What is not to love about Chicago Music project and cmpTV? They have asked me to share this video with everyone, and I am happy to support this great Chicago-based organization.

I am really begin to love the “video flyers” for upcoming shows. On April 17th at The Hideout Lazer Crystal (Nicholas Read (electronics & vocals), Josh Johannpeter (percussion), & Mikale De Graff (vocals & electronics)) will celebrate the release for their Thrill Jockey debut, MCMLXXX. Lazer Crystal rests on the darker side of electronic retro-pop. Their sound hints to references of Joy Division or very early Depeche Mode, but with much more advanced electronics and layers of various elements.

The album will be officially released by Thrill Jockey on May 4th, and Lazer Crystal will be heading over seas for the month of May.

During the night, 3am to be exact, Tiny Engines announced that they will be releasing the sophomore album from Castevet. The 8 song 12” LP will be called The Echo & The Light, and if that title sound familiar to fans then I will explain. Originally pressed in CD and tape format as an extremely limited six-song EP for the band’s 09 Winter tour with Grown Ups, the six tracks – plus two brand new offerings – have been re-recorded and engineered by Dennis Pleckham at Comatose Studio in Bradley, IL and mastered by Carl Saff (Melt Banana, Young Widows, Ghosts And Vodka) at Saff Mastering in Chicago. The four piece explosive punk band broke through last year with their debut Summer Fences and this album is really an extension of that effort. Tiny Engines will release the album on June 29th, and there will be 200 copies on 180 gram black vinyl and 300 on white vinyl.

You can preorder the album today, and you can catch Castevet on June 12th at Beat Kitchen.

Today, Kidz in The Hall released their new video for “Grizzly Man”, which can be found on their Professional Leisure Tour album and were added to the Lollapalooza line-up in Perry’s Lounge on August 6th.

If you are looking for something to do tonight you should head out to Angels & Kings to catch a free show with Loyal Divide. The band recently released a free digital single through The Ampeater Review for their song “DDF”.

Tonight’s free One Man(no) Show also features Breakers Broken and begins at 9pm.

Giant System Chicago is quickly documenting the Chicago music scene and their latest film features Love Of Everything. I just have to say that Elisse La Roche is incredible in every way. The track they are performing is called "Fear of Missing Out". Giant Systems’ past projects include Aleks and The Drummer, White/Light, Black Math, and Locks. I can wait to see what is next.

Love of Everything will be playing on April 17th (Record Store Day) at Reckless Records in the Loop at 1pm.

On April 21st at Empty Bottle the coolest benefit concert ever will take place and proceeds will go to the Nicest Man in Chicago. That man is David Thomas and he has cancer, but has had some success with treatment. However, he has been dropped from insurance and has a massive amount of medical bills. The event features music from Amalea Tshilds, Follows, and The Record Low. They will also have a bunch of cool items to auction of from local shops and publishers. It is the Kick Cancer In The Balls Benefit and tickets can only be purchased at the door for $12.

Yes, The Salts have split up, but in their wake they leave three solid albums that you can now download for free. Each band member has other projects to focus on, Travis Lee Wiggins is still continuing to play and record with his solo project Essex Chanel, as well as with his other two current bands, The Personal FX and Dolphins Swimming. Mike Rice is starting a new band that you can visit here. Luke Krause has been playing drums for City at Large. It sad to see the band part ways, but it’s great to get some free music!

On Earth day (April 22nd) The Giving Tree Band, known as "Greenest band in the land," according to Mother Earth News, will put their previous two album on “Fire Sale” and donate 50% of the proceeds to Global Green USA. The band is also performing at University of Chicago’s Earth Day Festival on the 23rd. Here is how the fire sale will work, on the 22nd the albums Unified Folk Theory (2007) will sell for $4.99, and Great Possessions (2009) for $3.99, or both for $6.99 (51 tracks total) exclusively via the band’s website. Currently you can download two tracks for free from their site to hear what the band sounds like if you aren’t familiar with their down-home bluegrass sound.

The Vindits have a new ep called Shots, which they will be releasing on April 22nd at Beat Kitchen. This is the bands third ep and follows their 2009 ep Overactive Sundays. The bands plays dark and gritty rock music and is sure to entertain. The band will also be appearing on 89.5, Vocalo.org on April 16th from 2-3pm.

The new release from the haze-pop group Shalloboi, All Hope Is Blind, is a slow motion leap forward for the band. The almost overpowering fuzzy drone of past releases has subsided giving way to stark and beautiful melodies. There are still several layers to their sound but much more emphasis is placed on melody and the vocals. There is a quite richness about this album and it is partially due to the addition of Billy Speer on cello, Chris Gagnon on viola, and Katelyn Eldridge on violin.

The album is available for free download, but if you purchase it directly from Shalloboi is comes packaged inside a very cool zine. The package also includes a green vinyl release and disc.

Shalloboi will be performing live at Mortville on May 17th.

The latest edition of Small Chicago is live and feature the punk-pop band The Saps. Check out their performance of "Bother You" and then visit Small Chicago for two more videos and loads of pictures from the session. The Saps performed last night at The Bottom Lounge, but you can catch them on May 29th at The House Cafe in DeKalb, IL.