Every Friday, Case the Producer rounds up the most exciting new tunes in music and serves them up in one easy-to-find blog for you, the Q101 Crew Members.

Adrianne Lenker: Bright Future 

Big Thief have existed for nearly a decade now as one of the brightest and most brilliant bands in all of indie rock. Their frontwoman, Adrianne Lenker, is no stranger to solo work, however. Bright Future is the much-anticipated follow-up to 2020’s songs, a record full of intimate, acoustic tracks including the standout “anything“. Bright Future took a few years to get, but the quality is just as high as you’d expect. Lenker once again reaffirms her status as one of the most daring songwriters in music with this album.

The Gaslight Anthem: History Books -Short Stories

There was a nine-year gap between 2014’s Get Hurt and 2023’s History Books. Now, less than a year later, Twisted XMAS alumni The Gaslight Anthem are back with a short set of reimagined tracks. Not only does the EP include a cover of “Ocean Eyes” by Billie Eilish, but the band has re-recorded a fan-favorite in “Blue Jeans & White T-Shirt”. Rounding out the project is acoustic versions of “Positive Charge” and “History Books”, two standout tracks from the band’s most recent record.

The Gaslight Anthem will be joined by the iconic Joyce Manor and Pinkshift on August 29 at The Salt Shed.

Hot Mulligan: Stickers of Brian

Hot Mulligan are currently on the road with Fall Out Boy and Jimmy Eat World. As you’re reading this, they’re preparing to play Madison Square Garden. They filled the Aragon Ballroom last December. They have been good for a really long time, but it felt like the right people finally started to pay attention in 2023. Their first new track of 2024 is “Stickers of Brian”, another certified thumper from a band that has seemingly been incapable of missing. This is the perfect introduction to anyone not hip to Hot Mulligan as they simply doubled-down on everything that they do well with this excellent track.

Hozier: Unheard EP

Hozier will take Lollapalooza by storm later this summer, but before he gets there, he is bestowing us with the gift of new music. He gives us Unheard, a lovely EP featuring lovely songs, as Hozier is prone to do. The standout track is Too Sweet, a vibrant and energetic cut from one of the finest voices in all of music.

Maggie Rogers: So Sick of Dreaming

New Maggie Rogers music? And it’s delightful? Who could’ve seen this coming? One of the most energetic performers in all of the land is back to cranking out energetic, song-of-the-summer-like singles, and it’s great to see.

Pearl Jam: Running

These guys are pretty good, aren’t they? With Dark Matter less than a month away, the band is ready to unearth another new single, this time in “Running”. It’s another belter.

The Story So Far: Letterman

The Story So Far are God’s gift to mankind. A pop punk band that feels sophisticated yet accessible, mature yet fun. These types of things don’t happen often, if ever. Parker Cannon is simply a brilliant frontman and the band’s newest single, “Letterman”, is a great showcase of the band’s new, more melodic direction.

There’s no way to hide from it. Cicadas are coming and they’re going to wreck your summer.

A new report not only states that billions of cicadas are coming, but that they’re going to pee on you. “There’s no stopping them,” Allen Lawrance, associate curator of entomology at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago said. “They’re here. It’s temporary, and there’s really no escaping them.” The New York Times reports that cicadas drink 300 times their weight in plant sap every day. The bugs can shoot their urine about 10-feet a second.

Goodbye, freedom. Hello, cicadas.

Subway, one of the world’s largest restaurant chains on the planet, is leaving people stunned with their decision to move away from Coca-Cola products to Pepsi products. Under the agreement, starting on Jan. 1, 2025, Subway will offer Pepsi products, including Pepsi, Pepsi Zero, Mountain Dew, Starry, Tropicana, Lipton, Aquafina water and Gatorade. The company said franchisees will have the option to carry a larger selection of Gatorade flavors.

The change will start in 2025 marking a huge shift for Subway which has offered Coke beverages since 2005 after previously ending a 15-year run with Pepsi.

It happens to all of us. At some point in time, you stare at a festival poster and go “I don’t know who these bands are”. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s harder and harder to cut through all of the noise and various outlets to find out who is actually worth listening to. Luckily, I’m here. If you’re looking at the Lollapalooza lineup and you’re lost, these are 7 bands you need to know.

Brigitte Calls Me Baby

Chicago is experiencing a boom in local music not seen since former institutions like Double Door and Lounge Ax were thriving establishments. This is in part due to bands like Brigitte Calls Me Baby, who blew the doors off of Q101’s Twisted XMAS in December when they opened for Lovejoy. Led by crooner Wes Leavins, every bit of media that covers the Chicago act name-checks Morrissey, Roy Orbison, and the almighty Elvis – and rightfully so. Every bit of hype for this band is warranted. Lollapalooza will merely mark another box checked for a band that is crossing off coveted accolades at a remarkably fast rate.

Check out my interview with the band here.

Ethel Cain

Ethel Cain is humungous with Severely Online Gen-Z Teens. Chances are there is 0 overlap between those people and the people reading this, so let me explain: Ethel Cain turned heads with 2022’s Preacher’s Daughter, a daring collection of songs inspired by the Bible Belt and Cain’s Southern Baptist upbringing. In an impressive balancing act, Cain switches between obvious pop sensibilities and dreamy, down-tempo ballads akin to a Lana Del Rey. Preachers Daughter is a daunting hour and fifteen minutes, but the destination justifies the journey. It is immensely satisfying, albeit at times challenging in its subjects. If you are looking for a set to detach yourself from the general chaos of Lollapalooza, Ethel Cain may be your best bet.

Fleshwater

Where is MTV’s 120 Minutes when you need it the most? Fleshwater is a painful example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time – but that also might be what makes them so special. A biting, grungy act that packs enough punch to fill the Seattle-sized hole in your heart, Fleshwater are the unapologetically waving the flag of a bygone era in alt-rock. Their booking at last year’s Riot Fest made a ton of sense, aesthetically. Grant Park will provide a new set of challenges for the Boston-based quartet, however. Thankfully, this band seems up to the task.

Friko

I watched a grown woman cry earlier this month during Friko’s album release show at the Metro. That’s how good they were. Another shining star in Chicago’s vibrant scene, Friko are turning heads all across the globe, literally. Not only did they garner a booking at their hometown festival with Lollapalooza, but the band has captured a cult-like following in Japan, as well, which has led to a booking at Fuji Rock later this year. The band excels at mixing art school-favorites like Bright Eyes and early Modest Mouse with a classic Americana sound. They are writing songs well beyond their years, and you can’t help but feel like this band is only going to get bigger and better as time goes on.

Check out my interview with the band here.

Militarie Gun

Militarie Gun is a juggernaut that cannot be stopped. After a handful of years of relentless touring, Militarie Gun established themselves as some of the one of the finest rock bands in the entire world. Expanding their sound beyond the hardcore roots that frontman Ian Shelton cultivated his sound in, the five-piece pull from BritPop, grunge, and hip hop to produce a fully unique and authentic sound that simply cannot be duplicated. If you missed them in Q101’s Lounge, you have another chance to see them this summer in Grant Park.

Slow Pulp

Slow Pulp began releasing music in 2017, but 2023 marked a catastrophic shift in the way the band is perceived. Another white-hot Chicago band headed to Grant Park this year, Slow Pulp is continuing to rack up new listeners by way of undeniably catchy hooks and heart-wrenching sincerity. With the release of Yard last year, the band has clearly found their groove. They are making emotionally-rich music that is widely palatable, and at this year’s Lollapalooza, they’ll have another chance to showcase their brilliant music to the masses.

Worry Club

Worry Club are getting ready to embark on a tour with emo-adjacent standouts in Spanish Love Songs and Oso Oso. I can think of no better way to warm up for their eventual performance in Grant Park this summer. To-the-point and unapologetic, Chicago’s own Chase from Worry Club isn’t trying to hide how he feels. Song titles like “I Suck”, “BORED”, and “DEATHBLOW” all very clearly represent the maladjusted worldview that this project operates from. If you didn’t get your fill of angst at Sad Summer Fest, which takes place two weeks before Lollapalooza, and you can’t wait to let your rage out until Riot Fest, Worry Club may offer a solution for you.

Happy Pi Day to all of those who celebrate. Today, a number of chains are offering special deals for 3/14.

Blaze Pizza

Blaze Pizza will offer each guest an 11” pizza for $3.14.

Chiya Chai

The Chicago spot Chiya Chai will offer pies like masala chicken pie for $3.14 at their three locations, located at 2770 N. Milwaukee Ave., 79 E. Madison St. and 66 E. Wacker Drive, on pi day.

Marco’s Pizza

Marco’s Pizza will offer medium, one-topping pizzas for $3.14 with the online purchase of a large or extra-large pizza using code PIDAY2024 on March 14.

7-Eleven

7-Eleven will offer pizzas for $3.14 when using 7Rewards or Speedy Rewards on pi day.

The French government is doing hard-hitting research.

A new study on young people and their diets have revealed that young people don’t know anything about zucchinis. Those aged 15 to 24, which accounts for 20%, cannot tell the difference between a zucchini (more commonly known in France as a courgette) and a cucumber. Faced with an image of a zucchini, 18% of young people thought they recognised a cucumber while 2% thought they saw an aubergine. 

Can anyone actually tell the difference between a zucchini and a cucumber?