Catherine “It’s No Lie” from their 1994 release Sorry! on TVT Records.

Hey Champ has released a mixtape that is very aptly titled. Winner’s Circle finds the group basically recapping the incredible year they’ve had. Hey Champ received their big opportunity in the Summer 2008 when Lupe Fiasco took notice and took the group on tour. Over this past year they have been able to remix some biggest names and make noise on their own with “Cold Dust Girl”. They are truly approaching the “Winner’s Circle”. The magnetic cast of artists involved on this mix includes Mike Posner, The Cool Kids, Passion Pit, The Sounds, French Horn Rebellion, 80’s Kidz, Priors, and Moneypenny. With the recent disbanding of Lupe’s FNF record label, Hey Champ will continue to move forward and continue to energize audiences around the world while preparing their forthcoming, independently released, debut album in the Spring of 2010. In the meantime, Hey Champ encourages new fans to make their way into the "Winners Circle" where the band displays all of the creative shine that put them on blast in the first place.

Hey Champ will be playing at Metro on December 19th with Kill Hannah.

Welcome To Ashley plays Schuba’s next Wednesday, Dec. 9 @ 9 PM.

Pretty Good Dance Moves‘ latest single, "Leave Me Alone," has received the remix treatment. The catchy electro-pop tune has been remixed by David Wolf (who has previously mixed Crystal Castles, among others). Check out the video for "Leave Me Alone," which features Japanese girl-group, The Suzan. The video follows a gang of Japanese girls, warding off a mad scientist — it’s the video the Flaming Lips never made during Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Tres cool.

You can see Pretty Good Dance Moves in person on December 12th with I Fight Dragons and Cobalt & The Hired Guns at Metro. – Neph Basedow

Over the last few years Nomo has gained a solid reputation for pushing the boundaries between instrumental rock, afro-beats, and jazz. Their sound is playful, inventive and always soulful. Recently band members Erik Hall and Elliot Bergman decided to strip back a couple of the sonic layers from the Nomo sound and add some calming vocals. The resulting band is called In Tall Buildings, and they have some of the key Nomo elements at times, from trumpets to tropical rhythms, but their sound in rooted more soundly in folk music. The duo has recorded their debut album and it was recently announced that it will be released by Chicago’s Whistler Records in March, 2010.

If you love the eclectic nature of Nomo, but also enjoy gentle vocals you should check our In Tall Building at Bottom Lounge on Dec. 11th with Cains & Abels and Brooklyn’s Cavalier Rose.

It’s been three years since we last heard new material from Skybox, and the success of Arco Iris and their need to tour and recover is good reason for the wait. However, there is also that fear of a sophomore release not meeting or surpassing the expectation of its predecessor. Yet, just as their live performances have become near legendary, often evolving into spectacles that in the past have included costumes, confetti, dancing girls, snack cakes and the occasional chicken suit, Morning After Cuts will only work to build the legend and respect for this quartet. Tim Ellis and Christian Fields, Mike Holtz and Dan Ingenthron have clearly matured, experienced, and learned over the last three years and have poured every ounce of knowledge and passion into this album. Ellis’ signature falsetto and provocative nature is in full force on each of these danceable tracks. He’s currently channeling a mixture of Bowie and Kevin Barnes (Of Montreal) and Daniel Smith. Recorded with acclaimed producer Sean O’Keefe at Smart Studios in Madison, WI and Chicago’s Black Sheep Music, it’s clear that this album will be an even bigger launching pad, when it is released on January 10th, than its predecessor. To expect a big 2010, with even wilder performances, from the boys of Skybox is not unreasonable. The first single from Morning After Cuts is called “In A Dream” (mp3). Skybox will be a part of Schubas Tomorrow Never Knows Fest on Jan. 17th.

It doesn’t seem like that long ago that we were talking about the debut ep from Cast Spells, but Dave Davison is at it again. On December 2nd Dave will be releasing a new split ep with tour mates Good Old War via Sargent House. Following the release he will tour the East Coast with Good Old War and then come back home to record session with Daytrotter. If that wasn’t enough Dave, a member of Maps & Atlases, plans to tour this Spring through Europe with another project of his Hey! Tonal. He is busy, but productive. The two songs he contributed to this new split ep are fascinating tales while gentle folk melodies. You can stream and purchase both the split ep and Cast Spells debut, Bright Works And Baton, here.

It seems like an unusual pairing, the echoing folk-pop of Netherfriends and the underground thump of Jams Dean, but they have show in the single they recorded together that it can mix nicely. Now these two are hitting the road together, mostly to fend off boredom but also to expose certain cities to what Chicago has to offer. Netherfriends (aka Shawn Rosenblatt) released his latest ep this year and has been touring frequently ever since. I can’t tell if his love for the road is passion or craziness, but it is clear that he has infected emcee Jams Dean with it. Jams (aka Blake Gardner) has been touching the blogs (and the girls) with his old school rhymes and his love from the ladies of Chicago. On December 11th many things will happen including the launch of the Netherfriends/Jams Dean tour. Jams will be releasing a full-length lp, The Criterion Collection, filled with all of his latest tracks for free download. He will also be releasing a split tour cassette with Netherfriends that will feature remixes of each others work, and that cassette will also be accompanied by a handwritten zine these two have put together. Jams will also be released a zine he created called "Rap Songs I Wrote" by Jams Dean that will feature the lyrics to the song on The Criterion Collection. It’s a big day for both Shawn and Blake. Below is Jams’ lyrics to his soon to be famous "Chicago Girls" track over the top of The XX song "Heart Skipped A Beat"

The tour launches on December 11th here in Chicago at Weirder Park with Jams Dean and Netherfriends ($5 donation at the door). You can also catch Netherfriends for free on Dec. 3rd at Loophole (618 S. Michigan 2 floor) with Truman & His Trophy & Carbon Tigers! (photo by Jake Moreland)

It’s hard to believe that Kelsey Wild is just 19, and just starting out her career as a musician. Yet, it is true, and there is this unmistakable maturity and depth in her voice that tells you she belongs. It also tells you where she’s been, that she’s been in love, and that she’ll be a star. What first caught my eye with Kelsey Wild was a video that the talent JM Harper did for her a few months ago for the song “Drunken Sailor”. Not only is the video incredible, but Kelsey’s song is captivating even without the great images and effects. She has been releasing songs through her blog all summer, and is currently a freshman at Northwestern. Earlier this month she played both Schubas and SPACE, and will be making her big national debut at SXSW in March 2010. I hope every one is ready for an amazing young talent.

Hello Rabble Rabble here, First off we want to thank the Deli Magazine Chicago for giving us the opportunity and putting us up on the November band of the month poll. Also thanks a huge amount to all of our fans and friends for voting and getting us the win. It means a lot to know that we have so much support and love from all of you. It keeps us going and inspires us to write and perform awesome rock and roll for you all. We just finished our Gallery of Carpets session and wanted to share the finished product with everyone. I know that you are dying to see what your efforts produced. We spent a good four hours recording and mixing two of our recent songs and they are rockin’. So go to our my space and check em out or download them for free and listen to them when ever you feel you need it! Oww! Thanks again and much love to you all. (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

If you are looking to experience something a little different tonight then I suggest you make to Empty Bottle tonight in time to see the opening band All The Creatures of The Sea. Todd Leibov and George Monteleone approach music from the realm of sonic exploration, and not nessacrily melody. The build these experimental swirling pools of sound and then let patterns and rhythms leak out. Especially while on stage, this duo is firmly planted in the field of improved sound, but this is what makes the outcome so exciting. Just as when floating in the sea the adventure and pleasure is in the unknown. It is in that chance that something magical might balanced with the risk of disaster. All of this lies in the hands and in the sound of All of the Creatures of the Sea. When you visit the bands myspace page you will notice that they have three newer demos, and each work to demonstrate the progress the band has made in the last few years. They is depth and excitement, and energy that can only be felt live. Doors open at 9:30 and tickets are $8, also appearing is Conductive Alliance and Montreal’s Winter Gloves. 

Player 1 is a name you may have seen pop up a few times this past year on albums from Remote Control Frequencies and Slow Gun Shogun, but now he has released two album filled with his private creations. The US release is called Music for Pornos, and is filled with a variety of loops and instruments romps through darker side of the Player 1 sounds. What’s interesting is that if he had not named the album what he did I don’t think I would have thought porno when I heard them. This are really fine examples of instrumental hip hop and funk. Released on November 24th, Music For Pornos is not as filled with musical cheese as you would think. In fact, Player 1 is able to balance the elements that you would expect from instrumental hip hop, but blends elements of rock and electronic music. In fact some of the track are full blown rock tracks. This balance fosters an element of surprise and a well-rounded collection. One interesting feature of Music for Pornos are the titles Player 1 has chosen. Almost all of the tracks are named after items of food, that’s right food. I suppose a 9 ½ weeks reference is in order but I’m not sure that was the intent. From honey to tomato to yam to radish, the foods seem to be random and take some of the porno steam away. Overall, Player 1 has managed to utilize the equipment and skill he has packed into his Stray Dog Studio and turn out a soundtrack not just to a porno or a meal, but to life.