News

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tUnE-yArDs Debut Album Out Next Week
Posted on 03-12-09

Marriage Records has been working really hard to silk-screen the artwork for Bird-Brains. Fly over to their site to check out a video about the assembly. The band will be at SXSW this year as well. Check Marriage's website for more information on where you can catch the band.

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Interns Wanted
Posted on 03-11-09

Chicago Independent Distribution is looking for interns that live in the Chicagoland area and want to get a taste of the independent music business.

Duties include developing our online social network, conducting promotional mailings, coordinating inventory, and general organization. These tasks will depend primarily on the intern's ability to work independently and on their own accord, so waifs and wallflowers need not apply. An interest in the music we distribute is a plus, but not necessary. Focus is more important.

This internship is not paid, but a consistent intern will learn a great deal about music distribution, customer service, and small business office relations. College credit is also available if wanted.

Send an email with qualifications and availability to mitch@chicago-independent.com.

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KIT Podcast
Posted on 03-09-09

Members of KIT podcast their favorite songs for you to enjoy over at George Zum's site. Check out their release on Upset The Rhythm and keep a look out for a 7" from the band featuring Mike Watt available soon in North America.

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Tindersticks' Stuart Staples on Pitchfork's Guest List
Posted on 03-05-09

The Tindersticks singer interviews with Pitchfork's weekly catch-up segment on the eve of the band's North American tour. They have set up a tour page that has more information here and we still have some tour posters with free digital downloads available.

Guest List: Tindersticks (Pitchfork)

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D. Rider Record Release Show
Posted on 02-05-09

D. Rider will release "Mother Of Curses," their new album on Tizona Records, February 17th. To celebrate the release they will be playing a show at The Hideout in Chicago with Cheer Accident and Jessica Fogle on February 13th. You can purchase tickets in advance here or on the day of the show. More information on "Mother Of Curses" is available in our new release section.

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Lucky Dragons on Pitchfork
Posted on 02-04-09

Lucky Dragons' new album, Dream Island Laughing Language, received high marks from the online publication last week.

"The overall impression is that, almost 10 years into their career, Lucky Dragons still haven't chosen a certain kind of cultural product to be. That redounds to their credit on Dream Island Laughing Language, where each track seems to document the group's rebirth as (to borrow from their manifesto) "new and temporary creatures."

Check out the entire article here.

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Tindersticks Announce North American Tour, Live Album
Posted on 02-03-09

Following their reformation and the release of the new Constellation album The Hungry Saw in 2008, we are pleased to announce legendary UK band Tindersticks will be bringing their inimitable sound and songcraft to North American stages for the first time in over five years. Led by the voice and lyricism of Stuart Staples, Tindersticks have always expertly conjured complex emotions and double-edged narratives through a sultry, swirling, finely orchestrated music that is gently uplifting, beautifully arranged, and shot through with dark tension.

At participating independent record shops in cities on the tour itinerary, any sale of The Hungry Saw on CD or LP will include an exquisite limited edition 3-color silkscreened commemorative tour poster plus a download code for a 5-song mini-album of live tracks from one of the band's celebrated 2008 concert performances. A full-length CD recording of this sublime concert was self-produced by Tindersticks and has been available exclusively at the band's live shows.
A digital download from this recording is free with the purchase of The Hungry Saw CD or LP at participating retailers in February. The download code can be found on the back of the tour poster also being given away at point of purchase.

Tindersticks have been touring extensively in Europe since the fall of 2008 to broad critical acclaim. In a live setting they mesmerize old fans and new with a profoundly literate and deeply moving song cycle that pulls from the group's majestic back catalogue while also featuring brilliant arrangements of the superb new album. The live band is a 7-piece, featuring founding members Stuart Staples (voice, guitar), David Boulter (organ, keyboards) and Neil Fraser (guitar), the new rhythm section of Dan McKinna (bass) and Thomas Belhom (drums), and Terry Edwards (brass) and Andrew Nice (cello). Together they create a kaleidoscope of gently stirring tunes balanced and emboldened by beautiful instrumental moments all topped by Staples' uniquely poignant voice.

Read more at the official site for The Hungry Saw Tour

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Strand of Oaks' Leave Ruin Released Today
Posted on 01-27-09

La Societe Expeditionnaire released Strand of Oaks' first proper album today and those who have heard it have nothing but compliments:

"At heart it's a man and a guitar in the infinite tradition of men with guitars. Imagine a less dispassionate Damien Jurado, a quieter Neil Young, or a Bon Iver whose lyrics follow a discernible narrative thrust."
-Interview Magazine

"A beautiful record."
-Muzzle of Bees

"A debut as weathered and warm as an old down comforter. And just as timeless, too...Showalter's inner tug-of-war between dark humor and plain old darkness has made for one hell of a debut."
-eMusic

"Showalter is known for performing with unprecedented power and grace, delivering intimate, lyrically-strong songs with tangible emotion."
-jezebelmusic.com

"An intensely therapeutic, ultimately triumphant album."
-StarkOnline

Timothy Showalter also spoke with Interview Magazine and Muzzle of Bees for in-depth looks at his process:

Interview Magazine interview
http://www.interviewmagazine.com/blogs/music/2009-01-26/strand-of-oaks

Muzzle of Bees interview
http://www.muzzleofbees.com/2009/01/20/muzzle-of-bees-interview-strand-of-oaks

Strand of Oaks are beginning a tour on January 30th. Make sure to catch them when they come to your town

Tourdates:
01/30/09 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - Cafe Metropolis *release show* w/ Jason Anderson + These Elk Forever
01/31/09 - Meadville, PA - Allegheny College w/ Jason Anderson
02/14/09 - Boston, MA - Nave Gallery w/ Lewis & Clarke + Audrey Ryan
02/15/09 - Amherst, MA - Hampshire College w/ Lewis & Clarke
02/26/09 - Kutztown, PA - Eckhaus Gallery w/ Lewis & Clarke

April US Tour Dates TBA

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Introducing Tizona Records
Posted on 01-14-09

We have started a new imprint called Tizona Records. The first release comes from D. Rider, a new rock band formed by Todd Rittman (US Maple, Singer, Robert Johnson and the Browns) with the assemblage of Andrea Faught (Cheer Accident) and Noah Tabakin (Mucca Pazza). The band has enlisted the help of Theo Katsounis (A Tundra, Locks) to drum for their upcoming shows, which include a record release show at The Hideout on February 13th.

Look to Tizona for upcoming releases from Merzbannon (Merzbow remixes an entire Racebannon album into two tracks), Miracle Condition (Former US Maple members Mark Shippy and Pat Samson) and Wrekmeister Harmonies (Featuring J.R. Robinson, Mark Shippy, Matt Carson, Pat Samson, David Yow, Ken Vandermark, Azita, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Nate McBride, Frank Rosaly, Keefe Jackson, John Herndon, Jeff Parker, Lindsay Anderson).

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Hawnay Troof invades MTV!
Posted on 01-12-09

Despite popular belief, some of the channels in MTV's network still do play music videos and apparently they still have some good taste. Hawnay Troof's video for "Connection" from the album, Islands of Ayle, recently held down the number two spot on MTV2 Subterranean's best Indie Videos of 2008 countdown. The success of the video, directed by Vim Crony, comes on the heels of winning a week-long contest on the show "The Freshmen" on MTVU, the network's college channel, that put the video into regular rotation. Links to both channels' announcements are below.

MTV2's Subterranean named Hawnay Troof's video "Connection" the #2 Indie
Video of 2008: Click here

MTVU added "Connection" to regular rotation after the won a week-long contest on the show "The Freshmen": Click Here

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Introducing Iron Pig Records
Posted on 01-06-09

This week we are introducing a new subsidiary label from Aurora Borealis, Iron Pig Records. They are primarily focused on releasing underground music that is always pushing the limits of metal. For January they have their sights on thrash metal and down tempo hardcore with Ravens Creed's Militia Of Blood Sacrifice and Potop's Channels, respectively. Iron Pig keeps it simple and straightforward and everything is heavy.

Speaking of Aurora Borealis, 2009 is shaping up to be a monster year for the purveyors of fine esoterica. They've got new releases from Fauna, Rye Wolves, Grumblin' Fur, Journey To Ixtlan and Rose Kemp set to come out in January. The moods range from satanic hardcore to new age doom to folk-esque heavy metal. Check out our New Release section for full details.

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Welcome to Chicago Independent!
Posted on 12-11-08

Hello and welcome to the the new online home of Chicago Independent! Please, feel free to have a look around. We're sure you're going to find all kinds of goodies: regularly updated news, tour dates, new release and band information, and much much more. Consider this as "phase one" too! There will much much more unveiled in the upcoming year!

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New Releases for Tuesday Nov. 25
Porn and Merzbow "And The Devil Makes Three" (LP/CD)
Posted on 12-11-08

Truth Cult's first release is a split album between PORN (formerly known as Men Of Porn) and Merzbow. PORN is the demented child of one Tim Moss. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Moss fronted the cult band Ritual Device, forging links with the West Coast with the patronage of Frank Kozik's Man's Ruin Records. Eventually Moss moved out to the Bay Area where Men Of Porn was born. In the stellar company of Melvins' stalwart Dale Crover (on drums) and omnipresent uber-producer Billy Anderson (on bass), this is a 'Power Trio' in the truest sense of the phrase. Since 1999, they have released three albums and toured the world as the de facto Melvins' support band, thanks to Tim Moss's day job as the band's tour manager.

For their newest album, and the nascent release on Southern's brand new imprint Truth Cult, the intrepid low-end experimenters enlist the help of Japanese noise demigod Masami Akita (aka MERZBOW). Collaborating across the album's twelve tracks, the fearless Masami layers scree and grafts gristle onto their already dense muscular creations - this is a marriage made in Blake's Heaven & Hell; their two uniquely singular approaches blending seamlessly to create a portentous hybrid beast of no equal.

-The CD comes in a triple gatefold digipak with poster insert

-The LP comes in a gatefold sleeve with a poster insert. It is coloured vinyl – with 700 copies in brown.

TRUTH CULT is a brand new imprint lovingly curated by Southern Records. We aim to illuminate some novices worthy of discovery, unearth archive recordings that criminally have been left fallow and to arrange some beautiful collaborations and unique projects for your consideration. Art and packaging will be paramount to the label, as we strive to reinforce the tangible relationship between music and artefact.

The cult of truth is the celebration of revelation and recognition. The only common thread will be the uncommonness of our miscellany. The only criteria will be the desire to see what otherwise might remain obscured.