Calm Palm Vapor is based on the Southside of Chicago (McKinley Park and Brighton Park), make Space Motown / Dreamstream music and perform all over the world. Pierogi (melodies) and secretwars (beats) teamed up to create this project in January of 2010 after realizing how stale the scene in Chicago had become. Now the two are combining forces to make textured and layered music by the Joe Meek standard of "if it sounds good, it IS good". The group plans to tour extensively and win over crowds wherever they end up.

Yes, they are the number one band on our chart, but why. Well, they released their debut album Welcome To Wastleland on August 24th, and announced a major tour with Smashing Pumpkins on the same day. The band plays straight '80's style hair metal and are quite proud. Signed to Atlantic Records, Bad City proves that arena rock lives.

After releasing two well-received ep's Darling is ready to unveiling their debut LP, Lights That Last Forever. Darling formed back in 2003, but aside from singer/songwriter Jeff Schneider they are a completely different band. The trio plays their brand of indie pop and have playing in this current configuartion since 2006. The mixture of Nick Voss' rythemic bass and the driving force of Don Ogilive's drummer make this release sonically compelling.

On their full-length debut the band attempts to tell a story in a way. This is very much a story about dealing with life and all of its dreams and very realities. The album opens with a "Heart Attack" and ends with the hope of coming together in "Gathered". Musically, Darling has never sounded better. Lights That Last Forever will be released oncolor vinyl, digipak, and mp3 on Sept 28th by Cardboard Sangria.

Darling will be celebrating this release at The Hideout on September 16th with Rachel Eve and Tin Tin Can.

My Gold Mask announced details on their upcoming 4 song vinyl release, A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last), which is due out Nov. 13th. The first official single, "A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last)" will be released on Sept 10 and premiered during the band's performance at the Phillip Lim store for Fashion's Night Out in New York City. You can stream a track called "Bobbi" which will appear on this release. This is also the date when the album will be available for pre-order.

The record release for A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last) will take place at Schubas on Nov. 13th, but My Gold Mask will be performing at South Belmont Harbor w/ SSION on Sept. 5th as part of Festival J.O.E. presented by Redmoon Theater.

This is Versailles released a video today for "Robot Beach" from their debut self-titled EP (aka "Crown and Hatchets" EP) which was released in November 2009. The band is releasing their second self-titled EP this Friday (9/3) at the Empty Bottle, where the band will play with The Poison Arrows and Follows.

ALEKS of Aleks and the Drummer is now performing as ALEKS EVA with Icy Demons members Dylan Ryan (drums) and Chris Schreck (synth bass), along with Susan Chalmers playing the bulk of Aleks' melodies, freeing Aleks to move about on stage and expedite new material. The all new never-before-heard songs sound like Aleks and the Drummer but are prone to be more concise yet more layered, perhaps more accessible while maintaining their individuality. ALEKS EVA and her talented band bring forth catchy music that does not adhere to past formulas or play it safe with current trends but is likely to inspire music that is to come. See them first at the Empty Bottle FREE Monday show on Labor Day 9/6 with Charlie Deets (featuring Deric Criss "the" Drummer!! ) and photo.sans.nom Songs will be posted day of show.

The new ep from California Wives, Affair, is a perfect end of summer ep filled with create new wave pop. It hard to image that this band just formed back in 2009 and is already releasing their second ep. Affair is much more polished than the band's debut ep, No. 8. The ep was recorded at Gravity Studio where the first ep was self-recorded. Yet, there is also a clear maturing as a band that is taking place.

The band flirts with dance pop, and that could not be clearing than in their hit single "Twenty Three" which appears in a new version on Affair. The band celebrates the release of their new ep on Sept 3rd at Schubas with Panda Riot and Color Radio. The show starts at 10pm and tickets are only $5.

The latest performance on Giant System comes from Magical, Beautiful.

One of my favorite hip hop groups of the last ten years go by the name of Glue. The group was Adeem. from New Hampshire on the rhymes, djdq on the turntables from Cincinnati, and the beats of a producer from Aurora named Maker. Glue is not dead, but each member is currently pursuing other projects. Maker has gone on to make a couple of solo album now he is back with a local emcee named Qwel. On September 14th the duo will drop their 3rd full-length album titled Owl (Galapagos4). “The Owl watches and grows wiser,” explains Maker. “As we became more aware of our environment, we gained new perspectives. This album is our way of reconnecting with everything that surrounds us.”

This is Qwel & Maker's finest and most mature release to date, and it feels like it is still only just the beginning. The duo will be performing on Sept. 10th at Reggies w/ Typical Cats, Meaty Ogre, Maxilla Blue.

Tonight at Schubas, Volcanoes Make Islands will celebrate the release of their new EP Sick City. Henry Bianco (Guitars/Vocals), Mike Horick (Drums), Brad Sawicki (Vocals/Guitars) (ex-Company of Thieves), Matt Schuessler (Bass), and Keenan Wells (Keyboards/Vocals) make up this exciting new group. On Sick City the band is playing a mixture of Math Rock and Dance Rock, and can get a sense of this on the ep’s first track “The City of Big Yellers”.

The show at Schubas tonight (8/30) begins at 8pm and also includes Scott Lucas & The Married Men, Mutts, and The Sacred Robe of the Ancient Psychedelic Monks. Tickets are just $6.