Last Minute Plans: Pretty Good Dance Moves Record Release Show

By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 12, 2010 7:20PM

Electro-pop duo Pretty Good Dance Moves is now based in Brooklyn, but they started out here in Chicago, when members Jimmy Giannapoulous and Aaron Allieta met as co-bartenders and started making music together in 2007. Their new EP, PGDM, was scheduled for release March 9 through Township Records, though no digital copies are available for purchase yet and the CD is still only available for preorder. Even so, the duo will be celebrating with a record release show tonight at Schubas.

The new EP is full of sultry, synthy dance beats featuring a handful of guest vocalists. The first single off the album, “Leave Me Alone,” guest stars Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn & John and Chicago’s own Angelina Lucero, adding vocal harmony to the track’s mellow rhythm. The opening track, “Sample Your Body,” is probably the album’s strongest, featuring Angelina Lucero’s seductive vocals backed up by sharp, glitchy synth and a steady dance beat.

The duo takes on the form of a four-piece for live performances, backed up by Lucero and Mike Holtz. For their record release show tonight at Schubas, they’ll be accompanied by openers Harper Blynn (formerly Pete and J) from New York and Chicago-based indie-pop group, California Wives. But if you can’t make it out Friday night, they’ll also be performing an afternoon show the following day at Schubas, presented by Kidrockers, before heading down to Texas for SXSW.

Pretty Good Dance Moves plays at Schubas, 3159 N Southport, Friday, March 12 at 10 p.m., $5, 18+ and Saturday, March 13 at 1 p.m., $12 or $14 at the Door, All Ages