I was recently sent the latest ep from Waterstreet called Of Gossip. The band released it on July 31st and recorded it here at Kilo Recording Studio. I don’t know if it was the band’s name or their pictures on myspace, but I was excepting something a little more subdued. What surprised me was mainly the force of Evan Hand’s guitar playing and the range and polish of his vocals.

"Psycho" is the first the single from the ep and it finds Hand performing like a cross between Andrew Stockdale (Wolfmother) and Jimi Hendrix. However, my favorite part of the ep comes in the very first track "Nobody’s Ground" when you hear what sounds like tortured piano announce itself over the band’s fierce noise. Another highlight is the five-song ep’s final track "12" with it’s sing-along melodies and youthful imagery. Of Gossip is fine ep from a promising young band.

The latest live session over at Coach House Sounds features the talented Kid Static. With the release of this session CHS makes its first installment to a new series of session presented in collaboration with CHIRP Radio.

Also Coach House Sounds is turning two and celebrating with a show at The Whistler with Zelionople and the Jeff Kowalkowski Trio on October 5th.

Finally the debut album of your favorite flower punk rockers Rabble Rabble, and its on wax! These local heroes give it to you straight with the perfect blend of catchy guitar jangle and pulsing drum grooves enticing the body into primal hypnotic rhythms. The fans have termed "Bangover" for how one feels the morning after a Rabble Rabble show. Self recorded in the group’s jam space with the sweat and intensity of their enthralling live performances. This LP includes two tracks recorded by Brian Zieske at the Gallery of Carpet Studio. Limited to 275 vinyl 12" LP’s with screen printed covers, b&w copied insert and download card. Out on Chicago’s Commune Records this is a must have, it will turn you on. Also available for free stream and name your own price download via Rabble Rabble’s website. rabblerabbleband.com.

In other Rabble Rabble news the band will be heading down to Louisville Kentucky the first weekend of October to play Cropped Out Fest 2010. More than a hand full of other Chicago bands such as CAVE, GA’AN and CACAW, just to name a few will join them for the three day long fest. Featuring other national acts like Magic Markers, Moon Duo and Pissed Jeans. Cropped out is a locally and independently developed music festival set to take place in Louisville, KY on the first weekend of October 2010. The fest is designed to highlight the creative efforts of Louisville natives, friends, family, and fellow thinkers from Nashville to Chicago to Brooklyn and beyond.

So Check out Rabble Rabble’s new full length album and head south Oct 1st- 3rd for Cropped Out. No better way to show some love for your favorite Chicago Bands than to hit the road with then for a weekend.

Hollus is a band that you will be hearing a lot of over the next six months. They have recorded twelve new songs, and will be releasing them in the form of two EP’s. The first, Part One, will be released on November 2nd, and the second, Part Two, will be released in Feb. 2011.

Hollus will be performing at Empty Bottle on tonight (9/21) with Absinthe and the Dirty Floors and Desert Soap.

The Cool Kids have combined forces with Travis Barker to release a new single called "Jump Down". The track will appear on Barker’s new LP coming next month, but you can download it here for free. The download will also come with a free pair of 3D glasses that be used to watch the video for the track which will be release on Oct. 11th.

Only Ok Go could capture over 1 million views in 24 hours, and they have done that with the latest video for the track "White Knuckles".

The band will be back in Chicago on Oct 10th at House of Blues.

The latest video from Ryan McGinley features the youngsters The Smith Westerns. The bands is currently finishing work on their yet-to-titled sophomore lp which will be released by Fat Possom Records in 2011. The label rereleased their debut album on August 31st.

The Smith Westerns will be performing at Chicago Theater on October 11th with Belle & Sebastian.

The latest video over at Giant System TV features Tiger Bones.

It has been a busy year for Radar Eyes. They released their debut album (or cassette) via Plustapes back in March to rave review and more recently released a 7" inch through HoZac Records as part of their "Hookup Klub".

You can catch Radar Eyes tonight (9/20) at Empty Bottle playing a free show with Crocodiles and Heavy Times.

Chicago’s own harmonic psych-garage outfit The Clams hit the Beat Kitchen on Wednesday September 22. They’ll be playing songs from their upcoming and still untitled psychedelic western epic. Come out and get droned. Check out The Clams on Bandcamp for free song downloads. Joining The Clams is Backwords, who are touring out of Brooklyn. The band has just recorded and released a limited edition 12" vinyl pressing of their album "Quilt", which you can, of course, pick up at the show. Their sound is a stripped-down sort of roots/folk psychedelia, good stuff for any Wednesday night of the year. To tide you over until the show, here’s a new music video for The Clams’ song "Abreast Abroad".

Maps & Atlases have released a video for their track "Solid Ground" which appears on their debut full-length Perch Patchwork.

I am not sure how I missed the new release from Sin Ropas back in April (Shrup Records), but it is a great album. Holy Broken finds the combination of Tim Hurley (Red Red Meat, Califone) and Danni Iosello returing with eight new tracks. This is the first Sin Ropas album in five years, and it is one of their finest. The first track "The Fever You Fake" is perfect example of the bands relaxed yet powerful sound. They performed last night at The Empty Bottle.