Inspector Owl, Musical Outfits, Teitur, Young Love

INSPECTOR OWL
Chicago’s Inspector Owl is either a little late for two current waves of experimentation or just in time to combine them. Since 2004, the ensemble has penned sweeping tunes a la The Secret Machines. Frontman Corey Wills uses palatable electronic undertones to make either atmospherically somber or undeniably danceable soundscapes. And depending on which, his tunes can subtly accent or clearly define a moment. But after a recent line-up change — including the addition of a violin player and a keyboard/horn multi-instrumentalist — Wills and his comrades seem poised to follow in the Arcade Fire’s brand of baroque chamber pop. Yet this quintet is at its best when fusing elements of these two phases. Keeping the theatrically long reach of those space-rock anthems while embracing the lush, more human element of the current cast allows Wills’ guitar rock stories to fall somewhere between the soil of Earth’s lithosphere and the stars of its mesosphere — which is right where they belong. (Appearing with The Felix Culpa and Dr. Manhattan at Metro on Feb. 18) –text: Derek Wright

MUSICAL OUTFITS
Being from Chicago, it’s not surprising that Musical Outfits possesses a certain degree of those wholesome, secure, Midwestern values so often linked to middle America. They sound like the type of band you’d want dating your daughter, that is, if you’d want your daughter in a steady relationship with four dudes and their guitars. It’s this type of safe-but-not-boring dynamic that’s heard on the band’s debut LP, 2005’s Left Here. But there’s an undercurrent just beneath the jangly chords and heart-on-their-sleeve balladeering that hints the band could make a turn at any moment and knock out a cocksure blues riff. It’s as if their good-natured first impression would make you think they like John Mellencamp; but when they get you alone they put on Tattoo You. While that’s nowhere near the best Rolling Stones record, its no Dance Naked, either. They are currently putting the finishing touches on their new EP, which they will unveil during a residency this month at Wise Fools Pub. (Appearing at Beat Kitchen on Feb. 21 and at Wise Fools Pub on Feb. 13, 20 and 27) –text: Derek Wright

TEITUR
In 2004, after landing a record deal with Universal, the Faroe Islands awarded Teitur the title of “Businessman of The Year.” If you’ve never heard of the Faroe Islands, it’s a tiny nation between Ireland and Norway and if you’ve never heard of Teitur then pay attention. After he got dropped from Universal, it was former tourmate John Mayer who came to his defense in Esquire magazine saying that Teitur’s 2003 release Poetry & Aeroplanes “may be one of the best albums to come around in the last five years.” Then again, Mayer is responsible for “Your Body Is a Wonderland”, so maybe we shouldn’t trust him on this. The “Businessman of The Year” may have parted ways with Universal, but his latest album Stay Under The Stars (Equator Records) deserves some credit. The album is elegantly light and best of all, it’s the only acoustic album I own that doesn’t give me suicidal flashbacks of past loves. (Appearing at Beat Kitchen on Feb. 18) –text: Sharyn Goldyn

YOUNG LOVE
Isn’t it already assumed that nightlife is about having fun and getting down on the dance floor? In case you forgot, Young Love has the music to keep reminding you. In the New York band’s just-released album, Too Young To Fight It, lead singer Dan Keyes sings in catchy, pop-ish tracks like “Discotech” to create a kind of musical collage of nightlife and love. Keyes, who is from Texas and was a member of the Austin-based band Recover, began Young Love after he got an offer from a friend in New York to pursue a solo music career. Then after moving to the city, self-describing his only possessions as one bag with demos and his guitar, Keyes started the indie/electro rock band and was eventually able to gain a spot on tour supporting Lady Sovereign. And in the band’s most noted, danceable tracks like “Find A New Way”, Young Love’s music encourages you to keep getting romantic on the dance floor. (Appearing with Moros Eros for the early show at Beat Kitchen on Feb. 23) –text: Jackie Bernardo

Be Your Own Pet, Matt Costa, Last Band Standing Winner, Living Things, Musical Outfits, Nada Surf, Rainer Maria, Sa-Ra

BE YOUR OWN PET
This punk band’s back-story could have been a skateboarder’s daydream. Four Nashville teens with parents in the biz catch fire in England, get signed by Thurston Moore’s label, and spit out a self-titled, 33-minute verbal beatdown. Singer Jemina Pearl has a wonderful potty mouth with a Karen O pitch and a Joan Jett snarl. With lines like “My brain is on fire so piss in my ear”, she’s the kind of girl that handles premature ejaculation with a knee to the nuts. (Saturday, 12:00-12:30, Q101 Stage) –text: Sean Foran–photo: Frank Ockenfels

MATT COSTA
Fate smiled on music lovers when Matt Costa shattered his leg in a skateboarding accident and took up the guitar during his 18-month recovery. Three years later, Costa’s solo debut, Songs We Sing, captivates with a collection of beautiful songs that defies categorization. This 23 year-old Californian’s ’60s U.K. influences shine through, as does his clearly well-rounded musical self-education. Costa’s lyrics are genuine poetry delivered via heartfelt vocals and masterful guitar playing. (Saturday, 11:45-12:30, Adidas-Champs Stage) –text: Jen Fischer

LAST BAND STANDING WINNER
This slot will be awarded to the winner of Lollapalooza’s “Last Band Standing” battle of the bands competition, which began May 26 with a slate of the top 100 vote-getting acts who submitted music online. As of press time, the 4 finalists were: L.A. pop rockers Everybody Else, Virginia singer/songwriter Kate Starr, Kansas indie rockers The Appleseed Cast and NYC’s old school hip-hopper Tonedeff. The four will compete at Double Door Aug. 2, at which time the winner and runner-up will be announced. (Saturday, 11:15-11:45, Q101 Stage) –text: Jay Gentile–photo: Jody Warner

LIVING THINGS
They began their musical career playing carnivals in a kiddy-rock band …actually, playing in the parking lots adjoining the traveling carnival their father worked for. Living Things, which began as a trio of brothers, would practice their instruments to avoid beating up one another. Now while touring in support of their freshmen release, Ahead Of The Lions, these guys take out their aggression on President Bush whilst still managing to perform a few angst-riddled songs. (Saturday, 12:30-1:30, AT&T Stage) –text: Melanie Falina–photo: Floria Sigismondi

MUSICAL OUTFITS
Hometown heroes Musical Outfits should feel very comfortable playing against the backdrop of Chicago’s skyline at Lollapalooza. The four-piece has played almost every venue in the city, including a lengthy stint as the house band at Wise Fools Pub. Their latest album Left Here, released in 2005, was produced by Chris Steinmetz of Madonna, Kiss, and Ben Harper fame. Thankfully, their power pop tunes are catchy without becoming saccharine copies of everything else played on the radio. (Saturday, 11:15-12:00, BMI Stage) –text: Janine Schaults

NADA SURF
Nada Surf’s 1996 song “Popular” was inventive, jabbing the high school elite using excerpts from a ’50s home economics book. It may have been a bit cliché, but it captured the attention of Ric Ocasek who produced their 1996 debut, High/Low. The trio flourished in Europe, eventually returning to the States on the Barsuk label. Their 2005 LP, The Weight is a Gift, is a bit mellow and chock full of emo hooks, but Nada Surf may just surprise us yet. (Saturday, 12:30-1:30, Bud Light Stage) –text: Gina Pantone

RAINER MARIA
Rainer Maria masters the art of smiling while crying. The trio sounds poppy and cheerful, but Caitlin De Marrais’ striking voice is leaking some serious skin-shedding lyrics. Let’s be honest: Since the band did steal their name from German poet Rilke, Rainer Maria is borderline emo. Despite graduating from Polyvinyl to Grunion, one can’t help but note that the band keeps getting older as their fans get younger — while their music just stays the same. (Saturday, 12:00-12:30, AMD Stage) –text: Sharyn Goldyn–photo: Danielle St. Laurent

SA-RA
Sa-Ra’s 2005 full-length, The Second Time Around (Ubiquity), gave this previously behind-the-scenes production trio the opportunity to unabashedly usher their music philosophy — experimental, futuristic music with a black-centric lilt — to center stage. Sure, it sounds a bit like Kool and the Gang, Prince and Parliament are blasting off in a spaceship laden with ‘70s synths and electric guitars, but what’s wrong with that? (Saturday, 12:00-12:30, PlayStation Stage) –text: Stacey Dugan–photo: Mark Anthony