Record review: Rainbow Gun Show - 'Cinderella Sizzle'

By Gene Wagendorf III   

The confidence with which Cinderella Sizzle is executed is impressive, especially considering the fact that this 7-inch marks the formal debut of the rockers behind it. After cutting their chops on a couple of self-released recordings, Rainbow Gun Show tapped two of the strongest tracks from 2012's Not Quite A Butterfly for their Hozac Records coming out party. The result is a wheel of vinyl loaded with fuzzy, catchy pop that begs (and earns) multiple listens.

The title track jumps out of a fizzling, carnie melody to rubberize the necks of anyone within earshot via a hard-driving riff reminiscent of Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up." Roaring guitars chug across a limber bass resulting in an energy as inspiring as Costello's jam, yet a little more suede, a little less pandering. Credit for that falls on the shoulder's of the tune's cooly delivered vocals- a croon that falls somewhere between MGMT and Thurston Moore. "Cinderella Sizzle" carries an infectious momentum from start to finish, making it one of those special songs that shines as brightly on the dance floor as does at a rock club.

Blackout Fest returns to Chicago

Posted by Andrew Hertzberg

Pretty soon the Chicago blog community will be overrun with posts about summer festivals. Really, it’s one of the greatest things about this city. Of course, as the years go on, many of the fests become more and more expensive and essentially commercial outlets that just so happen to have some good bands playing. Luckily, for every corporate action there’s an equal and opposite independent reaction. Bitchpork has been repping the underground for the past couple of years and now Hozac returns with Blackout Fest, which originally ran from 2001-2006.

So what’s in store for their triumphant return? How about Tutu and the Pirates, Chicago’s first recorded punk band? Or the Nervous Eaters, making their first Chicago appearance since opening for the Ramones in the late '70s? Not bad, right? Not to mention far out all around goofball Nobunny, Hozac champions like Reading Rainbow and Idle Times, and local standouts like Mickey, Radar Eyes, the Brides and many more (full list after the jump). This all goes down Friday and Saturday May 27-28 at the Velvet Perineum…yeah, I’ve never heard of it either. Facebook says it’s within walking distance of the Logan Square Monument. A golden ticket is $45 for the two days while they last, otherwise Friday is $20, Saturday $30 (ticketweb).

Show preview: Reading Rainbow, Radar Eyes at Empty Bottle, 11/11

Posted by Andrew

This Thursday, Hozac Records pays respect to vets by taking over the Empty Bottle.  

One to judge a book by its cover, I knew Reading Rainbow was going to be good before I heard the first hook. Birthed in the current highly creative and unpredictable Philadelphia scene, the guy/girl duo creates a layered garage sound coupling Jesus and Mary Chain fuzz with the emergency of Love is All (minus the no-wave saxophones). At times simplicity is the rule, but I’m hoping the two can avoid banality and impress with their contrasting vocals. The show doubles as a preview for their forthcoming Hozac debut, Prism Eyes, out 11/23; singles so far sound cleaned up from earlier releases while still retaining an analog charm.  

Aesthetic similarities with Reading Rainbow will be obvious at first, but Radar Eyes have the advantage of Joey Ramone incarnate helming the vocals. Revved up tempos drive these guys out of the garage and into a league with local brethren the Smith Westerns, replacing the glam with a pinch of psychedelic.  Although I’m still skeptical of the format, the static and entropy created by cassettes can only enhance the grit and oil-stained guitar sound. Pick up the self-titled plastic and film on Plus Tapes.

Check all this out for free with an RSVP (details on Empty Bottle website).  Make sure to get there early for Michigan post-post-punks People's Temple and Chicago’s sax-toting Nones.