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

Squish

May the fourth be with you! Seriously though, it’s Friday and and Chicago’s finally getting warm. It’s pretty great.

That’s all the more reason to cool down inside a venue to check out one of the numerous rad local shows happening this weekend. Yep, we’re talking Squish’s opening slot at The Burlington tonight, Local H’s Cinco De Mayo celebration at the Double Door on Saturday and Videotape at Subterranean on Sunday.

Dig it…

FRIDAY

SQUISH
Chicago’s Squish manage to effortlessly combine bubbly and noise pop on their HoZac Records 7″ Shame Spiral. The band’s rambunctious fuzz guitars work hand in hand with the scratchy teenage rebel girl vocals that yip their way in and out of wobbly rhythms. But their songs are still movers and shakers in an endearing “Let’s get drunk and eat candy” sort of way. Also on tap are is Mac Blackout Band and their wild scuzz punk, while experimental electro-punk outfit E.T. Habit headlines. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 5/4. The Burlington. 21+. $5.

THE CELL PHONES
Come get your pre-Cinco De Mayo groove on with the Cell Phones. This dance punk trio packs a powerful wallop with its pulsating bass lines and tight, pounding drum beats. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention The Cell Phones’ vocalist Lindsey Charles, a powerful force with an equally intense range, which features beautiful harmonies and explosive wails. Do not miss your chance to find out we’re in love with The Cell Phones. Delightful retro-poppers Charming People headline. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 5/4. Township. 21+ $8.

SATURDAY

LOCAL H
2012 is gearing up to be an exciting year for Local H fans. The hard rocking duo of guitarist Scott Lucas and drummer Brian St. Clair have wrapped recording of their new album Hallelujah I’m a Bum with local metal guru Sanford Parker. Plus Local H is also promoting their 10th anniversary of Here Comes the Zoo, the band’s first album to feature St. Clair on drums. Expect fan favorites cut with new jams on Saturday night. (Audrey Leon)

8:00 p.m. Saturday, 5/5. Double Door. 21+ $15.

MERLIN WALL
As you might have recently seen, I was impressed with Merlin Wall’s latest, Party At The Docks. The band mature a bit on their youthful surf-punk vibes and spice things up by dipping into prog rock, doo-wop and power-pop that often results in the band shaking out some quirky grooves. Opening are indie poppers Panoramic & True and Linen. (Richard Giraldi)

10:00 p.m. Saturday, 5/5. Cole’s Bar. 21+. Free.

SUNDAY

VIDEOTAPE
Indie poppers Videotape create a relaxing dreamscape that is signature shoegaze, although somewhat darker in tone. The Chicago group mixes sweeping electronic background noises with light-as-cotton-candy pop harmonies and solemnly strummed guitars. On its Videotape EP the group’s sound lands somewhere between 90s vets Sneaker Pimps and Mazzy Star with its ghostly, empty Cathedral-esque atmosphere. (Audrey Leon)

7:30 p.m. Sunday, 5/6. Subterranean. 21+ $8.

Hunx and his Punx

1. I first came across Hunx (Seth Bogart) back in his Gravy Train!!! days. There were plenty of colorful short-shorts and pom-poms to accompany the raunchy electro-punks’ performances. Bogart still dons the colorful, body-hugging outfits with his solo project Hunx and his Punx, but these days he’s pumping out fuzzy garage pop that is heavily styled by 50s doowop. It’s quick, dirty, sentimental and oh, so good. LISTEN: “Always Forever“

2. Nashville quartet Heavy Cream put the Joan Jett back into gritty pop punk. Don’t let the three ladies and one guy of Heavy Cream fool you. They may look cute and harmless, but lurking underneath is pure badassery. Heavy Cream crafts smart, bouncy rockers that are both fun and completely serious. The music comes at you with fuzzed out rays of sunshine, like the band’s first single “Watusi” and then rip you to shreds with furious, grinding tunes like “Tina.” LISTEN: “Run Free“

3. Rounding out the night’s two other opening spots are some fantastic local talent. First up is The Artist Formerly Known as Vince (TAFKAVince). The Chicago group plays up the power pop quotient with plenty of wailing guitars and glam rock style. Opening the show are dance punks Absolutely Not. The band will get the party started with plenty of deep, thumping beats and crunchy guitar riffs. LISTEN: Absolutely Not – “I Don’t Want to Get Married“

8:30 p.m. Thursday, 3/29. Double Door. 21+ $10-12.

If you’re tired of the same ol’, same ol’ St. Patricks Day fun (You know. Drinking until you Puke green.), then perhaps you should head to one of these fine show this weekend. We’re talking Volcanoes Make Islands at Beat Kitchen, Roach Beach at The Burlington, Japan Nite at the Double Door and more!

Let’s do it…

FRIDAY

VOLCANOES MAKE ISLANDS
One thing that struck me upon first listen of Volcanoes Make Islands’ 2010 EP, Sick City, is how catchy its songs were. Each track was more infectious than the next. And before you know it, you’re singing along like you’ve known them forever. VMI incorporate a little bit of everything: melodic pop, groovy psychedelics, and even some soothing folk twang set to fuzzy atmospherics. It’s pop rock gumbo at its finest. Also appearing are indie poppers Inspector Owl, hip-hoppin’ pop rockers Katz Company, and Roots rockers Verona Red headline. (Audrey Leon)

8:30 p.m. Friday, 3/16. Beat Kitchen. 21+ $8.

A TUNDRA
Locals A Tundra bring their melodic art-pop to the Burlington tonight. The band has been compared to Deerhoof by two different Loud Loop Press writers – and I’d say that’s correct to a degree. While definitely not as twitchy as Deerhoof, A Tundra do combine pop instrumentations and vocals in a twisted, roundabout way to create something that borders on rock but also keeps it cool and, occasionally, collected. Opening are afro-poppers I Kong Kult. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 3/16. The Burlington. 21+. $5.

SATURDAY

ROACH BEACH
There’s a lot to like about Chicago trio Roach Beach. The group fulfill my need for grungey 90s rock while simultaneously taking me out of the Pacific Northwest realm and into LA’s stoner punk scene. Roach Beach unite the hazy crunch of Mudhoney, the melodic pop of Dinosaur Jr and meld it with the thudding grooves of Kyuss and throw in the scratchy, deep growl of Mark Lanegan for good measure. Rounding out tonight’s nautical theme, Chicago alt-rockers Sunken Ships will headline. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 3/17. The Burlington. 21+ $5.

GERONIMO!
Nothing says St. Patrick’s Day like punchy indie rock. So, it’s a good thing that that’s exactly what locals Geronimo! specialize in. While their 2010 release, Fuzzy Dreams, featured melodic but fuzzy alt-rock antics, the two-track album teaser on the band’s Bandcamp finds them evolving their sound, especially on the nearly proggy, “Electric Heart” that shifts between sweet harmonies and aggressive screams over thunderous riffage. Also set to rock faces are Boston’s gritty rockers Crinkle Face, riff-punks T’Bone and psych-rockers GULL. (Richard Giraldi)

8:00 p.m. Saturday, 3/17. The Beerics.

SUNDAY

JAPAN NITE
Japan Nite returns to Chicago, this time at the Double Door, to give exposure to visiting Japanese musicians. Headliners ZZZ’s create throbbing post-punk jams with driving, hypnotic bass lines and a swirling drum beats. It’s heavy, yet light enough to get your head bouncing. Also appearing are indie poppers Nokies! The complete opposite of ZZZ’s, Nokies! specializes in dreamy, upbeat pop rock tunes that will leave a smile on your face. Also appearing are performance artists Kao=s. (Audrey Leon)

7:30 p.m. Sunday, 3/18. Double Door. 21+ $10.

While some are merely inspired enough by a locale to write a song, Shawn Rosenblatt, better known by his psychedelic pop leaning moniker Netherfriends, took from both the inspirational and experiential for his latest record, Middle America.

You see, nearly two years ago Rosenblatt set out on a very ambitious project where he aimed to play a show and record a song in all 50 states. And wouldn’t you know it, he actually did it (and yes that meant flying to Alaska and Hawaii). So, Middle America is far more than just a collection of songs about the central and mid western portions of the country.

The record documents Rosenblatt’s journey through America’s heartland with songs like “St. Louis, Mo,” “Des Moines, IA” and “Omaha NE” to name a few. But he’s often self-referential and writes about the seemingly ridiculous goal he’s set out for himself. On “Madison, WI,” Rosenblatt sings, “I was 23 years of age / writing 50 songs in 50 states / leaving your house was a big mistake / a mistake that I needed to make,” in a tired drawl.

And yet while on previous releases, Netherfriends has often been grouped in with psych-pop groups such as Animal Collective and the like, Middle America finds Rosenblatt embracing the blue collar-ness of middle America with more folk and alt-country leanings.

“Bloomington, IN” features airy guitars and galloping drums over a seemingly uptempo refrain of, “Everybody, Everybody wants to have a good time,” while the ode to Rosenblatt’s hometown, “Chicago, IL,” maybe the most edgy of the bunch as it’s lead by crooked-yet-expansive guitar hook.

That’s not to say Rosenblatt has completely abandoned his psychedelic roots. “Fargo, ND” opens with dirty tribal drums before shifting to dreamy keys, and “Columbus, OH” begins with dense echos before turning into quite the funky little number.

In the end, Rosenblatt has crafted Netherfriends’ best effort yet with Middle America because of it’s accessible and organic sound, clever wit and ambitious nature.

Purchase Middle America at Netherfriends.us

____________________________________________________________________
NETHERFRIENDS
8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1.
Double Door, 1572 North Milwaukee Ave.
21+. $7 donation.
____________________________________________________________________

The DVD entitled There Went The Zoo will feature footage from the band’s sold-out homecoming show, filmed at The Vic in Chicago, on March 4, 2002.

Here Comes the Zoo, originally released on March 5, 2002, marked an important milestone for Chicago hard rock duo because it was the first full-length to feature drummer Brian St. Clair.

The DVD is now available for pre-order for $14 through Local H’s webstore, G&P Records. It will also be available at any of the band’s upcoming tour stops (listed below).

There Went the Zoo is Local H’s second live DVD since 2009′s 68 Angry Minutes, which featured commentary and live footage of tracks from the band’s 2008 album 12 Angry Months.

In new album news, Local H also announced last week via its Facebook page that mixing has been completed on its new Sanford Parker-produced album Hallelujah, I’m a Bum. This is an excellent sign for the album’s eventual release, which is slated for this summer.

Local H Spring Tour Dates

Mar 09 Rosemont, IL @ Montrose Room
Mar 10 Midlothian, IL @ Sullivan’s
Mar 30 St. Charles, IL @ Chord on Blues
Mar 31 Dekalb, IL @ Otto’s
Apr 12 Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
Apr 13 Toledo, OH @ Frankies
Apr 14 Annapolis, MD @ The Whiskey
Apr 15 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
Apr 17 Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
Apr 18 Newark, DE @ Mojo Main
Apr 19 Reading, PA @ Reverb
Apr 20 Columbus, OH @ The Basement
May 05 Chicago, IL @ Double Door

• • The Reader’s Deanna Isaacs sheds some light on the city’s move to revamp the Chicago Cultural Plan. According to the website started by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the plan will help “identify opportunities for arts and cultural growth for the city.” Sounds pretty damn important. The next public hearing on the matter is this Tuesday, February 21, at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen from 6-8 p.m.
• • Gapers Block head honcho Andrew Huff gives us the low down on all the Chicago groups (and those other Midwesterners) playing this year’s South By Southwest festival in Austin.
• • Despite some bumps in her live show, Sharon Van Etten left The Chicago Tribune’s Bob Gendron enraptured.
• • Time Out Chicago checked out Netherfriends’ recent stop at The Empty Bottle and have some photos to prove it.
• • Dave Grohl’s controversial Grammy speech, which scolded other musicians for lacking the “human element,” inspired Fox Chicago to reach out to local singer Jennifer Hall, Double Door co-owner Sean Mulroney, sound engineer Jay O’Rourke and entertainment lawyer Peter Strand to discuss what it takes to make it in the business today.

Lasers and Fast and Shit

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

FRIDAY

SWIMSUIT ADDITION
Nothing gets you through an immensely long day that never seems to end like some bouncy power pop. Swimsuit Addition boost your energy levels with fun, snappy guitar solos and raw, scratchy vocals that feel warm and inviting through all that cigarette smoke. And, hey, the fine ladies of Swimsuit Addition just so happened to make our 12 Bands to Watch in 2012 list. So you definitely don’t want to waste this opportunity to bask in our raditude. Also appearing are Chicago by way of Portland (does that happen?) post-punks Big Joy and the grimiest sludge pop trio ever made, Rodeo. Come for the beer, stay for the bands. (Audrey Leon)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 1/27. Cole’s Bar. 21+ FREE!!!

SATURDAY

LASERS AND FAST AND SHIT
Get ready to sweat. Locals LASERS AND FAST AND SHIT bring their frenetic take on jerky punk rock to the Double Door on Saturday night. Their songs, which rarely reach three minutes in length, are rowdy but quite danceable, oh, and expect excessive use of fog machines. Also on the bill are Chicago’s, and I feel wholly comfortable saying this, best gypsy punk marching band, Mucca Pazza! Opening is Chicago-plant and house music spinning DJ RomaSoul. Get crazy. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 1/28. Double Door. 21+. $15.

DOZENS
While everyone else is out getting “cray cray,” the Empty Bottle will be awash in Chicago trio Dozen’s sweet new-wave jams. The group creates relaxed pop melodies that easily mix with spacey atmospherics and plenty of vibrating synths. Also appearing are Chicago new-wave meets gypsy rock group Milano, folk rockers Property of Saints and ambient shoegazers Oil Fields. (Audrey Leon)

9:30 p.m. Saturday, 1/28. Empty Bottle. 21+ $5.

SUNDAY

MANIPULATION
Because there’s no pro football on Sunday, you need something to take place of the violent hits and concussion-worthy sacks. Good thing the Empty Bottle put together a rad bill of local hardcore punk and metal. Manipulation headline with their wall of fuzz guitars, breakneck rhythms and scruffy vocals. But that’s not all! be sure to get there early for the smooth jazz ear-fuck stylings of Shithammer, Kontaminat and Die Time. If there was ever a show to use the word, “rage,” it’s this one. Let’s, uh, rage. (Richard Giraldi)

7:00 p.m. Sunday, 1/29. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $3.

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.”

2. If The Day Lewis look familiar, trust that you have seen at least a few of the members around. Specifically, drummer Rob Majchrowski doubles as guitarist for rowdy rockers We Repel Each Other. Under the Day Lewis banner, the band focuses on darker (read: morose), melodic rock. But don’t let that description fool you, there’s plenty of grinding distortion for all to go around. LISTEN: “Never Wrong.”

3. Bringing up the rear are two bands that are very familiar to LLP. Percolator specialize in fun, bouncy indie rock that is sure to get your body moving. Openers I Lost Control will waltz in with their Brit Pop-influenced brand of melodic indie rock and quite possibly steal the show.
LISTEN: “I Lost Control – TWB.”

7:30 p.m. Thursday, 1/12. Double Door. 21+ $5.

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.