Kansas City’s resident herpetologists Snake Eater are making a gallant return for one night only after (what has been for us) a heartbreaking hiatus. The band fell by the wayside after some rearranging of members and the promotion of drummer George Schmitz to California band Stick To Your Guns. An early show at El Terreon with Life Ruiner will be happening January 1^st, so be ready to throw down with the New Year.
You can read Reviewsic’s past review of their album Snake Eater Presents: The Rock and Roll Apocalypse here

There are some songs that simply grab you by the shoulders and say, “Hey, listen up.” They’re not always the most complex, the most poetic, but there’s something about their earnestness or melody that makes you stop using the music as wallpaper and take a moment just to absorb the sound.

The five songs that are seriously hindering Telegram Sam’s ability to multi-task this week:

1) Let It Bet- The Beatles, Let It Be -Timeless and familiar Let It Be is a song that can mean whatever you want, that you can sing with about 90% of the people around you at any given time, and makes my own heart swell with a feeling I imagine can only be the equivalent of getting a hug from John Lennon.

2) Comin’ Home- The City and Colour, Sometimes

-Oh Dallas Green, how dear you are to my heart. Both the albums from the Alexisonfire singer’s solo project are absolute gems, and this particular track sinks into the aimless 20-something’s heart exactly the right way. It doesn’t say much, but there’s something about the concept of home and longing that makes it stands out.

3) Nine Billion Names… (to A.Clarke)- Mooncake, Lagrange Points
-Easily one of the loveliest songs I’ve ever heard, Mooncake evokes a feeling of calm and simple pleasure with this opening track to their album, Lagrange points. It’s a song you can lie in bed and drift off to, as well as lose yourself in thought with. Ambient and slightly spacey, it’s what I imagine the background music of the human conscious to be.

4) Let Me Go- All Get Out, Currently unreleased (but featured on Daytrotter)

-Vocals that bleed sincerity, supported by a metronome and whispery guitar make me a total sucker for this song. The first time I heard it was at Chicago’s Subterranean, where the room was stuffed to the gills with people chatting and drinking uproariously. Them after about 10 seconds of Nate Hussey’s quiet, focused voice the entire room fell silent, absolutely absorbed in what was happening on stage. There was quiet for all 7 minutes of the song, even from the drunks in the back (which we all know is truly miraculous). Every time I hear this song I’m in that same venue, feeling the hold it had on that crowd, myself included.

Download All Get Out’s Daytrotter Session here

5) John Wayne Gacey Jr.- Sufjan Stevens, (Come on and Feel the) Illinoise
-The combination of Sufjan Stevens’ haunting vocals and the utter creepiness of a song about a serial killer join forces to make this a song I have to either skip right away, or sit paralyzed for the duration of. Not only does he sing the details of the murderous clown’s story he ends on a note that makes us think we might not want to go to Sufjan’s house. “And in my best behavior/I am really just like hime/Look beneath the floorboards for the secrets I have hid”

Chicago starlets Kid, You’ll Move Mountains will be performing LIVE on WGN TV Midday News tomorrow, December 31st. See the band’s last performance of 2009 in your own living room starting at approximately noon- but tune in early to be sure you don’t miss out.

Then start 2010 right by joining the band at the Metro Saturday, January 2nd. Doors at 8p, and 100% FREE with a printed flier before 9pm.

Visit www.kidyoullmovemountains.com for your free ticket and a free download of the bands debut album Loomings.

Chicago’s own Kid, You’ll Move Mountains has had quite a year , from the release of a new album to the influx of media exposure that took place for them in 2009. The band self-released their first album, Loomings, last January with a reception nothing short of miraculous for a debut album. If you haven’t heard the album yet, shame on you, because it was dubbed the Best Chicago Release of 2009 as well as the #9 Album of the Year over all by the RedEye newspaper.
It was also reviewed and adored by Reviewsic’s very own Telegram Sam, whose thoughts you can read here. Reviewsic wasn’t the only blog to applaud Loomings, as it was featured on Best Of lists on sites such as Can You See the Sunset from the Southside? and Avant/Chicago. Loomings can be downloaded for free by visiting greatestshowever.com along with a number of local artists music.
The band has been making appearances in a big way, playing both Milwaukee Summerfest as well as the Taste of Chicago, and will be performing live on WGN TV December 31^st.

Reviewsic had the chance to chat with Jim Hanke, a member of the blossoming band, who was kind enough to answer a few of her burning questions via email.

Reviewsic: Where does the Metro rate on your scale of venues to play?

Jim Hanke: Number one, absolutely. I’m a guy who never ever thought I’d play there and now it’s our second time, so I’m just blown away. The staff is so incredibly nice and pretty much anyone I look up to as a musical hero has graced that stage. It’s nervewracking, but the good kind of nervewracking, I guess. It’s hallowed ground and no matter how many times you get to play there, I could never understand how someone could take that for granted.

Reviewsic: Any music resolutions for the New Year?

JH: Just to keep writing more and playing further outside our Illinois/Wisconsin treks, I think. It took us two years to write and record this album, so we definitely don’t want to take that long next time.

Reviewsic: What are your top 5 bands/albums of 2009?

JH: In no particular order: Dinosaur Jr. - “Farm”; AA Bondy - “When the Devil’s Loose”; P.O.S. - “Never Better”; Fable & The World Flat - “Ladies & Gentlemen”; Wilco - “Wilco the Album”.

Reviewsic: What’s in store for your music in 2010?

JH: I figure we soundtrack an ad for Ambien, which leads to us doing intro music for some pro wrestling superstar, which inevitably spills over to the cast of “Glee” recording one of our songs for their season finale, where Sue and Will tie the knot (spoiler alert!).

Kid, You’ll Move Mountains will be playing at the Metro this Saturday, January 2nd with:

Venna Picture Books Crayolala

Click and print this flier for free admission before 9pm

Visit Kid, You’ll Move Mountains at:
www.kidyoullmovemountains.com

www.myspace.com/kidyoullmovemountains

www.facebook.com/kidyoullmovemountains