If you don’t like longform, heartfelt letters, then simply go HERE and vote for LoudLoopPress.com for BEST LOCAL MUSIC BLOG. If you DO like longform, heartfelt letters, read on!

I don’t usually break kayfabe, but this is one of those times.

For the past two years LoudLoopPress.com has won Best Local Music Blog in the Chicago Reader’s Best Of Chicago. I cannot tell you how much that means to all the contributors and myself.

As I wrote last year, running this site and making it the best place for local indie rock acts on the web is a lot of work – Especially this year as the staff has been in flux at times.

But we’re passionate about what we do. And winning in 2010 and 2011 validated only validated that. So, now we ask you again. Help us take the title for third year in a row. It’s all we ask in return for keeping Loud Loop Press the most timely, most consistent, best looking and hopefully most intriguing Chicago-focused indie rock publication on the web. All we ask for dedication to reporting Chicago’s scene to you is a simple vote for Best Local Music Blog in the Chicago Reader’s Best Of Chicago 2012.

Here’s all we need you to do. Go to the Chicago Reader’s Best Of Chicago 2012 Ballot, head to the Music & Nightlife section, and then in that little field next to BEST LOCAL MUSIC BLOG, simply type LoudLoopPress.com.

Help us defend our title like we help promote some of Chicago’s most killer bands – with vigorous and unyielding enthusiasm. And please to LIKE or Retweet this post and help spread the word. Let’s Rock The Vote, Chicago!

In case you haven’t been paying attention. tonight we’ve curated and are sponsoring a very excellent bills featuring four of what we think are Chicago’s raddest up-and-coming indie rockers. The bands – Summer Girlfriends, BigColour, Magic Milk and Swimsuit Addition – are no strangers to our seen having already built up a solid following. But for them to play the same show in the gorgeous and killer sounding venue Lincoln Hall? Well, I definitely think that’s worth checking out. Don’t take my word for it, check four excerpts from out 12 Chicago Bands to Watch In 2012 list, which features all four acts:

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Lollapalooza is back with a line-up that’s full of up-and-coming local acts, legitimate buzz bands, arena rockers and a few head scratchers. So, we here at Loud Loop figured you might need some help deciding which bands to check out and which to avoid. And of course you know the headliners, so we won’t waste your time on those. Instead, these are our picks for can’t-miss acts those other eight hours this Friday, Saturday and Sunday…

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Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. You didn’t think I was done talking about Pitchfork 2011, did you? No way. I have one, er, a couple final words to say about the fest. In fact, it’s something brand new: The Rundown.

Here’s my two cents on the best, worst and most intriguing things at Pitchfork Music Festival 2011…

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Photo Credit: Craig Shimala - craigshimala.com

Tomorrow begins another Pitchfork Music Festival at Chicago’s Union Park. And once again, Loud Loop Press will be on-site all weekend long bringing you the best coverage we possibly can.

What can you expect? Updates throughout the day on our Twitter feed and our Facebook page. Then on 10 a.m. the day after (Saturday, Sunday and Monday), we’ll have a full recap of the previous day’s happenings complete with blurbs on the acts we caught, photos and more!

Of course, like every Pitchfork Fest, there’s a ton of music everyday, some of which you have no clue about, so the ol’ Loud Loop staff has decided to help out and clue you in on some of our much anticipated P4K 2011 acts. Anywho, let’s not waste anymore time. This is your Loud Loop Press Pitchfork Fest 2011 Preview.

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If you don’t like longform, heartfelt letters, then simply go HERE and vote for LoudLoopPress.com for BEST LOCAL MUSIC BLOG. If you DO like longform, heartfelt letters, read on!

Last year, something incredible happened. After being around for barely over a year, LoudLoopPress.com was voted Best Local Music Blog in the Chicago Reader’s Best Of Chicago Readers’ Poll.

Needless to say, we were very excited. Because in our minds, it proved that our readers, fans, etc. genuinely enjoyed the site. A site that we work extremely hard at keeping updated daily with interesting local music news, reviews, features and more.

You might not be able to tell, but it takes a lot to keep this website hoppin’ on a daily basis. All of us have full-time jobs, are in school, have family and friends that occasionally need tending to, concerts to see, spaceships to build…and yet we still take take the time to make sure that Loud Loop Press is up and running with the most timely, intriguing Chicago-focused music news on the web.

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Hey all! Over the past two weeks you might have noticed some status updates on our Facebook about editor Richard Giraldi going on Vocalo 89.5 FM‘s the MusicVox Program.

It’s no coincidence that both visits as of late have been on a Tuesday.

What looks to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Vocalo and Loud Loop Press, you’ll be able to catch Giraldi shortly after the 6 p.m. hour on the MusicVox every Tuesday chatting with the always great host Jesse Menendez about some of the biggest local releases of the week.

Tonight, Giralidi will talk about the new White Mystery record, Blood & Venom, of which you’ll see a written review of right here on LLP this Thursday.

Be sure to tune in tonight, and every other Tuesday, at 6 p.m. either at 89.5 FM or online at Vocalo.org, to hear some super rad local music talk.