Today Jade Tree Records and The Bottom Lounge announced the official reunion of Cap’n Jazz. On June 15th, Jade Tree will be reissuing the bands album Analphabetapolothology. The double LP will be packaged in a deluxe gatefold album jacket with plenty of bonus material not included with the original CD release, including never before seen photos, show fliers, and new liner notes by Tim Kinsella. This may not come as a surprise to those who managed to catch the surprise live set the band played last month, but the band is planning an official reunion show on July 17th at The Bottom Lounge. Cap’n Jazz is frequently recognized as one of the most influential bands every to grace Chicago’s indie scene even though they only had one official release in the seven years they were together. Since their split bands like Joan of Arc and The Promise Ring have formed, and flourished. This is truly a reunion not to be missed.
Fake Fictions Final EP
Fake Fictions played their final show on November 20th, and then went into the studio to record their final four tracks. You can see why the arrival this their final ep, Magic Infinity, is bittersweet. Recorded at Glamour Studios Logan Square with Gerard Barreto and Seth Vanek, these four tracks further exemplify the cleaner sound the band had been perfecting. These tracks guide the band even further into realm of ‘70’s rock and way from the surf-basement pop they had been playing a few years back. However, it is very much present in a track like “(Step Into The) Brite Lite”. This is a wonderfully farewell from a band that has always been drastically underrated.
You can download Magic Infinity for free through the Fake Fiction’s website.
Last Minute Plans: The Cathy Santonies @ Jimmy’s Woodlawn Tap
Punk Rock is so much more enjoyable when four beautiful women deliver it. Riot grrrl perfected, The Cathy Santonies are just one example of a scene that is about to come into the spotlight. Mojo Santoni, Jane Danger, Radio Santoni, and Kaylee Preston these girls have the energy and fire to masterfully pull of the fast paced sound.
The Cathy Santonies will be playing tonight (Feb. 15th) at Jimmy’s Woodlawn Tap and at Liars Club on March 5th.
Yea Big & Kid Static on Daytrotter
Recorded awhile back, the Daytrotter session with Yea Big & Kid Static has finally been posted. The energetic duo recorded three tracks during the session, the Mae-shi version of “Run To The Facts”, “Middle America” from The Future’s Looking Grim, their classic closing song, a cover of “Thank You for Being a Friend” (Golden Girl’s Theme). It’s an interesting selection of tracks. “Middle America” is a great song, but not the most well known track from the latest album, and there hilarious closing track is entertaining, but not really representative of the work in general. Regardless, I am glad to see Yea Big & Kid Static finally getting some buzz and on a larger scale.
Stranger In The Alps
Soft Speaker has a new ep coming out this month. The ep, Stranger in the Alps features five new songs and you can now stream two of the tracks,”Marble Mask” and “Tennyson Tea” here.
Soft Speaker will be celebrating the release of ep on February 26th at Darkroom with Yukon Blonde and Moxie Motive.
Linear Views
Like a tortured replica of Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Syllable Section present a warped and damaged brand of pop. Their debut album, Linear Views, sounds like a demonic, drug induced, ‘60’s pop binge played in reverse, or perhaps a traditional pop tune cut-up, taped back together, and then looped. What ever it is, this psychedelic mess, the listener is taken on a journey that changes them and they are never really the same.
Vocalist Mathew Marquardt makes Kevin Barnes look sane as he places his falsetto whine on tracks about “Normalcy”, loneliness, mood changes, and other craziness. You will feel like you have heard pieces of this before, but never be able to zero in on melody or rhythm. There is beauty in these tracks, but it is being repeatedly strangled to death. The Syllable Section is both traumatic and enjoyable.
Flosstradamus’ Valentine’s Day Mix
Nothing says “I Love You” like a mixtape, and yesterday Flosstradamus offered their love up to the world. Check out the crew’s Valentine’s Day Mix. Flosstradamus will be spinning tonight (Feb. 12th) at Lincoln Hall for their annual FlosstrPROMus. The event starts at 10:30pm.
Run From The Gun
Taken from their debut record Ooh La La, coming out Feb. 16th, Ornery Little Darling are not shy about their songs or their intentions and "Run From The Gun" is a perfect example of that attitude. They have entered this video in the Rock the Roxy SXSW video contest. The video was made by Endless Eye Films, ishootrockstars.com, Rubbish Films, and EP Theater.
Kidz in The Hall “Jukebox”
The new video from Kidz In The Hall for the track “Jukebox” premiered yesterday on MTV. The video was directed by BBGun. The track appears on their forthcoming album Land of Make Believe which will be released on March 9th via Duck Down Records.
The Rain
Mike Schpitz drops some knowledge over a borrowed 9th Wonder beat. “The Rain” appears on his mixtape Love Potion Number 9th: The Hangover.
Verbal Kent Mixtape and Tour
This month Verbal Kent will be unleashing his latest album “Save Your Friends”, and to hold us over, give us a peak, and mark Verbal Kent’s upcoming tour of Europe, Beat Trotterz has released a mixtape. This mixtape combines over 24 tracks spanning Kent’s career and contains “Example” featuring Lance Ambu and William Kurk from “Save Your Friends”. Kent has appeared on 20 release indie hip hop releases since 1999, and is one of the most prolific and respected emcees in town.
Last Minute Plans: Baron Von Something
I know you are probably buried in snow and don’t want to dig your way out, but if you can make it down to Empty Bottle tonight you will be rewarded. They are featuring three bands that play various forms of indie rock. The Vindits learn more towards the punk aspects of things, Baron Von Something play something more traditional, and Deadlands (from what I can tell) play alt-country tinged rock. It is three facets coming together for one night. Let’s see if they can melt some of this snow!