[caption id="attachment_24283" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Sleepovers"][/caption] Three got-a-new-dance-and-it-goes-like-this reasons to hit The Burlington tonight... 1. If you're in the mood for garage pop that can get you on your feet and ready to awkwardly dance amongst strangers, Chicago's Sleepovers are the band for you. The group makes it rain stiff keyboard licks and reverb-drenched guitar riffs over distorted surf rock. What's more fun than that? LISTEN: "Sleepovers are Fun." 2. Sometimes you want to pull up your pants - as high as they'll go - and crank some old time rock and roll. Amiright? Chicago surf poppers Slushy can help you out. The group specializes in upbeat, noisy rock jams that you can twist and shout to your heart's content. LISTEN: "SF Gals." 3. Any band that plays "Monster Mash" live should be showered in praise and hoisted on our shoulders. Slushy at a house party on October 29. 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, 12/14. Burlington. 21+ $5 Donation. By Staff  \  comments

The 12 days of Christmas are now upon us. And on the second day, our true love has bestowed upon us a four-part series in which the Chicago bands playing Noise for Toys this Friday at Beat Kitchen chase down a drunken Santa Claus. If you love Oscar-worthy awkwardness, you'll love this series. Noise for Toys will feature Archie Powell and the Exports, The Scissors, State and Madison and The Noise FM. Tickets are $10 or $5 when you bring an unused, packaged toy to benefit the U.S. Marine Corp Reserve "Toys For Tots" program. The first video of the series can be viewed below. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

[caption id="attachment_24206" align="alignleft" width="245" caption="Holiday House"][/caption]Three oh-look-coat-hooks reasons to warm up with some rock and roll at Beat Kitchen tonight... 1. If there's one way to describe Berwyn's Holiday House, it's brooding. The group's album Weight of Water dives into melancholic, acoustic grunge-rock territory while singer Andrea Donahue's endearing falsetto is backed with chugging guitars and drumbeats that are dense as bricks. LISTEN: "Rebirth." 2. The ying to Holiday House's yang are The Ultrasounds. The group plays perky pop rock with dramatic guitar flourishes. The Chicago group has a nice male-to-female vocalist dynamic that just fills you to the brim with riff-heavy, alt-rock cheer. LISTEN: "After You Close Your Eyes." 3. If tonight showcases anything, it's a return to the "girl power" days of 90s rock. Chicago's Gag Order takes it a step further, recalling bands like Helium and Throwing Muses by featuring the same comforting, dulcet tones in which Mary Timony and Kristin Hersh specialized. LISTEN: "Band R.I.P. (Melancholic)." Synth rockers Sexyfights open. 8:00 p.m. Thursday, 12/8. Beat Kitchen. 21+ $8. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Winter, eat your heart out. Austin's annual South by Southwest music festival has been slowly releasing its list of bands traveling to the Lone Star state this Spring and, yes, Chicago is represented. On tap to play the 2012 edition are sunny pop rockers Gold Motel, dancehall DJ Chrissy Murderbot, acoustic folker Musikanto, lo-fi ambient poppers U.S. Girls, and Chicago - by way of Philadelphia - dream poppers Mahogany. Built to Spill, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Talib Kweli, and Thee Oh Sees will also play SXSW this year. And while Broken Social Scene is headed toward hiatus-land, its members will be well-represented with Metric, Stars and Zeus scheduled to appear. South by Southwest's 2012 music conference will be held March 13-18. By Audrey Leon  \  1 comment

Chicago retro rockers Blah Blah Blah put their stylish stamp on Chic-A-Go-Go by getting down and getting crazy, in a very adorable way. The group performed "Soon As I Get Home Tonight" from its recent EP Thank You Thank You. During the interview portion with Miss Mia, singer Solomon Moss and keyboardist Phill Ferguson nickname their sound as "ballroom alternative." We'd have to agree. By Audrey Leon  \  comments

We're only mere weeks away from the official start of winter, so don't forget to party while you still can. We're talking about some great shows including The Cell Phones at The Hideout, Russian Circles at Lincoln Hall and Missing Monuments at the Empty Bottle. Let's rock and roll, hoochie koo.

FRIDAY

THE CELL PHONES It's hard to believe that the Yeah Yeah Yeah's Fever to Tell has been around for nearly a decade. The chaotic art punks, led by outrageous front woman Karen O, set a new standard, and one that Chicago dance punks The Cell Phones seem to embrace. The trio rattle off hard-charging grooves with ease; all the while led by an extremely charismatic lead singer who can belt it out with the best of them. Also appearing tonight are blistering psych-rockers Rabble Rabble, who are always enjoyable; garage rockers White Mystery headline. (Audrey Leon) 10:00 p.m. Friday, 12/2. The Hideout. 21+ $10.

SATURDAY

RUSSIAN CIRCLES It probably doesn't get more epic than Chicago prog-metalists Russian Circles. The band is doing a victory lap after releasing its latest album Empros, which, as our editor Richard Giraldi stated last month, crushes. The band promised "its heaviest album to date," but it got more complex than that. Russian Circles didn't do away with melody, but they became more efficient at bringing forth destructive, hypnotic compositions while also giving way to life's more serene moments. Eerie post-metal outfit Anatomy of a Habit, and Louisville, Kentucky, noise rockers Young Widows open the show. (Audrey Leon) 10:00 p.m. Saturday, 12/3. Lincoln Hall. 18+ $15. THE LIFE AND TIMES The Life And Times sure know their way around a fretboard. The Chicago post-rockers' dense and swirling guitar attack is nearly cinematic, and yet they manage to not sound overblown via moody tones and spacey tendencies. Add to the fact that their live show is usually an ear blistering occasion that recalls the power and intensity of My Bloody Valentine, and you just might call the Life And Times a sure bet. Opening are Office Of Future Plans and All Eyes West. (Richard Giraldi) 9:00 p.m. Saturday, 12/3. Beat Kitchen. 17+. $12. MANNEQUIN MEN Has anyone else noticed a parallel between Mannequin Men and the 2011 Chicago Bears defense? A little bit older, a little bit wiser and yet they're still playing at the top of their game. But unlike hard sacks and athletic interceptions, Mannequin Men beat the opposition because their latest self-titled LP is full of infectious hooks coupled with jangly guitars antics. And they really prove that maybe the best approach is always the simplest. Locals Vee Dee open the show with their gritty blue collar psych blues. (Richard Giraldi) 9:00 p.m. Saturday, 12/3. The Hideout. 21+. $10.

SUNDAY

MISSING MONUMENTS Missing Monuments mastermind King Louie Bankston is a garage rock veteran, first starting out only for 25 years ago; in that time, he has played with The Persauders, The Exploding Hearts and even manned the skins for Jay Reatard. His new venture Missing Monuments dips its toes into the cooling waters of country-fied power pop. It's not far from the mellowness of Cheap Trick, but it's got a beat and you could dance to it. Also appearing tonight are swinging Chicago throwback rockers Tyler Jon Tyler and Lover!'s frontman Rich Crook. (Audrey Leon) 7:00 p.m. Sunday, 12/4. Empty Bottle. 21+ $3. By Staff  \  comments

Hello, Chicago. Meet your favorite new band: The Cell Phones. The trio doles out epic slices of rhythmic dance punk at its finest. Caffeinated Recordings were nice enough of to show us video evidence of why the indie rockers are so badass. Plus it doesn't hurt that lead singer Lindsey Charles is dressed as a punk rock Annie (or Gilly?), who just happens to be packing tremendous attitude and true power behind her vocal chords. Catch The Cell Phones as they melt your faces along with White Mystery and Rabble Rabble this Friday at The Hideout. By Audrey Leon  \  comments