If you missed experimental psych poppers E+ at Schubas last week or just want to relive the experience, the band posted a few videos from the gig on its Facebook page. E+, a Chicago group made up of members from Verma, Heavy Times and Disappears, conjures dark and mysterious forces while dabbling in distortion. E+ track “Substance D” emits a steady hypnotic rhythm and plenty of groovy synthesizer embellishments. All you need to do is sit back and sway in your chair.

Chances are you’ve seen this video all over the net in the past week, but it’s too cool for us not to share. Wilco collaborated with King Features for the video for The Whole Love‘s upbeat groover “Dawned On me.” The result is the first original, hand-drawn Popeye cartoon in over 30 years. And yep, the gangs all here: Olive Oyl, Wimpy, Swee’Pea, Nels Cline, John Stirratt…you get the picture. Anyway, watch the fun, Wilco-soundtracked nostalgia trip below:

Need an afternoon pick-me-up? Local pop punkers Swimsuit Addition have unveiled a head boppin’ new track called “Cartoon Paper Cup,” the lead single off the group’s upcoming Kittyhawk EP.

“Cartoon Paper Cup” kicks off with a tight drum intro and bouncing bass line before metallic guitars riffs rip through the mix. The song’s perky, upbeat vibe is enough to rouse anyone suffering from a food- or work-induced coma.

Check out the single at the top left and then catch Swimsuit Addition, one of our 12 Bands to Watch in 2012, on February 24 at the Burlington with Vamos and House Sounds. Tickets are $5.

Narrow Sparrow has easily established itself as a band that cares as much about its visuals as it does about its soundscapes. For the Chicago group’s new video “Spooky Head,” Narrow Sparrow couples ghoulish Disney-style 1920s animation with buzzy atmospherics that come off as an electro-pop version of doo wop that could be ideal for the slow dance at a prom. You know, if your prom committee includes Crispin Glover and Edward Scissorhands. Narrow Sparrow’s Synthworks EP is available for free download on its Bandcamp page.

Earlier this month, we told you about the upcoming EP Ataraxia/Taraxis, from Chicago(-ish) prog-metal crew Pelican.

While the EP isn’t set to drop until April 10, late last week the band unleashed the Ataraxia/Taraxis track “Lathe Biosas” in all it’s monster-riff glory. The tune is a nearly five-minute rocker that’s pure guitar porn for those who are headbang-starved.

And there are plenty of Pelican’s patented dynamic shifts here as the song ducks along into some tense but melodic axe work in between the epic walls of crunch. This track bares no signs of additional use of the studio as a compositional tool, which Pelican promised in a press release. So for now “Lathe Biosas,” simply acts as a reminder of just how ferocious Pelican are. Listen to “Lathe Biosas” at the top left.

The band are currently slated for a European tour this April, but there’s a good bet a Chicago date will pop-up sooner than later. We’ll keep you posted.

Dreamy Brit pop-esque rockers Blah Blah Blah have returned with a new video for their single “As Soon As I Get Home Tonight,” from their album Thank You Thank You. The video is light-hearted enough to match the upbeat mood of the song. It features keyboardist Phill Ferguson going for a stroll around Chicago, proving that bartering is alive and well as he trades harmonicas for wigs and cat lamps for nunchucks. I would have kept that lamp, bro. “As Soon As I Get Home Tonight” is available for free download via the band’s website.

It’s in the late afternoon on a Tuesday. You probably need a pick me up. Screw sugary foods or energy drinks, just feat your eyes on this ridiculously killer performance from Chicago noise punchers Running on Giant System Chicago’s long awaited return. There’s too many things to like about this video, so I will just name a few: phasing slash squealing guitar, facefuck chugging bass, backbreaking rhythms and a microphone that just won’t get its act together. All of this make for a hell of a premiere for “season 2″ of band-in-practice-space-documenter’s Giant System Chicago. Jam it below: