This Saturday is set to be a busy one throughout the city of Chicago. The main event happens in the early evening with the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, which is really a huge parade down Michigan Avenue as they light up all the trees that line the street. At the end of it all there’s fireworks over the Chicago River. The event brings out so many people it’s extremely difficult to walk down the sidewalk as everyone is camped out trying to spot Mickey Mouse or Santa as they ride past. I’ve never gone to it for pleasure, but had to go for work once and it was a nightmare of epic proportions. If you’ve got a family with small children though, I can understand the appeal. I’m not in that situation, so understandably it’s not my thing. Anyways, for the 18+ adults out there who are looking to have a bit of fun this Saturday night, lights parade or not, allow me to suggest heading over to Metro for a show with Cults, Mood Rings and SACCO. If you’ve yet to hear Cults’ new album Static, it’s a sugary sweet slice of indie pop with a bit of a dark side to it. More atmospheric and less instantly addictive than the band’s self-titled debut, the new album expands their sound in interesting ways that fans might not expect. Indeed, the album has been somewhat polarizing in critical assessments, but whatever reservations are held certainly don’t carry over to Cults’ live show. I’ve seen them perform 3 times over the last couple years, and each time they’ve been progressively better and more engaging than the time before. Watch Cults perform their song “High Road” for Baeble Music to get an idea of how their live show is. Of course Cults aren’t the only reason to pick up a ticket for the show. Atlanta band Mood Rings unleashed their debut full-length album VPI Harmony over the summer to a bit of acclaim. Their synth-infused dream pop sound often feels like a cross between Deerhunter and My Bloody Valentine in their least noisy states, though there are other elements in play that really help make the band a sonic enigma in the best sort of way. They’ve moved away from the lo-fi elements of their 2011 EP, and the shift to a more polished sound has done them wonders. You can still stream VPI Harmony in full over at Spin. They’re the sort of band that you want to show up early and see, because they’ve got big things ahead of them. As for SACCO, there’s very little I can tell you. They don’t have an album out yet, but if you want to hear a couple of songs from them, Bandcamp is your friend. They’ve got a sort of psychedelic, jangly pop vibe to them that does a nice job fitting in with the other two bands on the bill, so they might be somebody you’ll want to look into as well. All that said, the show starts at 9 on Saturday night, tickets are $21 and can be purchased in advance here. If you’re in Chicago and don’t have plans for the evening, come on out, it should be a great time! Also a great time is today’s Pick Your Poison. There’s some great tracks today from Bowerbirds, Dead Waves, De Lux, Ian Fisher & The Present, Little SUns, Powers and Total Slacker. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Alan Watts, Erol Alkan, Katy B, Neneh Cherry and Vertical Scratchers.
The Chelsea Kills – You Said It Yourself
De Lux – Better at Making Time
Ian Fisher & The Present – Regret (ft. Phia)
Total Slacker – Keep the Ships at Bay
Voyeur – String
SOUNDCLOUD
Alan Watts – Bogoditus
Disclosure, Nile Rodgers, Sam Smith & Jimmy Napes – Together
Erol Alkan – A Hold on Love
Katy B – Crying for No Reason
Neneh Cherry – Blank Project
Vertical Scratchers – These Plains
