In our interview with Brian Case of Chicago’s psych-garage rockers Disappears, we asked him about a set of new songs Disappears have already recorded with current drummer Steve Shelley, who made a name for himself in a little band called Sonic Youth.

Case informed us that the songs they’ve already recorded with Shelley are available on an EP, titled Live at Echo Canyon, which currently only available at Disappears’ live shows. Soon, however, the EP will be available to all, through Chicago’s excellent tape label Plustapes no less, on Tuesday, March 8.

One of the tracks on Live at Echo Canyon is a cover of the song “Radiation” from electro-punk duo Suicide. Disappears, of course, do it up in their style and dispense with the lo-fi synthesizer of the original in favor of skin-tight snare work and reverb-dripping guitar work. Listen to the cover, via Thedecibeltolls.com, right here: Disappears – “Radiation” (Suicide Cover)

By Richard Giraldi  \  comments

Monday Afternoon Quick Fix runs every Monday afternoon to showcase the best of Chicago music news, views and stories from around the interwebs and blogosphere that we might have missed.

• • The Tribune’s Greg Kot talks Disappears and their new drummer Steve Shelley, who you might also know from a little band called Sonic Youth.
• • Jim DeRogatis continues his always entertaining Vortis Diaries with a look at the band’s most recent show at Cal’s.
• • Chicago Garage reviews last Friday’s Michael Lux & the Bad Sons show at the Bottom Lounge.
• • Liz Phair talks about Wicker Park at Blackbookmag.com.
• • Sun-Times’ Mark Guarino reviews the Jayhawks’ recent stop at the Vic Theatre.

By Richard Giraldi  \  comments

Chicago’s Disappears released a brand new track titled “Superstition” onto the world via Pitchfork.com’s Forkcast last week.

“Superstition” is from their upcoming release, Guider, which is set to drop on Tuesday, January 18, and that’s the album’s cover art to the left. The track is just what you’d want in a Disappears song: noisy, rapidly-strummed guitars, reverb-soaked vocals and driving drums. Listen to the song here: Disappears – “Superstition”.

As we previously reported, Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley has joined the band as a temporary replacement for departing drummer Graeme Gibson. Shelley will be joining the band on their tour that kicks off early next year. And don’t forget to catch Disappears for the Guider album release show on Friday, February 2, at the Empty Bottle. Tickets are available right now at Ticketweb.com for $10.

By Richard Giraldi  \  comments

According to the band’s blog, Disappears have amicably parted ways with drummer Graeme Gibson. His replacement? Why it’s none other than Sonic Youth drummer Steven Shelley! Pretty cool, no?

The band writes in the blog post:

…STEVE SHELLEY WILL BE FILLING IN FOR AS LONG AS HE IS ABLE OR WANTS TO. WE’RE HONORED TO BE PLAYING WITH SOMEONE WHO’S BEEN SUCH AN INFLUENCE ON US.

Great timing for this move seeing how the local psychy, garage rockers have a new album, Guider, scheduled to be released on January 18. Around that time, Disappears will also be hitting the road including a Guider record release show on Friday, February 2, at the Empty Bottle. Here’s hoping we’ll get to see Shelley in action! Check out the rest of Disappears tour dates after the jump.

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By Richard Giraldi  \  comments

Three I-still-think-it-is-weird-that-rabbits-live-in-the-city reasons to cinch up that elastic waistband and head on over to Lincoln Hall this very night…

1. Recently, Greg Kot wrote a piece about how 35 years after the fact Germany’s Neu! are finally cool. I might argue that the cool started earlier than that, but one cannot deny the number of bands, many of them local, that use the “motorik” sound of Neu and run with it. Tonight, you can see from where all of your favorite bands have been lovingly stealing. Michael Rother is playing the songs of Neu! – as well as some Harmonium and solo stuff – live with the help of Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley and Aaron Mullan. This is a pretty big deal.

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By Ross Meyerson  \  1 comment

As we reported back in February, Chicago metal heroes Sanford Park (Minsk, Nachtmystium, Twilight) and Jeremy Lemos (White/Light) have united with Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley and Ministry/Revolting Cocks vocalist Chris Connelly to form the group High Confessions.

The noise-rocker’s debut album Turning Lead Into Gold with the High Confessions is now available for streaming via Stereogum.com.

Per Stereogum:
The 5-song/50-minute collection’s a slow-release patchwork of dark clattering tones, drum rolls, drone, outbursts, noise-rock, shades of Current 93, weird industrial chatter. The old-school post-rock opener “Mistaken For Cops” is a scene-establishing intro that makes way for the four challenging, satisfying 10 minute epics that follow it.

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By Audrey Leon  \  comments

You know how when you were a kid and you would think about how cool it is to be a rock star because you could hang out with other rock stars and just jam out? Well, it turns out rocker Beck had the same fantasy growing up.

Time Out Chicago reported yesterday that Chicago post-rockers Tortoise joined magical freak-of-nature Beck in his Los Angeles studio for his Record Club project.

Beck’s Record Club project is a relaxed studio session where Beck and his coolest rock star friends get together to re-record classic albums.

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By Audrey Leon  \  comments