Dig ‘in: BRNDA, Ohmme, Stephen
INCOMING
Illuminati Hotties - Let Me Do One More (Hopeless Records LP)
llluminati Hotties are back with their first proper album (discounting last year's label fleeing release FREE I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For) since 2018's Kiss Yr Frenemies. The album kicks into high gear right away with the indie punk anthem "Pool Hopping,” before flowing into the noise rock of “MMMOOOAAAAYAYA." Let Me Do One More displays Illuminati Hotties mastermind Sarah Tudzin's mastery of the studio, and shows why she is such a sought-after producer in the indie world. The audio work is just part of the story—Tudzin’s voice is so varied, capable of tender moments as well as snotty punk delivery. The album fluctuates from indie rippers (“Joni: LA's No. 1 Health Goth”) to alt-country twang (“u v v p”) to acoustic mediations (“Growth”). There are few things better than watching a band level up, and that is what we have going on here. Make sure to check out this album, and catch them at Lincoln Hall on March 4th. -Mark Joyner
BRNDA - Do You Like Salt? (Crafted Sounds LP)
BRNDA revel in life’s absurdities. They’re able to find humor in seemingly banal encounters. On Do You Like Salt? the DC group troll the fringes of a service industry society and spit out a bemused running commentary. Their music is as terse as their tongues, complete with skittering guitar notes, judicious drumming with a dollop of clarinet and bleating sax thrown in for good measure. In these times where everyone has the opportunity to be an online critic, BRNDA don’t mince their words and emerge with an effort that’s undeniably worth hearing. -Bruce Novak
Smile Machine - Bye For Now (Exploding in Sound Records EP)
Bye For Now is a promising debut from Jordyn Blakely, who’s previously lent her talents to New York outfits Stove, Butter The Children and Jackal Onasis—primarily as as drummer and sometimes vocalist and guitarist. In Smile Machine she pretty well carries the full load short of keyboard and additional guitar assistance on a couple of tracks. The five songs here are encased in shoegaze stylings with droning, but aggressive guitar, surging drums and hazy vocals. Overall, there’s a bit more rawness on display than what the genre typically elicits, no more evident than with the lead track “Bone To Pick,” with its scorch-the-earth vocal delivery. Bye For Now comes across as a uniquely personal statement and loaded with immediacy in a musical realm where detachment often rules the day. -Bruce Novak
UPCOMING
The Felice Brothers
Where: Lincoln Hall / Directions
When: October 20, 7:00 PM
Wearing their hearts on their sleeves just comes natural to The Felice Brothers. On their lovely new album, From Dreams to Dust, brothers James and Ian Felice have crafted a great new batch of songs filled with introspection, melancholy and cinematic visions. This is their best effort since their first couple of albums—The Felice Brothers and Yonder Is the Clock. Along with bassist Jesske Hume and drummer Will Lawrence, The Felice Brothers are headed to Chicago for a show at Lincoln Hall. You’ll definitely hear many of their influences in their sound—Dylan, The Band, Lou Reed, Mark Knopfler and the folk sounds of New York City. But the band's intimate, well-crafted songs are truly the highlight. Oh, and hey—I’m a sucker for songs with accordion! -Tom Novak
Nothing
Where: Lincoln Hall / Directions
When: October 22, 8:00 PM
Whether the music of Nothing serves as self-therapy for frontman Dominic Palermo is debatable. After all, one may argue that the general themes of hardship, decay and alienation continue to persist in much of the band’s output. But then again, it’s of some comfort that Palermo has been able carry on with the band for over a decade now. Despite the often bleak worldview that is lyrically conveyed, Nothing’s music is enveloping and blissful—a mixture of haziness and cathartic ebb and flow. Listening to the band, it’s easy to get lost in the moment where their epic sound becomes all-encompassing. It’s a headspace I’m more than willing to surrender to whenever it comes calling. -Bruce Novak
Ohmme
Where: Thalia Hall / Directions
When: October 26, 7:30 PM
While being wholly unique unto themselves, Ohmme are also innately representative of a core component of the Chicago music scene. They reinforce the ready willingness of this city’s musicians to collaborate and cross pollinate across different genres. Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart have lent their considerable talents to a wide swath of local luminaries, with Vic Mensa, Jeff Tweedy and Chance the Rapper populating their resumes. Ohmme display a remarkable shape-shifting ability by creating songs that oscillate between melody and dissonance. While the vocal interplay between Stewart and Cunningham is frequently at the forefront of their music, their guitar playing is as varied and compelling. Their live show may venture off in a myriad of directions so my sage advice is to merely kick back and enjoy the ride. -Bruce Novak
UNCOVERED
Stephen - Radar of Small Dogs (Yellow Electric LP)
There’s no underestimating the importance that The Clean had on New Zealand’s indie music scene in helping launch what later was termed the Dunedin sound. When the band initially split up, David Kilgour sought out Goblin Mix bassist Alf Danielson and drummer Geoff Hoani for a low-key collaboration that would provide a respite from the usual spotlight he attracted in The Clean. The six song EP Dumb released by Flying Nun in 1988 was the first result of this new project and plans were then formulated to record an album with second guitarist Stephen Kilroy coming aboard. Demos for the new record commenced, but the group disbanded soon thereafter. Those demos were ultimately packaged with the Dumb material when Radar of Small Dogs was posthumously released by Flying Nun in 1993. The songs echo Kilgour’s stated intentions in forming Stephen—direct and seemingly effortless pop that provides a lingering dopamine buzz. A few of the tracks would surface on Kilgour’s solo debut, Here Come The Cars, while Danielson and Kilroy found new acclaim in forming the band Chug with Norma O’Malley. Meanwhile a Radar of Small Dogs has been reissued this month on Yellow Electric run by Grouper’s Liz Harris, providing another opportunity for rediscovery of this unassuming, yet essential, release. -Bruce Novak
We recommend listening along over at our Spotify page. Here’s this week’s content: