Middlewest Fest is upon us. However, the plight of the over 21 attendee is often overlooked.

With so much to do and so much to see, let’s boil it down and find out where your time is best spent this weekend.

Not all the best shows are 21+, but for the sake of clarity, let’s highlight the best parts of the weekend that take place at bars.

Friday of Middlewest should really just be spent at Otto’s Nightclub. The 7 p.m. show opens with Elephant Gun, one of Illinois’ finest acts. The country/punk band packs a lot of energy into their set, so 30 minutes will certainly get you sweaty to start the evening. The Gunshy and Clifton Roy and Folkstringer are two excellent bands as well, so when they end, make sure to check out the downstairs room for Mountains for Clouds.

However, the first night of Middlewest would be amiss if anybody skips out on William Elliott Whitmore or the Smoking Popes. These are going to be two of the highlights of the fest, and whether you have left SMLTWN Skate Shop’s State Champs show, or O’Leary’s Astral Guard set, the Popes will be going on around midnight, and missing them would be a cardinal sin.

Saturday night presents some tricky complications. Make it a point to start Saturday at SMLTWN Skate Shop to catch Joie De Vivre at 1:50 p.m. They do ‘90s emo like it was meant to be done, and I mean that in the nicest way possible.

2:30 could be spent worse than at the House Cafe, watching pop-rock stalwarts the Alumni Club. Lucky Boys Confusion headlines the main show at Otto’s at 9 p.m., but your time is probably better spent at the Egyptian Theatre seeing mc chris, P.O.S. and Murder By Death. Geronimo! at O’Learys at 9:30 p.m. presents a tricky problem, but it’s a win/win situation either way.

The late show at Otto’s is Cealed Kasket, one of my favorite bands to have play in DeKalb. Their show is expected to be quite interesting, as a day of drinking and listening to music wears down. If wizards and metal make you excited, Kasket is your solution. In a way, its “Rocky Horror” with guitar solos. People chant and throw things, the stage show is almost painfully elaborate, and it doesn’t hurt that the music rules.

There is a Dr. Manhattan dance party at the House Cafe, so you could go dance. Me, however, I’m going to see Kasket, drink several beers, and sing along to some of the coolest wizard rock in the world. After that, I plan on sleeping until Tuesday.