Smug Joe is the electro-pop solo project from Joey Lieberman of Bad Bad Meow. This week he released his latest EP, “Surface Level Feelings”. The EP’s lead single is called “Faker” and has a crazy bounce castle based video below. The is a departure from his work with Bad Bad Meow being much more beat driven and synth-laden.

There are always a few slots on any music festival for local acts, but this year Pitchfork has really gone above and beyond. Not only have they put together diverse line-up, they have crafted a line-up that will truly showcase the diversity of Chicago music today.

You have an array of Hip Hop and R&B, with SABA, Rayvn Lenae, Nnamdi Ogbonnaya, Kweku Collins, Noname, and Open Mike Eagle, that the city on a larger scale has become known for. However, you have a strong presence of the DIY scene represented by Melkbelly, The Curls, Circuit Des Yeux and Paul Cherry.

While there are so many more acts from the city that could fit perfectly with the sound and feel of this Fest, they have done a remarkable job pulling National touring acts, obscure Avant-Jazz group, and talented Chicago musicians to create what should be the best festival this Summer.

Pitchfork Music Fest is this weekend, July 20th to the 22nd, at Union Park in Chicago. 

The Imperial Sound is a Rick Mosher fronted ‘70s AM Pop and Soul band. They are preparing to release their debut album, The New AM, on August 31st. Below is one of the album’s roaring singles, “A Man Like You”.

You can help the band celebrate the new album on September 1st at The Hideout. You can also catch them on July 30th at Martyrs’.

Bad Bad Meow has released a new EP called "Giving Up”, and despite the name they definitely are not. This EP is filled with catchy, danceable rock with a lean towards the theatric. Bad Bad Meow is the work of Alen Khan (lead vocals & Acoustic guitar), Greg Peerbolte (lead guitar), Anthony Perez (Drums), Justin Neese (bass), Joey Lieberman (keyboards & vocals), and Geno Alesandrini (Trumpet).

Mooner is back and preparing to release a new LP, Satisfaction-Promise, on August 4th. This is the band’s sophomore effort and will be released via Aerial Ballet Records.

Today the band shared the first single for the LP, “The Stand-in”, which can be streamed below.

You can help Mooner celebrate the new album on August 4th at Beat Kitchen with Mawrcrest and Henry True.

Airstream Futures released a new 7” single this week, “If I” b/w “PR Nightmares” via Little Rocket Records. Airstream Futures is a four piece punk band featuring Devon Carson and Megan Edgin with Jeff Dean and Mike Soucy of The Bomb.

Lower Automation recently released the first single, Tethered, from their forthcoming EP, “Shoebox Companion”. The EP will be released on July 27th and features in your face noise and punk rock.

You can help Lower Automation celebrate the new EP on July 20th at Subterranean with The Land Before Tim, Terroir, and 13 Minutes to Mannheim.

Austin Label Astral Spirits is preparing to release the latest project, “Rhonda”, from experimental free-rock trio Mako Sica on July 27th. This time the group is working with Veteran Jazz drummer Hamid Drake to a unique backbone to their sound. Mako Sica is Przemyslaw Krys Drazek, Brent J Fuscaldo, Chaetan Newell and they have been performing together for over a decade.

You can catch Mako Sica with Hamid Drake at Constellation on August 30th with Mark Trecka (of Pillars and Tongues).

Clearance has released a second single, “Haven’t You Got The Time”, from their forthcoming LP, At Your Leisure, which will be released on August 3rd via Topself Records.

You can help Clearance celebrate the new album on August 3rd at The Hideout.

OHMME has released the second single, “Water”, from their forthcoming LP, Parts, which is due out August 24th via Joyful Noise.

You can catch OHMME on Aug 21st at Thalia Hall with The Hecks and V.V. Lightbody “In The Round”.

Ocean Glass is preparing to release their debut full-length album, Two Bodies, on July 27th. This album is two years in the making and contains the their two singles from 2016, “Anxiety” and “Sick Love”. Ocean Glass is the Pop Punk sounds of Nishat Ahmed (Lyrics, Vocals), Kyle Solner (Rhythm, Vocals, Lyrics), Weston Harman (Lead, Vocals), Luke Smith (Percussion), and Ethan Rader (aka Sorner) (Bass).

You can help Ocean Glass celebrate the released of Two Bodies at Bottom Lounge on July 27th with A Semester Abroad, Invictus, The Requirements, and Sorner.

Red Francis are preparing to release their new album, Greatest Hits, on August 10th. This album is the trio’s homage to Chicago with each track representing a place or story that all takes place over one day and one night. The album’s first single is “Gotta Be Tough” and is accompanied by the cool Ryan Bell directed video below. Red Francis is the trio of Michael Glader, Brett Fishback, Al Fishback.

The band recently released a second single, “Bronzeville” from Greatest Hits.