• • In stories that make you go “hmm” news, Gossip Wolf reveals that Chicago math rockers Del Ray have noticed a sales boost in Germany. Naturally, this can only be attributed to confusion with pouty pop temptress Lana Del Ray?
• • Brooklyn Vegan Chicago has some rad shots from last Tuesday’s Tortoise show at the Empty Bottle.
• • Gapers Block provide us with a wealth of photos in its review of Friday’s Los Campesinos! show at the Metro.
• • Gene Wagendorf of Windy City Rock discovers that even pounding sinus headaches accompanied by “orbs of phlegm” can’t stop a person from enjoying Yawn’s special brand of psych pop.

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.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2SrJkpPC6U

1. Deep Earth seems more interested in taking the listener to vast edges of space and beyond with their minimal-but-expansive pieces. Their April 2011 cassette, House Of Mighty, combines psychedelia and kraturock touches with languid synths and clubby beats. LISTEN: “House of Mighty II”

2. If you’re a fan of scopious fuzz-guitar exercises, then These Wonderful Evils should be your new favorite. A project from Zak Boerger, These Wonderful Evils’ Facebook page features a photo of a fuzz pedal for a reason – Boerger twists and turns the six-stringer into an instrument of violent beauty. LISTEN: “900S”

3. The name, Fotosputnik, should be pretty telling. This local trio is heavily influences by German krautrock antics, which is definitely proved with their sprawling and spacey approach. LISTEN: “Palos Lions are Feeding” | And a fitting beginning to the evening, experimental musician F. Patrick Kevil opens with his ambient soundscapes. LISTEN: “Hunting Dogs”

9:00 p.m. Tuesday, 1/3. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $8.

Whoa-ho-ho, there. Looking to rock out one more time before X-mas day? Here’s our abridged Holiday version of Weekend Diversions that’ll no doubt bring you yuletide cheer.

FRIDAY

THE BINGERS
They look like such nice young men… is what I assume many grandmothers say about Chicago trio The Bingers due to their penchant for dressing up in suits and ties. Despite all appearances the band has no problem getting down and dirty with super fuzzed-up garage rock. Also helping to bring back that swinging 60s garage pop style are LLP faves Magic Milk. When the local quarter are on the bill, shit is gonna get crazy. Rounding out this barn burner are protopunks Blue Eyed Jesus and spooky surf rockers Blizzard Babies. So many rad bands for so little money? It’s a Festivus miracle! (Audrey Leon)

8:00 p.m. Friday, 12/23. Beat Kitchen. 21+ $8.

GOLD MOTEL
There’s really nothing better than pop-rock done right, and that’s what exactly what Gold Motel do. The Chicago outfit has knack for crafting ridiculously catchy numbers that are powered by Greta Morgan’s soulful vocals and punchy guitars. Meanwhile, new wavey rockers Deserters will get you moving with their slick Phoenix-like numbers, and locals Chaperone offer an energetic take on rootsy indie-pop. PLUS! Bring a toy to donate to Toy For Tots Chicago and get $5 off any Gold Motel merch! Rock out and help out? Now, that’s rad. (Richard Giraldi)

7:00 p.m. Friday. 12/23. Lincoln Hall. All Ages. $12.

THE TEARS OF MUSIC AND LOVE
Featuring guitarist Dave Miller of the wonderful In Tall Buildings, who we just previewed yesterday, The Tears of Music and Love make their Bottle debut tonight. I admittedly haven’t heard any of their tunes yet, but word I’m getting is that they rock lush, languid soundscapes. Opening are melancholy indie rockers The Visitor, and Nashville post-rock outfit Fires. (Richard Giraldi)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 12/23. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $8.

Let’s get cookin’…

FRIDAY

BAD BAD MEOW
Chicago quartet will unleash their country punk stylings on yet another unsuspecting rock audience at Cole’s tonight. The group summon the lyrical prowess of wild 80s pop-rockers Violent Femmes and then twang it up Midwestern-style on its latest album Big Phat Pussycat, which is kind of funny because the band originated in North Carolina. Also sharing the bill are intense acoustic/electro-poppers Pinto and the Bean. (Audrey Leon)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 12/16. Cole’s Bar. 21+ FREE!!

THE DIRTBOMBS
Holy eff, it’s The Dirtbombs! Started by Mick Collins of The Gories, The Dirtbombs have been rocking scuzzy, fuzzy garage rock since 1992. These Detroit-ians were also nameed one of the Top 25 Live Acts by Spin magazine in 2006. Yes, THAT Spin magazine. If you think that’s a treat, get their early for Chicago red raiders White Mystery, who I’m sure you know by now if you read this site like ever. Let’s rage, ya’ll. (Richard Giraldi)

11:30 p.m. Friday, 12/16. Subterranean. 21+. FREE!

SATURDAY

THE SEA AND CAKE
It would be mighty difficult to discuss the Chicago indie rock scene without mentioning local stalwarts The Sea And Cake. The group makes sure to douse a good bit of jazz and pop into their brand of post-rock, which is not surprising seeing how Tortoise member John McEntire is a member. Their latest release dropped in May and was the EP, The Moonlight Butterfly that features the lovely, Chicago-inspired number, “Up On The North Shore” that rocks the clean guitars. Luke Roberts and Brokeback open. (Richard Giraldi)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 12/16. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $20.

CARBON TIGERS
Come celebrate Popstache’s one-year anniversary with a night filled with experimental rock. One band defintiely worth paying attention to is Carbon Tigers. The Chicago outfit’s melodic synth-tastic math rock is most akin to current-era Seattle groovers Minus The Bear due to the band’s striking sensual rhythms. Also on the bill are psych-poppers Yawn, hip-hop trio Treehouse, and indie-tronic duo Rites. (Audrey Leon)

8:30 p.m. Saturday, 12/17. Subterranean. 17+ $10.

SUNDAY

PILLARS AND TONGUES
We just can’t get enough of Pillars and Tongues’ brand of experimental rock. And lucky for everyone, the group is playing a free in-store at the lovely Logan Square store SAKI. Pillars and Tongues take your ordinary church hymnal-sound and turn it on its ear with added ambient noise and hypnotic rhythms. It’s truly a sight to be seen. Also rocking the free in-store are experimental poppers A Tundra. (Audrey Leon)

4:00 p.m. Sunday, 12/18. Saki (3716 W. Fullerton Ave). All Ages. FREE!

1. Chicago’s own Lasers and Fast and Shit plow through frantic and occasionally dancey garage-punk takes with no regard for anyone or anything. If you leave a Lasers and Fast and Shit without a sore neck or blistered feet, you’re doing it wrong. Seriously. LISTEN: “Detroit City Lions of Mexico City”

2. Nothing like noisy and abrasive rock ‘n’ roll on a Monday night, am I right? If that piques your interest Vamos is the band for you as they will pummel your face with a guitar laden attack of raunch, garage and generally nastiness. And, boy, it sure is fun. WATCH: Vamos Live at Streetside Cafe

3. Blasted Diplomats walk the line between edgy post-punk and some riffy alt-grunge takes. It’s an interesting combination, but the Chicago rockers do it in blazing fashion. LISTEN: “green tea”

9:30 p.m. Monday, 12/12. Empty Bottle. 21+. Free!

Because on that day Disappears will drop their new record, Pre Language.

The record will be the Chicago garage-droners’ first full-length recorded with (former?) Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, and it was even recorded at Sonic Youth’s Echo Canyon West studio in Hoboken. But perhaps the most interesting tidbit from the announcement posted to Disappears’ blog yesterday, is that Pre Language, finds the band taking on the concept of some crazy little thing called, “love.”

Two of the track, “All Gone White” and “Brother Joliene,” appeared on the band’s Live At Echo Canyon that was released this past March on Chicago’s Plustapes imprint.

And here’s a video of the band performing Pre Language‘s title track live in Philadelphia back in late July:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5DF12odvgg

Finally, the band has added a slew of west coast tour dates for February 2012 that takes them from Vancouver to San Diego.

But the band will be celebrating the new year in their hometown as they are set to play the Empty Bottle on Saturday, December 31, with Outer Minds and Bare Mutants. Tickets are still available.

Find all the tour dates and the complete Pre Language tracklist below.

Disappears February 2012 Tour Dates

FEBRUARY 18 -- VANCOUVER, BC @ BILTMORE CABARET
FEBRUARY 19 -- SEATTLE, WA @ CHOP SUEY
FEBRUARY 20 -- PORTLAND, OR @ DOUG FIR
FEBRUARY 22 -- SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ BOTTOM OF THE HILL NOISE POP FESTIVAL
FEBRUARY 23 -- LOS ANGELES, CA @ THE ECHO
FEBRUARY 24 -- PIONEERTOWN, CA @ PAPPY AND HARRIETS
FEBRUARY 25 -- SAN DIEGO, CA @ THE CASBAH

Pre Language (3/1/12) Tracklist

Replicate
Pre Language
Hibernation Sickness
Minor Patterns
All Gone White
Joa
Fear of Darkness
Love Drug
Brother Joliene

Psychic Steel

2. Mr. 666 titillate with canyon-esque sci-fi soundscapes. In fact, their Myspace pages features a cover of the 80′s styled Dr. Who theme. So for those looking to travel through time and space, Mr. 666 maybe the next best thing. LISTEN: “Ahab”

3. Oozing Wound is new project from the members of Cacaw and Unmanned Ship that promises “heavy vibes” according to this Facebook event invite. That’s really all we have on them until music hits the webs, but get a sneak peak at them tonight.

9:30 p.m. Monday, 12/5. The Empty Bottle. 21+. Free!