Club Hopping 09.21.12
September 19, 2012 5:48PM
The Smithereens will be in town Saturday as part of Naper Nights summer concert series at Naper Settlement.
Updated: September 19, 2012 5:48PM
THE SMITHEREENS
They’re in their fourth decade as hard-edged Beatlesque pop-rockers, but the Smithereens at least sound as if they haven’t aged a day, judging by last year’s “2011.” The guitars bristle, the rhythms stomp, frequent Chicago visitor Pat DiNizio still stacks the downcast pop songs with conviction and heart. At 8 p.m. Sept. 21 at Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive in Lincolnshire. Tickets: $20-$40. Call (847) 499-5000; viper-alley.com.— Thomas Conner
DJANGO DJANGO
Active for three years now, British art-rock group Django Django have entered the zeitgeist this year via an acclaimed self-titled debut and — as of last week — landing on the shortlist for the coveted indie-rock Mercury Prize. Winding through Chicago on their quirky, infectious, sorta-psychedelic adventure, this could be one of those “I saw ’em when” shows. At 9 p.m. Sept. 20-21 at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport. Tickets: $12. Call (773) 525-2508; schubas.com. — Thomas Conner
MELVINS LITE
The Melvins started as a trio and became a quartet much later — but now their core trio lineup (singer-guitarist Buzz Osborne, bassist Trevor Dunn, drummer Dale Crover) is saddled with the deprecating moniker Melvins Lite. Light they certainly are not, judging by the further evidence presented on June’s new album, “Freak Puke.” Three or four, they still pour on the sludge. Tweak Bird opens at 9 p.m. Sept. 21 at Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee. Tickets: $20. Call (773) 489-3160; doubledoor.com. — Thomas Conner
SLOAN
After celebrating a 20-year anniversary last year with another near-flawless power-pop album (“Double Cross”), the Canadian Beatles have turned to releasing “special editions” from their catalog. Sigh. Well, whatever gets them back on tour — here they come again, hawking a deluxe version of their 1994 sophomore outing, “Twice Removed.” They’ll be playing the whole record, and more. At 9 p.m. Sept. 22 at Subterranean, 2011 W. North. Tickets: $15. Call (773) 278-6600; subt.net.
— Thomas Conner
