Chicago’s Suns have pretty much burst onto our local scene in a big way. Folks still talk about their January debut at the Metro. I suppose when your band is comprised of members of other formerly well known bands such as Wax On Radio and Blame Twilight you’ve got a built in buzz. Roughly eight months (Actually six, but I received the album a few months late) after their forming, Suns have released a double EP. This may sound odd because you might think “isn’t a double EP just a full-length?”, and you wouldn’t be a fool for asking such a question. But, The Howl and The Many and Close Calls In The U.S. Space Program are different enough that I can see why they chose to release them this way.
Chicago post-punkers This Is Versailles have released a new video for their track “Robot Beach”. The song comes from the band’s debut self-titled EP and is vibrant and melodic. Bassist Caitlin Garibaldi takes on lead vocals as Jaisen Ehas gives his hardcore screams a rest, but the song maintains its raucous energy. Also, you just gotta love the disorganized, xylophone-fueled coda at the end. If your like me and really dig this clip, This Is Versaille have a brand new EP, titled Capital Punishment, which will drop tomorrow at their record release party at the Empty Bottle. Anyway, check out the rockin’ clip below:
Yesterday, the band announced a four-song, 12″ vinyl, titled A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last), will be available on Saturday, November 13. Sans record player? Don’t worry! According to the art rock duo’s Facebook page, the release will also be available digitally. Also, that pic in the upper left hand corner? That’s the sweet album art for A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last).
Three so-top-secret-that-if-I-told-you-I-just-might-have-to-kill-you reasons to drop everything and head on over to the Empty Bottle tonight…
1. Nashville’s JEFF The Brotherhood have made an appearance on the big Daily Diversion show before, but aint no reason we can’t spotlight their sweet maybe we’ll call it flanged out grunge pop again. I mean, they’ve come up from Nashville to play for y’all so the least we can do is tell you they are rad and that you should go check them out. Am I right or am I right?
And now the latest video from Chicago’s local-band-in-their-practice-space-filmers Giant System. This week, they turn the camera on Chicago’s self-desrcibed “Jazz-gae” outfit Magical Beautiful. As you can tell by the video, the band blends free jazz, electronic, spoken word, dub and minimalist elements in the eight minute plus performance. It takes some time to build, most great modern jazz songs do, but when it does reach it’s climax after the four-minute mark, it unleashes a killer groove. Check out the video below:
Chicago Hip-Hop duo Qwel & Maker are prepping their new album, Owl, for release on Galapagos4 on September 10, and to the left you can hear the first single titled “El Camino”.
Qwel & Maker was born out of an occasional collaboration between Chicago MC Qwel and Chicago DJ/producer Maker that has developed into a full-fledged musical partnership. The duo were described by Rolling Stone magazine as having, “stark, biographical songs that occupy the same bleak terrain as Francis Bacon paintings or The Dark Knight.”
Still, according to a Ground Lift Media press release, Qwel & Maker have matured since their 2009 sophomore LP So Be It, which can be heard in “El Camino”. The track features some melodic samples over snare-heavy beats, and the laid-back delivery from Qwel that is a tottaly throwback to old-school hip-hop sounds from Jurassic 5, Talib Kweli and influential predecessors A Tribe Called Quest.
Los Angeles-via-Chicago pop rockers are keeping busy this fall.
First off, according to Soundcheck Magazine, OK Go will launch a remix contest early next week for their latest single, “White Knuckles”. The contest is set to run from September 7 until October 14, and beginning September 21, track producer Dave Fridmann will pick his favorite remixes to use across OK Go’s web properties. More information about the contest will available net week on OKGo.net.
Additionally, OK Go are hitting the road this fall. Of course, they’ll be stopping in their hometown! The band plays Chicago’s House Of Blues on Sunday, October 10. Tickets for the show are on sale right now at Livenation.com for $28.77.
Check out OK Go’s complete Fall 2010 tour dates after the jump.
A few weeks back, 
Los Angeles-via-Chicago pop rockers are keeping busy this fall.
