The long awaited new single from Stephen Paul Smoker, Green City, is finally here, and RCRD LBL has the premier. “This is dirty music for dirty times” says RCRD LBL, and we couldn’t agree more. The song is also available over on iTunes for your smart ass phones and such. Stay tuned for the full length, Ripe Fruit, LP available this Spring on Kilo.

Green City [stream] [buy on iTunes]

Netherfriends – Bloomington, IN [stream] [buy]

[stream] [buy on iTunes]

1. Otto
2. Lover I Can Tell You

“A rich, ominous sound that will no doubt add some variety to the standard cheerful and cheesy Christmas playlist.” – The Chicagoist

“Morales plays the main melody line on her distorted cellos taking the notes to the brink of destruction… it’s a pretty great listen if you like your Christmas carols a bit on the darker side.” – Loud Loop Press

After conquering the US last year what’s next for Netherfriends?  Europe.  If you’re across the pond say hello to Mr. Rosenblatt. US and European dates below.

US DATES

EUROPEAN DATES

11.20.11 – NL – Haarlem – Patronaat
11.21.11 – DE – Hamburg – Aalhaus
11.23.11 – DE – Berlin – Lovelite
11.24.11 – DE – Menden – Rehearsal room
11.25.11 – NL – Utrecht – ACU (Guess Who? Festival)
11.26.11 – DK – Arhus – Voxhall
11.27.11 – DK – Copenhagen – Musikcafeen
11.28.11 – DE – Kiel – Prinz Willy
11.29.11 – DE – Hannover – Cafee Glocksee
11.30.11 – DE – Oberhausen – Druckluft
12.01.11 – DE – Stuttgart – Zwoelfzehn
12.02.11 – DE – Gottingen – Apex
12.03.11 – CZ – Prague – Chapeau rouge
12.04.11 – AU – Vienna – Rhiz
12.05.11 – AU – Feldkirch – Graf Hugo
12.06.11 – DE – Erfurt – Franz Melhoz
12.07.11 – FR – Metz – venue TBA
12.08.11 – FR – Nancy – Caveau du Grand Sauvoy
12.09.11 – SW – Nyon – La Parenthèse
12.10.11 – SW – Geneva – venue TBA
12.11.11 – FR – Paris – l’International
12.12.11 – BE – Gent – Cafe video
12.13.11 – UK – Cardiff – Undertone
12.14.11 – UK – Derby – Victoria Inn
12.15.11 – UK – Sunderland – Little room
12.18.11 – FR– Lille – Centre Culturel Libertaire

FREE SONG

FULL OF IT
At Midnight we dropped a never-before-released remix of Netherfriend’s Full of It feat. Show You Suck.  The track is from the band’s Netherfriends Does Nilsson album, which is made up entirely of Harry Nilsson samples.  DOWNLOAD

The day has finally arrived. After an October of touring, Loyal Divide is finally returning to Chicago for their first venue performance since May. Their much anticipated debut LP, Bodice Ripper, is now available, but we have yet to give the gents a proper celebration. The time has come.

LOYAL DIVIDE – VINYL RELEASE SHOW

Friday November 4th, 2011

at the Empty Bottle

w/ Lasers & Fast & Shit, Verma

$10 | Doors at 9PM

PRE-ORDER RECOMMENDED: Limited Tickets Available at the Door

RSVPing also enters you to win a free pre-release copy of the LP. Pretty sweet right? For the rest of you make sure to hit up your local record store next Tuesday, Oct 4th to snag your copy.

TOUR

Loyal Divide is hitting the road this Wednesday. Check out their tour dates and make sure to catch the group live if you aren’t from the Windy City.

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
LOYAL DIVIDE

Today is an extremely exciting day as we get to welcome the newest addition to our roster, Loyal Divide.  These guys have be tearing up the Midwest, and we’re excited to be putting out their debut LP this fall.

THE BAND

For the past four years, Chicago’s Loyal Divide has been creating sounds that inspire more than just your average hipster head-bob. Whether it be supporting Crystal Castles & Chromeo or prepping a tranced-out crowd before Deadmau5, feet unanimously begin to shuffle. It’s their blend of familiar sounds that allow this quintet to straddle already blurred genre lines. From house beats and early 90s hip-hop jams to the darker, lo-fi productions reminiscent of Lee Scratch Perry and Can comes a sound that is both accessible and triumphantly original.

THE ALBUM

Bodice Ripper is the debut full-length record from Chicago’s psych-rock outfit Loyal Divide. A beautifully eerie walk through this young band’s headspace of Blade Runner synths and haunting vocals, Bodice Ripper is an astonishingly mature first album.

To thank all of their fans thus far, Loyal Divide just made available a never before released song via their website.

MTV calls Bodice Ripper “Infectious”, and Filter Magazine says “this group draws their sound from a wide variety of influences ranging from experimental-electro to pure indie-rock.”

Header photo thanks to Tracy Graham 

The Loneliest Monk

The art / indie / avant garde pop band consisting of master cellist Michelle Morales and mysterious masked man Miles Benjamin had an amazingly massive year.  Their first full length record was released on Kilo Records and saw much fanfare (get your copy here).  The album, ranging sonically from humbly lo-fi to humongous cello driven rockers, features  Morales’ ability to fluidly transition between her gorgeously crafted acoustic cello and her effects-heavy electric cello as well as Benjamin’s unique approach to percussion and rhythms.  The album showcases just how dynamic the two really are.

Two tours brought The Loneliest Monk around the country, one westward and the other eastward.  With shows in Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Terra Haute, Brooklyn, Providence, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and more, they introduced their original sound to eager new ears.

They played a myriad of fantastic local Chicago shows in 2010, too – CHIRP Record Fair, Mayne Stage, and most venues you can think of around town – Schuba’s, Empty Bottle, Subterranean, Lincoln Hall, etc.

Also, late in 2010, the Monk released a gorgeous and dramatic music video for their song ‘The Ghost & The Silhouette’ from their self titled debut album (check it out).

So far in 2011, The Loneliest Monk has completed another westward tour, recorded a new 7″ single for their song ‘Hiding Places’ with B-Side ‘The Bad One’ (get your copy here), and are planning another westward tour.  The tours this year have many more dates and are proving to be more robust and effective.  They also are working on new material for a follow-up full length record.

Stephen Paul Smoker / Ripe Fruit

Stephen Paul Smoker had a vastly evolutionary year in 2010.  He was featured on several artists’ albums, but finally broke through as a solo artist.  Over the course of a few short days, his debut EP ‘Violent Sun / Violent Fun’ was recorded and assembled between Kilo Studios and his living room and then released on Kilo Records (get your copy here).  It is a lo-fi journey of emotions and it is a great initial effort.  Stephen then painstakingly assembled a band of musicians to support him live, hand picking each member for specific reasons.  After much practice, touring, and writing, Stephen Paul Smoker and his band Ripe Fruit have evolved further still.  Their sound is fantastic yet tightly and intricately tied together, each instrument a strand of a braid.

In 2011, Stephen has pushed for the group to be known solely as Ripe Fruit, as the band has become tighter than ever.  Kilo Records has released a 7″ single for ‘Neon Green’, one of the band’s group efforts (get your copy here).  A music video for the B-Side, No You No Me, is introducing the world to another side of the psych-pop band’s visual side (check it out).

Michael Kostal / More Killer

Michael Kostal is our darling at Kilo Records.  He plays in almost every band on our label, and it’s no surprise – he’s an incredibly gifted and creative musician.  Somehow, amidst all of his work with other bands, this fine gentleman finds the time to write his own solo music.  It is quirky and lovable, thoughtful and fanciful, and in 2010 Kilo Records released his ambitious project, entitled 2wo-Thousand and 9ine (check it out).  The album consists of 12 songs, one for each month of the year from 2009.  Michael wrote and recorded a song each month, almost like a journal, and resulting songs are all painfully honest and personal.  Eccentric and eclectic, 2wo-Thousand and 9ine is a great album to really listen to.

2011 has seen a lot of action from Michael.  His newest solo project, More Killer, is in the final stages of production and will be released soon.  His involvement with Stephen Paul Smoker as a Ripe Fruit member has grown deep and he is an integral part of their sound.  Michael is no stranger to hard work and keeping busy, and at the end of the year we will undoubtedly see the fruits of his labor and of his love in a very big way.

All Things Lucid

Chicago-based rock ‘n roll band All Things Lucid had a big release in 2010 – their self-titled full length album, their first to be pressed to vinyl (get your copy here).  It was a milestone for Kilo Records as well, as it was the first vinyl release for us, too.  The self-titled effort has an interesting range of lyrical topics and sonic characteristics.

The record release show at Lincoln Hall was a grand time and the gentlemen played a blazingly entertaining show, including a performance of their unreleased track ‘Danger’.  The concertgoers all left with a night to remember, and a 12″ full length record to spin on their record players at home.

This year has seen little action from Lucid -although the boys undoubtedly have something up their collective sleeve…

Tonight we clink glasses and celebrate the release of The Loneliest Monk‘s newest single -Hiding Places- on 7″ red vinyl at Reggie’s Rock Club with Stephen Paul Smoker and Flying Cars (NY – Members of Asa Ransom).

Advance tickets are $10 and include a FREE vinyl + limited “Domestica Monk” Photobook by IshootRockstars!

Purchase here (only available until 3PM today!)

Tickets are also available at the door for $12 BUT do not include the vinyl package.

Release Show Details

Where: Reggie’s Rock Club - 2109 South State Street
When: Tonight. Doors 8PM Show 9PM
Who: Flying Cars, Stephen Paul Smoker, The Loneliest Monk

Want to Pre-Game?

Check out some of the links below for interviews, reviews, and more about the new release from Chicago’s masked cello duo.

IshootRockstars.com
Check out the “Domestica Monk” photo series.
Look Here