Akasha is opening for The Toasters @ Subterranean on Nov. 3!

Local Reggae stars Akasha will be direct support for NYC Ska legends The Toasters at Subterranean on Thursday, Nov. 3! For tickets and more info, click here.

MP Shows and Wine From the Moon team for Halloween!

MP Shows and Wine From the Moon have joined forces to present an eclectic program at Ultra Lounge just in time for Halloween!

On Saturday, Oct. 29, the booking agency and management company are sponsoring a Halloween show with indie pop group Briar Rabbit, folk rock outfit Paper Thick Walls, noisy Canadians Sandman Viper Command and rootsy locals Jonas Friddle & the Majority.

Tickets and more info here for this 21+/$8/9 PM show!

Matt Ryd and Xoe Wise @ Martyrs' 10/26!

Chicago-based singer-songwriters Matt Ryd and Xoe Wise just wrapped up a national tour together and will be playing Martyrs’ on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

Matt Ryd is best known for his song “Healed,” which was featured on the much-loved TV series Scrubs. Xoe Wise is performing behind the critically acclaimed album Echo, and she has shared the stage in the past with John Legend, Colbie Caillat, Lisa Loeb, Greg Laswell and Andrew Belle. Matt and Xoe will be interviewed on-air at Radio One Chicago this Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7PM. For more info on the Martyrs' gig, click here.

the Paver - this Saturday

This Saturday, the Paver will play a show at Treasure Town which is located at 2106 S. Kedzie. Show starts at 8pm.

They should have their latest release in hand!

Chicago CMJ Sendoff @ Ultra Lounge, Oct. 15

Our good friends at MP Shows and Wine From the Moon are teaming with a slew of other local music business organizations to send Paper Thick Walls, The Damn Choir, Kellen & Me and Radiation City to NYC for CMJ's annual fest. This party is going down at Ultra Lounge on Saturday, Oct. 15. Buy your tickets right here.

Flamenco Fusion Coming to Martyrs' Next Thursday!

El Payo, Las Guitarras De Espana and Mehran are joining forces for a night of "Flamenco Rock N' Rumba" at Martyrs' on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 8PM.

El Payo is a popular Rumba/Nuevo Flamenco-Fusion group based in Chicago. Their distinct sound is infused with elements of rock, salsa, ska, reggae and, of course, some Flamenco.

Las Guitarras de España has been featured on Radio One several times. Their newest album, Tantas Cosas, has been getting some major attention in the Windy City and beyond.

Mehran is an Iranian born Flamenco guitarist. His quintet plays Flamenco influenced by jazz and Middle Eastern music. His recent CD Angels of Persepolis has been praised by Vintage Guitar Magazine and by Barry Cleveland, editor of Guitar Player Magazine.

For tickets and more info click here.

The Luck of Eden Hall @ Red Line Tap this Friday!

Veteran Chicago psych-pop band The Luck of Eden Hall has been keeping busy as of late with a new album, video and a slew of songs (originals and covers) on various UK compilations.

Chicago heads can catch The Luck of Eden Hall at Red Line Tap this Friday, Sept. 30. This is a $5/21+ show with support from The Ewing Theory, Maza Blaska and Solemn Meant Walks. For more info, click here.

Wine From the Moon Presents @ Subterranean, 9-27

Our good friends at Wine From the Moon are keeping busy with showcases at venues all over Chicago. The next one brings local synth-rockers Bring Your Ray Gun, Montreal orch/folk band Bent by Elephants, rural goths Paper Plant and eccentric piano popper Kelsey Wild to Subterranean for a night of new music on Tuesday, Sept. 27. More info and tickets are here, and WFTM is offering a free mixtape with a track from each band.

Classic Moments in Jubilee Showcase

Produced and hosted by Sid Ordower, Jubilee Showcase was broadcast on WLS Channel 7 in Chicago from 1963 to 1984. The Emmy-winning series was celebrated for bringing television audiences some of the best roots gospel music of the time, from The Staples Singers (featuring a very young Mavis Staples) to The Mighty Clouds of Joy to the "acknowledged inventor of gospel music," Thomas Dorsey.

Classic Moments in Jubilee Showcase collects some of the best moments of the series on a single DVD, split into two illuminating sections.

First, there is the "Learn About" documentary section with background information on Sid Ordower, a civil rights activist and gospel ambassador, and new interviews with Mavis Staples, Sid's son (and DVD producer) Steven Ordower, Jessy Dixon and others regarding the history of Jubilee Showcase and the artists that performed on the show.

Secondly, the "Shows" section collects four original episodes with strong performances by The Staples Singers (the bluesy "Wish I Had Answers"), The Soul Stirrers (the near rock 'n roll "Resting Easy"), Andre Crouch & the Disciples (the soulful, piano-driven "Just Like He Said He Would") and Jessy Dixon (the traditional church number "Wait on Jesus").

Classic Moments in Jubilee Showcase is a "must own" for gospel music fans, Chicago music/television enthusiasts and lovers of the true roots of soul. For more info, check out the official Jubilee Showcase Website right here.

Akasha Presents: Simmer Down Sundays @ Double Door!

It's on again this Sunday, 9/25, at Double Door: Reggae heavy weights Akasha present "Simmer Down Sundays" with guests Nic the Graduate, Illuminati Congo, Rad Brian of Impala Sound, King Tony of The Drastics, Selector Kate and movies courtesy of Odd Obsession!

9PM/21+/FREE (more info here)

Music and Movement @ Mayne Stage This Saturday!

Mayne Stage, a theater in Rogers Park known for its eclectic bookings, is one of the venues hosting acts on behalf of the World Music Festival, which ends its official run this Thursday, Sept. 22.

Building on the momentum of a week of international bookings, Mayne Stage continues in the spirit of ethnic diversity by presenting, along with Chicago's Las Guitarras De Espana, "Music and Movement," a program of song and dance on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 PM.

The evening will include performances by Ensemble of Ragas, African dancer Idy Ciss and Flamenco rock/fusion group Las Guitarrists De Espana. Tickets and additional info are here.

Paper Thick Walls Unpeel Sweet "Orange Tree" Video!

Orange Tree from Paper Thick Walls on Vimeo.

Ghosts haunt, campfires burn and a nervous owl stands guard in the new Paper Thick Walls video, directed by Kevin Pickman and Stefani Tormanen. Catch the band at the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts this Sunday and at Cactus Club in Milwaukee next Thursday, Sept. 15!

The Damn Choir to Drop New Video @ Hideout Tomorrow Night!

Chicago's The Damn Choir will celebrate the release of a stunning new video for the song "Virginia" with a show at Hideout Inn tomorrow night.

The clip, directed by Pat Brown from Oasis Lounge Media, is an artful nod to film noir and surrealism that contrasts scenes of the band performing on a Chicago rooftop with shots that employ time-lapse photography and some dazzling visual effects.

The video works perfectly with the song (from the upcoming album You're My Secret Called Fire), a dark bit of urban country rock, but you will have to head out to The Hideout to get a sneak peek. Tickets and more info are here.

I Lost Control to Celebrate Release of New Album @ Abbey Pub, 9/9

Chicago gloom rockers I Lost Control have had their share of ups and downs lately. Two of the band's original members left (rhythm section Grant Davidson (ex-The Perfect Disaster) and Jennifer Wyatt) and the group, given its name and sound, have been dogged with Joy Division comparisons. On the up side, ILC soldiers on with replacement musicians (JB Hopkins (ex-Surf) and Tina Sunny) and has a new album called Cones & Arrows to celebrate.

While Cones & Arrows does, at times, sound a bit too close to Joy Division, the EP brings to mind all corners of the late-70s/early 80s post-punk explosion. "Confliction" oozes nervous, new wave energy, recalling Pere Ubu and Iggy Pop. "Bloodline" nods toward The Cars at their darkest and most detached. "TWB" wears U.K. influences like Echo and the Bunnymen and Siouxsie and the Banshees quite proudly.

I Lost Control will be interviewed on WLUW's Radio One tonight at 8PM (CST) and the record release show will be at the newly re-vamped Abbey Pub on Friday, Sept. 9. You can purchase advance tickets here.

Simmer Down This Sunday at Double Door!

Akasha Presents: Simmer Down Sunday at Double Door! Featuring Nic The Graduate of Illuminati Congo & Rad Brian of Impala Sound/Odd Obsessions spinning Reggae classics and a live set by Akasha! Sun, August 28, 2011; Doors: 9:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm; 21+ and FREE!

Wine From the Moon Gearing Up for Local Showcases

Chicago-based artist management company Wine From the Moon is gearing up for some serious showcases at top local venues Uncommon Ground, Beat Kitchen and Empty Bottle.

Tonight, WFTM presents its ongoing residency with anchor band Paper Thick Walls at Uncommon Ground (3800 N Clark), the celebrated coffeehouse/bar/restaurant best known for introducing Chicago audiences to the late, great Jeff Buckley.

Then, on Monday, August 22, Wine From the Moon sponsors a bill at Beat Kitchen featuring The Embraceables, Fatty Acids, Bluom and Another.

Finally on Tuesday, August 30, WFTM teams with WLUW for "College Spaceout" at Empty Bottle. The FREE (with RSVP) show features sets by The Island of Misfit Toys, The Please and Thank Yous, Delmar and the Dedications and Mapmaker.

Wine From the Moon founder Ryan Sweeney will be interviewed on WLUW this Thursday, August 18 from 11AM-noon.

North Coast Music Festival Spotlight: Van Ghost

Chicago's Americana darlings Van Ghost are celebrating their slot at North Coast and upcoming album, the Justin Niebank-produced The Domino Effect, in style!

The group has partnered with Grooveshark for a "Pick the Single" contest, which is currently underway. You can click here to enter, and the potential prizes include all-access passes to the North Coast Music Festival, Van Ghost T-shirts and Grooveshark subscriptions.

Van Ghost is scheduled to hit one of the main stages at North Coast on Sunday, Sept. 4. Check the official NCMF Website for set time and updates.

North Coast Music Festival Spotlight: Great Divide

With the second annual North Coast Music Festival just a few weeks away, Radio One Chicago will be running regular spotlights on the local bands scheduled to perform. First up is a post on local roots rockers Great Divide.

Originally hailing from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Great Divide now calls the windy city home. The band serves up a soulful mix of electric blues, New Orleans funk and the type of skillful jamming that will keep old school Grateful Dead/Allman Brothers fans grooving. Great Divide released the album Reservoir last year, and wowed audiences at the third installment of the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Fest at Double Door.

Catch the band at North Coast (at Union Park) on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 1:30 PM as they kick off the final day of the fest, main stage style!

Hard Boiled Records

I found this information posted by Chicago rock band, Panther Style:

Hard Boiled Records is closing its doors and moving to Austin, TX.

They are open from 12-6pm.

They are located at:

2010 W. Rosco

*They are currently closed due to a power outage, so call ahead if you're going to show up.
773 755-2619

Producer With Local Roots Unveils "Mountains and Cities"

Some Chicago music fans might know Stephen George as the drummer for Ministry during the band's early, synth-pop days. Others might know him for his long association with controversial R&B singer R. Kelly. What many don't know is that George is now based in upstate NY and runs Gimme That Sound Productions, a studio and record label.

George has recently worked behind the boards on a number of notable releases, including the new album by The Cars and a recent single by Chicago's Rabble Rabble, which he also released via Gimme That Sound.

Enter My Pet Dragon, the Brooklyn-based alternative group led by Todd Michaelsen and his wife, Reena Shah. George has had an association with the group for the last few years, releasing two singles, "Lover in Hiding" and "Flow," both of which appear on the new Mountains and Cities (to be released on Tuesday, August 2nd).

The anthemic "Lover in Hiding" and the ethereal "Flow" are strong cuts on the new album, which also includes the soulful "Moonshine" and the newest single "Majestic Lovers," which recalls U2 at their most radio-friendly.

George, who was in town recently, has been urging My Pet Dragon to tour beyond their east coast home base. Here's hoping that they make it to the windy city while Mountains and Cities is still fresh.