The Quick Fix showcases the best of Chicago music news, views and stories from around the interwebs and blogosphere that we might have missed. By   \  comments
[caption id="attachment_30269" align="alignnone" width="445" caption="Screaming Females play Subterranean this Thursday"][/caption] Welcome to Weekly Diversions! This is our new weekly show calendar in which we preview our local show picks for Monday through Thursday.

MONDAY

T'BONE T'Bone is one hell of a power trio, and they kill with a hybrid of punk, math and melodic indie rock with skillful musicianship, what makes them stand out is that they keep their sense of humor about things with lyrics that embrace the tongue-in-cheek. Their debut, Mt. Trashmore was one of my favorites from 2011, and I’m excited about their next move. A couple new T’Bone songs have already made their way on the internet like the rocker “Song Of Praise,” or this melodic new untitled jam. The show is also Young Man's record release.(Richard Giraldi) 8:00 p.m. Monday, 4/8. Schubas. 21+. $12.

TUESDAY

SHILOH You should always be wary of bands that make up genres for themselves. Now, having said that, Shiloh's self-described "scum pop" is fairly catchy stuff, right up there with the beloved indie stylings of Built to Spill. The band's new record Mrs. is a collection of indie rock that contains just the right amount of grime, Midwestern twang, and plenty of introverted quirkiness. Also appearing tonight are Cold Country, The Pinkerton Raid, and My Great Elephant.(Audrey Leon) 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, 4/9. Township. 21+. $5.

WEDNESDAY

BASIC CABLE Basic Cable is a new-ish band that consists of members from local favorites Heavy Times, E+, Running, and more. So, from that description alone, I think you know what you're in for. Meaning loud, rough and abrasive rock that sits on the fringes of punk and lo-fi garage rock. Their three-song demo that dropped back in February is a beast of a debut, and also the perfect soundtrack to chug whiskey/vodka too. Yeah, it's going to be that kind of night. Also appearing are Toupee and Solid Attitude. (Richard Giraldi) 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, 4/10. The Burlington. 21+. $5.

THURSDAY

SCREAMING FEMALES New Jersey punks Screaming Females impress with dark, ferocious rhythm and bluesy, blustery guitar riffs. Frontwoman Marissa Paternoster is a character who leads the trio with an impressive vocal range that drifts between high-pitched, high-tension screams and low dramatic howls. The band’s fifth album Ugly, which was recorded by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio, stays the course with plenty of speedy guitar work, commanding bass lines and crashing drum beats. With Screaming Females at the helm, things are sure to get loud. Also appearing are Chicago's The Treasure Fleet, and Elgin's the Brokedowns. (Audrey Leon) 8:30 p.m. Thursday, 4/11. Subterranean. 17+. $10. By   \  comments
The more things change the more they stay the same. While we've introduced Weekly Diversions this Monday, we're keeping this ol' Weekend Diversions thing running strong. Check it, we're talking sweet shows by Sybris at the Double Door, Huntsmen at Quenchers, and Blizzard Babies at Bottom Lounge. Dig it...

FRIDAY

SYBRIS Break out your twelve-sided die because local rockers Sybris will unleash some D&D madness tonight. The group usually emits a powerful punch to the senses with their sound that comes off like a mashup between speedy alt-rock and experimental pop. Sybris are celebrating the release of their new seven-inch Voyage of the Stag Party tonight, and, yes, it is packaged in an actual playable Dungeons and Dragons module. Also appearing tonight are Rabbid Rabbit and Killer Moon. (Audrey Leon) 8:00 p.m. Friday, 4/5. Bottom Lounge. 21+ $10. HUNTSMEN Once upon a time this band was called The Gorilla Press. Despite the name change, the group - fronted by Chris Kang - remains fully capable of delivering a powerful live show that is coated in a fine layer of 90s alt-rock nostaliga, complete with grungy ragers and sweet melodic crooners. Also appearing tonight are Soft Jolts and Queen Buzz. (Audrey Leon) 9:00 p.m. Friday, 4/5. Quenchers. 21+ $5.

SATURDAY

BLIZZARD BABIES LLP faves and all-femme punk quartet Blizzard Babies take hazy surf rock and give it a darkened edge that is plenty cool and smart as a whip. The band’s minimalist rock gems are sure to get the crowd moving at the Burlington tonight. Also appearing tonight are the very cool 60s-style throwbacks Girl Group Chicago, The Revelettes, and the Goblins. (Audrey Leon) 8:30 p.m. Saturday, 4/6. Double Door. 21+ $8. PANDA RIOT Panda Riot’s latest, Northern Automatic Music, is undeniably their best effort yet. It definitely showcases the band’s tight focus as it seamlessly melds shoegaze with warbling indie pop. Whether it’s the shimmering instrumental, “Golden Age,” or the alt-era, noisy MBV hum of “Good Night, Rich Kids,” it's all quite exquisite. Also appearing are Videotape and Pink Frost.(Richard Giraldi) 9:00 p.m. Saturday, 4/6. The Burlington. 21+. $7. By   \  comments
The latest video from eclectic indie experimentalists >>radiant devices<< for their song, "Much Less Desired," finds lead singer/poet Mojdeh Stoakley wandering what appears to be an abandoned snowy wasteland and encountering a number of intriguing characters through out. The scenery very much fits the song's vibe, which opens with a minimal, RATM guitar groove that changes to a nearly urgent Dismemberment Plan-vibe as Mojdeh spouts off rhymes at a quicker pace. Be sure to catch >>radiant devices<< on Thursday, April 11, at the Tonic Room. In the meantime, check out the video below: httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VARoUfyyHYk By   \  2 comments
On Monday, the Lollapalooza 2013 lineup was officially revealed in a reactionary fashion after the complete lineup was leaked days before. And the general social media reaction to the headliners seems to range all the way from mildy excited to possibly interested to typically disappointed. However for us, the biggest names are the least interesting on the Lollapalooza. We're far more concerned with the Chicago talent that has landed a coveted spot on of the largest and most poplar festivals in the county. This year is no different as Lollapalooza is quick to recognize local acts that have built a following via online buzz, acclaimed live performances and tireless work ethic. So, as single day tickets for Lollapalooza 2013 go on sale today (three-day passes are somehow already sold out), here are five local acts that you should get to know before this August 2-4...
  • SMITH WESTERNS These glam-garage rocking youngsters seemingly came out of no where raw 2009 HoZac LP. Angsty and bored of their Midwestern home surroundings (as they'd often share in interviews), the band jet off to NYC once they inked a deal with Fat Possum Records for what came to be the slick but punchy 2011 recored, Dye It Blonde. This summer Smith Westerns will drop their third effort, Soft Will, from which comes the airy synth-pop fueled number, "Varsity."
  • CHANCE THE RAPPER How does a 19 year-old rapper go from being a 10-day suspended Jones College Prep High School student to opening to for Childish Gambino to selling out one of Chicago's most rocking clubs? By having a mind-blowing live show, fresh style and smart rhymes. Chance The Rapper did just that, and after generating an even bigger following at SXSW, he now finds himself on the Lollapalooza 2013 bill.
  • YAWN Yawn have been on our radar since their 2010 self-titled debut EP, which was filled with bouncy samples and psychedelic beats for a sound not unlike Yeasayer or even Animal Collective. But where Yawn do change things up is their prowess for taking this generally wild combination of electronic music and psychedelic rock and churning it into a sleek and catchy three to four minute pop song. Their 2011 LP, Open Season, did nothing but establish them even further as a Chicago band quickly on the rise.
  • WILD BELLE Originally from Chicago, this bro-sis duo have a sound that's feels no where near the Midwest. If the fact their debut LP is titled Isles didn't already clue you in, Wild Belle make you feel right on the beach with their tropical disco-dub tunes. There;s no doubt the sultry voiced Natalie Bergman and sax man Elliot Bergman mastermind will be the perfect soundtrack to the mid-day sun.
  • THE ORWELLS Are all Chicago kids taking up rock 'n' roll as a hobby these days? This Elmhurst garage rock quintet blast on the scene because of their rowdy meets raunchy live show that blew people away. And then comes the surprise that none of the members are of legal drinking age yet. The blogosphere was a-twitter (get it?) with praise for their 2012 debut LP, Remember When, which also felt inspired by suburban Midwest boredom, like fellow Palooza-ers Smith Westerns, but The Orwells consciously emit a more rebellious vibe in their slack-guitar filled jams.
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    The Quick Fix showcases the best of Chicago music news, views and stories from around the interwebs and blogosphere that we might have missed. By   \  comments
    [caption id="attachment_30211" align="alignnone" width="445" caption="Pet Lions perform Tuesday, April 2, at Lincoln Hall"][/caption] Welcome to Weekly Diversions! This is our new weekly show calendar in which we preview our local show picks for Monday through Thursday.

    MONDAY

    PALMFLOWER This Pilsen duo sure know how to get weird. Comprised of guitarist Ray Borchers and drummer slash vocalist Stacy Goldschmidt, Palmflower plays a brand of twisted pop music (self-described on their Facebook as Future Church Music) that ventures both into the noisy and ethereal, which probably has something to do with their large amount of influences that ran the gamut from Ike Turner to DEVO to Syd Barrett. Intrigued? Perhaps take a listen to their live and lo-fi, but oddly enough, very melodic cover of The Cascades' "Rhythm Of The Falling Rain" up now at their ReverbNation page. Also appearing are Summer Girlfriends and Peach Kelli Pop. (Richard Giraldi) 9:00 p.m. Monday, 4/1. The Burlington. 21+. $8.

    TUESDAY

    PET LIONS Local indie rockers Pet Lions' new EP Popular Nature starts where the quartet left off on their debut: churning out breezy, fun tracks that shimmer with layers of delectable pop grooves. The bass lines are deep and the melodies swirl with rich, lingering atmospherics. This is truly the music of Spring time. Also appearing are Brooklyn's Monopoly Child Star Searchers and Ducktails, featuring Matt Monidale of Real Estate. (Audrey Leon) 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, 4/2. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $8.

    WEDNESDAY

    MEAT WAVE A city like Chicago deserves a band called Meat Wave, I think. Anyway, this local trio plays some pretty urgent-sounding, Les Savy Fav-influenced post (and possibly pre, I mean who even knows anymore) punk rock. Their 2012 self-titled debut opens with the scorching, and aptly titled, "Keep Smoking" and the fun continues with cuts like the rambling clean guitars and chugging rhythms of "Bloodline" and the riff-splosion of "It's Not Alright." Also appearing are Cy Barkley and JEFF the Brotherhood. (Richard Giraldi) 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, 4/3. Subterranean. 17+. $15.

    THURSDAY

    MUTTS Chicago rockers Mutts are leaving the amps at home these days. The band is celebrating the release of its first "unplugged" full-length Object Permanence at the Hideout. Listeners can expect the same organ-heavy blues rock set to sparkling piano grooves, which is offset perfectly by frontman Mike Maimone's own smoky, rough and tumble vocals. Also appearing tonight are folk poppers Paper Thick Walls. (Audrey Leon) 9:00 p.m. Thursday, 4/4. The Hideout. 21+. $10. By   \  comments

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