Friday 14
IKE REILLY ASSASSINATION “No one’s ever going to pay to hear what goes on in your mind,” sings Ike Reilly on “22 Hours of Darkness,” the opening cut on Junkie Faithful (Rock Ridge), but his second-person point of view isn’t fooling anyone. Much as he may question it, people are listening to Reilly, but whether they keep listening is contingent on him continuing to do what he does: that is, lay out his despair in no-nonsense clever rhymes and wicked revelations, sung with a soulfully cracking (but unforced) voice. He’s got more than a bit of midwestified Lou Reed in him. If more singer-songwriter mainstream rock was this good, I wouldn’t have the tendency to tune out automatically at the mere mention of it. Reilly, for one, is worth hearing. The Reputation and Corsaire open. 9 PM, Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee, 773-489-3160 or 312-559-1212, $15. –Monica Kendrick
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PARTS & LABOR Though it’s only three years old this Brooklyn trio already has a reputation for being willing to walk out on any limb that’ll support it–collaborations with former Can vocalist Damo Suzuki and bagpiper Matt Welch only deepen that impression–but however jagged and random Parts & Labor’s growth seems to be, there is a pattern. The title of their 2004 album, Confuse Yr Idols (Narnack), sums up their intentions pretty well: subvert avant-rock so far it almost comes around to pop again. They’re currently touring behind a limited-edition vinyl split with Aa on Cardboard Records. Voltage headlines, Parts & Labor play third, the Narrator plays second, and DJ Hunter Husar spins to kick things off. 9:30 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, 773-276-3600 or 866-468-3401, $7. –Monica Kendrick
CHRISTINE & SHARIF SEHNAOUI Guitarist Sharif Sehnaoui is part of a small but fascinating group of Lebanese musicians who, after living through years of civil war, have managed to foster a dynamic free-improvisation scene in Beirut. This year he and his main partner, trumpeter Mazen Kerbaj, hosted the fifth annual Irtijal festival, which has drawn the likes of Fred Van Hove, Peter Brotzmann, and Le Quan Ninh. Now that Kerbaj has also launched a label, the world is finally getting to hear more of their work. The band Rouba3i consists of Kerbaj, Sehnaoui, and alto saxophonist Christine Sehnaoui–a Parisian of Lebanese descent who’s married to Sharif–and a revolving cast of drummers, which has included local Michael Zerang. Their Rouba3i5 (Al Maslakh) is so titled because Norwegian drummer Ingar Zach, who’s on the record, is the fifth percussionist to play with the group. Though Kerbaj has said he’s been influenced by the sound of exploding bombs, the music is gorgeously minimal, and it also reflects a strong European sensibility. Over Zach’s clattering and rustling and Kerbaj’s pitched breath streams, Sharif plays tightly controlled scrapes and mutters, using a tabletop approach a la Keith Rowe, while Christine favors delicate layers of spittle-flecked air, duck calls, and pure sibilance. Just the Sehnaouis are on this bill, their Chicago debut; they’ll be joined by bass clarinetist Gene Coleman and dancer-choreographer Asimina Chremos. See also Monday. 7 PM, Link’s Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, 773-281-0824, $10. All ages. –Peter Margasak
CHRISTINE & SHARIF SEHNAOUI See Sunday. With Ensemble Noamnesia and percussionist Michael Zerang. 8 PM, Renaissance Society, University of Chicago, 5811 S. Ellis, 773-702-8670. Free. All ages.
GANGBE BRASS BAND The Gangbe Brass Band seems intent on proving that Benin is the New Orleans of West Africa. Their third album, Whendo (World Village), certainly recalls the joyful noise of veteran Crescent City acts like the Rebirth and Dirty Dozen brass bands, but there’s also a fleet harmonic sophistication that mirrors the elegant arrangements of Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy. “Remember Fela” pays homage to the Afrobeat pioneer, with euphonium player James Vodounnon providing the circling bass lines, but the real Nigerian influence is in the rolling, rhythmic quality of juju, where beats float more than they thwack. The songs also incorporate local voodoo chants and rhythms, infectious call-and-response, velvety harmonies, and soulful lead vocals sung in Fon, Ngou, Mina, Yoruba, Eve, and French. When they played the World Music Festival back in 2002 the Gangbes had a hard time standing still; I imagine a good chunk of this set will find them dancing in the spaces between tables and chairs. 8:30 PM, HotHouse, 31 E. Balbo, 312-362-9707, $15. –Peter Margasak
AMERICAN ANALOG SET Reading the American Analog Set’s bio on its Web site, you might get the impression that the existence of this band was always hanging by a thread–it’s a story of regular personnel changes and quarter-life crises, with occasional interludes for recording. They claim that this is their last worldwide tour, which makes the title of their new album, Set Free (Arts & Crafts), sound a little fatalistic. Music like this really shouldn’t cause so much stress–it’s certainly relieved more than a little stress over the years, at least the kind that can be soothed by their dreamy, half-naked, slightly shoegazery sweetness. But then again, the last song on the album’s called “Fuck This…I’m Leaving.” Chin Up Chin Up opens. The band also plays on Friday, October 21, with openers the Elanors and Justin Sconza. 9 PM, Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, 773-525-2508, $12, 18+. –Monica Kendrick
