Hans Luchs Quartet

HANS LUCHS QUARTET

Guitarist Hans Luchs has been performing professionally in and around Chicago since moving to the city in the fall of 2007. Some venues Hans has performed at include The Auditorium Theatre, Van Andel Arena, Cliff Bell’s, The Green Mill, The Jazz Showcase, Andy’s Jazz Club, The Velvet Lounge, Pete Miller’s, Buddy Guy’s Legends, The Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago, Martyrs, The Empty Bottle, and internationally at The Rex (Toronto), CMW Festival (Toronto), The Bull’s Head (London), JJ Smyths (Dublin), The Jazz Bar (Edinburgh), Bert’s Jazz Bar (Belfast) and Zinco Jazz Club (Mexico City). In 2011, The Jazz Institute of Chicago selected Hans to perform in its annual “Young Lions’ concert. Since then, Hans has gone on to perform across the USA and internationally in Sweden, The UK, Ireland, Canada, and Mexico.

Hans has performed and toured with masters of American music including 8-time Grammy winner Pepe Aguilar, Motown Legend Martha Reeves, and blues artist Shirley King just to name a few. Hans has also performed, recorded, and toured with a host of wonderful jazz musicians from Chicago and beyond.

As an educator, Hans has taught private lessons and classes at the elementary, secondary, and college level. Currently, Hans teaches music through the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. Hans has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Illinois-Chicago and a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from DePaul University.

Hans endorses D’Angelico Guitars (NYC).

Shawn Maxwell

SHAWN MAXWELL’S NEW TOMORROW QUINTET

Shawn Maxwell’s New Tomorrow Quintet
Shawn Maxwell – alto saxophone/flute

Victor Garcia – trumpet

Matt Nelson – piano/rhodes

Junius Paul – bass

Phil Beale – drums

To a remarkable degree, Shawn Maxwell has the urge—a quality fundamental to those who create improvised music on a nightly basis. In this way, it is not enough to simply create, but the need to innovate that guides each note. His art lies in addressing the ordinary modalities of life in an extraordinary way, placing notes in their most complimentary places with precision and enthusiasm. Of course, there’s the way he plays. Maxwell’s style was built around swelling harmonic runs while painting complex melodies across an expansive canvas. Each harmony he creates is purposeful in form as well as function.

By all accounts, Shawn Maxwell formed his style early on the tough and tumultuous streets of Joliet, Illinois. From the time a saxophone first touched his lips, Maxwell knew that music was his calling. With conviction and abilities that belied his age, it was equally clear to others that Shawn Maxwell was destined to be a musician. He quickly became a celebrated performer in the Joliet Central High School band program where his prowess as a soloist was on regular display. Shawn further refined his art in a post-secondary setting, absorbing all that his instructors could teach – earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Millikin University in 1999. Shawn then signed with the prestigious and legendary Conn-Selmer Company to join their Performance and Educational Artist Roster.

After starting his professional career touring Internationally, across the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, Maxwell returned home to conquer the Windy City. With equal parts genius and toil, Maxwell has become one the preeminent performers in the Chicago jazz landscape. His multi-instrumental talents have been lauded by fellow musicians and critics alike.

CATFISH AND THE DOGSTARS

Formed during the early summer of 2011, Catfish & the Dogstars has quickly garnered a solid fan base and earned a great deal of acclaim gigging throughout the city of Chicago. With members hailing from different backgrounds, the group produces a uniquely blended sound of blues, funk, fusion, and roots music. The result is a high energy, raw and original experience. Catfish & the Dogstars is sure to bring together an assortment of unique sounds, palatable to fans from all walks of life.

BLUE MUD

Blue Mud is a Chicago based band that draws inspiration from classic twangy rock n’ roll a la Crazy Horse, The Rolling Stones, and The Band. Originally started as a recording session between five long time friends and musicians, their shared love for similar acts made playing together organic and natural. After a few months of recording, they decided to take these songs to the stage. With stirring narratives and songs about life, love, and the road; Blue Mud produces guitar driven rock but is never afraid to explore other, sometimes darker sonic territories.

OLD SHOE

Old Shoe is a five-piece Americana Roots Rock band based out of Chicago, Illinois. Made up of talented songwriters from across the country, hailing from as far away as Alaska, the band’s compositions paint a diverse landscape of American life.
The band’s new album Family is not merely another notch in the belt for the Old Shoe, but is more so a poignant culmination of their growth and progress since the last release in 2011. In just a little over two years, Old Shoe solidified their strong lineup with keyboardist/mandolinist/vocalist Joe Day and drummer Greg Fundis, rounded the Midwest festival circuit at high-profile events like Summer Camp and Wakarusa, opened for Grammy-award winning Bruce Hornsby, and even produced 3 consecutive installments of their own festival, Shoe Fest.
The all-original 13-track release showcases the band’s diverse influences, ranging from bluegrass to prog-rock to jazz, with it all settling into a familiar comfort zone akin to one’s favorite “old shoe.” The album reaches new heights from previous releases with a star-studded guest roster featuring musicians from the Henhouse Prowlers, The Low Down Brass Band, and Chicago’s production of The Jungle Book.

Space Blood

SPACE BLOOD

A 2 Piece Instrumental, Theatrical, Math Rock Band from Chicago. Often referred to as Comedian Math Rock, Space Blood has been compared to The Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Salad Fingers, Don Caballero, and Battles.

High Priests

HIGH PRIESTS

Moose, Mikey, Justin…

Arenda Light

ARENDA LIGHT

Arenda Light is a powerful quartet comprised of musicians enthralled in many different genres with plans to conquer the world of music lovers everywhere.

Cinchel

CINCHEL

one person (cinchel) some guitars, a couple of amps, a small army of pedals and either abelton live/plogue bidule/pro tools on an ibook. attempting to recreated the sound i hear in my head.

uncouth

UNCOUTH

Chicago, IL’s Uncouth brings a brand of metal combining thrash inspired drumming, a pulsating bass groove, and doomy/sludgy guitars. All of which are complimented by clear, soaring vocals with lyrical themes covering topics from religious hypocrisy, to lucha libre feuds, and finally to the self destructive dissolution of one’s sanity.
With the release of the Tree Of Woe EP in late 2017, Uncouth is a band looking to put their stamp on the latest generation of the growing doom-influenced metal scene.

Sangus

SANGUS

Blasting dtaky death thrash black crust metal

Mortuary Drape

MORTUARY DRAPE

Mortuary Drape is an Italian Black Metal band founded in 1986 in Alessandria, Piedmont.

WRONG

WRONG is from Miami, FL.
Download the Stop Giving EP now!!

RATT’S JUAN CROUCIER

Juan Croucier (RATT), Pete Holmes (Black N’ Blue), Mike Moore and Toni Aleman have formed a new group. They will be performing as, RATT’S JUAN CROUCIER. The band will be playing songs from the RATT catalog, exclusively.

Having solidified the core of the band (lead vocals, bass and drums), Juan and Pete set out to find the right guitar players for the group. After extensive auditions resulting from hundreds of submissions, they found two very talented guitar players in Mike Moore and Toni Aleman. Sharing the same passion, commitment and vision, they have been diligently rehearsing a set of over eighteen songs. “We have left no stone unturned. We’ve been working long and hard. It’s all about the live show. We take this very seriously. Mike and Toni are simply killing it! There is a unique chemistry between the members of this band that is often so illusive. Our attention to detail has culminated in a fresh, energetic and modern twist on Ratt’s classic catalog of songs. I believe that anyone who loves Ratt will really enjoy this band too. I can’t wait to get out there and bring it to the people, after all they are the ultimate judges of our art,” says Croucier.

THE STATUTES OF LIBERTY

Open road, windows down, 85 miles per hour on a summer day. Hair blowing, not another person in sight. This is freedom, the kind of freedom that needs a soundtrack, and The Statutes of Liberty were made to be the companion for those sweet moments of independence.

The Statutes know that freedom isn’t free but they also know that the only thing to do is rock it out! In a world where government drones fly overhead, our personal records get summoned by the NSA and our politicians are as well known for their dick pics as their policies, SOL gives you the license to question authority and do what you want.

SOL’s sweltering, new album,“VOX POPULI”, provides the rock that you crave in this age of watered-down YouTube wonders, and none of the bullshit. A year in the making, this record represents the best of the SOL sound; equal parts rock and psychedelia, 70s guitars, and tight vocal harmonies.

In the true spirit of America, SOL is a melting pot of people and instruments. Since 2004, nine members strong have taken over the stage and commanded the crowd to move their asses and use their minds to question the world around them. Inspired by the MC5, Hellacopters, ZZ Top, and many more, SOL came together to bring their experience and chops to make sure that those who still want to rock, can.

Chicago based, SOL have a solid local presence, having played most of the usual suspect clubs in town (House of Blues, Double Door, Schuba’s, Hideout, Empty Bottle, Fitzgerald’s) and festivals such as Taste of Randolph Street, Taste of River North, and Skokie Backlot Bash. In 2014, SOL were one of the only Chicago bands selected to play the Detroit Metro Times Blowout.

SOL have also been featured on “Angry & Unarmed”, Adam McKay’s (SNL, Anchorman, Funny or Die, etc.) album of public domain protest tunes (along with Wayne Kramer, Jill Sobule, etc.).   SOL’s new single, “Dead or in Jail”, was recently featured on McKay’s Protest Tunes re-launch in Feb 2015:

Lord Stanley

LORD STANLEY

Lord Stanley is a three-piece band from Chicago. They are multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Mark Kastory, percussionist Eric Messmer, and guitarist and vocalist, Bradley Wiseman. Their music experiments with sounds and with silence, explores from the syncopated to the chaotic, and employs both composition and improvisation. — All Hail, Lord Stanley —

 

Ask An Adult

ASK AN ADULT

Bordering the lines of swing-punk legends such as Dead Kennedys and The Cramps along with the hectic genre-jumping of Mr Bungle, Ask An Adult delivers a raw, energetic show set the the soundtrack of their own devious noise that would make Mike Patton jealous.

SONS OF THE NEW AMISH

The Sons Of The New Amish (SONA) continue on their never-ending “Goin’ Back To Gravel” Tour in 2015.  Led by guitarist par-excellence and chief songwriter John Klingelhoffer, SONA travels across the ChicagoLand area from the fresh water marshes of DuPage County.  Always seeking out new disciples, to join in the fight against listlessness and dissatisfaction, SONA has the cures with the fictional honky tonk country song “The Pastor’s Wife”, and the Jethro Tull infused “Nancy Can You Tell Me”.  John’s surrounds himself with sidekicks, Joe Schumacher (bass), Steve Majus (drums), Nancy Dunlop (flute/vocals), and Jim Hurley (mandolin-guitar).  Some of their songs provide consumers solutions to their real estate woes, like “We Don’t Call 9-1-1”  Others just plainly part of SONA’s manifesto, including their “pay no more taxes” anthem, “Goin’ Back To Gravel” SONA also mixes in all the unknown country music you’d ever want to hear and puts a Woodstock spin on it. Always entertaining, mostly on-key, SONA is not to be missed.
Black Swift

BLACK SWIFT

If Tom Waits and Nick Cave had a daughter and that daughter were raised by gypsies in narrow back alleys and secret woodland glades and taught the ragtag music of vagabonds and wondering sailors then she might sound something like Black Swift. And that’s not to mention plain old rock and roll which Black Swift keeps tucked away in their traveling bags, to be used as needed. The world of Black Swift is a steam-punk world, of rusty chains and dead pirates, the lord god almighty bringing us home and a whole lot of mixed up busted up love.

Wenn Tom Waits und Nick Cave ein Tochter hätten, die bei Zigeunern in finsteren Seitengassen umherziehenden Matrosen aufgewachsen wäre, würde sie wie Black Swift klingen. Ganz zu schweigen vom guten alten Rock n’ Roll, der aus der Reisetasche gezaubert wird, wenn er denn gebraucht wird. Die Welt von Black Swift ist Steampunk, ein Welt aus rostigen Ketten und toten Piraten, und versteckten Waldlichtungen und mit der zwielichtigen Musik von Vagabunden und in welcher der Allmächtige uns inmitten all der verwirrten und zerbrochenen Liebe annimmt und nach Hause bringt.

TEMPLE OF VOID

Temple of Void is an uncompromising collaboration from the depths of Detroit. Comprising of five musicians who have put in decades of time in the Detroit underground, ToV entered this world with singular focus and methodical execution from the start. ToV harkens back to the somber sound of early British doom, while channeling the energy and devastation of old school American death metal. But ToV is far more than the sum of its parts. Temple of Void destroys.

Temple of Void self-released their demo in May 2013. Four weeks later and they had signed to four different record labels to produce and distribute their demo across the world. The demo was met with staggering support from the underground. And now, just over a year later and ToV is unleashing their debut album on double LP and cassette on Saw Her Ghost Records, as well as on CD through Rain Without End Records. This slab of barbarity is titled, “Of Terror and the Supernatural.”
In support of the album ToV recruited director William Saunders from NY to produce a music video for their song, “Savage Howl.”
Furthermore, once the album was cut ToV hit the studio again to record
“Os Abysmi Vel Daath” for the Morbid Tales book and 12” compilation by Mark Rudolph. Both sessions were primarily tracked by Clyde Wilson at Mt. Doom Studio. Additional tracking for the album was cut by Mark Hudson at Audiolux Studio, it was mixed by Todd Konecny at Bright White Light Studio, and finally mastered by Tony Hamera. Artwork was provided by the legendary fantasy artist Bruce Pennington. But this is only the beginning for Temple of Void. There are many heads still to decapitate, and many cities yet to burn.

PALM HANDS

PALM HANDS

Palm Hands​ carries the sound of all the scars in your mind. It’s all the times you tried to forget come screaming back while Monte conjures stringed dissonance and melody like never before. Throats tear, speakers squeal and hearts break to the sound of Palm Hands. An intricate and organic elixir of acoustic and pedal alchemy with heart felt wails.

ruined

RUINED

Ruined​ was founded in Grand Rapids, MI in the summer of 2013. After a series of demos bassist/vocalist Zach Meier teamed up with drummer Sky Moy and began to hone their craft in the black bile of their combined gloom. Billowing distortion, lilting vocals and cavernous drums concoct a bleak and dejected sense of sonic despair… Eschewing the commonly perceived notion of what a drum and bass doom outfit can accomplish, this four-song offering simultaneously acknowledges its predecessors in two-person gloom (early Om, The Body), while existing in its very own realm of dreary violence. 

WOOD CHICKENS

Wood Chickens is a rompin’ and stompin’ cowpunk band from Wisconsin. Since 2009!

ALEBRIJE

Chicago Metal band

Kountry Kittens

KOUNTRY KITTENS BURLESQUE

The Kountry Kittens hail from California and offer the ultimate collaboration in ! striptease, comedy, and the underground roots revival.

DRAGONFLY

Dragonfly is a Melodic Metal band with influences from Hard Rock, Classic Metal and Power Metal. They have released 4 albums: Domine, Alma Irae, Non Requiem and Atlas.

SARATOGA

Saratoga started in August 1992 when Jerónimo Ramiro “Jero”, well-known guitarist that recorded three albums with ÑU and founded in the 80’s the group SANTA where he also recorded three albums, and Niko del Hierro, bass player that recorded with Jero in the year 1990 the disk “DOS AÑOS DE DESTIERRO” (TWO YEARS IN EXILE) by ÑU, who at that time was member of BARON ROJO, with whom he had recorded “DESAFIO” (CHALLENGE) in 1992, decided to create a band where they can show their real composition and playing style, getting closer to a different and more heavy metal sound, away of what they have been doing with their former bands where the music was other people’s composition and it was also more hard rock in the case of BARON ROJO or more folk rock in the case of ÑU.

Starting from October of 1992 and once Niko left BARON ROJO, they began to search other musicians to consolidate the band, a drummer and a singer. The drummer position was quickly covered by Marcos Parra, a youth musician that began to be known in the circles of rehearsal places and music academies Jero knew him from his guitar teaching time in the ROCKSERVATORIO, where Marcos was led student.
Trio begins to rehearse and soon they composed songs that later would be part of SARATOGA’s setlist, OJO POR OJO (EYE FOR EYE), SALVAJE (SAVAGE), CUALQUIER PRECIO POR LA PAZ (ANY PRICE FOR PEACE) and others. Unfortunately Marcos’s decision of continue working with SARATOGA and playing in an orchestra to make some money making dance music turned very difficult to keep the schedules for the rehearsals and conflicted directly with the illusion and the future projects of Jero and Niko. Two months after joining SARATOGA, Marcos Parra left the band.

In December of 1992 and after listening many tapes of candidates, two new members joined SARATOGA: Antonio Dominguez coming from a group called MASSADA on the lead voice and Joaquin Arellano The Boy took the drummer seat after his group MURO confirmed its break up.

SARATOGA played their first concerts and they showed their music with a tape that had very good welcome between public and press. They play in small venues and also in front of large audiences supporting bands like MEDINA AZAHARA and RATA BLANCA.

But all that good expectations had a weak point: the vocals. Antonio Dominguez was a young singer with good presence on stage, but his voice was more closer to hard rock style like AC/DC than in the one that SARATOGA wants to define, more melodic and Heavy.

In May 1993 Antonio Dominguez is substituted by Fortu Sanchez, former singer of OBUS and an entire legend in the Spanish rock. In June the rehearsals began and songs like GRITA (SCREAM), OJOS DE MUJER (EYES OF A WOMAN), ERES TU (YOU ARE) and over all of them LOCO (CRAZY) were born. The new songs allowed to see a style that could be the right way for the band. Lately the band was called The Masters Meeting because the experience of all the members.

SARATOGA played in every place, with a lot of illusion and trusting themselves, playing the new songs and showing to the press a new tape that won several awards and that made LOCO (CRAZY) one of their most famous songs and very requested in their concerts.

Finally, in December 1994, SARATOGA signs with the company AVISPA that had in its catalog groups like MEDINA AZAHARA, ÑU, BARON ROJO, MURO, OBUS and others. SARATOGA thought that experience with bands of similar style was a guarantee for the future of them.

In October 1995 the first record “SARATOGA” was released. Recorded in a little more than one week, the band sounds compact and resolved, all the musicians are at a great level and the music is between the hard rock and songs with easy choruses (CUNAS DE ORTIGAS- CRADLES OF NETTLES-, ERES TÚ – YOU ARE- , etc.). The truth is the group path went very far away from the initial idea that Jero and Niko had, because they bet for a much more Heavy Metal sound.

However they hit the road with all the faith, playing many concerts all along Spain, even in festivals in front of thousands of people being the biggest rock show for those days and ended up appearing in some television programs.

But the truth is that the Spanish rock scene was quite different. The number 1 group was EXTREMODURO, and after them, PLATERO Y TU, REINCIDENTES, etc. For a band like SARATOGA that was worried to have a good technical level in their respective instruments and of making some harmonized melodies and tuned with the voices it was very difficult to go ahead, because that wasn’t the style that was accepted, and the way was very slowly with the help of firmness and faith.

Amid this fight they decided, agreeing with the record company and the management office that while they got ready for the release a second record expected for March of 1997 a gap would be made and they would record a tribute to some Spanish heavy-rock groups: ” TRIBUTO ” (TRIBUTE). Bands like BANZAI, TOPO, ANGELES DEL INFIERNO and others which the members of SARATOGA had been part of like OBUS, BARON ROJO, ÑU, MURO y SANTA.

” TRIBUTE ” was rehearsed during June 1996. At that moment Fortu was very far away from the rest of the band, on one hand, because his particular occupations that absorbed all his time, and on another due to the lack of spirit seeing that the things didn’t happen as quickly as he would wanted to.
In October 1996 “TRIBUTE” was released and that same day Fortu decided to leave the band. It was necessary to react quickly and the group found the right substitute: Gabriel Boente, a talented singer, with a great vocal range with a lot of possibilities, ideal for the upcoming tour, where they would be playing songs that were sang by the best voices that never had the Spanish rock, male and female.
Although the tour went really well, Fortu’s departure delayed timing a lot and “MI CIUDAD”, the following album was in the stores seven months after that was thought, in October 1997.
As soon as it was released, MI CIUDAD was placed several days in outstanding positions in the sales list of AFIVE and demonstrating that SARATOGA, after “TRIBUTO”, had bet to return to the more elaborated and risky songs, with a more heavy touch that in past times.
Songs like PERRO TRAIDOR (TRAITOR DOG), ROJO FUEGO (RED FIRE), the ballad LEJOS DE TI (FAR FROM YOU) or the title song MI CIUDAD (MY CITY) were transformed into anthems in the concerts and they are future reference for SARATOGA and for the Spanish rock.
The group continues going up step by step and playing live but the atmosphere inside the band, that in the beginning was very good, became strange and the coexistence of the members of the band was difficult mostly because they had different points of view regarding the band’s life, from small details to important decisions. Everything concluded in December of 1998, with the departure of SARATOGA of Joaquin Arellano, drummer and Gabriel Boente, singer. Their decision was completely personal and voluntary and from that day the relationship with the band has been of great friendship.

The news of the departure of the singer and the drummer of SARATOGA were a great shock in the press. Most of them spoke about the dark future of the band, but while all wondered when the fatal news would be announced, Niko and Jero were in the recording studio testing possible substitutes to start again the engines of the most powerful of the battle ships.

By radio and press advertisings, musicians all over Spain found out that SARATOGA needed drummer and singer. They were asked to call a telephone number and then to go to the record company to pick up a tape with two songs to learn and play in the future audition. The two songs were SALVAJE y PERRO TRAIDOR.

By the middle of December 1998, four drummers were called for an audition. Although all of them had a high level, the one that played in second place highlighted clearly above the other ones. His name was Daniel Perez and he was found thanks to the school “PROGRESSIVE DRUMMERS” directed by Luis Garcia, reputed session drummer and who has played live with many bands like ÑU, SOBREDOSIS, RAMONCIN, etc. And he was a great friend of SARATOGA for years.

Daniel Perez was very well-known in the drummers world as member of a group of progressive metal called ECZEMA and mainly for his hability to mix with his instrument the three styles that he dominates: death metal, heavy metal and jazz-fusion giving a very personal touch that makes the band where he plays sound in a very different way.

Four hours after the test, Niko told Daniel Perez that he was the new drummer of SARATOGA.

For singer’s position the things will go ahead with more calm, Niko nor Jero wanted to make the past mistakes again. They wanted not only a good singer, but someone that could assume the front position of the band on stage and his musical preferences needed to be similar to the rest of the band and mainly he needed to have desires of working hard.

They got more than 40 tapes from singers all over Spain and they decided to see first those that sounded better among those that lived in Madrid.

After picking up their respective tapes they fixed an appointment for two of them in the morning of December 22nd 1998. It was very cold weather and half Madrid citizens were sick with a cold. The second in the test, Leo Jimenez has a cold like most of the people in Madrid, and his voice was paying that. In spite of everything he made a very good impression, mainly in the ballad that he sang, “LEJOS DE TI”.

Leo wanted to have a second audition because he was not very satisfied with his performance “he wasn’t as good as he really could be”, mainly because he was very nervous, because he had always dreamt of being the singer of SARATOGA. He was a great SARATOGA fan for years. Niko and Jero promised to contact him again once they had auditioned more singers and they could listen the tapes of the auditions carefully, because all of them were recorded.

The singer auditions went on, but no one of them really convinced the band. One day a letter for Jeronimo Ramiro was received in the record company. It was Leo that reminded the promise of a second test and also sent a cassette with three songs of a project in which he has sung called “AL BORDE”, according to him, that three songs showed his way of singing very well. The truth is that Jero and Niko liked his melodic style and his voice with very high tones so he was called for a second and last test together with another finalist that also caused very good impression. The rehearsal was already carried out with Dani on drums and playing the whole group live. Leo memorized the letter of six songs of SARATOGA acting with the ease and security that only the big ones have.
A few days, February 13th 1999, Jero told Leo that he was chosen as new SARATOGA singer.The following step was to focus again in the rehearsals of the new songs for a fourth record. These songs were almost finished because Jero and Niko had continued working in them in spite of ignoring who would record with them.

By the middle of April of 1999 they started recording and two months later “VIENTOS DE GUERRA” (WINDS OF WAR) was finished.
The result is devastating, quick and overwhelming rhythms with wild and incisive guitars, an entire gift for the lovers of the real metal. Songs like VIENTOS DE GUERRA (WINDS OF WAR), SOLO UN MOTIVO (Only one motivation), MAS DE MIL AÑOS (MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS) and HEAVY METAL leaved the public amazed. The record quickly was placed in the first positions of the lists and everybody was surprised with SARATOGA because in spite of the successive line-up changes, they have known how to stay among the best Spanish rock groups.
In October of 1999 the group started a winter tour that took them to most of the Spanish cities, like Murcia, Barcelona, Irún, Salamanca, Pamplona, etc. Audiences had the opportunity to check live the power and the desire of SARATOGA’s shows.

A big proof was the performance in the Festival VIÑAROCK 2000 where more than 5000 people sang the songs of the quartet from Madrid, being SARATOGA, as it was said in the specialized press, the best live act in the festival.
With the purpose of taking advantage of the good moment of SARATOGA, the group and their record company decided to record a live show to get the potential and the ease acquired in the tour recorded in an album. The recording took place in only one concert in SALA CARACOL of Madrid May 19 2000.

More than five hundred fans suffered impassive the suffocating heat of the venue without losing a second of the powerful performance of the band. The force of SARATOGA raised the audience to an ecstasy of Heavy Metal and the communication between the group and the public was very intense. Apart from some small technical problems, Jero, Niko, Leo and Dani were immense during the two and a half hours of the show. All the big songs of SARATOGA were played, all of them sang along fiercely by the public, plus some select versions of foreign bands played with the personal stamp of the great ship live.
In September 2000 the double live CD TIEMPOS DE DIRECTO was released. All the musical press was unanimous to say that the album showed the power and the truth of SARATOGA, and their decission because the live album was recorded in only one take.
In December was released METAL GODS a TRIBUTE to JUDAS PRIEST made by several Spanish bands. In that record SARATOGA played PAINKILLER.. SARATOGA’s cover is probably the best in the album, with Leo showing that he is one of the biggest Spanish rock singers ever and that he’s not very far away from the best singers in the international rock scene. Along with SARATOGA in the CD we can hear more Spanish rock bands like BARÓN ROJO, HAMLET, KTHULU, AVALANCH, SOBER, etc.
After all this great work all along the year SARATOGA started to gather prizes:

Heavy Rock nº 207 Tiempos de Directo number 1 in spanish CD list.

“EXCALIBUR METAL” prizes in 2000 poll from Los + Mejores magazine: Niko Best bass guitar player and Leo best singer.

HEAVY ROCK magazine poll, ROCKFERENDUM 2000:

JERO Best guitarist
NIKO Best bassist
LEO nº 2 in singers list
DANI nº 3 in drummers list
SARATOGA best live act

Leo guested as second vocalist in AVALANCH record “El Ángel caido” in the song “Las Ruinas del Edén”.
While all this was happening SARATOGA were playing all over Spain, special mention to Viña Rock 2001 where SARATOGA was again he best band in La Oreja Metalica stage. Serious technical problems happened during the show didn’t affect too much the spirit of the band. With their big stage presence and energy they made more than 7000 people enjoy the show of the best heavy rock band in Spain nowadays

After touring all the summer SARATOGA decided to stop and take time to record their sixth album before tour again in the fall of 2001. The new record was expected for February 2002.
The recording started on September 21 2001, SARATOGA entered the studio to start recording the drums of the new songs. During the next five months and using a new way of recording than in the past SARATOGA carefully added all the parts for AGOTARAS their sixth album and without a doubt their best recording.

AGOTARAS was released on March 1 2002 and the long time awaited record was acclaimed by the press and mostly by the fans that got the prize for their trust in SARATOGA. The next months will be on the road the band has signed many shows all along Spain, including some of the most important festivals.

BROOKE & THE NICE THINGS

(we make music)
The South Side Neighborhood of Bridgeport nurtured the band over the course of two years and helped sustain the band midst line up changes and musical shifts as the band worked to tighten up and refine their sound. Now, the band is proud to have a full soul line-up made up a diverse group of people from numerous backgrounds and locations across the United States. Each brings their own specific strengths and talents to a truly dynamic group.

The band plays solid originals drenched in the spirit of soul to make you move and covers that you didn’t know were your favorites till you heard them at the show.

The band’s sound takes cues from Memphis and Muscle Shoals–between the lazy rolling of the river and the steady chugging of a southbound train. The feel lives between Chicago and Detroit–lively city streets and the pumping of factory machinery.

The hustle and bustle is music. A sound that moves people. A feeling that creates community and speaks to people. A rhythm that sways hearts and shakes asses–true Soul Music.

Brooke & the Nice Things are too young to be old school; however, their influences undoubtedly reflect the Golden Era of Rhythm and Blues.

RALPH WHITE

“What longtime Austinite and former Bad Liver Ralph White puts on albums and onstage is so mind-boggling and vast, it forces those of us in the description business down a treacherous path” (Darcie Stevens, Austin Chronicle)
“White was a member of well-loved punk bluegrass outfit Bad Livers, but his solo work is possessed of a much more lonesome spark, exaggerating the implied drone at the heart of the music of Dock Boggs and The Stanley Brothers…White plays wooden six-string banjo, violin, button accordion and kalimba and his voice has a high, eerie quality to it…extremely psychedelic” (David Keenan, The Wire UK)
One of our foremost instrumentalists and a true hidden American treasure, Ralph White has taken the back roads in his inspired pursuit of the ancient roots of music. The “folk/noise/avant-whatever genius” (Joe Gross, Austin Statesman) has made many strange travels as an itinerant musician and laborer. Thus his intimate, nuanced musical language has slowly revealed itself, along a path that meanders from the apple orchards of British Columbia to the villages of Zimbabwe and Namibia, from the lonesome moors of Ireland to Australia, Brittany, Peru, Louisiana and beyond. There is also the influence of White’s hometown of Austin, Texas, a rich musical crossroads in and of itself.
Along with Danny Barnes and Mark Rubin, White completed the original and definitive lineup of country/bluegrass mavericks (and recent Texas Music Hall of Fame inductees) The Bad Livers. He now performs his singular blend of ancient rural folk music and original songwriting as a soloist. Since touring extensively in North America and Europe, White has kept a prolific schedule of independent releases, “where borders are erased and music is the only language” (Insound). Most recently, his “Navasota River Devil Squirrel”, called “a fine navigation of the American mystery zone” (Volcanic Tongue) was reissued on vinyl LP by Mystra Records/Spirit of Orr. And in late 2009 the Resipiscent label issued his improv collaboration with San Francisco sound artist Hora Flora Sound System. New releases are scheduled for 2010, including a solo album with Austin indie Monofonus. White has also self-released limited edition works and is called on for various recording projects and film scores & appearances.
In addition to his solo work, White has recorded or performed with a diverse group of folk and avant-garde musicians: Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, Jandek, Jack Rose, Eugene Chadbourne, Michelle Shocked, Sun City Girls’ Sir Richard Bishop, Powell St. John and Michael Hurley. He plays fiddle in traditional Cajun dance band The Gulf Coast Playboys, and, with folk singer Amy Annelle, performs in the roots country & folk duo Precious Blood.–D Walker, 2009

APE MACHINE

The name APE MACHINE is a nod to the days of reel-to-reel magnetic tape audio recording; a fitting moniker for the heavy-hitting quartet as the band plays through vintage tube amplifiers and lays down its songs using exclusively throwback quality studio equipment. With a heady mix of animal aggression and technical precision, APE MACHINE’s music carries an organic depth and warmth rarely heard since the time of rock’s glorious early years (or your Dad’s bad ass record collection) infused with an exceptional modern sensibility. When the mystical lyrics of vocalist Caleb Heinze lock in with the band’s stone-cold groove, APE MACHINE demonstrates an earth-shaking ability to rock. A true four-piece, the group has been called “a rock and roll band with a finger on the pulse of the 70’s and their asses firmly in the present” and “real heavy-psych for the iPhone generation” that delivers “true guts and glory rock and roll.”

Blending equal parts Rock n’ Roll, Blues, Stoner Rock and Psychedelia, Ape Machine is out to melt faces and pound the apathy out of otherwise jaded listeners with a wall of heavy rock n’ roll tones unheard since the days of bell bottoms, long hair and blaring tube amplifiers.

Ape Machine’s mission is to combine intense melody, cutting riffs and blistering live improvisation. Where many bands rely on meticulously rehearsed, just-like-the-record-parts, Ape Machine provides a live experience that is as unique as each evening it shares with an audience.

Mephiskapheles

MEPHISKAPHELES

Mephiskapheles, the band that helped define modern day ska, then defied critics by exploring even greater possibilities with its darkly original ska fusion, forges ahead with amazing shows and new music on the way.

Formed in the East Village of New York City in 1991, Mephiskapheles played its first show on Long Island. From day one, the band began attracting a diverse, dedicated fan base.

Sold-out NYC gigs led to tours with the Buzzcocks and GWAR, and hits on the Hawaiian Islands Chart with three singles from the band’s first album, 1994’s God Bless Satan, produced by Bill Laswell.​

While touring relentlessly, Mephiskapheles followed-up in 1997 with Maximum Perversion, a jazz-influenced work that didn’t take long to be hailed as a classic. A deal in 1999 with Koch Records resulted in the band’s hard-hitting, exploratory third album, Might-Ay White-Ay. The band released the self-titled EP Mephiskapheles in 2015, featuring the single “Satan Stole My Weed,” an instant classic. Never Born Again, an EP released in 2019, brings the band back full circle to its dark and melodic roots.

Fronted by lead singer Grylli aka Invidious aka the Nubian Nightmare, along with the hottest rhythm section in New York, and the Horns of Hell, Mephiskapheles spreads its evil seed with an ongoing reissue program, epic shows, and new music on the way.

Tesla Rossa

TESLA ROSSA

Perhaps the key to the band’s dynamic is their diversity of taste. “We all have very different listening preferences,” Jason points out. Ryan is a string composer and self-proclaimed pop music fan. Nathan is interested in jazz. Jason has always been steadfast in his love of Rock and Roll. When it all comes together, Tesla Rossa delivers scuzzy rock jams and grand breakup anthems in the same breath, and always with an equal measure of power and finesse.

Futuristic Dragon

FUTURISTIC DRAGON

Futuristic Dragon Mission Statement: Perform/record the music of Marc Bolan & T-Rex.

The Flood Brothers

THE FLOOD BROTHERS

The Flood Brothers are a two man THUMP MACHINE whos infectious melodies and animal rhythms will have your bones shakin’ outta your boots! Heavily influenced by the early Rock ‘N Roll sounds of Memphis and Deep Blues of North Mississippi, Gabe Meyer and Jacob Best add their own bend to the boogie that could only come from the muddy banks of the mighty Mississippi River. Hannibal, MO is where these boys and their music call home.

Forming in a basement in early 2000, The Flood Bros. cut their teeth a few years later as the unofficial house band at The Packer’s Roost; a rowdy dive bar in rural off-the-grid Montana near Hungry Horse.

“Our first gig was actually in Wapiti, Wyoming in 2002. We used a mop, bucket, and duct tape for a mic stand, played for five hours and hadn’t practiced in three months,” says Meyer. “We nailed it.”

Best adds, “Our first gig at Packer’s was on Christmas Day. We showed up at about 6:00 that evening after working all day on the mountain, walked in with our gear, Gabe’s wearing shorts, and these people are smashed wasted throwing every insult short of a beer bottle. All we could do was yell and holler back, set up and play. We felt instantly at home. Everyone in Whitefish warned us not to go out there. Too rough. We played through lots of fights, knives, and EMT’s…..we were paid in duck, goose, and mashed potatoes.”

After returning home, the guys started a band with Kent Burnside, the oldest grandson of the legendary R.L. BURNSIDE, as Kent Burnside and the New Generation. Son of R.L., Dan Burnside joined on bass, Best was on drums and Meyer on lap steel guitar. With R.L. Burnside being a musical hero, Gabe and Jake already knew most of the music by heart and within three weeks were on a major West Coast tour. During the years of 2006-2010, the band played regularly at many notable venues nationwide such as Legends, Chicago, Ill; Ground Zero, Clarksdale, MS; The Knitting Factory, Hollywood, CA; Gip’s Place in Bessemer, AL (Alabama’s last remaining Juke Joint, on the blues circuit for over 50 years – a must visit venue), and the House of Blues in Chicago. Gabe and Jake also had the chance to share the stage and play alongside many standout musicians with the Burnsides: Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, Kenny Brown, Duwayne Burnside, Cedric Burnside, Garry Burnside, the sons of Junior Kimbrough, and the daughter of Johnny Shines to name(drop) a few. “My guitar’s more famous than I’ll ever be,” says Meyer. “Elmo Williams played it up in Minneapolis.” “Kenny Brown played it later that night at a bar down the road and then we all got kicked out.” “It’s been stolen, pawned, and bled on.” “She always comes home and never talks back.”

Meyer and Best rotated a bit, playing around down South with whichever of the Burnsides needed a solid drummer and rhythm and slide guitar player. “None of those guys really played slide. The generation after R.L. seemed to have lost interest in it, and finding a drummer who could play those Hill Country beats wasn’t easy either. Jake and I were in high demand there for awhile.” While crediting the Burnsides for musical inspiration and some long years of paying hard dues on the road, the boys had to follow their number one priority of playing original music as a two man band.

Promoting their long-awaited debut album, “Flood Type,” the Flood Brothers are back on track playing solely as a duo and are known for their energetic live performances that can promote hours and hours of groove.

“Shake it if you got it…”

JOEY HENRY’S DIRTY SUNSHINE CLUB

Group Therapy. I tell Stories from the inevitable book of the Dirty Sunshine Club. so far its a convoluted mess of notebooks but someday will be a convoluted mess of binded book. In The mean time you can purchase a short cd version called ‘I Fuck Up A Lot”

EGO

A$AP MOB

A$AP Mob is an American hip hop collective formed in 2006, in Harlem, New York, by members A$AP Yams, A$AP Bari and A$AP Illz. The Mob is a collective of rappers, producers, video directors and fashion designers who share similar interests in music, fashion, style and art. The collective consists of New York-based rappers, most of whom carry the “A$AP” moniker, such as A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg, A$AP Twelvyy, A$AP Nast and A$AP Ant. The collective’s resident record producer A$AP Ty Beats, also carries the moniker and has produced several songs for his ASAP Mob cohorts, most notably Rocky’s debut single “Peso”.

LADIES OF PANAMA

“Panama was indeed the cream of the crop and has been the vehicle for some of the baddest musicians and vocalist the City of Chicago has had to offer, many of them having their humble beginnings with the Panama group. After several years of honing skills and being in demand on every arena imaginable local and worldwide, the core ladies of this great group Panama, have decided to come together once again to do a tribute to a legacy that they helped to build. Mae Koen has been in demand for her supreme vocal harmony skills for artists as diverse as Willie Dixon and Aretha Franklin. Shawn Christopher has also been in high demand, having several solo releases and fronting the band Sonia Dada, bringing the band to the level of success unprecedented. Diane Madison, also a scholar, has lent her beautiful angelic colorful voice to many a major artist, including Gene Chandler, Otis Clay, and Aretha Franklin. Nanette Frank, the powerhouse vocalist who has become in demand all over the world having toured extensively in Asia and the USSR and enjoying great success with her CD, Room for One More.” – Gail Dee

MUTOID MAN

New album “Bleeder” is out now on Sargent House from Steve Brodsky (CAVE IN) and Ben Koller (CONVERGE) of MUTOID MAN.

ECHOES OF POMPEII

This Pink Floyd tribute from Gary Indiana is made up by regular hard working members of society who come together on stage to perform the best music from the best band rock and roll has produced in the past 50 years. We are the best non touring Floyd tribute you will ever hear.

THE HARTE ATTACK JAM

“The Harte Attack Jam” featuring various Bret Harte alumnus

LA COSA

On the day we let our last little freak flag fly, we gestured knowingly toward the middle of our home. Like little lazy, loquacious locusts, La Cosa left.
I wasn’t until a few years later that we had realized Uncle had left us a few gifts underneath the patch flooring.

DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT

DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT was born in February 2009 in Würzburg, Germany when founding fathers Nikita Kamprad (guitars, bass, songwriting, drum programming) and Tobias Jaschinsky (vocals) released the first self-titled album limited to 200 copies and using a drum machine. Within just one month the self-produced record was sold out and the first reviews and interviews followed quickly.

In January 2010 a deal with Berlin based label Viva Hate Records was inked and the band re-released the debut in May – this time featuring real drumtracks recorded by Christian Bass (Heaven Shall Burn, Night In Gales, Deadsoil among others), a new mix and the bonustrack “Ruhe”. Further the band celebrated their first live performance at Friction Fest Berlin among bands like Wolves In The Throne Room, Bohren & Der Club Of Gore, Entombed, Crippled Black Phoenix and Amenra followed by various shows all over Germany.

In March 2011 the band entered the Hammer Studios Hamburg with producer Eike Freese (Negator, Dark Age, Deep Purple, Gamma Ray) to record their “Agonie” EP. With its release in July drummer Christian Bass had to leave the band due to timing and private reasons but shortly after a new drummer was found in Tobias Schuler who already replaced Christian Bass at some shows in 2010.

The first big festival appearances at Summer Breeze Open Air, Barther Metal Open Air and Wolfszeit Festival followed as well as the first Austrian shows with friends Neaera.

After finishing songwriting for the next record at the end of 2011 the band entered the Tonstudio Würzburg in their hometown to record their next full-length. “Unstille” was produced, mixed and mastered by Nikita Kamprad and released in June 2012 once again via Viva Hate Records. After having various friends helping out on live-guitar and -bass, Sascha Rissling (guitars) and Giuliano Barbieri (bass) were added as permanent members to the line-up.

Despite of a successful headliner tour around Germany and Austria singer Tobias Jaschinsky decided to leave the band due to musical differences. Having no auditions with other singers at all the band chose to go on as a 4-piece with Nikita Kamprad taking over the vocal position besides guitars live and in the studio.

In this constellation the band went on tour through Germany, Austria and Switzerland in March 2013 with comrades Agrypnie and Heretoir and played Summer Breeze Open Air for the second time as well as several headliner shows.

2014 started off with a short run through France with Ensiferum and Frosttide before leaving for Blastfest at Bergen, Norway in February, followed by a German tour with The Ocean. In April the band flew over to Russia successfully playing shows in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Arzamas, Tolyatti, Samara and Ulyanovsk. After that they co-headlined the Tel Aviv Deathfest, Israel’s biggest annual metal festival, among many other international bands. The band also played the renowned With Full Force Open Air in Germany and headlined various smaller festivals.

In August 2014 DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT signed a deal with French label Season of Mist and is about to record the highly anticipated follow-up to 2012’s “Unstille” at Ghost City Recordings, Germany.

Fools Brew

FOOLS BREW

FOOLS’ BREW is on a mission to tear up every stage they play with straightforward, beer-soaked, Midwest-bred metal. The Chicago four-piece cut their teeth playing bars and clubs all around Chicago, Joliet, and northwest Indiana. In the early months of 2012 they rocked The Rave in Milwaukee while opening for Korn. 2013 saw the FOOLS win the Chicago Battle of the Bands at Reggie’s Rock Club, play the main stage at Congress Theater, and headline shows at Goose Island Wrigleyville and Reggie’s. This year, behind their newly released EP, “THIS SIDE OF SANITY”, they’ve showcased their raucous live set across the Midwest playing venues in Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, and Bloomington; opened for Kyng, Kill Devil Hill, Soulfly, Butcher Babies, and Upon A Burning Body; and packed shows back home at Reggie’s, Martyr’s, and Mojoes among others. In 2015 the FOOLS have partnered up with BlankTV and joined the family of Coldcock Whiskey sponsored artists. The word is spreading, heads are turning, and faces are melting. The future looks bright, because this band is on fire.

Desecrate

DESECRATE

Desecrate is a heavy metal band hailing from Los Angeles, California. 
Their music is a unique blend of aggression and technical prowess founded by drive and passion. Their catchy melodies, modern edge, and progressive elements give them a sound that distinguishes them from the metal masses.

Hailing from the birthplace of the American metal scene, Desecrate calls Hollywood home. Their explosive live shows have gained them a loyal growing fan base that has allowed them to headline many well known Hollywood clubs including: The House of Blues, The Whisky A Go Go, The Key Club, The Roxy, The Avalon, and The Troubadour. They have shared the stage with many top national metal acts such as: Overkill, Warbringer, Dragonforce, Metal Church, Anvil, Exmortus, and many more.

Desecrate has embarked on multiple nationwide tours, devouring cities and dominating the stage every step of the way. They have played such notable cities as: San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, Albuquerque, Sioux City, Des Moines, El Paso, and more. No matter the circumstances Desecrate performs at the highest level and delivers greatness every single show.

Desecrate has self released several professional quality recordings. It has always been the band’s philosophy to put out top level material whether or not a record label is part of the equations. Their previous 2012 release “At the Edge of Sanity” is an album that takes a very modern approach on classic metal elements. It will take you from powerful melodic vocals to aggressive angry screams and from fast guitar neck ripping articulations to heavy groove oriented rhythms. Their newest 2015 release promises to push the metal envelope even further.

“Desecrate’s impressive line-up lends itself to the unique blend of old-school thrash with the melodic sensibility of progressive music. Chase Becker’s tasteful and complex phrasing on the guitar makes them a powerful force.” – Chris Broderick (Guitarist of Megadeth)

“Desecrate is a band that is pushing the boundaries of musicianship, songwriting, and stage performance.” – Rock City Magazine

“Desecrate is a reminder that metal music is alive and well. This band knows how to rock and loves to deliver the goods.” – KNAC.com

“Desecrate has SOLD OUT the Whisky A Go Go every time they’ve played, consistently for the past half decade.” – Luke Iblngs M Productions

Gina Sobel

GINA SOBEL

Gina Sobel’s music is overflowing with energy and improvisational spirit. She’s a devoted multi-instrumentalist – virtuosic on flute and voice and just as expressive on sax and guitar. Gina’s composition takes two main directions. She writes songs with piercing lyrics and soaring vocal melodies as well as jazz tunes that bring in elements of funk, modal jams and found sounds. She pulls these two sides together with her rock band Gina Sobel and the Mighty Fine. Gina also leads a jazz quartet (the Sobel 4tet) and plays as a solo artist and in a number of other groups.

Acid King

ACID KING

For as loud as their riffs and roars are, Acid King’s legacy is as unassuming as it is enduring, casting a quiet shadow over the underground for over two decades.

Bathed in distortion and baptized in a plume of smoke, the Bay Area trio—Lori S. [vocals, guitars], Joey Osborne [drums], and Mark Lamb [bass]—re-emerged with their first offering in a decade, Middle of Nowhere Center of Everywhere. Receiving widespread critical acclaim, tastemakers such as Noisey, Blabbermouth, Invisible Oranges, Ultimate Guitar, and New Noise lauded the album. They embarked on tours of the States and Australia, appearing on festivals including Psycho Las Vegas, Erosion Fest, Desert Generator, and more as well as sharing the stage with everyone from Sleep and Down to Blue Öyster Cult, Red Fang, and YOB. The record extended a celebrated discography that encompasses three EPs and three full-lengths, namely Zoroaster [1995], Busse Woods [1999], and Acid King III [2005], carving out a foundation back in 1993. It’s no surprise strains of their style infect modern luminaries such as The Sword and Kylesa, and they’ve earned a place in tomes like The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal and the A to Z of Doom, Gothic & Stoner Metal.

Forever etched in the Acid King Necronomicon, Joey and Mark announced they would each begin their own respective new chapters in late 2016.

“When we started this band, it was always just about playing music that we love,” exclaims Lori. “Joey and Mark reached a point where they wanted to focus on other aspects of their lives. I wish them the best. It was simply the start of another era.”

As the proverbial train kept rolling, Lori invited an old friend to join her on the road for a string of shows in 2017. Black Cobra’s Rafa Martinez entered the fold again after assuming bass duties once in 2007. Meanwhile, she tapped the talents of local drummer Bil Bowman behind the kit.

“The new lineup sounds killer,” she goes on. “We’re carrying on the Acid King’s story.”

As she aims to commence writing, the future remains bright for the frontwoman. In the end, Lori keeps forging ahead as Acid King’s spirit rages on louder than ever before.

“Even though we’re doing the same thing we were at the beginning, I feel like it keeps getting better,” she leaves off. “It’s exciting to see the impact it has on fans. A lot of people will write me and say they had a shitty day, put on our music, and it took them to another place. Many songs are written while I’m riding my motorcycle. I want to transfer that feeling. It’s cool to see the reaction.”

City Slang

CITY SLANG

MEMBERS ALL HAVE BEEN IN VARIOUS BANDS, DECAY AFTER DEATH, WHITE ROSE, WHEELS ON FIRE, CEMETERY… 

EAST CAMERON FOLKCORE

Fear has many faces: It’s stirred up by the media to achieve higher quotas and print runs. It’s used in politics to restrict the rights of individual freedom. It’s not only virtual, it’s frighteningly real, it’s a misty veil that covers the planet and it’s a hole that opens up behind your garden fence. East Cameron Folkcore doesn’t shout out cheap platitudes or rebelliously empty slogans against the system. They know what they’re talking about. If the album “For Sale” was the key to open the door to the outside, “Kingdom Of Fear“ is the boot that crashes the door into pieces letting everything in: Light, Knowledge and truth, which are so glistening bright and obvious that nobody can be neutral and try to say: I didn’t know anything, I didn’t hear anything.

This phenomenal record is wise and thought out, searching and pioneering, hollered and breathed, until, at the very end, the fear is drawing the short straw. The solution is called “Goodbye To Fear“, as difficult as simple. Shut down your computer, throw away your pills, stop believing everything that’s reported in the news. And foremost: No more curling up into a ball, hiding, retreating into the private sphere. Go out, open your eyes and do something. Look for like-minded people, join an initiative, announce a demo, start a blog. Or, another option: Listen to this record. That is, I have to admit, only a tiny little step. But a small step is better than nothing. – Ingo Neumayer

PurP

With lightning speed, thundering drums and a knack for jamming, PurP is a fantastic sample of what the south suburbs of Chicago has to offer. Influenced by bands like Rush, the Allman Brothers and the Grateful Dead, PurP supplies a new chapter to the rock Jam saga with a little heat on it. Drummer Rudy Johnson supplies a perfect powerhouse of rhythm, along with the thumping bass of “Magic Shoes” Marty Arneberg, to give Guitarist Zak Kerkhoven a launch pad from which he can create and display some PurPtastic riffs! Working on the first PurP release, and on setting tour dates for next year!

SUNSHINE REGGAE BAND

AINSWORTH ROSE, FOUNDER AND MANAGER OF THE SUNSHINE REGGAE BAND of Chicago, IL has been performing the music of his native shores throughout the Midwest for over twenty years. This self-taught musician/entertainer started his US music career as the Jamaican One Man Band in 1995, singing and playing for local events in Bensenville and throughout the Western suburbs. He was the recipient of the 2001 & 2002 Calypso Entertainer of the year, awarded by the Chicago Music Awards.

The transition to THE SUNSHINE REGGAE BAND happened in August 2010. This welcomed progression added female beauty and talent to his band presentation. In 2011 they performed their first band concert at the DuSABLE MUSEUM in Chicago. The band has now evolved to a full ten piece ensemble.
In November 2013, they performed their second annual band concert at John Barleycorn (River North) which was well received and celebrated. They have also become a regular feature attraction on the local CANTV concert show on Channel 19.
On February 23, 2014, they were the recipient of the 2014 BEST CALYPSO/SOCA ENTERTAINER award, presented by the CHICAGO MUSIC AWARD which was held at the COPERNICUS CENTER in Chicago.

They have a very extensive repertoire, comprising hundreds of reggae, calypso, soca, Latin, Hawaiian and American songs. The band is in high demand for weddings, festivals, concerts, corporate events, picnics, country clubs, holidays and private parties.

The sunshine reggae band is a very flexible and perceptive group. Their ability to read and please their audience is phenomenal. Spontaneous audience participation is the highlight of this island act.
Their sunny smiles, harmonious singing and rhythmic movements are very contagious. They’ll have the audience in the island vibes shouting; Yeh Mon!!, singing; “Who let The Dogs Out” and “Hot Hot Hot”, doing the Limbo, the Dollar Wine and having the greatest time.
THEY TAKE YOU TO THE ISLANDS ON THE WINGS OF MUSIC. YEH MON!!

Sammy Kay

SAMMY KAY

The Jersey Blues

Unamused Dave

UNAMUSED DAVE

Unamused Dave is your basic rock band that spends their time doing their homework two weeks in advance & wiping their feet before entering the house. They have two albums out called “Apple Drive” and “Leroy”.

BROTHER DOUGLAS