The latest session from Giant System feature Distractions.

Distractions will be performing on April 16th for Record Store Day at Saki. They will also be performing a free show on May 23rd at Empty Bottle with Rabble Rabble and We Are Hex.

The debut album from Emily Cross (aka Cross Record) is as its title states a Magnetic Current. This is a collection of gentle composed and purred home recorded lullabies that conjure images of equal parts Mazzy Star, Bjork, and St. Vincent. When she urges to "feel it in your bones" in "Shark In The Ocean" I actually do feel it. Musically, this album combines lo-fi electronics, echoing bedroom recordings, and layered acoustic rhythms. In recording these seven intimate tracks Emily enlisted the help of Ben Babbitt on several of them and Douglas Tesnow on Clarinet for for two of them. When all of the parts are working together on a track like "Dark Before Light" the result is truly "Magnetic". The melody swirls and chases you around the room. There are big things ahead for this young musician.

Magnetic Current is her debut album and it will be released on April 19th by Another New Calligraphy. The release show for the album will be on April 23rd at Saki record store on Fullerton.

Now that you have learned the history of Driftless Pony Club (see video below), you should check them out tonight at Schubas as they celebrate the release of their latest album Buckminster. The album was officially released in February, and is inspired by and is based on the work of Buckminster Fuller. This is the bands fourth album in eleven years.

Driftless Pony Club will be performing tonight (April 9th) at Schubas with Tight Phantomz and All Eyes West. Tickets are $8 and the shows starts at 10pm.

The Right Now are releasing a 45 on Record Store Day (April 17th) called "If I Wanted To". You can download the track from the band’s site in exchange for email.

The Right Now is playing at Martyr’s on April 16th.

Smith Westerns have released a short film by Ray Concepcion called "Die With Your Chin Up". The film is the result of the band inviting Concepcion into the studio during the final stages of the recording of their latest album Dye It Blonde.

Smith Westerns will be performing at Lincoln Hall on May 11th.

blink. brings their brand of free jazz mixed with rock and electronic to The Whistler tonight to celebrate the release of their new album The Architects. The album will be offically released by Whistler Records on April 19th. This is the band’s second album and first in the last three years. Check out the beautiful track "Protect From Light I" below and check out blink. tonight at The Whistler with Arms & Sleepers. The show starts at 9:30 and is free.

Scattered Trees have launched a unique video contest where they have asked four aspiring student filmmakers to create their own video for the band’s song “Four Days Straight.” You can check out each of the videos here.

The track comes from the band’s new album Sympathy which was released this week and can be stream over at AOL Spinner.

The Sea and Cake are releasing a new album called The Moonlight Butterfly on May 10th. This is the bands 9th album and it finds Prekop, Prewitt, Claridge, and McEntire at their finest. Check out the first single "Up on North Shore" below.

My My My is competing in the Midwest section of the Billboard "Battle of The Bands". The band is one of three finalist and the only Chicago band in contest. They are also doing a short tour as part of the contest and will play against the other bands in Vegas. However, they need your vote before April 8th.

Company of Thieves have announced the details of their sophomore album which will be called Running From A Gamble and will be released by Wind-Up Records on May 17th. The band has shared the first track from the album "Modern Waste".

The band is currently on tour with The Whigs and will be performing next in Chicago at Ravinia Festival on June 26th.

Jackson Bailey is a new band in town, forming last year and now releasing their debut ep, Theories. The group is fronted by PJ Anderson and also contains Steven Gillis (Filter) as drummer. The band plays a very vanilla brand of Americana pop in similar vein of Hootie & The Blowfish. What redeems the project are Anderson’s earnest lyrics. The five track ep is a journey in love and loss and the conflicts in between. Is that enough to redeem the project? Possibly, I’ll let you decide. You can stream three of the tracks on the ep at bandcamp.

Jackson Bailey will celebrate the release of Theories on April 8th at The Bottom Lounge with Molehill, Facing Winter and Nathan Kalish & The Wildfire.

Lujo Records has released their 2011 sampler to give fans a taste of what’s coming out this year from the label. It features tracks from Chicago band’s Yourself and The Air (Who’s Who In The Zoo ep coming soon), A Lull (debut album Confetti coming April 12th), and Baby Teeth. The track from Baby Teeth is from their free ep Boss which was released back in January.

A Lull and Yourself and The Air are performing at Schubas on April 22nd.