Mister Lies (aka Nick Zanca) has released new track and announced that he will be spending the next month touring Europe for the first time. The track is called "Magichour" and features a contribution from LA's Knower.
The local label Stayposi Records released the lastest album from The Captain Hates The Sea, As You Will, this week. The band plays a radio-ready brand of electro-pop. They make it fun and keep it positive.
Smith Westerns have released another track, "3am Spiritual", from their forthcoming album "Soft Will" out June 25th on Mom + Pop. The band's sound still has elements of surf rock, but they seemed to have toned down the garage and lo-fi components completely. This new track is a wonderful departure from their sound with it's light, pop-filled melody.
Fort Frances released their new ep Harbour late last month, and have now released a very cool cover of Ryan Adams' track "New York, New York". The track lead up to a show last weekend in The Big Apple. The trio, lead by vocalist David McMillin, play a passionate brand of roots rock.
Alex Longoria is the frontman for Cold Blue Kid and is also involved with Hidden Era and Bright Ships. Cold Blue Kid is planning a full length release for the end of summer and have released a video for the new album's first single "Now You Wake".
After months of writing songs in a small town hardware store, just outside of Rockford Illinois, La Historia began playing shows regionally and recording with Mike Hagler at Kingsize Sound Labs in Chicago. The band members have all played in a variety of bands, including The Braves and Gods Reflex, over the last fifteen years'sometimes together. They couldnât resist the chance to continue creating electric, Midwestern guitar-rock.
Now, enthusiastic to be making music together again, the members of La Historia spend time writing music and discussing/listening to the records that made them want to do so in the first place.Although their influences are numerous, La Historia manages to filter the inspiration through an atypical lens that is both competent and consistent. The band is more likely to draw influences from the underdog, guitar-based bands from the '80s and '90s that have kept their attention for the past 20 years than anything from classic or modern rock eras.
The band employs a somewhat familiar wealth of sounds in their music, balancing roaring and chiming guitar parts, fuzzy bass tones, and nuanced drumming, but avoid sounding too nostalgic or derivative. La Historiaâ's intersecting guitar-lines, thoughtful, pronounced drums, sturdy bass lines, and commanding yet emotive vocals are the product of four friends who love to listen to one another just as much as they love listening to their favorite bands. The "Awake Enough EP" contains the first five songs the band wrote together. Members: Kevin Schwitters, Jesse Carmona, Phil Goudreau, Luke Kramer.
This past weekend was the weekend of Chance The Rapper, and it does not seem to be slowing down. I've heard him called the "Kendrick of Chicago" and the future of the hip hop. On Saturday, Chance released a new video for his track "Hey Ma", just in time for Mother's Day.
Stephen Paul Smoker released his new album Ripe Fruit last week. The album an eclectic romp shifting from the fast paced, driving rhythm of "In Cairo" to the somber pluck guitar of "Cold As A Stone". This album seems meditative and psychedelic at the time. The are many moments through out at quite, almost restful. One of my favorites are the flute interlude in "The Light On The First Day of Spring... Pt 1.". In many way Stephen Paul Smoker is a throw back the 60's, but the way he builds his melody's also feel very modern. Ripe Fruit is just that, fresh and ready to be consumed.
The 60's 
