HIJK, Gingerbread Patriots, Love is Chemicals May 5, 2007

In The Pen and The Letter, HIJK's distinctive angular rhythms, double-barbed melodies, and dueling vocals are now accompanied by singing-saws, trumpets, scissors, violas, and a gin and tonic with ice. It's a BIG record that captures the A to Z of HIJK's live performance and highlights the unique interplay between Dave (vocals/guitar), Mike (vocals, bass, keys), and Trevor (drums/percussion). Although it has not yet been released, The Pen and The Letter is already garnering rave reviews from the people who've received advanced copies: "The Pen and The Letter is made up of dark, yet poppy indie rock. It's melodic and catchy...full of sudden twists and turns that make the listening experience somewhat addictive." - Nascent

Based out of Portland, OR, Megan Mcgaughy and brothers John, Jesh, and Joel Brophy create magical indie pop as Gingerbread Patriots. They have been playing shows together for about three years and recently celebrated their second release entitled "Wax Lips and Hummingbirds." Drawing influences from artists such as Pavement, Slowdive, and Elliot Smith, they have been compared to Architecture in Helsinki, Earlimart, and even Grandaddy. They have shared the stage with Viva Voce, Enon, Mates of State, the Octopus Project, Aqueduct, Roots of Orchis, The Handsome Family, Bettie Serveert and many more with hundreds of shows, successful touring, and a SXSW 2006 showcase under their collective fancy belts.

Love is Chemicals' self-titled 2005 album has been described as "the delicious type of brainy bumblerock that indiebees will buzz about happily for hours" and "a harmonious sound that envelopes you in sweet sugary pop bliss". Formed in 2000 by Nate and Courtney Grover (guitar/vox and bass/vox, respectively), and eventually coming to include drummer Steve Galbraith and guitarist Nick Mirov in its lineup, Love is Chemicals' sound is rooted in the messy guitars and sunny melodies of mid-90s indie rock bands such as Pavement, Built to Spill, and Yo La Tengo. The band is currently at work on its next album, due out in the summer of 2007.

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of monosyllabic.