I Fight Dragons have released a new video of Packy Lundholm, their lead guitarist, playing Tetris in various locations around town. I just love seeing him play his guitar which is an actual NES. You can get free music from the band here.

I Fight Dragons will be performing an all ages show show at Lincoln Hall on 3/31, and they promise they will be using this guitar.

Geronimo! is giving away their 2010 LP Fuzzy Dreams for free this week leading up to their show free show at Double Door on 3/29. You can download the album here. Also playing that night are Kid You’ll Move Mountains, Brontosaurus, and The Soil & The Sun.

The trio know as Deep Earth is back with their first studio release. Armed with their syncopated and harmonious soundscapes, the trio is looking to put Chicago into a trance with House of Mighty. This cassette is now available their the Minn. label Moon Glyph, and is a spacey psychedelic trip through the Chicago underground. This sound fits perfect with what we have been hearing from other like-minded musicians like Gatekeeper and even the recent release from Netherfriends. The label has released 150 copies of this cassette so grab yours today. Also you can expect a split 7" with Deep Earth and the Minneapolis group Food Pyramid later this year.

Hollows appeared on Daytrotter over the weekend and performed four tracks including my favorite Hollows song "Shadows In The Dark".

Archie Powell & The Exports are releasing a series of covers this month in video through youtube. The first two covers are "The Ballad of John and Yoko" by The Beatles and Devo’s "Girl U Want". The band is clearly having a good time, but still these are quality covers.

The band is performing at The Viaduct on April 1st with Glittermouse and Republic of Lights, April 8th at Penny Road Pub (South Barrington), and April 15th at The Abbey.

Julie Meckler is joining Will Phalen and the Stereo Addicts for a night of music at The Bottom Lounge hosted by the Chicago Acoustic Underground. Above is Julie practicing a new song she is adding to her live shows. It is "La Complainte de la Seine" by German composer Kurt Weill.

Will Phalen & The Stereo Addicts just released a new single called "Home Someday" which is backed with a cover of the Faces tune "Ooh La La".

Also on the bill for March 31st at The Bottom Lounge are Cook County Fair and BJSR. Tickets are $10 and the show starts at 8:30pm.

Black Math have released a trippy video for their track "Night Shade" which comes their Phantom Power which was released last year by Permanent Records.

Local label and publisher Another New Calligraphy recently announced the signing of the hauntingly beautiful Emily Cross (aka Cross Record). Late last year Emily released a series of free singles through bandcamp as Cross Record that were charming and entrancing that the local label could not resist. ANC will be releasing Emily’s debut album Magnetic Current on April 19th.

In the last two months Emily has shared the stage with Thin Hymns, Pillars & Tongues, Can.Ky. Ree, and other like minded bands. She is well on her way to having a great emergence this year.

The Smoking Popes released their latest album, This Is Only A Test, on March 15th and performed down at SXSW the next night. The album is triumphant return for these ’90’s Chicago punk-pop hero’s. The album is a concept album of sorts, and the band is currently down at SXSW tearing it up. Check out their live performce on JBTV here, and the video for their new track "Punk Band" below. 

Rachel Ries is packing her bags and leaving Chicago. To say thank you and goodbye she is offering a limited edition package of goodies to her fans. In her special $30 "Farewell Chicago Bundle" you will receive her 2007 release Without A Bird on 180 gram vinyl and CD, a Without A Bird T-shirt, and a jar of Rachel’s homemade jam!.

Rachel’s last Chicago show is this Saturday at The Hideout with Detholz!

In May the French Label African Tape will be releasing Big’n’s first new music since 2000. The new Ep will be called Spare The Horse, and feature four new tracks. The tracks were recorded by Greg Norman at Electrical Audio earlier this year. Currently it will only be released as vinyl import, but if you enjoy the spastic sounds of this classic noise markers it will be well worth it.

The French label also release a collection of singles and unreleased tracks by Big’n last month called Dying Breed.

Salva has released his new album Complex Housing via Friends of Friends Music and is available in a baby blue vinyl edition. He also premiered a new video for their track "Keys Open Doors" today on Pitchfork Tv, and released a new podcast via xlr8r. Paul Salva is really pushing Chicago house into a new realm with this one.

Salva will be performing at SXSW on 3/18 @ 9pm at the Surefire Showcase @ Barcelona.