Greg Dulli and The Afghan Whigs are all set for a summer tour that includes a stop right here in Chicago at Lollapalooza.  The band hasn’t played live in 13 years and hasn’t released an album since 1998.  A free download has just popped up on their website (embedded below), a song originally recorded in 1970 by Marie “Queenie” Lyons.  Download below and prepare for their set on August 3 in Grant Park.Click here for “See and Don’t See.”

The Beatles had their fun and poppy side, and they also had their serious side. Hear the Professor discuss “This Boy,” which is one of those serious Beatle tunes. Listen on!Listen To Prof. Moptop

“ My guts are all over these songs.
” Adam Duritz Their first release since Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings in ’08, Underwater Sunshine is stacked with obscure covers from Bob Dylan to Big Star. The album was recorded over two weeks late last spring and features songs hand picked by Adam Duritz, plus new versions of songs from the pre-Counting Crows era groups, The Tender Mercies and Sordid Humor. “If you wonder why we didn’t just write our own record, it’s simply because we wanted to do THIS one,” says singer/songwriter Adam Duritz. “These songs come from bands young and old, stretching from the early 60s to last year. They’re all great and will hopefully be heard by a few more people now.”

Stream the album below and take home the download bundle that the Crows made available via BitTorrent this week. Grab The FREE Download

Leading up to a pair of XRT Shows this weekend at Lincoln Hall, the talented Chicago singer/songwriter Joe Pug is offering up the title track from his latest album, The Great Despiser.

Despiser follows-up Pug’s critically acclaimed debut, Messenger, an album that Lin Brehmer called, “One of the best of the year.” The 11-track was recorded in Chicago with producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine) and features various acclaimed musicians.

You might notice backing vocals from The Hold Steady‘s Craig Finn on the album’s title track. You might also notice that the song is available to download below — for FREE. Thanks Joe!Download The FREE MP3

There are a lot of BIG songs in the Beatles library. This week, Professor Moptop discusses the one that just might be THE BIGGEST. Listen on!Listen To Prof. Moptop

Nick Fury is director of S.H.I.E.L.D, an international peace keeping agency. The agency is a who’s who of Marvel Super Heroes, with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When global security is threatened by Loki and his cohorts, Nick Fury and his team will need all their powers to save the world from disaster.Listen & Download The Regular Guy’s Movie Review

Photos: Fitz And The Tantrums…Don’t deny it, “Moneygrabber” has had you dancing in your seat from the first beat. Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick and his six-piece Tantrums have been bringing soul back in a way that’s impossible to resist. Last summer Fitz And The Tantrums brought the party to Lollapalooza for an unforgettable set and Chicago just couldn’t get enough.

The band has begun work on the follow up to their album, ‘Pickin’ Up The Pieces‘, teaming up with producer Tony Hoffer (M83, The Kooks, Beck) and will begin recording this week. To express their gratitude the band is offering a 5-Song FREE LIVE EP from the House of Blues Boston and the “Breakin’ The Chains of Love (Brand New Karate World Remix)” by Fitz drummer John Wicks.

Continue below to download the FREE EP in exchange for your e-mail.Download The FREE LIVE EP

“ The Gulf Coast is what makes the Hangout Music Festival so unique - it is one of the most pristine coastlines in all of America.
” Festival Co-Creator, Shaul Zislin Summertime festivals can be paradise for music fans and sunny beaches are, well, paradise for the rest of us. The combination of the two? Near perfection.

Dave Matthews Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack White and Wilco will top this year’s lineup for the third annual Hangout Music Festival, taking place May 18-20th on Alabama’s Gulf Shores.

Download free music from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, G. Love, Delta Spirit, String Cheese Incident, The Lumineers and more below. Plus, get the full three-day lineup and ticket info.Download The FREE Festival Sampler

If you haven’t heard, this coming Friday, May 11 Jimmie Dale Gilmore of The Flatlanders will be in Chicagoland for a show at The Montrose Room. “The Way We Are” is the latest single from The Flatlanders and written by Colin Gilmore. The song comes from the album ‘Hills And Valleys‘ released in 2009. To get prepared for the show on Friday, click below for a free download of the single, “The Way We Are” below.Download The FREE MP3

It’s been a couple years since XRT listeners’ ears were captured by the sound of electropoppers, Passion Pit. Back in ’09 they exploded with the debut album, Manners and a headlining slot at the FREE 4th of July Concert at Taste of Chicago.

This summer they return for a summer weekend in Chicago on the bill for Lollapalooza.

Yesterday, you heard their brand-new single “Take A Walk,” the first track released from their sophomore disc, Gossamer, due out July 24.

Wait, you haven’t heard the track? Well, click below for some new Passion Pit and a couple free downloads.Stream ‘Take A Walk’ From Passion Pit

The Professor gets to the end of another part of a very long series of units this week. With the end of the ‘With The Beatles’ we hear about yet another Motown tune, and its very “Lennonish.” Listen on!Listen To Prof. Moptop

Chicago duo Redgrave are premiering their first single, Dick Moves, from their debut EP, National Act. With only two members, Redgrave’s huge sound is created by the ascending voice and disheveled open tunings of vocal/guitarist Angie Mead and supported by the distilled rhythmic beat of drummer Stephen Howard. Shortly after, demos were sent to Stephen Howard, a Chicago musician whom Mead had admired in his work with the band Pinebender. Described as a hybrid of PJ Harvey and Led Zeppelin, Mead wrote and recorded Redgrave songs in long spans of time beginning in August of 2010 from her Chicago home after she replaced her furniture with recording equipment, drums, and guitars.

The band introduced their sound on a 2-song 7″ in fall 2011 via Lovitt Records. National Act was produced by band member Stephen Howard and recorded and mixed by admired engineer Greg Norman at his Chicago studio. It will be issued by Lovitt on June 12th for download and 12″ vinyl.Download The FREE MP3