Friday 26
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The paint-peeling retro punk on the Spaceshits’ beloved first album, 1997’s Winter Dance Party, is to sock-hop rock ‘n’ roll what a nitro-burning funny car is to a Nash Rambler. Now Mark Sultan–better known as Creepy back in those days, better known as BBQ in these–is fronting the MIND CONTROLS, a spanking-new three-piece with members of the Demon’s Claws and the Confusers, and their self-titled debut on Dirtnap is like that old Rambler with a bundle of solid-fuel rockets zip-tied to the roof rack. The crude, snotty tunes pretty much erase the fine line between ruthlessly catchy and annoyingly repetitive, but what they lack in sophistication they make up for in velocity. A straight-shot listen through this record–11 tracks in just over 20 minutes–is like a round of that fourth-grade “game” where your buddy grabs you by the wrist and uses your own hand to pop you in the face. “Stop hittin’ yourself, man,” he says. “Why do you keep hittin’ yourself?” I dunno–because it feels so good? –Philip Montoro
Dead Moon headlines and the Mind Controls play third on the penultimate night of the final Horizontal Action Blackout; the Mirrors, the Mullens, the Dutch Masters, and the Krunchies are also on the bill. 8 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, 773-276-3600, sold out.
Sunday 28
MARY TIMONY Three albums into her post-Helium solo career, Mary Timony is still unlocking new talents. For her most recent release, last year’s Ex Hex (Lookout), she recruited D.C.-scene thunderbolt Devin Ocampo (Faraquet, Smart Went Crazy) on drums, which turned out to be a smart move; his playing is mathy and precise, and his confidence seems to rub off on Timony, who after a few subdued albums shakes off the fairy dust and starts choogling with abandon. Always an underrated guitarist, she finds a lot of different ways to show off: she’ll play one-note solos and spiderwebs of Brit folk or sweep it away with a tidal-wave roar of pedal mashing, slinging the hot glissandi and generally getting the Led out. Timony recently signed with Kill Rock Stars–she’s one of many acts who’ve jumped from Lookout Records’ sinking ship–and she’s coming armed with new material. The Winter Blanket and Fast Product open. 9 PM, Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, 773-525-2508, $10 in advance, $12 at the door, 18+. –Jessica Hopper
