Brighton MA, Coach House Sounds, The Deli, and Schubas have all combined to put together a contest to end all contests. It all started when BMA announced their two night stay at Schubas this month (Jan. 22nd and 23rd), but more on the show and the fine supporting bands on the ticket. You need to enter this contest today. One lucky winner will win a pair of tickets to one of the upcoming Brighton, MA performances at Schubas, and also admission for two to come and watch Brighton, MA’s upcoming Coach House Sounds session* on Sunday 1/10 at 1:30 pm!

To enter contest, please send email to: coachhousesounds@gmail.com with Subject: BMA SESSION

Winners announced Friday @ Noon!

Chicago’s Tall Corn Music is releasing the latest effort from Brad Loving (aka Lobisomen) this February. As Lobisomen, Brad is free to explore the depths of electronic music. Combining influences as diverse African, South American, and Jamaican music with elements for hip hop and jazz, his new ep Brightest Solids is near global effort. It’s not surprising given his extended stays in Brazil, France, Japan, and Mali. However, when you listen closely you can hear heavy elements of thriving local improvisational music scene. Tall Corn is giving us a sneak peak at the ep which is scheduled for release on Feb. 23. Here is “Plasma Is For Lovers” (mp3).

Seeing Daytrotter post their new session with Headlights today reminded me that I had not shared their video for “Love Song For Buddy”. This animated gem was directed and Illustrated by Scott Marvel, and beautifully captures this gentle effort from the normally upbeat Southern Illinois band. The song appears on the band’s second album, Wildlife, which was released by Polyvinyl back in October. Headlights also announced tonight their spring tour with David Bazan that will bring them to DeKalb’s House Café on April 3rd.

The creative process of an artistic hipster is a fascinating thing to watch. Seriously, Oreaganomics create more than just music and have posted a series of series they are calling “Atlas Drugged”. It’s an album filled with short compositions and uniquely made sounds.

When the album is released it will be a vinyl only release (Jan. 26th, Sophomore Lounge), but I still feel compelled to mention what my verision of this album looks like. A few weeks ago I was going through my mail and opened a package from State Champion. I looked inside and there was the spine of Michael Jordan’s I Can’t Accept Not Trying. Now it was close to Christmas, but why me and why Jordan’s tiny collection of thoughts? I pulled it out and found the guts of the book had been removed and in its place was a promo copy of Stale Champagne the new album from State Champion.

The album itself is almost as exciting as it’s unique packaging. A blend of southern twang, calculated Chicago rock, and a heavy dose of violin magic makes for an exciting and surprisingly warm album. It’s a lo-fi, heartfelt, and endearingly passionate garage-country. This, the bands debut album, proves that something original and unique can be built on a foundation of traditional ad known. Ryan Davis provides a steady swagger that could propel this band to bigger things in the year ahead.

Stale Champagne will be released on Jan. 26th, but you can celebrated the release on the 20th at Empty Bottle with Rabble Rabble, Phantom Family Halo, and Wishgift.

First, thanks to everyone who entered our open contest to be included in our year-end poll. The response was overwhelming and all of The Deli’s writers were involved in narrowing the field down to arrive at three bands that will be included in the year-end poll. Those bands are Panda Riot, Daniel Knox, and Mr. Bear. These bands will be added to the list of bands hand selected by a jury of Chicago media, venue booking agents, and other Chicago music nerds. The year-end best of Chicago poll will be posted on January 6th and will run through the 15th.

Our favorite Chicago track of 2009 came from the mind of one Shawn Rosenblatt and his band Netherfriends. Emergency Umbrella released their debut ep, Calling You Out this year and on that ep we found the track "Nunya (Beeswax)".

The Smith Westerns took blogosphere by storm this year and their infectious basement surf sound has won us over as well. The debut LP was released this year by Chicago’s HoZac Records and "Girl In Love" is taken from that album.

The third song on our countdown comes from an album that found a new home in 2009. Moon Sweet Moon was self-released in 2008, but in the hands of The Hours 2009 seemed to the year of Via Tania. "Wonder Stranger" was the first single from the album, and one of our favorite tracks of 2009. 

The fourth track on our countdown comes from Judson Claiborne and their yet to be released album Time and Temperature. The song appeared in our inbox last April and then were followed up by this gripping video.

Felix Da Housecat had a big 2009 which only adds to the wonderful career he has already enjoyed. There were so many great tracks to pick from on his 2009 release, He Was King, but ut was the video for "We All Wanna Be Prince" that won us over in the end.

The sixth song on our countdown comes from a man that is quickly becoming a Chicago icon. In 2009 Andrew Bird released his five studio album, Noble Beast, and the track we have selected is "Anonanimal”.