AT METRO
Dec. 21 - Office w/ the 1900s - Office, which started out of Chicago, is a sort of up-and-coming indie band that people went nuts over at SXSW earlier this year. I’ve only heard a few songs, but they’ve been good. Should be a fun show. And it’s only 10 bucks. Have a listen.
Dec. 23 - Spitalfield - From what I understand, this is the band’s last show ever. If you missed these guys when they played the Canopy Club this could be your last chance to relive that rough patch just before your 16th birthday.
Dec. 27 - Mustard Plug - If you asked for checkered crew socks for Christmas… then I guess you probably already have tickets to this. Be careful skanking on those icy sidewalks, you crazy ska kids.
NEW YEARS EVE - An Unbelievably Expensive Evening with Spoon (& Special Guests) - Don’t get me wrong. I love old Spoon, I love new Spoon, but 80 Dollars! Unless the special guests are Johnny Cash and Elliott Smith I’ll be at home roasting chestnuts on an open fire and drinking Nagasakis. (Half eggnog, half sake.)
Also, you’d think all that extra ticket money might go towards an open bar or awesome decorations or something, but you’d be wrong. I went to see Alkaline Trio at last year’s New Year’s Eve show and definitely left feeling more than a little ripped off. There’s probably no better way for a Spoon nut to spend their New Year’s, but those are the only people I’d recommend this one to.
AT DOUBLE DOOR
Dec. 11 and 12 - The Lemonheads - A really underrated band from the 90s. These guys were broken up for almost ten years but are back and touring. You may know them from their cover of the Simon and Garfunkel tune “Mrs. Robinson” or from some of their hits - “If I Could Talk I’d Tell You” and “Into Your Arms” come to mind.
Dec. 15 - The Verve Pipe - I still stand by my belief that “The Freshmen” is one of the best songs ever. To be honest, I didn’t know that these guys still played.
NEW YEARS EVE - A Slightly Less Expensive Evening with ….Poi Dog Pondering? You crazy, Double Door. Hey Spoon fans - at least you know Poi Dog Pondering aren’t the special guests.
AT SCHUBAS
Dec. 14 and 15 - The New Amsterdams - Matt Pryor (of the Get Up Kids) continues to prove that he is incapable of writing bad music. I’ve been a fan of this band for years. These two shows are a great chance to see an extremely talented band in an intimate venue. Listen here.
Dec. 30 and NEW YEAR’S EVE - Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s w/ Catfish Haven - If you haven’t heard Margot’s “Skeleton Key” you’ve been missing out. Also, a Catfish Haven live performance is truly something to behold. Does anyone else remember the homeless-looking backup gospel singers they had with them when they were here for Pygmalion?
Jan. 4 - Is She Weird Is She White (Pixies tribute) and The Teenage FBI (Guided By Voices tribute) - Even if the bands suck, think about how cool the crowd is going to be!
