PEACHES PRE-PARTY

Attention Peaches ticket holders ages 21 and over: Smart Bar is holding a Peaches pre-party this Friday 11/20 from 7-9pm before the show in Metro. In addition to being able to warm up with Sailor Jerry rum instead of standing in line, you'll get preferred entry into Metro at 9pm AND you'll be entered into a drawing to win VIP seating to the show that night. It's a win-win, guys.

If you have will call tix, swing by the Metro Store between 7-9 to pick up your tickets before heading down to Smart Bar. Otherwise, if you already have hard tickets you can waltz straight into Smart Bar starting at 7pm. And of course, tickets to Peaches are still available online and in the Metro Store if you haven't gotten them yet. See you there!

MADINA LAKE SPEAKS SIMLISH

When twin brothers Nathan and Matthew Leone formed Madina Lake in 2005, they had no idea that just four years later they'd be translating their pop-punk stylings into Simlish. Indeed, Madina Lake have transformed the song "Let's Get Outta Here" into the native tongue of The Sims as a featured artist on brand new release, The Sims 3: World Adventures. Couple this with Madina's release of "Welcome to Oblivion," the third single off of their successful sophomore album, Attics to Eden, and it's safe to say that these guys have officially become pop-punk sensations.

To celebrate their domination of both the pop-punk and simulated worlds, Madina Lake will play a special hometown show at Metro on Sunday, November 22. Joining them will be fellow Chicagoans Inept, Comasoft & A Hero Named Hope.

PEACHES BRINGS THE PARTY TO METRO

When Peaches tells you shirts come off, the shirts come off. During her NYC show last weekend, our favorite glam rock goddess had the crowd down to skins and shaking it on the concert floor. The girl knows how to put on a show, let me just say that. She had everything but live animals onstage [and if there wasn't a law against it I am sure she would have].

Check out some photos below from the NYC show courtesy of Brooklyn Vegan [if you want to see the rest check out their full blog entry] and make sure to get your tickets to the Chicago show in support of Peaches' newest release, I Feel Cream on Friday, November 20. Electro-rock prettygirl Amanda Blank will join her. Tickets are available now.

SMART PARTY

If there's something Smart Bar knows, it's how to throw a party. With the holiday season already breathing that cinnamon-spiced goodness down our necks, I'm sure that a lot of you are thinking about plans to throw a party yourselves. Well friends (that's you since you actually take the time to read our blog on occasion) Smart Bar can help you throw the best budget-friendly yule tide party in town. Check out the rental section of our website for more info.

THE JUAN MACLEAN AT SMARTBAR

It's hard not to dance when you're listening to The Juan MacLean. Originally the guitarist for Rhode Island dance-punk band, Six Finger Satellite, John MacLean started The Juan MacLean with legendary DFA Records co-founder James Murphy in 2002. Since then, the band has brought a fresh and new beat to the electronic genre. Stopping in Chicago during a North American tour for their new album, The Future Will Come, The Juan MacLean will be at Smart Bar on November 13th for a one night only DJ set.

Everyone at Metro and Smart Bar would also like to send our heartfelt thoughts to the members of The Juan MacLean for the loss of their drummer, Jerry Fuchs.

JULIAN PLENTI IS...

Don't worry, it's not déjà vu and you're not going crazy. I promise, you've seen Julian Plenti before. The ambitious new album, Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper, might sound a little familiar because it is. Indie rocker Plenti is the alter ego of Interpol front man Paul Banks.

Banks had a lot to prove with his Julian Plenti debut. Showing fans that there is more to Paul Banks than Interpol might seem like a daunting task for most musicians. However, the indie rock mainstay navigates the transition flawlessly with his exuberantly poppy and sometimes completely haunting new album. If you've every doubted the unabashed talent of Paul Banks, Julian Plenti will have you tapping your foot to a new beat. Stop by Metro on November 21st to see the Chicago "debut" of Julian Plenti. Tickets are available now.

SPOTLIGHT: EL PERRO DEL MAR

Sweden's lo-fi sweetheart El Perro Del Mar's [Spanish for "the dog from the sea"] new album, Love's Not Pop, has me believing that being dumped's never sounded so good. The Swedish indie pop goddess has stunned audiophiles everywhere with her rays of synth sunshine since 2003. And believe me when I tell you that the alter ego of Sarah Assbring brings it again with her new record.

From burning her MP3s onto CD-Rs to a full fledged North American tour with fellow countrymen Peter Bjorn and John, El Perro Del Mar has come a long way. The woman has proven time and again that she's got more melancholy in one verse than most pop singers do four records later. If I've said it once I've said it 1000 times, Sweden is a music mecca. And because Metro is absolutely down with enabling a healthy love of Swedish indie pop, your favorite Chicago venue is bringing Peter Bjorn and John and El Perro Del Mar together for a night of indie rock deliciousness. Tickets for the November 12th show are available now and at the door.