C.C. SWIM, TIGER HOUSE, JACK RUBY PRESENTS, PHEASANT
(Factory Underground, 8926 N Lombard) I’m pretty sure Nick Cave and Mega Man have never been listed as influences by any band before C.C. Swim did so on their bio for Backseat Romans. Due out tonight, Romans is the work of Ryan Wilson and Casey Frantum, a duo who create quaint bedroom electro-pop, heavy on the hooks and chirping keyboards. Still relatively new—and it shows throughout the record—C.C. Swim have a ways to go until they fill out their sound, but songs like the jittery “Settling Is Natural” offer glimpses of Passion Pit or the earliest house-party days of Starfucker. EZRA ACE CARAEFF
LES SAVY FAV, REPORTER
(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) Read out article on Les Savy Fav.
HORSE FEATHERS, Y LA BAMBA, JOSHUA ENGLISH
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Horse Feathers and Nirvana make an unlikely pairing, but for Horse Feathers' latest 7-inch single, Justin Ringle and company dusted off their copy of Nevermind when picking a song to cover. Yet instead of a slower track from the album the band went with the normally caustic "Drain You." The results? Absolute perfection, an endearing and genuine cover that pays tribute to Aberdeen's finest, but does so on Horse Feathers' musical terms (with swelling strings buffered by Ringle's soft voice). Y la Bamba are also part of this two-night stand, and although Lupon is still fresh on record store shelves, the band just debuted a handful of robust new songs for a recent Bar Bar apartment recording session. New songs and Nirvana, you can't beat that. EZRA ACE CARAEFF
Ethan Rose, O Bruxo, Bob Mould, Barbara Manning, LawnChair Generals and Ryan Organ, as well as a link to the complete show listings, after the jump!