Nov. 6-8: White Denim, Dave Attell, Killah Priest
Dave Attell would like to tell you some filthy jokes this weekend.
FRIDAY
Texas’ White Denim knows how to keep its listeners guessing. The trio’s versatile sound bounces between jangly garage-rock and bluesy funk, occasionally escalating to punky noise, and just for fun can dip into bluegrass twang. The band plays Lincoln Hall tonight. Or, catch comedian Charlie Murphy at the Improv Comedy Club. Murphy is best known for his appearances on Chappelle’s Show, where he told insane and now infamous stories about Prince and Rick James.
When Anthony Bourdain's behind the scenes book Kitchen Confidential was released in 2000, its honest portrayal of the grimy, often sordid reality of working in professional kitchens propelled him to fame. Nine years later Bourdain has authored several more books, including a couple of detective novels, and is the star of the travel channel show No Reservations. See for yourself whether nearly a decade in the public eye has smoothed his rough, sarcastic edges, by going to hear him talk at the Genessee Theater tonight. (Here’s betting it hasn’t.)
SATURDAY
The Sounds will pump dance-friendly, new-wave reminiscent tunes into the Vic; holding still will be virtually impossible. Over at the Lakeshore Theater, kick back and get in some bawdy laughs with scruffy comedian Dave Attell, whose now defunct Comedy Central show Insomniac documented his love of booze and racy humor. Fortunately, that sense of humor is alive and well—check our interview with him. If you’re more in the mood for a movie, head over to the Music Box to see Joan Crawford in all her flashing-eyed glory in Johnny Guitar, the 1954 Nicholas Ray western.
SUNDAY
Even though he gives a slight nod to Wu-Tang Clan with a track titled "Sword Clan" on his recently released Elizabeth, Killah Priest breaks away with this album, releasing a spiritually reflective collection of tracks his own label. Hear them at Double Door tonight. For a different sort of evening, head over to the Landmark to catch some of Reeling 2009, Chicago's annual international lesbian and gay film festival. Tonight’s top selection is the beautifully filmed American Primitive, which travels to '70s Cape Cod to tell the story of a gay father raising two daughters in a harshly insular community.
