Friday 31
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SAPS On three EPs and one self-released full-length, Finally…A Band You Can Trust, these local country-punkers suggest what the Old 97’s might sound like if they took that last stick out of their ass: the Saps bring the same breed of poppy hooks and bitter, clever-yet-stoopid lyrics to country chords, but they’re generally far drunker, and proud of it too. (Their latest EP’s title: 1…2…3…Drink!) I saw them last winter and had great fun trying to keep up with the shots they did onstage while waiting to hear my favorite tune of theirs, “Trustfund,” which features lyrics like “It’s easy to spend other people’s money / You just go out and spend it on yourself.” The ticket price for this gig includes a buffet and champagne. Roundeye opens. 9 PM, Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood, 773-338-9862 or 773-259-6575, $25. –Ann Sterzinger
ELIOT LIPP Now an LA resident, Eliot Lipp recorded his eponymous debut album for Eastern Developments Music–a label run by Scott Herren, aka Prefuse 73–in Chicago during a stint here that ended last spring. He creates instrumental hip-hop sampladelia a la DJ Shadow and Rjd2, piecing together fully formed tracks from the usual array of sonic arcana–old jazz fusion, funk, film sound tracks. There’s satisfying detail and movement in his music, which rides on lean, well-integrated breaks and showcases some compositional smarts. He also deserves credit for forging this stuff with subpar gear–a 70s synthesizer missing a few keys and a primitive sampler–and making it sound so full. This is a live PA; Daniel Givens and DJ Ray_Rod open. Lipp also DJs Sat 1/1, 10 PM, at Lava Lounge; see listings for more information. 9:45 PM, Danny’s, 1951 W. Dickens, 773-489-6457. Free. –Peter Margasak
WAS (NOT WAS) Let the obvious punning commence: Was (Not Was) reunited last January after a decadelong breakup. The ahead-of-their-time Detroit art-funk duo, who did their best work in the early to mid-80s, split in 1993 and have since focused on production and sound track work. But they’re going whole hog now that they’re back together: a best-of collection and new studio album are slated for release this spring, and on this club tour they lead a full band complete with backup singers and a horn section. The Twinemen open. 9 PM, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn, 312-923-2000 or 312-559-1212, $25. –Monica Kendrick
