• • In stories that make you go “hmm” news, Gossip Wolf reveals that Chicago math rockers Del Ray have noticed a sales boost in Germany. Naturally, this can only be attributed to confusion with pouty pop temptress Lana Del Ray?
• • Brooklyn Vegan Chicago has some rad shots from last Tuesday’s Tortoise show at the Empty Bottle.
• • Gapers Block provide us with a wealth of photos in its review of Friday’s Los Campesinos! show at the Metro.
• • Gene Wagendorf of Windy City Rock discovers that even pounding sinus headaches accompanied by “orbs of phlegm” can’t stop a person from enjoying Yawn’s special brand of psych pop.

1. Holy crap, it’s Tortoise. Yes, the Chicago stalwarts return for a Tuesday night hometown treat at the Bottle tonight (one of their only five tour dates planned through this summer). Tortoise are not only one of the most important American post-rock slash experimental rock bands, but they may as well be one of the most important Chicago bands ever just in terms of their influence and activity in the local scene. Not only has the much band performed in other windy city acts (The Sea & Cake, Eleventh Dream Day), but they’ve become some of the city’s top producers as multi-instrumentalist John McEntire produced the most recent Broken Social Scene record and will work with jazz keyboardist Marco Benevento in 2012. While Tortoise’s 2009 record, Beacons Of Ancestorship, found them crafting accessible textures with an intriguing use of synthesizers that actually come across as quite rockin’, lest we forget all of their classic records (featuring some fantastic mallet work) like the 1996 epic Millions Now Living Will Never Die and 98′s TNT. Tonight’s not just poised to be an excellent rock show, but also a learning experience from soem of the top musicians Chicago has to offer. LISTEN: “High Class Slim Came Floatin’ In”

2. Dent-de-Lion, an avant-garde slash experimental project from French musician Aymeric Hainaux, will undoubtedly set the mood. You can find all of his abstract and eclectic pieces on his website Unpoisson.com. And opening the show is DJ Ryan Weinstein, who will get you moving with his repertoire of soul, funk and dancey punk.

3. Finally, let’s give you some visual evidence of Tortoise’s awesomeness. Here’s a video (that I shot) of the band killing their song, “Salt The Skies,” at Lincoln Hall all the way back in February of 2010. Dig it:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNp2DHDHW0Y

9:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1/24. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $15.

A Tundra | Photo by Donny Mahlmeister

1. Chicago mellow indie poppers A Tundra have literally been around the block. Mostly, just picking up strays from bands like Crush Kill Destroy, Joan of Arc, Smoking Popes, and Tortoise. The end result is a musical gumbo that sounds like equal parts Deerhoof and Joan of Arc with its calculated melodies and endearing male and female vocal dynamic. Also worth mentioning is the group’s penchant for punny song titles such as “Salvador Dali Pardon My French” and “I Phone, Euphone, We All Phone.” We posted a video for “Kurt Nivonnegut” last week.

2. Los Angeles duo Big Harp consists of the husband and wife team of Chris Senseney and Stefanie Drootin. Both Senseney and Drootin come from an indie rock background, Senseney having played with Art in Manila and Drootin with Tim Kasher’s other other side project The Good Life. However, when indie rockers collide, the end result is always something country. Senseney’s down home Nebraska drawl with its weary “seen-it-all-heard-it-all” gritty tone anchors each song on Big Harp’s debut LP White Hat. Gather ‘round, children. Big Harp has some stories to tell.

3. Chicago’s own Coins are the second duo of the evening. Angela Mullenhour and Ellen Bunch take the minimalist approach to pop relying on haunting A Capella-style vocals, lingering guitar tones and keyboard. Mullenhour and Bunch’s hymnals are perfect for celebrating Dia de los Muertos (which is today, by the way). Opening the show are the fiery, jazzy psych-pop hybrid of Dusty Bibles. And, hey, guitarist Trent Reusnow has connections to headliner A Tundra. I smell a cameo. Word up.

8:00 p.m. Wednesday, 11/2. Panchos. 18+ $7.

And this time around, as Pitchfork reports the local post-rockers have recorded a score for the new film Lovely Molly, which is directed by Eduardo Sánchez, who is best known for co-directing the late 90′s uber cheese-factor horror flick Blair Witch Project.

But don’t think the title Lovely Molly indicates happier movie. IMDB.com’s plot synopsis for the film describes it as, “A horror/thriller centered on one troubled young woman and the evil power that exists inside of her.”

And, according to Pitchfork, the films producer, Gregg Hale, had this to say about Tortoise’s soundtrack:

“Tortoise’s music is able to morph and change in a way that really accentuates the twists and turns in the Lovely Molly story” … “We had tried to work together in 1999 (on Fox’s sort-lived ‘Freakylinks’ TV series) and it didn’t pan out, so I was thrilled to have another chance to collaborate with them.”

Lovely Molly will premiere on September 14 at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Finally, expect Tortoise to return to town soon as John McEntire tells Pitchfork that they’re planning more touring ahead and the slim possibility that they’ll start recording a new album this winter.

All’s well that ends well. Sure, it rained all week, but it’s nice and sunny outside with just a tiny nip in the air. Naturally, that means it is time to party down while we still can. This weekend, especially, is a doozy. There are so many great shows that it is almost impossible to choose among them.

Some of the shows we’re all abuzz over are Gypsyblood at Liar’s Club, Dead Milkmen at Congress Theater and Local H at the Metro. Let’s hop to it, Chicago…

FRIDAY

SOFT SPEAKER
Our own Ross Meyerson practically gushed over Soft Speaker’s debut album I’ll Tend Your Garden. The album is chock full of songs that are simply put, a mish mash of grungey guitar riffs and smoky psychedelic and brit rock influence with a dab of Thom Yorke-ness. The net result is a brilliant first release by the Logan Square quartet. Also on hand this evening are the ghostly 60s girl-group throwback Hollows, scratchy-voiced pop rockers Michael Lux and the Bad Sons (who will have free copies of its debut ep Neat Repeater available) and jangly experimental rockers Dozens. Talk about getting more bang for your buck. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 4/29. Subterranean. 21+ $8.

MOGWAI
The instrumental onslaught that is Mogwai keeps chugging along, with the band having released yet another album of soft-loud awesomeness with the best title we’ve seen this year: Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will. Live, the band does something extremely difficult to pull off: though possibly the loudest show you’ll see this year, the technical wizardry of the band is never drowned out. A Mogwai show always has the potentiol of making your top ten shows of all time (Coachella 2006), and I’d have to imagine that seeing them at the Metro is going to be a mind-blowing and ear-numbing experience. (Andy Kondrat)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 4/29. Metro 18+ $25.

GYPSYBLOOD
Locals Gypsyblood have been generating quite a bit of buzz lately with their debut record Cold In The Guestway, what with it’s guitar-heavy, occasionally early ’90s vibe. But let’s not get it twisted, Gypsyblood are their own band as they add in touches of playfulness and humor that some of those alt-90′s bands simply whiffed on. Seeing how tonight’s Liars Club (Yes, THAT Liars Club) show is Gypsybloods’ record release for their debut, they’ve invited along labelmates Cast Spells, who are the folk-pop side project of Maps & Atlases crooner Dave Davison. Opening is a Loud Loop favorite Radar Eyes, who always impress with their dark psych-garage tunes. If you miss this, you will regret it dearly. Yes, that’s a threat. Get over it, crybaby. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 4/29. Liar’s Club. 21+. FREE!

FIELDED
There’s nothing simple about the one-woman band Fielded. The only instrument Lindsay Powell, who is also vocalist for Ga’an, really needs is her voice. Powell uses synths and samples to twist and manipulate her voice into a rhythm section for haunting ambient pop stylings. To see her music recreated live is well worth the relatively small price of admission. Psych-rockers Verma and Zath, the metal side project of Ga’an drummer Seth Sher, will also appear. (Audrey Leon)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 4/29. The Hideout. 21+ $8.

SATURDAY

BATTLES
Battles’ first full-length album Mirrored is kind of, well, the best thing ever (hitting No. 3 on my top ten albums of last decade). The live show, as well, was beyond stellar. There might not even be a word in the English language to describe how good their shows were. Since that record was released, however, guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Tyondai Braxton has left the band, and Battles’ new record, Glass Drop, is sure to be divisive–the Loud Loop staff has already started drawing lines in the sand over it. The questions, then, are these: will the live show still be phenomenal? Can they play tracks off of Mirrored? Will the lack of guest vocalists live help or hinder the band? There’s only one way to find out the answers to all these questions, and just to sate your curiosity will be worth the price of admission. (Andy Kondrat)

10:00 p.m. Saturday, 4/30. Lincoln Hall. 18+. SOLD OUT.

DEAD MILKMEN
I’ll just go ahead and put this bluntly: The Dead Milkmen is the most essential inessential band I can think of. That is to say, these guys blur the already-sometimes-hazy line between punk rock and novelty, with song titles off my favorite record of theirs – Beelzebubba – including “Born to Love Volcanoes,” “Sri Lanka Sex Hotel,” and “Bleach Boys.” Either in spite of, or because of, the silliness inherent to some of the band’s songs, combined with the actual real punk rock music they produce, this show is guaranteed to be nothing short of a blast. Revered local punks The Lawrence Arms will also appear. (Andy Kondrat)

7:30 p.m. Saturday, 4/30. Congress Theater. All Ages. $18.

MANNEQUIN MEN
According to the Chicago Tribune, locals the Mannequin Men play “math rock, punk, metal, free jazz”. Huh. Well, isn’t that interesting. Here we were all along thinking they played jangly, garage rock with folky hooks. Boy, aren’t our faces red? Anyway, we’re still awaiting their next batch of tunes to get an official release. Maybe that’s where the free jazz shows up? Either way, we’re excited. And so should you for the opportunity to see the band positively wreck it at the Empty Bottle with local indie poppers Sleep Kitty ands E+.

9:30 p.m. Saturday, 4/30. Empty Bottle. 21+. $8.

SUNDAY

LOCAL H
Who doesn’t love a good homecoming? The members of Local H (Scott Lucas and Brian St. Clair) have been traversing the US, supporting of its recent “greatest hits” collection from the band’s Island Records years (i.e. The 1990s). Sunday, the hard rocking duo finally come home to Chicago’s majestic Metro. The 90s were a magical decade and Local H were produced many a great album, but if you are jonesing to hear 1996’s uber popular “Bound for the Floor,” you’re finally in luck. So c’mon and feel the nostalgia. (Audrey Leon)

7:00 p.m. Sunday, 5/1. Metro. All Ages. $15.

TIM KINSELLA & FRIENDS
Tim Kinsella, the mastermind behind such Chicago institutions as Cap’n Jazz, Joan of Arc and many more, is bringing his indie rock prowess to the Whistler stage with some friends. The friends? Why it’s John Herndon from Tortoise, Theo Katsaounis from Joan of Arc and A Tundra, and Donny Malhmeister, also from A Tundra. The Whistler’s website describes the evening as a “duel” between a “double duo,” but no word on just who will duel to the death. Electro rockers Relay Beken will open the festivities. (Audrey Leon)

9:30 p.m. Sunday, 5/1. The Whistler. 21+ FREE

www.youtube.com/watch?v=icL1I2trUeg

According to a press release from local imprint Thrill Jockey, Old Punch Card is not only a departure from Prekop’s previous solo material but from his main band The Sea And Cake as well. The album is said to be influenced by early electronic music as well as avant garde compositions as it’s composed entirely of modular synthesizers with no vocals, no beats and only one instance of guitar.

If this sounds like something right up your alley, good news! Download the Old Punch Card track “The Silhouettes” right here. The song is definitely composed entirely of synthesizers with whirling blips and buzzes, but it is highly melodic, which is very promising for the rest of the album.

In other Sam Prekop news, he will be touring for much of September and October with his primary project, Chicago experimental rock outfit The Sea And Cake with Canada’s indie rock act Broken Social Scene. Additionally, Prekop plays guitars and sings on Broken Social Scene’s latest record Forgiveness Rock Record, which was produced by The Sea And Cake/Tortoise drummer John McEntire. The tour includes a stop at Chicago’s Riviera Theatre on Saturday, October 2. Tickets for the show are on sale right now at Etix.com.

Find the complete Broken Social Scene/The Sea And Cake tour dates below:

The Sea and Cake tour dates with Broken Social Scene

Sep 13 Washington, DC Warner Theatre w/Broken Social Scene
Sep 14 Philadelphia, PA Theater of Living Arts w/Broken Social Scene
Sep 17 Boston, MA House of Blues w/Broken Social Scene
Sep 18 New York, NY Rumsey Playfield w/Broken Social Scene
Sep 20 New Haven, CT Toads Place w/Broken Social Scene
Sep 21 Northampton, MA Calvin Theatre w/Broken Social Scene
Sep 22 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground w/Broken Social Scene
Sep 24 Ithaca, NY Historic Ithaca State Theatre w/Broken Social Scene
Sep 25 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 2 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 3 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 4 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 6 Winnipeg, MB Burton Cummings Theatre w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 7 Saskatoon, SK The Odeon Events Centre w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 8 Calgary, AB Macewan Hall w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 9 Edmonton, AB Winspear Centre w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 10 Kelowna, BC Kelowna Community Theatre w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 12 Victoria, BC Element Nightclub w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 13 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 14 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 15 Seattle, WA Paramount Ballroom w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 16 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom w/Broken Social Scene
Oct 17 San Francisco, CA Treasure Islands Music Festival
Oct 19 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theatre w/Broken Social Scene

1. I love Tortoise for many reasons, one of them being that they love their hometown. Either they’re playing incredible shows in Chicago like the one last February at Lincoln Hall or they’re playing with other incredible musicians such as when John McEntire joined Broken Social Scene at Pitchfork Music Festival. Well, tonight is no different as the band joins some of Chicago’s top jazz players including cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm, multi-reedist from 8 Bold Souls Ed Wilkerson Jr., sax player Greg Ward, flautist Nicole Mitchell and pianist Jim Baker to kick off the Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz series.

2. The Chicago Reader’s Peter Margasak explains how even though Tortoise are world class improvisers, there isn’t much of that going on tonight.

Per Margasak:
…won’t merely be stepping up in turn to improvise solos—they were invited to rehearsals to develop their own parts and help shape the work.

So, tonight we’ll hear fully formed pieces that will be a collision of post-rock and jazz? Count me in.

3. Sure, they won’t be playing this song tonight, but I think this video is worth a repost in case the two reasons above have not swayed you to make the trip over to Millennium Park on this crisp, nearly cool, summer day. Here’s Tortoise at Lincoln Hall on February 20 of this year absolutely killing it with their song “Salt The Skies”. Enjoy:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNp2DHDHW0Y

6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 29. Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park. All Ages. FREE!