This week's cool shows: Billy Bragg and Superchunk rock for Obama!

(Billy Bragg, Saturday, Nov. 1) THIS WEEK'S SHOWS Friday, Oct. 31: Halloween Party with Straight 8's, Tremors and Killer Filler, Slim's Straight 8's and Killer Filler are both rockabilly/surf bands from Hillsborough. The Tremors are from Greensboro. Friday, Oct. 31: The Avett Brothers, War Memorial Auditorium, Greensboro Once again, the Avetts are putting on a sold out show. Next thing you know, they'll be in the actual Greensboro Coliseum, not the auditorium beside it. SHOW OF THE WEEK! Nov. 1: HUGE Obama rally in Chapel Hill If you can handle getting up early after partying it down on Halloween, you'll get to experience one of the most amazing concerts all year. Personally I'd be most excited to see Billy Bragg, but since yours truly will be working, one of my spies will have to go and report on this show for me: From Merge Records: With help from the Obama Campaign and a bunch of great North Carolina musicians, we've set up two concerts to promote voting and more specfically voting EARLY to help turn NC blue for Barack Obama. The Asheville show was last night - thanks to everyone who came out! NC ROCKS FOR CHANGE free concert during the last week of EARLY VOTING in NC! Chapel Hill, NC 11/1 @ Graham Terrace at UNC (Adjacent to the Morehead Planetarium Early Voting Site) VOTE on the LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING! 9 AM until 1 PM Enjoy Coffee, Doughnuts and Rock while you vote! The dBs Superchunk (acoustic) Ivan Rosebud Megafaun I Was Totally Destroying It Bowerbirds Greg Humphreys Regina Hexaphone Portastatic Billy Bragg Check www.NCForChange.com for updates and information. Nov. 1: Bowerbirds, Slim's Raleigh acoustic folkies return to Slim's after an extended European tour. Saturday, Nov. 1: Chip Robinson & the Heavy Outfit with The T's and The Loners the Pour House Singer/songwriter and former Backslider Robinson returns with two of the rockinest bands in Raleigh opening. Sunday, Nov. 2: Leadfoot with Bad Checks, The Pour House Straight up rock. Bad Checks are one of my long-time favorite local bands (and no, I'm not related to members Robin and Cliff Mann), and they are responsible for one of THE classic local records, "Graveyard Tramp," which was re-released a while back on CD. Mon, Nov. 3: Drive By Truckers and The Hold Steady, Lincoln Theatre NEXT WEEK'S SHOWS Wednesday, Nov. 5: the Mountain Goats, and Kaki King Cat's Cradle "Present: the last happy hour of your life." Saturday, Nov. 8: the Black Crowes, Lincoln Theatre Apparently this is an outdoor show, so bundle up. Nov. 8: The T's Slim's Party for bass player Lutie Cain's sister, Lisa. Tuesday, Nov. 11: Diplo with Abe Vigoda, Cat's Cradle Diplo is the DJ/boyfriend of MIA, and is also responsible for bringing Brazilian baile funk to the hipster masses with his "Favela on Blast" CD. UPCOMING IN GENERAL Nov. 21: Double Negative with Rocket Cottage Slim's Raleigh's hardcore kings, soon to be heading to Europe and playing ATP. Nov. 23: Karen Mann's Birthday Bash with Sir Arthur & the Royal Knights and Dirty Little Heaters Slim's Come out and help yours truly celebrate the fine, Nuggets-style rock of Sir Arthur, and the angry-female rawk of Dirty Little Heaters. Nov. 29: The Loners with Pinche Gringo, Slim's Dec. 6: Death Metal Fest, Volume 11