Out of Chicago come The Claudettes – their music grabs elements of jazz, blues, surf rock and punk, and the results are what the band likes to call “garage cabaret.” They’ve just recorded their fifth record, called High Times in the Dark, for Forty Below Records. It was helmed by Ted Hutt, who’s produced Old Crow Medicine Show, the Violent Femmes and the Dropkick Murphys.

The results of the collaboration is easily their best album to date – a perfect showcase for singer Berit Ulseth. Johnny Iguana is the keyboardist, he also writes all the songs. He has an impressive list of collaborations, including being Junior Wells’ piano player, as well as stints with BB King and Buddy Guy.