Nick Shattell wanted to do things his way. He didn’t want to shape his vision to someone else’s whims. He didn’t want to focus on booking as many shows as possible, and he didn’t want to pander to record labels. He wanted to focus on his own songwriting. So, in 2006, he created not an Airplane. After a few spells of couch hopping before settling in Modesto, it seems that Shattell is finally getting his way.

“This is actually my fourth release,” he said. “And while the other three feel more like demos that got progressively better, I learned a lot through the process of making them, outgrowing them, and deciphering what I could have done better, or worse even. Not to mention, the more time you spend alone in front of a microphone, the more the awkwardness fades away and you can actually reach some level of comfort.”

It’s that level of comfort and desire for growth that has led to the pure, organic sound of not an Airplane. It also leads to some interesting — and nontraditional — choices, like releasing an album that contains exactly two songs. “Speak In” clocks in at just over 16 minutes in length, while “Speak Out” is just a hair under 14 minutes. But if you’re expecting long, meandering, and drawn out snooze fests, you won’t find it here. Shattell proves himself to be quite an expert in composition. Although, my feeling is that he didn’t set out to compose much of anything. He just wrote what he wanted. And that’s what it sounds like, too. There’s nothing careful or reserved about this album. And it’s damn good.

It Could Just Be This Place is a showcase of Shattell’s songwriting, backed by a talented group that fuses rock, folk, and bluegrass. The songs center around central themes but bear the messages through a series of twists and turns. It rocks, it rolls, and it delivers.

The band is currently touring around their native California, and plans to release another album late this year. Also, they are working on “Speak Out – The Movie.” Below, you can check out “Speak In – The Movie.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

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It’s these chance meetings that usually lead to something enigmatic and enduring. Kaitlyn’s background in classical piano and blues guitar ran alongside a lifelong passion for The Beatles and Muddy Waters. Diana’s lifelong vocal training coincided with a love for country music … and house. But they stand very close together when it comes to obsessions with guitar, distortion, and Jack White.

Sound interesting?

Ketchum Kerhart’s EP, Good Luck Sleeping, shows clear talent on a very strong debut with some of the catchiest new hooks we’ve come across in some time. But don’t get that confused with some kind of sugar-coated pop bullshit. Something tells me you don’t want to toy around with these two. Ever heard that saying, “Hell hath no fury…?”

Take, for instance, this little snippet from the song “Ton of Bricks.”

I hope you can’t sleep at night
Cause you’re so full of regrets
I hope when you think of me
You’ll realize why I left
Hope it hits you like a ton of bricks
That you’re a piece of shit…

It’s not all unabashed fury, though. You’ll even find some thoughtful, pained titles, like “Letters from a Stranger.” But I’ll play it safe and mind my manners.

So here you go, below is “Hard to Forget.” Appropriate, because it won’t be the last time you hear it, or anything else from Ketchum Kerhart. Diana’s fridge-cleaning days are over.

Head to their website then click through to hear more.

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One night — December 4, 1956 — four legends in the making came together and made history. Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash converged on historic Sun Records Studios in Memphis for the first and only time, while Sam Phillips recorded what came to be the Million Dollar Quartet — a once-in-a-lifetime, impromptu jam session that will never be equaled.

Million Dollar Quartet is an absolute must-see show for any music fan. The extremely talented cast tells the story of that amazing night through live performances of some of the most important songs of rock and roll’s infancy, including “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Great Balls of Fire”, and “Folsom Prison Blues.”

Enter to win now by subscribing to Windy City Weekly, and tell a friend (who you wouldn’t mind sitting next to) to increase your chances of winning! The winner will be announced in the January 12 edition of Windy City Weekly.

A big thanks to Broadway in Chicago for providing this evening of unparalleled entertainment!

*Upon winning, a voucher for two tickets to a Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday evening performance of Million Dollar Quartet will be emailed to the winner, with instructions on how to redeem. The voucher is good between January 25 – February 23, 2012, excluding February 12, 2012.

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You can expect an honest rock album. But while you will hear a few traditional styles, The Bishop remains true to what they want to create, and it shows. Songwriter/singer/lead guitarist Billy Giricz crafts simple but compelling stories and he gets his point across, but not without his own style and sometimes a subtle sense of humor – even in the song titles themselves. You might expect “Mice and Elephants” to be on the bubbly side. And you might think “Timebomb” would be threatening, and aggressive. The truth is, they are both quite the opposite. And while “Promises Made” (hear it below) is a fairly straightforward tale of a hidden path to manhood, you can’t help feeling that Giricz takes it all with several grains of salt.

Of course, it never hurts to be surrounded by precision talent.

Paulette Bertrand provides depth and dimension, while Dan Passareli, drummer Luke Smith, and Darin Gregg keep the momentum charging. Five Minutes of Panic and Thrills comes together to provide a well-balanced and fun, and authentic rock album. It’s a hit — and you can expect The Bishop to start appearing regularly on the marquees of Chicago’s best music venues and some of their favorites such as Beat Kitchen, The Abbey, Martyrs, and the Double Door. But we suspect it won’t stop there, and this Chicago band will breeze across borders.

Below, have a listen to “Promises Made.” And visit The Bishop’s website for more!

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We have two passes to give away for FRIDAY and SATURDAY (Nov. 11-12). To enter to win, sign up with our partners, Windy City Weekly. (If you’re already signed up, send an email to soundcitizenmike@gmail.com and we’ll put you in the drawing.) The show is ages 21+ and sponsored by Windows Phone. Winners will be notified Thursday and Friday!

The location … is a secret. I can tell you it’s in Chicago at a very cool spot. We’ll let you know when you win!

If you don’t win you can RSVP for entry, on Facebook. Admission is on a first-come basis.

If you don’t know about The Drums, have a listen below!

The Drums – Money by WorkItMedia

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Fallon Cush presents an interesting array of sounds. You might hear some Bob Dylan. You might hear some Beatles. On “Sleeping Giant” you might hear both. There are hints of Wilco in there, too. Smith’s vocals at times betray the painful experience that wrought the album. In fact, some songs sound downright cheery, at first. “Disintegrate” will have you toe tapping before revealing a pervasive sense of melancholy. Listen enough to just about every song and you’ll hear the strife.

It’s a good debut and, judging by not only the songs themselves but also their execution, Fallon Cush’s next album might just be about finding redemption after heartache.

Read more about Fallon Cush on their website. You can get the album here. Below is the first song on the album, “Tiny Town.”

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Why the postponement? According to the release:

“Due to a visa administration error, Morrissey’s lead guitarist is unable to perform in the US this week. Thursday’s sold out concert at the Congress Theatre in Chicago has been rescheduled for Saturday December 17, 2011. The issue is out of Morrissey’s hands but it will not affect Monday’s concert at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, nor will it affect the rest of the tour.”

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You’ll hear some heavy power chords and driving drum beats, as in “Time Capsule”; straight-up rock teetering on metal in “Tomahawk Train”; aggressive, Ramones-esque power-pop/punk in “Did it Again”; and even catchy 60′s beach rock-inspired sounds in “Operation in Hand”. The album will take you on a tour of their inspirations, and leave you wondering what else they have locked and loaded for future releases.

If you catch their upcoming show November 19 at the Hell Hole in Chicago, you just might find out.

Below, you can hear “Operation in Hand”. Have a listen and get ahead of the curve — you’ll be hearing more about them in no time.

OPERATION IN HAND

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You can win a free pair of tickets to see them live, October 14 at Chicago’s Congress Theater. All you have to do is visit our partners at Windy City Weekly, sign up for the newsletter and you’re entered. We will announce the winners in the Oct. 13 edition of Windy City Weekly, at 9:40 AM.

The show will feature two full sets from Les Claypool and gang, so fans are sure to hear a great catalog, far beyond standards like “Winona Has a Big Brown Beaver” and “My Name is Mud” (although hopefully you’ll hear those, too). Primus is one of those shows you don’t want to miss, and one you’ll never forget.

To enter, sign up to Windy City Weekly, Chicago’s newsletter.

If you’re scared, go buy a dog.

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Panther Style will be playing off their brand new album, Emergencia (released May 31, 2011), which features squealing, edgy guitars complimented by Jeanne McClure’s strong but understated vocals that are reminiscent of Shirley Manson, at times, except for the occasional primal scream or two. Dan Lutger violently bangs the drums to make sure you don’t forget this is a rock band first and foremost, while Al Rodis and Melissa Koehl shred sexy guitar riffs and occasional solos that evoke fond memories of some of the best eras of rock – from epic hair bands to indie and punk revival.

Panther Style is the product of veteran Chicago rockers and a very welcome, refreshing addition to the scene. We like straight-up rock around here and that’s what you’re going to get on Saturday. Something else we like – live recordings, of which Emergencia is one, recorded at Chicago’s B-Side Audio.

Have a listen below then get your tickets for Saturday’s show – it’s going to be a good one.

SEEING… JUST NOT BELIEVING

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