Another solid week of shows coming up in Chicago this week. Sadly, though, most of the best shows are bunched up at the start of the week, meaning there aren't too many interesting shows I can take my younger brother to when he's in town this weekend. I'm sure we'll find something to do, though - this ain't DC. (Snap!) As always, my picks in bold . Sunday, 10/25 Beat Kitchen (early - 12pm): Shana Sings (special Halloween show) Beat Kitchen (7pm): [...]

There are a bunch of local CD releases this weekend. Three highlights below, and you can always check out our concert calendar for all of the upcoming local shows: On Saturday night, SF/Oakland heavy rock-punk band Mount Vicious celebrate the release of their full length debut Don't Be a Baby, Come and Get It at the Hemlock Tavern. You can stream the entire album at their Bandcamp page or below: [...]

IfIHadAHiFi is loud. They're obnoxious. They're arrogant. They swear and drink significantly at their shows. They are described as "a bunch of bitter, pissy assholes who play loud, unlistenable cacophany with a dance beat" on their bio for their show tonight at the Frequency . They are punk rock. I caught the Milwaukee-based IfIHadAHiFi for the first time at Summerfest . Their loud and abrasive music was enough to awaken me from an intoxication coma. It was then that I knew this was my kind of band, [...]

The bear says play something from the fairly recent release by IfIHadAHiFi, Fame by Proxy. The bear says catchy-as-hell hooks led by a wall of noise will do wonders to wake me from the state of total poopedness I may be in. The bear says IfIHadAHiFi's third long-play is just the tonic needed to get me restarted and not let a Friday night pass by without doing something . Wait...I'm talking to a stuffed bear? Your Head On A Ratings Spike • IfIHadAHiFi on [...]

Very underrated group release another crisp, heavy, rock record.

Tonight in Baltimore Title Tracks, The Caribbean, Moscow Telephone, and Nathan Bell play the Metro Gallery while Mesh, Google Eyes, Thrust Lab, and Chandeliers play the Hexagon . Also in town is the Atmosphere Paint The Nation Tour featuring Abstract Rude, Blueprint, and DJ Rare Groove at Rams Head Live. Down by DC in Virginia tonight is Middle Distance Runners 100th show (and first one in a while) and they're playin with New Rock Church Of Fire. Should be a good one. Also in DC are Girl Talk with Grand Buffet and Hearts of Darkness at the [...]

Ninja Gun have announced their touring plans for the next few months. The boys will be out supporting their fantastic new album Restless Rubes , which was released by Suburban Home Records. Check the dates after the jump. NINJA GUN TOUR DATES: Oct 1 -Richmond, VA @ Nara Sushi w/ Dean Lee and the Thrashtown Menace, Branden Peck, and Ten Commandments Oct 2 -Baltimore, MD Oct 4 -Phillidelphia, PA @ The Fire w/ Restorations, The Old Souls, and Corrado Oct 5 -Asbury Park, [...]

Milwaukee, WI "Science Depends On Us" IfIHadAHiFi on MySpace IfIHadAHiFi on The Hype Machine