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!

SUMMER GIRLFRIENDS

2012 is Summer Girlfriends’ year. The cheery garage poppers have a new band mate, a new music video for their track “Shockwaves” (on the way) and a highly-anticipated full-length debut coming out later this year on Addenda records. That’s enough good news to keep Summer Girlfriend’s music upbeat and dreamy for years to come. (Audrey Leon)
Must hear: Shockwaves

BIGCOLOUR

BIGCOLOUR separate themselves from the garage-pop pack with crooked howls that someone manage to end up more akin to motown soul and doo-wop than indie rock yips. Their extensive use of reverb on both instruments and vocals create a sea of echo that’s quite provocative. After a brief break, the band is regrouped and will be playing a number of shows next month and are prepping something a bit longer and more substantial than the two warbling and melodic singles released last year. (Richard Giraldi)
Must hear: Lampshade Talker

MAGIC MILK

Most love-at-first-sight stories don’t begin with the guy strutting around in his underwear after knocking back some cheap champagne straight from the bottle, but luckily, we’re talking about Magic Milk and not Fabio. Magic Milk take its fun garage rock revival sound and rough it up a bit with some crackling distortion. The gang just released a three-song EP called Deep Stuff vol. 1 and have plans to release a full-length later this year. (Audrey Leon)
Must hear: Light’s Out Party!

SWIMSUIT ADDITION

The dream of the ’90s is alive in Swimsuit Addition. It’s hard not to compare them to alt-nation heroes The Breeders or the Pixies with their bouncy and crunchy riffage. But the band avoid the angst by integrating melodic surf-pop leads and punky snarls from lead singer Jen Larson. They’re poised for a big 2012 as their debut EP Kitty Hawk drops in late February. (Richard Giraldi | Photo Credit: Daniel Schuessler)
Must hear: Cartoon Paper Cup

8:00 p.m. Tuesday, 4/17. Lincoln Hall. 18+. $8 Adv/$10 Door. Purchase tickere here.

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…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bxwB_a37co

The most impressive thing about Le Butcherettes’ latest, Sin Sin Sin, is how their brand of crooked art-rock is completely accessible. While the Guadalajara, Mexico, trio do toss off crunchy power chords (“Bang!”), they also dabble in minimal synth play (“Tonight”). And it works because the band is concise in their experimental side as few songs make it to the four-minute mark. Le Butcherettes are a little twisted but a lot focused on kicking your ass. (Richard Giraldi)

THE KILLS Bud Light stage, 4:30 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hniPVDz12bc

Moody garage rocking duo Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince create some heavy, full-bodied rock compositions that are anchored by Mosshart’s sultry blues vocals. The Kills latest album Blood Pressures is far removed from the group’s gritty, lo-fi debut Keep on Your Mean Side, but the heartbeat behind it remains underneath Blood Pressures’s slick production. The Kills are still doing what they do, only fancier these days. (Audrey Leon)

CULTS Google+, 4:45 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i1MXHGB8g0

Sometimes a band just comes out of nowhere and everyone’s falling in line to promote them as something of a no-brainer. Cults, the New York-based indie pop duo consisting of Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin, had that kind of instant popular adoption. Forming in 2010, their single “Go Outside” was simply posted to a Bandcamp page and suddenly they were darlings of Pitchfork and playing every relevant music festival. By the time their self-titled LP was released in June it was virtually guaranteed to be a smash. For me, they entered the popular sphere at a good juncture. With Broadcast no longer in commission (RIP Trish Keenan), Cults have stepped in to filter the sounds of 60s, psychedelic pop through modern distortions. Hopefully, their trajectory will mirror Broadcast and Stereolab with darker twists in the future. (Joseph Montes)

CRYSTAL CASTLES Sony stage, 7:15 p.m

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vO6eehIPIs

We’ve had a while now to let Crystal Castles gestate. Since 2008 when we danced our ass off to “Crimewave” and their self-titled debut to last year’s deeper “Crystal Castles II,” the band has shown us that they are plenty capable of continuing to deliver compelling music. Whether they’ll be any good at Lolla, however, is a different story. I saw Crystal Castles at the Congress Theater on Halloween in 2009 and they blew it. Glass drunkenly screamed nonsense over a wall of equally disjointed electronic sounds — it was a bad performance parading as performance art. I’d probably never pay to see this band again but if you knocked me out and dragged me to Lolla this year, they’d be a must-see act for me. Yes, I know that makes no sense but such is the strange magnetism of Crystal Castles. (Joseph Montes)

RATATAT Google+ stage, 8:45 p.m

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk8qcGOtBFw

Like if Daft Punk were a couple of stoners from New York City with guitars and a sampler, Ratatat excel at finding the tightest groove and the sharpest tones. It goes without saying that pulling off intriguing instrumental pieces is difficult, but Ratatat honestly succeed. Sometimes their slowly evolving rhythms are powered by jagged riffs (“Desert Eagle”), while at others dense melodies are balanced by off-kilter dynamics (“Mirando”). Add to the equation that it’s just dance-y as hell? That’s a winner. (Richard Giraldi)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTQTszb51BI

Experimental Chicago rockers Disappears have had quite a year. The quartet released a powerful, droning jam of a rocker entitled Guider in early January. After absorbing the magic power structure that is Sonic Youth percussionist Steve Shelley, and then whisking him away on tour, the group has garnered considerable praise and buzz from the music community at home and abroad. Disappears uses distortion much like bakers use frosting on cakes, it’s just another element the band can utilize to warp a song into submission and make it their own. And it’s priceless. (Audrey Leon)

MAPS & ATLASES Google+ stage, 2:15 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrvOXjFiD7k

While not as frenzied as their 2006 EP, Trees, Swallows, Houses, Maps & Atlases have developed a keen ability to piece melodies together. The result is last year’s Perch Patchwork, which has a more organic feel that is mostly grounded in melancholy folk-pop. It shows that these Chicago rockers are both technically proficient and clever composers. (Richard Giraldi)

DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 Bud Light stage, 4:00 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bo4h7kuUpo

For a band that simultaneously bashed-in the doors of dance and metal music with earth-shattering results, news about the reunion of Death From Above 1979, which first appeared in blurbs about this year’s Coachella’s lineup, was remarkably understated. After a no-bones announcement about not getting along when they broke up 5 years ago, only a short blog post marked their return: “Why not say yes? Why not say yes to Coachella?” DFA was back, but why? It’s all I could think about before they took the stage at Camp Bisco X in Albany, NY in July. But when the opening chords of “Dead Womb” kicked in, it didn’t matter anymore. DFA was back and, yeah, why the fuck not? Maybe its all just a money-grab (zero new songs) but who cares? When it’s good, it’s good. Just slam your head and try not to think so much. (Joseph Montes)

DEFTONES Playstation stage, 5:00 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLqsfwRvYtU

As someone who loves to ‘OD on 90s nostalgia as much as I do, it’s a no brainer that I’d highlight Deftones. The group’s first three albums 1995’s Adrenaline, 1997’s Around the Fur and 1999’s White Pony taught me all I need to know about the sweet, but deadly dynamic of raw power vocals that rush from hushed, beautiful tones and moans to excited guttural screams. Vocalist Chino Moreno’s voice set that exquisite high standard of tension building and breaking. There is no doubt in my mind, Deftones will bring plenty of precision hard rock style to the Lolla stage this weekend. (Audrey Leon)

CEE LO Music Unlimited stage, 6:30 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAV0XrbEwNc

So, Cee Lo Green is one talented singer, game show host, etc. But, yes, he’s not the best tweeter. Still, the man has brought us some of the most soulful, funky tunes in the last couple of years. His Gnarls Barkley hit, “Crazy,” which took the summer of 2006 by storm, and his latest solo LP, 2010′s The Lady Killer, has the irresistible “Fuck You” (“Forget You” for radio listeners), which is possibly the catchiest song about a miserable break-up ever. Yeah, Cee Lo’s not perfect, but who is? All I know is that throngs of people singing, “See you driving ’round town with the girl I love / I’m like Fuck You” in unison should be damn cool. (Richard Giraldi)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgSsL0Gz874

If Lollapalooza wasn’t taking place during the height of summer, I would dare to say that Chicago pop darlings Gold Motel would bring plenty of sunlight and warmth just by being there. The quintet fronted by The Hush Sound’s Greta Morgan aren’t shiny happy people, but a group of people who came together to create infectiously perky pop jams that defy you to stay moping in a dark corner. Come out and play, screams Gold Motel’s album Summer House. Morgan’s smoky vocals take us to good vibes island and we never want to look back. (Audrey Leon)

THE JOY FORMIDABLE Bud Light stage, 1:00 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kNQeDlgBoc

When you really think about it, The Joy Formidable is the absolute perfect name for this English trio. Their sound is a intense one with it’s chugging fuzz riffs, but the music is played with a joyful energy. “Whirring,” from their 2010′ LP The Big Roar, grabs the listener with its uber-melodic, sweeping hook, and then scrambles minds with a spacey shoegaze jam. It’s the just the right amount of edge and energy needed to jump start Lollapalooza 2011′s final day. (Richard Giraldi)

THE COOL KIDS Perry’s stage, 3:05 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH_TaZ5n8gA

What separates The Cool Kids from many other “indie” hip-hop acts is that their sound is very recognizable. The Chicago duo have seemingly cornered the market with jams powered by minimal, digitized beats. Granted, while their latest and much anticipated debut LP, When Fish Ride Bicycles lacks energy in a couple of spots, it does perfectly meld eccentric beats with Chuck Inglish and Mickey Rocks’ old-school style. And expect the beats to hit especially hard in the tented, and enlarged Perry’s stage. (Richard Giraldi)

THE CARS Music Unlimited stage, 4:00 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpJQWGA1O8s

In the grand tradition of breaking up, reunited years later with a different singer (at least it was Todd Rundgren and not a Cars tribute band singer), having that not work too well, then actually reuniting, hey look it’s The Cars. Odds are you like The Cars whether you know it or not. I’d like to think I’m too cool to like them. Eighties pop music is not my bag but there’s something about their a little new wave-y and slight icy coldness that works for me. They wrote good tunes and merely dressed them up in 80′s Well, there’s a new album, Move Like This, so you’ll hear songs from that. But mostly, you’ll just hear hit after frickin’ hit. (Ross Meyerson)

EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY Sony stage, 7:00 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UNj5Oqs29g

I had an inner debate with myself on whether Explosions in the Sky is the kind of band you want to see at an outdoor festival in the middle of the summer. On the one hand, the group’s lush instrumentals would be perfect for a more intimate and darkened club, but on the other hand, look at that set time. Explosions in the Sky takes the Lolla stage around 7 p.m., which means the sun will set and the sky will fill with crazy hues of purple and orange. I can’t think of any better setting to witness the Austin, Texas quartet finger pick some gorgeous, yet booming post-rock melodies. (Audrey Leon)

AND DON’T FORGET:

Loud Loop Press will have festival coverage all weekend long! We’ll have a daily recap of Friday, Saturday and Sunday the morning after so if you just want to find out about what you missed or can’t make it and want to check out what’s going on, we’ll have video, words and possibly more.

For the full schedule and for more information about Lollapalooza, visit: Lollapalooza.com.

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…

BEST BAND: OFF!

WORST BAND: (TIE) Destroyer & Ariel Pink

BEST BET TO BECOME A FESTIVAL STAPLE: Cut Copy

BAND THAT NEEDS SOME WORK: (TIE) Yuck & Thurston Moore solo

BAND MOST LIKELY TO BE PLAYING LOLLAPALOOZA 2012: Pitchfork 2011 Schedule

BEST SLOGAN ON AN OLD DUDE’S TSHIRT:

BEST OFFENSIVE, CAST-WEARING HIP-HOP GROUP: Odd Future

BEST IMPRESSION OF HELL ON EARTH: Pitchfork Fest 2011 Porta Potties on Sunday afternoon

BAND PITCHFORK CAN ALWAYS FALL BACK ON WHEN THEY CAN’T BOOK JEFF MANGUM: Animal Collective

BAND MOST LIKELY TO DIE OF HEATSTROKE: Cold Cave

BEST USE OF A THEREMIN:

BEST DANCERS IN THE VIP SECTION: White Mystery

BEST PLACE TO HANG OUT WITH YOUR BROS: Heineken tent

BEST VEGAN CORN DOG: Chicago Diner

WORST AREA FOR BOTTLE NECKS: Entry way to Blue stage

MOST INDIE ROCK SODA:

WORST STAGE PROP FAIL: DJ Shadow’s white sphere

BEST DJ SET: DJ Shadow

BEST EXCUSE FOR OLD DUDES TO SMOKE JOINTS IN PUBLIC: Superchunk

BAND MOST LIKELY TO TEACH THESE DARN KIDS A THING OR TWO ABOUT ROCK ‘N’ ROLL: Guided By Voices

BEST GUEST APPEARANCE:

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.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqV5KzbNYIQ

There are those indie bands that leave you thinking, “Hm, well that was an interesting musical experience.” Then there’s the small percentage of indie bands that rock your auditory cortex so hard, they leave you in near-comatose state from complete awe. tUnE-yArDs is one of those bands. The lo-fi, indie noise-pop project of Merrill Garbus (Sister Suvi), tUnE-yArDs combines a patchwork of aural flavors including jazz, R&B, Afro-pop, folk and most everything else out there. These intricate melodies and playful beats offset Garbus’ eccentric vocals that range from child-like humming to unbridled, soulful wailing. Garbus is the master of multi-tasking on stage, playing drums, recording loops, harmonizing with herself, all while keeping the show frisky for the audience. Garbus seriously is a force to reckon with on stage. (Britni Day)

BATTLES Green Stage, 4:35 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-rvJsH_WcU

Battles had a pretty difficult time recording the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2007 loop-prog near masterpiece Mirrored. After completing much of the record, founding guitarist and “singer” Tyondai Braxton left the band. This left the remaining members (Ian Williams, John Stanier, Dave Konopka) in quite a bind. They pressed on, however, and rerecorded the majority of their 2011 release, Gloss Drop, as a trio with a slew of guest vocalists, including Gary Numan and Matias Aguayo, the latter of which adds some odd reggae-esque croons to single, “Ice Cream.” While not as immediate and epic as their full-length debut, Gloss Drop is full of enough mathy riffs and machine-like drum work to get crowds moving. (Richard Giraldi)

THURSTON MOORE Red Stage, 5:30 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LzUUTPFRrQ

Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore is widely-known for his experimental noise-riffic guitar skills, but on Moore’s recently released solo album Demolished Thoughts, the rocker gets downright romantic. The Beck-produced Demolished Thoughts is swimming with sweet, sweeping melodies, sharp acoustic guitar strums and poignant strings. It will be interesting to see how Moore pulls it all off inside Union Park. (Audrey Leon)

GUIDED BY VOICES Green Stage, 6:25 p.m

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqmcINr4JKA

I just asked my friend three words to describe Guided By Voices, and he immediately came back with “drunk, happy, 90s.” My three words that immediately came to mind were “drunk, rock, awesome.” I’m not sure this preview needs any more information than that. (Andy Kondrat)

DAS RACIST Blue Stage, 6:30 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzCukmO4fhg

Possibly best known for that transcendent piece of existential crisis, “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell,” Das Racist is, in fact, an extremely smart hip-hop group that use humor and playful rhymes to dance around deeper commentary. These guys are smart enough to know that substance has to underline each joke, and are talented enough to pull it off. That being said, they’re still the group that recorded “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell,” so you can expect a hell of a lot of fun dancing along to their performance. (Andy Kondrat)

JAMES BLAKE Blue Stage, 7:30 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVgEaDemxjc

So James Blake is the next new thing, a wunderkind out of England that takes dub and samples and piano and loops and crazy shit like that to make music that makes smartypants music critics cream their jeans. But this guy is the real deal. His debut album is as good as you’ve heard it is, and none other than David Byrne of Talking Heads was quoted as saying Blake’s live show is an “emotional incantation.” I’m pretty sure this is not a performance to be missed. This is going to be the show Panda Bear should have put on last year. (Andy Kondrat)

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE Green Stage, 8:30 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuLdCWnuTa8

The quintessential psychedelic, experimental indie pop/rock band. Animal Collective combines possible seizure-inducing electronic beats with layers of swirling keyboard flourishes and lead vocalist Panda Bear’s high tenor voice and exotic word pronunciation. The band has been compared to Flaming Lips, Polyphonic Spree, or Beach Boys (on crack, really) but have inspired musical giants like Grizzly Bear and Four Tet. Once you get past all the insanity, the band is nothing but pure rhythm and soul. (Britni Day)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2mXIfA2xNs

Simply put, I would not be going to Pitchfork if it weren’t for Wild Nothing. I had already given my money and limited-capacity to handle crowds to another summer fest when a friend handed me their debut LP “Gemini.” My. God. What a record. The dream pop band from Blacksburg, VA take from the best — The Smiths, The Cure, Kate Bush — and do what’s neigh impossible amongst the surfeit of imitators: They get you not to notice. Wild Nothing hasn’t reinvent the genre but they have made a record (all of which is good) that reinvigorates my love for it. And what sweeter a situation to be in, as a music lover, than to hear your freshly minted favorite new band playing all your new favorite songs? Envy me. (Joseph Montes)

NO AGE Green Stage, 4:15 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn84clPVbG4

Los Angeles nu-punkers No Age certainly turned a corner with their latest release, 2010′s Everything In Between. The record brimmed with the guitar-n-drum assault of their earlier material but added an intriguing sonic layer with electronic samples. And perhaps the best news is that the band have managed to not lose that important new piece of their sound in their live show as they’ve enlisted William Kai Strangeland-Menchaca to help out. The result is an experience both aurally exciting and mosh pit-ready. (Richard Giraldi)

THE RADIO DEPT. Blue Stage, 5:45 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0FoVuUYh4w

Sweden’s chief exports include, particleboard furniture, lingonberries, and stellar pop music. No joke. The country that gave us ABBA is the third-largest music exporter in the world and amongst their ilk is the wildly underrated Radio Dept. Although the dream pop band has been supplying lynchpin tracks in Sofia Coppola soundtracks for years, it wasn’t until 2010′s “Cling to a Scheme” that they earned kudos from Pitchfork and wider acclaim. Justly so, their downbeat, dance single “Heaven’s On Fire” was one of last year’s best tracks. Still, it’s just the breadcrumb on a trail of delicious pop candy stretched over three LPs and numerous singles. This band slayed when I saw them at The Empty Bottle. Don’t miss them. (Joseph Montes)

TWIN SHADOW Blue Stage, 6:45 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaVeApg9k-w

George Lewis, otherwise known as Twin Shadow, hit the indie rock scene in a major way in 2010 with the release of his debut Forget. Sounding like a gloomy 80s new-wave throwback, the Dominican-born Lewis stacks his sound deep with rich synths and faster beats to match his haunting vocals. Not to mention that fabulous head of hair. Somewhere Tears For Fears are weeping tears of joy. (Audrey Leon)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz7vyrFhFE8

Listening to Yuck’s self-titled debut is like getting reacquainted with a dear old friend. In Yuck’s case, that friend is the electric guitar. The band has been gaining much buzz this year thanks to their blatant early ’90s alt-rock influence. But maybe even more impressive is how damn melodic Yuck’s double guitar attack just is. They managed to perfectly work the fine line between abrasive and poppy -- a combination that is practically addictive. (Richard Giraldi)

BATHS Blue Stage, 4:45 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHvWURUzj3Q

Will Weisenfeld (Baths) is just one man with a few choice electronic instruments, but he has the uncanny ability to convey his emotions through all the little foibles he carefully creates in each of his quirky, glitch-hop songs. From the layers of simple, organic forest sounds mixed with a stumbling beat to the magic found in the playful samples and joyful keyboards, Weisenfeld musically puts his heart on his sleeve with each infinite, stunning soundscape. (Britni Day)

SUPERCHUNK Red Stage, 5:15 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lxw6A6scvU

What can I say, Superchunk are back, sort of, and what a welcome “welcome back”. Not only are they just rocking it live like they’ve always done, but Majesty Shredding was good old ‘Chunk being good old ‘Chunk. It was all quite the triumph and a well deserved victory lap that might be wrapping up. Who knows when they will re-emerge again so don’t be a damned fool and wander away to catch whoever is playing on the li’l stage. No, plant yourself firmly in front of the Red Stage and soak it all in. This was the way indie used to be, kids. Superchunk are just hear to remind you. (Ross Meyerson)

KYLESA Blue Stage, 5:45 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0HM958kCpQ

Speaking of the li’l stage (Blue Stage, that is), that is where the token metal band, Kylesa will be playing. I guess token is better than none, but again I admonish Pitchfork for its lack of metal. If ever there was a truly underground and independent scene, it would be the metal one. Whatever. Kylesa will rock your sweaty, pale asses off and that’s a fact. Pitchfork gave their latest, Spiral Shadow, an 8.4 for what it’s worth. And deservedly so as Kylesa have turned into a tight and massive force. Still, I must digress. With so much great local metal, it would be nice to see at least the Blue Stage littered with the likes of Indian or Nachtmystium or Bloodiest. Plus, Kylesa’s set bumps up against Superchunk’s so you’ll have to make a Sophie’s choice here. (Ross Meyerson)

TORO Y MOI Blue Stage, 6:45 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJPOl5onkVI

When the chillwave invasion hit hard in ’09, Toro Y Moi was there in the top tier, riding the crest. Many critics wondered about shelf life of the genre, which was lampooned for its laptop-hollow compositions and weak vocal deliveries. As time passed and interest washed out (no pun intended), somehow my appreciation of Toro Y Moi only grew. For me, he’s evolved into an incredibly talented pop artist, a creator of subdued hits that get your girlfriend dancing. I can’t explain what sets him apart, but maybe that’s the way of all new musical movements? You’ll always have your Monkeys and your Beatles. For chillwave, Toro Y Moi represents the latter. Here’s to hoping he can avoid the genre’s performance curse and deliver on a compelling live show. (Joseph Montes)

CUT COPY Red Stage, 7:25 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI3tstEeY7g

When this Australian dance-pop-awesomeness group popped up a couple years ago with their excellent album In Ghost Colours, I spent most of the summer playing “Out There On The Ice” and “Hearts On Fire” on repeat, because, well, those are exactly the songs you want to hear over and over during the summer. It made me worried, though, that their follow-up record wouldn’t be able to match the pure ecstasy of the first. Luckily for all of us, Zonoscope rules, too, and from all accounts, a Cut Copy show is nothing short of pure joy. Perfect for the 90 degrees it’s supposed to be on Sunday. (Andy Kondrat)

TV ON THE RADIO Green Stage, 8:30 p.m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXLpXu9T7j0

Brooklyn’s experimental art rockers TV on the Radio grace Chicago yet again in support of its latest album Nine Types of Light. The album is definitive TV on the Radio. There’s groovy, danceable beats backed by a solid horn section and plenty of the a capella and soulful harmonies that we’ve come to expect from the decade-old group. If there’s a more perfect way to end a long, hot, dusty night at Union Park, I’d like to hear it. (Audrey Leon)

COMPLETE SCHEDULE

XXX = Loud Loop Pick

Friday, July 15 (gates at 3 p.m.):
XXX 8:30 Animal Collective (GREEN)
XXX 7:30 James Blake (BLUE)
7:20 Neko Case (RED)
XXX 6:30 Das Racist (BLUE)
XXX 6:25 Guided By Voices (GREEN)
5:30 Curren$y (BLUE)
XXX 5:30 Thurston Moore (RED)
XXX 4:35 Battles (GREEN)
XXX 4:30 tUnE-yArDs (BLUE)
3:30 EMA (RED)
3:20 Gatekeeper (BLUE)

Saturday, July 16 (gates at 12 p.m.):

8:30 Fleet Foxes (GREEN)
7:40 Zola Jesus (BLUE)
7:25 DJ Shadow (RED)
XXX 6:45 Twin Shadow (BLUE)
6:15 The Dismemberment Plan (GREEN)
XXX 5:45 The Radio Dept. (BLUE)
5:15 Destroyer (RED)
4:45 OFF! (BLUE)
XXX 4:15 No Age (GREEN)
XXX 3:45 Wild Nothing (BLUE)
3:20 Gang Gang Dance (RED)
2:50 G-Side (BLUE)
2:30 Cold Cave (GREEN)
1:55 Sun Airway (BLUE)
1:45 Woods (RED)
1:00 Chrissy Murderbot ft. MC Zulu (BLUE)
1:00 Julianna Barwick (GREEN)

Sunday, July 17 (gates at 12 p.m.):

XXX 8:30 TV on the Radio (GREEN)
7:40 HEALTH (BLUE)
XXX 7:25 Cut Copy (RED)
XXX 6:45 Toro Y Moi (BLUE)
6:15 Deerhunter (GREEN)
XXX 5:45 Kylesa (BLUE)
XXX 5:15 Superchunk (RED)
XXX 4:45 Baths (BLUE)
4:15 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti (GREEN)
3:45 Shabazz Palaces (BLUE)
3:20 OFWGKTA (RED)
2:50 Twin Sister (BLUE)
2:30 Kurt Vile & the Violators (GREEN)
1:55 How to Dress Well (BLUE)
XXX 1:45 Yuck (RED)
1:00 Darkstar (BLUE)
1:00 The Fresh & Onlys (GREEN)

For More information about the Pitchfork Music Festival, visit: Pitchforkmusicfestival.com.

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.

We’re not saying we’re perfect (and there are about a gajillion unread emails in our gmail to attest to this fact), but we don’t ask for much. So, recognition such as from the Reader’s Best Of Chicago awards is, like, huge for us. Seriously, huge. It boosts our spirit when September rolls around, and the Chicago summer music happenings die down, and it’s hard to scratch up event a WATCH or LISTEN post.

So, here’s all we need you to do. Go to the Chicago Reader’s Best Of Chicago 2011 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.

Finally, do a little more than vote than this time around. Help spread the good word! See that little Facebook “LIKE” icon at the bottom of the page? Give it a click. See that ReTweet button? Give it a click as well.

In closing, thank to our readers for keeping this little local site chugging along. You guys give us the motivation to write-up a review instead of, I dunno, watching Glee or something (Not like we would do that anyway, but you get the idea.)

So, vote for LoudLoopPress.com, and then vote some more. And some more. In fact, go ahead and rock the vote – because that’s the way we like it.

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.

While Rabble Rabble won’t be playing any official South By South West shows, they will be taking Austin by storm in mid-March when they conquer the SXSW underground circuit with multiple parking lot shows, house parties and even gigs sponsored by PBR.

Luckily for us, the band will be documenting it all via a video blog, which will be seen exclusively right here on LoudLoopPress.com!

When Rabble Rabble aren’t throwing down some of the meanest psych-blues this side of the Mississippi River, they’ll bring their video camera wherever SXSW takes them. Expect to see Rabble Rabble running around Austin checking out other SXSW happenings, general band shenanigans and exclusive interviews with major acts, SXSW underground bands, concertgoers and even random street folk.

But seeing how Rabble Rabble are born and bred Chicagoans, they’ll focus in on windy city acts that are cavorting around the Texas capital. You’ll get an insider’s look at how the bands we love here in Chicago are handling themselves down in Austin.

When things slow down enough for the band to catch their breath, they’ll edit together a three to five-minute daily update with the best footage, interviews and general band craziness from the day. Then the next morning, the footage will go live right here.

Rabble Rabble’s first confirmed SXSW show is on Wednesday, March 16, so expect to see the first video blog shortly thereafter.

If you’ve ever wanted to see what really goes on at SXSW, Rabble Rabble’s video blog will no doubt keep you informed and entertained. For more information, check out RabbleRabbleBand.com or SXSW.com or keep it tuned right here!

• • Metal outfit MASTODON will release a live album that was recorded in 2009 at, um, the Aragon? Seriously.
• • Chicagoverseunited has a new Kidz In The Hall track from their Brain Candy A.V. project.
• • WindyCityRock.net reviews the latest EP from Chicago indie rockers Cains & Abels.
• • The Sun-Times’ Thomas Conner reviewed last night’s Dismemberment Plan show at the Metro.
• • If you want to hear our editor, Richard Giraldi, talk about Loud Loop Press, how we write reviews and our 11 Chicago Bands To Watch in 2011, here’s a link to his appearance on Vocalo’s MusicVox form a couple weeks back, which was hosted by the amazing Jesse Menendez.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSvceU8CCuw