Muggsy's Rock Pick: Mountains

WEDNESDAY, 2/27
Mountains, White/Cream with Frank Rosaly, Bitchin Bajas @ The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave., Chicago, IL

Made from mole hills.

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Mouse on Mars

TUESDAY 2/26
Mouse on Mars, Svengalisghost @ Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Avenue Chicago, IL

What do Germans know about electronic music? Only everything.

Video: Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, "The Nothing Part II"

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Fog Hat, Starship

Photo by Douglass Trost

FRIDAY 2/22
Foghat, Starship @ Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo, WI

So after you lose a ho chunk of your change gambling it away in the casino, you can win your youth back with this blast from the past. 'Cause you know Foghat and Starship are gonna to rock it like it's 1975 and 1985, respectively.

Video: Patrick Watson, Blackwind

Video: Howling Hex, Primetime Clown

Video: Flash Bang Band: Danananana Feud

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Matmos

See the pretty balloons?

FRIDAY 2/16
Matmos, Horse Lords, Matchess @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

Muggsy doesn't always listen to experimental electronic music, but when he does, he likes to get the Matmost out of it.

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Handlebar Anniversary

THURSDAY 2/14
Handlebar Ten Year Anniversary Party, Pink Frost, Runnies, Touched By A Ghoul, Old Black and Blue Eyes, @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

Happy ten years of Tecate beer can pyramids, unsolicited karaoke, wicked air guitar solos, food, folks & fun!

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Lady GaGa

WEDNESDAY 2/13
Lady Gaga, Madeon, Lady Starlight @ United Center, 1901 W Madison Ave., Chicago, IL

Let's just say that Muggsy is not exactly goo goo over GaGa, but you know who Muggsy is goo goo over? This kid. Ha!

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Pinto & The Bean

TUESDAY 2/12
The Microphone Misfitz, Radiant Devices, Pinto and the Bean @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

Which one's Pinto and who's the Bean?

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Mawcrest

MONDAY 2/11
Mawcrest, Guards, J. Fernandez @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

I've heard of Falcon Crest but Mawcrest? That's a new one on Muggsy. I'm game though. I can dig it.

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Ahleuchatistas

FRIDAY 2/8
Buke and Gase, Ahleuchatistas, Hemmingbirds @ Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL

Ahleuchatistas! Gesundheit.

Video: ODESZA, "IPlayYouListen"

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Yo La Tengo

TUESDAY 2/5
Yo La Tengo @ The Barrymore Theater, 2090 Atwood, Madison, WI

Great tortilla soup recipe!

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Stephen Paul Smoker

Wrong colored camo

MONDAY 2/4
Stephen Paul Smoker, Creepy Band, Sleepy Kitty @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

Stephen Paul Smoker,  Muggsy McMurphy, ex-Smoker. Good luck. Quitin' ain't easy.

Video: Zig Zag, Love Alright

Zig Zags "Love Alright" Official Music Video from jessica hundley on Vimeo.

Video: Buke & Gas, Hiccup

The Ground Hog LIES!

Mmmmm, pork chops.

Early spring, eh piggy? Fat chance! Punxsutawney Phil has lied before. In fact, that seems to be all he ever does. He's either lying around his burrow chucking wood all day or he's lying about the weather. I'll believe it when I see it! See yah next year for more LIES, bitch!

Music Review: The Howling Hex

THE HOWLING HEX
The Best of The Howling Hex
[Drag City]

In the imaginary world of The Howling Hex, every day is a circus where junkies waltz to a crazy bouncy beat. Carnies jockey for a chance to get your nickel for a ride along the border separating north and south from insanity. "New Border Soul" it's been called for that very reason, I suspect. I would warn a varmint not to listen to this thing the whole way through too many times in one sitting. There's a chance you may be whisked away completely—across a big dry desert or a tall wet mountain. If you can make it through "Trashcan Bahamas" then you're the kind of creature that has Metal Machine Music on repeat on your iPod. That's not to say it's not musical, it is—they both are—it just takes brain cells with a bunch of strength and mental stamina.

Now that I've cleared all that up, it must be said that Neil Haggerty’s The Howling Hex is still a bit of an enigma, especially since I tried not find out anything in the first place. Not knowing is a good way to start and end and The Best of Howling Hex is all you really need to know either way. Haggerty gonna do what Haggerty gonna do so there's no sense thinking too much about it—Howling Wülf [The Howling Hex]