Hey, would you look at that, it snowed in April. Not just flurries, but grass-covering snow. Oh well, thankfully there are tons of events to help you get past this weather injustice. So go out despite the crummy conditions and enjoy some live music, conversations, and more in our fantastic town!
Let's give your week a fresh start!
MONDAY, APRIL 9th
Monkey Wrench @ The Hideout, 1474 N Milwaukee Ave., 7:00pm, 21+
WHAT: A comedy showcase hosted by Arish Singh
SO WHAT: Monkey Wrench is a live comedy show featuring stand-up, sketch, and multimedia that’s totally not a leftist plot against the ruling class and the worldview they underwrite. Definitely not that. Some of the featured comedians include Devin Schiff, Ashley Ray, Kaitlyn Grissom, Leonard Pierce, Kristin Lytie, and Odinaka Ezeokoli!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $7 for this night of comedy
Black Girl Magic Book Launch! @ Poetry Foundation, 61 W Superior St., 7:00pm - 9:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: A fantastic release party for this excellent anthology series
SO WHAT: The BreakBeat Poets Vol. 2: Black Girl Magic continues and delves further into the work of the first anthology in this series,
The BreakBeat Poets: New American Poetry in the Age of Hip-Hop, by focusing on some of the most exciting Black women writing today. This anthology breaks up the idea of hip-hop as a boys’ club, and asserts that it is a feminine form. Editors Mahogany L. Browne, Idrissa Simmonds, Jamila Woods, and special guests will perform.
NOW WHAT: This event is free! Discounted copies of the book will be available for purchase from Haymarket Books for the signing by the poets.
Women's Comics Night: After Con Burnout @ Challengers Comics + Conversation, 1845 N Western Ave, 7:00pm - 9:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Nice little break to talk about all the fun you had at C2E2 with Women’s Comic Night, a monthly casual hangout meant to build community and foster friendship! Intended for all women and is unequivocally Queer, Non-Binary, & Trans friendly!
SO WHAT: This Women’s Comics Night will focus on getting everyone together to talk about everything they did at C2E2 from their favorite cosplay, the best comics they picked up, and whether or not everyone stayed within their budget. You’ll also get a chance to have some snacks, do a little bit of therapeutic coloring, participate in an awesome raffle! Just bring in a graphic novel and for every book you donate, you will receive a raffle ticket!
Learn more about restriction on what kind of books you can donate here!
NO WHAT: It’s free! just stop by and have a great time reliving the weekend’s activities!
Free Monday: Bunny / Major Murphy / Charlie Reed @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western Ave., 8:30pm, 21+
WHAT: An excellent Free Monday to groove out at
SO WHAT: Bands don’t get as addicting as Bunny and their dreamy bedroom rock sound. The four-piece led by Jessica Viscius blend endlessly pretty melodies with hazy, sardonic lyrics that make for an excellent show. Joining them will be the catchy, rock-pop ballads of Jacob Bullard’s musical project Major Murphy and the lovely and psychedelic acoustic melodies of Charlie Reed.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are free because it’s Free Monday (in case I didn’t mention how free it is by now), so get there early and enjoy the evening.
TUESDAY, APRIL 10th
A Scientist Walks into a Bar - 23&you: Understanding Your DNA @ The Hideout, 1474 N Milwaukee Ave., 6:30pm, 21+
WHAT: Join
The Field Museum at The Hideout for drinks and discussions about a wide range of natural history with scientists who study everything from ancient meteorites to urban farming practices in Chicago.
SO WHAT: You ever wonder about those paternity tests on cheesy daytime talk shows? The Field Museum has scientists who basically do that, except they’re focused on the ancestry of sharks, birds and lichens. Field educator and scientist Erica Zahnle, who works in The Field Museum DNA lab, will talk about how they use blood and guts to piece together the story of evolution, what is actually going on when you take an ancestry test, and so much more!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $5 and available at the door
The Curls / Sonny Falls / Richard Album / Matthew Danger Lippman @ Cafe Mustache, 2313 N Milwaukee Ave, 9:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Jump in and enjoy this mostly locally sourced show
SO WHAT: Take a break from the usual show and hop into this excellent show at Cafe Mustache with three local band and one from NYC!
The Curls will be bringing their art pop jams,
Sonny Falls with be rocking out,
Richard Album‘s lofi bedroom pop will get you moving, and
Matthew Danger Lippman‘s insane menagerie of sounds will leave you wanting more!
NOW WHAT: There will be a $5 -$10 donation accepted at the door!
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11th
The Darkness: Tour De Prance w/ Diarrhea Planet @ Park West, 322 W Armitage Ave, 7:00pm, 18+
WHAT: Old school rock and roll brought to the modern day
SO WHAT: The Darkness have been doling out their throwback sound full of glitz and glamor for well over a decade and they haven’t lost a step. The Tour De Prance continues to bring the band's iconic sound and impressive stage presence to the masses. They will be joined by the band that sounds a hell of a lot better than their name implies,
Diarrhea Planet, and their hard rocking madness.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $29.50 for this excellent lineup!
Rafiq Bhatia & Ian Chang @ Schubas, 3159 N Southport Ave., 8:00pm, 18+
WHAT: Two magnificent musicians back in town
SO WHAT: When
Rafiq Bhatia and
Ian Chang aren’t performing alongside Ryan Lott in Son Lux, the two concentrate on their own meticulous sounds. Bhatia’s sound is indebted to experimentation and has a healthy dose of jazz influence infused within his songs, while Chang’s seamless blend of samples and electronic soundscapes create memorable ambient grooves. Check out our
review of Bhatia and Chang’s recent performance with Son Lux for a taste of the intensity you’ll see at Schubas.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 at the door for this great show!
CHIRP Radio's First Time: First Try @ Martyrs', 3855 N Lincoln Ave, 8:00pm - 10:30pm, 21+
WHAT: Stories and music coming together
SO WHAT: CHIRP Radio’s premier storytelling and music series
The First Time, Voted Best Literary Event in the 2017 Chicago Reader’s Reader poll, returns to Martyrs. The First Time is hosted by CHIRP DJ, The Moth champion, and host of Psychotic Break, Jenn Sodini. The series pairs a featured reader’s true story with live song, performed by the series’ house band The First Time Four (Steve Frisbie, Liam Davis, Gerald Dowd and Scott Stevenson). Trading between stories and songs breaks up the event nicely for a fun and intimate event. This month’s theme is First Try and readers include: musician/educator Sam Trump, Anna Jensen of Babes Watch Buffy, comedian Kellye Howard, CHIRP DJ Mike Nikolich, Seth Vanek of the Therapy Sessions, and visual artist Damien James.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 at the door. Proceeds benefit CHIRP Radio.
