Coma Cinema at Beauty Bar, 6/20, FREE. This week, we'll attempt to direct you toward as many free or close-to-free shows as possible. Save your cash for a proper Independence Day weekend, mmkay? Coma Cinema's music has been described as strange, brooding, and other harsh adjectives that might drive you away. We prefer the term "theatrical," as in, this will entertain you. Give it a try. It's free!
Beauty Bar, 1444 West Chicago Avenue (at Greenview Avenue); 312-226-8828.
Peter Wolf Crier at Schubas, 6/23, FREE with RSVP. We're allowed to recommend folk rock, too—it's okay. Gathering comparisons to M. Ward and Devendra Banhart, this Minneapolis duo clearly has the potential to ease you into and good mood and then promptly evoke the urge to make out with them. See? Folk rock is cool.
Schubas, 3159 North Southport Avenue (at Belmont Avenue); 773-525-2508.
Junior Boys at The Metro, 6/24, $16. Oh, Canada. Thank you for handing over this electronic-pop duo sensation just in time for our weekend. We are grateful. The Metro is hosting this hot Chicago dance party, and even though we're focused on free/almost free shows this week, Junior Boys are worth the price-tag. We'll make it up to you, though; their latest album, It's All True, is only $6.99 on iTunes.
The Metro, 3730 North Clark Street (at Waveland Avenue); 773-549-4140.
Yo La Tengo at Green Music Fest, 6/25, $5 Donation. Welcome to the reason you don't move away every winter, aka, Summer Street Fair Cheap Awesome Music Season. Yes, that is the technical term. Yo La Tengo, the alt-rock band that has been and will be around forever (thank goodness) will play Green Music fest for the bargain price of a $5 donation.
Green Music Fest, on Damen Avenue between North Avenue and Schiller Street.
Les Savy Fav at Green Music Fest, 6/26, $5 Donation. Go ahead and have so much fun at Green Music Fest that you're there two days in a row. We won't tell, and we'll be right there with you. Punchy pop/rock sounds emitting from whatever stage Les Savy Fav takes this Sunday will be infectious, and are sure to draw summer-lovin' Chicagoans into the streets. Would you miss a party like that?
Green Music Fest, on Damen Avenue between North Avenue and Schiller Street.