Small Brown Bike/The Casket Lottery

It doesn't get better than this: three similar bands of the best "screamo" in recent indie times line up for a stellar rocking night at the Fireside Bowl this Friday, Jan 9th. Small Brown Bike will go out in style for their last show ever, the excellent Casket Lottery play with them for the umpteenth time and local upstarts and rocking bastards Black Print round out the show. Show starts at 10pm. Be there.

La Jetée @ Siskel Film Center

Probably the most famous film by French director Chris Marker, La Jetée is a 29-minute story told in still images. You might recall that the film was remade by Terry Gilliam as 12 Monkeys; come see the original inspiration at the Siskel Film Center tonight, or on any evening through January 15. La Jetée will be preceded by the Chris Marker film Remembrance Of Things To Come, and is being shown as part of a Chris Marker retrospective throughout the month of January. Showtimes: weekdays at 6:15 PM and 7:45 PM; Saturday at 3:15 PM and 7:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM. Siskel Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

J. Davis Trio, Baldwin Brothers

The J. Davis Trio, "rap music for the rest of us," and the Baldwin Brothers perform at the Hothouse, 31 E. Balbo tonight at 9:30pm. $12, 21 and over.

Discrete Reading Series

The Discrete Reading Series presents poets William Fuller and Michael Bernstein. The pair will read some of their works at 3030, located at 3030 W. Cortland, one block south of Armitage between Humboldt Blvd. and Kedzie. Performance starts at 9pm, $5 suggested donation. BYOB, should you want booze with your poetry. For more information, email j_seldess[at]hotmail.com or kerri[at]conundrumpoetry.com, or call 3030 at 773/862-3616.