THE MAX WEINBERG BIG BAND
Max Weinberg and his wry grin followed Conan O'Brien from late night to the "Tonight" show as his bandleader, but he won't be sticking with Conan for his upcoming cable run. Instead, Weinberg is embarking on chapter three of a storied career (chapter one, still in progress, is his longstanding membership in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band), leading a classic big band, playing standards. Loyalists can check it out at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln. Tickets, $34-$38. Call (773) 728-6000; oldtownschool.org.

EZRA FURMAN
Whatever happened to the happy sneer of bands like the Violent Femmes? Try Evanston-raised Ezra Furman, who begins a weekly residency next week as part of the Practice Space series at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport. He'll be playing solo acoustic, sans band (the Harpoons), beginning at 8 p.m. Monday and each Monday after that through Nov. 15. Tickets, $6. Call (773) 525-2508; schubas.com.

DEADMAU5
Remember the DJ at the MTV VMAs last month, the guy with the LED-flashing Mickey helmet? That's Deadmau5. He mixes house music right on the border of dance and hip-hop. With Halloween on the horizon, maybe he'll redo "Ghosts N Stuff" during one or both of his shows this weekend, at 7:30 tonight and Saturday night at the Congress Theatre, 2135 N. Milwaukee. Die Antwoord opens tonight, Booka Shade on Saturday. Tickets ($42) are available for tonight's show, while Saturday is sold out. Call (773) 598-0852; congresschicago.com.