Rock out the rest of the 2003 with our Fall/Winter Concert Planner

So you can't saddle up for an entire three-to-four day weekend and make it an official road trip. That happens -- well, school happens -- and the mid-to-late semester pinch on finances happens too. But you want to kick the B-town scene for a spell, where do you turn?\nIndianapolis and Louisville host some of the best acts coming around throughout the remainder of the semester with the convenience of the getting there and back in a 24-hour period.\nKicking off this weekend in Louisville, singer/songwriter Liz Phair will be performing at Headliners Music Hall (1386 Lexington Rd.) on the sixth leg of her tour with her newly released self-titled album. On Saturday, the big southern rock style of Drive By Truckers will also showcase at Headliners. Rounding out the weekend and continuing into the next are performances by Godsmack at the Palace Theatre (625 S Fourth St.) and then back to Headliners on Monday night for The Polyphonic Spree, completing the whole spectrum of music tastes lumped into a single town in a single weekend.\nOh yeah, and if you haven't heard of The Polyphonic Spree and the "spree" spirit they birth with every sound and live performance, give them a go. They are an ensemble of 25 singers, instrumentalists and visionaries hailing from Dallas and donning white robes led by Tim DeLaughter around the nation in a bus with 22 beds and no showering facilities. Why not?\nAnd if you're wondering why we are channeling you away from the fine local music here in Bloomington, fear not.\nIt may just be a simple change in venue you seek without sacrificing the great B-town sounds. Local band Run of the Mill has performances scheduled at the Phoenix Hill Tavern (644 Baxter Ave., Lousiville) on consecutive dates in mid-November and of course, their jazz/hip hop influenced pop music sound will get you in the door, but it's the venue itself that will keep you coming back. The tavern is hardly just barstools and booze hounds. With six bars located inside and out, four stages for simultaneous live music shows, a DJ stage with dance floor and the capacity for a healthy 1000+, the Phoenix Hill Tavern certainly serves up a good night. \nLouisville will also host the overly-hyped Aerosmith and KISS concert ... if you like that sort of thing.\nMaybe the two hour skip south is still too much to ask for a mini getaway. Surely Nap-town will suffice. With the really big tours winding down from the summer schedule, Indianapolis continues to pull big shows into the fall and winter months, including a variety of tour features.\nA rescheduled White Stripes show will take stage on Nov. 11. We recommend a jaunt up to the capital city for the postponed visit from the Detroit rock duo in the Egyptian Room of the Murat Theatre (502 N. New Jersey St.). \nWith only general admission tickets sold for Egyptian Room shows, you are guaranteed an intimate setting for one of the premiere rock and roll bands in the country. \n"The theatre's atmosphere and sound speaks for itself as touring groups across the nation comeback to perform here every time through the Midwest," says Andy Wilson, the Murat's publicity director.\nIndianapolis will also host the "Tell Us the Truth Tour," featuring Billy Bragg, Lester Chambers, Steve Earle and The Nightwatchmen with Tom Morello at The Vogue on Nov. 12. This fourth leg of the tour, kicking off in Madison, Wisc., will advocate honesty and accountability from the mass media in their coverage of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Certainly with an air of pro-activism, this politically-minded tour will encompass the Midwest and East Coast before wrapping up in Washington, D.C., where actress Janeane Garofalo is scheduled to emcee the final three shows.\nOn the lighter, pop-side of things the 99.5 WZPL Jingle Jam will feature Guster, Howie Day and Jason Mraz. They may not be the John Mayer or J-Timbo kings of the current pop wave, but the established Guster and the up-and-comers Day and Mraz will rock your body at the Murat. \nFor those individuals who are a tad more ambitious, remember Chicago is only a mere four hours away. The time spent washing one load of laundry is roughly half that. Hell, with the wait for the dryers it might as well be the entire trip. So sacrifice your whites for one weekend and kidnap your recluse friends -- there is mischief to be had in the Windy City. \nYou may be saying, "Why would I want to go to Chicago? I've heard that their music scene is completely one-sided." Well, my friend, the bearer of this information is obviously a liar or hard of hearing ... possibly both. Disregard his opinion. \nThe amount of musical options within the city goes far beyond comprehension. Within Chicago and its outlying suburbs exists a plethora of bars, pubs and concert halls. Even within a single venue, like the House of Blues for example, artists ranging from Tom Jones to the RX Bandits can be enjoyed this fall. \nMany venues pride themselves on this musical diversity. \n"Metro's mission is to bring a cross-platform of the best local, regional and national emerging artists to Chicago," says Jenny Lizak of the Metro (3730 N. Clark). \nThe Metro has been accomplishing this goal for the past 20 years, playing a significant role in the success of bands such as Chicago natives the Smashing Pumpkins. The appeal of the venue is so great, in fact, that it has succeeded in bridging the generation gap.\n"Now, we are seeing second generation patrons, where parents who came here when they were young are now bringing their own kids to see shows at Metro," Lizak says.\nIt's obvious that there's something for everyone, but at what price will this venture come? For those with a less elastic budget, venues such as the Bottom Lounge (3206 N. Wilton Ave., Chicago) and the Fireside Bowl (5739 N. Ravenswood, Chicago) exist. The pay-as-you-enter method lacks the hefty, and most certainly dreaded, addition of a Ticketmaster surcharge. Patrons can expect to pay no more than $10 for a show. The inexpensive price should allow for an after show meal at the conveniently located Bucci's on Chicago Avenue. An oversized piece of Chicago-style pizza and free refills will only set you back $3.50. The evening will be less than half the cost of gas.\nSo better yourself and become an active member of the musical community, or cure any potentially fatal symptoms of cabin fever. Plenty of alternatives await you. Soon you'll be musically fulfilled and a weathered veteran of the road. And if laundry doesn't allow a weekend getaway, take advantage of one of the upcoming holiday breaks. In many instances, it seems that individuals are yearning to leave their homes within the first three days anyway. What better excuse to vacate the house than a trip to see a favorite band?