When Gia Margaret and Alain de Courtenay come together they call themselves Little Light. You can see them open for Matt Ryn on September 10th at Schubas.

There is nothing like a fur suit on a Monday morning. J+J+J is the latest addition to the Giant System TV catalog of live recordings.

Southside’s He.llsent is back with his second album, False Profit, which will be released on August 17th through Galapagos4. When asked about the themes on the album He.llsent had this to say, “The rap game is all about money and illusions. False Profit is a glimpse behind all the smoke and mirrors.” He doesn’t pull any punches, this album filled with fire, pride, and fierce beats. The beats on the album come mainly from Max, as well as contributions by Fifth Element, DJ Alo, and Loose Cannon. My favorite track from the album is “For The City”. It processes that fire, but leaves the listen with a positive message that it will be alright.

The release event for False Profit will take place on August 18th at Subterranean and feature He.llsent, Robust, Max, Mad C & Dallas Jackson.

The six track debut ep from Silhavey, Maru, is an eclectic mix of indie pop sounds. Ranging from more aggressive rock to horns, organs, and piano to near alt-country, the is surprisingly diverse. You can tell each band member brings their own set of influences and the group stirs it all together nicely. My favorite track on Maru has to be “Jungle”. The chorus is catchy and the instrumentation is fun. It really is a pure pop song. The track precedes the piano and organ on “Welcome” which is another sing-a-long party anthem.

Maru is a fine debut from an exciting young band. You can stream the ep on the bands website. The band will be performing at Elbo Room on August 22nd.

The Hood Internet and Kid Static have come together again to release a 7-inch on TTD/Whistler Records on Sept. 7th. The release show for the single will be on Sept. 11th at Lincoln Hall with Wallpaper. and DVAS.

This week Light Pollution appeared on My Old Kentucy Blog’s live music site LaundroMantinee. You can download the mp3’s from the session here.

Light Pollution performs at Schubas on August 25th with Casiokids.

It wasn’t that long ago that I had someone say to me that metal was dead in Chicago. I tend to believe that there are no dead genres in Chicago, but just people looking in the wrong or not looking closely enough. The latest album from Angel Eyes, Midwestern, is powerful in both sound and message. This album is a guttural call-to-arms in a declining economy with a Midwestern perspective. It’s album that can strike a chord with many Chicagoan with an emphasis on struggle, and way it often feels endless.

Sonically, the album is just as heavy as its message. This is a hardcore album, but Angel Eyes mixes is subtle cinematic and atmospheric elements. This blend keeps that listener guessing and engaged with the band continue to blow the audience away.

Angel Eyes will be performing at Quenchers on August 21st with Czar.

In anticipation of their album release show on Saturday, Aug. 14th, Secret Colours have released a beautiful cover of The Beatles “Tomorrow Never Knows”. The bands much anticipated self-titled debut can be streamed at their bandcamp site.

Secret Colours will perform at Beat Kitchen on August 14th with Panda Riot and Geronimo.

Thrill Jockey announced today that the new album from Sam Prekop (The Sea and Cake), Old Punch Card. The album will be released on September 7th, and it is Sam’s first solo record in five years. The album is inspired by early electronic music and avant-garde composition and is comprised entirely of modular synthesizers. There is only one instance of guitar and no vocals or beats.

Sam will be touring with Broken Social Scene this fall and will be playing at The Riviera on October 2nd.

I’ve spent the weekend digesting the debut album, Messy Snarls, from Laura Granlund and Curt Swank (aka Chew Heart). The duo has been performing together for the last six years, and finally entered the studio, with the talented Brian Zieske (Gallery of Carpet), to capture some of that live energy. Messy Snarls finds the duo wearing their influences on their sleeves and pouring everything out through their instruments. The album was recorded live and you can tell in the sound, but I feel that adds to the nostalgic feel of the album.

What sets Chew Heart apart is that they do give a subtle nod to their love of ‘60’s pop, but they don’t drown in it like many bands today. In fact I would say they are more influenced by ‘90’s indie rock than anything else. In fact, I would say this band is a combination of Saturday Looks Good to Me and Frente. There is a raw edge, but sweet innocence that ultimately prevails.

Chew Heart celebrates the release of Messy Snarls on Sept. 12th at The Whistler, but you can purchase it from their etsy page for just $5.