[caption id="attachment_6918" align="alignnone" width="444" caption="My Gold Mask | Photo by Drew Reynolds"][/caption] Spring forth everyone! Hopefully this week's snow was the last big one we'll get before the warmth returns, and god knows we could use it. Anyway, don't forget to set your clocks forward an hour on Saturday after you stumble home from one of the many great shows going on this weekend. We're talking My Gold Mask's album release party at Schubas, The Hideout's Annual SXSW Send-Off, So Cow at the Burlington and more. Buckle up...

FRIDAY

BIKE COPS Honor International Women's Day (thanks for the reminder, Quenchers calendar) with the swinging rock stylings of Chicago's Bike Cops, which -- if you were wondering -- do indeed include a lady in their lineup. So it all kind of works out. The local garage quartet will get your body moving a few different ways with a smart mix of 60s surf and pop. Also appearing tonight are local jingle janglers The Bingers, Detroit outfit Mexican Knives (who also have a lady rocker and a pretty cool name) and The Sueves. (Audrey Leon) 9:00 p.m. Saturday, 3/8. Quenchers. 21+ $5.

SATURDAY

MY GOLD MASK My Gold Mask’s Gretta Rochelle and Jack Armondo are celebrating the release of the duo's new album Leave Me Midnight, which our own Richard Giraldi reviewed here. Mixed at Chicago's Engine Studios with studio guru Sanford Parker, My Gold Mask make haunting art pop their distinctive brand on their first full-length since their 2009 self-titled album. Do not miss My Gold Mask turn Schubas into their own cathedral of the damned. Also appearing tonight are local electronica duo Shuteye and dream pop singer K. Serra. (Audrey Leon) 9:00 p.m. Saturday, 3/9. Schubas. 21+ $12. LE TOUR Lo-fi rockers Le Tour features ex-members of other well-known Chicago indie groups including Blammer and Black Math. Their latest EP, Too Fun To Laugh, both features slow-burning tunes that offer psych-tendencies (“Too Funny To Laugh”) as well as groovy jams fronted by glassy clean guitar (“Gimme’ A Chance”). But Le Tour aren't a band to rest on their laurels. They have already started recording a follow-up seven inch with Drew Ryan of E.T. Habit., who also recorded Too Fun To Laugh. Also appearing are Absolutely Not and Velociopter. (Richard Giraldi) 9:00 p.m. Saturday, 3/9. The Burlington. 21+. $5. THE HIDEOUT'S ANNUAL SXSW SEND-OFF It's mid-March, and you know what that means for musicians all across the nation and Chicago: SXSW. And the Hideout will once again wish Chicago acts headed to the lone star state farewell and good luck in style. This year's send off features a number Loud Loop favorites including one of our 13 Chicago Bands To Watch In 2013, Twin Peax, Summer Girlfriends and Outer Minds. But that's just the tip of the iceberg, oh, and did I mention it kicks off at 3:30 p.m.? For all the deets on the event read our full report right here. (Richard Giraldi) 3:00 p.m. Saturday, 3/9. The Hideout. $10.

SUNDAY

SO COW If its a laidback evening your looking for, look no further than So Cow. The Irish band with Chicago ties (So Cow released two LPs on Tic Tac Totally) specializes in dreamy indie pop that crackles with plenty of low, fuzzy bass lines. Also appearing tonight are Baltimore experimental rock duo Weekends and local shoegazers Neo Ritual. (Audrey Leon) 9:00 p.m. Sunday, 3/10. Burlington. 21+ $7. By Staff   \  1 comment

She Speaks In Tongues are certainly an ambitious band. I mean, you have to be for your first single to basically be a cover slash reworking of Patti Smith's version of "Gloria" with the iconic letter-y refrain changed to "G-U-I-T-A-R!" There's a definite 1960's-like rebellious and empowerment feel to She Speaks In Tongues' music and live show (that usually finds lead singer Kate McCandless donning a burlap sack). Although only a few of their roughly recorded demos have made it on the internet, including the dynamic roar of "Mrs. Johnson,", the band did attempt to raise funds to produce their debut LP via IndieGoGo. Unfortunately, they fell a bit short of their $4,000 goal, but I fully expect them to unleash their insurgent rock 'n' roll on Chicago sooner than later. WATCH: "gloria, G-U-I-T-A-R!"" | Also appearing: BigColour, The Peekaboos, Rainbow Gun Show 8:30 p.m. Thursday, 3/7. Subterranean. 21+. $8. By Richard Giraldi   \  comments

After a very solid duo of EPs in 2010, which included A Thousand Voices, arguably the band's most popular release because of the catchy noir rock of "Violet Eyes," My Gold Mask are back with Leave Me Midnight. The record finds My Gold Mask in the same darkened realm that embodied those previous EPs. And though they never really reach another "Violet Eyes" apex on Midnight, they do stretch their songwriting wings and deliver their most cohesive effort to date. The eerie tone of Leave Me Midnight is set immediately as "Never Go Home" builds on rubbery, chant-like vocal harmonies. That's why when My Gold Mask unleash something oddly un-moody, the record is most satisfying. The opening hook of "Lost In My Head" finds howler slash percussionist Gretta Rochelle at her most unbridled both vocally and emotionally, but then, in a drastic but effective contrast, she immediately pulls back in to a near child-like inflection. But the track's success also comes from the tight and sturdy guitar-drum coaction. Speaking of guitar, Jack Armondo's nylon string still sounds as ghostly on ever on the earthy shuffle of "Burn Like The Sun," which he also enhances with his deep and chesty vocals. Everything's in sync on "Nightfalls," in which Rochelle's voice and Armondo's guitar play melodic tag, while new percussionist James Andrew provides a retro-rhythmic backdrop. Darkened, minimal but downright catchy in all the right places, Leave Me Midnight finds My Gold Mask having nearly mastered their craft. Each song on the album emits a wholly different vibe than the other, and yet they all echo that same distinct ominous vibe. How My Gold Mask consistently do it is why they continue being one of Chicago's most intriguing bands. Buy Leave Me Midnight at My Gold Mask's Bandcamp. My Gold Mask - "Burn Like The Sun" Video httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6pRQSHLyKA ___________________________________________________________________ MY GOLD MASK 10:00 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Schubas, 3159 N. Southport 21+. $12. ___________________________________________________________________ By Richard Giraldi   \  comments

How many rock bands can say they have a string quartet in their ranks? The warm instrumentation of Panoramic & True in "House Carpenter" has a welcoming and retro vibe, a product of the string quartet (including two violin players, a violist and a cellist), in addition to the more standard roster of a vocalist-guitarist, a guitarist, a bassist and a drummer. The eight-piece band’s tracks on their newest album, Wonderlust, contain many layers and nuances because so many instruments are simultaneously playing. But "House Carpenter" is keyed by singer John Lennox, whose voice sounds quite a bit like Creedence Clearwater Revival’s John Fogerty at the start. Lennox’s lyrics embody both the sense of wonder and the restless energy that the LP’s title implies, especially with his grounded sense of mortality: “The prayer’s answered as soon as you ask it/The carpenter makes both cradles and caskets.” Listen to "House Carpenter" after the jump. ___________________________________________________________________ PANORAMIC & TRUE 8:00 p.m. Sunday, March 10. The Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave. 21+. $8. ___________________________________________________________________ By Killian Young   \  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.

• • Gossip Wolf talks possible Lollapalooza picks and gives the dirt on the cassette label started by Logan Square bar The Owl.
• • Chicago finally has a city office devoted to local music -- kind of. Greg Kot reports on the "Chicago Music Summit" scheduled for this September 20th, which aims to bring 500 musicians, singers and industry folk together like a smaller SXSW festival.
• • If you like Austin City Limits, but wanted it to be more locally-focused, you're in luck. Gapers Block has the details on the new television collaboration between Chicago PBS station WYCC and Old Town School of Folk called "Musicology".
• • If you have a couple of thousand dollars lying around, you could record a song with Jeff Tweedy inside Wilco's own studio, The Loft.

By Audrey Leon   \  comments

[caption id="attachment_30059" align="alignnone" width="445" caption="Gabe Liebowitz (Of Dastardly)"][/caption] Spring is so close I can taste it. Wait, that's not spring. Anyway, there's some very cool shows going down around town this weekend including Dastardly's Gabe Liebowitz live album recording, Bailiff at the Hideout, Running at the Empty Bottle and more. Buckle up...

FRIDAY

RUNNING Any occasion where Chicago punks Running are playing in town is a welcomed one. LLP chose Running as one of its 13 Chicago Bands To Watch in 2013, so needless to say, we kind of like them. A lot. Running are just good, messy, rowdy fun. Check the link above for a more or less coherent explanation. Also appearing tonight are Lamps and Useless Eaters. (Audrey Leon) 9:30 p.m. Friday, 3/1. Empty Bottle. 21+ $7-10. GABE LIEBOWITZ (OF DASTARDLY) LIVE ALBUM TAPING Surely you know of Dastardly: the local Americana troupe that earned a spot on our 12 Chicago Bands To Watch In 2012 because of their intriguing sounds that melds contemporary indie rock approaches with grand bluegrass and country melodies. The band is currently working on the follow up to their July 2012 release, Ballads in Blue, but for the past year, Dastardly frontman Gabe Liebowitz has been not only writing and playing in Dastardly but also touring as a solo artist. And before he heads back to full Dastardly mode, Liebowitz plans on recording an album. Live. At Schubas. Tonight. "I really want to capture the solo show that I've been working on for the past year or so. It's a mix of new originals and interpretations of some of my favorite tunes (Bowie, Morrissey, Orbison, Dylan, Sinatra, etc.)," Liebowitz wrote in an e-mail. Dastardly has been known to stage some very entertaining concerts in the past, and this should be no different. Opening is Ami Saraiya. (Richard Giraldi) 8:30 p.m. Friday, 3/1. Schubas. 21+ $5.

SATURDAY

BAILIFF The cool thing about watching a music scene is seeing bands continue to blossom. Chicago's Bailiff has expanded its sound from its bluesy rock beginnings to a soulful pop style, complete with brooding atmospherics and plenty of hooks. Bailiff recently created a Kickstarter to fund its second album, which the members say is nearly ready to record. So help some brothers out. Also appearing with Bailiff tonight is The Field Auxiliary. (Audrey Leon) 9:00 p.m. Saturday, 3/2. The Hideout. 21+ $8-10

SUNDAY

JC BROOKS AND THE UPTOWN SOUND Soul rockers JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound's modern day Motown-style contains equal parts soul, funk and punk to produce plenty of body-moving rhythms. This is a band that is going somewhere, literally. The band takes off for South By Southwest in a few short weeks, so send them off in style! Also appearing are Jon Langford & Skull Orchard. This is event is Free with RSVP at Do312. (Audrey Leon) 7:00 p.m. Sunday, 3/3. Cobra Lounge. 21+ FREE w/ RSVP By Staff   \  comments

Sparkling pop rockers Pet Lions are back with a video for their single "Lightning Bolt." The track impressed me back in August with its dreamy island vibes. The video is no different with its shimmering lights spliced with live shots and recording studio footage. It may be cold out side, but it's pretty cool in here thanks to this video. Pet Lions are celebrating the release of their new EP Popular Nature, streaming now via SoundCloud, at Lincoln Hall this Friday, March 1. Tickets are $10. By Audrey Leon   \  comments