Gossip guitarist Nathan Howdeshell has been releasing a trickle of CD-Rs and singles on his Fast Weapons label since 2003, but he’s ramping up plans to issue vinyl and fanzines. One of the first new items on the schedule is an LP from Howdeshell’s side project Sleetmute Nightmute.
Summer Sessions on the Square, the Logan Square community concert series that takes place under the Illinois Centennial Monument, begins a second season on June 26. Shows featuring west-side bands run 5:30-8:30 PM on the last Saturday of the month. “We’ll have more music from kids and teens, and we’re expanding the musical genres past our heavily rock and Latin season last year,” booker Morgan Thoryk told Gossip Wolf. Also, “this year we’re hosting a DJ night after each show at the Crown Tap Room.” The kickoff features music from the Chicago Stone Lightning Band and Afro Zep and a performance by the Boom Crack! teen dance company.
Sea and Cake front man Sam Prekop will supposedly have a solo record due out this fall via Thrill Jockey. A source close told Gossip Wolf to “expect something VERY different,” but would neither confirm nor deny rumors that Les Claypool of Primus had been yanked from behind the board and replaced by WGN storm chaser Tom Skilling.
My Gold Mask will join The Hood Internet to perform their mash-up “Bitches” at their Do Division headlining gig next Saturday, June 6.
On May 18, Hefty Records founder John Hughes III put out a stylistically disparate new album of electronica, Reset the Warehouse, a co-release with 1320 Records, the imprint run by Sound Tribe Sector 9. Billed simply to “John Hughes” and featuring an eclectic array of guests, including Chicago jazz flutist Nicole Mitchell and Maurizio Guarini of Italian splatter-film soundtrackers Goblin, the LP was recorded at Hughes’s own HFT Studio.
Local reverb wizards Disappears have already finished tracking a full-length follow-up to their just-released debut, Lux. It was originally slated to be an EP, but the band went into Bridgeport’s Clava Studios and apparently got inspired. According to a man claiming to be the band’s guitar player, the as-yet-untitled platter, produced by drummer Graeme Gibson, will be released this fall on Kranky.
Locals Judson Claiborne recorded five songs for Daytrotter last weekend, including a cover of Abner Jay‘s “I’m So Depressed.” According to Daytrotter, the session will be posted sometime in early July.
It Smells Like Perfume in Herre: Saint Louis rapper/entreprenuer Nelly is the latest hip-hop star to launch a fragrance, an extension of his popular Apple Bottoms brand. Gossip Wolf hoped to detect a little civic pride—a little eau de Pujols, say, and a whiff of the long elevator ride to the top of the Gateway Arch—but the PR says “transparent florals mingled with tropical fruits and drizzled with succulent nectar.” Nelly will appear in person at the local launch, at Carson Pirie Scott (7505 W. Cermak in North Riverside) on June 5 from 1 to 3 PM. Just to get in line, fans need to purchase an $80 or $100 Apple Bottoms gift pack from local Bon-Ton stores by June 5. More details can be found on the blog at applebottomsfragrance.com.
Bottomless Pit, the local rock ‘n’ roll band featuring former members of Silkworm and Seam, just sent their new album off to be mastered at Abbey Road. The band will release the yet-untitled disc under their own imprint in the fall.