Happy Blackout Wednesday to you and yours. If you’re going drinking as part of your pre-Thanksgiving activities, or simply because it’s a Wednesday, have fun and stay safe. Before the site takes an extended four day weekend to enjoy some turkey and mashed potatoes and to watch videos of people fighting one another for Black Friday deals, I wanted to give you a quick heads up about a great Chicago show happening next Friday, December 6th. The always terriffic troubadour Cass McCombs is out on tour, and will be performing at the Empty Bottle that night. He’s supporting his seventh album Big Wheel and Others, which is one of 2013’s most fascinating releases. Technically a double album with 22 tracks and a run time of about 85 minutes, it’s a grand mixture of beauty, style and heart, all told through McCombs’ introspective and dynamic lyrics. He spins us tales of the American West through the eyes of several different characters, each with their own distinct take on the world around them. As such, the alt-country sound he’s largely made his name on gets mixed in with some blues, some rock n’ roll, some extended jam sessions, and even some jazzy instrumentals. It may seem odd and incongruous when reading that description, but somehow it all comes together and works really well. Check out the track “There Can Be Only One” to get a taste of the eclectic album. Even if you have issues with some of his new material, there’s still plenty of great old stuff to fall back on, from Catacombs to WIT’S END and more. While his catalogue is very strong, you really need to see him live to get the full Cass McCombs experience. The Bottle is the ideal venue for this show too, because of how intimate it is. Baltimore doom folk band Arbouretum are opening the show, and you should go to see them as well. Tickets for next Friday’s show are only $12, and are available here. I hope to see you there! Now then, let’s get to today’s Blackout Wednesday edition of Pick Your Poison. There’s some great tracks in the set below from Adrian Lau, Bavaria, Charlie Jacks, Fanno Creek, Jon and the Jones, Mount Pressmore and Sundays. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Architecture in Helsinki, Cosmicide (Brandon Curtis of Secret Machines’ new band), Todd Terje, CSS’s remix of a NONONO hit, and Lee “Scratch” Perry’s remix of a great Forest Swords cut. Have a great Thanksgiving (if you’re American and celebrate the holiday)!

Adrian Lau – Small Vacation

AM Aesthetic – We Caught Fire

Bavaria – We Break Through

Charlie Jacks – Speakerphone+ (ft. Jermaine Riley)

deadCAT – Cents

Fanno Creek – On My Way

Hello Phones – Hey You

Jon and the Jones – Firebreather

Knocking Ghost – Fools

Mount Pressmore – Trampoline

Sivu – I Hold (ft. Marika Hackman)

Strangers – Sense of Liberty

Sundays – Delicate

The Violet Lights – New Year’s Song

SOUNDCLOUD

Architecture in Helsinki – Dream A Little Crazy

Cosmicide – Talos’ Corpse

Forest Swords – Thor’s Stone (Lee “Scratch” Perry Remix)

NONONO – Pumpin Blood (CSS Remix)

Sally Shapiro – If It Doesn’t Rain Tonight (Digits Remix)

Todd Terje – Spiral