It's Day Four of The Kickback's SXSW Tour Video Diary, and we finally get to SXSW's essence: a loud and energetic rock show. This time at night and with an incredibly acceptive crowd. Not to mention frontman Billy Yost does his best Eddie Vedder impersonation and tries to do a little stage stunt that leaves him a bit worse for wear. Enjoy: httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyGyasjrtcw By Richard Giraldi   \  comments

Day three of The Kickback’s SXSW Tour Video Diary find the indie rockers smack in the middle of SXSW happenings. Rock shows in the bright Texas sun, a puppet-lead man-on-the-street segment with their “manager” Howie and a special guest cameo from Public Enemy’s Chuck D are all included. Yes, you read that correctly. Dig it: httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzRI853ozhQ By Richard Giraldi   \  comments

South By Southwest may have officially ended, but The Kickback's SXSW Tour Video Diary rolls on. Day Two begins in Texas. Uh, Dallas, Texas, where the band intercept their manager Brian Foy, and also where their puppet manager Howie lands a shift at an In-And-Out Burger. Again, in Texas. But The Kickback do manage to maneuver their way through bad traffic and into Austin just in time to meet the press and rock a showcase. Day three is coming soon, but in the meantime, check out Day two: httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpo9eScKUtE By Richard Giraldi   \  comments

Welcome to The Kickback's SXSW Tour Video Diary: Day One. In my mind The Kickback need no introduction, but for those who havent been keeping up, they're a deliciously melodic indie rock quartet who have been kicking out crunchy sweet jams since 2009. And we've been covering them since 2010. Like many bands in mid-March, The Kickback headed to Austin to play a number of official SXSW showcases, and they decided to document the journey via a SXSW tour video diary exclusively for LoudLoopPress.com. This is day one, which finds the band getting loose pre-tour, goofing with their puppet manager Howie and driving forth into the early morning darkness. The subsequent videos will published in the coming days, but until then, enjoy: httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sKIA0EK65Q By Richard Giraldi   \  comments

Blood Red Boots’ “Smoke,” from their self-titled EP, sounds like a cross between the vocals of Neon Trees’ Tyler Glenn and the scuzzy, power chord-driven instrumentation of My Chemical Romance. However, on Blood Red Boots, the four-piece Chicago outfit’s first effort, it’s clear the band draws on a variety of influences: the EP kicks off with “Greatest,” which begins with a tense keyboard riff that resembles Zack Hemsey’s “Mind Heist” from Inception. Conversely, “California” captures the gentle, wistful singing style. “Smoke” is one of the most interesting tracks from Blood Red Boots, though, because of the push and pull between the restraint of the verses and the explosion of energy in the choruses. The track begins with an ominous synth beat that gives way to vocalist Keith Patrick’s reserved vocals. But when the chorus hits, guitarist William Heschl’s dominating riff take over, and Patrick’s distorted singing sounds like it’s straight from My Chemical Romance’s Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys—and the high never lets up at the end. Listen to "Smoke" below: ___________________________________________________________________ BLOOD RED BOOTS 9:00 p.m. Thursday, March 28. The Greenville Tavern, 2210 W. Chicago Ave. 21+. ___________________________________________________________________ By Killian Young   \  1 comment

One of our 13 Chicago Bands To Watch In 2013, The New Diet are a shining example of solid unpretentious indie rock. The band wears their heart on their sleeves as they crank out emotionally driven, guitar-heavy jams that are both loose in feel and pretty damn melodic. Their 2011 cassette, Common Cold, offered up both near post-punk takes ("Magic") and wobbly, melancholy slow-burners ("Common Cold"). In 2012, The New Diet dropped a gloomy cut, "Miles and Days," on a split 7" with binary marketing show. It's a bit more desperate with it's scratchy vocals and darker lyric imagery, but it's still quite provocative. Needless to say, I'm quite excited for The New Diet's next sonic move. LISTEN: “See Millions, Saw Few” | Also appearing: Rococode, More Gorgeous, Zombies In The Basement. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, 3/12. Double Door. 21+. $7. By Richard Giraldi   \  comments

Monday Afternoon Quick Fix runs every Monday afternoon to showcase the best of Chicago music news, views and stories from around the interwebs and blogosphere that we might have missed.

• • Pitchfork Music Festival made quite a few middle tier additions to their line-up last week including Joanna Newsom, Breeders (performing Last Splash), ...And You Will Know Us As Trail of Dead, Swans, El-P and more. These acts join the previously announced headliners R. Kelly, Bjork and Belle & Sebastian.
• • Hurray! The 2013 Ravinia schedule has been released. A few highlights include David Byrne & St. Vincent on July 6, Willie Nelson & Family on July 14, Steely Dan on August 1 and 2 and, of course, Smash Mouth with Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms, Vertical Horizons and Fastball on July 20.
• • And 11 year-old with an incredible voice. The Chicago Reader's Andrea Bauer writes on Bronzeville's Mae Yae Carter Ryan.
• • Smith Westerns are back with the chill-vibed "Varsity," from their upcoming LP, Soft Will, and wasted no time in being BNM'd by Pitchfork. They grow up so fast, don't they?

By Richard Giraldi   \  comments