You're gonna love Love In October

Love In October continues the trend of Sweden kicking out sparkling and infectious music. The two brothers at the core of the group, Erik  and Kent Widman, relocated to the states in the early aughts, eventually settling in Chicago. Their sound settles firmly in the realm of power pop, and released a series of EPs between 2009 and 2016. With each release, the band’s sound got tighter and tighter, shinier and shinier.

With this year’s SHAPES, their debut proper full-length, some grit was thrown into the mix. The brothers, with the aid of guitarist Chris Limerinos, adjusted their sound to reflect the turmoil the world is currently going through. The result is a scrappier, though no less melodic, incarnation of Love In October. Kicking off with “Time Cop” the band mixes slashing guitars, swooshing synths and a driving beat that snags you from the first note. From there the album keeps up the intensity and only bringing you down into a less frenetic state of mind with the album closer “Wasting My Time.” The band also pulls off the amazing trick of sampling Donald Trump on “I Stopped Caring” without immediately triggering a spate of projectile vomiting.

The band plays a record release show at Chop Shop tonight. Since Love In October almost never plays live shows this is a rare chance to see them bring their music to life onstage. Check out SHAPES below and then you snag your tickets to the show here.

St. Vincent + Dua Lipa 4ever.

Somehow the Grammys did not completely suck this year. I know! How did that happen! And this duet between St. Vincent and Dua Lipa was easily the highlight. Snippets of this were all over Twitter yesterday, but St. Vincent was kind enough to post the whole video on her YouTube page so enjoy the steamy fire smoldering throughout this performance.

FINALLY! Some new music from Charly Bliss!

Photo Credit: Ebru Yildiz

Charly Bliss just announced their new album Young Enough is coming out in May! I've been a huge fan of the band since I first saw them (opening for Veruca Salt, I think?) so I am very excited. I actually saw 'em play a few weeks ago at the Tomorrow Never Knows fest and, as usual, they fully delivered. If you haven't seen them, you are missing out because they are one of my favorite live bands out there right now.

The group is previewing one track, "Capacity," from the album and it has me even more excited to hear every other track. It's got a great groove and is a little more downbeat and complex than their previous work. But I think it shows a band that's growing their sound in new and exciting directions, and who wouldn't get excited about that?!

Since they were just in town the obviously don't have any Chicago dates right now, but I betcha they'll be on one of the festival bills this summer, so keep an eye out.

Stream "Capacity' or watch its video below.

Celebrating new chapters.

Hey there. Hi there. How are you? I'm good, thanks for asking.

Well, as good as a guy can be in the middle of winter with almost no sunshine. But hey, I survived the polar vortex, so that's something!

Speaking of sunshine, my ex-wife is making plans to move to California. She told me about it a while ago, but I have learned over the past year not to talk about another person's business until they publicly break the news, even if it's to be celebratory. I mean, I already knew that, but in the initial months of my divorce it's clear I didn't always make the best decisions.

How do I feel about the move? There is certainly a part of me initially sad she's leaving. But I'm also happy for her. Her boyfriend is out there. Year round sunshine is out there. Activities I know have made her feel peace in her life are out there. She will be able to start a new chapter in her life out there. She'll be incredibly happy out there.

And in the end that's what counts, so that makes me happy.