Artwork by Natali Wiseman

On May 28^th, The Brokedowns and Vacation Bible School will release a split 7” via It’s Alive Records. Each band recorded three new songs with Joe Gac in Elgin, IL, and all songs were mastered by Dave Williams, (of the band Crusades). Check out an exclusive stream of the entire record below.

Photos by Katie Hovland, Layout by Studio Erbo

On April 2^nd, Mike Felumlee, (former Smoking Popes and Alkaline Trio drummer) will release his latest solo EP, entitled Adelaide. It contains a total of four songs and was recorded primarily at Backthird Audio in Aurora, IL, as well as at Felumlee’s home. Felumlee played most of the instruments on the recording and handled the vocal responsibilities, but received help from friends Travis Brown, (drums, lead guitar and acoustic guitar) and Brian Birkland, (backing vocals). In the coming weeks, Adelaide will be available on 7” vinyl, (100 translucent blue/100 translucent red) and all copies will be hand numbered. We’re streaming one of the record’s songs below, “Meet Me in November,” and when asked to describe the song, Felumlee said “It’s basically just a love song. The basic message is when times are tough and everything seems like a mess that will never get better, you have someone there for you. It’s about being there for the ones you love when they need you the most.” On Saturday, April 6^th, Felumlee will play a release show for the EP at the Penny Road Pub in Barrington, IL. The show starts at 7:00 PM, costs $7 and is 21+. Supporting acts include Lights Over Bridgeport, Sketch Middle and Zion.

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Earlier this month, Hot Water Music released a live CD/DVD via No Idea Records. Entitled Live in Chicago, it was recorded over two nights at the Metro in February of 2008. The CD contains a total of 30 songs that span 90 minutes, while the DVD features 24 songs, including one that’s not found on the album. Live in Chicago is also available as a triple LP, on six different colors of vinyl that are limited to 550 copies each. Check out one of the songs from the DVD above, “Turnstile,” and be sure to catch Hot Water Music on their current tour with La Dispute and The Menzingers.

Marc Ruvolo, owner of Bucket O’ Blood Books and Records, recently released a compilation to benefit his store. After a flood damaged the shop, Ruvolo decided to enlist the help of some friends. The end result is a 12-track album, comprised of acoustic songs from Sean Bonnette of Andrew Jackson Jihad, Jon Lewis of The Dopamines, Jason Smith of Sass Dragons and more. Most of the record was recorded by Matt Arbogast at 8AM Studio, while Ruvolo was responsible for the cover art. When asked about how the album came together, Ruvolo said “The idea came from many of these guys and gals, who are in full electric bands for their primary gig, playing in my store acoustically. I thought it would be fun to document that aspect of the store.” In terms of the record’s distinctive style, he added “What’s unique about it is that you’re hearing musicians that are usually performing in a group setting stripped down to the basics, just their voices and some minor accompaniment. In almost every case it sounds far different than what people have heard from them in the past. They are all my friends too, so I get a warm fuzzy feeling listening to them.” The album, titled A Caustic Acoustic: a Benefit Compilation for Bucket O’ Blood Books and Records, can be obtained via Bandcamp. Check out one of its songs below by Little Dave Merriman of The Arrivals, called “Take Me In.”

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Dead Ending by Katie Hovland

On December 11^th, Dead Ending will release its second EP, the aptly titled DE II. It was recorded at Million Yen Studios in Chicago, contains a total of five songs and will be available through Alternative Tentacles. The band’s lineup of course consists of singer Vic Bondi, (Articles of Faith) guitarist Jeff Dean, (The Bomb, Noise By Numbers, All Eyes West) bassist Joe Principe, (Rise Against) and drummer Derek Grant, (Alkaline Trio). We’re excited to present an exclusive stream of one of the EP’s songs, called “Ayn Rand Chicken Sandwich.” When asked about the song’s meaning, Bondi said “I was beside myself at the stupidity of the Chick-fil-A nonsense. As though the highest expression of your ‘moral values’ was to buy a chicken sandwich. But it’s always like that with that crowd, dumb on dumb, undergirded by crazed homophobic panic. So the song kind of wrote itself, in about five minutes.” Check out the song below and be sure to catch Dead Ending on the road in 2013.

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Billy + Joe is comprised of Smoke or Fire singer/guitarist Joe McMahon and Vancouver-based singer/songwriter Billy the Kid. The recently formed duo began 2012 by covering one song per day for the month of January. They created both a Facebook and a YouTube page to document their work, and have since covered songs from bands such as: The Descendents, Rancid, Jawbreaker, Face to Face, Hot Water Music, Samiam and more. The pair has also written some original material and played a few shows, and plans to continue doing so in the future. Take a look at one of their videos above, a cover of Billy Bragg’s “To Have and To Have Not.”

Photo by Katie Hovland

Eastland Disaster is a new Chicago band that features singer/guitarist Dan Knapik, (Textbook, Venom Lords) singer/bassist Gina Knapik, (Venom Lords) and drummer James Farn, (Kamikaze Eyes, Duress). They’re playing this Friday, January 13^th at Beat Kitchen, along with About the Mess, The Heat Tape and Dan Vapid & The Cheats. The show starts at 8:30 PM, costs $10 and is 17+. Last summer, Eastland Disaster recorded several songs with Matt Allison at Atlas Studios, some of which will appear later this year on a seven-inch for Underground Communiqué Records. Check out one of the band’s songs below, called “Still Not Over You.”

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This January Underground Communiqué Records will rerelease The Methadones’ classic 2004 album, Not Economically Viable. It was remixed by Matt Allison at Atlas Studios and basically rebuilt using various master tracks from the original recording sessions. The end result is a complete and highly favorable reproduction of one of the best pop punk records of the last decade. Also included is a previously unreleased song called “Let’s Call It a Night.” The LP will be available on three different colors; white, clear red and clear with smoke, and will feature updated album art as well. Check out the new version of “Sorry to Keep You Waiting” below.

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Noise By Numbers recently released a video for the song “Disappointed,” which comes from their latest album and Jump Start Records debut, Over Leavitt. Noise By Numbers features members of The Bomb, Dan Vapid & The Cheats, Textbook and others. Later this month they’ll release a split seven-inch with England’s The Magnificent, and it will be available on colored vinyl via Solidarity Recordings, (USA) and Drunken Sailor Records, (UK). Take a look at the video above and order the new record here.

Photo by Katie Hovland

Chicago’s Big Science is playing this Friday, May 6^th at Subterranean, (2011 W. North Ave.). Color Radio and An Aesthetic Anaesthetic open the show, which starts at 9:30 PM, is 17+ and costs $10. Check out a brand-new, previously unreleased song from Big Science called “Loose Change Century” below.

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Photo by Katie Hovland

Ratasucia is a new band that features singer/guitarist Dan Hanaway, (The Honor System, The Broadways, Slapstick) bassist Chris Carr, (The Honor System) and drummer Tim Scare. Their debut album, White Noise Pollution, is scheduled to be released this summer on Asian Man Records. Check out a song from the record below.

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