A few Chicago music news bites

Here's a quick rundown of some interesting bits of Chicago rock-related information and cool links that have popped up over the last few days:

•  Indie pop four-piece Pet Lions, who have been busy raising funds to make their debut LP, recorded an acoustic performance of an excellent new song called "The English Room." Check it out here.

• - Remember the wonderfully bizarre X Japan from Lollapalooza? After over 25 years in existence without playing a U.S. concert prior to the fest in August, the over-the-top Japanese metal-punk-pop band is already set to return stateside for a tour that includes a Chicago stop at the Riviera Theater on October 6. Find out more here.

•  Gold Motel provided the perfect soundtrack to this summer with their aptly-titled debut album, Summer House. Now they've announced a brand new 7" single, Talking Fiction, to be released in late October. Get a look into the recording here.

•  Loud Loop Press made us aware of a scare involving a member of the wonderfully gritty and manic dance rock unit The Streets on Fire. Guitarist Yuri Alexander was reportedly struck by a car earlier this week, but fortunately seems to be doing fine now. The band had to postpone their scheduled Saturday performance at Saki record store until a later date, but still plan to play September 17 at the Empty Bottle.

•  Andy from Clip Art sent us some cool live footage from the band's recent show at the Empty Bottle. Behold the rocking and incredibly infectious "Dead Letter" (off their debut EP Broken by Design) as well as a currently unrecorded tune, "Anna Lee" (which features some impressive squeezebox action).