TGIF, people! Get out there and forget this work week ever happened by having a little fun. We’re talking great shows at the Double Door, Empty Bottle and Cole’s.

Let’s get with “it” before they change what “it” was.

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By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Three reasons to rouse from your slumber for a delightful rock show at Double Door tonight…

1. Chicago power poppers Daemon Familiar certainly have an apt name. The trio contains trace amounts of such familiar artists as the Beatles and Cheap Trick, but with less than serious song titles that are generally named after celebrities like “Oprah” and Bangles lead singer “Susanna Hoffs.” LISTEN: “Oprah.”

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By Audrey Leon  \  comments

We’re just days away from Christmas and heaven knows we could use a respite from Celine Dion’s version of “O Holy Night” being played for the 10th time this morning. Enter: Dozens.

The Chicago new-wave synthpop trio are preparing to release its debut album in February and have released the second single, “Forget me,” to whet our collective appetites.

The intro of “Forget Me” could easily find itself on a MGMT record, but the track’s funky, dream pop vibe could be more accurately described as Hall & Oates with more sweeping, upbeat synths. Yes, “Forget Me”’s beat bounces in all the right places while the vocals get all serious and soulful. Check out the single below:

Dozens will appear next at the Double Door this Friday, December 23, along with Goodbye Cleveland, Rememberwhens, and Turbo Controller. Tickets are $5.

By Audrey Leon  \  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.

• • WindyCityRock reviews last Saturday’s raucous Moon Furies show at the Double Door.
• • Pitchfork has all the deets on the new Andrew Bird album, Break It Yourself, and tour dates that include a May 2012 stop in Chicago.
• • Chicagoist’s Tankboy writes in-depth about the Smashing Pumpkins and the new Gish and Siamese Dream reissues.
• • The Tribune’s Howard Reich reviews the jazzy side project of Tortoise’s Jeff Parker, the aptly named Jeff Parker Organ Quartet, at the Green Mill.

By Richard Giraldi  \  comments

The last time I saw Chicago Americana outfit Dastardly, the ghost of Patsy Cline strangled Katy Perry and guitarist Joe Rauen beat a heckler with a prop cactus. For their Small Chicago appearance, the members of Dastardly were far more subdued (probably thanks to Mr. Jim Beam), although no less passionate than usual. Small Chicago currently has three videos up on its website. But you can watch “Fever” below. Catch Dastardly at the Double Door with Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons on Saturday, Dec. 10. Tickets are $10.

By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Three everybody’s-working-for-the-weekend reasons to bear down at the Double Door tonight…

1. If there’s one thing I love, it’s a free show. Chicago’s own I Lost Control will serenade beer-and-or-whiskey clutching audiences with its Brit pop-meets-Ian Curtis and Talking Heads sound. Vocalist Steven Anderson draws you in with a couple of deep monotone howls over driving bass and drums (provided by Tina L. Sunny and JB Hopkins, respectively) and bluesy guitar licks (provided by Toby Tennant). I Lost Control released its first EP Cones and Arrows this January. LISTEN: “TWB.”

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By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Happy 11-11-11! Yesterday’s brief snow dusting, thankfully, was not Snowmagdeon part deux, so put on your puffer jackets this weekend and enjoy the rock.

We’re talking about some sweet shows including Shonen Knife’s 30th anniversary tour stop at Empty Bottle, plus Mastodon at the Riv and Panda Riot at the Burlington.

Let’s hop to it.

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By Staff  \  comments