“Cartoon Paper Cup” kicks off with a tight drum intro and bouncing bass line before metallic guitars riffs rip through the mix. The song’s perky, upbeat vibe is enough to rouse anyone suffering from a food- or work-induced coma.

Check out the single at the top left and then catch Swimsuit Addition, one of our 12 Bands to Watch in 2012, on February 24 at the Burlington with Vamos and House Sounds. Tickets are $5.

ellusive parallelograms

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.

1. Having a (slight) bit of down time can be a marvelous thing, especially when members of bands such as Disappears, Heavy Times and Verma decide to join forces. E+ specialize in doling out rhythms so fuzzy, creating atmosphere so dark and moody that they ultimately entrance the listener with swirling fits of minimalist psychedelics. LISTEN: “{Mithra} Sunn 88 (Live at Beat Kitchen)“

2. Tasked with whipping the audience into a small frenzy are local quartet Coffin Pricks. The decidedly “unchill wave” post-punks rumble with the same brewing intensity of bands like Mission of Burma and Husker Dü. LISTEN: “Group Home Haircut“

3. Getting the night off to the oh-so-right start are Chicago trio Wimps. The band waft by on a hazy cloud of bouncy, thick basslines and slick mellow grooves that transport us back to those sweet 60s surf rock days. LISTEN: “Every Night“

9:00 p.m. Wednesday, 2/1. Schubas. 21+ $8.

The Baby Magic

1. Never has an indie rock band that has spoken about sex so gratuitously seemed so adorable. Chicago’s Baby Magic chat about those most natural of life urges using only their most earnest, innocent indoor voices. Fans of Bay Area acts Da Hawnay Troof and Gravy Train!!! shouldn’t miss this Chicago duo.
LISTEN: “Ass Against These Hands.”

2. It’s no secret that I love the Cell Phones. Their brand of arty dance punk radiates pure playful aggression. While that may sound odd, The Cell Phones should rile you up to the point of spontaneous spaz-dance breakouts. The group has been busy recording a follow up to its Hospital Spaceship EP and the video clips that have emerged since are tap shoes worthy.
WATCH: “HomoErotic”

3. Opening the show tonight are Chicago pop-punk rockers Vatican Junkies. With a name like that, one would assume that the music is political, but unless you count songs about aliens political, there’s no need to worry. Sounds like jolly good times played at an even, but fast-tempo.
LISTEN: “Aliens in my Room“

9:00 p.m. Thursday, 1/26. Panchos. 21+ $5.

Bombbone

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.

Yeah, it might be pretty, um, snowy outside. But, like, there’s some totally awesome shows going this weekend. We’re talking Psych Fest at the Hideout, The Runnies at Ultra Lounge, Gaberdine at Subterranean and more!

Let’s go…

FRIDAY

THIRD EYE VISIONS: CHICAGO PSYCH FEST 3
The best of Chicago psych, kraut and rock that implements sonic elements that are on the fringe of the aforementioned genres are featured in a two-night festival at the Hideout tonight and Saturday. If you just casually keep up with the Chicago You already know some of the names: CAVE, Dark Fog, Rabble Rabble, Plastic Crimewave. But don’t sleep on the supporting acts like bombastic guitar twirlers Killer Moon, rhythm and blusers The Velcro Lewis Group, mind melters Verma, dirty garagers Strychnine and more. Let’s get heady, ya’ll. (Richard Giraldi)

7:00 p.m. Friday, 1/20 & Saturday, 1/21. The Hideout. 21+. $10.

DJ JONATHAN TOUBIN BENEFIT
First the sad part: Recently while in Portland, New York soul/R&B DJ Jonathan Toubin was injured in a freak accident while sleeping in his hotel room. The good news: Friends of Toubin have rallied in support and offered support. This brings us to tonight where the Empty Bottle has put together on excellent show in his honor. Melodic noise rockers Radar Eyes (whose new HoZac LP will be dropped soon), garage poppers Outer Minds, noisy surfers House Sounds and a slew of great local DJs. And if snowed in? Then go ahead and donate via paypal to ihearttoubin@gmail.com. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 1/20. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $8 minimum donation.

SATURDAY

THE RUNNIES
If you’re jonesing for a garage rock fix, look no further than Ultra Lounge tonight. Chicago trio The Runnies pack a powerful retro punch to the senses with Mary McKane’s gritty vocals sung over lingering organ and plenty of jangly guitar. Also appearing are headliners and fellow body-grooving garage poppers Hollows, noise rockers Dirty Dancing, and 60s revivalists Little Boy Jr. (Audrey Leon)

8:00 p.m. Saturday, 1/21. Ultra Lounge. 21+ $7.

WHITE/LIGHT
If there’s a better term than “artful noise” for Chicago duo White/Light, I’d love to hear it. The duo have played The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and even fleshed out friends Disappears’ already experimental rock sound, just to name a few of their mighty endeavors. White/Light (Matthew Hale and Jeremy Lemos) contort soundwaves from guitars, pedals, keyboards, etc. to create a house of worship filled with their own joyful drone. Also appearing tonight are headliner and Cap’n Jazz guitarist Victor Villareal who will be celebrating the release of his solo new album; experimental poppers A Tundra; and Austin pop rockers Meryll will open. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 1/22. Panchos. 21+ $6.

SUNDAY

GABERDINE
Cleanse yourself of the week past by checking out the soothing folk pop of Chicago outfit Gaberdine. The sextet’s sophomore album When We Land has all the sparkle and grace of fine orchestral pop, filled with plenty of drama and rising action. Frontman Mark Federighi enchants with his soulful sermon sung high over atypical equipment such as a harmonium, glockenspiel and autoharp. Also on hand tonight are the gentle acoustic stylings of Milwaukee’s Comrade Plymouth, Acoustic duo Jen & Jim and indie rockers Parker. (Audrey Leon)

8:00 p.m. Sunday, 1/22. Subterranean. 21+ $8.

photo by ishootrockstars.com

1. Can you feel the anticipation? Chicago’s very own proggy psych-rockers Stephen Paul Smoker are set to release its debut LP, Ripe Fruit, in mid-March. We previewed the first single, “Green City,” off the album earlier this week and the spacey, heavy thudding rhythms contained within are hopefully a great sign of what is to come on the full-length. To bide your time until the release date, here’s an oldie but a goodie from the band. LISTEN: “No You / No Me”

2. Detroit’s Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas are making a guest appearance in the Windy City. The group specialize in soulful pop with a touch of retro swing. The Delta’s debut EP, Weird Looking Women in Too Many Clothes, is a veritable mash-up of singer-songwriter sounds such as Canadian songstress Feist and English divas Adele and Amy Winehouse. There’s gypsy, big bang, jazz, indie pop and soul all rolled into one tiny package.
LISTEN: “Gone in Two Seconds.”

3. Opening the show are visitors from the other Carolina, North Carolina, that is. Durham-based Kodiak Farm Boys specialize in bluegrass-tinged rock that stretch from big-voiced anthemic barn-burners with plenty of jangly guitars to soothing spaghetti western-style hymnals. LISTEN: “Tompico.”

8:30 p.m. Thursday, 1/19. Subterranean. 21+ $8.

Photo by John Sturdy

1. If there was ever an opportunity to cheat on old man winter, it would be tonight with Chicago’s Summer Girlfriend. The all-female quartet quintet awaken those familiar warm weather feelings with its particular brand of unforgettable jangly, body-moving surf pop. LISTEN: “Shockwaves.”

2. There’s something really primitive about Chicago’s E+. The group make so much from so little by manipulating fuzz and distortion, distressed organ keys and dense drum beats into trance-y garage pop with gothic overtones. Tonight, however, one-half of E+ (Damon Carruesco and Whitney Johnson) will break out the drum machine for a special appearance. LISTEN: “{{{SUN 88}}}.”

3. Chicago trio Pearls are propulsive dance punk at its most infectious point. On “Ripper,” the group grabs you by the collar takes you for a spin around the room. It’s all you really want from a song. Kicking the night off nice and sweet are Chicago dream poppers Magic City. Go ahead and wrap yourself in the comfort of their twinkling guitar solos and ethereal melodies.
LISTEN: “Your Eyes.”

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, 1/18. Beat Kitchen. 21+ $8.

photo by colin kerrigan

Chicago power poppers Company of Thieves are hitting the road again, this time hitting up the East coast on a new ten-date trek scheduled for Late February through early March.

Fear not, Midwestern fans, the tour kicks off on Saturday, February 18 at Frost Fest in Lansing, Michigan, and will almost certainly end with a bang at The Metro on Friday, March 9.

Tickets for Company of Thieves’ hometown show go on sale this Saturday, January 21. The all ages show costs $14.

Company of Thieves have been heavily promoting their high-energy sophomore rocker Running for a Gamble with tours supporting bands such as Jack’s Mannequin and Cage the Elephant. If you still don’t have it, Running from a Gamble is currently on sale for $5 on Amazon along with its predecessor Ordinary Riches.

Feast your eyes on those East coast dates after the jump.

Feb 18 – Lansing, Michigan @ Frost Fest
Feb 23 – Fairfield, Connecticut @ StageOne
Feb 24 – Albany, New York @ Jillian’s
Feb 25 – Boston, Massachusetts @ Café 939
Feb 28 – New York, New York @ Bowery Ballroom
Feb 29 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania @ Theatre for the Living Arts
Mar 01 – Vienna, Virginia @ Jammin’ Java
Mar 02 – Durham, North Carolina @ The Casbah
Mar 03 – Atlanta, Georgia @ Vinyl
Mar 09 – Chicago, Illinois @ The Metro