Magician Paige Thompson takes over the artist-in-residence slot at Chicago Magic Lounge (5050 N. Clark) with her show A Paige in Time, opening tonight at 7 PM and running Wednesdays through 12/21. Thompson combines autobiography with sleight-of-hand to illustrate the moments “that have motivated her to pursue her passion and fuel the inspiration for her unique take on Magic.” Tickets are $45-$50 at chicagomagiclounge.com. (KR)
Tonight is your chance to experience silent film as it was intended: with ungodly creepy organ music. At 7:30 PM, the Davis Theater (4614 N. Lincoln) is screening the 1922 silent horror film Häxan with live accompaniment by organist Jay Warren. Part documentary, part fictional vignette, Häxan—sometimes called The Witches or Witchcraft Through the Ages—details some of the history and superstitions surrounding western understanding of witchcraft and anti-witch hysteria. Tickets are $15 ($12 in advance), and masks are strongly encouraged. (MC)
Up the irons! Chances are if you’re a fan, you already know about tonight’s Iron Maiden concert at the United Center (1901 W. Madison; openers Within Temptation start at 7:30 PM), but if you’re already wearing your favorite Eddie shirt, blasting Powerslave in your office and champing at the bit in anticipation of celebrating the legacy of the beast along with the other maniacs, consider leaving work a little early to attend a pre-party. There’s two options nearby that offer shuttle service from the party to the United Center; the official visit from Trooper Beer, Iron Maiden’s own beer label, happens just southeast of the arena at Park Tavern Chicago (1645 W. Jackson). Drink specials start there at 4 PM. And Reggies is throwing what they’re calling “The Officially Unofficial Iron Maiden Pre-Party,” which includes a free performance by tribute band Maiden Chicago. That show starts at 4:30 PM and the venue also offers free bus service to and from the United Center. Those 17 and under are welcome at both events as long as they are accompanied by an adult guardian. (SCJ)
At 8 PM, Sudan Archives’s show begins at Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln). The Cincinnati-born artist grew up playing violin, and her sound was shaped by West African and Sudanese fiddlers. After getting involved in the underground rave scene, she relocated to LA to study music technology, where she refined a cerebral party sound that borrows heavily from R&B and dream pop. Her latest album, Natural Brown Prom Queen, sounds like a sweeter, rawer Santigold making music about growing up Black in the midwest. Reader contributor Hannah Edgar describes it as “lurch[ing] in the direction of those late-night raves, bottling the effervescence and irreverence of being young and invincible.” Lulu Be opens. Tickets are $25 ($22 in advance) and available to those 18 and up. (MC)
