Show of the Week

The New Pornographers with Okkervil River, April 20, 8 p.m. at Riviera Theater

Sorry, Stars, the best Canadian rock band coming to Chicago this Sunday would be super-group the New Pornographers. Boasting some of Canada’s best artists (Carl Newman, Neko Case, Dan Bejar of Destroyer), this group brings all the musical awesomeness of their individual parts together to form sweet, sweet power pop. Opening for the Pornos: Austin’s Okkervil River, one of America’s best-kept musical secrets, creating loud and emotional folk-rock. One bit of bad news just in — Neko Case won’t be playing, as she hurt herself recently. Still, great double bill, even if it costs slightly more (OK, a lot more) than Stars. Tickets cost $27.50.

Best of the Rest

Stars, April 20, 3 p.m. on Norris East Lawn

You know what? You could actually see both this show and The New Pornographers! Just enough time. This show is free, sweet.

Iron and Wine featuring Califone, April 21 and April 22, 7:30 p.m. at The Vic

Ignore the headliner here; Sam Beam and his folksy music sound fine enough, but the real reason to come out to these shows is to see Chicago’s own Califone, one of the more experimental and awesome bands around. Califone pushes folk sounds to new and bizarre corners of the sonic landscape, and sound superb while doing it. Tickets cost $23.

Atmosphere, April 22, 6:30 p.m. or April 23, 9 p.m. at Metro

Oh indie rap, what would we do without you? Minneapolis’ Atmosphere comes to Chicago this week just as his latest and most awesomely titled album When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold hits stores, meaning his two shows at the Metro are celebrations of the highest underground rap order. Tickets cost $22.

Cloud Cult, April 25, 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. at Schubas

Cloud Cult’s main man Craig Minowa recently said the group’s latest album may be the band’s last. Better see them before they vanish. Tickets cost $12.

Avoid at all Costs

Hey, this week looks pretty clean. Go out and enjoy the Chicago music scene, kids.