The fifth annual Chicago International Movies & Music Festival runs Thursday through Sunday, April 18 through 21, at various north-side venues. Most events are $10, and one-day passes are $25. For more information and a complete schedule see cimmfest.org.
Jesus Lizard: Last “Drink up, get arrested tonight, cause some car accidents, kill as many pedestrians as possible,” was among the sage advice offered by David Yow, 50-year-old front man for the pioneering noise-rock outfit the Jesus Lizard, during their final reunion performance (probably), at Metro on New Year’s Eve 2009. Directed by Tony Ciarrocchi, this video documentary captures the band’s set from start to finish, with stark images of guitarist Duane Dennison, bassist David Wm. Sims, drummer Mac McNeilly, and Yow, who sweats, snarls, and gurgles into the mike as security continuously fishes him out of the crowd and drops him back onstage. All the gems are here (“Seasick,” “Mouth Breather,” “Puss”), and Yow becomes progressively more deranged as the night wears on. —Kevin Warwick 60 min. Sat 4/20, 11:15 PM, Society for Arts, 1112 N. Milwaukee.
Music programming runs Thu 4/18 through Sat 4/20 with multiple shows each day; see page BTK for venue information. Highlights on Friday include a Bloodshot Records showcase with Lydia Loveless and Luke Winslow-King (10 PM, Hideout); a Closed Sessions showcase with Treated Crew, Juice, ShowYouSuck, Alex Wiley, and screenings of the label’s making-of documentaries (9 PM, Double Door); and the Funky Meters, the Greyboy Allstars, and JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound (6:20 PM, Congress Theater). Saturday’s notable concerts include a New Atlantis Records program of short films, accompanied by bassist Jason Ajemian, by pianist Marc Riordan and drummer Frank Rosaly, and by drummer John Herndon and guitarist Edward Ricart (8 PM, Elastic); Corey Harris and Guy Davis, plus Billy Branch giving a talk, “Evolution of the Blues” (8:15 PM, Rosa’s Lounge); and a program honoring festival guest Melvin Van Peebles (Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song), with clips from his films and a music set by him and players from Burnt Sugar (9:30 PM, Constellation). —Philip Montoro
