THE UNSEEN
The Unseen’s inception dates back to 1993 when Mark, Tripp and Scott met while at school in Boston. Looking for something to do after school and on the weekends the misfits began making noise in their parents’ basements. Influenced by artists such as The Clash, Bad Religion and Sick of it All, the guys began playing their own unique breed of Boston punk.
The bands project turned into a full-time gig in no time. Within only a few years the band had already carved a name for themselves in the local scene with their highly energetic shows and street hustled EPs. Over the course of the next few years the band released a slew of EPs and albums and in 2002 they added drummer Pat Melzard the lineup.
With the release of each album the band’s tour schedule got more intense. In 2004 the group began a whirlwind tour that included dates in Europe, North America, Austraila, Japan and Mexico with fellow punk bands Sick of it All, Suicide Machines, Agnostic Front and Hatebreed among others. Additionally the band has done several full headlining tours across the United States.
In 2005, The Unseen signed to Hellcat Records and released State of Discontent, an aggressively raw album with stains of political discontent. Following the release the group added long time friend and guitarist Jonny for an additional punch to the band’s already hostile sound. After opening for bands such as Tiger Army and Rancid in the US and Europe to support the album, the band launched a full-blown headlining tour of the US.
Unable to stay quiet or immobile after another relentless tour, The Unseen returned to their outpost in Stoughton, Massachusetts with longtime cohort and producer Jim Siegel in late 2006 to record their fifth album, Internal Salvation.
“To me the new album starts right where State of Discontent left off,” explains frontman Mark Unseen. “We are still the unseen still playing real heavy hardcore punk but we are also not afraid to make a pro sounding album or to try something a bit different sometimes. We have always wanted to stay the same band but progress a little each album.”
The Unseen, known for voicing their opinions on social and political matters, give listeners a heavy dose of what’s on their mind with Internal Salvation, featuring songs that deal with problems in the world to the extinction of originality and thought. “Lyrically the album is mainly about not knowing what is going on and feeling like you’re at a point where you don’t know what to do to get ahead,” says Unseen.
BRICKWALL VULTURES (mbrs of Modern Day Rippers, Old Scars, The Massacres)
Brickwall Vultures are from Chicago. They take pride in their work, their lives, and their country. Brickwall Vultures are putting forth all of their efforts to spread their hymns of shame, regret, hope, and debauchery. They pride themselves on writing music that the average man can relate to, and can find support in.
LAST FALSE HOPE
Last False Hope are some city slickers from the mid-western suburbs of Chicago. Their unique sound of underground bluegrass imbibed with their roots in punk and metal is a loose bull in a china shop. This clash of genres that they have dubbed “Brutal-Grass” has quickly earned them a name in the scene. The band was cooked up by Jahshie P. A long time veteran in the Chicago music scene, best known as the former frontman of Failed Resistance, My Vengeance and later, Neverland. In the past few years, Jahshie P. developed an intense interest in country western and blue grass music, along with his new found passion of the mandolin. Come the Summer of 2009, his new skills began to translate into songs. His first step was to bring his wife, Kristina Nutting, a new comer to the Chicago music scene, along for the ride. She would rapidly warm up to the banjo. Quick to the draw, they set forth to include a track to the Outlaw Radio Compilation, volume one. To fill in the blanks, they recruited Producer, Shawn Connors, best known as the drummer of death metal band, Bound And Gagged and later, Jashie P.’s band mate in Neverland, as well as a number of other fly-by-night acts. To fill in the line-up, Arcadia Kust on fiddle, Sean Moriarty on guitar and Dave Beneventi on bass from a local irish punk act, The Fisticuffs, as well as former My Vengeance members, Steve Stepien on drums and David Wiegers, who also played guitar in Neverland. This line-up would go on to record “Two Dollar Pints” for the comp. Over the course of roughly the next year, the seven of them would go on to write more songs and play several shows Come September 2010, they re-enlisted Shawn Connors to begin work on the debut EP, “The Shape Of Blue Grass To Come.” Four songs, “Giving Up God For Lent,” “Drag Me To Hell,” “You Drink, You Drive, She Wins” and “Dying and Diseaed” would make the final cut. The EP was released on March 1st through Pint Of Happiness Records. After the conclusion of the “The Shape of Blue Grass To Come” sessions, Sean, Arcadia and Dave B parted ways with the band. Shawn Connors has since joined to fill the open guitar position, along with Scott Farruggia, also from Bound And Gagged and Neverland on bass and friend of friend, Colleen Mary on fiddle. The new line-up was debuted on a track for the Southern Independent, volume one compilation, titled “Guilty Until Proven Innocent.” They new line-up is currently working on a versus split with Nellie Wilson & the Hellbound Honeys on Jahshie P.’s own, Solitary Records. Since their their inception, l/f/h has shared the stage with the likes of Star Fucking Hipster, Those Poor Bastards, .357 String Band, Hellbound Glory, The Goddamn Gallows, Rachel Brooks and Six Gun Britt. They were also, named the Best Country Bandin the Chicago Reader “Best of Chicago 2011” reader’s poll. They will continue to play shows with the line-up in support of “The Shape Of Bluegrass To Come, while crafting new material for a debut full length, hopefully to be released in early 2012.
ULTRAHAZARD
Ultrahazard is a Chicago-based political punk band. We stand for unity and equality. We sing about topics ranging from feminism, solidarity among artists, class war, roller derby, and revolution. All four of us come from different musical backgrounds such as Riot Grrrl, Jazz, Punk, and Reggae but our music sounds like a mix of Star Fucking Hipsters, Bomb! The Music Industry, The Distillers, and We Are the Union.