CHIRP: The Chicago Independent Radio Project

Michael Ardaiolo writes

Friday Night Flights

If you are looking for something out of the ordinary to do this Friday night, let me hip you to a few live music events that are a bit off the beaten path here in Chicago.

Photo by Calbee Booth (snapcult.com)

Magas

Viki

Scalpels

@Hideout Chicago

1354 West Wabansia

10p, $10

“Electronic warlord” James Marlon Magas will headline a show sure to quench the thirsts of any electronica or outsider dance junkies. The multi-talented one-man-show – who recently improvised an entire set while opening for Black Dice at the Lake Shore Theater – patches primitive dance grooves through an array of crunchy synthesizers and drum machines, the results of which tend to unleash Magas himself into flailing seizures of sonic ecstasy. Word is that his latest obsession with 60s psych-rock is inspiring a new twist to his already unconventional sound. For a full bio of the former Weekend Records and Soap owner and Lake of Dracula frontman, just head over to the Hideout website.

Opening are Detroit-based Viki – who sound like Adult. blissed out with electro-pop melodies – and no-wavers turned psychedelic art-poppers Scalpels.

Xela

Odawas

Good Stuff House

US Girls

@Elastic Arts

2830 N. Milwaukee, 2nd Floor

9p

Just in case you missed the intricate soundscapes of Type Records founder John Twells aka Xela at Danny’s monthly Kranky night last week, then here is your second chance. The U.K.-based producer crafts cinematic abstractions from unrecognizable samples, analog synthesizers and acoustic instrumentation. With a list of influences a mile long, his own music is doused in curiousness and subtle pleasantries that somehow bridges minimal electronica to psych-pop and soundtrack music.

The line-up is diverse though, with local groups Odawas and Good Stuff House also playing. Odawas – who have released albums on Jagjaguwar – create a heavily saturated brand of psychedelic-folk. Frontman Michael Tapscott croons with a Neil Young-like twang while the swirling backdrop echoes a wide range of haunting music from Ennio Morricone to Popul Vuh. Good Stuff House is the combined talents of Zelienople members Matt Christensen and Mike Weis and former Boxhead Ensemble multi-instrumentalist Scott Tuma. Their forthcoming debut album – a limited handmade CD-R available through Time-Lag Records – features a pleasantly drifting drone of free-form folk heavy on the reverb and enchanting melodies.