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Fuck Buttons, Growing
Sat., Nov. 21, 10 p.m.
773-276-3600 or 866-468-3401Experimental
Tarot Sport (ATP), the sophomore album from Andrew Hung and Benjamin John Power—aka Bristol noise duo Fuck Buttons—would make a perfect soundtrack to a sci-fi horror movie, accompanying lavishly lit alien-abduction scenes complete with jarringly quick closeups of the soon-to-be-victim's doomed face. The opening (and best) track, "Surf Solar," sets the tone with a tranced-out pulse shoring up a swirl of metallic-sounding snippets; here Fuck Buttons flirt with a chunky electro feel, foregrounding their beats instead of submerging them beneath entrancing swells of distortion the way they did on their impressive debut, Street Horrrsing. That album often shook listeners back into consciousness with half-buried onslaughts of abrasive shrieking, but Tarot Sport relies on cleaner sounds—polished layers of synth and electronics that overlap to form an enmeshing matrix for the blips and beeps pinballing within each loop. Articulate and linear, the record climaxes with the outstanding "Flight of the Feathered Serpent," where an almost ominous tip-toeing melody, played on what might be a fuzz guitar, drags just behind a frenetic beat—it's as unsettling as it is alluring. —Kevin Warwick
$10, limited $5 tickets
Jason Stein, David Daniell, Joseph Mills, and Steven Hess; Tobias Delius & Jeb Bishop; Fred Lonberg-Holm, Nick Macri, and Charles Rumback
Sat., Nov. 21, 10 p.m. heavengallery.comJazz
Update: Delius has been denied entry to the U.S. due to visa problems and will not appear. It's been eight years since Berlin-based tenor saxophonist Tobias Delius has released a recording as a bandleader—six if you consider him coleader of the collective session Apa Ini (Data)—and that's a damn shame. (At present he has an album of his own in the can but no label lined up.) A longtime member of Amsterdam's ICP Orchestra, Delius has one of the most beautiful and elastic horn sounds in jazz: he shares the breathy, earthy warmth of swing-era tenor man Ben Webster, but transforms it with jagged contemporary phrasing. No matter what configuration of players he ends up part of, he seems to make it sound better. This past summer in Kongsberg, Norway, he floored me in a powerhouse improvising quartet with drummer Paal Nilssen-Love, trombonist Jeb Bishop, and bassist Johan Berthling, teasing out lusty, sanguine melodies even as he kept pace with the screaming tumult of the set. He also sounds great on this summer's First Reason (Clean Feed), a superb album by German drummer Christian Lillinger—his meaty clarinet and tenor lines slalom forcefully through the rhythm section's dense, frantic matrix of notes without losing a bit of their emotional depth along the way. On this rare visit to Chicago, Delius plays four shows with four ad hoc lineups of top-shelf local talent. Tonight Delius plays second in a duo with trombonist Jeb Bishop. Delius also plays Thursday at Elastic, Sunday at Hungry Brain, and Monday at Skylark. —Peter Margasak
donation requested3 Inches of Blood, Saviours, Holy Grail
Sat., Nov. 21, 9:30 p.m. 773-281-4444 or 866-468-3401Rock, Pop, Etc
This California four-piece emerged from the stoner-rock scene, but at the level of id the band looks to be a horse of another color. Though Saviours indulge in the requisite sludgy down-tuning, they've got none of the genre's luxuriant dilated-pupil languor—the heart inside their metal beats fast. On the band's third full-length, Accelerated Living (Kemado), there's a bit of Black Flag and Nausea in their churn, and the structures of their songs forsake one of the chief advantages of relatively slow metal, namely the productive tension it can create by threatening to erupt at any moment—these guys erupt so frequently that they've hardly got time to threaten anything. It's a trade-off, of course, and Saviours' way has its own rewards. The playful cover artwork, which looks like something a satanist might paint on the side of his custom van, lets you know what you're in for: straight-up ripping metal that farts in the general direction of self-seriousness, overanalysis, and basically any thesis a music critic might care to trot out. "Acid Hand" and "Livin' in the Void" in particular pwn the thesaurus wielders of the world. —Monica Kendrick
$13, 17+
Chicago Human Rhythm Project
Thu 11/19, 7:30 PM, Fri-Sat 11/20-11/21, 8 PM, 312-334-7777Dance
Chicago Human Rhythm Project's 20th-anniversary program, Global Rhythms, is nothing if not inclusive. This fall's special guest, Step Afrika!, makes its Chicago debut with a sweeping look at African and African-American forms, from Zulu dances and the gumboot style that originated with South African gold miners to stepping and hip-hop. In what promises to be an avalanche of clapping, slapping, and stomping, the D.C.-based troupe will be joined by CHRP's resident ensemble, BAM!, and scholarship students from CHRP's Rhythm World summer festival in a stepping piece for 29. The South Shore Drill Team, celebrating its 30th anniversary, performs each night. And young performers from the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance show off their take on percussive dance on Saturday. CHRP director Lane Alexander is even including a group he overheard practicing in the parking lot outside his office: eight- and nine-year-olds from Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts, led by their stepping instructor, Victor Hicks. They take the stage on Friday.
All the Fame of Lofty Deeds
Sat., Nov. 21, 8 p.m. 773-251-2195Miscellaneous
Wait, Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me host Peter Sagal moderates a preshow panel with the creative team behind House Theatre of Chicago’s production of All the Fame of Lofty Deeds. Based on the music and visual art of Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers) and scripted by former Daily Herald pop critic Mark Guarino, it’s described as a “portrait of the demise of country and western’s golden age and the exploitation of its greatest heroes.” The panel includes Langford, Guarino, and director Tommy Rapley. Performances run through 12/20; see Kerry Reid’s review. $50 panel and show, $100 with a VIP reception and hors d’oeuvres at 6 PM, $25-$29 show only.
AlphaBeer
Sat., Nov. 21, 6-9 p.m. 773-871-3757Drink Events
Eric Hobbs of Goose Island talks about beers from A to Z--literally. One- to three-ounce samples of beers starting with every letter of the alphabet, including Quilmes, Unibroue Maudite, Xing Tao, Young's Chocolate Stout, and Zywiec will be served. After the tasting there's a free trolley to the Cubby Bear for a concert by Lucid Ground, the Attraction, and Along the Parallel ($10 cover for the show). Reservations required. $40
Art & Wine for Homeless Canines & Felines
Sat., Nov. 21, 7 p.m. 773-878-1750Special Events
Join us on Saturday, November 21st when we host an all day event to raise money for homeless animals in the Chicago land area while helping support the Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control in their efforts! Dog-Friendly Open House ($10 suggested donation) @ 2-5PM * How to bake organic treats for your pet * Pet Portraits * Paw Prints * Evening Event @ 7-10PM ($20 ticket)* Silent Auction * Wine/ Hors D'oeuvres * Raffle prizes * Art available for purchase (donated by local artists) *
Be a Hero for a Hero
Sat., Nov. 21, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 312-742-2000Other Stuff
This bone marrow registry drive is being held to help find a match for Roy Chelsen, a New York City firefighter with Chicago ties who's credited with saving the lives of six other firefighters on 9/11/01 and has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
Belmont Burlesque Presents...
Sat., Nov. 21, 11:59 p.m. 773-728-1682Theater & Performance
Belmont Burlesque Presents... is a new series of themed burlesque shows on the third Saturday of every month at the Playground Theater. Featuring burlesque striptease, comedy, magic and novelty acts. Each month will feature a new theme and a brand new slate of Belmont Burlesque cast members and special guests. Tickets $10. Doors open at midnight, performances begin at approximately 12:15am.
Bookamania
Sat., Nov. 21, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 312-747-4050Literary Events
The Chicago Public Library's annual celebration of children's books features authors and/or illustrators Pat Mora, Rafael Lopez, Charles R. Smith Jr., Bob Barner, and Jim Aylesworth along with puppetry, theater, dance, magic, and musical performances. For children ages 3-10 and their families.
Cafe Guitarist Edward Yeo
Sat., Nov. 21, 7 p.m.Classical
Alhambra Cafe & Coffee House serves gourmet coffees and dessert coffees, hot chocolates, hot apple cider, chai latte, artisan teas, sumptuous desserts, or cool beverages, refreshing smoothie and ice cream shake treats. Music is complimentary. BYO dessert wine, only. Free parking available. Check web site for more info.
