It's another busy week here in the Twin Cities, as artists of all stripes seem to be releasing new albums at a breakneck pace. Try and keep up! There's plenty of excuses for getting out of the house this week, especially on Halloween; here's our top picks for can't-go-wrong shows happening Monday through Sunday.

Monday, October 29

Chris Bates' Red 5
Icehouse, Minneapolis
9 p.m., $5, 21+
If you missed bassist Chris Bates' pair of album release shows last month, this encore performance will also feature the quintet that appears on his excellent new album, New Hope: brother JT Bates on drums, Brandon Wozniak and Chris Thomson on sax, and Zack Lozier on trumpet.

Buildings (opening for METZ)
7th St. Entry, Minneapolis
8 p.m., $8 adv/$10 door, 18+
Minneapolis's premier hard-edged rock band, Buildings, are worth the cost of this ticket alone. Get there early to see them perform -- it'll be the perfect lead-up to Toronto power trio METZ. Montreal's UBT (which stands for Uncle Bad Touch) are also on the bill.
 

Tuesday, October 30

Southside Desire In-Store
Hymie's Vintage Records, Minneapolis
6 p.m., free, all ages
Doo-wop revivalists Southside Desire drew a sizeable, devoted crowd at last weekend's album-release show; this free gig provides the under-21 set a chance to catch them in action as they celebrate the release of their debut 12" Songs to Love and Die To.

France Camp
Turf Club, St. Paul
9 p.m., $5, 21+
Don't sleep on this final installment of France Camp's October residency at the Turf. The former Howler member is now the frontman of his own garage rock group, and they'll be joined at this gig by the Shakin' Babies and Hollow Boys.
 

Wednesday, October 31 (Halloween)

Annual Halloween Tribute Show
Triple Rock, Minneapolis
7 p.m., $8 with costume/$10 without, 18+
What better way to spend Halloween than with a bunch of bands dressing up to cover their favorite acts? This year's go-round features Halloween and Oates (a Hall and Oates cover band featuring members of Al Church and State), Me and My Arrowsmith (Me and My Arrow covering Aerosmith), Paul and Friends (featuring members of Naked Raygun), and Bite Down Hard (Ted Nugent covers). 

Prince of Darkness
Turf Club, St. Paul 
8 p.m., $6, 21+
Another cover night, this one across the river in St. Paul. Prince of Darkness bill themselves as the #1 tribute to Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, and they'll be joined by thrashing punk/hardcore group City of the Weak.

CLAPS
Kitty Cat Klub, Minneapolis
10 p.m., free, 21+
Get moody and broody with this Halloween lineup. CLAPS say they'll encourage listeners to "Fall in love. Fall out of love. Fall into your grave," and they'll be joined by Baltimore's Feast of the Epiphany, Thunderbolt Pagoda, and the Funeral and the Twilights. Bonus? It's totally free.

Halloween Speakeasy
Clubhouse Jager, Minneapolis
8 p.m., $8 adv/$10 door (or $5 after 10 p.m.), 21+
For a swankier affair, this 1920s-themed shindig will feature a trio of DJs who normally play rooms three times the size of this intimate space. Starting at 8 p.m., DJ Dirty McKenzie will spin classic ragtime and jazz, and after 10 p.m. McKenzie, Bryan Gerrard, and SL8R will turn the venue into a dance club. Admission into the earlier portion of the evening includes a complimentary drink.
 

Thursday, November 1

Haley Bonar 7"-Release Show
Varsity Theater, Minneapolis
Country-folk songwriter Haley Bonar returns to the stage with a batch of new tunes in tow; her Bad Reputation 7" offers a preview of her next full-length album, which is due out next spring. With Van Stee and Buffalo Moon.

Ben Kyle (opening for Liam Ó Maonlaí)
Crooked Pint Ale House, Minneapolis
8 p.m., $12 adv/$15 door, 21+
Irish songwriter Liam Ó Maonlaí, best known as the frontman for Hothouse Flowers, will come to town to play a show with Irish-born, Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter Ben Kyle of Romantica.
 

Friday, November 2

Wiping Out Thousands Album-Release Show
7th St. Entry, Minneapolis
8 p.m., $5 adv/$7 doors, 18+
Inventive and hypnotizing electroclash duo Wiping Out Thousands celebrate the release of their new This Came First, along with similar-minded electro-pop acts LaLiberte (Maggie Morrison's new collaboration with Cecil Otter and Ben Clark) and Eau Claire's SloSlyLove.

Ian Thomas Alexy CD-Release Show
331 Club, Minneapolis
9 p.m., free, 21+
One-half of bluesy roots duo the Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank, Ian Thomas Alexy steps out with a new solo album, Born on the Day of the Dead. He'll be joined by Actual Wolf at this free release show. 

King Tuesday CD-Release Show
Northeast Palace, Minneapolis
8 p.m., free, 21+
Fans of More Than Lights would to well to check out this similarly minded genre-blending group, which fuses rock and jam influences with hip-hop. They'll celebrate the release of their new Overthrone with openers Lothario and DieVerse.
 

Saturday, November 3

Rockford Mules EP-Release and Farewell Show
Cause Spirits and Soundbar, Minneapolis
9 p.m., $5, 21+
As previously reported, searing rock band the Rockford Mules will wrap up their seven-year run this week while simultaneously releasing a new EP. With the Goondas.

Gospel Gossip 7"-Release Show
Turf Club, St. Paul
9 p.m., $6, 21+
Back after a lull between releases, Gospel Gossip will debut new material and sell a limited run of their new vinyl 7", Atlantic Blue. With Magic Castles, Leisure Birds, and Teenage Moods.

Mixed Blood Majority
Icehouse, Minneapolis
11 p.m., $7, 21+
New collaboration Mixed Blood Majority, which features Doomtree's Lazerbeak, No Bird Sing's Joe Horton, and Kill the Vultures' Crescent Moon, makes its live debut. Also on the bill are Ostracon, Mike 2600, and host Kristoff Krane.
 

Sunday, November 4

TCSAX
First Avenue, Minneapolis
2 p.m., $12, all ages
The first annual Twin Cities Sneaker.Art Xchange (TCSAX) invites hip-hop heads to gather for a celebration of sneakers, fashion, and music. Check out the lineup of MCs slated to perform: Ashley Dubose, Audio Perm, BdotCroc, Finding Novyon, Greg Grease, I.B.E, Illuminous 3, The Lioness, Lizzo + LaManchita, Mac Irv, Mike Dreams, Sophia Eris, Timmy Price, Tony Bones, and Villa Rosa. Attendees are also permitted to bring up to three pairs of sneakers to trade. An 18+ afterparty will follow, headlined by Raekwon (separate ticket required for after-party).