Clubhopping
ARCHERS OF LOAF
As reissues of their ’90s gems keep rolling out, the beautifully noisy alt-rock band Archers of Loaf continues a full-scale tour that began last year with their reunion for festival gigs. Back together after 13 years, Eric Bachmann and the band are still pealing unvarnished licks and working through thoughtful, skeptical lyrics. (When this wraps up, Bachmann will be back with his folk-rock project Crooked Fingers, Nov. 7-8 at Schubas.) Metz opens at 9:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake. Tickets: $22. Call (312) 666-6775; bottomlounge. com. — Thomas Conner
TEA LEAF GREEN
These San Francisco prog-rockers — come back here, you, it’s not like that — have been steeping for more than a decade in a blend of jamband ramble-craft and breezy pop melody. More carefree and beautiful than ever on their latest album, “Radio Tragedy!,” Tea Leaf Green strikes a sharp balance between uncompromising musicianship and tuneful agreeability. Bassist Reed Mathis was a founding member of the Jacob Fred Jazz Oddyssey, but you don’t have to know Monk from Mingus to find these shows a satisfying quaff. At 9 p.m. Aug. 24 at Park West, 322 W. Armitage. Tickets: $20. Call (800) 514-ETIX; jamusa.com. — Thomas Conner
‘SKOKIE’S BACKLOT BASH’
This annual downtown hootenanny is another Chicago-area summer fest with good music options in addition to the bingo, beer and — uh, did someone say pancake breakfast? Headliners for the three-day event are Chicago’s Tributosaurus (as Tom Petty!) on Friday, the Fixx (yes, the “One Thing Leads to Another” Fixx, boasting all the ’80s hits and a fine new record, to boot) on Saturday, and local altrock favorites Local H on Sunday. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 24 and noon Aug. 25-26 on Oakton, between Lincoln and Laramie, in Skokie. Call (847) 674-1500, ext. 2274. See the full music schedule at backlotbash.com. — Thomas Conner