According to Pitchfork.com, Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley has formed a new band called The High Confessions with industrial rocker Chris Connelly, well known for his work in both the Revolting Cocks and Ministry, Sanford Parker of Peoria metal group Minsk and Jeremy Lemos, who is not only a member of Chicago experimental, psychedelic outfit White/Light but has worked as an engineer along side Bill Callahan and Jim O’Rourke.

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Ex-Sonic Youth member, Wilco producer and Chicago experimental rocker Jim O’Rourke is set to release Visitors, a new solo effort of original material, on September 8 on Chicago’s Drag City label.

Additional details from Pitchfork.com:

According to the label, the record is more song-oriented than his excursions into avant-electronics (see: stuff like 2001’s I’m Happy, and I’m Singing, and a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 2007’s collaboration with Merzbow and Carlos Giffoni, Electric Dress). It’s apparently more in line with O’Rourke’s somber instrumental LP Bad Timing than his sly pop records, Eureka and Insignificance.

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Welcome to the Editor’s Open Thread (E.O.T.)! This Open Thread is designed for feedback from YOU a.k.a. the reader. We’ll pose a question and then we’ll post views/opinions from our editors/contributors for you to read, dissect and agree/disagree with by commenting on the story. The idea is to create some interesting musical dialogue.

First up we ask, What was the best album from June 2009? Now, the editor/contributor picks for best album from June 2009…

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Thurston Moore grabbed the mic stand and held it high as he yelled, “We’re Queer, We’re Here, Get Used to It” before offering a completely raucous version of new album track “No Way.” The scene couldn’t have been more perfect. Chicago’s Pride Festival was blocks away from Lakeview’s Vic Theatre, where inside Sonic Youth, a band that dared to similarly go against the grain by creating pop songs with musical afterthoughts like dissonance, static, and alternate tunings, was electrifying a sold out crowd.

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This week, we present a bigger, faster and stronger version of Weekend Diversions. Here we go…

Red Stripe presents a celebration of Jamaican music

This Jamaican music celebration features the music of Terry Lynn & John Hugo as well as additional DJ sets by Wildlife, Johan Hugo! Plus songs from Terry Lynn’s critically acclaimed album “KingstonLogic 2.0!” And if that’s not enough to get your groove on, there will be FREE RED STRIPE! HELL YEAH! This is a 21+ private event and admission is by RSVP only, and to RSVP click here. To download the free Jamaican music sampler It Was Written click here.

8:00 PM to 11:00 PM, Thursday, 6/25 at Q4 located at 2716 W. North Ave. Admission based on Capacity. You must RSVP for this event, which you can do so by clicking here.

The Lawrence Peters Outfit

Millennium park’s ongoing summertime eventOn Stage At Noon continues this friday, June 26th, with local country music favorites The Lawrence Peters Outfit. If you had a chance to see them at the Hideout’s Day In the Country you not only know that Lawrence plays the sweetest country tunes but also makes a mean agave nectar sweetened lemonade and is just maybe the sweetest gent you’ll ever meet. Come out and support him and his outfit and get an earful Chicago’s finest country. – Loud Loop Contributor Ross Meyerson

Noon to 1:00 PM, Friday 6/26 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago’s Millennium Park. FREE.

Girl in a Coma

San Antonio’s garage-rock threesome Girl in a Coma will play an ALL AGES show at Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art as part of the Sor Juana Festival, celebrating the cultural contributions of Mexican and Mexican American women. The performance is part of their tour in support of their new Blackheart Records release Trio B.C., which was produced by Joan Jett, Greg Collins (U2, No Doubt) and Gabriel Gonzalez (formerly of Sparta). Girl in a Coma are no newcomers to the tour circuit having previously toured with Morrissey, Tegan and Sara, the True Colors Tour and more.

8:15 PM, Sunday, 6/26 at Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art located at 1852 W. 19th St. $5.

Sonic Youth

Alt-rock legends open their summer tour supporting their new Matador Records release The Eternal with a two-night stand at Chicago’s Vic Theatre. You can read our review of The Eternal right here.

7:00 PM, Saturday, 6/27 and Sunday 6/28 at the Vic Theatre. $29.

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Innovation and striving for new sonic territory are usually important factors for bands that have been around for over 25 years. But sometimes it’s as important to fall back on your strengths as illustrated on Sonic Youth’s new album The Eternal. The album doesn’t drastically stray from their melodic and accessible 2006 effort Rather Ripped, but instead Sonic Youth rev-up the distortion and intensity for one of 2009’s best rock releases yet.

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Andrew Bird and Poi Dog Pondering are among the Chicago musicians slated to perform at the Austin City Limits Festival. Also performing are Sonic Youth who kick off their summer tour in Chicago on June 28. The three day event is set for October 2 – 4 at Zilker Park in Austin, TX. Headlining are festival main stage staples Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Beastie Boys and current RollingStone coverboys Kings of Leon. The latter two can also be caught headlining this year’s Lollapalooza. The rest of the line-up is available here, it’s really a shame Daniel Johnston is getting such a low billing in the Devil Town.

So if you can’t make it to Lollapalooza but want to catch a bunch of the same acts, head down to Austin this fall.

Early bird tickets have sold out, but regular three-day passes for $185 are on sale now.

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Sonic Youth will kick off their summer tour at Chicago’s Vic Theater on June 28. This tour is in support of their new album The Eternal that is set to be released on June 9. Check out the new track “Sacred Trickster”. All North American 2009 tour dates following the jump:

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