Back in 2014 Mucca Pazza, the widely renowned Gypsy-punk marching band, squared off with the Chicago Sinfonietta. The battle, great as it was, it did not end in favor our indie darlings. It was a grueling battle that found the two groups performing Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and recounting the history of the French invasion of Russia.

The rematch of this battle takes place this Saturday, May 12th, at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville and on May 14th at Symphony Center in Chicago. This time the battle will center around Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite. You can get your tickets here.

Chicago’s Lailah Reich has teamed up with LA-based producer Tahif Attiek and Detroit’s Young Heavy Souls label to create a new EP called “Rose". The EP combines EDM, jazz, house and trip hop with Reich’s lovely vocals create a sound that could fit in the club, or beach, or a cool spring morning. The EP is due out this Friday, May 11th, and it’s lead single is “Mbira in NYC” can be streamed below.

Chandeliers have a new hazy single called “High Diamond b/w Snake Bomb” being released via NYC’s Potions Music on May 7th. You can preorder the 7” vinyl or buy the digital tracks here. This is the band’s first release since 2017’s Law of Fives. Below is the video for “High Diamond” which was directed by Eric Marsh.

V.V. Lightbody (aka Vivian McConnell) has released a video for the second single, “Fig Leaves”, from her forthcoming LP, Bathing Peach. As previously mentioned, this LP will be released on June 15th and can be preordered here.

V.V. Lightbody will be performing at Schubas on June 8th with Rose Hotel, and she recently announced that Ohmme will be performing on stage with her.

Retirement Party have released a second single, “Should It”, from their forthcoming LP, Somewhat Literate, which is due out May 25th via Counter Intuitive. This is the follow-up to their 2017 self-released debut EP, "Strictly Speaking". The first single form this LP was the terrific “Passion Fruit Tea” which received a ton of well-deserved attention.

You can help Retirement Party celebrate the release of their LP on June 15th at Beat Kitchen with What Gives, Dead Sun, and Lettering.

The Muse Maker, Enoch Kim (formerly of The Hudson Branch), released two tracks, “Follow Soul” (below) and “Therefore I Am”, from the forthcoming soundtrack to the documentary "app: the human story" this week. Kim composed all of the music for this Jake Schumaker film which focuses on the world of app creation and the human stories we don’t often consider.

The film is available now and the soundtrack will be released on May 22nd.

Umbra & The Volcan Siege have released a new video for their song “Ark". The video was directed by Alex Sokol, and the song is taken from their recently released fourth LP, Someone Will Love You But Its Just Not Me, via TMB Limited.

The band, which formed back in 2006, is fronted by Jim Licka (The Luck of Eden Hall) and have been making ambitious Psych Rock ever since.

Thomas Comerford has completed his 3rd LP, Blood Moon, and is preparing for a June 22nd release. Comerford continues to hon his troubadour meets Americana sound on this album to beautiful results. He is joined this time by an array of local talent including Amalea Tshilds (Tallulah and Uptighty), Crystal Hartford (Dust Bunnies), John Lennox (Panoramic & True), and Azita Youssefi (Azita).

The album’s lead single is “Lull” and features acoustic bass from the talented Tatsu Aoki and percussion from Seth Vanek (Roommate).

You can help Comerford celebrate the new album on June 22nd at Hungry Brain with Quarter Mile Thunder.

Ganser has released their debut full-length album, Odd Talk, via the local label No Trend Records. Below is the video for the album’s latest single “Satsuma”.

You can catch Ganser at Sleeping Village on May 17th with American Cosmonaut and The Bombats. They will also be performing Empty Bottle on June 26th and at Metro on Sept. 23rd.

District 97 launched a kickstarter this week to help fund their fourth studio album. The band, fronted by Leslie Hunt, has gone through a few line-up changes over the last 10 years, but sound great on their new song “Forest Fire".

The band is currently on their 10th anniversary tour, but plan to hit the studio first time with the revamped line-up when they return to Chicago.

Punk trio The Sueves released their sophomore album, R.I.P. Clearance Event, digitally back in March, but tomorrow at Cole’s Bar they will celebrate the vinyl release via Chicago’s HoZac Records.

The album is included in HoZac’s Spring 2018 4-pack along side Ruby Karinto, Velveteen Rabbit, and F.U.K. It is the follow-up to the band’s 2016 debut LP, Change Your Life, and continues their assault on Chicago’s punk scene.

The Record Release Party will be tomorrow night, May 4th, at Cole’s with Detroit’s Werewolf Jones.

Quicksails (aka Ben Billington of ONO and Tiger Hatchery) will be releasing his latest album, The Bright, via Chicago’s Hausu Mountain on May 25th. The album finds Ben combing his unique drum techniques with samplers, synths, other types of percussion. Side B of the album features remixes from local musicians Brett Naucke, Mindspring Memories (Angel Marcloid of FIRE-TOOLZ) among others, and below is the title track and lead single.

You can catch Quicksails at Elastic Arts on May 4th (Tomorrow!) with Bill MacKay, FIRE-TOOLZ, Spectralina, and Kim Alpert.