DOWNLOAD: Brass Bed - "I'll Be There With Bells On" (MP3)

Louisiana-based indie poppers Brass Bed are gearing up for the release of their new album, The Secret Will Keep You, which is due out on April 23 via Crossbill Records. You can grab the album's sunny lead single "I'll Be There With Bells On" at the top of this post. The track is also available to stream after the jump, along with another LP cut called "A Bullet For You." Preorder a copy of The Secret Will Keep You via Crossbill's webstore.

Brass Bed will be heading out on tour with fellow Louisiana natives Generationals later this month. As discussed, they'll play Lincoln Hall on May 4. Advance tickets for the Chicago show are still available.

All Brass Bed tour dates and those song streams are below...

Continue reading "Brass Bed opening for Generationals at Lincoln Hall, prepping new LP (MP3)"

DOWNLOAD: A Lull - "Try Anything" (MP3)

"Try Anthing" cover art

Chicago indie rockers A Lull are back with a new single. It's a bit of a slow jam called "Try Anything" and that's its cover art above. "Try Anything" is their first new material since releasing Meat Mountain in June of 2012, and hopefully that means a new album is on its way. While you wait for more, download "Try Anything" at the top of this post and/or stream the track below...

Continue reading "take a listen to A Lull's new single "Try Anything" (MP3)"

DOWNLOAD: Twin Peaks - "Stand in the Sand" (MP3) (Rolo & Grady Session)

Young Chicago dudes and Orwells affiliates Twin Peaks self-released their debut album, Sunken, back in July. It's a strong collection of glam-influenced garage rock that DOESN'T sound as if a bunch of youngsters made it. You used to be able to listen to the whole album via their bandcamp, but they've recently inked a deal with Autumn Tone Records (congratulations, guys!), and it disappeared. AT say they'll be releasing a Twin Peaks album in June, so maybe a reissue of Sunken is first on the docket? Twin Peaks recently recorded Sunken's "Stand in the Sand" for a Rolo & Grady session, which you can watch at the bottom of this post. You can also download an MP3 version of the session above.

As discussed, Twin Peaks will be playing our FREE joint SXSW day party with Epitonic on Wednesday, March 13 at Swan Dive // Barbarella Patio. Their set is at 3:45PM at the outdoor Barbarella Patio stage, and is not to be missed if you'll be down in Austin, TX. The guys are also playing the Hideout's SXSW kick-off party on Saturday afternoon (3/9), and then the NineteenTwenty House at night with Sister Crystals, Method Air, and Bell Labs.

All Twin Peaks tour dates and their Rolo & Grady session are below...

Continue reading "Twin Peaks played a Rolo & Grady session (video, MP3), playing a BV Chicago Day Party at SXSW"

DOWNLOAD: Implodes - "Scattered in the Wind" (MP3)

Chicago quartet Implodes are set to release the follow-up to their 2011 debut LP Black Earth on April 1 via Kranky. It's called Recurring Dream and you can grab its hazy lead single "Scattered in the Wind" above. The track is a textured slow-burner that develops into a great fuzzed-out guitar section. It's also available to stream at the bottom of this post.

Implodes have a couple of upcoming local shows. The first of two is a performance at The Burlington on March 8 with Night Terror (aka Tyson Torstensen of Ga'an, Magical Beautiful). Then, they'll play a free show at the Empty Bottle on April 8 with support from Population.

A stream of "Scattered in the Wind" and album info. for Recurring Dream are below...

Continue reading "Implodes releasing new LP (MP3), playing The Burlington and Empty Bottle"

DOWNLOAD: Minor Characters - "Heal Me" (MP3)

Chicago indie rockers Minor Characters welcomed their great, self-titled debut in November of 2011. On February 25, they'll self-release the follow-up to that album, titled Heal Me, Healing Times, and we're proud to premiere its lead single and opener "Heal Me." Much like their debut, the new EP features whip-smart songwriting and a wide range of dynamics. Grab the track above and/or take a listen to it at the bottom of this post. A teaser clip for Heal Me, Healing Times can also be found below.

Minor Characters will be playing an album release show for Heal Me, Healing Times at Lincoln Hall on March 1. Pet Lions and Brother George are also on the bill, and advance tickets are on sale now. The guys will also be doing a bit of touring this spring, which includes a stint at SXSW in Austin, TX.

Minor Characters' current 2013 tour schedule, a stream of their new single, and a teaser clip for Heal Me, Healing Times are below...

Continue reading "Minor Characters releasing new EP (MP3 premiere), playing Lincoln Hall"

DOWNLOAD: Screaming Females - "Poison Arrow" (MP3)

Screaming Females @ LA's Palladium, October 2012 (more by Wei Shi)

It's been quite a while since New Brunswick, NJ's Screaming Females have played a Chicago club show. (Maybe you caught them at Riot Fest or Wicker Park Fest last year?) That'll change when they headline Subterranean on April 11. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale this Saturday (2/16) at 10AM CST. As of this post, the Sub-t show is their only upcoming tour date.

Screamles just recently welcomed their new bare-bones EP, Chalk Tape, via Don Giovanni. You can grab the album track "Poison Arrow" at the top of this post. Order a copy of the EP via the label's webstore.

A stream of "Poison Arrow" and a couple of Screamales videos are below...

Continue reading "Screaming Females playing Subterranean in April"

DOWNLOAD: Kurt Vile - "Wakin On A Pretty Day" (MP3)

Kurt Vile @ NYC's Terminal 5 in 2012 (more by Gretchen Robinette)

Philly's Kurt Vile is set to release his new double album, Wakin on a Pretty Daze, on April 9 via Matador Records. Today, he's shared the 9+ minute album track "Waking On A Pretty Day," which you can grab for free at the top of this post. The song is also available to stream below. While you're down there, check out the LP's cover art and tracklisting.

Kurt Vile and his backing band The Violators will be embarking on a spring North American tour in support of his forthcoming 2xLP. That tour features a few different opening acts, including The Fresh & Onlys and Angel Olsen (who just played the Hideout), and will visit Chicago for a stop at Lincoln Hall on May 14 with support from Steve Gunn and a TBA opener. Tickets go on sale this Friday (2/15) at noon CST.

All Kurt Vile tour dates, a stream of "Wakin On A Pretty Day," and album info. for Wakin on a Pretty Daze are below...

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DOWNLOAD: Esben and the Witch - "Deathwaltz" (MP3)

Esben and the Witch at Bowery Ballroom in 2010 (more by Leia Jospe)

UK trio Esben and the Witch welcomed their second album, Wash The Sins Not Only The Face, last week (on 1/21) via Matador Records. If dark, celestial indie rock is kind of your thing, Esben's new LP will not disappoint. Take a listen to the album via Spotify, and grab the album track "Deathwaltz" at the top of this post. Music videos for "Deathwaltz" and another album cut called "Despair" can be found below.

Esben and the Witch will be embarking on a spring North American tour with Heliotropes in support of their new LP. That tour includes a performance at the Empty Bottle on March 26, and advance tickets are on sale now.

All Esben and the Witch tour dates, and videos for "Deathwaltz" and "Despair" are below...

Continue reading "Esben and the Witch playing the Empty Bottle w/ Heliotropes"

DOWNLOAD: Doldrums - "Anomaly" (MP3)

Doldrums @ MHoW, September 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Montreal's Doldrums is set to release his new album, Lesser Evil, on February 26 via Arbutus Records. Grab Lesser Evil's lead single "Anomaly" at the top of this post and/or take a listen to the track below. Doldrums is beginning to reveal a spring North American tour in support of his forthcoming LP. Though only a few dates have been announced thus far, we do know that he'll headline Schubas on April 4 with support from Sean Nicholas Savage. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale TODAY (Friday, 2/01) at noon CST.

A stream of Doldrums' "Anomaly" is below...

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DOWNLOAD: TEEN - "Ambient" (MP3)

TEEN @ NYC's Webster Hall, September 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Teeny Lieberson's TEEN project are set to hit the road next week for a brief North American tour. That tour includes a performance at Township on February 19, and advance tickets are on sale now. Today, they've shared a previously unreleased track, called "Ambient," which is exactly what it's title suggests. Grab the seven-minute jam at the top of this post and/or take a listen below.

All TEEN dates and a stream of "Ambient" are below...

Continue reading "TEEN have a new song (MP3), playing Township in February"