Marc Mozga (vocals, drum machine programming, guitars, bass, melodica) and Holly Prindle (vocals) are a duo known as Hobbyist with a powerful and unique sound. They call it outsider rock and it is somewhere in between Sleigh Bells and Fiona Apple.Their self-titled, self-released came out on May 1st.

The Oarsmen have accomplished a lot since forming last September. They’ve released an outstanding EP, Easel, and recorded their debut album coming later this year via Tandem Shop. Now they are trying raised enough funds to purchase a van to help them take their sound national. The campaign ends on May 13th so go and chip in today.

You can catch The Oarsmen at Schubas on May 22nd.

The Earth Program is an indie alternative "atomic space punk" band based out of Chicago, IL. Regarded for their unique cross-genre music styling’s, Earth Program have also extended their unique singular vision by essentially creating an entire universe around it by incorporating various multimedia elements including projected visuals, robots & theatrics into their on and off stage repertoire.

Check out their latest self release "ASTRO LOGIC" a compilation of recently recorded fan favs and brand new material available for name your price download via the groups bandcamp.

Owen (aka Mike Kinsella) has a new album, L’Ami du Peuple, coming out on July 2nd on Polyvinyl. He recently released the first single from the album, "Bad Blood".

We’ve talked about Serengeti’s persona Kenny Dennis before when he released his EP last year. Well, Kenny Dennis, the over-the-top 50 year old beer drinking and brat eating Chicagoan, is back with a full LP. The album features contributions from Odd Nosdam, Jel, and a guest spot from Anders Holm (Workaholics), and comes out on June 25th via Anticon.

EDM duo The-Drum have released the first single from their highly anticipated debut album, Contact, set to be released on June 25th. The new track is called "Sirens". The new album has some what of a sci-fi theme.

“Basically, the album exists in a universe in which there is a multinational conglomerate. That company is called Sense Net and it is part pharma- ceutical company and part hardware/software developer… their services are something along the lines of isolation tanks with audio, visual, and chemical elements to give the user various sensations and experiences based on the “programs” they have selected.”

You can catch The-Drum at Empty Bottle tomorrow night, April 24th with Slava.

Two legends in Chicago hip hop are back and ready to educate the youngsters who have been stealing the spotlight. Qwel & Maker have a new album, Beautiful Raw, dropping on May 7th via Galapagos4. The album was successfully kickstarted earlier this month, and according to Qwel, "Beautiful Raw" is a concept album based on the notion that life grows toward the light. The most fragile seed breaks concrete to do so".

Former Smoking Popes and Alkaline Trio drummer Mike Felumlee has released his latest solo EP, Adelaide via the most positive label in town Stayposi Records. As the nicely photoshopped picture above references, Felumlee expertly plays all roles on this sharp and concise EP.

Psychic Twin has released the video for "Dream State", their new 7" on Polyvinyl.

There is a new supergroup in town, and they will be releasing their debut self-titled ep on Record Store Day, April 20th, via Polyvinyl Records. Their / They’re / There is the new project of Evan Weiss (Into It. Over it.), Mike Kinsella (Owen), and Matthew Frank (Loose Lips Sink Ships). Recently, Evan did a brief interview with Backstage Broadcast about the new project.

You can catch Their / They’re / There at Reckless Records (Wicker Park) on April 20th, and at Beat Kitchen on May 11th.