Tyler Jon Tyler

1. There might not be a better local band to spend your Valentine’s Day with than Tyler Jon Tyler. Their uber-melodic approach to minimal garage pop is equally a perfect soundtrack to snuggle up to your significant other with as it is rambunctious enough for you to jump around to because, “Fuck Valentine’s Day!” And unlike a box of Chocolates, you know what you’re going to get with Tyler Jon Tyler – boogie down rhythms, fiery guitar antics and Rebecca Valeriano-Flores’s commanding delivery. LISTEN: “Tick Tock Tick”

2. For those whose like their love a bit rougher, Nones has got you covered. The band combination of grimy punk and eccentric art rock make for a frenetic sonic attack, which at times includes some surprise, rowdy sax. LISTEN: “Wife Meat”

3. Hey! Look! One of our 12 Chicago Bands To Watch In 2012, The Runnies! For those who like their lover with a whole lot of soul, that’s what The Runnies provide with organ-driven, pop-flavored numbers that feel like a church revival for those who still worship at the alter of garage rock. LISTEN: “Easy”

9:30 p.m. Tuesday, 2/14. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $8.

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.

Shonen Knife

We’re talking about some sweet shows including Shonen Knife’s 30th anniversary tour stop at Empty Bottle, plus Mastodon at the Riv and Panda Riot at the Burlington.

Let’s hop to it.

FRIDAY

MASTODON
How does heavy metal breakthrough act Mastodon follow-up a concept-heavy record with 10 minute plus epics? The exact opposite. Their latest, The Hunter, instead is powered by thirteen face melters that usually fall in the 3-4 minute range. Mastodon show off their chops as they not throwdown the heavy riffge but offer some southern rock-tinged ballads (“Stargasm”) and big theatrical pieces (“The Creature”). Red Fang and Dillinger Escape Plan open. (Richard Giraldi)

7:00 p.m. Friday, 11/11. Riviera Theatre. $24.

PANDA RIOT
Lush dream poppers Panda Riot are a favorite of LLP for a reason. The group can write simple, catchy pop gems that draw you in and never let go. We recently previewed a new track from the group’s upcoming new album and it is easy to hear the influence of shoegaze legends My Bloody Valentine on each floating, haunting harmony. Also on the bill tonight are lo-fi pop duo The Halamays and and equally dreamy pop janglers Careful Q. (Audrey Leon)

8:30 p.m. Friday, 11/11. Burlington Bar (3425 W. Fullerton Ave). 21+ $5.

MEAT PUPPETS
Alt rock pioneers The Meat Puppets have influenced dozens of bands over their 30 year career, but probably no one more than Kurt Cobain was able to move the band into the consciousness of alternative rock fans by covering the Meat Puppet’s own songs “Plataeu” and “Lake of Fire” on Nirvana’s 1993 MTV Unplugged session. The Meat Puppets are on tour in support of its 13th studio album Lollipop. Supporting the group are Belgian psych rockers The Black Box Revelation and Chicago rockers The Sweeps. (Audrey Leon)

8:00 p.m. Friday, 11/11. Double Door. 21+ $15.

SATURDAY

SCRATCH ACID
Before Jesus Lizard’s maniacal frontman David Yow played bass down in Austin, Texas, and ended up forming a band with vocalist Steve Anderson, guitarist David Wm. Sims and drummer Rey Washam in 1982. That band then promptly kicked out Anderson, and thus Scratch Acid was born. The outfit rocked a noisy assault that’s definitely similar to Jesus Lizard but offers a more frantic and punk edge. After initially disbanding in1987, Scratch Acid has regrouped a few times before announcing a tour earlier this fall. Opening are local droners Anatomy Of Habit. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 11/12. The Metro. 18+. $20.

SHONEN KNIFE
It’s hard to believe that Japanese punk-loving pop rockers Shonen Knife have been kicking around for 30 years. The trio’s longevity can only be attributed to its penchant for creating bouncy, fast-paced pop gems like “Twist Barbie,” from its 1982 debut Burning Farm and “Perfect Freedom” from 2010’s Free Time. Shonen Knife may be heavily influenced by the Ramones but the femmes’ own sound certainly won over plenty of pioneering rockers like Nirvana and Sonic Youth. Nashville surf-punks Heavy Cream and Chicago garage rockers Tyler Jon Tyler will open. (Audrey Leon)

10:00 p.m. Saturday, 11/12. Empty Bottle. 21+ $10 adv./ $12 day of.

SUNDAY

MISTER HEAVENLY
Indie rock supergroup Mister Heavenly are out of love. Indeed. You can forget about bringing your never nude jean short shorts and Les Cousins Dangereaux posters for signing, because Mister Heavenly and one-time bassist Michael Cera (AKA George Michael Bluth AKA Scott Pilgrim) have parted ways. Mister Heavenly released its debut full-length Out of Love, which is filled with competent jangly rock jams or “doom wop” as Honus Honus called the band’s music in an interview with Spinner this past March. Hopefully, the band is calling this the “Mister Mister” tour because Brooklyn dance rockers Mr. Dream (but are they the misters of Mister Heavenly’s dreams?) will open along with Chicago, by way of Schaumburg, pop rockers Camera. (Audrey Leon)

7:00 p.m. Sunday, 11/13. Subterranean. 17+ $12 adv./$14 day of.

Dum Dum Girls

Thank Urkel it’s Friday, y’all. There are a lot of great options for this weekend’s entertainment and, as we do every week, we’re picking out our faves. We’re talking Dum Dum Girls, Cave, Melt Banana and more.

Treat yo self!

FRIDAY

DUM DUM GIRLS
Good news for all those Dum Dum Girls fans who didn’t get tickets for tonight’s Empty Bottle show. The retro-rocking indie fashionistas are playing a FREE in-store at Reckless Records in Wicker Park (1532 N. Milwaukee Ave.) tonight at 7. Dum Dum Girls shook things up on their new album Only in Dreams after passing of singer Dee Dee’s mother. The album is deeply personal and conjures a sparkling smooth sound that is more pop than garage. Only in Dreams is an impressive showcase for Dee Dee and her velvety pipes. (Audrey Leon)

7:00 p.m. Friday, 10/14. Reckless – Wicker Park. All Ages. FREE. / 10:00 p.m. Friday, 10/14. Empty Bottle. 21+ Sold out.

TYLER JON TYLER
Chicago rockers Tyler Jon Tyler have all the right ingredients for a power trio: A howling, bass-playing frontwoman backed by jangly guitar and, steady, danceable drum beats. And You can really hear TJT singer Rebecca Flores turn into a young Chrissie Hynde on this WFMU live set from April. Doesn’t get much better than that. Also on hand for this FREE show are dark cabaret poppers Magic Key. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 10/14. Burlington Bar. 21+ FREE

SATURDAY

CAVE
When they’re not jamming in the bed of a truck driving around Chicago, CAVE create some of the city’s most impressive kraut and/or progressive rock. Their latest, Neverendless, may just be their best yet as its filled with synth-heavy but rocking jams that are very accessible. Also performing are locals Chandeliers who go for glitchy, hypnotic dance sounds, and garagey, psych outfit Jerusalem and the Starbaskets. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/15. The Hideout. 21+. $10.

CMJ SEND-OFF PARTY
We hate to see you go, but we love to watch you leave. Our friends at CHIRP, HeaveMedia, Windy City Rock, Wine from the Moon and many more came together to give a proper farewell and good luck party to several Chicago bands heading East for CMJ Music Festival. On the bill are local folk poppers Paper Thick Walls – who wrote probably the most romantic love song ever, “Orange Tree.” Joining them are the gritty acoustic pop stylings of The Damn Choir as well as bedroom pop of Kellen & Me and Portland’s own Radiation City.

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/15. Ultra Lounge. 21+ $8 adv. / $10 day of

SUNDAY

MELT-BANANA
Since 1992, Japan’s Melt-Banana have gained quite the reputation as, um, quite crazy. Their experimental, punk and noise rock leanings have drawn comparisons to John Zorn and Mike Patton. On Sunday, they take the stage at Subterranean with support from some very fine local acts. Those being your favorite flower punks Rabble Rabble and the now-quartet riot poppers Swimsuit Addition. (Richard Giraldi)

7:30 p.m. Sunday, 10/16. Subterranean. 17+. $12.

Mad Decent Block Party

I believe it was rock legends (ha!) Loverboy who said, “Everybody’s working for the weekend.” Well, it looks like we’ve reached that miraculous part of our week where we can shrug off the fatigue and get ready to party.

If you thought the summer festival season ended with Lollapalooza, you’d be wrong. We’re talking about Mad Decent’s Block Party in Bucktown this Saturday as well as fabulous shows by Birth (last show!), White Mystery, Pretty Good Dance Moves and Tyler Jon Tyler, to name a few.

Let’s get to it!

FRIDAY

BIRTH
Birth sound exactly like a loud band from Chicago, and I mean that as the highest form of complement–this trio would be right at home on a bill with Shellac or Jesus Lizard. However, come next week, Birth will be playing even fewer shows than either of the other two aforementioned bands. After this show on Friday, Birth pack it in and their singer/bassist moves to LA for the most LA of reasons (a PhD in Sociology), and then you’ll have missed your chance to have your brain rocked to sufficient levels. So make your way to Water Works and watch the triumphant death of a band that you should have been loving all along, and in five or ten years when all the new post-hardcore bands cite Birth as their number one influence, you can say you were there. (Andy Kondrat).

7:00 p.m. Friday, 8/12. Water Works (651 S. Clark St.) 21+ $8.

WHITE MYSTERY
So, there’s a new venue in Loqan Square called the Ultra Lounge. You may not have heard of it… yet, that is. See tonight, those rowdy red-headed revelers White Mystery are set to blow the roof off the joint and give it a proper Chicago opening. But that’s not all, dirty garage rockers Magic Milk, the hellish Unstoppable Death Machines, Australian noise duo DEAD and the sweet, sweet fuzz of Unmanned Ship. So, head to the Ultra Lounge tonight before this show leaves it in a pile of rubble. (Richard Giraldi)

8:00 p.m. Friday, 8/12. Ultra Lounge. 21+. $7.

RABBLE RABBLE
What can I say that I haven’t already said about this awesome rag-tag Chicago quartet. These cool cats play some groovy, body moving psych rock that is wild and crazy and absolutely fun to watch. If you haven’t paid attention to our past pleas to check Rabble Rabble out, do yourself a favor and run over to Treasure Town tonight because it’s likely the band’s last show until October. Also playing this show are atmospheric Indiana noise rockers We Are Hex, saxophone-loving Chicago experimental rockers Cool Memories and dark local pysch rock trio Killer Moon. Get some! (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 8/12. Treasure Town.. 21+ Donations accepted.

SATURDAY

MAD DECENT BLOCK PARTY
Mad Decent’s not just a clever name. The acts the Diplo-heded label attract are actually, you know, decent. On tap for the Chicago party are locals Dawn Golden & Rosy Cross, the ambient electropop sideproject of Houses frontman Dexter Tortoriello; groove rocker Bosco Delrey, dance rockers Reptar and headliners Dillon Francis and Curren$y, just to name a few. The party starts at noon and will occupy North Milwaukee Avenue between Western and Oakley. You probably don’t want to miss this. Don’t forget to RSVP at MadDecentBlockParty.com. (Audrey Leon)

Noon. Saturday, 8/13. North Milwaukee (Between Western and Oakley). ALL AGES. FREE!

PRETTY GOOD DANCE MOVES
If you needed a good excuse to put on those dancing shoes this weekend, Pretty Good Dance Moves on a Saturday night at the Empty Bottle seems like the perfect reason. They do cool groves, they do pretty vocals, they do music with drum machines and synths that’s updated for today’s rock and roll scene. What I’m trying to say is, they’re the perfect band to book at the Empty Bottle on a Saturday night. So, go. Listen to music. Be friendly. Enjoy dancing. This show is what the weekend is all about. (Andy Kondrat).

10:00 p.m. Saturday, 8/13. Empty Bottle. 21+ $6.

SUNDAY

TYLER JON TYLER
I love the smell of record stores in the early afternoon. Garage rock trio Tyler Jon Tyler are no strangers to playing in-stores at Chicago record shops. During Record Store Day, singer Rebecca Flores appeared at both Laurie’s Planet of Sound as a DJ and Reckless for some casual rocking. Now the group is popping into the brightly lit Logan Square shop Saki. Should be a good afternoon for some browsing and watching some fun garage pop goodness. (Audrey Leon)

3:00 p.m. Sunday, 8/14. Saki. All Ages. Free!

BULLY IN THE HALLWAY
Chicago alt-rockers Bully in the Hallway are back for another rowdy show at the Hideout. If you’re unfamiliar, the quartet’s energetic brand of indie rock is highly reminiscent of fellow locals Braid. From the vocals, which also have a hint of Fugazi thrown into the mix, to the guitars and drums, there is a definitely a big, familiar mid-90s-era alt-rock vibe going on. Headlining the show are Seattle blues rockers My Goodness. The duo summon the sound of genre legends Jon Spencer and Black Keys, and deliver. (Audrey Leon)

9:00 p.m. Sunday, 8/14. The Hideout. 21+ $8.

Tyler Jon Tyler

2. Are you the mood for something adventurous? Then Dusty Bibles may just be right up your alley. The Chicago quartet blend elements of psychedelic rock with free jazz (saxophone, y’all!) for instrumental pieces that can get eerie and haunting but stay quite melodic. The songs burn slow but with a strangely hypnotic sensibility.

3. Finally, tonight’s headliners are Times New Viking who have bilt up a following with their noisy, lo-fi aesthetics. The Columbus outfit have pretty much made it, at least made it as far as a band that creates static-covered pop tunes can, and are now signed to Matador and are Pitchfork news-update staples. And yes, their live show is pretty up to snuff as well.

9:30 p.m. Wednesday, 6/29. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $12.

Yet another sign of summer, despite Chicago’s foray into November-like Fall temperatures, is the announcement of the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival’s musical lineup.

The three-day street festival kicks off Friday, July 29 and ends Sunday, July 31, along North Milwaukee between California and Kimball Avenues in Logan Square. The Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival includes two stages chocked full of local artists, including four of our 11 Chicago Bands to Watch in 2011.

The main stage will be ruled by groovy soul rockers JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound on Friday. Brother and sister fuzz rockers White Mystery headline on Saturday and dance rock mash-up masters The Hood Internet follow suit on Sunday night.

Cole’s stage, located at the south end of the festival along Milwaukee and Belden Avenues, turns up the rock-and-roll ferocity with several local psych-rockers on Friday night including The Great Society Mind Destroyers and headliners Rabble Rabble.

More acts will likely be announced, but you can get the full festival lineup after the jump.

Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival Main Stage

Friday, 7/29

6:00 p.m. Furious Frank
7:30 p.m. Los Vicios de Papa
9:00 p.m. JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound

Saturday, 7/30

3:00 p.m. Rafter
4:30 p.m. This Is Cinema
6:00 p.m. Hollows
7:30 p.m. The Arrivals
9:00 p.m. White Mystery

Sunday, 7/31

2:00 p.m. Black Bear Combo
3:30 p.m. Beaba Do Samba
5:00 p.m. Papo Santiago
6:30 p.m. Sidewalk Chalk
8:00 p.m. The Hood Internet

Cole’s Stage

Friday, 7/29

6:00 p.m. The Great Society Mind Destroyers
7:00 p.m. Secret Colours
8:00 p.m. Panda Riot
9:00 p.m. Outer Minds
10:00 p.m. Rabble Rabble

Saturday, 7/30

7:30 p.m. Soft Speaker
9:30 p.m. The Eternals

Sunday, 7/31

Cafe Mustache Presents
8:00 p.m. Tyler Jon Tyler
9:00 p.m. Netherfriends

chaperone

Hot town, summer in the city. Summer is creeping upon us, Nicki Minaj-style. But enough of the weather report, we have a lot of music to get to.

We’re talking about Urge Overkill at Bottom Lounge, Tommy Stinson at Double Door and Rambos at the Whistler.

Let’s get to it, gang.

FRIDAY

URGE OVERKILL
Any band that’s had Neil Diamond cover one of its songs and had it end up on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack has certainly done something right, and Urge Overkill is no exception (or, perhaps, is the only instance). Yet, aside from “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” being the best song for Uma Thurman to OD to, a chance to see Urge Overkill is a chance to see Chicago alt-rock royalty, from back in the day when opening for Pearl Jam and Nirvana meant you were a step away from the big time (well, Bobcat Goldthwait opened for Nirvana, but that’s another story for another day). After a long hiatus, Urge Overkill is back and ready to rock your brain, and you can wear it like a badge of honor that you saw them in their hometown. (Andy Kondrat)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 5/20. Bottom Lounge. 17+. $22.

GONZO CHICAGO VICTORY SHOW
“VICTORY!” is what John Yingling shouted from the mountain tops when his Indiegogo fundraiser reach (and exceeded) its goal of $3,500. To celebrate, he’s collaborating on a righteous show tonight with the fine folks of Betta (a play on the word “Better” as opposed to Beta) at the world’s cleanest and brightest music venue, The Mutiny. You to can be there for the price of NOTHING. The party stars local raunchy egg rollers Magic Milk, curry-rockers Tyler Jon Tyler, pad thai power poppers The Brothers Gross and crab rangoon face melters Close Hits. Also, did I mention I’m in the mood for Thai? Anyway, be there or be cubed. Ya herd meh? (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 5/20. The Mutiny. 21+. FREE!

CRYSTAL STILTS
If you see one band with the word “crystal” in its name this week, make it Crystal Stilts. The Brooklyn garage poppers have been wowing critics (i.e. Pitchfork) and fans with their Joy Division meets 60s surf pop brand of music. Now isn’t that the weirdest description you’ve ever read? Of course it is. The band is in Chicago to promote its recent album In Love with Oblivion. Crystal Stilts pack plenty of fuzzy guitars and droning Ian Curtis-style vocals on top of swinging, hip-shaking back beat. It’s totally against every law of physics in the books, but some how it works. (Audrey Leon)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 5/20. Empty Bottle. 21+. $12.

SATURDAY

ORNERY LITTLE DARLINGS’ LISTENING PARTY
The now-three piece rockers Ornery Little Darlings want you to listen to their brand new album Get After It. So much so that they’re throwing a nifty party at Beauty Bar. Come listen to Ornery Little Darling’s debut album and come away with free download cards. Plus there’s a hosted bar from 8-9pm. Free music and cheap booze! (Audrey Leon)

7:00 p.m. Saturday, 5/21. Beauty Bar. 21+ Free!

TOMMY STINSON
If you’re not sure who Tommy Stinson is, how about we start the diversion this way: a dude from The Replacements that’s also been a member of Guns N’ Roses and Soul Asylum is playing the Double Door, so you know he’s got chops to spare. But Stinson is also a solo artist in his own right, having released one solo album, with another one to be released in August, so you can expect some Professional Rocking at this show. Slobberbone opens, whose song “Gimme Back My Dog” was named one of the three greatest rock and roll songs of all time by Stephen King. True story. This show has the potential for super amazing all over it. (Andy Kondrat)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 5/21. Double Door. 21+. $10.

SUNDAY

CHAPERONE
Close out your weekend with the head-bopping, dramatic folk-pop of Chaperone. The Chicago rockers will perform alongside the catchy pop rock stylings of Honest Engines and Elia Einhorn from Scotland Yard Gospel Choir for the Columbia College Chicago label AEMMP Records showcase. There’s no better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than hearing some foot-tapping jangly pop rock and searching through the vinyl bins to increase the heft of those old record collections. (Audrey Leon)

2:00 p.m. Sunday, 5/22. Saki. All Ages. Free!

RAMBOS
Chicago garage punks Rambos so impressed us with their super catchy track “Terrorize” that we can’t help but faun over the band. While the quintet’s name and song titles suggest a super macho and overly aggressive rock ‘n’ roll band, Rambos is more about partying and grooving than angry mosh pits. But if you want to them to be the soundtrack to an old-fashioned duel, I doubt they’d mind. Pistols at dawn, sir. (Audrey Leon)

9:30 p.m. Sunday, 5/22. The Whistler. 21+ Free!

Tyler Jon Tyler

“Take Five” focuses on Chicago’s ever-growing music scene by giving you insight to the city’s best local acts via the best source possible: the artists themselves. Here is the latest installment featuring Tyler Jon Tyler.

If Tyler Jon Tyler were a kid in your high school he’d be the cool one everyone likes; who doesn’t try too hard, who mixes among the jocks, deadbeats, and nerds with an ease you might consider annoying if you didn’t already like him so damn much. The three-piece’s no-frills guitar pop and punk attitude is so immediate and charming it’s almost impossible, no matter what your musical affliction, not to enjoy.

In the fall, the group released its debut, self-titled LP to a multitude of positive reviews. They are currently on the road and returning to Chicago today to play Beauty Bar before going back out in June to tour with Times New Viking. We recently caught up with lead singer and guitarist Rebecca Valeriano-Flores to ask her about the dynamic of the group, what gear the members dig, and what they do when instruments aren’t in their hands.

LLP: How does songwriting work in Tyler Jon Tyler?

Sometimes I write chord structures and put them to lyrics I’ve written previously as a poem; sometimes I write music and then choose a concept to shape the song to. I take it to Tom (Cassling, drums) and Nathan (Jerde, bass) and we determine the mood of the song and work on our parts together. Tom said the other day that we write just a bit beyond our ability: we kind of aim high despite being kind of limited. I think all of our songs are about love, or sex, or desire… they just use different vehicles to get there. We have a couple songs about robots, too.

LLP: Sex?

It’s mostly just innuendo or buried in metaphor. Usually the lyrics that seem sexual really aren’t at all and the ones that are don’t sound like it. 

LLP: What gear do you favor? What are the things you always come back to and record with?

Right now I’m playing a mystery Teisco that I bought at Tom’s shop (Shake Shop). It has four pickups that are microphonic: Tom and Nathan once pointed out that whenever I laugh during practice, they can hear it through my amp because my guitar picks it up.

The amp I play through is a Harmony solid-state made around ’72. It has two 12-inch speakers, a really tinny reverb and weird tremolo. I found it at the Music Store on Irving Park for $150, and I first liked it because it was so pretty: padded dark blue tolex and purple glitter grill cloth. It also sounds amazing!

I love nice guitars and amplifiers, but my setup only cost about $300. I like the idea that you can have rare, vintage gear and not have to pay a ton of money for it.

LLP: What did you grow up listening to? What (not necessarily music-related) inspires you now and keeps you working at music?

I grew up listening to The Beatles and pop music on the radio. My older sister got me into punk and hardcore when we were pretty young. She was probably 14 and I was 10, stuff like Minor Threat, Fugazi, the Adolescents, the Descendents. I was also really into the movie “Clueless,” which I think probably changed my music taste for the better: the soundtrack had a lot of great power-pop and Britpop on it.

Live music inspires me the most now. Watching people on stage, especially musicians I really admire, makes me want to keep playing music. I love going to shows. Being surrounded by the sound, and watching the people who are making it up close is the best thing ever.

LLP: Who are you and your band are outside of your music?

Tom runs a guitar repair shop and general music store called Shake Shop, where he fixes and sells guitars and stuff. Nathan and I are both screen printers. We’re all artists. I do some graphic design, and Nathan’s illustrations are going to be shown at the opening party for Hozac’s Blackout Fest. The dudes are from the Chicago area; I grew up in San Jose, Calif., and have been here for about five years. We don’t have any other ambitions. 

Tyler Jon Tyler — Pleasantries
Pleasantries by tylerjontyler

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TYLER JON TYLER
7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 5
Beauty Bar, 1444 W. Chicago Ave.
21+. FREE!!
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Wheels on Fire

Three I’m-not-fancy-enough-for-this-steakhouse reasons to mosey over to Beauty Bar tonight…

1. Loud Loop Press really enjoys pointing you fine Chicago citizens (and confused tourists) to free shows. Why? Because that means you’ve got more money for booze AND manicures. Luckily, Beauty Bar is the right place to meet those two particular needs. Tonight Ohio surf rock quartet Wheels on Fire will create the tipsy soundtrack to getting your nails did, if you can keep your hands still, that is. I fear that Wheels on Fire’s swinging, scratchy rhythms might get you out of the chair and clapping along way before the nail technicians are done with you.

2. Familiar faces Tyler Jon Tyler will also appear at this shindig. Fresh from a jaunt around the East coast, the Chicago pop rocking trio fronted by Rebecca Flores and rounded out by bassist Nathan Jerde and drummer Tom Cassling play fun, but straight-forward rock and roll that jingles and jangles in all the right places. The real fireworks start when Flores channels her inner Chrissie Hynde. Don’t miss it.

3. The previous two bands may be reason enough to wander over to Beauty Bar, but the fine folks over thought you needed more. Also on hand will be DJ Ryan Weinstein, a regular at Beauty Bar, will spin whatever tickles his fancy.

If you need more convincing, check out this video shot by Gonzo Chicago of Tyler Jon Tyler performing “Faster Than Light” from its self-titled album at Reckless Records this past Record Store Day (April 16).

7:00 p.m., Thursday, 5/5. Beauty Bar. 21+ FREE!!!