BAND J W R TOT   1 I Fight Dragons 5 1 3 9 2 Hey Champ 6 1 0.042 7.042 3 Netherfriends 5   0.008 5.008 4 Pet Lions 5   0.006 5.006 5 The Smith Westerns 4 1 0.002 5.002 6 Skybox 5   0.001 5.001 7 King Sparrow 3   2 5 8 Treaty of Paris 3 1 0.091 4.091 9 Mazes 3 1 0.005 4.005 10 Makeshift Prodigy 3   1 4 11 Loyal Divide 2 1 0.066 3.066 12 Inkbat 3   0.036 3.036 13 Grammar 3   0.007 3.007   Raise High the Roof Beam 2 1 0.007 3.007 15 Mic Terror 3   0 3 16 Daniel Knox 1 1 0.107 2.107 17 Jerome Holloway 2   0.091 2.091 18 Hudson Branch 2   0.086 2.086 19 Kid You’ll Move Mountains 1 1 0.072 2.072 20 The Fold 2   0.047 2.047 21 Van Ghost 2   0.032 2.032 22 In Tall Buildings 2   0.002 2.002   Pool of Frogs 2   0.002 2.002 24 Mikkey Halsted 2   0 2 25 Panda Riot 1.5   0.022 1.522 26 Color Radio 1   0.034 1.034 27 YAWN 1   0.029 1.029 28 BBU 1   0.022 1.022 29 Joe Pug 1   0.005 1.005 30 Cave 1   0.001 1.001   Conductive Alliance 1   0.001 1.001 32 The Yearbooks 1   0 1 33 Mr. Bear 0.75   0.030 0.785

Legend: "J" = Jurors vote + Points from Open Contest – "W" = Writers vote  – "R" = Readers vote – TOT = Total votes
 

The build up for his debut album has been warranted for Andrew Belle really does have a magical voice.  The Ladder, is out February 23rd, but he is playing a release show for the album this Saturday (Jan.23rd) at Schubas. Belle splits time between Chicago and Nashville and that mixture of musical cultures is vibrantly demonstrated in his music. If you go and pre-order The Ladder here you will receive a live acoustic album for free. 

Inchworm has taken a bit of a hiatus from the show scene the last few months, but lucky for us, they’re back and ready to rock. More specifically, they’re ready to rock Schubas, Wednesday night, as part of Amplify’s New Music Series. The band plans to unveil the new material they’ve been working on over the past few months, in a glimpse at what will inevitably become the follow-up to their ’08 EP, Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing.

Inchworm has also recently taken to Bandcamp.com, uploading their previous EPs to music’s newest publishing platform. Following suit to recent preferred methods of music purchasing, Bandcamp promotes a name-your-own-price doctrine, allowing customers to donate as much (or as little) as they see fit. Visit Inchworms’ catalog on bandcamp.

Tonight’s show at Schubas begins at 9pm, with openers Sissy Mena and fellow locals, Save the Clocktower. Sponsored by Amplify, Beer Nuts, and UR Chicago, the show is 21+ and tickets are $5 at schubas.com. – Neph Basedow

The Deli is sponsoring the upcoming two-night stay at Schubas with Brighton MA. We are excited to be working with such a great Chicago band. The other sponsor for the show is Coach House Sounds and they recently posted their live session with the band. Through out the week we will be featuring a different band playing at Schubas on Jan. 22nd and 23rd.

Chicago’s Andrew Bird and Umphrey’s McGee are among the 200 plus artists who have donated MP3s (many unreleased) to this new charitable music site established by Paste Magazine. 100% of money contributed through “Songs for Haiti” will be spread among three charities active in Haiti: Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross, and Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund. If you have already donated you can tell “Songs For Haiti” where you donated and still gain access to site. Although we are a music site, this is not as much about the music that you will gain access to, but the act of giving in this time of need.

It’s too easy to compare Bullets In Madison to bands like Coldplay and Radiohead. Besides when you listen closely you will find that the band is not as pretentious as Coldplay and hungrier than Radiohead. On their latest album, We Became Your Family When You Died, the band does an exceptional job of creating and sustaining a complex and heavily textured atmosphere. The album opener, “Impossible Grave” is the perfect example of their craftsmanship, a mixer of aggressive drummer, angelic violins, rhythmic guitar, and floating vocals.

This album is remarkably well put together for a self-released project, and it shows how dedicated the band is to their sound. All too often young bands are still searching for their sound and try to do too much, but Bullets In Madison have perfected the orchestral atmospherics like no other. My favorite track on the album has to be “Riots”, it encompasses all the many elements that really make this album one of the first standout albums of the year. You can download the album for free at Bullets In Madison’s website. 

Sad news for the boys of Jonny Rumble. According to their Twitter account, the band’s van was stolen today, and they are asking for your help. If you spot a 1994 green Dodge Caravan with the license plate number 804 0214, please report it to the police. Good luck, JR! – Neph Basedow

Smashing Pumpkins have released another track from the 44-song project, Teargarden By Kaleidyscope. The track is called "Widow Wake My Mind". This is the second release from the album and will be available for download through the bands myspace for the next 24 hours.

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.