North By North is Nate Girard (Guitar/Vocals), Kendra Blank (Keys), and Dylan Andrews (Drums). This trio is releasing a very ambitious debut double LP called Something Wicked. The album is ambitious not just because it is a double LP, but because of the incredible storytelling and massive rock sound. An easy comparison is to early White Strips, but there is more depth to the writing and a little more fury to the sound.

You help celebrate the release of Something Wicked at Empty Bottle on January 23rd.

Consisting of cello, bass, percussion and vocal, Okapi is presenting a sound they are calling post-chamber. The trio released their debut self-titled EP this week, and it is available for whatever you willing to pay. The overall feel of the EP is slightly on the dark side, but that is mostly related to the deep sound of the instruments and the hushed vocals of Scott Gorski. Overall it is a refreshing look at composition making Okapi a band to watch this year.

Dead Rider (aka D. Rider) have a new album, Chills on Glass, coming out through Drag City this March. The label released an ominous video last week announcing the project. The band also joined twitter last week and you can follow them @deadriderband.

We received a good amount of submissions to our Year End Poll this year. Thanks to everyone who helped spread the word and give bands a chance to have their music heard by critics all over the country. After tallying the votes for the Open Submissions stage of our Chicago Year End Poll, it’s time to release the results.

Please note that no editor was allowed to vote for bands in their own scene. The editors that voted on the Chicago scene were: Jake Reed (Deli New England), Dawn (Deli DC Area), and Paolo De Gregorio (Deli NYC, Editor-In-Chief). In the coming weeks we will release the list of nominees chosen by our local "scene expert" jurors and our readers will get a chance to vote for their favorite Emerging Chicago Artist of 2013.

Acts advancing to our Readers/Fans Poll with a ranking above 7.8:

Zoo Brother (8.67)
The Vliets (8.67)
Xoe Wise (8.5)
Bastardgeist (8.5)
Evasive Backflip (8.17)
M!NES (8.17)
FINLEYKNIGHT (8)
Sunjacket (8)
Fake Limbs (7.83)
Michelles (7.83)
Pat McKillen (7.83)
Sleepy Kitty (7.83)

Honorable Mentions (ranked 7.3 to 7.7):

The Dead Woods (7.67)
Audiences (7.67)
American Wolf (7.67)
Foreign Shores (7.67)
Frances Luke Accord (7.5)
Z (7.5)
Carbon Tigers (7.33)
Midnite On Pearl Beach (7.33)
Static in Verona (7.33)

Total submissions from the Chicago Scene: 73

WHAT’S NEXT: These results end the first phase of the poll. In the next few days we’ll unveil the artists nominated by our local jurors (mostly venue promoters and other industry people who know the Chicago scene insode out), and we’ll let our readers and writers influence the poll with their vote.

Thanks to all the acts who submitted to us. Our open submissions pool was truly a celebration of the diversity and richness of Chicago’s talent. Keep creating, keep supporting and stay tuned for your chance to vote!

Twin Peaks released a new "cassingle" late last month on Tripp Tapes, "Flavor". The band also has a 7" coming soon via Jeffery Drag Records.

They recently announced on their facebook page that they have big plans for 2014 which started with dropping out of school to pursue their music career. We will have to see as the year unfolds if that was a wise decision, but their dedication has to be admired.

Psych Rockers Secret Colours dropped a new single called "It Can’t Be Simple" just before the holiday season broke out into a full sprint.

You can catch Secret Colours at Double Door on Jan. 31st.

JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound became one of the more loved and respected bands in Chicago in 2011 with the release of Want More via the local label Bloodshot Records. However, the band’s soulful sound to a leap into the national eye in 2013 with Howl. That leap had a lot to do with the band’s catchy and familiar sound, but it is was helped by the fantastic video for "Rouse Yourself" which featured Aubrey Plaza and Jake Johnson.

There may not have been a more buzzed about band in Chicago in 2013 than On An On. Just before departing to make big waves at SXSW, the band released their debut album Give In via City Slang. Several tracks from the album have found a growing audience but the track that seems to have the most staying power is the pounding anthem "The Hunter".

Houses (Dexter Tortoriello and Megan Messina) saw the release of of their sophomore album, Quiet Darkness (Downtown Records) in 2013. "The Beauty Surrounds" was the album first single and one of the most beautiful pop songs of 2013.

The ’60s psychedelic throwback Secret Colours took a big step forward in 2013 with the release of their full-length sophomore album, Peach. Of the all the tremendous tracks on the album, "Blackbird (Only One)" has to be the best.

Twin Peaks is a part of a garage-pop movement in Chicago that may have peaked in 2013. In July they released the raw and energetic album Sunken on Autumn Tone Records. The album has several great tracks, "Stand In the Sand", "Irene", but my favorite has to be "Fast Eddie".

The nationwide story of the Chicago music scene in 2013 was all about hip hop with the explosion of Chance The Rapper, King Louie, Katie Got Bangz, and so on. However, a name that wasn’t mentioned nearly enough was that of Vic Mensa. His mixtape, Innanetape, rivaled Acid Rap but it is Chance and not Vic working with the likes of Justin Bieber to close out the year. "Orange Juice" is undeniably one of the best tracks of 2013.