Chicago

Giant System

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Giant System Chicago is quickly documenting the Chicago music scene and their latest film features Love Of Everything. I just have to say that Elisse La Roche is incredible in every way. The track they are performing is called "Fear of Missing Out". Giant Systems’ past projects include Aleks and The Drummer, White/Light, Black Math, and Locks. I can wait to see what is next.

Love of Everything will be playing on April 17th (Record Store Day) at Reckless Records in the Loop at 1pm.

Chicago

Kick Cancer In The Balls Benefit

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On April 21st at Empty Bottle the coolest benefit concert ever will take place and proceeds will go to the Nicest Man in Chicago. That man is David Thomas and he has cancer, but has had some success with treatment. However, he has been dropped from insurance and has a massive amount of medical bills. The event features music from Amalea Tshilds, Follows, and The Record Low. They will also have a bunch of cool items to auction of from local shops and publishers. It is the Kick Cancer In The Balls Benefit and tickets can only be purchased at the door for $12.

Chicago

The Salts Part Ways

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Yes, The Salts have split up, but in their wake they leave three solid albums that you can now download for free. Each band member has other projects to focus on, Travis Lee Wiggins is still continuing to play and record with his solo project Essex Chanel, as well as with his other two current bands, The Personal FX and Dolphins Swimming. Mike Rice is starting a new band that you can visit here. Luke Krause has been playing drums for City at Large. It sad to see the band part ways, but it’s great to get some free music!

Chicago

Earth Day and The Giving Tree Band

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On Earth day (April 22nd) The Giving Tree Band, known as "Greenest band in the land," according to Mother Earth News, will put their previous two album on “Fire Sale” and donate 50% of the proceeds to Global Green USA. The band is also performing at University of Chicago’s Earth Day Festival on the 23rd. Here is how the fire sale will work, on the 22nd the albums Unified Folk Theory (2007) will sell for $4.99, and Great Possessions (2009) for $3.99, or both for $6.99 (51 tracks total) exclusively via the band’s website. Currently you can download two tracks for free from their site to hear what the band sounds like if you aren’t familiar with their down-home bluegrass sound.

Chicago

Shots EP

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The Vindits have a new ep called Shots, which they will be releasing on April 22nd at Beat Kitchen. This is the bands third ep and follows their 2009 ep Overactive Sundays. The bands plays dark and gritty rock music and is sure to entertain. The band will also be appearing on 89.5, Vocalo.org on April 16th from 2-3pm.

Chicago

(… all hope is blind…)

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The new release from the haze-pop group Shalloboi, All Hope Is Blind, is a slow motion leap forward for the band. The almost overpowering fuzzy drone of past releases has subsided giving way to stark and beautiful melodies. There are still several layers to their sound but much more emphasis is placed on melody and the vocals. There is a quite richness about this album and it is partially due to the addition of Billy Speer on cello, Chris Gagnon on viola, and Katelyn Eldridge on violin.

The album is available for free download, but if you purchase it directly from Shalloboi is comes packaged inside a very cool zine. The package also includes a green vinyl release and disc.

Shalloboi will be performing live at Mortville on May 17th.

Chicago

Fly Like This

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Rockie Fresh is the next big thing to come out of Chicago and his brand new video with YP and Big Homie Doe for the track “Fly Like This” proves it. There are some great shots of the city here. The video was produced by Davy Greenberg.

Chicago

Bummer Palace

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Although their latest album, Bummer Palace, will not be released until next month Caw! Caw! will be celebrating the release on April 13th at The Abbey Pub with YAWN and Tender. The band has been working on this album since last July, and it is their first full-length album since 2006 and Eine Kleine Todesmusik. It is also their first album to feature Dan Rico on bass. After the show they will be heading out on a two month nationwide tour.

Bummer Palace is an exciting album filled hard-hitting rock, but is also dripping with the heavenly falsetto of Tim Tsurutani. That mixture of high-pitched vocals and aggressive instrumentation is yet another transformation for this trio that has been together since 2001. Over the years the band has morphed from a punk outfit to cosmic pop to their combination of sounds. My favorite track on the album is the atmospheric adventure “My Starship” with begins gentle with the words “Sunlight on my bike”. The song is filled with chaos at about the minute mark, but Tsurutani remains constant. It’s a fun track containing several surprises.

Chicago

Pretty Good Dance Moves: New Track, CHIRP Record Fair

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For those of you not up for a weekend chock-full of free tunes, live music, and decent (ahem) “pretty good” dance moves, stop reading. This post is not for you. Those still with us are in luck. The Chicago-based (by way of New York) group, Pretty Good Dance Moves (Jimmy Giannapoulos and Aaron Allietta) has your impending social calendar mapped out for you.

It’s no secret the boys of PGDM share an appreciation for token female vocalists (the pair has worked with Company of Thieves’ Genevieve Schatz as well as Angelina Lucero). This time around, the duo has tapped into songstress (and former model) Lissy Trullie, to help provide that sultry jena se qua to their latest track, “Bad Habits.” You can download and stream the track below or head to Beauty Bar tonight (4/9), where PGDM are the evening’s featured DJs.

PGDM will also be dropping by Saturday’s CHIRP Record Fair, where they perform at 3pm (alongside DJ sets by Mannequin Men and the Disappears). The Fair, which spans the weekend, also features local vendors including Bloodshot Records, Grape Juice Records, and Goose Island Beer Co. Visit the Record Fair website for details. – Neph Basedow