Summer Girlfriends

Another day, another box of stolen pens. Like Bill Murray, we all survived Groundhog’s Day, so let’s get out on the town and live it up. We’re talking great shows at The Burlington, Cole’s and Panchos (or Township, if you like).

Looks like at least six more weeks of rock to me.

FRIDAY

SUMMER GIRLFRIENDS
Get some upbeat, jangly garage pop in your life. Chicago’s Summer Girlfriends play fun tunes that make us think about the feeling of warm sand beneath our toes and catching some rays. Don’t miss this opportunity to see why the lovely ladies of Summer Girlfriends made our 12 Bands to Watch in 2012 list. Alt-rocking quartet Blasted Diplomats open. (Audrey Leon)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 2/3. Cole’s Bar. 21+ FREE!

WE REPEL EACH OTHER
Noise rockers We Repel Each Other have been slowing secreting new material since they decided to head into the studio to record a proper release last summer. It looks like the record may finally be done, but more on that later. The band’s combination of uber-abrasive and gritty guitars and tight but flexible rhythms work to create “pieces” rather than “songs.” In a live setting, however, it’s hard to call We Repel Each Other anything else but beastly. Not only will you be deaf for days afterwards, but don’t be alarmed by flying beer bottles or frontman Rob Majchrowski tackling audience members to the ground. Opening are throwback garage rockers The Blackbelts. Ready to get rowdy? (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 2/3. Burlington Bar. 21+. $5

SATURDAY

MAKO SICA
Party music, Mako Sica is not. The Chicago trio make experimental pop for the thinking man or woman. It’s music that is easy to get lost in while the makers craft each tone and beat into some faraway dreamscape. It’s a brilliant escape from the rat race if you’re looking to clear your head. M. Tracka and Ben Babbitt from hypnotic folk poppers Pillars and Tongues, and acoustic folkers Chief Ghoul will open. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 2/4. Burlington Bar. 21+ $5.

SUNDAY

LIL TITS
Our favorite feminimalists Lil Tits will have the crowd purring like kittens after a set filled with raw, squealing feedback and high-energy punk. Also appearing are Chicago “post-post” punks Two Houses who will delight with smart ass songs like “DePaul University Fight Song,” which may or may not be my new favorite song. Suburban rockers Big Sur, who are heavily influenced by Husker Du and The Replacements, will open. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Sunday, 2/5. Panchos. 21+ $5.

FOOTBALL
Yeah! Yeah! Football! And no, I’m not referring to the big game. If you’re Superbowl festivities have gotten stale over the past few years, then you might want to literally spice things up at the Empty Bottle. Not only will locals Football bring their dirty, face-obliterating rock and roll to the stage during halftime (Yeah, Madonna fanatics need not apply), but there will also be a Chip & Dip-off! AND Bite Cafe’s (which is quite excellent, by the way) Chef Brendan will bring the wings, while Longman & Eagle’s Chef Jared does right with some disco fries. There’s really only one way to party in style this Sunday, and this is it. (Richard Giraldi)

4:00 p.m. Sunday, 2/3. The Empty Bottle. 21+. FREEEEEE!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbHTaPk8Qmk

“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.

ellusive parallelograms

1. Milwaukee pop rockers Elusive Parallelograms are fairly impressive in the way they can combine alt-rock epic-ness with sparkling psychedelics and infectious pop structure without it overwhelming the listener with its differences. LISTEN: “Intelligent Design“

2. I’ve got a fever for more spooky garage pop. And Chicago’s Rabbit Children are happy to oblige with their jams that are heavy on guitar and packed full of grooving, moody rhythms and sweet, haunting harmonies. LISTEN: “Friend“

3. Get your dancing shoes on because opening act, Brother George shall get you on your feet with swinging garage rock that is a little bit Rolling Stones and a little bit Eagles of Death Metal with its tracks named after ladies like “Caroline, Again” and “Olivia.” LISTEN: “Keep U Mine.”

9:00 p.m. Thursday, 2/2. Panchos. 21+ $5.

The Chicago indie rockers released a trailer on their Facebook page this morning announcing their new LP, Beware and Be Grateful, which is set for a US release on Tuesday, April 17.

The trailer is quite an intriguing one that features a coffee-drinking, suited man dramatically describing a car accident from afar that may or may not have happened. Near the end he opens a door to a club that also allows our first listen of Maps & Atlases’ new material.

Judging strictly on the few seconds of music available, it’s apparent that Beware and Be Grateful is probably more akin to the melodic, groove-laden approach on their 2010 release Perch Patchwork than the twitchy guitar-tapping from their 2007 debut, Trees, Swallows, Houses.

Watch the Beware and Be Grateful trailer after the jump as well their newly announce UK Tour Dates.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=llGfT2KC-xM

Maps & Atlases UK/European April Tour

16 Mon UK BRISTOLCooler
17 Tue UK LONDON Garage
18 Wed UK MANCHESTER Night and Day
19 Thu UK GLASGOW Nice ‘N Sleazy
20 Fri UK LEEDS Brudenell
22 Sun Belgium BRUSSELS Botanique
23 Mon Netherlands AMSTERDAM Paradiso
24 Tue Germany COLOGNE Gebaeude 9
25 Wed Germany HAMBURG Haus III&70
26 Thu Germany BERLINBi Nuu
27 Fri Germany FRANKFURT Das Bett
28 Sat France PARIS Fleche D’or

1. Having a (slight) bit of down time can be a marvelous thing, especially when members of bands such as Disappears, Heavy Times and Verma decide to join forces. E+ specialize in doling out rhythms so fuzzy, creating atmosphere so dark and moody that they ultimately entrance the listener with swirling fits of minimalist psychedelics. LISTEN: “{Mithra} Sunn 88 (Live at Beat Kitchen)“

2. Tasked with whipping the audience into a small frenzy are local quartet Coffin Pricks. The decidedly “unchill wave” post-punks rumble with the same brewing intensity of bands like Mission of Burma and Husker Dü. LISTEN: “Group Home Haircut“

3. Getting the night off to the oh-so-right start are Chicago trio Wimps. The band waft by on a hazy cloud of bouncy, thick basslines and slick mellow grooves that transport us back to those sweet 60s surf rock days. LISTEN: “Every Night“

9:00 p.m. Wednesday, 2/1. Schubas. 21+ $8.

Hay Perro

1. Hay Perro play the kind of old school metal slash hard rock that offers absolutely no hidden agendas. Their chugging, Motorhead-esque riffage, aggressive vocals and wailing Thin Lizzy leads would go just right with downing cheap beers and shots of Jameson. LISTEN: “No Visons”

2. Yes, locals Knife Of Simpson did take their from OJ’s murder weapon. Utilizing a more early ’00s FM-metal tone with flourishes of AC/DC blues rock, their sound is very in your face. Plus, with song titles like “Rave un2 the Ghetto Fantastik” and “Coke Stroke in Vegas,” these dudes obviously know how to party. LISTEN: “Rave un2 the Ghetto Fantastik”

3. Today’s My Super Spaceout Day have technically been around since 1995, but after numerous lineup changes, the original band ended in 2001. That is until last year when the dynamic alt-rockers got together at a friend’s memorial and decided to reform with the classic line-up of Rick Nitz, Eric Anderson and Tony Jeswald. The music follows the lead of loud-quiet-loud rockers from the mid-’90s and features a major dose of Sunny Day Real Estate-like guitary emo. LISTEN: “Sipp Flippy”

9:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1/31. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $8 or free with and e-mail to rsvp@theemptybottle.com

• • In stories that make you go “hmm” news, Gossip Wolf reveals that Chicago math rockers Del Ray have noticed a sales boost in Germany. Naturally, this can only be attributed to confusion with pouty pop temptress Lana Del Ray?
• • Brooklyn Vegan Chicago has some rad shots from last Tuesday’s Tortoise show at the Empty Bottle.
• • Gapers Block provide us with a wealth of photos in its review of Friday’s Los Campesinos! show at the Metro.
• • Gene Wagendorf of Windy City Rock discovers that even pounding sinus headaches accompanied by “orbs of phlegm” can’t stop a person from enjoying Yawn’s special brand of psych pop.

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.