Live music today in Chicago

Get ready to recalibrate your sonic expectations because Modest Mouse is about to obliterate any notions of mediocrity you might still be harboring. Fresh off a whirlwind tour with the Pixies and Cat Power—name a more iconic trio, we'll wait—Modest Mouse is swinging back with a live set that's as unpredictably electric as a thunderstorm on an acid trip. With their latest opus, The Golden Casket, Isaac Brock and co. delve into the deepest recesses of existential angst and digital decay, all while delivering hooks that’ll haunt you longer than that last dream you can't quite remember. Expect an evening where each track mutates on stage, puncturing the veil between hope and despair, leaving you questioning your own psychic landscape. And let’s not forget Califone, the avant-folk alchemists who weave magic out of auditory shadows, setting the perfect prelude for the night. Catch them in their natural habitat before you’re left reading about it on your friend’s Instagram story—this is the show your future self will regret missing.

Clear your weekend, because Plum Valley Idol Festival Vol.0 is about to rewrite your sonic universe. This isn’t your grandma’s talent show—this is a kaleidoscope of sound where the avant-garde meets the irresistible charm of idol pop. Set your sights on Jiemei, the synth sorceress conjuring ethereal beats that feel like a lucid dream you never want to wake from. Sharing the limelight, Purrga’s celestial harmonies will make you question if you've been listening to music or experiencing a full-blown eargasm. This is the festival where art school cool collides with bubblegum grit, a siren call for anyone who’s ever felt a twinge of wanderlust in their earbuds. Bring your best dance shoes and an open mind; this is more than just a gig—it's the genesis of something legendary. Miss it, and your weekend will be as uninspired as a Spotify autoplay.

If you're still chasing the next sonic high, seeking that elusive set where chaos marries melody and births something beautifully anarchic, Oneida's gig is your ticket. They're back with "Expensive Air," an album that detonates their previous work into a kaleidoscopic frenzy of structured dissonance. Imagine the thrill of careening through an ice storm, but this time, you're laughing as you spiral into the unknown. With the enigmatic Kid Millions and Shahin Motia at the helm, this trio of Oneida, Kinski, and BCMC promises a night where the lines between art and sound blur into oblivion. Think explosive riffs, instinctual improv, and a history that threads through the veins of NYC's punk and experimental core. Whether you're here for the out-of-tune licks or the avant-garde prestige of performances past at the Guggenheim and MoMA PS1, this show is where your FOMO ends and your senses overload. Doors at 8, show at 9; don't be the one who hears about it secondhand.