Baby, it’s cold outside, and things are slowing down a bit in Chicago clubland as the holidays approach. But there still are plenty of good reasons to venture out this weekend.

Metro has a great weekend in store with three strong shows in a row. Tonight, the prolific Minneapolis art-rock collective Cloud Cult headlines over similarly inventive fellow travelers Dark Dark Dark and Ben Weaver starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $16 in advance or $18 at the door.

On Saturday, everyone’s favorite Clark Street institution (Metro, of course, not Wrigley) ups the tempo considerably for an invigorating night of pop-punk that kicks off with Boom Juice at 8 p.m., followed by the House That Gloria Vanderbilt, Noise by Numbers, 88 Fingers Louie, and in the inimitable Bollweevils. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door, and the show is 18 and over.

Finally, Sunday brings the rescheduled appearance of Austin’s modern metal mavens the Sword. Mount Carmel and Karma to Burn open at 9 p.m., and tickets are $16 in advance or $18 on the day of the show. (Tickets for the original date on Oct. 23 will be honored.)

Another option tonight are two shows tonight by the Flat Five at the Hideout, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. The group is a new collaboration between Alex Hall of the Modern Sounds, KC McDonough, Nora O’Connor, Scott Ligon, and Chicago’s sweetheart songbird, Kelly Hogan, paying homage to the “group vocal sound” of bands such as the Beach Boys, the Byrds, the Mamas and the Papas, Spanky & Our Gang, and others. Tickets are $12.

Finally, the Empty Bottle also has a kick-ass weekend, with two shows at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday featuring long-running English art-punk legends Killing Joke and their always atmospheric mix of goth, dub, metal, and industrial music. Bloodiest open tonight and Beak opens tomorrow, and the cover is $20.