The Velvet Jimis, an Oak Park band, was born at the Friendly Tap (www.friendlytap.net) in Berwyn, Illinois. Jimmy Darley (vox, harmonica and percussion), Randy Hess(vox and bass), Loren Middleton (vox and lead guitar), Rick Renner (vox and rhythm guitar), Jason Edwards (vox and drums), Christopher Styles (vox and percussion) and Emile Williams (vox and percussion), produce colorful and diverse original compositions and a raging party at every show. The Velvet Jimis perform regularly in the West Suburbs(Fitzgerald’s Night Club, The Friendly Tap) and Chicago( Lincoln Hall, Double Door, Elbo Room, Reggies Music Joint, Go to velvetjimis.com for info on gigs and to hear VJ music tune into the velvet jimis at Lojazz Radio at www.lojazzradio.com daily (9-10:30, 12:1:30, and 5-7p). Their Debut album is available through itunes “The Distance Between Us”

Mutts first played together with tape rolling on Pretty Pictures EP in July 2009. Bob Buckstaff pitched the idea of recording Mike Maimone’s new material after they met as hired musicians for Company of Thieves. The pair instantly clicked over respect for honest, unrefined recordings and love of Tom Waits, Nirvana and Elliott Smith. They called mutual friends Jon Alvin and Chris Faller to engineer and play drums, respectively. Over a 3-day session in an old warehouse on the north side of Chicago, Mutts wrote, arranged and recorded their seminal release.