Next month My Gold Mask will release their new ep A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last), and I final had a chance to listen to the full ep. The release will be a 12" vinyl with download, and will have four track including the band’s cover of "Bette Davis Eyes". The ep kicks of with the thunderous "Ghost In Your Bed". Gretta Rochelle (Vocals, Drums) is so fierce on this entire ep, but it is especially felt on this opening track.

The comparison to Siouxsie Sioux is too easy, but so true. "I Don’t Need A Reason" comes next with its defiance and pounding rhythm. The duo slows it down on "Bobbi", but show a more orchestral ability. The ep closes with the lo-fi and drum heavy cover of "Bette Davis Eyes". The ep is the bands follow-up to January’s A Thousand Voices. You can preorder the album here.

The band will celebrate the release of A Million Miles on November 13th at at Schubas. They are also playing this week (Oct. 13th) in Bloomington, IN at Buskirk-Chumley Theatre with The New Pornographers.

Nathan Xander & Witchouse have released a new 7" single which can be streamed and purchased here. The single contains the smooth and creeping "John Wayne" and "Darkness". There has always been an element of storytelling in Nathan’s that I appreciate and he doesn’t disappoint with these two tracks.

The band is celebrating the release of the single on Oct 16th at Schubas with The Kickback and The Migrant.

Moneypenny has leaked another single from their forthcoming debut ep which will be released early next year. The single is called "Destroy" and the lovely duo will be celebrating the release on October 21st at Stardust at Berlin with Only Children & Team Bayside High.

Salem released their debut album King Night through I Am Sound on September 28th. The trio consists of John Holland, Heather Marlatt, and Jack Donoghue, and they have been receiving a lot of positive buzz for this release. Their sound is all at once gritty and forceful and atmospherically beautiful. The album is densely layered, menacing, and oddly peaceful. This strange contrast is felt in the haunting video for the track "Asia". You can also find a free remix of "Asia" by oOoOOO here.

King Sparrow has a new self-record that will be released on October 15th in conjunction with a release show at Schubas with Pet Lions and This Is Versailles. The album was recorded and produced by Brian Zieske of Gallery of Carpet. The end product has such a warm and balanced sound. It kicks off with the energetic track "Resonator" which is complete with guitar solo and driving drums.

The pace doesn’t slow with blue-collar anthem "Conveyor Belt". "You give up to on, You get up to get off." It’s the perfect 5pm rush hour track. However, my favorite track on the twelve track album is "Leave it All Behind". It is the song on the album that adds a refreshing dose of acoustic contrast and it shows that the band can slow things down when they need to. It is also a beauty love song without any bitterness or trickery. The album is filled with great lyrics, inventive instrumentation, and layers of warmth and energy.

The Opus has released a free digital ep that features six very different remixes of their track "Save Me". The ep features remixes from Radius, Crushcon7, and The Opus among others. My favorite remix is the Void Pedal with its dense beats and orchestral overtones. The Opus has been prolific in 2010 releasing two eps and two full-length albums in addition to several remixes.

There is nothing like dueling remixes. Hey Champ has just released a remix of Gemini Club’s track "Ghost" (mp3), and Gemini Club has released a remix of Hey Champ’s "Cold Dust Girl" (mp3). Of course they are both dance floor ready and filled with great beats.

Gemini Club will be a part of the SticoftheWeek Launch Party on October 23rd at Beauty Bar along with California Wives and Pretty Good Dance Moves.

Upright Ape is the pen name and stage name of a local musician and writer that just released what is essentially his life’s work. The Blue Collar Diaries are five concept albums and autobiographical Novella. The albums are essentially a musical diary of a man living with both bipolar and schizoaffective disorder. The recordings are fascinating, beautiful and always humble. What is even more thrilling about this project is that Upright Ape is giving away all of the proceeds of this project. You can read more about the project over at his website.

Middle Mind Project have released a video for the Icy Demons track "Who There / Spywatchers".

Big Colour are back with a new digital ep that can be downloaded for free through their bandcamp page. This is the band’s second ep this year. The ep is called Centuries of Summers and features six new track including the "Red Silk Bow" from the the above video.

Secret Colours premiered their new video for their track "Popstar" today. The band will be performing with Ume at Mayne Stage (1328 W Morse Ave) on October 17th at 8pm.

Silhavey has released a video performing an excellent live cover of both the Colbert Report and Daily Show theme songs, replete with an overdose of American flags and suits and ties. In the video, Silhavey announces that they will be attending the rally in Washington on October 30th. After asking Colbert directly to actually perform at the march, the music is a tight, dead-on live cover of the theme songs, including live trumpet played by keyboard player and lead singer Stephen Dranger — and despite being live, the sound quality is actually quite good. If you want to see Silhavey in Chicago, come to their show at the Subterranean on Wednesday, October 13th at 8:00PM!