On a rather chilly day for July thousands of people gather from all over the states to see some of the most influential musicians today, right here in Chicago, IL. Opening up Pitchfork on Friday was Chicago’s own Tortoise, which thoroughly set the day off right with a set list made up entirely by the attendees who voted beforehand on Pitfchfork’s website.

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“And now for something completely different.” While our picks for the weekend don’t follow the famous Monty Python line word by word, their slight adherence makes for an intriguing take on what has already been done numerous times. We like it fresh and interesting as much as you, dear reader. Check them out below:

• mewithoutYou | Friday, July 10 | 8:00 pm | 18+ | $15 | The Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY – Map | With four albums under their belt, the Philadelphia, Penn.-based band’s core conveyance involves the universality of the spiritual – but not the evangelical (not that there’s anything wrong with either… whew!). The musically introspective conglomerate will be sharing the evening with The Dear Hunter and Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground. For more information, call (212) 533-2111; if you miss them, check out their Myspace for future shows.
• Aidan Hawken | Friday, July 10 | 10:00  pm | 21+ | Hotel Cafe, Hollywood, CA – Map | A hybrid of Paul Simon and REM’s Michael Stipe, and you’ve got yourself singer-songwriter Aidan Hawken. Taking on double the role as frontman of Highwater Rising, the San Francisco, Calif.-based artist’s unique contemporary style has garnered wide acclaim and attention from radio and television alike. For ticket information, call (323) 461-2040; check out his Myspace for future shows.

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The majority of the bands for this weekend’s picks are so convoluted in style and sound that they just work. It’s as if they have the nerve to leave you a little scared and confused and think it’s okay – and sure enough, it is. Check them out below, along with the styles of other more traditional bands (but never less complex).

• Bassnectar | Friday, May 29 | 8:00 pm | $20 | Henry Fonda Music Box Theater, Hollywood, CA – Map | The experimental electronic free-form project as helmed by Lorin Ashton is self-described as “omni-tempo maximalism”, but we are into the multi-genre effect as well, from 16th century classical music to beat-boxing and ambient rock. Bassnectar will be playing venues in numerous cities across the greater US this summer. Click here for tickets.
• Animal Collective | Friday, May 29 | 9:00 pm | $15-$91 | Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles, CA – Map | Pre-planned, artful chaos, that’s Animal Collective. We feel cool just listening to them. We are still agog at their structured lack of structure and are stoked that the rest of the world has caught on, too – even if it means buying tickets a little bit farther in advance.  Try your luck; call (213) 380-5005.
• Tortoise | Saturday, May 30 | 8:00 pm | $20 | 21+ | The Bell House, New York, NY – Map | A flurried combination of jazz, and electronica coupled with frequent interjections of various horns, rhythm and percussion instruments aids to a whirlwind experience of the mostly-instrumental sort. The Chicago-based post-rock ensemble will be playing with The Bird Show. For more information, call (718) 643-6510.

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