Colin Stetson
July 28, Schubas / July 30, Constellation
You may have heard saxophonist Colin Stetson on records by indie heavyweights like Bon Iver and Arcade Fire, but it's difficult to understand his range until you listen to his solo work. His New History of Warfare solo album trilogy is a whirlwind of clicking valves, atonal squeaks and notes that go on forever (he's a circular breather). Once you've seen him play, you'll understand how one guy can make all that noise by himself. If you can't make it to Schubas, head to Constellation on Thursday, where Stetson will perform with drummer Frank Rosaly. (Schubas: $14, 21+; Constellation $14, 18+)
Django Django
July 31, Thalia Hall
Following in the footsteps of the Beta Band, London quartet Django Django fuses taut vocal harmonies with trip-hop beats and swirling, psychedelic production. Thankfully, the swelling synthesizers and trippy studio tricks are always in service of the organic components of each track—a balancing act that is deftly demonstrated on the group's latest record, Born Under Saturn. Ahead of Django Django's performance at Lollapalooza, the band fills the resonant Thalia Hall with bouncing rhythms at this official aftershow. ($26–$36, 17+)
Holly Herndon
August 2, Constellation
Made up of samples derived from Skype conversations, internet search queries and YouTube videos, Holly Herndon's latest record is a fractured examination of humanity's complex relationship with technology. The dense sound collages that populate Platform aren't paranoid, cautionary dirges—rather, they frame the digital world as an extension of our desire to communicate with and understand one another. Sure, you could download the record and pop in some earbuds, but Herndon's delightfully challenging music is the kind that deserves to be heard IRL. ($15, 18+)