DeRogatis has quit the Sun-Times. Again.

You heard right. Sun-Times pop music critic, Jim DeRogatis has tenured his resignation with the titular paper on Monday. He will begin writing a music blog for Chicago Public Radio in June.
This marks the second time that DeRo has left the paper since he signed on with [...]

Local musician and filmmaker Thomas Comerford’s latest film, The Indian Boundary Line, is back by popular demand at the Gene Siskel Film Center on April 22 at 6:00pm. The previous screening sold out so plan accordingly.
The film is an exposition of the 1816 St. Louis Treaty which separated the US territory from Indian tribe territory. [...]

Chicago purveyors of technically dense and rhythmically fulfilling math rock, Maps & Atlases have signed a deal with Barsuk, who will be releasing the band’s new album, Perch Patchwork. Barsuk are known as the band who helped break Death Cab For Cutie among other notable acts, so this is an exciting opportunity for the group. [...]

Owl City’s album went platinum.

Here are some shows that I’d recommend checking out.
Seabear @ Schubas, Apr 2 (Icelandic indie-folk)
The Antlers @ Lincoln Hall, Apr 22
Jason Collett @ Schubas, Apr 7
Charlotte Gainsbourg @ Park West, Apr 21
Stars @ Lincoln Hall, Jun 9
White Rabbits @ Metro, Apr 25

Will Benoit of the band Constants recently started fulfilling a lifelong dream of creating the first solar powered / eco friendly recording studio in New England. Benoit owns a 2000 sq ft barn which is already outfitted with the solar panels needed to generate the power. Now he’s looking to raise [...]

We’ve lost another super talented artist in Sparklehorse’s Mark Linkous, who committed suicide this weekend. It’s a tragedy, but not an unforeseen tragedy, unfortunately. Linkous was quite a troubled soul who overdosed on pills and alcohol in 1996 while on tour with Radiohead. The situation left him wheelchair bound for six months.

Watch Sparklehorse – “Saturday”

It’s [...]

I’ve been hearing good things about locals, Coltrane Motion & We Love You. They’re playing a FREE show at the Double Door on March 25 with Pop Empire (Cincinnati, OH).

Actually, I just watched Coltrane Motion do a session with this new live video sesh crew, Small Chicago. Check it out and submit your band.
www.myspace.com/motion

Shape Note are an atmospheric indie-folkish foursome from Chicago (new drummer not pictured). They’re working on their debut EP at the moment and have a couple early mixes up on their Myspace page. If you like shuffling pop songs with lots of reverb and haunting vocals then turn your attention to this band post-haste.
They played [...]

I just read this really funny item on Pitchfork. Apparently, Terry Gilliam (Monty Python, Brazil) introduced Johnny Depp (Sexiest Man Alive) to Sunset Rubdown (Canadians). In turn, Depp apparently used some of their songs as inspiration for his latest character, The Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland. Hilarious. It’s a better time than ever to [...]