I Fight Dragons have released a new video for their song “Heads Up, Hearts Down” which appears on their debut ep Cool Is Just a Number. The video is in 3D, and their label Photo Finish is including a free pair of IFD 3D glasses with each order.

This weekend we finally got a taste of the new album from the experimental dance-pop group Mahjongg. The track is called “Miami Knights” and it comes from The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger which is due out on K Records on July 20th. The track is synth-drenched and strange, but we would expect nothing less from this band. Yet, as this is as choppy and unsettling as you may come across it is clear that there is melody and rhythm and even order behind this madness. Towards the end of this four minute track you can feel the chaos forming a pattern, and your dancing becomes a little more structured. The track features the help of Suddenly Susan & Jeanine O'Toole.

Mahjongg plays at Subterranean on July 9th.

The latest edition of Giant Systems features the sounds of Disappears. The bands next local performance will be on July 5th at Millennium Park as part of Downtown Sound.

Chicago has had a powerful metal scene for awhile now, and it looks like Nachtmystium may be the next band to break out. They are releasing their new album Addicts: Black Meddle Pt. II tomorrow via Century Media. The track they released in advance of the album is called “Every Little Drop” and it is a darkly hypnotic journey through the gutter and back again. Focusing on addiction and all the fierce violence that can bring, Nachtmystium is not for the faint of heart. The epic eight minute track illustrates how the band has that deep dark metal edge, but is not afraid to add other elements like synthesizers and acoustic guitars.

The band will be performing two shows at Empty Bottle on June 19th and 20th.

Young Jesus is sharing a new track from the debut ep Late Night Standards. "Up All Night With Stereotypes" is a powerful track about coming of age and not knowing really what or who you are.

Young Jesus is playing at Metal Shaker on June 11th.

It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks for Houses, and I can’t wait to see what is coming next. Their one released track, “Endless Spring” has been all over the internet lately, and when you hear it you will know why. It is a beautiful encapsulation of the welcomed warmth of the Chicago spring.

Houses signed to Lefse Records (home to Neon Indian, Sunglasses, Woodsman, and other like minded bands) late last month, and is planning to release their debut EP All Night later this summer. Below is a more tropical remix of “Endless Spring” created by David Bird.

Listen to these sweet soul sounds! Have you ever heard anything like them!? Well, perhaps if you've been to see the Sometimes Family live and in concert it will all seem like some kind of deja vu. There's just something about the Sometimes Family's music that gets into that ear canal and wiggles and jiggles around, reaching down, DOWN, until it hits the deepest parts of your soul. It latches on with its clawed tentacle and pulls your body into positions and postures of dance and wild movements you didn't have in you before. At the end of the song, you are left with a longing and a feeling of despair, quickly remedied by the simple act of replaying it. It is a painful experience to leave the concert, but you are bettered by it, and it was all worthwhile.

On June 10th The Sometimes Family will play at The Abbey Pub.

Chicago’s File Thirteen Records announced a few details this week regarding the new album from The Poison Arrows. Their new album will be called Newfound Resolutions and will be released on August 3rd. The album will be available on CD, but will also be released as an impressive 2xLP gatefold with digital download. The first single from the album is called “Unveiled In Sequence”, and it is an epic and heavy tune that will force your head to move up and down.

The Poison Arrows are a part of Do Division Street Fest this weekend and will be playing tomorrow (June 5th) at 3:10pm on the Leavitt Stage. For the full Do Division line-up visit their website.

Our newest poll winners, The Clams, have released a new video for their song “Dear Marc”. The song comes from their 2009 ep, Mindbanging. Both of their eps can be downloaded here by naming your own price.

The Clams are performing tonight (June 4th) at Cole’s Bar (2338 N Milwaukee Ave).

The self-titled from Distractions was released this week by the local cassette label Plus Tapes. The first thing that jumps out at you when consuming the sounds of Distractions is the deep rich baritone sounds of Tom Owens. I feel his delivery can best be compared to that of Matt Berninger (The National), but when combined with eclectic sound of his band mates it really sets this band apart. Musically, the band draws from a variety of sources as diverse as British Invasion era rock to spaced-out psychedelic fuzz. The tempo and depth of sound shifts often, and through that shifting draws the listen in the many layers of distracting bliss. 

They are celebrating the release of their new tape tonight at Empty Bottle with Bird Names, Zelienople and Ken Camden. The show starts at 9pm and tickets are just $5.