Certain People I Know - Chicago, IL. - Emo/Indie/Rock

Certain People I Know is one of many present day emo bands. What's different about them is that they feature of the guys who started it all - Bob Nanna.

This isn't quite your typical Nanna project as it features female vocals and a subtle difference in styling from Hey Mercedes and Braid.

Check out the debut S/T LP below. Watch live footage from the band's first performance even further below.

Pity Sex - Ann Arbor, MI. - Emo/Indie/Punk

If you haven't caught on to Pity Sex (the band, of course..), you've been missing out. I like to call it weepy emo with a tinge of indie jams. 

This stuff is so catchy! Listen to Dark World below. Watch a sweet live performance of the song "Cocoa Cola" even further below.

For fans of: Brave Bird, Dowsing, Old Gray

Foxing - St. Louis, Mo. - Emo/Post-punk

St. Louis based band Foxing make feel-good emo jams. Reminiscent of emotional song structures much like American Football, this band brings a modern tinge of indie and mathy elements for a nice blend of  songs worthy of singing along.

Stream their debut EP "Old Songs" below.

For fans of:  American Football, Castevet, Boyfriends

Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) - Fenton, MI. - Emo

Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) feature sad sad songs about life and the world around us. The husband and wife duo are very nice people. Keith also runs Count Your Lucky Stars Records.

Give their music a listen below. Check out a full band live performance even further below.

For fans of: American Football, Joie De Vivre, Dowsing, Snowing

Skeletal Lightning store now open!

The Skeletal Lightning store is now here! With releases ranging from American Football to William Bonney, Northless, and much more. You'll be sure to find something you like!

The store primarily features vinyl and cassette releases from Midwestern bands and labels, but you'll be able to find similar artists and genres from time to time, too.

In celebrating the very first week of business for the Skeletal Lightning store, all readers will receive 10% off their entire purchase!

Simply use the discount code "firstdayback" when checking out for the discount to be applied.

Check out the full list of items available down below, or see for yourself by visiting the store here.

A few other tidbits to note:

- All orders will include at least one freebie. The more you buy, the more you'll get!

- Each order will be packed with extreme care.

-Stream each album before you buy.

- Records will be removed from their jackets and bubble wrapped to prevent splintering in the cover or in any other printed materials, and extra cardboard inserts will be added to ensure added protection from corner dents, bends, and other dings.

(If you would prefer to keep the record packed as is without removing anything from inside the jacket, just include a note to the seller before you check out or shoot me an email with your order and request.)

Now being carried in the store are releases from:

Polyvinyl Record Co.:

American Football - American Football 12" (180g)

Braid - Frame & Canvas 12" (180g)

American Football - American Football EP 12" (180g)

Owen - At Home With Owen 12" (180g)

Rainer Maria - Look Now Look Again 12" (180g)

Owen - Ghost Town 12" (180g)

Joan of Arc - Life Like 12" (180g)

Braid - Closer to Closed EP 12" (180g) (white)

HALO OF FLIES:

Enabler - All Hail The Void 12"

Northless - Clandestine Abuse 2x12" (orange - out of print!)

The Ghost Is Clear Records:

Texas Instruments/Baitfish/Battle Royale/Regret, the Informer - 4-way split 12" (mixed color)

Brighter Arrows - Division And What It Is To Abide 10" (gold)

Robotic Empire:

Tilts - Tilts 12"

Hot Green Records:

Algernon Cadwallader - Parrot Flies 12"

Kid Sister Everything:

Mountain Asleep - Smile Medicine 7"

Crippled Sound:

Angry Gods - Concrete Distortion cassette (green)

Error Records:

Droughts/William Bonney - split 7"

Rvins + Good Night & Good Morning - Collab cassette

Cosmic Debris:

Like Rats - Like Rats 7" (out of print!)


Also currently featured in the store are Skeletal Lightning logo banner stickers. Stick em'  anywhere you'd like to show your support.

Re-stocks and more titles will be added in November, so keep checking back!

Not seeing a record you want? Suggest/request a release by emailing info(AT)skeletallightning.net, with the subject "Store request" and we'll do our best to hook you up!

Thanks for checking us out and don't forget to support your local music scene!

Streaming: Coping - "NOPE"

If you haven't heard yet, Chicago Emo/Punk outfit Coping are now streaming their new album "NOPE," out in December on Protagonist Records.

Find the stream below.

Brave Bird streams a new song!

Ann Arbor, MI. emo/math/post-rock band Brave Bird just posted a new song on their Tumblr page.

The song is titled "Too Late Now" and will presumably be on their next release coming out on Count Your Lucky Stars Records.

Our Lady - Springfield, IL. - Pop/Punk/Emo

Photo by Alex Bulli

Our Lady - up-beat poppy emo punk straight from the capital of Illinois.

Free digital two song split out now, out on tape soon.

Listen/watch below.

[bandcamp album=1634431242 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrTCb4yeUxQ]

Ittō - Chicago, IL. - Screamo/Emo/Math-Rock

Ittō - a calm, yet chaotic storm of mathy emo/hardcore/punk, blending even more genres I didn't even know existed.

This Chicago band is not one that you can snap your fingers to, but they still draw you in with cool, pleasant passages, and then spit you back out with just the right amount of terror.

Do not miss out on this band! Stream the S/T 10" and check out some live footage below.

Record Label: ADAGIO830

For fans of: Beau Navire, Kidcrash, innards

[bandcamp album=976849009 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRqBEACkg-Y]

Squeamish - Columbus, OH. - Emo/Garage/Pop

Check out Squeamish from Columbus, Ohio.

Combining an exciting mix of genres ranging from emo, garage, to pop, this band makes some catchy, but yet slightly weird jams.

Stream their new EP "Hammerhead" below.

For fans of: Algernon Cadwallader, Snowing, The Reptilian, Bear Vs. Shark

[bandcamp album=875445278 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]

Brave Bird - Ann Arbor, MI. - Emo/Post-Rock/Math-Rock

Photo credit: Nick Stutsman

More Midwestern emo goodness, this time from Ann Arbor, Michigan band Brave Bird.

The band's debut LP will be due out on Count Your Lucky Stars this fall.

For fans of: American Football, Maps & Atlases, TWIABP, Snowing

[bandcamp album=824760797 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djGvCxSMG4M]

Brighter Arrows - Chicago, IL. - Emo/Rock/Post-Hardcore

Brighter Arrows of Chicago, Illinois bring an emotive brand of rock that everybody seems to enjoy.

Drawing influences from the likes of As Cities Burn, Pinback, and The Casket Lottery, the band takes the best of their influences and blends them together for a bold, yet beautiful sound that is sure to catch on to new listeners.

Stream their new album, Division and What It Is to Abide, below.

Order a copy here via The Ghost is Clear Records.

Pick up a pre-order package deal here via Fair Weather Records.

For fans of: Raein, Sunny Day Real Estate, Pinback, Jimmy Eat World, As Cities Burn, The Knife.

[bandcamp album=3808530706 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liOsw2M8p1M]

Stay Ahead Of The Weather - Chicago, IL. - Emo/Pop-Punk

Photo by Dave Summers

Stay Ahead Of The Weather feature a modernized brand of mid-2000's emo/pop-punk with the passion of Midwestern underground bands we all love.

Screw all of the copy cat bands played on the radio. These guys do it right.

Stream a new song off the band's split with The Wonder Years here.

Record Label: No Sleep Records

For fans of: 2000's era emo

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/37568722 w=843&h=474]

Victor Shores - Fargo, ND - Emo/Punk/Progressive

North Dakota's Victor Shores will be sure to get your body moving with their catchy jams.

New album out this summer.

For fans of: The Fall of Troy + Midwestern Emo + THE FEST

[bandcamp album=2945179557 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCjghbgj7Nc?rel=0]

Tiny Moving Parts - Moorhead, MN - Math-Rock/Emo/Punk

Photo by Francis Xayana

Mathy emo with a Midwestern twist.

They may be Tiny Moving Parts, but they're big on passion.

For fans of: GIRAFFES? GIRAFFES!, Snowing, William Bonney

[bandcamp album=885559695 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2NWX88egNs?rel=0]

Witch Fingers - Kalamazoo, MI. - Punk/Emo/Indie

New band featuring members of The Reptilian.

Mathy punk with an Midwestern emo twist.

Free download here.

[bandcamp album=2931850573 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]

Texas Instruments - Kansas City, MO. - Emo, Screamo, Hardcore

Texas Instruments.

Sweet dudes with killer tunes.

New 4-way split on the way in late April through The Ghost is Clear Records.

For fans of: Pianos Become the Teeth, Living & Wrestling, The Reptilian

[bandcamp album=2447704535 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-wIuaGM4dY?rel=0]

Joie De Vivre - Rockford, IL. - Emo/Indie

If there's one thing the Midwest underground music scene is good for, it's the ole' fashioned brand of '90s emo.

Rockford, Illinois based band Joie De Vivre take the genre and run with it, creating their own special sound. With the clean, catchy riffs and passionate vocals, this band is hard not to love.

For fans of: Midwest emo

Record Label(s): Count Your Lucky Stars, Keep It Together, Stiff Slack (JPN), Strictly No Capital Letters (UK)

[bandcamp track=3927627224 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfF5mxk4_Fk?rel=0]

The Reptilian - Kalamazoo, MI. - Math-Rock/Emo/Indie

Inspired by lizard bodied humanoids, The Reptilian really bring on the mathy goodness.

Be sure to check them out during their April tour.

For fans of: Native, Joie De Vivre, William Bonney

Record label(s): Count Your Lucky Stars Records, The Ghost Is Clear Records, Carucage Records, Mayfly Records and Black With Sap Records

[bandcamp album=1597908156  bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLxKQrFa2_w?rel=0]

Coping - Chicago, IL. - Emo/Punk

Chicago's Coping provide enough noodly goodness for your entire family. The band takes listeners back to the 90's by sticking to their Midwestern emo roots.

The band recently announced their debut LP "Nope," to be released by Protagonist Music and ADAGIO830, and will be out this Spring/Early Summer.

Their latest release, 7" Split with The Clippers, is now sold out, but check out their bandcamp page for more releases.

[bandcamp album=2047366247  bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]

For fans of: Cap'n Jazz, Snowing, William Bonney.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVr9miUWZdI?rel=0]