The latest video from Giant System comes from the band Heavy Times.

Small Chicago took some time off but they are back with a great performance form Suns. The band came by and played 3 tracks including "Little Horn" above from their 2010 ep Close Calls in The U.S. Space Program.

Suns is performing at Bottom Lounge on April 16th.

Island of Misfit Toys will be releasing their debut album via Tandem Shop this summer. To celebrate and build a little hype the lead singer and primary songwriter of the eight-piece band is providing fans with one-of-a-kind give aways. Upon request, Sanders will record personalized acoustic demos on his four-track recorder. Each recording will include nine original songs and one cover, and fans can request specific songs. Recordings will also include a personalized letter from Sanders and information about the upcoming release.

To request a personalized recording, please send an email to sandersbooking@gmail.com with a name and mailing address.

The band will be performing a FREE show today (3/26) at 2pm at Saki (3716 West Fullerton Ave) with Holdfast and Warm Ones and then at Beat Kitchen on 4/10 and Reggie’s Rock Club on 4/17.

Salem is heading to LA next week to make their first headlining appearance as part of Check Yo Ponytail 2. To build the hype out there they have released a mixtape called Mother Always. It takes a dark look at remixing and reworking some popular tracks including Smashing Pumpkins and Cam’ron.

Also performing at Check Yo Ponytail 2 on March 29th will be Chicago’s Gatekeeper, Light Asylum, The Present Moment, and Killing Spree DJ’s.

Fresh off his performances at SXSW and tour with Twista, ProbCause is back and performing at Schubas on 3/27. Below is the Flux Pavilion Remix on the track "Gotta Know" which comes from him forthcoming ep Stir Fry.

You only get a brief sense of what Snow n’ Charm will sound like on their new EP, but you can tell the boys are having some fun making it. The band has released two eps previously and they are available over at bandcamp.

Local musician and founder of Antiopic Records David Daniell with James Elliott, Thrill Jockey’s Bettina Richards, Regina Greene (Front Porch Productions), and Greg Davis have come together to curate an incredible project that will benefit the relief efforts in Japan. In fact, 100% of the proceeds from the purchase of this release will go to the Japanese emergency response organization Civic Force, Peace Winds, and the Fukushima Prefecture municipality. Benefit for the Recovery in Japan features 64 tracks from some of the best musicians from around the world including Prefuse 73, Parts & Labor, School of Seven Bells, and so many more.

The gentle dream-pop of Architecture reminds me slightly of a female version of Campfires, and this band is releasing their debut ep, When We Were Young, on April 9th. Architecture is primarily the duo of Melissa Harris and Rebecca Scott of Panda Riot and together make a beautiful psych-twee sound.

The band is performing at Miskas this Saturday, 3/26, and celebrating the release of the ep on April 9th at The Whistler.

I Fight Dragons have released a new video of Packy Lundholm, their lead guitarist, playing Tetris in various locations around town. I just love seeing him play his guitar which is an actual NES. You can get free music from the band here.

I Fight Dragons will be performing an all ages show show at Lincoln Hall on 3/31, and they promise they will be using this guitar.

Geronimo! is giving away their 2010 LP Fuzzy Dreams for free this week leading up to their show free show at Double Door on 3/29. You can download the album here. Also playing that night are Kid You’ll Move Mountains, Brontosaurus, and The Soil & The Sun.

The trio know as Deep Earth is back with their first studio release. Armed with their syncopated and harmonious soundscapes, the trio is looking to put Chicago into a trance with House of Mighty. This cassette is now available their the Minn. label Moon Glyph, and is a spacey psychedelic trip through the Chicago underground. This sound fits perfect with what we have been hearing from other like-minded musicians like Gatekeeper and even the recent release from Netherfriends. The label has released 150 copies of this cassette so grab yours today. Also you can expect a split 7" with Deep Earth and the Minneapolis group Food Pyramid later this year.

Hollows appeared on Daytrotter over the weekend and performed four tracks including my favorite Hollows song "Shadows In The Dark".