Gringo Star Check if the boombox is set on mono. This Atlanta quartet has a decidedly lo-fi vibe that tips hats to the early Kinks era Brit-rock. You know the kind where the guitars are raw yet somehow sound more alive than in stereo. Gringo Star harks back to that garagey era, albeit with loads of multi-part harmonies where ooohs and aaahs dance along with guitar chops and a grooving rhythm section. A touch of Southern rock only adds to the fun. With Guam High. Snug Harbor (Samir Shukla)

S.O. Stereo Save our stereo! This popular local indie-rock quartet is sure not to disappoint. The group has built a solid following here after the release of their album about a year and a half ago, and fans can’t seem to get enough of the band’s laid-back melodies. The music is definitely on the softer side, comparable to bands like Coldplay, Third Eye Blind and Better Than Ezra. With Manic. Evening Muse late show (Jill Jacobs)

Alice Peacock A spunky storyteller and songwriter, Peacock is not shy in aiding her muse with strings and keyboards, although it’s her guitar and voice that carry the day. The Chicagoan is on the road with her folk and country-tipped new disc Love Remains. Her words are about life’s entanglements and though she’s not from the South, her voice has that warm southern twang when she croons. Evening Muse early show (Shukla)

Watch Alice Peacock sing “Love” for a Chicago TV station:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=l1jcchQeKRk%26hl%3Den%26fs%3D1

This article appears in Mar 31 – Apr 7, 2009.

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