Chicago’s R&B rockers the Velcro Lewis Group are the band that the Eagles of Death Metal should aspire to be. While EoDM makes its rootsy, boogie rock about oozing sex and booty shaking, The Velcro Lewis Group is way more subtle and soulful. Before you know it the songs on White Magick Summer have the listener on his/her feet as singer Andy Slater (aka Velcro Lewis) delivers his sermon.

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Chicago glam rockers the Maybenauts are holding a video release party for fans and the curious alike at Late Bar, 3534 W. Belmont Ave., on Wednesday, September 1.

The quartet will premiere their first ever music video for the song “Not Aware” off its recently released debut EP Big Bang. The video was also shot at Late Bar.

The evening’s festivities will kick off at 9 p.m. and will feature DJ sets by Maybenauts guitarist Vee Sonnets (aka the space panda) and drummer/CHIRP DJ Emily Agustin. Other perks offered that night will include hors d’oerves and prize giveaways until the video’s debut at 11 p.m.

So what does one where to a video release party, you say?

Per the press release:

Elegant dress or space suits are encouraged but not required.

If you can’t make the party, the Maybenauts will live stream the party on their web site Maybenauts.com.

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Just days before Kid Sister returned home to Chicago for a headlining spot at Mad Decent’s Block Party at the Hideout the rapper recorded a set for Daytrotter Sessions.

The Chicago wordsmith performed four songs from her 2009 album Ultraviolet including “Pro Nails,” “Daydreaming,” “Right Hand Hi” and “Switch Board.”

You can stream Kid Sister’s entire set right now or download it for free in 128K MP3 format at Daytrotter.com.

Daytrotter is loving on Chicago. It was only last week that we told you about fellow Chicagoans The Light Pollution recording their own Daytrotter Session.

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It’s not easy being in a band and I can’t imagine how difficult it is to be in a mostly female rock group, but the talented femme fatales (and male space panda) in the Maybenauts found so much humor in the subject they decided to write a new song called “Girl Band.” The song is bordering on my favorite cut of the week due to the lyrics, “We lift our own amps and we always have cramps,” alone. Friend of the ‘Nauts Leonardo Jimenez caught up with the Maybenauts at their most recent hometown gig at Lucky Number Grill on August 21. Check out the size of those harmonies!

By Audrey Leon  \  2 comments

Do you love concert ticket giveaways and making macaroni art? If so, Laurie’s Planet of Sound just made your day.

The revered Lincoln Square record shop is giving away free tickets to see Pavement live at Pritzker Pavilion on Monday, September 13. All you have to do to win is submit your best interpretation of a Pavement (song or otherwise) via the lost art of Macaroni.

Per Laurie’s Planet of Sound’s Facebook page:

Random drawings are sooo last year. This time YOU get to do the drawing…or photo, or painting. Bring in an artisitic interpretation of a Pavement song/lyric/album/portrait of Malkmus made from macaroni and we will choose a winner! Entries will be on display in the store. Entries must be submitted in person at the store and are due in by September 1, 2010. Winner will be chosen September 3.

So pull out your favorite Pavement album or photograph, buy a box of cheap Mac and cheese and start gluing, people!

Now I’m off to figure out how best to visually represent the lyric, “A redder shade of neck on a whiter shade of trash,” from the song “Shady Lane.”

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As we first reported in July, Diplo’s Mad Decent records is taking over the Hideout’s annual block party this Saturday, August 21, with one populated by the record label’s artists and friends.

The official lineup for this weekend’s party has been revealed and it’s a doozy. Chicago’s own Kid Sister, Ghetto Division, and Freddie Gibbs will appear at the party. And there’s going to be airhorns!

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October is going to be a busy month for Chicago’s adopted son Scott Lucas. The rocker will unleash not one, but two EPs of music on October 19.

The first will be an all-covers EP entitled Local H’s Awesome Mix Tape #1. The collection contains seven songs – including “Puss” by the Jesus Lizard and “Wolf Like Me” by TV on the Radio – that Local H has performed at varous live shows throughout the years.

Per the press release:

“We’ve always done covers live,” Lucas said. “It’s just fun for us. Period. We never do songs as a joke. Every cover we’ve ever done is a song that we love. And that goes for Britney, too.”

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