Friday 14
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TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS FESTIVAL The brainchild of Jeremiah Wallis, singer and guitarist in the local combo Paper Airplane Pilots, Tomorrow Never Knows was initially conceived as the release party for the band’s second CD, the self-released Western Automatic Music. But Wallis and Schubas booker Matt Rucins expanded it into a three-night festival gathering some of the region’s best up-and-coming pop acts. On opening night the adventurous octet Head of Femur headlines, orch-pop collective Scotland Yard Gospel Choir plays third, and Austin expatriates Palaxy Tracks go on first; their third album of melancholy, Joy Division-inspired musings, Twelve Rooms, is slated for release in April. Catfish Haven plays second. 9 PM, Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, 773-525-2508, $10. See also Saturday and Sunday. –Bob Mehr
Saturday 15
Sunday 16
HANGAR 18 With a roster that included Aesop Rock, Cannibal Ox, Rjd2, and Mr. Lif, the New York hip-hop label Definitive Jux made a powerful impact almost as soon as MC and producer El-P launched it in 2000. But, as forgettable releases by recent signees S.A. Smash and C-Rayz Walz prove, it’s tough to stay on the cutting edge. The Multi-Platinum Debut Album, the first album by New York trio Hangar 18, isn’t a return to that edge, but it’s a step in the right direction. Producer paWL’s dense sampling and programming put a party spin on the ominous ferocity of Cannibal Ox, while MCs Alaska and Windnbreez rap with speed-skater velocity and unusual braininess on familiar themes like ladies and skills. They’re at their best when they embrace the pleasure principle, as on “Barhoppin’,” a lighthearted narrative about a dopey night on the town. OneBeLo and Majestic Legend open. 9:30 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, 773-276-3600 or 800-594-8499, $10. –Peter Margasak
