This week brings to town a couple of Chicago indie bands that may be worth a look. The punk band Haymarket Riot may not sound quite as incendiary as their name suggests, but the group’s latest album, Bloodshot Eyes, still presents an overactive Fugazi-like sound –two emotional vocalists, angular guitar riffs, a rhythm section that actually has rhythm — which bodes well for their live show. These guys will be at the Map Room on Monday, January 28th, with Honda Factor.
The other Windy City import hitting town this week is The Clip, an outfit that balances electronica programming with new-wave guitars and a female lead singer, creating a sonic mix that may remind you of Garbage. The Clip will be joined at the Young Avenue Deli on Saturday, January 26th, by local hip-hop/funk DJs Redeye Jedi and Chase-One of Memphix.
This week also boasts a couple of local-oriented blues shows of note. Alvin Youngblood Hart will be at Legend’s on Beale Saturday, January 26th, showcasing his (relatively) new, homegrown rhythm section, bassist Mark Stuart (the Pawtuckets) and drummer John Argroves (the Star-Crossed Truckers). Then on Sunday, January 27th, at Earnestine and Hazel’s, University of Memphis professor and renowned musicologist David Evans will be joined by his colleagues in The Last Chance Jug Band to play a show celebrating the release of his new record, Match Box Blues, on the local Inside Sounds label. —Chris Herrington