Case in point, we completely whiffed in reporting that psych-poppers A Lull are dropping a new EP titled Meat Mountain on June 26 via Lujo Records.

According to the press release, this time around the band ran with the old “less is more” motto, and utilized more space within their recordings. The band even did a bit more experimentation this time around and included saxophone, flute and cymbals, which there actually weren’t any of on their very rhythmic debut, Confetti.

Meat Mountain‘s first single is the under-melodic number, “Summer Dress.” The song finds A Lull venturing into worldly groove territory that, as we mentioned above, is sprinkled with some sweet sax action and a catchy synth lines. It maybe one of A Lull’s best yet, which has us very excited for the rest of Meat Mountain. Listen to “Summer Dress” after the jump.

And don’t forget, you can catch A Lull next at Pitchfork Music Festival on Sunday, July 15. Grab a single day pass now at PitchforkMusicFestival.com right now. Additionally, peep the Meat Mountain tracklist below:

Meat Mountain
Summer Dress
Beaches
Still Got Pull
Not About It
Would That I Could

9:00 p.m. Wednesday, 5/23. Rainbo Club. 21+. Free?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwkJR3AYtYY

8:00 p.m. Tuesday, 5/22. Fireside Bowl. 17+. $8.

“Take Five” focuses on Chicago’s ever-growing music scene by giving you insight to the city’s best local acts via the best source possible: the artists themselves. Here is the latest installment featuring The Paver.

Metal mavens, The Paver, are stepping back into the studio to record a follow-up EP to the recently released Facebook event if you’re interested in going.

Until, then check out this interview we did with band members Jesse Giallombardo (bass, vocals), Billie Howard (violin, synth, vocals), Brendan Finucane (cello), and Patrick Watkins (drums). We asked them about recording Bad News, what inspires them, and what they grew up listening to. Read on to find out which member escaped a childhood marred by Christian rock!

LLP: How does the composing/songwriting process work in your band?

Jesse: We write a lot of it outside the group setting and then bring it in. Sometimes everyone else develop his or her own parts. Personally, I do best either improvising with the drums to develop new ideas, or toiling with full ensemble scores of sheet music. Songs can be born in an hour, or abandoned after months of work.

Billie: Songwriting is tough for me, because I can be scatterbrained and it takes focus to flesh our something new. That said, when I actually sit down, I usually can write the music in about 15 minutes. Lyrics are much more difficult.

LLP: What was your recording process for the EP like?

Jesse: We came in knowing what we wanted. The engineer subbed on drums for the session so we got to meet with him for a number of rehearsals beforehand. I think this gave him a better idea of our sound and aesthetic. We tracked drums and bass together live and overdubbed everything else.

Billie: We can’t afford to spend weeks in the recording studio, so I like to be as efficient as possible. I usually have everything planned out in my head and tend to surprise the band with how many vocal and string overdubs I like to do.

Brendan: Erik made us feel at home at Observatory. I’m not usually satisfied with how recorded strings turn out, but he used a bunch of different mics and was able to combine these to get a great sound.

LLP: What are you inspired by music or otherwise?

Jesse: Music inspires me. The good and the bad, it all motivates me to write and perform music that I like. Isn’t that lame? But it’s true, so there you go.

Patrick: Productive people inspire me. Some of the best bands are not full of the best musicians, but compiled of people who work hard and motivate one another. I can be a very lazy person. So, when I’m around people and musicians that are consistently moving forward that inspires me to perform and create at my best.

Billie: I’m also inspired by music, especially other female musicians. I also really love watching films and seeing modern art.

Brendan: People doing new things with their instruments, experimenting with new sounds or pushing the envelope with new techniques, inspire me. Or, just combining instruments in ways that create new timbres.

LLP: What did you grow up listening to?

Jesse: I listened to surprisingly little music until I got to high school, but the early influences would be Patsy Cline, Dean Friedman and Hall and Oates. That’s it. I can’t recall being exposed to anything else. In high school it was a mixed bag; Lords of Acid, Messiah, Front 242, Skinny Puppy, Thrill Kill Kult, The Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest, Subhumans, Dead Kennedys.

Patrick: Horrible Christian rock music. I didn’t really have a choice at the time. As I got older, the 90′s Brit scene was a big influence on me.

Billie: I grew up listening almost strictly to classical music. I was slightly exposed to the Pet Shop Boys (whom I really liked) by my aunt and Madonna by a friend (didn’t like as much). My dad also played me his rock records, but he put them on so loud that all I remember is the volume. I started to listen to pop/rock radio when I was about 11 or 12, and really liked Weezer, Green Day, and Fiona Apple.

Brendan: Very early, my parents stuff: Michael Jackson, the Police, Motown, and Brahms. Then it was a lot of Radiohead, Alice in Chains and Nirvana with an equal portion of late 90′s hip-hop.

LLP: What do you do outside of music?

Jesse: I work a day job to put food in my babies’ mouths (read: buy amplifiers). I’ve also been on the writing/directing/production end of a couple independent film projects. Mostly, I just sit on my ass, watch cable TV shows via Netflix or download, and wish I was doing more with music.

Patrick: I work. I watch movies. I pet cats.

Billie: My days are 90% music, but I also like to make drawings and watercolors and take photos. I have a blog called By Measure where I photograph musicians in their workspaces. I also like to make little films.

Brendan: Dream about bicycles. Fret about classroom management. Eat Japanese food.
____________________________________________________________________
THE PAVER
8:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 22.
The Burlington, 3425 W Fullerton Ave.
21+. $5 Donation.
____________________________________________________________________

8:30 p.m. Monday, 5/21. Double Door. 21+. $8.

This weekend, we plan on getting Blacked Out at the Empty Bottle, do some Dumpster diving at the Burlington, make a Day of it at Cole’s and so much more.

Let’s do this…

FRIDAY

HOZAC BLACKOUT FEST
It has return..eth! The garage slash punk slash rock ‘n’ roll fest thrown by Chicago’s own HoZac Records is back – this time in the neighborly confines of the Empty Bottle. And the imprints isn’t sparing the fire power with headliners like the alt-punk stalwarts Redd Kross (performing their fiery 1982 debut Born Innocent), Puerto Rican garage rockers Davila 666 and psychedelic rock legend Roky Erikson. The rest of the lineup offers familiar faces both locaally and non from across the stylistic spectrum including experimentalists ET Habit, redheaded garage rockers White Mystery, surf-poppers Fungi Girls, neo-psychers Bare Mutants, alien-punks Human Eye and that’s just skimming the surface. Unfortunately, Sunday’s fun, starring Roky E himself, has sold out, but there’s still time for you to carve out five hours on Friday and Saturday evening for some rowdy and ear-splitting good times. (Richard Giraldi)

5:00 p.m. Friday, 5/18 & Saturday 5/19, 7:00 p.m. Sunday 5/20. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $20 Friday, $25 Saturday & Sunday.

SECRET COLOURS
Get ready to dust off the week with some lush garage rock courtesy of Chicago outfit Secret Colours. Within a few seconds of hearing the opening chords of “Faust,” the opening track off Secret Colours’ recent EP3, I was overcome by an overwhelming sense of serenity. With a clear mind, I was definitely ready to get lifted by the group’s dreamy psych-pop touches. Also on hand tonight to boost your morale are Los Angeles psychedelic rockers Spindrift and Strangers Family Band. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 5/18. Beat Kitchen. 17+ $10.

SATURDAY

DUMPSTER BABIES
Does it feel like late April to you? No? Well, it should. April 26, to be exact, because that date was the last time we saw the likes of Dumpster Babies play along with the likes of Absolutely Not and Hot Garbage. The trio of chicago garage punks like each other so much they thought they’d recreate the magic. So if you like rattling, 60s-eque rockers or frenetic dance punk or even screamy experimental rock duos, look no further than the Burlington tonight. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 5/19. Burlington. 21+ $5.

THE DAY LEWIS
If a few of the members of The Day Lewis look familiar, that’s because two of them (Rob Majchrowski and Eric Quinlan) also play in the noise-rock trio We Repel Each Other. But in The Day Lewis, along with others, they create something a tad more palatable – melodic and dark pop slash alt-rock that’s at times even reaches up-tempo feels. Also performing are lo-fi melancholy poppers Esoteric Tapioca and Snapper. (Richard Giraldi)

9:30 p.m. Saturday, 5/19. Cole’s. 21+. Free.

SUNDAY

RUNNING
Running can really wail. No, seriously. The group makes a meal out absolutely heavy (and I mean, fucking heavy), thudding drum beats, tortured vocals and shrieking guitars. Somehow noise rock enthusiasts doesn’t cut it as a description because noise in all its contorted, fuzzy forms is an art in which the band truly excels. If you know a better way to work out your frustrations, I don’t want to hear it. Also appearing tonight are New York synth-punks Pop.1280, melodic indie rockers Brain Idea, and post-punks Toupee. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Sunday, 5/20. Treasure Town. 21+ $5.
6:30 p.m. Sunday, 5/20. CROWN TAP ROOM. 21+ $5.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkuJUbjDxEM

The electro-pop outfit will continue the dreamy feel of their debut, Carousel, but will incorporate in upbeat and accessible pop approaches as well. Additionally, the album’s track, “Better Than Ever,” will feature guest vocals from Genevieve Schatz (courtesy of Wind-up Records) of Chicago rockers Company of Thieves.

Through The Glass‘s first single is titled “Like That,” and it’s a smooth one. The track finds Save The Clocktower reaching into some uber-melodic, near R&B grooves that’s just dripping with sexed-up synths. Listen to “Like That” after the jump.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=olAA33FP9Rs

Pre-orders for Through The Glass will be available at Clocktowermusic.bandcamp.com in the coming weeks.

8:30 p.m. Thursday, 5/17. Subterranean. 21+. $8.