A few Chicago music news bites

• SmallChicago.com has posted a new live session with the always-entertaining alt-country outfit Dastardly. They've got video of three songs plus a photo gallery from the performance.

• Josh Caterer of Chicago rock mainstays Smoking Popes has a new holiday EP out titled The Heart of Christmas, with a take on "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" plus a few originals. He'll celebrate the release with an acoustic show at Schubas December 14th (also with Scott Lucas of Local H and Rainbow Rhythms).

• Audiotree has an audio session up from Bailiff, with tracks from their recent album Red Balloon and more (including a pretty sweet slow-burning take on the Boss's "Dancing in the Dark").

• Jim DeRogatis picked his "biggest turkeys of 2011," calling out Metallica/Lou Reed, Bon Iver, Coldplay and more. See what he thought the year's worst were here.

• Pysch-rock locals Secret Colours have a new single out titled "Faust," part of their upcoming five-song EP3 out January 1st.