Tom Lynch

Awesome! Chicago's Beatles-esque pop foursome The M's are the next to do the Monday-night residency at Schubas, following a great four nights by The Changes and a less-than-great set of evenings by Baby Teeth. The M's return back to the spotlight after opening gigs over the last few years with indie gold Broken Social Scene and Wilco and, come next February, a new record is due and sure to slot the quartet right back into the "next big thing" conversations that will run rampant through the city, just as they did some time ago. Better yet, tonight the band plays with The 1900s, a dare-I-say totally perfect band of low-key pop and melody, acoustic guitars, strings, and vocal harmonies. Evoking both The Velvet Underground and Belle and Sebastian, The 1900s should be in everyone's head all the time.

The M's open their monthly residency at Schubas, 3159 North Southport, (773)525-2508, on December 5. (2005-11-29)

Also by Tom Lynch

Punk Rock Blues
Already sipping a fresh coffee, Joe Meno slinks into Wicker Park's Alliance Bakery & Café on an early Saturday afternoon, shuffles by scenesters taking advantage of the free wireless Internet, and inconspicuously sits at a table. The author, playwright and Punk Planet contributor doesn't really look "punk rock," but his work thoroughly evokes it
(2005-11-15)

Divine Idea
While the Promise Ring's reunion comes as only a slight surprise--Davy von Bohlen plays an earlier show with Maritime, opening for Jimmy Eat World and the American Analog Set--the biggest shocker to come out from the city's dark subways is the Smoking Popes who, only a brief time ago, seemed destined to be thumb-tacked into the mid-nineties Chicago pop-punk scene
(2005-11-08)

Tip of the Week
The low-fi dance assault known as Casiotone for the Painfully Alone--in truth, a one-man operation called Owen Ashworth armed with only, you guessed it, a Casio--breaks down the barriers that guard the selective "happy" people in the world who just can't get into IDM
(2005-11-08)

Soundcheck
Sally Seltmann, who croons and sways under the name New Buffalo, finally had her "The Last Beautiful Day" released in the United States with the help of label Arts & Crafts, and the astounding result, the seemingly effortless beauty of pop matched with Seltmann's meaty-yet-vulnerable voice, will be something to remember for years to come
(2005-11-01)

Tip of the Week
(2005-11-01)

Going for broke
(2005-10-25)

Ghost story
(2005-10-25)

Tip of the Week
(2005-10-25)

Free Verse
(2005-10-18)

Tip of the Week
(2005-10-18)

Game Day
(2005-10-11)

Worth the Weight
(2005-10-11)

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