Rue Christine, Kill Rock Stars
Volcano!
Considering the earnest revisionism in todays rock marketplace, it is nice to see an adventurous bunch of garage punks muck things a bit with artful tastefulness and pure originality. Long a respected outfit of those in the know, DEERHOOF are poised to go 'overground' with recent KRS release Milk Man, an album that supersedes even their own past efforts, which are quite wicked in their own right. We’re pleased to be presenting the group at the all ages Open End artspace. As with past Open End shows, tickets will be limited, so we encourage interested parties to secure tickets well in advance. Local pop deconstructionists VOLCANO! will open.

FRI. 10/29/04 (5:30pm; donation)
Hard Country Honky-Tonk with:
The Dan Whitaker Band
The HOYLES consider themselves the ‘real thing’ and use traditional instrumentation to play Texas shuffle, rave-up and honky-tonk music from country’s ‘true’ musical legends, for those of you who long for and recall the days when ‘country was country’.

FRI. 10/29/04 (10:00pm; $8 advance, $10 door)
Joan of Arc label: Jade Tree, Perishable, Polyvinyl related: Cap'n Jazz, Love of Everything, Make Believe, Owls
Zelienople (record release) label: Loose Thread Recordings
Matt Marque label: Truckstop
JOAN OF ARC return, playing in support of new release Joan of Arc, Dick Cheney, Mark Twain, a conceptual work that is artfully verbose and musically spry, wherein frontman TIM KINSELLA offers abstract narratives that the band then deftly responds to with a light-handed technical virtuosity. Ambient drone rockers ZELIENOPLE will be celebrating the release of their latest recording endeavor, Sleeper Coach. The group use loops, rhythms and varying textural elements to create restrained, sublime soundscapes, a sound Splendid has enthusiastically called “oblique and mysterious and ungraspable”. Opener to be announced.

FRI. 10/29/04 (10:00pm; $10 advance, $12 door)
The Empty Bottle presents: (@ the OpenEnd Gallery - 2000 W Fulton - ALL AGES)
Plush (record release) label: Afterhours, Drag City
Alasdair Roberts (Scotland) label: Drag City related: Appendix Out
By Lightning to the Womb label: Joan of Arc, Rabbit Rabbit, Pinebender
Drag City DJs
Drag City Records and the Empty Bottle are pleased to be presenting a special artspace show with PLUSH and ALASDAIR ROBERTS at the OpenEnd Gallery. The event will celebrate the release of newly issued PLUSH longplayer Underfed. A companion piece, of sorts, to 2002 After Hours release Fed, Underfed collects the early recorded material from the Fed sessions, allowing listeners a glimpse at the compositions in their simplest form, before the dramatic, drastic additions, overdubs and rearrangements. Scottish songwriter ALASDAIR ROBERTS makes a rare stateside appearance, playing in support of his latest Drag City full length Farewell Sorrow, an album bedded equally in both British and Scottish folk traditions. Guitarist MATT CLARK will open with his latest musical endeavor, FROM LIGHTNING TO THE WOMB, “a voluminous bent-electric-guitar and voice based bridge between EARTH, ENO, and BO DIDDLEY”, and special deejay crew DRAG CITY DJS will spin throughout.

SAT. 10/30/04 (10:00pm; $12)
The 5th Annual Jukebox of the Dead featuring:
Bobby Conn & the Glass Gypsies label: Thrill Jockey
Detholz!
Baby Teeth
Chicago uber-scenesters THE DETHOLZ! (pronounced "death holes!") are pleased to announce their 5th Annual "Jukebox of the Dead" Halloween show in Chicago with the fabulous BABY TEETH and his majesty, Mr. BOBBY CONN. What is the "Jukebox of the Dead"? In years past, THE DETHOLZ! have served up an array of juiced-up, campy covers presented in a pseudo-religious or game-show format. This year, THE DETHOLZ! will perform a "Funeral for a Friend," featuring adult contemporary and soft rock favorites retooled for a funereal setting.

SUN. 10/31/04 (2:00pm; donation)
Chic-A-Go-Go presents: The Goblins' Monster Party for Kids! featuring:
The Goblins label: My Pal God, Truckstop
The Hoyle Brothers
"MISS MIA and RATSO of the cult children’s TV dance party Chic-A-Go-Go host this fun-tastic afternoon of Halloween trick-and-treatery! Children of all ages are invited to toddle in with their parents to enjoy a special Halloween concert from THE GOBLINS and the HOYLE BROTHERS (plus spooky surprises and thrills…some involving puppetry!). The rockin’ GOBLINS will be debuting new songs from their upcoming children’s album and the hillbilly geniuses the HOYLE BROTHERS will be playing special songs for young ears. Expect the unexpected and don’t miss this extra special show!"

SUN. 10/31/04 (9:00pm; $8)
Chic-A-Go-Go presents: The Goblins' Monster Party! featuring:
The Goblins label: My Pal God, Truckstop
Watchers label: Gern Blandsten
Terror at the Opera label: No Sides
"Prepare for a spooky night of chills and thrills emceed by the stars of the cable-access cult hit Chic-A-Go-Go (RATSO the puppet may even work blue for the grown ups). The fantastic bands on the bill are sure to bring the All Hallows Evil! THE GOBLINS are a masked musical troupe that has brought ragged garage rock, regal Christian show tunes and a spooky MISFITS tribute to the Bottle stage in the past. For this special night expect a smorgasbord of inanity, including songs from their upcoming children’s album. THE WATCHERS, one of Chicago’s best live bands, make a dramatic return to the stage after a lengthy hiatus to showcase their dynamic showmanship and groovy No Wave funk. Under the influence of a Halloween full moon who can guess what kind of creatures they will transform into. TERROR AT THE OPERA is an eerie, seductive duo of guitar and accordion playing unusual, spooky music perfect for this witchy evening. The mysterious women that make up the band are rumored to be associated with SLUMBER PARTY (Kill Rock Stars), but the musical spells they cast sound like no other band you’ll hear. Note to Dario Argento fans: Despite the coincidence of the opening band being named after one of the Italian gore master’s fine films, The Goblins are not the Italian prog band Goblin and likely will not be playing much Italian prog-style music during their performance…or will they?"