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

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

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