Billy Freekin Dee. In the beginning… there were turntables on a hardwood floor. DJ’ing for the first six months was done on the ground with a case of beer. Eventually he got a table and a mpc. Since then he has released 2 mixtapes, produced 4 full length albums, won 2 DMC’s and played hundreds of shows. He is now combining all of these experiences together to create one performance that you can dance to or sit back and enjoy.
I write, sing, play fiddle and mandolin, and make indie records. Besides making my own music and recording for other artists, I’m currently touring with renown trance-blues innovator, Otis Taylor. I also play fiddle with Cathy Richardson and sometimes sit in with psychedelic legends Jefferson Starship.
We are END OF ANARCHY and we love to play metal and rock, our job is to bring back REAL metal! Might as well start at a young age! Rock on \m/
One the first extremely fast bands out of the mid -late 80’s thrash/crossover scene. Wehrmacht musicianship was a notch above most of the bands in the genre; where most crossover/thrash bands were generally playing hardcore punk box chord riffs; Wehrmacht utilized a more metal approach. Particulary M.Zorich’s melodic sensibility and Lehfeldts chaotic drumming.
Conceived in New Jersey from its emerging DIY scene from the late ‘90s, cult hip-hop trio DÄLEK were known as pioneers over the last fifteen years for their intriguing sound which fuses a blend of progressive hip-hop artistry supported by a rhythmic backdrop consisting of sonic experimentation through noise music and dark ambient gaze. Their singularity would be highlighted in five groundbreaking full-length albums: Gutter Tactics (2009), Abandoned Language (2007), Absence (2005), …From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots (2002) – all released on Ipecac Recordings – as well as Negro Necro Nekros (1998) on Gern Blandsten. DÄLEK supported those albums on tour for over a decade and have shared stages with influential artists such as KRS One, Tomahawk, The Melvins, TOOL, Grandmaster Flash, Jesu, Dillinger Escape Plan, Pharcyde, RJD2, DeLa Soul, Prince Paul, Lovage, ZU, Black Heart Procession, Gaslamp Killer, Earth, Flying Lotus, The Bug, Mastodon, Fantomas and more. In 2011, DÄLEK quietly went on hiatus for an undetermined amount of time, as the members needed a break from the rigorous schedule on the road.
Fast forward to Spring 2015, mastermind and producer MC Dälek (a.k.a. Will Brooks, with the blessing of ex-member/co-producer Oktopus) revived DÄLEK with a new lineup which now includes DJ rEk on turntables and co-producer Mike Manteca on samplers and effects. The trio have returned with their signature mind numbing, genre bending blend of beats, noise and lyricism and are preparing to release the highly anticipated first official DÄLEK release since their last full-length, 2009’s Gutter Tactics. Titled Asphalt For Eden, this new album sees a new creative peak for DÄLEK and will bring a new awareness for this cult hip-hop entity now resurrected and ready to show a formidable display of true hip hop artistry and experimentation. Asphalt For Eden also marks DÄLEK’s first collaboration with progressive music label PROFOUND LORE who will release the album on April 22nd.
Following Asphalt For Eden’s release, DÄLEK will hit the road in support of it. Their live performances are known as intense events that often end in a shoved mic stand and sonically assaultive layers of sound. Witnessing DÄLEK live is like coming face to face with the bastard child of Public Enemy and My Bloody Valentine; an amalgamation of the heaviest noise that the Velvet Underground or Merzbow ever unleashed and the knowledge spit by the likes of Rakim. The trio leaves you in a trance, sends shivers down your spine from the haunting beats intertwined with ambient textures and noise scales, and hits you with a powerful raw flow from one of the most charismatic MC’s of his, or any, era.
Chicago-based singer-songwriter Laura Joy has been known to quell dark, angry bars full of ornery old Irishmen with her brand of acoustic pop. Drawing comparisons that range from Joni Mitchell to Jackson Browne, Laura’s percussive finger picking and buoyant voice have graced audiences from as far as the Sun Belt to the streets of Manhattan.
Laura’s latest EP, Between Our Words, was released on March 5, 2015. It was produced by fellow Chicagoan, Will Phalen, at Cold Ghost Studios. The album features Jamie Gallagher on drums (Kapsalis Trio, Weepin’ Willows, Republic of Lights), David Gallagher on guitar (Belleisle, Weepin’ Willows), and Will Phalen on bass (Stereo Addicts, Julie Meckler).
Laura is a frequent performer on the Midwest festival scene. She has played at the Independent Chicago Songwriter Festival, Metamora Folk Festival, Lakeshore Arts Festival, Cain Park Arts Fest, and Ravenswood Remix. In January, 2013, she was awarded as a top finalist in the Broward Folk Club Songwriter Competition in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Laura has also opened for Hammel on Trial, poet Staceyann Chin, Switchback, and Greg Brown.
Perhaps it should be noted that Laura’s recording of the ridiculously embarrassing Call Me Maybe parody, “Call Me Ishmael,” was featured on Huffington Post in September 2012. The music video has 20,000+ views to date. All because Laura and her friends just wanted to have a little fun. Asking Laura to play the song live is not advised. She will inevitably become flustered and possibly break out in hives.
Laura tours the nation strumming her guitar, petting puppies, and making folks smile. Her tales from the road (that includes pictures of the puppies) along with all other additional sights and sounds may be found at www.laurajoymusic.com
Clay Parker and Jodi James are a folk singer/songwriter duo from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
I’ve got boots, guitars and whiskey, that’s all I ever need”
– Girl in Carolina, from the album, “Bourbon Cowboy”
Singer/Songwriter Jeff Givens is a road-seasoned troubadour. As a contemporary musical gypsy, Jeff travels the country, meeting folks from every aspect of life and listening to their stories. He lives this life, documenting it all in his songs. Somehow, writing through the haze of self-destruction like his heroes before him, (Kerouac, Burroughs, Lennon, Hank, Townes and others) he has prevailed and come out the other side, battling his demons by writing about them. Born in Tennessee and raised in Chicago, Mr. Givens is a music veteran of over 30 years and has played in many bands, from Chicago to Boston to London. Working with Jay Bennett from Wilco was one of his numerous experiences. Back in 2001, Jeff went all-in; he left his day gig and everything else to fully embrace this musical journey. Tramping around America, like another prince of skid row, he began writing songs that defined his life. Settling back in Chicago, Jeff reconnected with producer, collaborator and fellow hell-raiser, Jason Botka, to finish writing and record these songs. From the easy rooms of Skye Bleu Studios, “Bourbon Cowboy” was born.
In 2014, Jeff gathered his closest brothers in music for his sophomore album, “Midnight in Muscle Shoals”, which was tracked on the sacred ground of Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. A founding member of The Righteous Hillbillies, Kev Wright added his southern rock flair on guitar and vocals, and Jason Botka brought in keys, organ, guitar and harmonica. All left the Shoals sessions feeling like they had “been to the mountain”. Jeff knew something special had happened next to that Tennessee River, and it needed to continue. Once home, Johnny Gadeikis added his talents on bass and Luke Smith on drums to round out the Mugshot Saints. This diverse band, with many decades of combined writing and touring experience between them, developed both acoustic and plugged in line-ups and started gigging in some of the best rooms in Chicago; the Metro Chicago and Schubas to name just a couple. The Saints draw from outlaw country, southern rock and rock, blues and folk influences to create their multifaceted sound. Part Allman Brothers part Stones, with some Van Morrison and a dash of Father John Misty; The Mugshot Saints put on a show that will rock you to “holler & swaller” one minute, then with some old school folksy blues, you’ll be crying in that same beer the next.
Bestial death metal from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Occult Death Metal from England.
We are a tribute to 1970s Ozzy era Black Sabbath, playing in the Chicago area since 2006.
With melodic influences from old school 80’s metal in its roots crossing over to the powerful raw and primitive style black metal of the nineties. Using intricate guitar harmonies in place of keyboards and creating the balance of power between high-strung melodies and raw brutal attack riffing. Along with aggressive barbaric drum assaults, screaming vocal blasphemy, and lyrics straight from apocalyptic hell the sound of Bloodthrone cannot be compared too.
Epoch of Unlight is a melodic death metal band from Memphis, Tennessee. The band formed in 1990, playing under a variety of different names including Enraptured and Requiem until 1994, when they officially settled on Epoch of Unlight
Stone Trippin’ Pilots (formerly Birthday Deathbed) is a Stone Temple Pilots tribute band performing in the greater Chicagoland area since 2012. Our shows exclusively feature songs from the entire STP catalog. You may even catch an album performed in its entirety.
Punk Rock/ Rock & Roll Rat Pack tribute from Las Vegas, Nevada!!!
Founding members Amy Sumpter, Kendra Stevens and Maggie Jenkins first met through the Chicago comedy scene, and soon discovered their shared love of the Beastie Boys. For two years, they kicked around the idea of starting an all-female B-Boys tribute, but after the passing of Adam “MCA” Yauch on May 4, 2012, they knew it was time to make it happen. Erica Reid a.k.a. DJ ENRG joined the band in 2014.
A veteran of the U.K. grime scene, MC, producer, and record-label owner Skepta was influential in its shift from the underground to the pop charts, as well as its creative and commercial resurgence during the mid-2010s. Born Joseph Junior Adengua to Nigerian parents, Skepta moved to Tottenham with his family at the age of three. Inspired by both U.S. and U.K. hip-hop, he started his music career appearing on the pirate radio circuit and performing at various MC battles. In 2005, he formed the grime label Boy Better Know with brother J.M.E. and Wiley, and a year later joined East London collective Roll Deep, although he left the following year to concentrate on Boy Better Know and his solo career. He released his first two albums, Greatest Hits and Microphone Champion, through his label before signing with All Around the World Records in 2010. In the same year, he reached the Top 40 with “Bad Boy” (number 26) and “Rescue Me” (number 14), supported Chipmunk on his U.K. tour, and was personally selected by P. Diddy to record a grime remix of “Hello Good Morning” after being recommended by his Twitter followers. His third album, Doin’ It Again, featuring the Top 40-charting single “Cross My Heart,” was released at the beginning of 2011, subsequently peaking at number 19 on the U.K. album chart.
In 2012, Skepta released two singles (“Hold On” and the C+C Music Factory-sampling “Make Peace Not War”) that took his sound in a more commercially minded direction. Both songs hit the Top 30 of the U.K. singles chart, and were intended to be the leadoff singles to an album titled The Honeymoon, but the disappointing reaction from fans led to the album being scrapped, and a mixtape titled Blacklisted was released at the end of the year in its place. After keeping a low profile in 2013, Skepta came back in a big way the following year. He contributed a verse to a remix of “German Whip” by Meridian Dan, which became a Top 20 hit in May 2014. The following month, Skepta’s single “That’s Not Me” (which featured a guest verse by J.M.E.) was released, hitting number 21 on the charts. Both tracks were praised as helping to revitalize grime, and the latter was eventually named track of the year by FACT Magazine. Skepta’s early 2015 single “Shutdown” was another U.K. Top 40 hit, and the MC received attention from Drake and Kanye West, joining the latter on-stage during the BRIT Awards. Skepta made his acting debut with a role in the 2015 crime drama Anti-Social, and worked on his long-delayed album Konnichiwa. The album was finally released by Boy Better Know in May of 2016, and it featured guest appearances from Wiley, Pharrell Williams, and Novelist, in addition to his previous two hit singles. ~ Jon O’Brien, Rovi
A member of the group Cutthroat Boyz, rapper Vince Staples surfaced in the early 2010s with a spate of promising appearances on Odd Future-related recordings — including Earl Sweatshirt’s “epaR,” Mike G’s “Moracular World” and Award Tour EP, the Jet Age of Tomorrow’s “Lunchbox,” and Domo Genesis’ “Elimination Chamber” — as well as the 2011 mixtape Shyne Goldchain. In 2012, the rapper released Winter in Prague, a mixtape issued as a free download with the production work handled entirely by Michael Uzowuru. A darker, more introspective mixtape, Stolen Youth, arrived in 2013 with a co-billing to Larry Fisherman (a Mac Miller alias) and verses from Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, Mac Miller (as Mac Miller), and Cutthroat Boyz partner Joey Fatts. Staples then performed as the opening act on Miller’s Space Migration tour. Among Staples’ assists in 2013 were verses on Earl Sweatshirt’s Doris and Jhené Aiko’s “The Vapors.” The rapper continued his steady ascent in 2014 with a fourth mixtape, Shyne Goldchain, Vol. 2, and contributions to Common’s Nobody’s Smiling — specifically on the key single “Kingdom,” as well as on the deluxe edition bonus track “Out on Bond.” His debut album, Summertime ’06, landed in 2015 with production from Clams Casino and No ID. ~ Andy Kellman
Recording Artist from Tucson Arizona. Member of Murs’ Label 316. New album on www.MarleyB.com. #marleybmondays
The musical journey for Jahni Denver was a natural one. Having experienced the hardships of life at a young age (his best friend and sister were both murdered all before he turned 19), Jahni went through a dark period that eventually led to his arrest for cocaine possession in 2007. Using that rock bottom moment as a catalyst for change, the MC in him began to reveal itself and Jahni began to write the story of his life. Most of the material was depressing and mediocre in engineering but the raw lyrical content stayed at the forefront.
After working on various styles and themes, the third version of his debut album Mountain Lion began to take shape. Working with artists like Bizzy Bone showed Jahni Denver an aspect of rap work ethic that continued to inspire his rhymes and motivation. Mountain Lion pt. 2; The Shaman is the latest inception in the “Mountain Lion” series. For this record Jahni worked with Scarface, Strange Music’s Krizz Kaliko, and Snow Tha Product to continue the telling of his story.
Jahni Denver is a compelling storyteller who uses the trials and tribulations of his life to paint a hip-hop story rich in authentic theatrics. Mountain Lion pt. 2; The Shaman is set for release in the fourth quarter of this year. -Ru Johnson
Lee Gresh, AKA DJ Hoppa, was born April 28th to a musical family. His mother being a Cellist, and father having played the Trumpet, he was literally raised on music. From age 5 and on, he has grasped various instruments from the musical spectrum, starting with Piano, Drums, Bass and Guitar; then moving onto Samplers, MPCs, Technics Turntables, and so forth.
Finding like minded individuals in his hometown, DJ Hoppa developed a growing and prosperous Hip Hop scene in the San Fernando Valley (CA) through his label Broken Complex, a thriving imprint specializing in Indie Hip Hop, DJs, and Roots Reggae. It was through these efforts that Hoppa was noticed by Funk Volume, and since teaming up with Hopsin and SwizZz on their nationwide ‘I AM RAW’ Tour, he has officially joined their roster.
As an artist, DJ Hoppa has produced 8 Full-Length albums and various Digi-Singles (All available on iTunes), a slew of Mixtapes, Mashups, and Remixes, with no sign of slowing down. He has shared the stage with acts ranging from Hardcore Hip Hop (Ghostface Killah, Immortal Technique) to even more mainstream club acts (Kid Sister, Crystal Method), and has been the touring DJ for too many artists to name drop.
As a DJ, Hoppa’s style is universal, blending genres seamlessly while maintaining a high energy and good vibe that keeps the crowd on their feet and wanting more.
Justin Howl is an internationally touring blues and roots singer, songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player based in Chicago, IL, USA. Blues Blast Magazine called him a “strong singer” whose tunes “will strike a chord with you. . . . and are intelligent throughout,” in reviewing his debut album Justin Howl and the Salty Dogs. His second album, a solo acoustic project titled Wanderlust, was released in December 2020 and hailed by Music Connection Magazine as “wonderfully weird. . . . cool and vibey. . . . topped off by Howl’s warm and rangey vocal presence.”
Curio is a hell-raisin’ and soul-shakin’ rock n’ roll band from Chicago, IL. Their music is steeped in southern gothic lore by way of the Midwest. Heavily influenced by the growl of Chicago blues, the low-down and dirty swamp rock of Louisiana and the twang of Tennessee country, Curio conjures a sound that has as many influences as there are miles on I-55 from The Windy City to The Big Easy. Chris Pluska and his band of wayward gamblers have been playing to crowds at juke joints, dives and clubs since 2009. Curio’s live show has the fervent energy of a backwoods revival and the no-holds-barred attitude of a bar brawl. Their records are love letters to the bastards, brawlers, vagabonds, and believers who’ve shaped American folklore for better or for worse. Curio’s tales have been described as ‘Midwest murder ballads’ that depict the timeless narrative of wrong-doing and temptation. Among their supporters from coast to coast can be counted Paducah, Kentucky’s own J.D. Wilkes of Legendary Shack Shakers/Dirt Daubers fame who worked with the band on 2014’s “Twisted Roots” album.
Chicago has historically been home to some of the most notorious cheats as well as tough-as-nails workin’ folk and Curio walks the line between the rogue waltz of Prohibition-era bootleggers and the brute tenacity of the old Union Stock Yards butchers. Like their name implies, Curio is a collection of oddities whose sound has been weathered over the years.
Terrorizer is an American grindcore band formed in 1986 in Los Angeles, California. Founded by Oscar Garcia (Nausea), Jesse Pintado and Pete Sandoval. The band went on to record its inaugural album, World Downfall, in 1989 along with David Vincent (Morbid Angel) on bass. The album is seen as one of the classics of early grindcore. Several of the songs were written by Oscar Garcia for Nausea, but the band was short on time in the studio and used the Nausea songs (“After World Obliteration,” “Corporation Pull-in” among many others) to fill out the album.
In early 2005 it was rumored that Terrorizer were to reform with their original line-up; however, of the original line up, only Jesse Pintado and Pete Sandoval returned, while Oscar Garcia went back to working on Nausea material. Jesse Pintado passed away in 2006, precluding any further Terrorizer shows with the original line-up.
In 2014, Oscar Garcia was invited by Jesse Pintado’s sister to put together a new lineup of Terrorizer (his version known as Terrorizer LA or TLA) for a festival celebrating what would have been Jesse Pintado’s 45th birthday. He asked fellow Nausea member Leon del Muerte (Murder Construct) to play guitar, and shortly afterward Cosmo Reveles, Rick Cortez (Sadistic Intent) and Mike Caffell (Dreaming Dead, Exhausted Prayer) were recruited to fill out the band.
After the highly anticipated and successful performance at Grindcore JP 2014, Terrorizer LA is now planning shows for 2015 and beyond.
Terrorizer LA is:
Oscar Garcia – Vocals
Leon del Muerte – Guitar
Rick Cortez – Guitar
Cosmo Reveles – Bass
Mike Caffell – Drums
Dave East is an emerging artist from Harlem, NY. His music is regularly featured on Hot 97, Power 105, Shade 45, and Sirius’ Hip Hop Nation. With a loyal fan-base ranging from record executives to professional athletes and artists alike, Dave East is quickly becoming a staple within NY’s new-school of hip hop.
Hailing from Chicago, Sex Therapy is a unique, all original American Rock band that delivers. The Juggernaut behind Sex Therapy is main songwriter, rhythm guitarist and vocalist Cassy Baxter whose prose about love conquered, lost or otherwise, blends effortlessly with the bands tight rhythms. The Sex Therapy pulse is Jack McClain whose precision percussion rotations and bombastic movements drive Sex Therapy! To help guide the pulse is Stevens Stokes whose bass playing on “Letters to Frank” (album) and guitar leads demonstrate his years of honing 80’s rock guitar and give Sex Therapy a sound that is unique, but yet time-proven. For more information regarding Sex Therapy please contact us at <sextherapytheband@gmail.com>
Suspended is melodic death thrash band from Albuquerque, NM. We are fans of music and love metal. Come to one of our shows and you can see what we’re all about.
Metal band HIBRIA, formed in 1996 in Porto Alegre/Brazil, has been recognized worldwide, both by the media and the audience, after the release of the stunning debut album “Defying The Rules” in 2004 and a highly successful journey began. With a lot of attention in their home country, the band was able to establish itself as superstars in Asia and especially in Japan, where each of their albums ended up in the Top 100 charts and where they are easily able to fill the largest venues at their live performances for over a decade. Meanwhile HIBRIA is a real international force and a hot contender when it comes to climb the global metal throne.
Nervosa was formed in 2010 in São Paulo (Brazil) and has toured the world alongside big names in the International Metal Scene. In 2020 the band changed the line-up and reached the highest positions in the music charts in several countries with the singles from their renowned album “Perpetual Chaos” released in January 2021. In the same year, the album so acclaimed by the press entered several rankings as the best album of the year among other categories. Nervosa is considered an important reference in the Female Metal Scene as well as in the Thrash Metal Scene worldwide being known for its compositions characterized by its own style.
Nervosa is formed by:
Prika Amaral – Vocals and Guitars
Helena Kotina – Guitars
Hel Pyre – Bass
Michaela Naydenova – Drums
“Young punks playin their Granpappy’s music!”
The Stoned Lonesome is an American music group based out of Chicago, Illinois that focuses primarily on roots country music. David “Lee” Waterman formed the group in July of 2015. He recruited a plethora of neighborhood musicians to play the music he fell in love with, while living in Southern Illinois.
David Lee first delved into the genre of roots country in 2003 when he lived in Carbondale, Illinois. The local music scene in Carbondale was vibrantly different, compared to that of Dave’s hometown Chicago. Here he was turned on to artists such as Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, and Roger Miller to name a few.
The Stoned Lonesome have a growing catalog of original tunes, but live in concert you will be sure to hear them cover the classics. Come on out and enjoy some of the finest Honky Tonk music Illinois has to offer!
rock trio Du Vide, whose gentle, wistful sound harks back to 1990s “slow-core” greats like Codeine, Bedhead, and Duster.
Blaka Watra (pron. BLA-ka VA-tra) is a band from Cleveland, OH. Sludgy, guttural, often pretty, sometimes poppy, always loud.
After years of making mostly-instrumental electronic music as Holm., Thatcher May created the Sports Coach alias in late 2014 as an outlet for his vocal-and-guitar-driven songs. Since then, he has been astonishingly prolific, releasing 10 albums of material and embarking on three national tours. Fans of Panda Bear, Ariel Pink, and Parquet Courts will greatly enjoy Sports Coach‘s music.
“Fall Classic is one of the best unheralded bands in Chicago’s rock scene, though the group’s latest album, “Gospel,” certainly has the power to change that status. A personal album for frontman/guitarist Ryan Jeffrey Smith, “Gospel” addresses his loss of faith via an album that is curious and unpredictable, one that mixes genres and influences seamlessly and tempers odd-angled arrangements with luscious harmonies.”
-Jessica Hopper, CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Brought up on bands like Sonic Youth, The Jesus Lizard or My Bloody Valentine,
Bordeaux-based outfit MARS RED SKY had no idea that they were about to become
French stoner scene cornerstones when they founded the band in 2007. Yet the
heavy psychedelic trio already share many similarities and obvious connections with
the “heavy and slow” community. Free from any musical genre consideration, the
musicians build their very own style on the tracks of the underground pioneers.
Julien Pras’ ethereal and melodic voice emerges from a thick and complex rhythm,
carried by sci-fi literature’s lyricism. Almost cinematic, MARS RED SKY’s sounding
has a peculiar and unique flavor, standing out within the heavy rock scene.
To record their self-titled debut album, they shut themselves up in a remote house
in the wilderness of the Spanish desert. Hypnotic, exhilarating, heavy, the release
conquered the very select heavy family and brought the trio to the biggest
international rock and metal stages (SXSW, Hellfest, Desertfest, Roadburn,
Eurockéennes), as well as opening for major acts such as Sleep, Dinosaur Junior,
Kyuss Lives!, Killing Joke, Detroit or Gojira. On stage, they manage to recreate their
sophisticated studio atmospheres and to deliver the special sonic touch that
characterizes them. Their live shows absorb the listener, lose him into a visual and
vibrant limbo and take him into another dimension. Beyond a simple concert, it is a
real sensorial experience that is proposed.
A series of EP releases follow, including a split with post-metal sextet Year Of No
Light in 2012. In 2014, MARS RED SKY begin a collaboration with French label
Listenable Records and welcome their new drummer Matgaz to replace Benoît
Busser who decides to leave the band. Together they complete the albums
“Stranded In Arcadia” (2014), “Apex III (Praise For The Burning Soul)” (2016) and
“The Task Eternal” (2019). Matgaz’s vision and musicianship create depth in the
trio’s personality, which take a darker and more massive turn throughout these
three productions.
The band’s latest EP (out April 2023 on Mrs Red Sound & Vicious Circle) features
dark folk artist Queen Of The Meadow. The power of psychedelic heavy meets the
depth of dark folk harmonies in a complex and exhilarating flavor.
Julien Pras: vocals, guitars, harmonica, broken piano.
Jimmy Kinast: bass, drones, sound effects, lead vocals on The Final Round.
Mathieu Gazeau: drums, percussions, rhodes.
calm ambient sad girl shit
Oakland, CA quartet Wander, and their full-length debut “Mourning,” in many ways stand in contradiction to what one might expect going in. Despite the “newcomer” label, their sound is confident, with the kind of polish befitting veteran professionals. While we’re judging books by their covers, we may presume an album entitled “Mourning,” featuring a black and white album cover photo of waves crashing on a rocky shore to be filled with lengthy ruminations leaning heavily on a generally somber soundscape. How shocked we would be, then, when we hear the album opener, a tightly-wound, explosive two and a half minutes that serve us notice that we shouldn’t believe everything our previous experience with post-rock iconography would lead us to assume.
Some deeper digging reveals a sufficient explanation for how Wander has been able to come out the gate so boldly. Guitarist Christian Francisco first assembled the skeleton of what would become “Mourning” in 2007 as a fifteen year-old. Three of the four current band members were involved even then – Francisco, his drummer brother Ryan, and bassist Joseph Aguda, so the core of the band has been through every step of the process, honing these seven tracks into what we hear today. A second guitarist, Bernard Barcela, was added in 2012.
They self-released the “Short Story Collection” EP in 2013, but kept working at perfecting “Mourning.” Eventually Ryan Francisco would step into the role of primary composer, and the “Mourning” studio sessions were set into motion later in Fall 2013 with producer Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Whirr). The most stunning revelation here is that this album was tracked live to tape in its entirety over the course of a single day. It was self-released in 2014, before the band eventually signed to Other People Records and gave “Mourning” a proper release earlier this year.
The opener, “Calamity,” sets a tone that is immediately antithetical to most of our post-rock expectations. It clocks in at 2 minutes, 23 seconds, pummeling the listener from the first note, before launching into a melody that echoes a more traditional sound, but is propelled forward by hyperactive drumming, launching the listener without notice into unexpected, and decidedly exciting territory. Two subsequent tracks, the single “Soar,” and “Oblivion” move along at a similar pace, driving forward with striking immediacy, matching dramatic melodies with torrid pacing. They waste no time making their point, clocking in at 2:18 and 3:15, respectively, positively microscopic song lengths by post-rock standards. The sense of urgency and almost pop-oriented structural ideology are refreshing and aid in balancing out the album’s more pensive tracks.
Wander proves capable at more extended running times as well. “Farewell” has a kind of soaring melancholy (as contradictory as that phrase may seem), reminiscent of Mono re-interpreted in a more upbeat capacity. The title track, at nearly fifteen minutes, immediately stands out as the most definitively “post-rock” song of the bunch. It doesn’t disappoint, riding its own ebb and flow of soft moments and stirring crescendos, but also effectively punctuating what has come before. Despite its near-EP length, the track never feels dragged out. Rather, it acts much like the waves that are glimpsed on the album cover – alternating soothing passages and crashing swells until you find yourself hypnotized, drifting unaware of anything surrounding you, becoming enveloped as the final moments arrive to quietly pull you under. Thankfully, life isn’t dictated by extended metaphors such as these, and we can re-emerge back at the beginning and start the process anew.
With one album in the books, Wander appears to be a real contender to join the top ranks of a new generation of post-rock artists. One hopes that it doesn’t take them seven more years to craft their next album, but I suspect that will not be an issue. Both polished and earnest, traditional yet unique, this is a band to keep an eye on during the years to come.
Trade Wind, a band featuring Stick To Your Guns frontman Jesse Barnett and Stray From The Path guitarist Tom Williams.
Grafh, born Philip Bernard, hails from Jamaica, Queens, New York. He made a name for himself on the mixtape circuit, where he garnered early support from influential mix-show DJ’s in New York. His skill, charisma, honesty, and determination were so obvious that he generated a buzz nationwide and attracted the attention of the major labels. Even in the early stages of his career, Grafh was being heralded as the “Black Eminem.” Although he’s remained independent, Grafh has had distribution deals with Sony, Rocafella Records, and E1 Music (formerly Koch). He released a substantial collection of mixtapes and a street album, Autografh, to critical acclaim.
Despite having yet to release a studio album, support for Grafh and his music has been overwhelming – both among fans and within the music industry. His songs have been featured on HBO’s Entourage, Fox’s Meth and Red, BET’s Ultimate Hustler and in a number of video games, including EA Sport’s NFL Streets, Saint’s Row, and 25 to Life.
fuzzed out riffs
You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy
Raging Fyah is an authentic, soul-filled, roots rock reggae band, with a fresh contemporary flare, that will literally set your soul on fire! That’s what makes Raging Fyah one of hottest spreading, most captivating and powerful entertainment packages in a long awaited Jamaican Reggae Renaissance!
The “Fyah” was ignited in 2006 by Anthony Watson (drummer), Demar Gayle (keyboardist) and Delroy Hamilton (bassist); then they were later joined by Courtland White (guitarist) and Kumar Bent (lead singer) as they set out to rekindle a flame of positivity in the music industry. Fueled by passion, purpose and life experiences, their lyrics touch the soul of the listener, uplifting and motivating people from all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Whether the message is love, peace or empowerment, Raging Fyah burns through barriers of time age, race or class and has songs for everyone to love.
In 2011, they released their debut album, “Judgement Day”, and gained popularity and presence locally and internationally, with a few of the songs – such as the title track “Judgement Day” and hit single “Far Away” – receiving rotation on the air waves and even found their way onto a few charts. With conscious roots reggae on the rise, the “Fyah” continued to spread into 2012, and there was a heavy demand for the band’s thrilling live performances at various shows. Their talent and versatility enables them to aptly adjust the intensity of their flame. So whether at an intimate acoustics set or a large stage shows such as Rebel Salute and Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, they steadily captured the hearts of the Jamaican listeners. In that same year the band hit the road to perform on the international stages of South America as well as to headline several major reggae festivals in Europe such as Summerjam, Rototom Sunsplash and Garance.
Since then the band has been doing shows locally and returned for another tour in in Europe in Spring of 2013. They have also released three new singles “Dread” , “Naah Look Back” and “First Love” are they currently in studio working on their second album
All Mod Cons is the third full-length LP by the British band The Jam, released in 1978 by Polydor Records.
It was in early 2012 that a small recording collaboration between two friends (Justin McKinney and Greg Hampton) began to coalesce into something that would prove to be well more than the sum of its parts. The Zenith Passage may have come about from humble beginnings in a stuffy Los Angeles apartment, but the produce thereof is anything BUT humble. Even the earliest demo tracks delivered a relentless torrent of technical guitar work accompanied by a distinctly frenetic and brutal vocal delivery that has since become an unmistakable hallmark in a scene that is all too often the victim of stagnation. Far from being strictly a shredfest, TZP also incorporates a thematic backbone that draws inspiration from the chaotic and awesome destructive powers of our universe. Progressive interludes invoke a palpable sense of abstract dread and reverence for things beyond mortal comprehension. The atmosphere created clearly nods to inspiration drawn from legendary acts such as Deeds of Flesh, Soreption, Fallujah, Severed Savior, and Aeon.
The project’s initial offerings generated enough buzz in social media circles alone to convince the duo to redouble their efforts in earnest, and to begin seeking out members to complete their lineup. This proved no small task in a saturated market, but persistent scouting over to following months precipitated the addition of friend and drummer Josh Slater (Aethere) into the mix. The subsequent release of a proper EP in January 2013 (entitled “Cosmic Dissonance”) catapulted TZP’s recognition to previously unprecedented heights, greatly broadening their fanbase, and catching the attention and admiration of some of California’s foremost metal musicians. Not long thereafter, it was announced that Rob Maramonte (ex-Fallujah) would also be stepping in to lend his talents and fill the role of second guitarist.
With the onset of all these new developments, and the lineup nearing completion, it seemed only natural to take the next step and join the ranks of those by whom they had been so heavily influenced. Thus, in the summer of 2013, TZP had the honor of signing on with Unique Leader Records for a multi-album deal. The stage is currently set for TZP to secure their foothold in topmost reaches of the metal pantheon, and they are hard at work churning out new content for their debut full-length. Rest assured, this marks only the beginning. The world has only just set foot onto the passage towards the pinnacle, the apex, the Xenith. BLEGH.
Austin, TX Rock N’ Roll band! Former frontman and main songwriter for Austin’s beloved Zykos, Michael BOOHER is making music again with a new band! New LP produced by Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Heartless Bastards)
We’re an alternative/progressive rock band that recently recorded our second full length album.
Formed in 2014, the Oak Park based band Kid is an amalgam of genre influences spanning from 90’s grunge to contemporary pop. Consisting of quirky singer/songwriter Dominic Frigo (Two Aglets Jazzing, Halls of Extinction, The Red Cartel), and bassist/arranger Daniel Thatcher, Kid’s uniquely crafted sound combines compositional virtuosity with accessibility. Each song maintains a poignant and endemic framework of complexity underneath catchy and unconventional melodies.
Brimstone Coven is a retro-hard rock / heavy blues band from Wheeling WV. They created their personal blend of “Dark Occult Rock” in the early months of 2011.
Corey Roth (Guitar) wrote the first five songs, which would later become the bands self titled album, and hand picked three seasoned musicians from the area’s scene… Andrew D’Cagna (Bass), Justin Wood (Drums), and “Big John” Williams (Vocals) to carry out his plan for sonic domination.
Echoing the eerie reverberations of hard rock heayweights such as Black Sabbath and Pentagram, mixed with the Classic Rock style of Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd, Brimstone Coven has created a Vintage sound and style all their own.
With many shows, a debut album on Metal Blade Records and a new album in the works (Black Magic), the band strives to reach a wider audience and secure a spot among rock’s greatest. Look for Brimstone Coven to make a name for themselves in the near future!
Singer Gemaine may be a newcomer compared to artists like Bryson Tiller and Tory Lanez in the game, but as he says on “Let Me In,” he “ain’t like the other ones.”
The 20-year-old crooner became a viral sensation last year when he shared his singing talents on Vine with a six-second freestyle recorded at Guitar Center. And as the views rapidly grew, Gemaine decided to create not only a full song, “Freaky,” but also to craft an entire EP, Curious, which The Boombox is exclusively premiering.
His endearing, baby-makin’ anthem is no doubt getting some love. Aside from the countless choreography videos made to the tune on YouTube, the full version of “Freaky” has received three million plays on SoundCloud. He was also featured as the New Artist Spotlight on the R&B page over at iTunes for his promising start.
Gemaine, a self-labeled perfectionist, boasts that he doesn’t use Auto-Tune to correct his vocals. Listen to the forget-me-not mid-tempo groove “Break Up” (“We both know we don’t wanna do this, if it’s real save us”) and his ballad “No More,” which finds him detailing his foolish ways over a knocking beat (“Loving you became a tragedy”), to experience his blend of old school and new school R&B. After working on his 10-track EP, the Compton native understands why a project can take quite some time to come to fruition.
“I never understood why it could take a year to make an album, until I started recording. There is so much that goes into it beyond just writing a good song and when you want everything to be the best it takes time,” he tells The Boombox.
He’s just getting started, but Gemaine is still “worried” about what the future may bring. However, the singer is certain he’s in the right place.
“Thousands of songs are released everyday and just knowing that your competing with that kind of noise is intimidating but I believe in God and I believe that I was chosen to do this,” Gemaine shares.
Now that his new EP is available for the masses, Gemaine is also planning to set up a showcase for Vine — the social media site that started it all.
Avehre is a singer-songwriter living in Los Angeles and the protégé of Gladys Knight.
Aycee Lovely is 90’s bred with a soul of renaissance, original and unique with talent that inspires nostalgia. She grew up listening to classic gospel, r and b and soul. Born and raised in Chicago, her music reflects her edgy urban style but can also give you ballads that’ll make you fall in love and music with a message that’ll twist your mind and touch your soul. The simplicity of her approach, with captivating lyrics and savory tone will leave you desiring more. Her music reflects her influences such as Aaliyah, Beyonce, India Arie, Lauryn Hill, Musiq Soulchild, and Rkelly to name a few.
Acracy– n. In political philosophy, the negation of rule or “government.” A society with the absence of coercion; one of voluntary order.
This is the very idea behind the recently formed metal band to hail from the Chicagoland area: one that writes and performs music without boundaries, without the standard rules of order, and without the impetus to follow the stylistic trends of popular music.