[caption id="attachment_19629" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Pillars & Tongues | Photo by Emily Cross"][/caption]Three reasons to grab your flameless candles and head over to the Burlington tonight... 1. Spice up your Wednesday with a little something different. Chicago quartet Pillars and Tongues make the unusual beautiful, honing its gothic folk sound by pairing hypnotic atmospherics and melodies with rhythmic, liberal use of a harmonium. Pillars and Tongues must be seen to be believed. And as luck would have it, the band has stated on its Facebook page that this will be the last Chicago show until summer. Don't miss out on that sweet harmonium action. LISTEN: "Thank you, Oaky" 2. Chicago, by way of Buffalo, folk singer-songwriter Julie Byrne will open the show with her handy six-string guitar in tow. Even though Byrne only has two songs on her Soundcloud, the tracks contained on it make me feel like I've known her as an artist forever. Her voice is as husky as Cat Power's and even more hauntingly beautiful as it rises above compositions that are pained, yet entirely unburdened by the sadness. LISTEN: "Young Wife" 3. Since there's no third band, here's an extra helping of Julie Byrne performing solo at Elmwood Lounge in Buffalo, New York. 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, 3/7. The Burlington. 21+ $5. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

With Spring almost sprung, it's about time we have a song that makes us think about long road trips and warm sunshine. Enter, Disappears. The group's new video for its single "Replicate," matches the song's tight hypnotic rhythms to images of cruising through downtown Chicago and light dancing on top of rippling water. You can almost hear the freedom of the road calling your name. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Girls Rock! Chicago has announced the dates for its seventh annual rock and roll education camp for girls aged 8-16. The camp returns for two, one-week sessions June 25-July 1 and July 23-July 29 at Chicago Quest, its new location. Chicago Quest, a new Chicago International Charter School, is located at 1443 N. Ogden Ave. on the Near North Side. Applications for campers and volunteers will be available on GR!C's website soon. No word yet on dates for the Ladies camp. Girls Rock! Chicago is a non-profit organization that aims to promote positive self-esteem, creative expression and community awareness in young girls through rock music. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

[caption id="attachment_25418" align="aligncenter" width="445" caption="absolutely not"][/caption] Congrats for making it to Friday! Celebrate your freedom, however short, with some great shows. We're talking Asobi Seksu at Reggie's Music Joint, Absolute Not's record release party at the Burlington, Coffin Pricks' free Epitonic session at Saki and so much more. Ch-ch-check it out.

FRIDAY

ABSOLUTELY NOT Fans of punk that's fast and dirty with a bit of dance rock flavor will drool over Chicago trio Absolutely Not. Let the band's chugging riffs, radiating keys and bouncing beats swirl around while you kick up some dust dancing the Elaine. Bonus: It's also Absolutely Not's record release show! Also appearing tonight are rowdy noise rockers Vamos and fun garage rockers Dumpster Babies. (Audrey Leon) 9:00 p.m. Friday, 2/17. Burlington Bar. 21+ $5. AVA LUNA Brooklyn's Ava Luna specializes in "nervous soul" in the similar vein but not wholly the same as Tune Yards. The sextet are currently riding moderate success on the back of a few EP (word on the street is that a full-length is coming soon), and their music seamlessly mixes smooth synth moments with twitchy art-rock flourishes that makes for some quite exciting listens. And lest we forget about headliner Twin Sister, who Pitchfork likes or something. Also, locals Summer Girlfriends open with their breezy garage pop antics, so get there early. (Richard Giradi) 10:00 p.m. Friday, 2/17. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $12.

SATURDAY

COFFIN PRICKS Chicago quarter Coffin Pricks are full of badassery. The group plays old school post-punk that is largely reminiscent of bands like Mission of Burma and Husker Du that blasts by with intensity and speed, which is just perfect for pogo'ing. Kids still pogo, right? Joining Coffin Pricks for this free Saki/Epitonic in-store performance are anthemic math punks Lasers and Fast and Shit. (Audrey Leon) 5:00 p.m. Saturday, 2/18. Saki Records. All Ages. FREE! BIGCOLOUR One of 12 Chicago Bands To Watch In 2012, BigColour plays around in the much used psychedelic rock sphere. But they approach it on their own terms offering souful-yet-often-creepy high pitched vocals and quirky dynamics that often give way to an explosion of melody. If you don't quite know what I'm getting at, then check out their recently released, YOUR BODY DOESN'T LIKE THE DECISIONS YOUR BRAIN MAKES, VOL. I, which features BigColour recordings than span more than a year. Also on the bill are lo-fi swingers The Sueves and dream-poppers Magic City. (Richard Giradi) 9:00 p.m. Saturday, 2/18. The Burlington. 21+. $5.

SUNDAY

ASOBI SEKSU If you're all punked out from Friday and Saturday, come out to Reggie's for the delicious shoegaze/psych pop stylings of NYC's Asobi Seksu. Singer Yuki Chikudate enchants with stunning falsettos that lull the listner into far off dreamscapes. Also appearing tonight are indie rockers Sybris, who pack a powerful punch to the senses with a sound that comes off as a mashup between speedy alt-rock and experimental pop. (Audrey Leon) 7:00 p.m. Sunday, 2/19. Reggie's Music Joint. 21+ $15. By Staff  \  comments

[caption id="attachment_25403" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Jesse Menendez"][/caption] WBEZ announced earlier last week that it will begin incorporating local programming from its sister station Vocalo (89.5 FM) on its radio frequency (91.5 FM). Beginning this Saturday, February 18, The Music Vox/Live From Studio 10 host Jesse Menendez will take the helm of a new two-hour program simply named Vocalo on WBEZ. As host of the aforementioned shows, Menendez and his crew shine a spotlight on the local music scene and give a voice to many independent musicians and artists that might not otherwise see the exposure. In addition to cuts from Menendez's music shows, Vocalo on WBEZ will showcase highlights from other Vocalo news and community-oriented shows such as The Morning AMp, Overdrive and The Barber Shop Show. "Vocalo on WBEZ will showcase diverse cultural perspectives from artists to activists, musicians to musicologists," said Silvia Rivera, Vocalo Managing Director, in a press release. "This will be a great opportunity to introduce Vocalo’s storytelling and musical content to the WBEZ audience." Menendez called the opportunity for Vocalo shows to air on WBEZ "a huge deal" due to the wide reach of WBEZ's platform. "It’s a personal commitment of mine to bring diverse conversations and perspectives to the forefront of our public dialogue via public media," Menendez said in a press release. "This includes intentionally seeking black, Latino, community and youth perspectives to opine on issues of the day, ranging from politics, economy, feminism, race, arts/culture, community, and, well, you name it." So what's on tap for the show's premiere? According to the "Virtual Listening Party" Facebook event page, Luis Perez, co-host of Overdrive, chats with Dr. Jesus "Chuy" Negrete - a Chicano musicologist and, founder and director of the Mexican Cultural Institute - about preserving history through music. Hip-Hop artist Add-2 talks to Menendez about his new single, "Modern Day Coons." For a complete breakdown of the first Vocalo on WBEZ, click here. Vocalo on WBEZ will air Saturdays from 8-10 p.m. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

[caption id="attachment_25367" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Photo by Analú Maria López"][/caption]Three "hey, you, get off of my cloud" reasons to ride Falkor over to Subterranean tonight... 1. Chicago dream poppers Panda Riot were one of our bands to watch last year and even though 2011 has come and gone, we're still pretty interested in them. The group plays sparkling, spacey pop jams that envelope you in a heady mix of fuzzy guitars and siren-like melodies. The group is on the verge of releasing its follow-up to its 2010 EP Near and Far and are sure to play some of those mesmerizing new tracks tonight. LISTEN: "Serious Radical Girls" 2. If you ever wondered what musicians from this generation that have been raised on a steady diet of Radiohead's game changer Kid A would sound like once they reached maturation, look no further than Louisville electro-pop outfit Nerves Junior. The group plays around with noisy atmospherics and abstract textures to create something that hovers above a standard pop rock song. To top it off, singer Cory Wayne is the Kentucky equivalent of Thom Yorke, if such a thing was ever possible. LISTEN: "Kale" 3. Rounding out this fun evening of dreamy rock and roll music are LLP faves Tiny Fireflies and The Pear Traps. Tiny Fireflies craft delicate pop melodies that float, light as air, into the atmosphere. The music cuts down deep into your core and leaves you a love sick mess. It's fairly brilliant. Lo-fi Americana outfit The Pear Traps open. The group is a delightful cross between jangly countrifried rock and Joy Division. It's everything you never knew you wanted. LISTEN: The Pear Traps - "Come Home" 8:00 p.m. Thursday, 2/16. Subterranean. 21+ $8. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

[caption id="attachment_25351" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Photo by Emily Martin/Joshua Wentz"][/caption]Three reasons to nurse your post-Valentine's Day hangover with a free show at Township tonight... 1. Opening tonight's show is folk pop songstress Jessica Risker also known as Deadbeat or the lead singer for upbeat Chicago indie rockers Absinthe and the Dirty Floors, if you like. Under the Deadbeat banner Risker and friends team up to create calming acoustic folk ballads that blend the quirkiness of Beck with the smokey tint of Cat Power. LISTEN: "(I'd Settle For A) Night Song" 2. Also rocking the stage tonight are Chicago psych rockers The Parallel Fuzz. The group mixes big bluesy guitar solos with rumbling, fuzzed-up bass and booming backbeats. It's easy hear elements of Dinosaur Jr and Kyuss (namely in the style of Josh Homme's guitar work) in Parallel Fuzz's DNA. LISTEN: "All For Light (Is Trampolines)" 3. Since the third band, Max Gentleman, has no website listed on MPshows website, Here's another helping of Deadbeat. 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, 2/15. Township (Formerly Panchos). 21+ FREE! By Audrey Leon  \  comments