The arc of most psych-rock careers bends in one of two ways. Usually it curves toward the slick, soft, and eventually the ignominiously drab (aka “mature”). But savvier and more committed musicians in the genre, the ones who are in it for the long haul, dig deeper, and with each album he makes as SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE Ben Chasny has become more adventurous. Last year’s School of the Flower showed off his ability to shape folkish lines into beautiful ice palaces, but his new album, The Sun Awakens (Drag City), burns mostly hot and dark red; the 24-minute “River of Transfiguration” steadily builds into sharply focused madness. Chasny has also just released a split seven-inch with the mighty Om, the very heavy duo of Al Cisneros (who contributed bass on The Sun Awakens) and Chris Hakius, both formerly of Sleep. For this tour Chasny will be backed by drummer John Moloney (Sunburned Hand of the Man) and guitarist and bassist Keith Woods (Wooden Wand). –Monica Kendrick
In August the SINGLEMAN AFFAIR, a psych-folk side project from Hummingbiird’s Daniel Schneider, will release its first album, Let’s Kill the Summer, in Europe on Alan McGee’s Poptones label. Schneider is still shopping for a stateside deal, and he deserves one: the album is a moody mash-up of late-60s influences, ranging from Skip Spence’s cracked hippie poetics to the dark country narratives of early Glen Campbell. Schneider will start the set playing sitar, then welcome his backing band, which includes members of Hummingbiird and the defunct Boas. –Bob Mehr
Six Organs of Admittance headlines, Bird Show plays second, and the Singleman Affair opens. Fri 7/14, 10 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, 773-276-3600 or 866-468-3401, $10.