Permanent Records 3^rd Anniversary Showcase @ the Hideout (Nov. 21^st): Noise is a genre that’s steadily gained favor in the underground over the last decade or so. It’s obviously been around for a great deal of time, but the explosion in not just digital communication, but the ease of digital recording has resulted in a ground swell of acts. Wolf Eyes has become relatively famous and so has local Bruce Lamont.

The free jazz/improv scene here has its cadre of backers including the folks at Ememy, the Heaven Gallery and the weekly showcase at Hungry Brain.

What all of the aforementioned acts/showcases don’t take into account when crafting music is that there needs to be a back beat if you’re planning on reaching a wider audience. CAVE, Black Math and Mako Sica (all featured at the Permanent Records show) aren’t hitting radio waves soon, but each is able to include something akin to motoric rhythms into its work.

Holly Golightly: HG’s been a part of the Medford Scene while a member of Thee Headcoatees, worked with Billy Childish, the White Stripes, contributed music to a Jim Jarmusch movie and most recently released two albums with her new group the Broke Offs. Moving to Georgia last year has brought Golightly to the place of her music’s inspiration and resultantly a new disc is expected in 2010. She plays at the Subterranean on December 4^th.

The Dutchess & the Duke/Greg Ashley (the Gris Gris): The Seattle based folk duo has the backing of Sub Pop which probably didn’t hurt the popularity of 2008’s She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke. The band’s been expanded a bit since its first album to include a percussionist and on occasion a bassist. We’ll see who shows up in Chicago.

Greg Ashley was the lead guitarist and song writer in the best American psych act of the aughties, it’s just that no one really bought their records. Since the Gris-Gris only performs on occasion in the Bay Area, Ashely’s wrangled a different backing group in order to work out some new material. It’s all set to go down at the Empty Bottle on December 5^th.