¿Music Videos?

Oshwa Share "Fashions To Make" With Some Live Studio Scenes

The experimental group Oshwa show off their groove heavy, instrumentally fluttering, dreamy pop skills in their track "Fashions To Make." The video  is a live clip from their show at Observatory Studios with Boston Indie rockers Krill.

Loved what you listened to? Go See Oshwa TODAY at The Burlington with Vaya and Geronimo. Or they will be playing a Chicago Singles Club Showcase at The Empty Bottle on April 07.

NowListening

The Lemons - "Hello, We're The Lemons"

Infectously bouncy and hook heavy pop tunes that marry lo-fi audio style with 1960s flower pop. The Lemons constantly bring happy vibes by making their songs about eveything that makes them happy and for them that includes: "animals, friends, and food."

 Ahh, the simple things. 

For The Lemons, keeping it simple and fun works. While their happiness and cheer verges on kiddie or cult pop status from time to time, I think it's a part of their charm.

Buy the tape from Gnar Tapes

Cop That: NE-HI - "S/T" 12" LP

Pre-order NE-HI's album "S/T" for goodies and musically induced dreamy euphoria 

Image from manicstatic.com

 NE-HI came together with an artistic purpose of scoring a film directed by a friend, Xavier Juarez. The group later decided to reunite past their silver screen beginnings and continue making songs fit for indie movie soundtracks. (This is a decision I, and hopefully you, are  very happy about.)

With a sound that that nuances at 1960's influences, harmonic and hazy riffs, with restlessly passionate yet monotone vocals, NE-HI create a picture of a psychedelic dream that leaves those of us listening captured by the spell. While the guys have gotten together for recordings at Public House Sound Studio and Juarez's film score, their first full album is set to be released via Manic Static soon this year. (I'll let you know as soon as I do, promise)

The 12" LP "S/T" is available for pre-order now and it comes with goodies. Anyone who opts for pre-ordering will receive a download code for the full album on the day of order AND the first 50 orders  get a glow in the dark pinback button. The benefits are seemingly endless!

If you are as convinced that this album is going to be pop, euphoric, indie goodness then pre-order HERE.

Here's a taste of what you can expect from NE-HI

NowListening

Hot Bagels - "Toasted"

Craig Woods a.k.a. Hot Bagels unleashes his raw vocals partnered with a distorted and distant recording style that easily pushes "Toasted" into the realm kick ass lo-fi album. Stripped down, raw, emotional, and noisy indie Punk can be found throughout this 15 track release.

Cop the digital release at Hot Bagels Bandcamp page or wait for the LP to be released via Be Happy Records on Feb 25th.

NowListening

Zoo Brother -  Fourth Of July & Please Don't

Chicago based Zoo Brother camouflage as sandmen and dance us into their pleading dream. "Fourth of July" creates unannounced body bopping from it's upbeat ode to a dizzying summer affair.  Then in "Please don't" the Zoo Brother continue mashing traditional 50's pop styles with hazy and luscious tones that  bring on a full dream pop trance.

Their full single Fourth Of July & Please Don't was released in November 2013, but Fourth of July has been gracing the interwebs as an unmixed demo from Zoo Brother for over a year. It's never too late to give these lo-fi dream pop dudes a listen. I'm anticipating our ears will only become happier from it.

Check out more Zoo Brother: BandCamp Facebook SoundCloud Tumblr

Short That B

¡Vamos!

Source: VAMOS Facebook Page

Who:Josh Lambert - Drums, Vocals
Will Wood - Bass
Ryan Murphy - Guitar, Vocals
Genre:Punk Rock, Noise Pop
Albums:Do wanna Don't Wanna *Single released by Chicago Singles Club*(2013)
Demon *Single released by Chicago Singles Club*(2013)
Heatwave (03.13)
Stones (12.12)
Can't Take You Home (07.12)
There's no Stopping Me *Single release* (03.12)

Sound: Influenced by the Brit-Rock invasion of the 60s, Vamos brings you catcy pop melodies, retrocentric guitar riffs and bass lines with the musicality of Punk Rock forces like Iggy and the Stooges. Danceable beats and driving, distorted guitar droning both invade and guide you through all of Vamos's hard grooving tracks as fast as they can. 
Listen: Vamos has a growing collection of recordings from the past few years. They were recently featured as Chicago Singles Club's artist of the month and just released two new singles (listed above). 
Click the link---> Chicago Singles Club: ¡Vamos!
to check out the new of Vamos or listen to this SoundCloud track to hear a bit of the old. 

Can't get enough of Vamos? 

Visit their:
Facebook
Bandcamp

Twitter
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Smith Westerns 

Who: Culen Omori - Vocals

Max Kallacek - Guitar

Cameron Omori - Bass

Julien Ehrlich - Drums

Genre: Alt-Rock, Indie Pop/Rock, Glam

Albums: Soft Will  (2013) 

Dye it Blonde (2011)

Smith Westerns (2009)

Sound: A 1960s influenced sound paired with pop vocals singing songs of young adventures both in its dispairty and triumphs. Echoing guitar riffs, melodic and walking bass beats are all tied together by driving and enriching drums. Together these musical elements create a Brit-Pop inspired, glamified version of indie rock that rings of both Lennon and Bowie. 

Listen:  3am Spiritual

Want more Smith Westerns? 

Check out their:

Website

Facebook

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Soundcloud

Tune In To:

Peoples Temple of America

The Basics:

Genre:Punk

Label:Unsigned

Albums:

P.T.A. (02.13)

Outliers (12.12)

Peoples Temple of America EP (04.11)

Why they rock 'n' stuff:

PTA is made up of Ben on guitar and vocals, Harry on bass and Trent beating those skins. Their music is simple and right in the way of teen angst and mid life crisis. They produce sounds that bring back memories of bands like the Bouncing Souls and Brand New to groups like New Order and the Cure. How? By creating a sound of wispy yet driving guitar rhythms, melodic pulsing bass lines, and well executed drum lines that help build a song together perfectly. Let's not forget the urgent vocal delivery which not only melds the sounds of classic skate punk with post punk joy division-esque vocal performance but also deliver poetic lyrical banter that ties each PTA song together.  

Simply put, they remind me of who I am and how that came to be...even if I have no clue means. It is what it is. 

Hear it for yourself:

P.T.A. just released a new album that can be downloaded FO' FREE just by clicking HERE.

If you are still hesitant to click your way to eight songs of Punky awesomeness let these two tracks be a little more persuasion to join the temple. 

If you dug that...make your life that much more complete and click part II
 

Check Out Peoples Temple of America's:

Facebook

Twitter

Bandcamp

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Panda Riot

Genre:Dream Pop
Label:Saint Marie Records (USA)
Vinyl Junkie (Japan)
Albums: 
Northern Automatic Music (2.19.13)

Serious Radical Girls Limited Edition 7" VINYL(06.05.12)

Far and Near EP (05.11.10)

Sound: Dreamy and lush vocal patterns lead the sound of  choruses layered with laid back, dance(ish) beats,  calming pyschedelic rythems and other worldly melodies. Precise, entrancing, and a  shoegaze dream.

Listen:  "Amanda in the Clouds" 

Check out Panda Riot's:

Facebook

Bandcamp

Tumblr

Twitter

In Case you Haven't Heard

The Orwells

The Orwells are:
Mario CUOMO: Vocals 
Grant BRINNER: Bass 
Henry BRINNER: Drums
Dominick CORSO: Guitar 
Baby CHUCK: Guitar 

The Orwells are so much more than five 17 year old guys from Elmherst, playing the typical Garage Rock influenced breed of Punk Rock. The band provides an energy that is reminiscent of 1970's New York Punk hybrid with muddled yet intent filled glam-grungesque lyrical stylings that unknowingly entrance you into steady head bangin'. Embodying everything from punk, blues and soul, to grunge, new wave, and glam, The Orwells commit to playing what they want and not what you expect to hear. As vox man Mario says during an interview for Chicago's Consequence of Sound's Rock it Out Blog, "we're not really going for anything...we're just doing what sounds right to us." To be put simply, they play their version of Rock 'n' Roll and give a big EFF YOU to anyone who doesn't care for it. 


And it seems to be working.

Staying loyal to their Chicago scene is a big part of what makes the Orwells what they are. They decided that making it first in Chicago was priority numero uno, because going anywhere else, isn't being true to who they are.  An admirable (but sometimes viewed as idiodic) trait. 

For example-- Baby CHUCK on sticking it out in the Chicago scene: "being loyal to your home and to your city is a big thing for us" 

These boys know what they are doing. Their hometown start hasn't stopped them from making themselves a force to be reckoned with. These guys have gone from suburban basement shows, to local shows at joints like The Empty Bottle and Beat Kitchen to headlining a West Coast Tour! They've been picked up by L.A. record label Autumn Tone Records and released their first full LP Remember When (click if you want to snag the album) on  August 7, 2012. The album not only received recognition locally, but has even made it to the indie mother land of Pitchfork. 

Although they will be away touring for a while the boys are making sure to wrap up their tour in Chicago at the Beat Kitchen on March 23rd. Grab your tickets while you can!

If March is just too far away for you, get your Orwells fix by checking out this recent Audiotree performance.

If you are anything like me this will be on repeat until March slowly makes its way here. 

ENJOY HEADBANGERS and SWING DANCERS. ENJOY. 

The Orwells - Audiotree Live from Audiotree Live on Vimeo.
Check out The Orwells: Facebook Twitter

Short That B

Woah woah woah there do not let your mind get carried away. Short that B is something simple. Short band bios that give you just a bit of an artists sound, a lil of what they've done and a track selection to jam out or simply check out.

Chicago band intros condensed for the person short on time or attention span. (or like me, short on both)

Tiny Fireflies

Genre: IndiePop
Label: Little Treasures;
Eardrums Pop
Albums:
ePop 005 (10.10.10)
Cloudberry 811 (03.15.12)
Change
(08.01.11)

Sound: Simple driving beats;  infectious and melodic rhythms paired with soft & dreamy vocals create a sound that is reminiscent of the  days of Molly Ringwald and The Breakfast Club.

Listen:  "If It's True" (02.06.13)

Check Out TinyFireflies:

Official Website

bandcamp

Facebook

Fake It Till You Make It

ME: "I know a lot about the Chicago Music Scene"
The Chicago Music Scene: "AHAHAHA, foolish child"  

REALITY CHECK: Indie is short for independent. Independent means that you are void of major label  limitations on one's art and how one is expected to perform(I'll spare the grimey details). This also means the music can be everything from hip-hop, indie-rock, folk, to electronica. Indie is not merely the dreamy vocaled orchestral sound that so many people have come to think. 

This is a blog of the indie persuasion....and Chicago has a lot of great indie music going on. Everything from venues, blogs, labels, artists. It's enough to make a my head spin.  (For proper demonstration, click the pugs below) The question I'm asking myself is how to figure out this scene if there is so much in it? 

My Answer: Let's figure out the basics.

So after a few hours of exploring the interwebs I've put together a list of the Windy City's quintessential Indie Venues, some of the best local record labels, and a list of blogs that will rock you socks off with their extent of Chi music knowledge. 

Let's get things rollin'

Venues:

*Go see shows these place*

• The Hideout
• The Riviera Theatre
• Lincoln Hall
• The Metro
• Schuba's 
• The Vic
• Empty Bottle
• Reggie's Rock Club
• The Elbo Room
• The Bottom Lounge
• Kinetic Playground
• Double Door

Labels:

*Listen to artists from these labels*

• Hozac Records
• Drag City
• Kranky
• Jagiagwor
• Thrill Jockey Records

Blogs:

*Follow the trends*

• Windy City Rock
• Loud Loop Press
• Fake Shore Drive
• The Deli

I am Luke and these great sources are my Obi-Wan. With some guided assurance the Chicago Scene will quiet it's Dr.Evil laugh and I will figure this whole "music industry" thing out.