With all of the tragic reports of the devastating earthquake is Haiti many people around the world have stepped up to help. I am sure many of you reading this have already contributed in some way, but even if you have you should consider stopping by The Hideout tonight. Local bands Waco Brothers and Eleventh Dream Day play this special show benefiting Partners in Health, which has been working on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years. That’s right, two great Chicago bands, a soild and reputable charity, and you stepping and helping the people of Haiti… You really can’t lose. Tickets are $20 and the event begins at 8:00pm.

The results of the reader’s poll are in and the winner by a slim margin was the superhero tee sporting, NES freaks, I Fight Dragons. In fact, the margin was so close that we have decided to let the second place winner, King Sparrow, share the banner.

The final results of all the polls, jury, open poll, reader’s poll, and so on will be released on Wednesday win the overall winner is announced, so stay tuned!

It’s an addictive formula, tight electro synths, big beats, and smooth vocals, but it’s not that easy to achieve. That is unless you are a savant, Kid Savant that is. Kid Savant consists of Ryan Weisberger, John Sullivan, Kevin Pariso, and Andrew Wendahl. Last year the band released their second ep called Second Servings, and already have begun to put up new tracks on their myspace page. Their sound is densely layered, highly electronic, and heavily danceable. Keep and eye out for this up and coming band.

AM Taxi will make their debut on Virgin Records this summer, but we have a sneak peak at the shiny punk-pop that just might make them famous. The album promises to hold a wide range of style containing sounds resembling everything from The Hold Steady and The Replacements to Wilco and Sam Cooke. However, that remains to be seen because this first single, “The Mistake (available for download here), is highly polished and filled with pop. The album is called We Don’t Stand A Chance and will be released right before the band jumps on the Warped Tour, starting June 24 through August 15.

If there was one dominate form of music in Chicago it would have to be Hip Hop. There are so many different forms and characters and even superstars, but Kevin Coval may see the scene a little differently than others. He is hosting Chicago Public Radio’s Winter Block Party for Hip Hop Arts. This special event will be an exhibition of style, mash-ups, collage, and conversation, demonstrating with living/breathing examples of how hip-hop has manifested throughout these fields and why cultural vanguards are pushing us all forward. Those in attendance will see hip hop not through bling, pro nails, and spinning rims, but through Dance, Visual Art, Literature, Political Organizing, Journalism, and more. An all day event combing the various elements of hip hop is sure to be an enlightening event for even the biggest hip hop fans.

It all takes places at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater on Sunday January 17th, and you can find more information at Chicago Public Radio website.

Are you looking for some catchy basement fuzz-pop? Do you know where Frankfort, IL is? The Fizzy Pops are the latest addition to the poorly named Throw Up Records. The show tonight at The Lighthouse is to celebrate the release their self-titled full-length album. The 15-track collection is only $6 and is a little rough around the edges, but solid at its core. With tracks clocking in at under two-minutes more often than not, The Fizzy Pops make listening fun with their rapid-fire approach.

The show tonight starts at 6:00pm at The Lighthouse (9506 Manhattan-Monee Rd., Frankfort, IL ).

"Nothing But Grey Skies Ahead" appears on Welcome To Ashley’s EP Absent Man. They are playing a free show at Double Door tonight (Jan. 14th).

The Schubas sponsored Tomorrow Never Knows has a decent line-up this year and we felt had to give it some attention. $75 for 5 days event take place at both Schubas and Lincoln Hall and features bands like Sufer Blood, Freelance Whales, Bear In Heaven, Neon Indian, and even one or two local act. I suppose that is why we are giving the event more space because again the venue has failed to make an effort to really highlight Chicago music in their signature event. Among the local s you will find The Hood Internet, Laser, Fast & S**t, Only Children, Netherfriends, and Skybox, but the main headliners are all from out of town. For the full line-up visit the TNK Calendar.

One of my favorite albums of 2009 will finally get its official vinyl release on February 1st via Metal Postcard Records. Yea Big and Kid Static’s The Future’s Looking Grim is the second album from the energetic hip hop duo, and features songs like “Bots” and “Stomp The Pedal” and so many more addictive tunes. Of course, the album features “Eatchyo Samwich”, the tale of the duo getting into a fight at a roadside bar over a sandwich. So, if you missed the CD or haven’t bought the download or if you just love to collective vinyl, check out this new release from Yea Big & Kid Static.

Yes, the boys have done it again, and know for a fact we will say that again several times this year. For their new album, Ok Go will be making a video for each song. The latest video is for the song “This Too Shall Pass”, and features the Notre Dame marching band. It’s another classic in the Ok Go stable, but they are not allowing you to embed at this point so you will have to head over to youtube to be counted among the 20,000 plus people who have watched the video in the last four days.

To hear Christa Meyer talk about the new album from her duo Puerto Muerto is to hear the revolution approaching. Talking about the title track to the Fire Records release, Drumming for Pistols, due next month, “basically a call to arms, I wanted the song to evoke thoughts of revolution, without specifically referencing the subject.” The album as a whole is also a revolution of sound combining chamber pop with soulful chantey sounds and mixing in a dirge or two along the way. The other half of this eclectic duo is Tim Kelly, and he credits both the musicians growth musically and their good fortune to work with so many wonderfully talented Chicago musicians. On Drumming For Pistols, Kelly and Meyer have enlisted the help of Gary Schepers (Devil in A Woodpile), John Londay, Tiffany Kowalski (Bright Eyes), and Gary James (Box of Baby Birds). This once again proves that collaboration typically results in a diverse and rich product. This thirteen-track exploration is that rich adventure that will keep you guessing at every turn.

Serengeti delivered one of the classic songs about Chicago in the form of "Dennehy" back in 2006.