Sunny skies, green grass, cold beer. Summer is finally back! Now how to get the dance party started? Well, whether or not you know it, the perfect summer weekend soundtrack dropped this past Tuesday, for free at that. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and head over to visit our friends The Hood Internet and download their latest effort, The Hood Internet Vs. Chicago. The 24-track mix is the third installment of Chicago’s own DJ STV SLV and ABX, mashing up an impressive resume of Chicago based artists ranging from Kid Sister, The Cool Kids, Common, May or May Not, Smashing Pumpkins, Mahjongg, Lupe Fiasco and several others. You can download the tape for free either as a whole mix or individual tracks. I gotta give props to Cakecide, the Hollywood Holt/The Prairie Cartel number and the ridiculously danceable Watch My Big Feet, the Dude N Nem/Twista/Office mash. But my favorite? Superbowl Jesus, hands down—nobody can mess with Mr. West, Wilco and the 1985 Chicago Bears—mad rhyming skillz indeed.Download this mixtape. Now.

You can check their Mixtape release party at Sonotheque on June 19 and DJ STV SLV spin a set at Schuba’s on June 27.

I had a great time at Cafe Montmartre checking out The Everybodyfields last night. Some genuine folk tunes that reminded me a lot of Johnny and June Carter. That slide guitar action sure brought the southern sound right to the heart of our city. Hooked up another installment of our 5 Questions with Muzzle of Bees with Jill Andrews that I’ll be sharing with everyone sometime soon. Until then, go ahead and wrap your eyes and ears around their gorgeous take on Neil Young’s “Helpless” to end their set last night.

The Everybodyfields – “Helpless” (Neil Young)

They’ve got a plethora of tour dates this summer, do yourself a favor and find a way to be in the crowd.

Myspace: The Everybodyfields
MP3: The Everybodyfields – “Aeroplane”

Find more MP3’s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic

Ok, I fully expect some indie kids to faint or spill on their American Apparel t-shirt with this announcement. After all, this band was the group who, based on your comments, one-upped The New Pornographers at the Orpheum here in Madison last month. They seem to make a habit of that. Anybody remember their blistering opening set before the Decemberists at the Barrymore a few years back? I do.

Okkervil River will play the Barrymore Theatre on Sunday, September 14th. This show comes only a week after the group releases The Stand Ins via Jagjaguwar on September 9th.

Tickets: $16.50 Advance / $18.50 Day of Show
On Sale: Thursday, June 5 at 10am

Previously: 5 Questions with Will Sheff of Okkervil River

Photo: Ed Oliver
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Myspace: Okkervil River
MP3: Okkervil River – “Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe”

Find more MP3’s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic

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Prepare yourself for Benji Hughes, whose upcoming A Little Extreme EP on New West Records has landed in heavy rotation here at MoB HQ. Channeling comparisons to Beck and an upbeat version of Eels make this the perfect artist to leave you with for the weekend and in preparation for the summer.

Truth be told, the aforementioned EP is just a teaser to an upcoming double disc long player A Love Extreme on the same label. If these six tracks are the jump off for Benji Hughes material, consider me ready and willing to dive right into anything else he releases. For now, get your taste with the two free and legal MP3’s below and pick up A Love Extreme on June 22nd.

Photo: Dylan Chorneau
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Myspace: Benji Hughes
MP3: Benji Hughes – “So Well”
MP3: Benji Hughes – “You Stood Me Up”

Find more MP3’s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic