Slushy released a new LP last week called Fun Cunumdrum via Tripp Tapes and Rubber Vomit Records. This is surf and garage rock of Chris “Twist" Kramer of The Lemons, and this LP is his first release since 2014’s Nuggish.

Slushy is currently touring Europe with Nobunny, but you can catch him at Reed’s Local on September 27th with Vacuum. He will also be performing at The Burlington on October 18th with Amy Rigby and Hawley.

Tyranny Of Dave is the solo project Dave Wechsler formerly of Brooklyn’s Piñataland. He is now based in Chicago and is preparing to released a new album, The Decline of America Part 3: Silence in Brooklyn, on November 9th.

The album features contributions from Didi Afana on guitar, Aaron Zemelko on bass and Ami Saraiya, Anna Soltys and Maggie Ward on backing vocals. The album’s lead single is “Silence In Brooklyn” and can be streamed below.

Laverne will be releasing their new album, Laverne II, on September 2nd via Midwest Action. This is the Power Pop band’s first release since their 2016 self-titled debut album. Below you can preorder and stream the LP’s first single “Kinch Like Me”.

You can help Laverne celebrate the new release at Empty Bottle on September 2nd with Brittany Campbell and Daymaker.

Back in June we shared the details of the new album from Fire-Toolz, Skinless X-1, and now it has arrived. The album was released be Haus Mountain on August 24th and can be purchased in a variety of formats here.

Fire-Toolz is the work of Angel Marcloid and this new album is an amazing journey through ambient, electronic, experimental, music.

You can help Angel celebrate the new album on August 30th at The Hideout with Tiger Village (Ohio) and Lord Mute.

Coaster will be releasing their latest album, Stuck With It, this Friday, August 31st. This is the band’s second LP, and first release since 2016’s “Deuces" EP. This is the garage rock of Matt Kissinger (vocals, guitar), Seth Engel of Options (guitar, vocals), Dillon Kelley of Longface (bass), and Marcus Nuccio of Pet Symmetry and Wrong Numbers (drums).

Unfortunately, this may be the band’s last album. Matt is moving to Los Angeles today leaving his bandmates to focus on their other projects. Matt and Coaster will truly be missed in Chicago.

The album lead single is called “Shaken” and can be streamed below.

Chicago native and Soul singer Ben Pirani will be releasing a new LP, How Do I Talk To My Brother?, on September 21st via Colemine Records. Now based in New York, Pirani grew up the son of two local musicians in Maywood.

Below is the album’s first single “Art School Girl”.

Bev Rage & The Drinks are preparing to release their new LP, Cockeyed, via Midwest Action this weekend. This is the follow-up to the band’s 2017 EP, “Honk If Yer Hungry”. Below is the wonderful video for the LP’s first single “Limp Wrist”.

You can help Bev Rage & the Drinks celebrate the new album on Sept 1st at Cole’s with The Cell Phones, SuperKnova, and Holly and The Nice Lions (WI).

Chris Crack has released a video for his single “Came, Saw, Left Early” from his forthcoming album "Being Woke Ain’t Fun” which is dropping on Sept. 1st via the German label Fxck Rxp.

The new album features contributions from Cutta, Ugly Boy Modeling, 20 Gramz, August Fanon, and more.

Houses (aka Dexter Tortoriello) has relocated to LA, but we will not let him forget his Chicago roots. Last week he released the lead single, “Fast Talk”, from his forthcoming EP “Drugstore Heaven". The EP is due out September 28th via Downtown Records.

This will be Tortoriello’s first release as Houses since 2013’s A Quit Darkness and his first since leaving the city. The sound of “Fast Talk” is a big departure from anything he has released before with a brighter and tighter sound. In this new single, Tortoriello’s vocal are cleaner and more present as it blends with live instrumentation to create a sound closer to “70’s AM Pop then the ethereal electronics he deployed five years ago.

With that said, the new direction and new found positivity is a welcome change and we look forward to hearing the full four song EP next month.

Jollys will be releasing their new album, Sweet Freak, on September 1st via Dumpster Tapes. This is the four-piece garage rock band’s first release since 2016’s EP “Raw Flower”. Jollys is the work of Tommy Noir, Joe Maestro, Tom Tom Tom, and Josh Rodin. You can currently hear three of the track from the new album below.

Jollys will be touring the midwest next month, but do not have a local scheduled at this time.

Focus Group LLC is they experimental opera ensemble formed and headed by Ethan T. Parcell (of Iverson) back in 2016. The group has been primarily focused on a performing and now recording the three act opera, “World Record”, that Parcell wrote. This is Hannah Bureau (violin), Eric Hollander (viola), Rebekah Dotzel (cello), Kenan Serenbetz (harmonium), Alec Watson (piano), and Ethan T. Parcell (voice).

Earlier this month Focus Group LLC released a new ambitious full-length recording of “World Record” which consists of 27 songs and 3 phone calls. It is an epic work of storytelling and world-building, and Parcell tells tales of a singer concerned with world records. The narrator shifts between topics first aid, raise awareness, and soft knowing through out the piece. 

Yomí is the work of harpist Michele Annise. She blend elements of jazz, funk, electronic, and classical music to create some of the most compelling and unique music in the city right now. Her latest single is called “Tuutu”, and it is the latest in series of singles she’s released in 2018.

You can catch Yomí at Schubas on September 2nd with Jordanna, Glitter Moneyyy, and Sports Boyfriend.

Photo by Jac.raw