White Mystery has announced the details of their next release, and the follow-up to their self-titled, self-released debut LP. The album will be called Blood & Venom, and will be released on April 20th.

The duo is performing on Feb. 14th at Empty Bottle and then playing three shows at SXSW. The release party for Blood & Venom will be held at Pancho’s on April 20th. Starting at 6PM today (2/9), the first fifty patrons who walk into the Whistler receive a copy of the limited edition 7-inch record, a split with Black Apple that features “Take a Walk” live by White Mystery at the Hideout the Whistler Records released last year.

Maps & Atlases session with Laundromatinee (the live video performance series from My Old Kentucky Blog) was released yesterday. The band performed three songs from their 2010 debut album Perch Patchwork (Carpark), and a cover of Bob Marley’s "Redemption Song".

The band will be performing at Lincoln Hall on March 11th.

The Pilsen band Ornery Little Darlings recently released a free digital ep called "Ooh-La-La" and now have teamed up with Lumpen Magazine to kick off Valentine’s Day Weekend in an interesting and provocative way. The band were enamored with Lumpen’s 1995 sex issue, and decided that they would dedicate their February 11 hometown show to that particular rag. Not only that, but the band will also curate Lumpen’s next sex issue, on stands in July. They will also be giving away copies of the 1995 at the show. While the band (Emmi Chen, Jason Ewers and Paul Puschatz) performs, erotic artist Tom Torluemke will unveil never-before-seen paintings and sculptures of the hot and heavy variety. Meanwhile, chocolatier Jered Brown will tickle your tongue with velvety truffles and sticky caramels that will have you begging for more.

Also, performing at Co Prosperity Sphere on Feb. 11th will be The Loneliest Monk, Grace Kulp and Cleveland’s HotChaCha.

The latest video session from Giant System features the band Stranger Waves.

I normally don’t post live video’s but this video of Scattered Trees live at Schubas was well put together and the sound quality is pretty good.

The band will be performing again at Schubas on March 3rd before heading down to SXSW.

Plustapes recently announced that their next release will be the new solo album from Brian Griffith of Very Truly Yours and L’éternèbre. When Griffith is on his own he calls himself Grey Ghost. The six track cassettee, Songs To Wake Up To, is a beautiful collection of piano, synth, and other enchanting and peaceful sounds. You hear samples of each of the tracks over at Plustapes. Below is the video for the track "Hot Mess"

Sad Brad Smith has released a video created by the talented Bernie McGovern for his track "Old Days are Here Again". Sad Brad Smith will be performing a free show at The Whistler on on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14th) at 9pm. 

Starting in February, The Whistler (2421 N. Milwaukee) will be giving away 50 Free Records! According the bar, it is their mission to introduce people to the music that they love, so every Wednesday they will be giving away 50 free records to the first 50 patrons who visit The Whistler. Each week in February, it will be a different release from the Whistler Records catalog. In the coming months they will also be featuring exclusive releases from some of their favorite local record labels and bands.

The Giving Tree Band will be performing at Mayne Stage tomorrow with Hoots & Hellmouth. The will be performing a new track, "Silent Man" from their next record. The video above is from their acoustic performance for Our Vinyl.

Chicagoans and Chicagoers!

After a seizure inducing 2 months of polling and voting and churning numbers, we can finally say: "HABEMUS POLL WINNER!"

Congrats to mellow psych folker Young Man, who sealed the win thanks to 2 top jurors votes (3 points each), and to Dastardly and White Mistery, who placed second and third thanks to their fans vote. Here’s a picture of the Young Man also known as Colin Caulfield.

Thanks to all the jurors and the bands and the fans who helped us put together this list of artists. Please don’t take it too seriously (but not too lightly either!), we see it as a fun, playful way to give exposure to deserving emerging local artists.

Artist J OS F TOTAL   1 Young Man 6   0.004 6.004 2 Dastardly 4   2 6 3 White Mystery 4   0.012 4.012 4 King Sparrow 4   0.005 4.005 5 Canasta   0.5 3 3.5 6 Suns 3   0.214 3.214 7 The Loneliest Monk 3   0.064 3.064 8 Disappears 3   0.017 3.017 9 Black Math 3   0.016 3.016 10 SHAPERS 3   0.009 3.009 11 Jon Drake and the Shakes 2   0.5 2.5 12 Gold Motel 2   0.069 2.069 13 Hey Champ! 2   0.034 2.034 14 Smith Westerns 2   0.018 2.018 15 John Bellows 2   0.005 2.005 16 Judson Claiborne 2   0.004 2.004 17 Skybox 2   0.002 2.002 18 Secret Colours   1 1 2   Soft Speaker   0.5 1.5 2 20 Está Vivo   1 0.102 1.102 21 Very Truly Yours   1 0.054 1.054 22 Sad Brad Smith   0.75 0.299 1.049 23 Maps and Atlases 1   0.039 1.039 24 Stephen Paul Smoker 1   0.031 1.031 25 Archie Powell & the Exports 1   0.02 1.02 26 Tiny Magnets 1   0.014 1.014  27 In Tall Buildings 1   0.01 1.01   Joe Pug 1   0.01 1.01   Yawn 1   0.01 1.01 30 Julie Meckler   0.75 0.01 0.76 31 Scattered Trees   0.75 0.006 0.756 32 Verona Red   0.5 0.118 0.618 33 Gemini Club   0.5 0.093 0.593   Chaperone   0.5 0.038 0.538 35 Unicycle Loves You   0.5 0.028 0.528 36 Nathan Xander & Witchouse   0.5 0.014 0.514   The Giving Tree Band   0.5 0.008 0.508 Legend: J = Jury – OS = Open Submissions – W = Deli Writers – F = Fans

The Deli’s Staff

Grape Juice Records recently announced the signing of Jon Drake & The Shakes. The band recently released a free ep called Side A, and will no begin to record their debut album. The band has been together for two years, and have built a solid fan base.

The signing will be celebrated on February 11 at part one of the Grape Juice Records 2011 Showcase Series at Subterranean in Chicago. The night will feature Jon Drake & The Shakes, Chaperone, Rachele Eve and Julie Meckler.

Helicopters have released a wonderful collection of 18 "bits, bites, demos and b-sides (2005-2010)" called Not Diamonds But Diamonds. The collection is available for free through bandcamp.