[caption id="attachment_26483" align="alignleft" width="221" caption="Tanlines"][/caption] Three reasons to ride the buzz train all the way down to the Empty Bottle tonight... 1. Brooklyn duo Tanlines have garnered acclaim from outlets like The New York Times and Pitchfork for their mix of dance pop that is largely reminiscent of good old 80s synth wave. But that's not where this story ends. No, Tanlines go the Vampire Weekend route adding some tropical flavor into the mix with the help of computerized beats. The end result is a collision of lush synth pop and warm island rhythms that should have you swaying on the dancefloor. WATCH: "All of Me" 2. More Brooklyn beats, you say? Look no further than Rewards, the synth pop project of Chairlift co-founder Aaron Pfenning. The compositions Pfenning creates are dreamy with plenty of chirping, bubbling atmospherics and just a bit of vibrating electro-beats added in for good measure. Pfenning's voice is dark, but oh so silky smooth even against the luscious backdrop of Solange Knowles' playful melodies on their duet "Equal Dreams." Listen: "Equal Dreams" 3. Representing Chicago tonight are The Field Auxiliary. The experimental outfit differ largely from the other two aforementioned acts due to its penchant for twinkling power pop that borders on the light side of psychedelic. However, the band pumps up the dreamy pop quotient with plenty of spacey orchestrals and roaring harmonies. LISTEN: "Will For Food Split Infinitives" 9:30 p.m. Thursday, 4/19. Empty Bottle. 21+ $10. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Sonoi dropped by WBEZ's Eight Forty-Eight on Monday to rock a track from their latest, Tropics Of Holland. The Chicago indie-pop trio performed the slow burning number "Cotton" that offers some warm, shimmering guitar play over a minimalistic rhythm while Adam Busch's croon nearly gives the song a tribal quality. While Tropics Of Holland has been on Sonoi's Bandcamp since November, the official release goes down this Thursday, March 15, at The Hideout, and tickets are available now. In the meantime, watch their WBEZ jam sesh below: By Richard Giraldi  \  comments

Experimental groovers Hollow Frames are back with another single entitled “Saddie Sadie” that will hook listeners before the band’s full-length album hits the streets in May. Hollow Frames’ mastermind Fyodor Sakhnovski keeps the listener guessing, not wanting to be pinned down and painted into one genre’s corner. While Hollow Frames’ first single “Verge of Perception” had a Spanish, gypsy rock-infused electronica flare, new single “Saddie Sadie” bends toward the minimalist hip-hop spectrum. “Saddie Sadie” is filled with deep, clacking beats that easily convince your head to bob along. The song also features fantastical lyrics and vocals by The Embraceables’ Maggie Kubley. Kubley’s words bring to mind those old patty-cake nursery rhymes that children played in grade school, including the dark cautionary-tale, this time about woman who comes back to life as a broken-hearted zombie. Honestly, the world needs more songs about zombies. Hollow Frames’ full album, Sakhnovski promises, will continue to feature different Chicagoland vocalists including Taylor Brennan (Arma/Polarizer), Hector Garcia (Descarga) and Scarlet Monk. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

[caption id="attachment_25765" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Creepy Band"][/caption]Three reasons to party like it's almost Friday at Township tonight... 1. So what if the calendar says it’s March? Chicago quintet Creepy Band make every day feel like October 31 with its psychedelic rock style that is heavy on organ. It’s hard not to paint Creepy Band with a Doors brush, but that’s what happens when your singer yelps with true guttural growls ala the Lizard King, Jim Morrison. LISTEN: "Rays Riff" 2. Chicago retro rockers The Bingers prove time and again that distortion is your friend. The fashionably-dressed group dress its scratchy guitars in plenty of fuzz because it’s not a true sock hop until your ears are buzzing. LISTEN: "Cheetah High Heels" 3. Taking tonight’s second slot are local instrumental math rockers An Aesthetic Anaesthetic. LLP editor Richard Giraldi reviewed the group’s debut Before the Machinery of Other Skeletons last year and compared the band to notable Chicago post-rockers Pelican and Russian Circles. I couldn't agree more, but I'd even go a step further and compare the group to Scottish post-rockers with a sense of humor Mogwai. Opening the show tonight are instrumental rockers Ormen Lange. No vocals are necessary when you can unleash a symphony of melodic guitar riffage and rhythms so heavy they land with a thud. LISTEN: Ormen Lange - "The Wall" 9:00 p.m. Thursday, 3/8. Township (Formerly Panchos). 21+ $5. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

If you missed experimental psych poppers E+ at Schubas last week or just want to relive the experience, the band posted a few videos from the gig on its Facebook page. E+, a Chicago group made up of members from Verma, Heavy Times and Disappears, conjures dark and mysterious forces while dabbling in distortion. E+ track "Substance D" emits a steady hypnotic rhythm and plenty of groovy synthesizer embellishments. All you need to do is sit back and sway in your chair. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

[caption id="attachment_25169" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="ellusive parallelograms"][/caption]Three reasons why you should break your Groundhog Day cycle and rock out at Panchos tonight... 1. Milwaukee pop rockers Elusive Parallelograms are fairly impressive in the way they can combine alt-rock epic-ness with sparkling psychedelics and infectious pop structure without it overwhelming the listener with its differences. LISTEN: "Intelligent Design" 2. I've got a fever for more spooky garage pop. And Chicago's Rabbit Children are happy to oblige with their jams that are heavy on guitar and packed full of grooving, moody rhythms and sweet, haunting harmonies. LISTEN: "Friend" 3. Get your dancing shoes on because opening act, Brother George shall get you on your feet with swinging garage rock that is a little bit Rolling Stones and a little bit Eagles of Death Metal with its tracks named after ladies like "Caroline, Again" and "Olivia." LISTEN: "Keep U Mine." 9:00 p.m. Thursday, 2/2. Panchos. 21+ $5. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

[caption id="attachment_25027" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Bombbone"][/caption]Three reasons to get reacquainted with your old friend, fun, tonight at Subterranean... 1. It's impossible to resist a musical group that describes itself as band of "gypsy punks and Balkan pimps." The description is not entirely inaccurate. BomBBone's lead singer Roni Bombboni is a native of Sarajevo who truly becomes the Bosian Elvis, with suit to match, when he jumps on stage. BomBBone can play hard and fast punk with funny lyrics about not wanting to kill Fabio now that the author bought a Casio, and traditional eastern European gypsy music with plenty of rock flare. WATCH: "bombbone." 2. Chicago's Radiant Devices are celebrating the release of their new single "Something Stronger" at tonight's show. The single starts where Radiant Devices left off on the group's 2011 Infectious Substance EP. The quartet continue to utilize found metal objects for percussion purposes along with synths and bass to create intriguing industrial rock compositions with thought-provoking poetry by singer Mojdeh. LISTEN: "Something Stronger." 3. The family that rocks together, stays together. Appearing tonight are a quartet of Chicago brothers, The Avantist. The group couples Spanish flavor with aggressive hard rock. Opening the show are political hip-hop outfit Agents of Change. LISTEN: Agents of Change - "I Just Wanna Riot feat. Phillip Morris." 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, 1/25. Subterranean. 21+ $8. By Audrey Leon  \  comments