MON. 3/1/10 (9:30pm; Free!)
Tirra Lirra
Extra Life label: I & Ear, LOaf, Planaria, Sockets, Shatter Your Leaves
Cool Memories label: Hardscrabble Amateurs, Special Needs
Since forming in 2006, Chicago dream rockers TIRRA LIRRA have been continually writing and defining their sound. Approaching noisy pop music with primal innocence and ethereal delicacy, this quartet is full of intrigue, optimism and inspiration. Joining them is EXTRA LIFE, an experimental goth-rock outfit from New York with classical inspirations and operatic vocal stylings. Supporting their debut LP out in 09, Debt, produced by DONI SCHROEDER (the man behind several …Trail of Dead recordings) COOL MEMORIES combine dark, ambient synth swells over driving rhythm topped off with a primal howl creating heavy, acid drenched psych jams. (Reader)

TUE. 3/2/10 (9:30pm; $3 advance, $5)
The WTF Dance Party featuring
Trevor Stone
Charlie Slick
Celsius Electronics
plus special guests
We've got another weeknight dance party happening at the Bottle tonight - why wait til the end of the week to dance your winter blues away? Tonight we welcome DJS TREVOR STONE, CHARLIE SLICK and CELSIUS ELECTRONICS who'll come with special friends and fresh jams.

WED. 3/3/10 (9:30pm; Free!)
HEAVEmedia presents
The Streets on Fire label: Currency Exchange
The Nothingheads
Yours Truly & The Heroes
HEAVEmedia, an "innovative site written by and for people who are interested in music that is original, vibrant, and challenging," combines music coverage with intelligent, often humorous commentary on movies, television, books, popular culture and politics. Tonight they whack their stamp of approval on some local bands and celebrate the culture of the site. THE STREETS ON FIRE make their debut Empty Bottle appearance tonight supporting their debut LP Hot Weekend, a fuzzed-out, lo-fi collection that sounds as if it could be wedged in the middle of the "bombastic rock" section of your 70s vinyl collection. The ever-catchy THE NOTHINGHEADS "specialize in a kind of skronky and strange guitar rock that doesn't forget hooks in its pursuit of weirdness." YOURS TRULY & THE HEROES open this FREE show.

THU. 3/4/10 (9:00pm; $5 advance, $8)
Dr. Manhattan label: Cassette Deck Media Conglomerate
Prizzy Prizzy Please label: Joyful Noise, Let's Pretend
Bald Eagle Refugees label: Speed Tapes related: I Need Sleep
Lord of the Yum-Yum label: Rock Office
DR. MANHATTAN gets a lot of press for being, shall we say, weird. Coastal Magazine praises "DR. MANHATTAN seems to be a perfect blend of humor, wit, and dirty dongs," and Spoon Magazine simply stated, "this was an insane show." But underneath whatever hi-jinks are to transpire at the show, their super catchy sing-songs are worth a serious listen. Next month sees the release of PRIZZY PRIZZY PLEASE's Chroma Cannon on Joyful Noise Recordings. With what the band humbly refers to as a "30th century aesthetic," the tracks on this album rocket through speakers in a hyperactive deluge of melodic noise punk. Previously known as I NEED SLEEP, BALD EAGLE REFUGEES bring their sun-baked pop sprinkled with tropical rhythms to the Bottle supporting their new EP Fun Tunnel on Brooklyn-based Speed Tape Records. Opening tonight's eclectic show is one-man choir LORD OF THE YUM YUM, an artist that has been described as PEEWEE HERMAN by way of BOBBY MCFERRIN singing vocal versions of familiar classical pieces, remixed with beat-boxing and live electronic loop making techniques.

FRI. 3/5/10 (5:30pm; Free!)
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. 3/5/10 (10:00pm; $5 (limited), $10)
Foreign Born label: Dim Mak, Secretly Canadian
Free Energy label: DFA
CLOVERS
DJ Hugsen Kissus
LA outfit FOREIGN BORN, returns tonight supporting their most recent effort Person to Person on Secretly Canadian. Praised by Pitchfork for "vast, powerful tunes that take an earnest aim at the human condition," FOREIGN BORN propel said tunes with benga-flavored beats, fuzzed-out synth bass, clucking tropical cowbells, soaring horn sections and emotive string arrangements all anchored by frontman MATT POPIELUCH's ennui-soaked delivery. Joining FOREIGN BORN on their winter trek are alternatively funky, ecstatic, hyperactive and sleek FREE ENERGY, combining front-man JOHN PUGH's former-!!! percussionist chops with undeniably fun tunes. Cleveland-based jangly indie rockers CLOVERS open tonight's show and DJ HUGSEN KISSUS spins throughout. (Chicagoist Timeout Timeout)

SAT. 3/6/10 (8:00pm; $5)
Windy City Story Slam - Theme: 'Race' featuring readings by
Jim Goad related: The Redneck Manifesto, Shit Magnet
Marvin Tate
Shawn Shifflet
Kevin Whiteley
plus Kate Hillmann, Adam Langer & Benham Reza Riahi
WINDY CITY STORY SLAM's tagline is "Everybody's Got A Story" and tonight sees the collective assembling at the Empty Bottle to "opine about race relations," while celebrating the release of Criminal Class Press' newest issue. Featuring JIM GOAD, Def Jam poet MARVIN TATE, SHAWN SHIFFLET, CCP's KEVIN WHITELEY and slammers KATE HILLMANN, ADAM LANGER and BEHNAM REZA RIAHI, join us early for the STORY SLAM's first event at the Empty Bottle. (Flavorpill)

SAT. 3/6/10 (10:00pm; $5)
312unes presents
Windy City Soul Club
The WINDY CITY SOUL CLUB boasts that the "best rare soul DJs in Chicago come together to create the best party this city has ever seen," and if you're inclined to think real DJs need a box full of vinyl, you'll likely agree. Playing all original vinyl of the Northern Soul variety, Motown-style gems from labels that sometimes only had regional hits with ace dancing tunes as well as your favorite recognizable sing-along classics, if you've ever wanted to "shake a tail feather" tonight's your night to get dapper and get down. We are no longer selling advance tickets to the WCSC night, so get here early if you want to get down.

SUN. 3/7/10 (7:00pm; Free!)
Rock & Roll Cinema featuring
End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones
What better way to spend the end of your weekend than hanging out and watching some rock and roll cinema at the Empty Bottle? A free rock movie and cheap drinks sounds like a pretty swell way to spend a Sunday evening, so come on down for End of the Century: The Ramones. Dubbed "a punk 'Last Waltz", this documentary traces the seminal punk band's trajectory from obscurity to fame to induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Including interviews with DEBBIE HARRY, JOE STRUMMER and more, it's an insider look at the band that'll make your head spin.

SUN. 3/7/10 (9:30pm; $3)
Modern Day Rippers
Retardos De La Mour
The Regals label: Broken TV
MODERN DAY RIPPERS attack urban malaise, sobriety and the CTA with vicious fervor and RETARDOS DE LA MOUR play in the style of “garage punk sleaze. ..also featuring Marimba!” Between the two there are songs about believing in the power of pharmaceuticals and criminal lovers who betray each other to escape the electric chair. To discover which group of Chicago-based rabble rousers belongs to each, you’ll just have to come on down to the show, opened by similarly balls-to-the-wall THE REGALS.

MON. 3/8/10 (9:30pm; Free!)
JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound related: Beat Down Sound
The Dirty Diamonds
East of Edens (DJ set)
Pairing hearty, soulful vocals with bluesy post-punk, JC BROOKS & THE UPTOWN SOUND references timeless crooners like SAM COOKE and CURTIS MAYFIELD, but repurpose these historic sounds in a thoroughly modern way. With their debut album Beat of Our Own Drum, winning praise from The Onion (calling them "Best New Music of 09) to The Tribune (praising them as "the real deal"), the group is set to release a new single this month. Prepare to get down to that new jam at tonight's FREE Monday show. (Chicagoist)

TUE. 3/9/10 (9:00pm; $3 advance, $5)
Ghetto Caviar
Patrick Thunder related: Mutual Divorce
VALIS
People Sometimes
Featuring dissonant and droning monotone vocal lines over glitchy clicky backing tracks, GHETTO CAVIAR delivers unexpected dance music with a sense of ennui. Drawing from the same pool of hatred, noise and cacophonous rage as noise manipulators like PURIENT, PATRICK THUNDER crafts tracks that would be at home in the middle of a robot street fight. VALIS and lo-fi local three piece PEOPLE SOMETIMES open.

WED. 3/10/10 (9:30pm; $12)
Vetiver label: Bella Union, Fat Cat, Gnomonsong, Sub Pop
Robbie Hamilton & Soft Drugs label: Whistler
Please The Trees (Czech Republic) label: Absent Hour related: Blank, selFbrush, Some Other Place, Waawe
Brain child of San Franciscan singer-songwriter ANDY CABIC, VETIVER's songs have been described as "dreamy, gentle songs that GEORGE HARRISON would have written in some sunny country garden." Long time pals with fellow folkie DEVANDRA BANHART, VETIVER's songs occupy the same campsite of acoustic backwoods mysticism and tribal percussion. Their fourth full length Tight Knit, out on Sub Pop, has been called "a leap ahead, stepping out of the mists and shadows and into a warm, bright clearing" by The Onion and praised by Pitchfork for its ability to "luring the listener hazily back in time." Having spent the past decade performing and recording with groups including WHERE THE MOON CAME FROM, JAY BENNETT, NOTES & SCRATCHES and DAVID VANDERVELDE, ROBBIE HAMILTON is now stepping out on his own and focusing on his self-produced back catalog of home recordings, for the first time introducing these songs to an audience. Backed by a live band of all stars, 2010 is the year of new releases for ROBBIE HAMILTON & SOFT DRUGS, so expect lots of new, sweet tunes tonight. Hailing from the Czech Republic, dreamy psychedelic shoegazers PLEASE THE TREES open.

WED. 3/10/10 (9:00pm; $25)
(@ Lakeshore Theater - 3175 N Broadway - All Ages)
Vinicio Capossela (Italy) label: Nonesuch, Warner
Italy’s award-winning avant singer-songwriter VINICIO CAPOSSELA brings his renowned musical side show to Chicago in the midst of a coast to coast March tour. CAPOSSELA’s tenth studio offering, Da Solo (Alone), is another chapter in his exploration of the relationship between his native Italy and America, including a stunning duet with CALEXICO, recorded at their home base in Tuscon. Da Solo has gone platinum in Italy and CAPOSELLA has been praised by Mojo as “Italy’s most intriguing musical traveler,” and the New York Times has raved, “calling himself an ‘enchanter,’ MR. CAPOSSELA, one of the cleverest and most eccentric musicians in Italy, spins enigmatic fantasies of both skid row Americana and mythological Italy in a grittily elegant cabaret-jazz style that recalls TOM WAITS and PAOLO CONTE.” This year, Nonesuch Records is releasing a seventeen track compilation entitled The Story-Faced Man, making the iconic Italian artist’s debut available to American audiences.

THU. 3/11/10 (9:30pm; $8)
Young Widows label: Temporary Residence
My Disco (Australia) label: Fruits & Vegetables, Stomp
Phantom Family Halo label: Cold Sweat
Louisville, KY based YOUNG WIDOWS arrive at the Empty Bottle tonight supporting their newest release on Temporary Residence, Old Wounds. A collection of dynamic, thoughtful tunes anchored by cavernous grooves with tips of the rock hat to THE JESUS LIZARD, FUGAZI and THE MELVINS, the new LP is a big step forward for the band and a compelling collection of big rock tunes. Based in Melbourne, MY DISCO plays the Empty Bottle tonight in the midst of spending a week in Chicago recording their upcoming album with STEVE ALBINI at Electrical Audio. Expect a slew of new tunes from these dynamic Aussies. Completing the Louisville-rocker sandwich, PHANTOM FAMILY HALO return to the Bottle supporting their new double LP Monoliths and These Flowers Never Die, overflowing with dark, neo-psychedelic experiments, thicker than the smoke in the back of WILLIE NELSON'S tour bus.

FRI. 3/12/10 (5:30pm; Free!)
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. 3/12/10 (10:00pm; $5)
Lasers and Fast and Shit
Pool of Frogs
Carjack
Chicagoist has called LASERS AND FAST AND SHIT, "an engaging mixture of punk abandon with a healthy dose of stoner metal's nodding and self-knowing winks." Expect a raucous stage show from this unrelenting quartet. POOL OF FROGS "create cynically sweet music with some seriously sharp teeth." They also create some hilarious “Bandisodes” combining kitschy story lines with undeniable tunes, check those out on their website to prepare for tonight’s good times. Motor City Rocks has said, “CARJACK: Sounds like the STOOGES played through an ATARI. What’s not to like?” From what we can tell, CARJACK is a beat heavy one-man band of destructo-space punk, what better way to kick off tonight’s show?

SAT. 3/13/10 (12:00pm; Free!)
Handmade Market
HANDMADE MARKET "is a unique event to connect the makers of beautiful things to people who appreciate the unique and handmade. Do you want your money to go directly to the people that make the things you buy? Here you can establish a personal connection, and our makers are even encouraged to demonstrate or make their products during the event. Markets include funky jewelry, glass pendants, knitted items, clothing, handbags and more!" (NBC Reader Timeout Timeout)

SAT. 3/13/10 (10:00pm; $8 advance, $10)
312unes presents
Bloodiest related: 90 Day Men, Sterling, Yakuza
A/V Murder label: Dusty Medical, Goner, Local Cross related: Cococoma, Tyrades
Electric Hawk
Tonight's Empty Bottle lineup is a trio of Chicago super groups featuring members who have spent countless hours on our stage, behind and in front of the bar and blaring out of our sound system. Heavy heartthrobs BLOODIEST continuously blow our minds, and our eardrums, with their menacing and malevolent classical and drone inspired metal. Featuring members of 90 DAY MEN, ATOMBOMBPOCKETKNIFE, STERLING, and YAKUZA the group will purportedly be showcasing some new material that they promise will bend minds like Kreskin bends spoons. Featuring members of COCOCOMA, TYRADES and WHITE SAVAGE, A/V MURDER have earned a reputation for frenzied, nihilistic sets and Maximum RocknRoll has praised their "one guitar keeps the rhythm, the other guitar grates and scrapes, plays lots of notes, and sometimes sounds like it's bathing in reverb," sound and seem to be very excited about their "modern weirdness." While we're name dropping other bands we love, ELECTRIC HAWK features members of HEAD OF SKULLS and TIGHT PHANTOMZ and while this is their first show at the club, we expect big, big things from these righteously named dudes. (Reader)

SUN. 3/14/10 (7:00pm; Free!)
Rock & Roll Cinema featuring
American Hardcore
What better way to spend the end of your weekend than hanging out and watching some rock and roll cinema at the Empty Bottle? A free rock movie and cheap drinks sounds like a pretty swell way to spend a Sunday evening, so come on down for American Hardcore, a retrospective documentary celebrating the hundreds of influential hard-core bands that paved the way during punk-rock's turbulent history from 1980 to 1986. Archival footage includes performances from the CIRCLE JERKS, FLIPPER, GWAR, JERRY'S KIDS, THE REPLACEMENTS, THE TEEN IDOLS and WASTED YOUTH. (AV Club)

SUN. 3/14/10 (9:30pm; $3)
Battlefields label: The Cottage, Init, Saw Her Ghost, Translation Loss
Junius label: Anchorless, Make My Day, Mylene Sheath, Radar, S.A.F.
Why Intercept?
Hailing from the depths of Minnesota and North Dakota, BATTLEFIELDS have been touring relentlessly for the last three years, accruing massive accolades for their brutal music and astounding live performances. On their newest LP Thresholds of Imbalance, BATTLEFIELDS have created a work full of extreme and epic mind-expansive music. Decibel praised, "BATTLEFIELDS segues between gnashing metal and layers of lo-fi atmosphere. With the addition of tasteful samples and puncturing screams, it's undeniable that BATTLEFIELDS are headed in an impressive direction." The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist is the new double LP on The Mylene Sheath from Boston-based atmospheric hard rockers JUNIUS. Hailed as "a perfect hybrid of NEUROSIS and THE SMITHS, striking a stunning balance of brutality and beauty," by Rolling Stone, this quartet has been honing their spellbinding music across a handful of impressive releases. Like-minded Chicago heavyweights WHY INTERCEPT? open.

MON. 3/15/10 (9:00pm; Free!)
My Gold Mask related: Bang! Bang!
Common Loon
Cloud Nothings
Campfires
Local "extrinsic pop" duo MY GOLD MASK (featuring members of BANG BANG) have been described as creating "a delicate balance between 90s alternative rock gestures and futuristic gypsy tribe shit" and the art-nouveau pop-rock flows out of these talented two with a sense of ease. With a new EP under their belts, A Thousand Voices, expect new and exciting tunes from this collective. Psych-rock-pop duo COMMON LOON keep up our duo theme tonight, debuting tunes from their upcoming The Long Dream of Birds, slated for release in April 2010 on A Hidden Agenda records. Blending classic West Coast harmonies with some cosmically-inclined guitar-gush lushness and otherworldly hi-fi-ness, some might call these two fellas purveyors of dream rock. Cleveland ensemble CLOUD NOTHINGS make their Bottle debut with dreamy tracks from their recent Turning On and bittersweet songsmiths CAMPFIRES open. (Chicagoist Daily Candy Windy Citizen)

TUE. 3/16/10 (9:30pm; $3 advance, $5)
PoundCake
Papier Tigre
The Bewitched Hands On the Top of Our Heads label: Savoir Faire
Trois hommes from Nantes, France make up PAPER TIGRE and tonight they will play their only non-SXSW State-side show. Supporting their razor-sharp indie rock LP, The Beginning and End of Now, they'll be joined by five men and one woman from Remis, France who make up the cumbersomely named THE BEWITCHED HANDS ON THE TOP OF OUR HEADS. With incendiary choruses, psychotropic beats and catchy melodies, featuring "razed, lyrical and choral rock with frenzied ARCADE FIRE-style climaxes," BEWITCHED HANDS make their virgin voyage onto our continent to open tonight's show. (Loud Loop)

WED. 3/17/10 (8:00pm; $5)
An evening with The Blue Ribbon Glee Club featuring
The Blue Ribbon Glee Club label: RCRD LBL, Whistler Records related: Black Apple, Demons, Glorious Vapors, Kick Punch, North Pilot, Notes & Scratches, PAWL, The Record Low, RIFIFI, The Stock, Thin Hymns, Kyle Wade
The Dust Bunnies
Covered Wagons
Weepin' Willows
Roy Ivy
Demons (DJ set) label: Scratch and Sniff
plus sketches by The Other Other Guys, a musical experiment by Matt Wenzel, and a trailer for 'The Nightingale'
Chicago's thirty-member BLUE RIBBON GLEE CLUB presents a night full of friends, fun, film and festivities. THE BLUE RIBBON GGLEE CLUB is a punk rock choir that transforms songs by the likes of THE BLACK LIPS, THE CLASH, FUGAZI, THE PIXIES and SLEATER KINNEY into a capella anthems, "with a reckless enthusiasm for which glee is really the only proper synonym," according to The Chicago Tribune. Tonight they are joined by charming organ-driven trio THE DUST BUNNIES, COVERED WAGONS, WEEPIN' WILLOWS and ROY IVY. DEMONS DJ throughout and the night will also feature sketches by THE OTHER OTHER GUYS, a musical experiment by MATT WENZEL and a trailer for The Nightingale.

THU. 3/18/10 (9:30pm; $12)
Deakin label: Catsup Plate, Domino, Fat Cat, Paw Tracks related: Animal Collective
Glitter Bones label: Unexpected Friendship
Netherfriends label: Emergency Umbrella
The ANIMAL COLLECTIVE phenomenon has revolutionized not only the way electronic experimenters create music, but also how that music is received. Last year's trippy-covered Merriweather Post Pavilion was universally lauded and rewarded with top album spots on lists in the US and beyond. Stretching the true meaning of an art collective, PANDA BEAR (1/4 of the collective) released his Person Pitch in 07 to fawning reviews and now JOSH "DEAKIN" DIBB steps out on his own with what we can only imagine will be some truly lovely, dance-inducing experiments. Chicago-based GLITTER BONES offer this possible description of their sound, "joyously floating through the creamy vortex to Heaven. In a distant land, a circle of illustrious goblins glare upon you from the rim of their heaping cauldron. You are not in Heaven." We can't wait to see how that translates to the stage, but we know how great openers NETHERFRIENDS can be - the brainchild of local recent college grad SHAWN ROSENBLATT, he's spent much of the past year piecing together tours that have seen SHAWN and co. traveling through the South, Midwest and East Coast playing tunes off the recently released Calling You Out EP, which RCRD LBL has called "some of the most likeable music. It's fun, poppy, catchy as all get out and smart as a whip." (Flavorpill)

FRI. 3/19/10 (5:30pm; Free!)
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. 3/19/10 (10:00pm; $12)
Gil Mantera's Party Dream label: Fat Possum, Psychic Dog
Brilliant Pebbles
Velva 9000
Inscrutable art party outfit GIL MANTERA'S PARTY DREAM are perhaps one of the most beguiling ensembles around - sincerely ironic or ironically sincere, who can tell? But their interesting amalgamation of campish, vampish departures is compelling, and their live show takes things - and this is putting it mildly - to another level entirely. Brightly colored party fiends BRILLIANT PEBBLES have been turning heads from the start, a group that, according to Time Out, "clashes cultures, colors and fashion in a giddy, Gypsy-arcade assault on your senses." They return to the Bottle tonight with a new line up, debuting an all new disco, new wave, electro, 80s inspired dance music vibe. (Chicagoist Loud Loop Press)

SAT. 3/20/10 (12:00pm; Free!)
Empty Bottle Farmer's Market
(AUA Chicagoist Chicago Now Chicago Now Columbia Chronicle Culture Mob Local Beet Loud Loop NBC Reader Reader Sun Times That's Not Lettuce Timeout)

SAT. 3/20/10 (10:00pm; $5 advance, $8)
The Bomb label: Jettison, No Idea, Thick related: The Methadones, Naked Raygun
Team Band
Ready The Destroyer label: Window Licker
Punk trio THE BOMB return, playing their first Empty Bottle show in nearly three years with chuggers off their most recent LP on No Idea Records, Speed is Everything. Featuring former NAKED RAYGUN leader JEFF PEZZATTI, the group shares certain tendencies, but THE BOMB have ably carved out a musical niche that is all their own. They play here tonight before heading over to tour the UK in April. TEAM BAND plays a rollicking cover of the Blackhawks fight song and named their first LP Vodka Thieves. What's not to love about this band? JIM DEROGATIS of the Chicago Sun-Times couldn't find a damn thing, gushing, "I fell in love with the band midway through the first song," on their EP. Expect swaggering, raucous rock from this crew. (AV Club)

SUN. 3/21/10 (7:00pm; Free!)
Rock & Roll Cinema featuring
Scott Walker: 30 Century Man related: Scott Walker
What better way to spend the end of your weekend than hanging out and watching some rock and roll cinema at the Empty Bottle? A free rock movie and cheap drinks sounds like a pretty swell way to spend a Sunday evening, so come on down for Scott Walker: 30 Century Man. This documentary pays tribute to the influential but enigmatic SCOTT WALKER, an artist who shunned pop stardom for a relatively reclusive existence in which he rarely released new music - but when he did, it was pretty unbelievable. Although not an often referenced artist, well known acts including BOWIE, JARVIS COCKER, BRIAN ENO, and RADIOHEAD all weigh in on his influence. (Flavorpill Reader)

SUN. 3/21/10 (9:30pm; $3)
Forget Cassettes
Tender label: Trust Tapes
rrind
Expect some seriously catchy, gangly garage rock from local quartet TENDER. These guys list references from ROY ORBISON to X-RAY SPEX – in fact, imagine four Chicago dudes through the frame of the DEAD BOYS covering “Hey Little Girl” and you’ll have a pretty good idea of where these guys are coming from. Fronted by stirringly emotive BETH CAMERON, if FORGET CASSETTES were on MTV in the 90s, BEAVIS & BUTHEAD would’ve stared blankly ahead and then stuck their hands down their pants – in a good way. (AV Club)

MON. 3/22/10 (9:30pm; Free!)
Pet Lions
This Is Versailles
Radar Eyes
Local quartet THIS IS VERSAILLES headline tonight’s FREE Monday, blurring “the boundary between the party and the riot” with a raw, unhinged and ardent energy as their dueling vocals snarl and growl over maniacally lurid guitars creating apocalyptic post-punk with a killer light show to boot. (Chicagoist)

TUE. 3/23/10 (8:00pm; $12)
Benton Records presents 'Japan Nite' US Tour 2010 featuring
Red Bacteria Vacuum
Omodaka
JinnyOops!
Okamoto's
Kicking off in Austin, TX for SXSW, Benton Records' "Japan Night" US Tour 10 features four of the hottest bands on the planet. Hard rocking all-girl punk trio RED BACTERIA VACUUM are guaranteed to give you nightmares and are joined by OMODAKA, an "otaku wizard of electric music," JINNYOOPS!, roaring girls garage punk from Sakai city Osaka and OKAMOTOS, a band of 19 year-old rockers who revel in the spirit of the ROLLING STONES. All Japan rock all night! (Audrey Kimura)

WED. 3/24/10 (9:30pm; $5 advance, $8)
Plastic Crimewave Vision Celestial Guitarkestra VI related: Plastic Crimewave Sound
Gunslingers (France) label: World in Sound
Vee Dee label: Ciq, Goodbye Boozy
One of the best things about SXSW is the amount of foreign bands it launches into the States to bounce around through different cities, all in the name of the Austin fest. Almost one year to the day of their Windy City debut, THE GUNSLINGERS make their triumphant return to the Empty Bottle. Perhaps best described by ace head Sir JULIAN COPE as "French super freaks and guitar manglers who put to shame each n' every proto-metal musician across this lickle planet," THE GUNSLINGERS are back with more music and more ear drums to ring. Our favorite local space punks PLASTIC CRIMEWAVE SOUND play tonight as the VISION CELESTIAL GUITARKESTRA VI - the large scale atonal 'gathering' reset for a new year. Power rock trio VEE DEE bring material from last year's Criminal IQ release Public Mental Health System, an album full of fightin' songs with a strong tip of the hat to garage, punk and psychedelic. Featuring short fast dark garage punk segues into heavy riffing and guitar freak-outs; VEE DEE's fuzz power is not for the faint of heart. (Reader)

THU. 3/25/10 (7:00pm; $3 advance, $5)
Jason Ajemian & the High Life (record release) label: Sundmagi
Celebrating the release of their debut CD and 7" single via Sundmagi Records, JASON AJEMIAN & THE HIGHLIFE features trumpet, saxophone, guitar, drums and vocals in a unique symphony created by AJEMIAN "in the architectural drafting program AutoCAD, which guide the musicians through spaces and hallways of musical structures...while leading them through a diverse musical landscape consisting of AJEMIAN's orchestrated poems, Americana folk forms, Native American chants, Canadian sea shanties, Orbison, jazz expressive motion and balladry."

THU. 3/25/10 (9:30pm; $5 advance, $8)
Old Fake
Child Bite label: Forge Again, Joyful Noise, SSM, Wham City
Zoos of Berlin
Dylan Posa & Three Cheers For One Dead Man related: Anatomy of Habit, Animal Law, Brice-Glace, Cheer Accident, Flying Luttenbachers
Local purveyors of fuzzed out rock OLD FAKE return to the Bottle tonight with their first release Covers on Plus Tapes. Expect unruly-yet-focused energy, pummeling rhythms and caterwauling guitars on song selections ranging from legends (BOWIE, DYLAN and STONES) to the hunh, who dat? (Chicago-local, ESOTERIC TAPIOCA). Detroit based CHILD BITE are a full blown five piece aural assault "far removed from match rock of electroclash and much closer to the genre-defiance of DEVO, with signature doo-wopping-human-Theremin vocals." Their latest effort Fantastic Gusts of Blood is an insanely tight pack of chaotic bliss that smacks of PERE UBU after they've eaten too many Peeps. Fellow Motor City weird and pleasing rockers ZOOS OF BERLIN make their debut supporting their newest effort Taxis, a combination of guitar atmospherics, some slightly proggy parts and a vocalist who sounds effortless and charming. Brooklyn Vegan praised them for not sounding "like anybody else - which is a good thing, right?" Also making their debut appearance are locals DYLAN POSA & THREE CHEERS FOR ONE DEAD MAN.

THU. 3/25/10 (10:00pm; $5 (tickets available at the door))
(@ Beauty Bar - 1444 W Chicago - 21+)
Baio (DJ set) related: Vampire Weekend
Kid Color
Skyler
(Timeout)

FRI. 3/26/10 (5:30pm; Free!)
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. 3/26/10 (9:00pm; $8)
Residue Records showcase
Social Circkle label: No Way
Daylight Robbery label: Residue
Canadian Rifle label: Criminal IQ, Residue, Rock Bottom, Squirrel Heart
Phantom Works
We welcome back Chicago-based Residue Records for a very special showcase tonight celebrating the release of a new LP and EP on their esteemed imprint. Headlining tonight's show is Boston's SOCIAL CIRCKLE, combining the melodic sensibilities of 77 UK punk with the adrenalin rush of early 80s US hardcore punk and playing their first Chicago show in over a year. Coming to the Bottle all the way from Pilsen, DAYLIGHT ROBBERY play tonight celebrating the release of their debut LP, Through the Confusion, following the release of last year's fantastic Red Tape EP. Dark, intense and insanely catchy with shouty male-female vocals that will inevitably draw comparisons to X, expect these guys to test this new crop of songs before they head out to the West Coast this summer. Also celebrating a release tonight are CANADAIN RIFLE, whose new EP is chock full of the driving punk rock you've come to expect from this local three piece. Local super-group PHANTOM WORKS play invigorating and cutting rock full of chugging guitars and jangly choruses to open tonight's show.

FRI. 3/26/10 (10:00pm; $5 (tickets available at the door))
(@ Beauty Bar - 1444 W Chicago - 21+) Moneypenny & UR Chicago present 'The Return of Spandexxx' featuring:
Team Bayside High related: Rehab
Sadie Woods (White Label DJs)
Moneypenny

SAT. 3/27/10 (10:00pm; $12)
The Cave Singers label: Matador
The Black Atlantic (Netherlands) label: Beep! Beep! Back up the Truck, Midsummer
Judson Claiborne label: La Société Expéditionnaire
It's been too long since we've hosted Seattle-based trio THE CAVE SINGERS. Formed by PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES member DEREK FUDESCO, THE CAVES SINGERS play meditative, folk-based works. They were last here playing from their Matador debut, Invitation Songs, an album both haunting and hypnotic and wholly successful. This trip out these lovely fellas will also break out tunes from their stunning second LP Welcome Joy, out last year. Described by Pitchfork as "another fine and mellow set of twangy, slightly tart folk rockers, warm but patchy like a farmer's tan," the collection adds to this group's arsenal of truly lovely, longing for warmer weather tunes. In a familial vein, the Netherlands' THE BLACK ATLANTIC produce music that is an introspective and intimate affair of melancholic, folk influenced acoustic pop, relying heavily on lovely vocal harmonies and minimal pop melodies. Playing from their debut Reverence for Fallen Trees, we're happy to welcome them tonight. Setting the tone tonight will be mellow acoustic ensemble JUDSON CLAIBORNE, a group that use a humble, spare approach that feels both natural and personal, drawing listeners in completely. The Chicago Reader has praised the bands ability to "deal with some heavy subjects on his new album-old standbys Love and Loss play leading roles-but the melancholy never gets thick enough to wallow in." (Flavorpill)

SAT. 3/27/10 (10:00pm; $5 (tickets available at the door))
(@ Beauty Bar - 1444 W Chicago - 21+)
Chuck Inglish (DJ set) related: The Cool Kids
Prepschool (DJ set)
OCD Automatic

SUN. 3/28/10 (7:00pm; Free!)
Rock & Roll Cinema featuring
Dave Chappelle's Block Party related: Erykah Badu, Common, Dead Prez, Mos Def, Fugees, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott, Kanye West
What better way to spend the end of your weekend than hanging out and watching some rock and roll cinema at the Empty Bottle? A free rock movie and cheap drinks sounds like a pretty swell way to spend a Sunday evening, so come on down for Dave Chappelle's Block Party. Featuring performances by KANYE WEST (Imma letchu finish), MOS DEF, TALIB KWELI, COMMON, DEAD PREZ, ERYKAH BADU, JILL SCOTT, the reunited FUGEES and JIMMY FALLON's late show band all come together for an unparalled block party, shot in Brooklyn. There are some laughs, too. (Gapers Block)

SUN. 3/28/10 (9:30pm; $3 (limited), $8)
Database (Brazil) label: Maximize, Metrópolis Project, Southern Fried
Hey Champ
Gemini Club (live)
When you think about Brazil, you may go straight to the beaches, or the bikini-clad ladies, or the tropical drinks, but an exciting dance music scene has been bubbling inland for quite some time. Hailing from Sao Paulo, DATABASE - LUCIO MORAIS and YURI CHIX - set about to be a dancey live act with original beats and since their formation in 07 have been named "Best New Producers" of 2009 by Folha de Sao Paulo (the largest newspaper in the city, didn't cha know), released their collaboration with BONDE DO ROLE as the Miami EP on FATBOY SLIM's Southern Fried Records and have worked festivals all over Brazil into sweaty frenzies. They make their debut appearance at the Bottle tonight. Electro-pop locals HEY CHAMP and "Chicago's rising star electro-indie-rock act" GEMINI CLUB get everyone riled up for tonight's ultimate Sunday night dance party. Hydrate kids, hydrate.

MON. 3/29/10 (9:30pm; Free!)
The Lions Rampant
The Hardy Mums
The Half Rats label: Culture Cast, Douchemaster

TUE. 3/30/10 (9:30pm; $3 (limited), $8)
Psychedelic Horseshit
John Bellows label: Moniker, Special Needs
Roche Moche
Ramshackle Columbus, Ohio group PSYCHEDLIC HORSESHIT return to the Empty Bottle tonight playing the "rickety skeletal pop" that has prompted people to call them the "little brother band" to TIMES NEW VIKING - although with recent feuds and smack talking, a more sinister edge to this band has recently and welcomingly emerged . Their Siltbreeze release Magic Flowers Droned is filled with fuzzy lo-fi tunes that have been making critics drool for over a year now and this time around we can't help but anticipate more fuzz, more aggression and more general awesomeness. Local dirty-fuzzy-sinister ROCHE MOCHE open.

WED. 3/31/10 (9:30pm; $5 (limited), $10)
You Say Party! We Say Die! label: Paper Bag
Clique Talk label: Psychic Violence
Motorcycles Are Everywhere
It's a good thing YOU SAY PARTY! WE SAY DIE! - the Canadian dance-punk quintet who had famously been barred from entering the United States for the past four years - have finally gotten their visa problems worked out in time for the American release of their third LP, XXXX on Paper Bag Records. In the words of Pitchfork, now "more than any point in their career, audiences will want to hear their new songs live. While other bands of their ilk petered out along with the intensity of the public's interest in dance-punk, YSP!WSD! have chugged along, touring tirelessly through Europe, and finally developing beyond the constraints of hi-hat 16th notes and wiry, stabbing guitar lines on a collection that encompasses both the gothic ambiance of SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES and the tough-girl 1980s hooks of PAT BENATAR." Dark wave and electro funky trio CLIQUE TALK open. (Metromix)