I bring to you, fair reader, a local metal act with a lot of potential. I had the distinct pleasure of getting to see up-and-comers Tryst at Nite Cap recently and was really interested in seeing what they could do. Unfortunately, in this city and with a good deal of metal scenes, it’s usually hit-or-miss with the bands you might see on any given night. This night offered up local act Tryst, who were decidedly a hit. With a sound that really runs the gamut of metal styles, it was a treat to hear a group that could really lock in on any style they wanted. As opposed to some bands that lock in on a style before developing an overall sound, this definitely boosted their appeal. Running the gamut from sludge to black to thrash metal, Tryst put on quite the show. Unfortunately for them, Nite Cap’s sound-engineer doesn’t know what he’s doing. Plagued with feedback, an inability to make out the bass-line unless standing in front of the bassist and a general muddiness of guitars, this really dampened my experience.

When audible lead singer Jezzibel gives an enthusiastic performance and lends not only her natural singing voice but her brutal scream to the overall sound. Having only heard a handful of "real" metal bands with female vocalists, I wasn’t sold at first. Jezzibel’s ability to shrug off nerves or fatigue and power through her set while engaging her audience is commendable. Bassist Tony is a real talent and was, as I found out later, sick as a dog during his set. You couldn’t tell, not once, that he was tired or anything but amped about being on stage. New member, Mario, added a good handful of shred to the band’s already overwhelming ferocity. Guitarist Phil and Drummer J-Sin were a tight rhythm section, never stopping to keep the driving melodies moving. During the close of their set they threw down with a well-done cover of Fear Factory’s "Replica" and I was suddenly 16 again. I rushed up to the stage and instantly began thrashing as hard as I could, you know, while I gingerly removed my glasses. So do keep your eye out for this wrecking crew, as they’re likely to come ripping through your ‘hood soon. – Ben Kessell

Sounds like: Walls of Jericho, In this Moment, Nightwish.

Starting tonight at Midnight, Smashing Pumpkins will make available the first song from their epic 44 track album Teargarden by Kaleidyscope. The song is called “A Song For A Son” and it encompasses Billy’s thoughts and fears about Fatherhood and why he has not become a father yet. As he has said about the album, which will be released one song a time until all 44 tracks are out: “Each song will be made available absolutely for free, to anyone anywhere. There will be no strings attached. Free will mean free, which means you won’t have to sign up for anything, give an email address, or jump through a hoop. You will be able to go and take the song or songs as you wish, as many times as you wish.” Billy feels that this track is emblematic of the entire collection of music and that as whole this album is a return to the classic Smashing Pumpkins sound. You can find out if that is true or not tonight at Midnight on at the new Smashing Pumpkins website.

Joe Pug has announced the detail of his forthcoming album, Messengers. The album will be released on February 16th and features 9 new songs along with an electric reworking of “Speak Plainly, Diana” which first appeared on the Nation of Heat EP. He also announced plans to release a vinyl edition of Nation of Heat around that same time. Joe will be touring this Spring with Justin Townes Earle, and will be playing here at Lincoln Hall on Feb. 27th. He will of course be heading to SXSW again this March.

How does a young pop-rock band Chicago get 160,000 hits on youtube in one week? Mock Miley Cyrus of course. You can download this hilarious track at The Fold’s website. The Fold are playing at Elk Grove Center (200 Reverend Morrison Blvd, Elk Grove Village) with I Fight Dragons on December 12th and at Metro with Lucky Boys Confusion on December 26th.

Catherine “It’s No Lie” from their 1994 release Sorry! on TVT Records.

Hey Champ has released a mixtape that is very aptly titled. Winner’s Circle finds the group basically recapping the incredible year they’ve had. Hey Champ received their big opportunity in the Summer 2008 when Lupe Fiasco took notice and took the group on tour. Over this past year they have been able to remix some biggest names and make noise on their own with “Cold Dust Girl”. They are truly approaching the “Winner’s Circle”. The magnetic cast of artists involved on this mix includes Mike Posner, The Cool Kids, Passion Pit, The Sounds, French Horn Rebellion, 80’s Kidz, Priors, and Moneypenny. With the recent disbanding of Lupe’s FNF record label, Hey Champ will continue to move forward and continue to energize audiences around the world while preparing their forthcoming, independently released, debut album in the Spring of 2010. In the meantime, Hey Champ encourages new fans to make their way into the "Winners Circle" where the band displays all of the creative shine that put them on blast in the first place.

Hey Champ will be playing at Metro on December 19th with Kill Hannah.

Welcome To Ashley plays Schuba’s next Wednesday, Dec. 9 @ 9 PM.

Pretty Good Dance Moves‘ latest single, "Leave Me Alone," has received the remix treatment. The catchy electro-pop tune has been remixed by David Wolf (who has previously mixed Crystal Castles, among others). Check out the video for "Leave Me Alone," which features Japanese girl-group, The Suzan. The video follows a gang of Japanese girls, warding off a mad scientist — it’s the video the Flaming Lips never made during Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Tres cool.

You can see Pretty Good Dance Moves in person on December 12th with I Fight Dragons and Cobalt & The Hired Guns at Metro. – Neph Basedow

Over the last few years Nomo has gained a solid reputation for pushing the boundaries between instrumental rock, afro-beats, and jazz. Their sound is playful, inventive and always soulful. Recently band members Erik Hall and Elliot Bergman decided to strip back a couple of the sonic layers from the Nomo sound and add some calming vocals. The resulting band is called In Tall Buildings, and they have some of the key Nomo elements at times, from trumpets to tropical rhythms, but their sound in rooted more soundly in folk music. The duo has recorded their debut album and it was recently announced that it will be released by Chicago’s Whistler Records in March, 2010.

If you love the eclectic nature of Nomo, but also enjoy gentle vocals you should check our In Tall Building at Bottom Lounge on Dec. 11th with Cains & Abels and Brooklyn’s Cavalier Rose.

It’s been three years since we last heard new material from Skybox, and the success of Arco Iris and their need to tour and recover is good reason for the wait. However, there is also that fear of a sophomore release not meeting or surpassing the expectation of its predecessor. Yet, just as their live performances have become near legendary, often evolving into spectacles that in the past have included costumes, confetti, dancing girls, snack cakes and the occasional chicken suit, Morning After Cuts will only work to build the legend and respect for this quartet. Tim Ellis and Christian Fields, Mike Holtz and Dan Ingenthron have clearly matured, experienced, and learned over the last three years and have poured every ounce of knowledge and passion into this album. Ellis’ signature falsetto and provocative nature is in full force on each of these danceable tracks. He’s currently channeling a mixture of Bowie and Kevin Barnes (Of Montreal) and Daniel Smith. Recorded with acclaimed producer Sean O’Keefe at Smart Studios in Madison, WI and Chicago’s Black Sheep Music, it’s clear that this album will be an even bigger launching pad, when it is released on January 10th, than its predecessor. To expect a big 2010, with even wilder performances, from the boys of Skybox is not unreasonable. The first single from Morning After Cuts is called “In A Dream” (mp3). Skybox will be a part of Schubas Tomorrow Never Knows Fest on Jan. 17th.

It doesn’t seem like that long ago that we were talking about the debut ep from Cast Spells, but Dave Davison is at it again. On December 2nd Dave will be releasing a new split ep with tour mates Good Old War via Sargent House. Following the release he will tour the East Coast with Good Old War and then come back home to record session with Daytrotter. If that wasn’t enough Dave, a member of Maps & Atlases, plans to tour this Spring through Europe with another project of his Hey! Tonal. He is busy, but productive. The two songs he contributed to this new split ep are fascinating tales while gentle folk melodies. You can stream and purchase both the split ep and Cast Spells debut, Bright Works And Baton, here.

It seems like an unusual pairing, the echoing folk-pop of Netherfriends and the underground thump of Jams Dean, but they have show in the single they recorded together that it can mix nicely. Now these two are hitting the road together, mostly to fend off boredom but also to expose certain cities to what Chicago has to offer. Netherfriends (aka Shawn Rosenblatt) released his latest ep this year and has been touring frequently ever since. I can’t tell if his love for the road is passion or craziness, but it is clear that he has infected emcee Jams Dean with it. Jams (aka Blake Gardner) has been touching the blogs (and the girls) with his old school rhymes and his love from the ladies of Chicago. On December 11th many things will happen including the launch of the Netherfriends/Jams Dean tour. Jams will be releasing a full-length lp, The Criterion Collection, filled with all of his latest tracks for free download. He will also be releasing a split tour cassette with Netherfriends that will feature remixes of each others work, and that cassette will also be accompanied by a handwritten zine these two have put together. Jams will also be released a zine he created called "Rap Songs I Wrote" by Jams Dean that will feature the lyrics to the song on The Criterion Collection. It’s a big day for both Shawn and Blake. Below is Jams’ lyrics to his soon to be famous "Chicago Girls" track over the top of The XX song "Heart Skipped A Beat"

The tour launches on December 11th here in Chicago at Weirder Park with Jams Dean and Netherfriends ($5 donation at the door). You can also catch Netherfriends for free on Dec. 3rd at Loophole (618 S. Michigan 2 floor) with Truman & His Trophy & Carbon Tigers! (photo by Jake Moreland)