By Gregg Shapiro

Contributing writer

Oct. 24

Don’t miss TWIN (nee The King Cobra), with Mayor Daley, U.S. Girls and My Disco, at 9 p.m. at Ronny’s, 2101 N. California. Call (773) 278-7870.

The Thermals perform at 8:30 p.m. at the Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie.

Contemporary jazz pioneers Yellowjackets play two shows, at 8 and 10 p.m., at the Green Mill, 4802 N. Broadway. Call (773) 878-5552.

“Pack of Lies,” by Emmy award-winner Hugh Whitemore, is performed by a student cast beginning tonight at Columbia College Chicago’s New Studio Theater, 72 E. 11th. Call (312) 344-6126.

Say Anything and Young Love perform tonight at the Congress Theater, 2135 N. Milwaukee.

Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee, presents Bonnie Philips and Robert Redderick at 8 p.m. Call (773) 278-1830.

Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln, welcomes Zap Mama at 8 p.m. Call (773) 404-9494.

The Bavarian Philharmonic Orchestra (Klangverwaltung Munich), featuring pianist Orion Weiss, perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus.

The Nicole Mitchell Trio plays the Velvet Lounge, 37 E. Cermak, 9 p.m. Call (312) 791-9050.

Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport, presents Figurines with Dappled Cities at 9 p.m. Call (773) 525-2508.

Ellis Clark and Starina perform at 8 p.m. at Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark.

Oct. 25

Child Size Monster Pistol plays Cal’s Liquors, 400 S. Wells St., with Iceage Cobra, at 10 p.m. Call (312) 922-6392.

A book release party for Lanita Joseph’s “The Things She Said Behind Closed Doors,” including dance, poetry, singing and more, begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Abraham Lincoln Centre, 3858 S. Cottage Grove.

In “Songs of Exile,” Diamanda Galás takes poems of exiled artists from around the world and sets them to her own piano compositions at 7:30 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago. Call (312) 397-4010.

Park West, 322 W. Armitage, presents Josh Rouse at 8 p.m. Call (773) 929-5959.

Luke Bryan, along with label-mate Jedd Hughes, performs at Joe’s Bar, 940 W. Weed, at 9 p.m. Call (312) 337-8588.

Zephyr Dance presents the world premiere of “Just Left of Remote,” tonight through Sat, night at 8 p.m. at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, 1306 S. Michigan. Call (312) 344-8300.

The Congress Theater, 2135 N. Milwaukee, presents Him.

Jennifer Angelina performs at 8p.m. at Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee. Call (773) 278-1830.

Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, presents The Deadly Syndrome and Oh No! Oh My! at 9 p.m.

Armed with little more than a guitar and a sampler, Karl Blau brings his dub-folk-natural dance party to town for a record release show, with Your Heart Breaks, at 11:30 p.m. at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Call (773) 227-4433.

Queens of the Stone Age, Black Angels and Biffy Clyro play the Riviera, 4746 N. Racine, at 6:30 p.m.

Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport, welcomes His Name Is Alive. Call (773) 525-2508.

The Note, 1565 N. Milwaukee, presents American Princes at 9 p.m. Call (773) 489-0011.

Metro, 3730 N. Clark, welcomes The Weakerthans and The Last Town Chorus at 6:30 p.m. Call (773) 549-4140.

Oct. 26

Center on Halsted , 3656 N. Halsted, hosts an “Artist Convergence” featuring dance company Forces of Nature and various other performers. Call (773) 472-6469.

The marvelous Erin McKeown plays Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport, at 10 p.m. Call (773) 525-2508.

Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, hosts the record release show for the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir at 10 p.m.

Secondhand Serenade plays the Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont. Call (773) 281-4444.

Skokie Theatre, 7924 N. Lincoln in Skokie, presents As Long As I’m Singing: The Music of Bobby Darin (Starring Dennis Tufano, the original voice of The Buckinghams), tonight and tomorrow night at 8 p.m. Call (847) 677-7761.

Smart Bar, 3730 N. Clark, welcomes Superpitcher, Matthew Dear’s Big Hands and Screendoor at 10 p.m. Call (773) 549-4140.

Two Way Street Coffee House, 1047 Curtiss in Downers Grove, presents James Gordon, with Georgie Gordon, at 8:15 p.m. Call (630) 969-9720.

The Chicago premiere of “A Park in Our House” by Nilo Cruz, opens tonight at the Victory Gardens Theater Greenhouse, 2257 N. Lincoln. Call (773) 871-3000.

The Sons of the Never Wrong play Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee, at 8 p.m. Call (773) 278-1830.

Heartland Café, 7000 N. Glenwood, presents Will Reedy and Friends and The Shoemakers at 9 p.m. Call (773) 465-8005.

Head of Femur plays an EP release show with Light Pollution at 10 p.m. at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Call (773) 227-4433.

Velvet Lounge, 37 E. Cermak, welcomes Douglas Ewart & Inventions tonight ant tomorrow night at 9 p.m. Call (312) 791-9050.

John Liggett, Towncrier and Brian Mazzaferri perform at 9 p.m. at Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark.

The Note, 1565 N. Milwaukee, presents Weedeater at 9 p.m. Call (773) 489-0011.

Metro, 3730 N. Clark, welcomes Minus The Bear and Helio Sequence at 9 p.m. Call (773) 549-4140.

Oct. 27

Sister Spit: The Next Generation—one vanload of queer female artists, writers and maniacs—come to town for one awesome night of shameless literary hijinks, featuring Tara Jepsen, Meliza Banales, Kay Marie Yoas, Michelle Tea and others, at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark. Call (773) 769-9299.

Vogue, a Madonna tribute band (no joke!), plays Ronny’s Bar, 2103 N. California, at 8 p.m.

In “Guilty, Guilty, Guilty,” Diamanda Galás reinterprets bittersweet songs of love and death at 7:30 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago. Call (312) 397-4010.

Bob Dylan and his band, Elvis Costello (solo) and Amos Lee share the stage at the Chicago Theater, 175 N. State, at 7 p.m. tonight through Monday night. Call (312) 462-6300.

Centre East at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie, presents political satirist Mark Russell at 8 p.m. Call (847) 673-6300.

Bawdy comedy and music act The Weird Sisters perform at 8 p.m. (EST) at the Acorn Theater, 107 Generations Dr. in nearby Three Oaks, MI. Call (269) 756-3879.

A Music Technology Concert, featuring classics of electroacoustic music as well as new works 
composed and performed by students, faculty and others, begins at 7:30 p.m. in Lutkin Hall, 700 University Place on Northwestern’s Evanston campus. Call (847) 491-5441.

Sidney Friedman presents a Halloween show tonight at 8 p.m. and tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee. Call (773) 278-1830.

Jesu, Torche and Fog play the Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, at 10 p.m.

Hope Littwin, Sunil Chopra, Xavier Valentine and Nicole Steed perform at 9 p.m. at the Heartland Café, 7000 N. Glenwood. Call (773) 465 8005.

Chicago Afrobeat Project plays two CD release shows, at 6:30 and 10 p.m., at Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln. Call (773) 404-9494.

Pine Leaf Boys, with special guest Les Amis Creole, perform at 8 p.m. in the The Old Town School of Folk Music—Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall, 4544 N. Lincoln. Call (773) 728-6000.

“This American Life,” a program featuring Dan Welcher’s Symphony No. 3 (“Shaker Life”), Donald Grantham, “Kentucky Harmony,” Mark Camphouse’s “Yosemite Autumn” and Donald Freund’s “Jug Blues and Fat Pickin,” begins at 7:30 p.m. in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus.

All Things Lucid, Lost Armada and Kory Quinn play The Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 274-5463.

Rodrigo Y Gabriela and Ian Ball (of Gomez) perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Riviera, 4746 N. Racine.

Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport, presents Issa (the artist formerly known as Jane Siberry), with Adrienne Pierce, at 7 p.m. Call (773) 525-2508.

Brice Woodall, Jeremy Keen and Karl Miles perform at 9 p.m. at Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark.

The Note, 1565 N. Milwaukee, presents Captured By Robots at 9 p.m. Call (773) 489-0011.

Metro, 3730 N. Clark, welcomes Lyrics Born, Del The Funky Homosapien, Devin The Dude and The Coughee Brothaz and others at 8 p.m. Call (773) 549-4140.

Oct. 28

Stolie plays originals and covers from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard.

At 8 p.m. Yellow Swans, Zelienople and Burial Hex play the AV-aerie, 2000 W. Fulton.

The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra performs a free concert at 5 p.m. in St. Petronille Church, 420 Glenwood in Glen Ellyn.

Subterranean, 2011 W. North, presents J+J+J at 8:30 p.m. Call (773) 278-6600.

Gunshy plays a record release show with Judson Claiborne at 9 p.m. at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Call (773) 227-4433.

The Old Town School of Folk Music—Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall, 4544 N. Lincoln, welcomes Tom Paxton, with special guest Small Potatoes, at 7 p.m. Call (773) 728-6000.

Part of the 2007 Latino Music Festival, Musique 21 performs at 3 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Call (312) 744-6630.

The Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood, presents Dreamland at 9 p.m. Call (773) 274-5463.

The Decemberists bring their The Long and Short of It Tour 2007 to The Vic, 3145 N. Sheffield, at 7 p.m., with tonight’s focus being long, epic-minded songs, with opening act Laura Veirs & Saltbreakers.

Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport, presents Great Lake Swimmers at 9 p.m. Call (773) 525-2508.

Metro, 3730 N. Clark, welcomes Meg & Dia at 6:30 p.m. Call (773) 549-4140.

Oct. 29

The Decemberists bring their The Long and Short of It Tour 2007 to The Vic, 3145 N. Sheffield, at 7 p.m., with tonight’s focus being shorter, pop-minded songs, with opening act Laura Veirs & Saltbreakers.

Chicago Sinfonietta presents “Climate of Concern,” a collaboration between the Chicago Sinfonietta, Chicago Humanities Festival and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, with special guest R. Carlos Nakai (wood flute) at 7:30 p.m. in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan.

New musical-in-progress “Opening Day,” with a book by Steve Delchamps and Doug Voegtle, lyrics by Delchamps and music by Voegtle, premieres at 7 p.m. at Theater Building Chicago, 1225 W Belmont. Call (773) 327-5252.

Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, presents Tunng, Castanets and Deer Tick at 9 p.m.

Juliani Ensemble performs the music of Mozart and Haydn in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Call (312) 744-6630.

The Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood, presents The Luna Blues Machine, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 274-5463.

Oct. 30

The Empty Bottle & WOXY.com present: Mobius Band and Tigercity at 9 p.m. at the Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western.

The Note, 1565 N. Milwaukee, presents Sic Alps at 9 p.m. Call (773) 489-0011.

Shannon Curtis performs at 8 p.m. at Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark.

Metro, 3730 N. Clark, welcomes The Hold Steady at 7 p.m. Call (773) 549-4140.