Born and raised on the Yankton Sioux reservation in South Dakota, indigenous front man Mato Nanji (ma-toe non-gee) dedicates his latest release, Time is Coming (on Blues Bureau International), to
the indigenous youth and all young people on the indigenous reservations.
“Still to this day, the struggle continues to just live in peace. Growing up here on the
reservation I’ve seen a lot of broken families…broken homes. I feel our families’ “tiospaye” are the core of what makes us who we are. Now family and its meaning is not as strong as it used to be for our people…almost non-existent. So I send my heart and soul out to the indigenous
children having a tough time in their lives and in their homes. This record is inspired by
them and made in their honor. I hope for the best for all. Tomorrow is another day.”
Mato Nanji’s father, the late Greg Zephier, Sr., was a well-known and highly respected
spiritual advisor and spokesperson for the International Indian Treaty Council. In
addition to this leadership role, he was an accomplished musician and a member of the
musical group, the Vanishing Americans. Formed by Greg and his brothers in the ‘60s,
the Vanishing Americans toured nationally and shared bills with such legends as Bonnie
Raitt. Besides being heavily influenced by the music his father and uncles were making,
Mato was exposed to Greg’s vast collection of blues records by legendary artists such
as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and B.B. King. Consequently, Mato embraced
and began utilizing his own musical talent at a young age. With the experience, love
and wisdom of their father to guide them, Mato, his brother, sister and cousin formed the
band Indigenous while in their late teens.
After much time invested in practicing and building a following, they began touring
extensively across the country. In 1998, they released their award winning debut album,
Things We Do. The title track’s video, directed by Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals), won the
American Indian Film Festival Award and was shown at the prestigious Sundance Film
Festival. Indigenous’ music caught the attention of blues icon B.B. King and the young
band was invited to play on his annual B.B. King’s blues tour in 1999. Sadly, Mr. Zephier
would pass away before seeing his children receive this great honor.
With momentum gaining, Indigenous’ 2000 sophomore release, Circle, was produced
and arranged by Stevie Ray Vaughan’s longtime friend and collaborator, the late Doyle
Bramhall, Sr. Three more CDs; Fistful of Dirt (2002), Indigenous (2003), and Long Way
Home (2005) would follow before the 2006 decision by the siblings to ‘disband’ and
pursue their own musical paths, but Mato carried on with the Indigenous band name.
“Playing with my family for 10 years was a lot of fun, but it was time to grow and keep
moving forward.”
Mato continued touring and in 2006 released Chasing the Sun. Two of the cd’s songs,
“Come on Home” and “Leaving,” were featured on the hit Discovery Channel show, The
Deadliest Catch. “Come on home” was also featured on FX’s Sons of Anarchy.
On 2008’s Broken Lands, an intensely personal record, Mato and Leah, his lyricist and
wife, pay tribute to his native heritage. The album decries the poverty, isolation and
reality of life on the reservation with “Place I Know.” The album gains its title from the
line, “all is lost in these broken lands.”
Of The Acoustic Sessions (released in 2010), Mato commented, “It’s a collection of
some of my favorite songs that celebrate 10 years of releasing albums. Every song that
I have ever written began with the acoustic guitar, so it only felt natural to create an
acoustic album.”
Indigenous Featuring Mato Nanji (2012) would mark Nanji’s debut on the Blues Bureau
International label and the beginning of his collaboration with noted producer, Mike
Varney. Joining Mato on the disc’s opening track “Free Yourself, Free Your Mind” is the
soulful Jonny Lang. On it, the two guitar-masters trade vocals and guitar solos. It’s truly
a blues lover’s ‘match made in heaven’.
In addition to his Indigenous ‘day job’, Mato Nanji has been a member of the critically
acclaimed Experience Hendrix Tour since 2002. Playing alongside original Jimi Hendrix
band members Billy Cox and the late Mitch Mitchell, the tour roster includes some of
today’s blues greats including Buddy Guy, Chris Layton, and Tommy Shannon (Double
Trouble), Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson, and Robert Randolph.
NÆ and her co-pilot Blizz deliver cosmic electronic pop, experimental soundscapes, and high-energy live performances with sci-fi storytelling, infectious grooves, and unapologetic fun. NÆ & Blizz invite you to dance, laugh, and rediscover your inner child.
THE METERS “REJUVENATION”
Rejuvenation is the fifth studio album by the New Orleans funk group the Meters. It was released in 1974. In 2003, the album was ranked number 138 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
PHANTOM (MEX)
Phantom is a Speed/Thrash Metal band from Guadalajara, Jalisco – México formed in 2021 by Guitar player and singer J.C García (a.k.a “Necrohex”). Inspired by the roots of the genre, merging styles that go from Traditional HM, Speed Metal, Deathrash, and also gathering influences from other places, like Latin rock, and also elements from old NES games music, the band quickly trascended the Mexican border and became a force to be reckoned with internationally.
After a series of early demos, the band released it’s first album “Handed to Execution” in late 2023, followed by the “Transylvanian Nightmare” EP, (2024) – Which landed the band a contract with German label High Roller Records, and which led to the release of their sophomore album “Tyrants of Wrath” in 2025 and now also the upcoming third record – “Not Midnight Yet”, both of these records supported by international tours, playing in festivals such as Keep it True Rising, Obscene Extreme, Hell’s Heroes, Thrash Nightmare and Wacken Open Air.
Phantom handles themes that go from Vampirism, Horror, Dark Fantasy and revenge, to personal situations and thoughts. All of it backed by an intense, aggressive, raw but also prolific & complex sound and structure.
for the dead now thirst and the living tremble – Phantom are the SPEED METAL NOSFERATUS, and they are coming to take you.
100 Demons are an American metalcore band from Waterbury, Connecticut. Being fans of tattoos, the band derived their name from a book of traditional Japanese tattoo artwork by Horiyoshi III.
Hailing from Southern California’s South Bay, ROTTING OUT are carrying the torch passed to them by area legends Suicidal Tendencies, Pennywise and Black Flag.
On their full-length debut ‘Midnight Society’, death pose tear through 13 incendiary tracks of down-tuned, punk/post- hardcore influenced noise rock replete with indelible hooks, sharp angular riffage, and a rhythm section that resonates with urgency.
FFO:
Every Time I Die, Propagandhi, KEN Mode, Iron Chic, Hot Water Music, Helms Alee, Botch
Architects of Beauty stake their claim at the darker peripheries of the fertile ground abandoned by the first generation of new wave and post punk. Pulsing rhythms and Murphy-esque vocals, compliment driving guitars that give way to tense and cinematic synthscapes. They are comprised of John Shane on guitar and vocals, Jake Fish on bass and vocals, Clay Condon on drums, and John Featheringham on keyboards
Upon Your Dead Body consists of Efrain Benavides, Robert De La Rosa on drums and Jesus Trevino on bass, the band’s sound is a fusion of spoken word, melodic intensity, midwest emo, and math rock. Together, they deliver raw emotion and a captivating edge that has been making waves across Texas. Drawing inspiration from acts like La Dispute, Coheed and Cambria, Hail The Sun, and Mom Jeans. Upon Your Dead Body is an experience to be had.
Helen 55 formed in the vibrant North Hollywood Arts District of California in 1997.
Their debut release, a 3-song cassette tape featuring the track “Dumb Summer,” quickly gained traction through internet trading, earning them a global following. They began performing at iconic venues such as The Whisky a Go-Go and The Roxy Theatre, sharing stages with notable bands like System of a Down, Papa Roach, and Alien Ant Farm.
In January 2000, the group self-released their debut CD, “Amped.” Their rising profile was boosted by a feature on MTV’s “Snowed In Undercover” and an interview with Matt Pinfield for Farmclub TV, establishing them as a “buzz band”.
Despite growing recognition, the band disbanded in 2002. They reunited in 2010 and have since released two albums: 2010’s “Helen 55” and 2021’s “SLEEP | DEATH” (pronounced “The Fine Line Between Sleep and Death”).
Lady Radiator is a New Jersey-born two-piece band built on intensity and resilience. Formed in 2007 by Kenny Collette and Adam Kobylarz, the band quickly made waves signing with Emerald Moon Records, touring nationwide, and sharing stages with The Sleeping, Portugal The Man, and Mayday Parade. Their debut album Bounce Energy Hear Me Out set the tone for a band unafraid to push boundaries. After recording sessions for a second album were cut short, Lady Radiator took a pause. Now, fueled by a viral resurgence on TikTok and in partnership with Interscope Records , the band has returned with a fire that’s louder, sharper, and hungrier than ever. The Lady Radiator movement has begun.
Ameer Isaiah is a Chicago Alternative/indie rock artist blending soulful melodies and nostalgic storytelling into his sound. His music lives in vulnerability, turning personal experiences into songs that feel raw, familiar, and honest to everyone. Rooted in Chicago but built for anywhere.
NOAH WEILAND isn’t just the son of a legendary rock icon. He is on his way to being one himself. He can do grunge/alt rock one minute then hyperpop the next, & maybe even throw in some pop punk. Regardless, NW brings out the high energy & emotions during his live performances.
From Under the Cork Tree is the second studio album by the American rock band Fall Out Boy, released on May 3, 2005, through Island Records as the band’s major label debut. The music was composed by lead vocalist and guitarist Patrick Stump, with all lyrics penned by bassist Pete Wentz, continuing the band’s songwriting approach they took for some songs on their prior 2003 effort Take This to Your Grave. Neal Avron handled production duties. Commenting on the record’s lyrical themes, Wentz said the lyrics were about “the anxiety and depression that goes along with looking at your own life.” In support of their release the group headlined tours worldwide and played at various music festivals. For their Black Clouds and Underdogs tour the album was re-released as From Under the Cork Tree (Limited “Black Clouds and Underdogs” Edition), featuring new songs and remixes.
Gabrielle Grace is a singer and songwriter that writes songs that feel like conversations—sometimes with others, sometimes with herself. A storyteller at heart, her music blends warm indie-folk textures with the rawness of alternative pop, capturing life’s quiet moments and loud emotions with equal weight.
Originally from southeast Texas and now based in Nashville, Grace’s songwriting is deeply personal yet universally resonant, shaped by the in-between spaces of growing up, letting go, and learning to stay present. When she made her musical debut in 2021, she released her EP, “We’ll Be Alright,” which climbed the iTunes singer-songwriter charts. Her debut full-length album, There Are Two Sides to Everything (2023), is an exploration of contrast—hope and doubt, longing and contentment, the past and the future—all wrapped in lush melodies and thoughtful lyricism.
She just released her new EP, “Pink Skies” on June 26th, 2025.
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE “THREE CHEERS FOR SWEET REVENGE”
Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (often shortened to Three Cheers or Revenge) is the second studio album by the American rock band My Chemical Romance, released on June 8, 2004, by Reprise Records. The album was produced by Howard Benson, and was written and recorded from late 2003 to March 2004. Writing sessions were highly influenced by the mental health and personal lives of the band members, particularly the death of Gerard and Mikey Way’s grandmother.
Happy Head is the debut album by the English band the Mighty Lemon Drops, released in 1986.
R.E.M. “LIFES RICH PAGEANT”
Lifes Rich Pageant is the fourth studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on July 28, 1986. R.E.M. chose Don Gehman to produce the album, which was recorded at John Mellencamp’s Belmont Mall Studios in Belmont, Indiana. This was the only album the band recorded with Gehman, who moved them from the more obscure and dense sound of their earlier albums to an accessible, hard rock-influenced quality. The album was well-received critically.
EL PRESTO
EL Presto is an producer singer song writing artist all wrapped into one, from the south side of Chicago. El brings rnb grooves with a mix of hip hop melodic tracks an smooth cool vocals to be around for a ages ..
IAN PINCK IS A SINGER, SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO. HE LIVES TO INSPIRE ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL. DREAM-CATCHING, LIVING IN TRUTH OR MERELY ULTIMATE PEACE; HE IS HERE TO HELP PEOPLE BELIEVE IN THEIR POWER.
BEING A GLOBAL CITIZEN HAS GIVEN HIM A LIMITLESS PERSPECTIVE ON CULTURE, WHICH POURS OUT INTO HIS MUSIC AND STORYTELLING; CREATING A BEAUTIFUL BLEND OF GENRES.
SOUL PUNK ROCK GIVES YOU VIBRANT COLORS AND DYNAMIC STORYTELLING. IT CAN BE GORGEOUSLY DARK, OR WHISPER SUMMERTIME INTO YOUR EARS. EITHER WAY THE GOAL IS TO PAINT THE MOST VIVID AND HONEST PICTURES, WITH COLORS HE BELIEVES WE ALL HAVE.
“WHEN PEOPLE HEAR MY MUSIC I HOPE THEY FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF THE LOVE THEY YEARN TO FEEL EVERY DAY, AND SEE A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THEY WANNA BE, IN THEIR BEST FORM.”
Of Blood is a cosmic death metal band from Chicago, Illinois. The group officially launched in November 2025, though its formation unfolded gradually over the course of that year.
The band began when drummer Artsiom and guitarist Sergi connected and started writing together. Vocalist Dylan discovered them online and joined soon after. Kevin came aboard to complete the current four-piece lineup on second guitar.
The name “Of Blood” stems from the belief that all living beings on this planet share a fundamental connection. As the band puts it: we are all of blood. The name also carries an undeniable brutality that fits the music.
Sammy Pierre Duet. guitarist/vocalist for goatwhore. acidbath, crowbar, ritualkiller. Demonic possession Acid bath
THE PLEIADES
The PLEIADES are Americas new original Rock n’ Roll band. The band based out of Springfield, IL, is composed of Carter Kelso on vocals, Eli Trimpe on bass guitar, Josh Schuler on the lead guitar, Koke Rutter on rhythm guitar, and Jack Kelso on percussion.
Ripping thrash from Richmond, Virginia -VIGIL are one of the burning-brightest stars of themodern thrash metal underground. So complete and total is their sound, so authentic andthrottling in such a manner as to wonder what year it actually is, Shadow Kingdom simply HADto sign the band for their first full-length. With a demo and single the first few years of theirexistence as well as a formidable live presence, the quintet are now prepared to deliver thatdebut album: Primordial Rites. Influenced by Demolition Hammer, Nuclear Assault, andSepultura. Their debut album will be released October 30th via Shadow Kingdom Records.
The Detroit Cobras emerged from the garage rock revival scene of the late 1990’s ~ early 2000’s, which included the Dirtbombs, White Stripes, Hentchmen and many many more.
The music is mostly composed of obscure 1960’s R&B, soul, girl groups’ songs, delivered with an injection of natural raw garage punk rock & roll.
After the sudden death of lead singer Rachel Nagy, the band was devastated.
Following the city of Detroit’s motto ~ “We hope for better things; it shall rise
from the ashes “, the band regrouped and got to working.
Leading the group is the evocative temptress Masha Marjieh, followed by the usual unusual cast of characters: Mary Cobra and Kenny Tudrick on guitars. Dale Wilson and Kevin Irwin on bass and drums respectively.
As Detroit Stroh’s Brewery says
“Take a bottle out of the ice box and make
life worth living”
-m
Beherit is a Finnish black metal band from Rovaniemi. The band was formed in 1989 by Nuclear Holocausto Vengeance, Demonic Fornication and Sodomatic Slaughter, with the purpose of performing “the most primitive, savage, hell-obsessed black metal imaginable”.
Void The Light is an American Alternative Metal and prog band formed in the Chicago suburbs, 2012. Their influences include Tool, Deftones, Incubus and Nirvana.
New Jersey native turned Nashville transplant, Matt Koziol has carved out a distinct lane at the intersection of country, Americana, and rock. His voice is the calling card: soulful, gritty, and built for both stadium stages and stripped down front porch moments.
Koziol writes like he means it. His songwriting leans into the honest, sometimes bruised, always human side of life, paired with a stage presence that turns rooms of strangers into fans by the end of a set. Songs like “Old Fashioned” (feat. Isaac Gibson), “Here Again,” and “Follow Me Home” have racked up millions of streams and cemented him as one of the more compelling voices in roots driven music today.
He’s earned his stripes on the road too, sharing stages with Whiskey Myers, 49 Winchester, and Charles Wesley Godwin, and building a reputation as an artist worth catching live, night after night, market after market.
With a growing catalog and a fanbase that stretches globally, Matt Koziol is still writing the next chapter, one honest song at a time.
IN THE COMPANY OF SERPENTS traffic in sonic catharsis. Their music inhabits the strange fringes between sludge metal and sprawling spaghetti western scores, constantly striving for visceral power and raw intensity, contrasted with eerie, spare instrumental passages.
We are the Ashe Brothers. A duo. A trio. A rock band. Multidimensional musicians who blend psychedelic textures, vintage soul, and boutique guitar sounds. We are known to have electrifying live shows and tight musicianship. Our sound has been appreciated for its grit, harmony, and groove. Our diverse palette of musical inspirations and styles make us a perfect fit for any occasion.
We are proud of our DIY ethos, and the fact that we have been able to garner a loyal following with our relentless gigging. What sets us apart is that we do not chase trends. We like bringing an authentic throwback vibe with a modern edge. We like to throw in our original tunes with the most inspiring deep tracks from our biggest influences, as opposed to pandering to the crowd with overplayed hits. Our fan base has become our family. We call them “Asheholes.” Most have embraced this obvious term of endearment! In short, those who get it, get it. Music truly has taken us to some very interesting places.
One of the hardest working bands in Chicago. The Mike Wheeler Band consists of : Mike Wheeler- Guitar & Vocals, Larry Williams-Bass & Background Vocals, Cleo Cole -Drums , Brian James-Keyboards & Background Vocals.
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials were among the premiere party bands to come out of Chicago during the ’70s and ’80s. Often compared to Elmore James and Hound Dog Taylor, fiery, flamboyant slide guitarist Lil’ Ed Williams and his group have continued to play dedicated, rough-edged, and hard-rocking dance music, establishing an international reputation that has lasted into the new millennium. A native of Chicago, Williams was first inspired by his uncle, renowned slide guitarist J.B. Hutto, with whom he studied as a young teen. Hutto not only taught him slide, but also introduced Williams to bass and drums. Williams’ half-brother, James “Pookie” Young, was also a student of Hutto, and later became the bassist for the Blues Imperials. The brothers co-founded their group in the early ’70s and went professional in 1975, playing at Big Duke’s Blue Flame on the West Side. The gig earned them a whopping six bucks, which the group members split evenly. In those early years, Williams worked days at a car wash while Young drove a school bus.
Despite their humble start, Williams and the Blues Imperials kept performing at night and by the early ’80s had developed a substantial regional following. Signing to Alligator in the mid-’80s, they released their debut album, Roughhousin’, in 1986 and found themselves receiving national attention. They began playing urban clubs and festivals all over the country and eventually toured Canada, Europe, and Japan. They released their second album, Chicken, Gravy & Biscuits, in 1989, and the success continued as the Blues Imperials began appearing with such artists as Koko Taylor and Elvin Bishop during the Alligator Records 20th anniversary tour. They released their third album, What You See Is What You Get, in 1992.
If Ed, Pookie, and the latest members of the revamped Blues Imperials never did much to modernize their blues or develop a new sound, that was just fine with the band’s followers (“Edheads,” no less), to whom the raucous, rocking slide guitar heritage of Hutto, Hound Dog Taylor, and Elmore James is blues nirvana. Following its third album, the group went on hiatus for a few years, during which Lil’ Ed Williams released two albums on Earwig, 1996’s Keep on Walkin’ with Dave Weld and 1998’s Who’s Been Talking with Willie Kent. In 1999 the band reconvened and released Get Wild. They followed it up with Heads Up, their fifth Alligator record, in 2002. Their sixth, Rattleshake, appeared in 2006, followed by their seventh, Full Tilt, two years later. ~ Jim O’Neal & Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Established in 2024, GREYSTONE is a five piece alternative rock band from the southwest side of Chicago. Formed by three members of the Hernandez family, dad Mark (drums) is joined by daughter Alana (vocals) and son Mark II (lead guitar). They released their debut album “A Million Grains of Sand” in late October 2025.
A combination of grit, frustration, and tenderness encapsulates their first album’s journey of change, loss, and the passage of time. Joined by a bassist Isaac G. and rhythm guitarist Jesh T., GREYSTONE has embarked on a journey to alchemize ancestral grip into Existential Alt Rock. They revitalize dreams deferred, frozen in decades past.
Award-winning “cinematic soul” artist, curator, and founder of Black & Bronze Fest. Bridging music, culture, and community through sound + storytelling.
