Last month we announced that Gypsyblood had singed to Sargent and would be releasing their debut album Cold in the Guestway in April. They have not released another track from the LP called "My R.K.O. is M.I.A".

The band will be performing at Lincoln Hall on 3/11 with Maps & Atlases and then heading down to SXSW for 6 shows.

Hot on the heels of completing a heartfelt video tribute to US troops serving overseas, Chicago singer-songwriter Brad Cole hosts and performs at his monthly Acoustic Circus showcase at The Elbo Room, 2871 N Lincoln Ave in Chicago, on Saturday, March 12. Performers scheduled to appear include Heather Styka, Shelley Miller and Steven Gilpin (playing as We are in Seventh Grade), The Big Ditties and Sunnyside Up. This is an 8PM/21+/$5 show.

Anni Rossi is returning in May with a new album for 3Syllables called Heavy Meadow. This will be the follow-up to her 2009 full-length debut, Rockwell (4AD). Since that time she has relocated to New York, but is coming back to Chicago on April 14th to perform at The Hideout.

Where Rockwell was primarily a solo effort produced by the legend Steve Albini, Heavy Meadow finds Rossi working with a full band for the first time (including longtime collaborator, drummer Devin Maxwell). The album is much more filled with textures and styles because of that new dynamic. Yet, at the heart is still the talent and imagination of Anni Rossi.

Loyal Divide have released a new album called Bodice Ripper, and they are playing a show at Beat Kitchen on March 12th to celebrate the album and to give them a proper send off to SXSW. The band will be performing four shows at SXSW.

Bodice Ripper is the bands debut full-length and includes the tracks from their EP Vision Vision, their single "Flights" and several new and outstanding tracks. The album shows the complete picture of the polished electro-pop band Loyal Divide has become.

When you try to image the musicial union of a Malaysian-born filmmaker, corporate executive and a Harvard-trained theologian and writer, it is hard to visualize what sounds they might make. After listening to the debut album Hush from Tom Silva and Nicole Sotelo (Clara May) I can tell you it sounds like Tom Jones if he had a conscious and sang in a small coffeehouse. This is an album with cares deeply about society and through the compassion explores themes of identity, racism, and ethnic conflicts. The main vocalist on the album in Tom Silva and his deep vocals add a dramatic weight the topics he choses to sing about. The duo, since neither play an instrument, enlisted the of producer and guitarist Phillip Amerson and several other musicians. The album is not all protest and fight, but is a mixture of anthems, ballads, pop, and yes, protest. The album is epic and heartfelt, and Clara May will be donating 10% of its profits to charity.

Jimmy Chamberlin’s new project Skysaw has announced their debut album. Great Civilizations will be released May 2011 on Dangerbird Records. The band includes DC-based singer Mike Reina, guitarist Anthony Pirog, Boris Skalsky and Paul Wood. The first single from the album is called "No One Can Tell" and illustrates the polished anthem-based arena rock we can expect from this band.

On March 15th Company of Thieves will be releasing "Death of Communication" via iTunes. This is the first single from their new full-length Running From A Gamble which will be released on May 17th through Wind-Up Records.

Dastardly is performing a free show tonight at Reggies Rock Club to raise funds to make the trek to SXSW. The band will be making their first trip down to Austin. Above is the band’s performance of "Freight Train" for Kitchen Sessions.

Dastardly will be performing tonight, March 5th, with Milano, The Bears of Blue River, and The Dirty Feathers.

Pillars and Tongues appeared on Daytrotter this week. They actual recorded the session back in September, but it is amazing nonetheless.

The band is performing tonight, March 5th, at Ponchos with Cross Record, Spritis of The Red City, and Drekka.

You’ve got love a band that is not afraid to have a little fun. Check out Scattered Trees in their Star Wars outfits. If you are heading to SXSW be sure to keep an for these guys.

California Wives have released a new single called "Tokyo". The track was recorded during their session for the debut ep Affair, but just didn’t seem to fit in with that session.

The band will be performing at 7 different SXSW showcases and then coming back home to perform at Empty Bottle on April 1st.

Houses have release a cool little tour video documenting their time on the road through the Midwest with Baths and Braid.

The duo will be performing at four different showcases at SXSW and then heading out on the road this May with The One AM Radio.