*pictured: Shannon Entropy

Going to shows can be stimulating in a social sense. Almost too stimulating, really. There's loud music, drunk people and long bathroom lines, all to be absorbed as the constant hum of numerous conversations drums on in the background. Tonight, though, there's an opportunity to enjoy the best of social show interactions while engaging in some collaborative visual and mental stimulation.

The inaugural Noggin Fest has arrived, mixing interesting art, research and music. Part benefit for NWNoggin, an educational art and neuroscience outreach group, and part birthday celebration for Shannon Entropy member Jesse Hamlin, Noggin Fest features research presentations from Katie Wallin-Miller PhD on the irrational economic behavior of rodents, Binyam Nardos PhD on racially based facial processing and Larry Sherman PhD on repairing damaged brains with stem cells and sugar. There will be art from all sorts artists and photographers, including Heather Hanson, Taylor Southern, Kanani Miyamoto, Showdeer and more, plus musical performances from Shannon Entropy, King Who and Cambrian Explosion. 

Noggin Fest is a 21 and over event, though minors are allowed if accompanied by an adult. It's guaranteed to be an incredibly interesting and interactive experience and for just a $12 ticket price, that's not bad at all.

 Shannon Entropy popped up on our radar months ago after we fell hard for their Tamale EP. The way the band, consisting of Libby and Jesse Hamlin (guitars, vox), David Hickey (keys, vox), Roman Buermann (bass) and Kevin Wilbanks (drums), mingled elements of math rock, psych and shoegaze on their EP made their sound easily addicting, but their official debut takes their mastery to a whole other level.

Out There Ideas dropped on 6.16 and is the summation of years of songwriting and refinery, building up on a foundation of tracks from deep within the Hamlins' arsenal. A brooding dejection that flows through the album, from the orchestral string intro that opens the album, to dark rock tracks like "VVitches" and album closer "The Ballad of Mustin Park," with Hickey's vocals echoing a tender croon along with it. 

The band will be joined by art pop of Sheers, Mood Beach's synthy grooves and some indie-psych from The Wild War as part of their album release show tonight at Holocene. What better way to spend a hot evening than by chilling out with a bill of great acts. Stream the album to become even more acquainted with the Out There Ideas tracks before the show.

Halloween weekend technically kicked off yesterday, but in the spirit of keeping the party going, make sure you drop by the early set at Analog Cafe tonight. Presale tickets may not be available anymore, but seeing locals Shannon Entropy with New York's Sunflower Bean and the Lemon Twigs is worth the $12 door price.

Things are kicking off early with doors at 6pm, but try not to miss Shannon Entropy's indie meets psych-hop set. Their atypical approach to sonance was first shared with the world earlier this year through their debut The Tamale EP, which also helped them win one of our Artist of the Month polls back in September.

Shannon Entropy is truly unlike any other indie act in town so it makes sense they were asked to open for the poppy glam rock of the Lemon Twigs and bedroom rock of Sunflower Bean. It'll be a lively evening performance worth checking out.