Do you hear that strange hum? Like the roar in the distance you hear before the tornado hits, that's the sound of Bang! Bang! preparing to bring the rawk your way. Consider this is your warning! Sound the siren!



Chicago's Sex Rock 3 piece, Bang! Bang! (that's with the "!" thankyouverymuch) was erected by frontman Jack Flash in 2002, after deciding to leave his tri-colored comicbook underworld. He made the first move by stepping out of panel to pick up the guitar and Gretta Fine, whom he found rollerskating down Ashland Avenue in her panties. He gave her a ride, Fine gave him a kiss and she's been playing bass with him ever since. Mike Wednesday is the drummer that completes the equation, with rhythms guaranteed to get even the most jaded show goer dancing up a sweat. Keep on shakin!

04.30 Warrensburg, MO - The Setlist
05.01 Kansas City, MO - The Hurricane
05.02 Oklahoma City, OK - The Conservatory
05.03 Houston, TX - Southmore House
05.04 Jackson, MS - George Street Grocery
05.05 Baton Rouge, LA - Northgate Tavern
05.06 Mobile, AL - Cellblock
05.07 Miami, FL - Churchill's Pub
05.08 Orlando, FL - Will's Pub
05.09 W. Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern
05.10 TBA
05.11 Atlanta, GA - MJQ Drunken Unicorn
05.12 Wilmington, NC - Soapbox
05.13 Raleigh, NC - King's Lounge
05.14 Charlotte, NC - The Milestone
05.15 Washington, DC - Warehouse Next Door
05.16 Batlimore, MD - Ottobar
05.17 Pittsburgh, PA - ModernFormations
05.18 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place
05.19 New York City, NY - Knitting Factory Old Office
05.20 Brooklyn, NY - Tommy's Tavern
05.21 TBA
05.22 TBA
05.23 Asbury Park, NJ - The Saint
05.24 Philadelphia, PA - Khyber
05.25 Akron, OH - Lime Spider
05.26 TBA
05.27 Lansing, MI - Mac's
05.28 TBA

Electric Sex EP available on May 17th, 2005 from Morphius Records!

For more info, guest list, interview requests, just holler!

They're pinning up rhythm section against rhythm section for these two inventive, eclectic and eccentric bands. After you hit up the Princess show @ Zhou B. Center (Version 05) the night before, I'm sure you will need to join us munch on brunch!


Sunday, May 1st
Noon-3p
RODAN
1530 N Milwaukee Ave
in the 60622
(it's next to Reckless Records)

www.icydemons.com
www.neednewbody.com
www.solidpr.com/chicago

SOLID PR is pleased to welcome SUMMERSTEP RECORDS to the family! Look out for summer releases by LEWIS & CLARKE, KID ICARUS, a JANDEK TRIBUTE Compilation, and more! [contact: Derek]

Also new to the roster:
skiffle-funk peppered with Texas zeal by THE PAGES [contact: Celeste]
Chicago eclectigasmic duo PRINCESS [contact: Celeste]
TURN RECORDS [contact: Derek ]
SF dark rockers - THEE MORE SHALLOWS [contact: Derek ]

THE A-SIDES ARE MAKING MAJOR WAVES! [contact: Derek]
Indie-psych pop madmen from Philly known as the A-Sides, are making major breakthroughs in the indie community w/ acclamations from the likes of Magnet Magazine, the Tripwire, and tons more, their debut record "Hello, Hello" out now on Prison Jazz!

ACE FU, WHAT?! [contact: Derek ]
AN ALBATROSS are back from Europe (after shows w/ the likes of Breather Resist and the Slits, as well as recording a Peel Session!) and setting off on a US tour w/ the amazing Melt-Banana, as some additional one-off dates before heading into the studio to record their new full-length!
Read the Pitchfork news here!
MAN MAN in NYC! [contact: Derek]
4/20 @ the Mercury Lounge w/ Mary Timony
4/21 @ the Terrace Club in Princeton, NJ w/ Ted Leo

ALABASTER/GALAPAGOS 4 [contact: Celeste]
MICHAEL COLUMBIA gearing up to bring their super hot tunes to the masses.
04.21 Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews
04.23 Madison, WI - Slipper Club
05.04 Columbus, OH - Bernie's Distillery
05.06 Philadelphia, PA - Khyber
05.08 New York, NY - Knitting Factory Tap Bar (w/ Blue Velvet, Z's)
05.10 Washington, DC - Warehouse Next Door (w/ Ovo)
05.11 Raleigh, NC - King's Barcade
05.13 Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light
05.14 Athens, GA - Caledonia

BIG D AND THE KID'S TABLE [contact: Derek]
Boston's "next generation ska-punk heroes (Alternative Press)", to tour the entire Warped Tour!

CHE ARTHUR [contact: Celeste]
The new lp entitled "iron" is almost finished. Dates are now being booked for the summer u.s. tour June 1-July 6. European tour in the works for fall '05. Che says to listen to Led Zeppelin!
Apr 15 2005 Atlanta, GA | MJQ
Apr 19 2005 Birmingham, AL | The Nick

EYEBALL RECORDS [contact: Derek ]
MY EPIPHANY, Nashville's own, are set to tour the states this Summer, tourdates soon but be warned, this is one of the most aggressive and balls out live shows youre bound to see for sometime, amazing!

FILE 13 [contact: Celeste ]
FRANKLIN DELANO are from Bologna Italy. They traveled to Chicago to finish their new album Like A Smoking Gun In Front Of Me with our friends Brian Deck and Califone. Now they've crossed the Atlantic again to hit the great American highways and by-ways:
04.16 New York, NY - Knitting Factory Old Office
04.17 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place (w/ Vox Humana and Flora Di Constantino)
04.18 Providence, RI - AS220
04.19 Boston, MA - PA's Lounge
04.20 Washington, DC - Warehouse Next Door
04.22 Pittsburgh, PA - Modern Formations
04.23 Lansing, MI - Mac's
04.24 Indianapolis, IN - Melody Inn
04.25 Hamtramck, MI - The Belmont
04.26 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
04.27 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
04.28 Milwaukee, WI - Onopa Brewing Co.
04.30 Des Moines, IA - The Playground
05.01 Denver, CO - Hi Dive
05.02 Provo, UT - Starry Night
05.04 Boise, ID - Neurolux (w/ Kieskagato)
05.05 McCall, ID - Common Ground Cafe
05.06 Seattle, WA - Blue Moon
05.07 Portland, OR - Ash Street Saloon
05.08 Arcata, CA - Alibi
05.09 San Francisco, CA - Makeout Room
05.11 Los Angeles, CA - Knitting Factory Front Room
05.12 Phoenix, AZ - Emerald Lounge
05.13 Lubbock, TX - TBA
05.14 Austin, TX - Chruch Of The Friendly Ghost
05.15 Houston, TX - Southmore House
05.16 Oklahoma City, OK - The Conservatory
05.17 Warrensburg, MO - The Setlist
05.18 Chicago, IL - Hideout
05.19 Dekalb, IL - TBA
05.20 Kansas City, MO - The Brick
05.21 St. Louis, MO - Lemp Arts
POISON ARROWS is busy.
1) An appearance on Soul-Junk 1937 Remix album, remixing the track Hornfront - out now on Sounds Are Active. 2) Collaborating via superweb with Teargas and Plateglass from LA [Waxploitation]. 3) Appearance on Abandon Building Records 4) Appearance on Munich Germany's Gut Feel Records 'Signs Not Symbols' 5) Premix album has just completed. 6) Video clips currently being made for every track of debut album by Coudal Partners, a video production house
SILENT LEAGUE:
"The Catbird Seat" is single of the week over NME. MTV2 (Europe) will be showing the Catbird Seat video next week. See it the way it was meant to be seen. There are mysteries and hidden messages in this video that will only be revealed on a large screen. (No kidding.) Summer tour dates, festivals (somewhere over in Europe-landia), release activity, and other big shows which are currently captive secrets but will soon be set free to frolic naked in your backyard.

5RC [contact: Celeste]
NEED NEW BODY
NNB wanted to let you know that the adidas store, in Philly on South St. is "breathtaking!" They're on MySpace.com now. Don't hate & be their friends, would ya? A video for "Bright Tha' Day" is in the works. Obey Your Brain will release multiple home recordings, as in cassette tape, 3"cd & cd-r of earlier stuff. NNBTV will be online really soon also.
It'll have NNB videos and random strange shit. Shorty tour in May before biggie tour in June... Details soon
May 19 @ Bowery Ballroom (w/ The Hold Steady)

FLAMESHOVEL [contact: Derek or Celeste]
CHIN UP CHIN UP is putting the finishing touches on the reissue of their inaugural EP from 2003, out this summer as a split release with Record Label. The new version will feature all of the familiar hits as well as three brand spanking new "remixes," a video for "We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers" and new artwork. Scooting around the US opening for the Appleseed Cast:
April 22:Iowa City, IA @ Gabes Oasis
April 23:Madison, WI @ Union South
April 24:Evanston, IL @ Norris University Center
May 10: St. Louis, MO @ Creeppy Crawl
May 11:Memphis, TN @ Young Ave. Deli
May 12:Nashville, TN @ The Basement
May 13:Atlanta, GA @ The Drunken Unicorn
May 14:Wilmington, NC @ The Soapbox
May 15:Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
May 18:Philadelphia, PA @ The First Unitarian Church
May 19:Brooklyn, NY @ North Six
May 20:Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
May 21:Wallingford, CT @ Wallingford American Legion
May 22:Pittsburgh, PA @ TBA
May 23:Lansing, MI @ Mac's Bar
May 24:Grand Rapids, MI @ Skelletones

GOODNIGHT RECORDS [contact: Celeste]
ASKELETON are planning to escape the Twin Cities and do that "tour thing" soon. Knol Tate has been recording various bands in the studio in the meantime.
04.17 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock
04.24 Minneapolis, MN - The Nomad
04.30 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock (w/ Of Montreal)
05.06 St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
THE PRESS
Noxious Saucy Beast by The Press will be available for digital download on the 19th. The label just sent out copies of the CD to radio stations all across the country! Soon y'all 'al be hear'n some of their tunes en mass an' crashin' them cars an' bikes an' getten all scratched on up an' what not like them crazy demon folk!
April 19th Sweetwater (Nashville, TN)
21st Motor City Music Conference (Detroit, MI)
22nd High on Rose (Lexington, KY) with Giants! of Industry
23rd Swayzes (Marietta, GA)
26th The Drunken Unicorn (Atlanta, GA) with The Blue Hour
June 10th The Handlebar (Pensacola, FL)
15th The Jackpot Saloon (Lawrence, KS)
16th Boobie Trap Bar (Topeka, KS)
17th Green Squares (Wichita, KS)
18th Bali Sitay (Ames, IA)
20th Vaudeville Mews (Des Moines, IA)
22nd The Reverb (Cedar Falls ,IA)
26th The Empty Bottle (Chicago, IL)

HYDRA HEAD RECORDS [contact: Derek]
Lookout for the new DISCORDANCE AXIS record out April 24th on Hydra Head! Followed by the release of the very amazing OXBOW! Look out for a July tour of JESU (this is the best album ever - Vice Magazine, w/ Pelican!)

ICYDEMONS [contact: Celeste]
They're on MySpace.com too! Icy Dees are almost finished with their new record. A split w/ pit er pat out on polyvinyl records. They said they're starting to put the hip in the hop this summer and "we'll steal your girls and your mc's...." Potential video for "New Drac Swing" coming soon. Tight!

KANINE RECORDS [contact: Derek ]
NYC's two-piece electro-pop husband-wife phenom, MOMMY AND DADDY are currently touring the US relelntlessly w/ the like of Call Me Lightning, United States of Electronica, Thunderbirds are Now!, and more!
look out for the latest release by artsy quirk-pop trio - MIXEL PIXEL entitled "Contact Kid" out this June!

MORPHIUS RECORDS [contact: Celeste]
BANG! BANG!
have a full month of touring coming up in May followed by a Chicago CD release party for the "Electric Sex" EP@ The Empty Bottle followed by a Baltimore CD release show. We are very excited about all these goings on!
04.21 Chicago, IL - The Subterranean w/ Flufgirls Burlesque Troop! The Chopper Chicks
04.30 Warrensburg, MO - The Setlist
05.01 Kansas City, MO - The Hurricane
05.02 Oklahoma City, OK - The Conservatory
05.03 Houston, TX - Southmore House
05.04 Jackson, MS - Martin's Lounge
05.05 Baton Rouge, LA - Northstar Bar
05.09 W. Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern
05.11 Atlanta, GA - MJQ Drunken Unicorn
05.12 Wilmington, NC - Soapbox
05.13 Raleigh, NC - King's Lounge
05.14 Charlotte, NC - The Milestone
05.15 Washington, DC - Warehouse Next Door
05.16 Batlimore, MD - Talking Head
05.20 Brooklyn, NY - Tommy's Tavern
05.24 Philadelphia, PA - Khyber
05.27 Lansing, MI - Mac's

PRAEMEDIA [contact: Celeste]
A MILLION BILLION
Joan Wasser (of 'Joan as Police Woman', Rufus Wainwright, and Antony & the Johnsons) recently lent a bit of her violin magic the upcoming a million billion release, 'the filthy schoolgirls ep'. it was a magical day . . . there were rainbows in our eyes and everything sparkled . . . plus she sounds really fucking great!
STARS LIKE FLEAS
...are putting on a little show - they'll be opening with a brief set. You should go esp. if you missed them play with the likes of Sagan, Blevin Blectum, Black Lights (Kyp Malone of TV On The Radio), Grizzly Bear and Akron/Family. Currently, Stars Like Fleas are in the studio at Rare Book Room with Nicolas Vernhes (Animal Collective, Fiery Furnaces, Cat Power, Black Dice)
April 15 @ Asterisk

PRINCESS [contact: Celeste]
april 22, Subterranean, chicago, il
april 30, Zhou B. Center (as part of version 05, chicago, il

SUICIDE SQUEEZE IS OUT OF CONTROL! [contact: Derek ]
2 of the hottest bands on the scene now are from the Suicide Squeeze court, out now and on tour:
HELLA w/ Out Hud! - touring as a 4-piece!!!
CRYSTAL SKULLS have just finished their tour w/ Black Mountain and are set to hit the road w/ the Wedding Present followed by Headphones!
GOON MOON Out June 7th - Featuring Twiggy Ramirez of Marilyn Manson, Chris Goss of Masters of Reality, and Zach Hill of Hella! Read more from Rolling Stone here.

THE UNICORNS ARE NOW TH' CORN GANGG! [contact: Derek ]
read more by Pitchfork here!

---

SOLID PR's record-label alter-ego [contact: Derek ]
is set for some hot releases this summer including:
6/7 - FLASHLIGHT ARCADE "The Art of Blacking Out" re-release / after creating a huge underground following in the punk community w/ the original release, this record includes complete remastering w/ new songs, a gem of a record... playing the Bamboozle festival in Asbury Park NJ
4/29 w/ Brand New, Thrice, and more
7/7 - the SOLID PR COMPILATION featuring - Jesu, Hella, Man Man, Mommy and Daddy, Discordance Axis, Year Future, I Am the World Trade Center, and tons more! this will be pressed as a 2xCD / 4xLP and a benefit for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
August! - POST OFFICE GALS "TBA" - ho-ly-shnikees, fast and furious scream-core from dirty jersey at its finest... after 2 east coast tours playing w/ the likes of Das Oath, Daughters, Plot To Blow up the Eiffel Tower and more, these kids are set to take the country, and world, by storm! for fans of the Locust, Daughters, the Plot


More surprises to be announced shortly ;)


.

How are you doing? Well I hope you're doing well. It's Monday after all, and I thought I would check in! Especially since Chin Up Chin Up is going on tour with Appleseed Cast...

CHIN UP CHIN UP is putting the finishing touches on the reissue of their inaugural EP from back in 2003, which will re-see the light of day this summer as a split release with Flameshovel sister label Record Label. For those of you who may have bought the S/T EP from the band at a show or from Insound, the new version will feature all of the familiar hits as well as three brand spanking new "remixes," a video for "We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers" and shimmering new artwork. In pre-emptive celebratory fashion, the band just got back from MACRoCK and are ready to scoot around the US opening for the Appleseed Cast.

Chin Up Chin Up makes music about hope, about persevering through tragedy, and the redemption of optimism.

Chin Up Chin Up?s history reaches back to 2001, when Jeremy Bolen and Nathan Snydacker formed the band (think optimism and perseverance, not exercise). The two guitarists were joined shortly thereafter by percussionist Chris Dye and bassist Chris Saathoff. In January 2002, they released a self-titled EP, which inspired MOJO's call for readers to "meet your new favourite Chicago art-pop band." Later joined by keyboard player Greg Sharp, Chin Up Chin Up toured extensively, playing shows with the likes of the Appleseed Cast, the Mercury Program, Pedro the Lion, the American Analog Set, Broken Social Scene, Smog, Pinback, and more.

Midway through writing "We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers? hours, in fact, after mixing the demos the band faced a tragic loss.

In February, bassist Chris Saathoff was walking home from a show at the Empty Bottle when he was struck and killed in a hit-and-run accident. For months thereafter, the rest of the band mourned the loss of their good friend. "We all hung out together more than we hung out as a band," Bolen recalls. "We didn't think about music for a long time."

In due time though, Chin Up Chin Up decided to regroup and finish the record. Using three discs' worth of practices that the band had recorded over the last few years, they pieced together the record's final six songs, keeping Saathoff's bass lines as intact as possible. Nathan then played the bass on the remaining tracks in near-homage to Saathoof's last writings. "Falcons and Vulcans," "The Architect Has a Gun," and "Get Me Off This Fucking Island" feature Chris's last performances with Chin Up Chin Up, but his talent and creative spirit live on through the band's music.

April 22:Iowa City, IA @ Gabes Oasis
April 23:Madison, WI @ Union South
April 24:Evanston, IL @ Norris University Center

May 10: St. Louis, MO @ Creeppy Crawl
May 11:Memphis, TN @ Young Ave. Deli
May 12:Nashville, TN @ The Basement
May 13:Atlanta, GA @ The Drunken Unicorn
May 14:Wilmington, NC @ The Soapbox
May 15:Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
May 18:Philadelphia, PA @ The First Unitarian Church
May 19:Brooklyn, NY @ North Six
May 20:Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
May 21:Wallingford, CT @ Wallingford American Legion
May 22:Pittsburgh, PA @ TBA
May 23:Lansing, MI @ Mac's Bar
May 24:Grand Rapids, MI @ Skelletones

Watch the video for "Why Is My Sleeping Bag A Ghetto Muppet?"

Drop a line and say hi, let us know what you think of the band, the album, the video... et al. Tell us what you did this weekend, we love to hear from you.

The End Of The World: "This Little Theater"
genre: indie rock

Download

I'm sure when this song started playing in The Manchurian Candidate, most audiences disregarded it as an elaborate sound effect. Hey, their loss. Brooklyn's The End of the World may seem like just another NYC "the" band, but they sport their Big Apple influences proudly and shrewdly enough to warrant multiple listens. You can point out how the "This Little Theater" intro sounds like Sonic Youth covering "12:51" or how the vocals are a yokel version of Hamilton Leithauser, but these guys are eclectic enough to evade any rip-off accusations. Lines like "A man once said that a man once said" show that frontman Stefan Marolachakis's still smirking despite his dramatic tone, and by keeping it smart but simple, his bandmates likewise avoid trying to sound too self-important. I hope the Bravery are taking notes. [Adam Moerder]