HARDWOOD PHARAOH
Jam/Fusion Band from the Chicago/Milwaukee Area.
NAHKO AND MEDICINE FOR THE PEOPLE
Some people go a lifetime without knowing their mission in life, without feeling they have true calling, and without knowing why they even do what they do. Nahko is not one of them. And that calling and mission has never been clearer than it is on Nahko and Medicine for the People’ s third fulllength album, HOKA (SideOneDummy Records). On H OKA , Nahko’s voice is strong. His mission is clear. The mandate has been thrown down. “Hoka is a Lakota word, an indigenous tribe from the Great Plains, it is a call to action. It’s what Crazy Horse would say when he went into battle, ‘Hoka, hey!’ My call is to put action to the words that I speak and the lyrics I sing. Not just to talk, but to do,” says Oregonborn singer/songwriter Nahko, who is of Puerto Rican, Native American (Apache), and Filipino descent. “This is the soundtrack of the movement for a better planet,” he continues. “I want to challenge myself and others to make a change.” “Hoka,” which is the intro to the first track, “Directions,” is one of the album’s many song intros used as a way to round out the storytelling on the tracks. “On this intro, my uncles are chanting the lyrics to ‘Directions’ in Lakota, and the three female voices include a clairvoyant, an astrologer, and a friend who all had important messages for me that are a big part of my story,” he explains. It’s been three years since the Los Angeles, California based Nahko and Medicine for the People’s last record, D ark As Night . That release reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Top Alternative New Album, No. 6 on the Heatseekers album chart, No. 36 on the Top Independent Album chart, and No. 7 in Australia on Triple J’s Top 10 Roots Albums of 2013. Nahko and Medicine for the People gathered more members of their global tribe of likeminded fans as they spread their powerful and impactful musical message on tour with such acts as Michael Franti, Xavier Rudd, SOJA, and Trevor Hall, and on festivals including Outside Lands, Electric Forest, Wanderlust, Bumbershoot, California Roots Music Festival, Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival, and many more. Critics have praised the group’s worldly blend of rock, hiphop, and altfolk. OC Weekly called the group which also includes Chase Makai (lead guitar), Justin Chittams (drums), Pato (bass and kora),Tim Snider (violin) and Max Ribner (horns), “empowering” and “powerful. “The Huffington Post called D ark As Night “beautiful and stirring,” and compared Nahko to Bob Marley and a “musical prophet.”
JACK MAZZENGA’S SPACE-TIME TRIO
Jack Mazzenga’s Space-Time Trio. Born in Chicago, IL, Jack is a fretless guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has spent years on stage and in the studio as a sideman. The urge to write and perform original music was there so longtime friends Jim Petti & Michael Thompson were asked to help bring it to life. Jack slides on glass fingerboards.
REGATTA MONDATTA
Regatta Mondatta is The Midwest’s Premier Sting and The Police Tribute Band!
Regatta Mondatta is Reggae,Ska,Rock and Pop !
Experienced qualified musicians professionals on and off the Stage.With each member bringing a wide range of knowledge and class to every show.
SPRINGA SONIC DROOGS
Springa Sonic Droogs Punk/Rock band led by former SSD lead vocalist Springa vocalist,Ricky Drugan Guitar, Dale Meiners Bass, Frankie Iffland Drummer
UPROARS REVENGE
Well back in 2010, Mouse and Ed were at a Slayer show when they ran into Mikey. See, back in the day Ed and Mikey were in a couple different bands,including a kick ass project called the MERCS with the awesome and mighty Marc Colombo. Then the latest being Uproar. Mouse was in a band called Adrenaline that was pretty much dissolving. Anyways back to the Slayer show,so after the show Mikey drove all of us to Wings &Rings. On the way him and Ed were talking about putting the band back together!Problem was they had no bass player, Ed says, ” I’ve got a bass player sitting right next to me!!” And that’s how Uproars Revenge was born.
Coming up with the name was about a 2 month process,kinda.Everyone had ideas, then one day at practice Mikey walks in and says, “I got it! Uproars Revenge”. We all all looked at each other and said “that’s it!!”
Chris was a fan and friend of Mikey and showed up at practice one day and joined the band.
After a couple of different drummers, we landed on the young and talented Eddie Dec.
That’s about it.
ATROPHY
Do people read this stuff? Go listen to our songs! Go thrash with your friends and raise some hell!
CULTURE ABUSE
kinda grunge, kinda punk, kinda hardcore, definitely a good time. yes, we like to party.
PERPETUAL DEFILEMENT
Chicago Death Metal
Vocals- Eric
Strings- Alex
Strings- Sergio
Bass- Geedo
Drums- Izzy
BLACKMARKET DEMOCRACY
Blackmarket Democracy is an American rock band from Chicago,IL. formed in 2009.
They draw inspiration from early metal and rock groups such as Bad Brains, King’s X, Pantera and Black Label Society, as well as post metal groups such as Alice in Chains, Tool and Soundgarden.
6 PRONG PAW
Some people go their whole lives thriving on the recordings of a favorite band, with no intentions of seeing them play live. Others bloom and prosper from the pure erotic energy that they leave with after seeing a great live show. This surreal experience will be with them for the rest of their lives, becoming irreplaceable. Either way it does not matter. The listener still feels united and exposed to something they feel or have never felt before. This is why 6 Prong Paw exists. 6 Prong Paw’s name derived from a friend who worked at the dog pound. He learned that dogs have a sixth claw removed shortly after birth. This claw (prong) can cause serious injury in an attack to humans and other animals if not extracted. One of the founders of 6pp, Nick Williams, thought that the name was perfect. It symbolized the standards and rules that society has put on music, or anything for that matter, and going against the grain was another goal that sparked 6pps motivation.
The next endeavor was to record a full length CD. The band spent much of their weekends in 2001- 2002 recording at Thin Black Line Studios in Williamston Michigan. When it came to finally mixing the project, 6pp decided to send the tracks to Audio Hammer Studios in Sanford Florida. Nick had come in contact with Jason Suecof (Audio Hammer owner and engineer) through the band Summon, whom Nick has known for years. Suecof has recorded such bands as Trivium, God Forbid, Devildriver, Chimaira, and countless others. After listening to 6pp’s tracks, Suecof highly recommended that they come down, record 4 songs with him, and ditch the last year of recording. In January 2003, 6pp drove to Sanford Florida to record their self-titled CD (the blue album). They recorded 4 songs in a week and managed to save “World Without” from the tracks recorded in Michigan. The CD was then mastered at Morrisound Studios by Tom Morris in Tampa Florida. The band spent much of 2003 and 2004 writing new material and playing as many shows as they could. In late 2004, it was decided the band would go back to Suecof to record again. The CD would include 6 songs and be entitled “Victim of Mainstream America.” This time around the band spent 2 weeks in Florida. The band to recorded the drums at Morrisound studios, who has catered to such artists as Seven Mary Three, Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, Sepulture, and many others. After the drums where done they would bring the tracks back to Audio Hammer to do the rest. “Victim of Mainstream America” was released in the summer of 2005.
In March 2006, 6pp on to win “The Heavyweight Championship” battle of the bands competition sponsored by former radio station 107.7 wklq. The band beat over 200 entries. They also were approached b Joe Picasso films and had the winning show filmed in HD
On November 2011 6pp signed with Twisted Hillbilly Records out of Knoxville Tennessee. Shortly after signing, they began work on their first full length CD with Wayne Tourville at Twisted Hillbilly Studios. Now, after 2 years of back and forth between Michigan and Tennessee, they released “Auditive Levitation” in January of 2013, with three videos. The band is currently touring and writing material for their 2015 release.
DJ ABILITIES
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.
ANNE HARRIS
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.
END OF ANARCHY
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/
WEHRMACHT
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.
DÄLEK
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.
LAURA JOY
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
Clay Parker and Jodi James are a folk singer/songwriter duo from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
JEFF GIVENS AND THE MUGSHOT SAINTS
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.
PIGS BLOOD
Bestial death metal from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
GRAVE MIASMA
Occult Death Metal from England.
RAT SALAD
We are a tribute to 1970s Ozzy era Black Sabbath, playing in the Chicago area since 2006.
BLOODTHRONE
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
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
MOUNTAIN OF SMOKE
STONE TRIPPIN’ PILOTS
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.
FRANKS & DEANS
Punk Rock/ Rock & Roll Rat Pack tribute from Las Vegas, Nevada!!!
SHE’S CRAFTY
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.
SKEPTA
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
VINCE STAPLES
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
MARLEY B
Recording Artist from Tucson Arizona. Member of Murs’ Label 316. New album on www.MarleyB.com. #marleybmondays
OLIVER SPITS
JAHNI DENVER
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
DJ HOPPA
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
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.”
CHRIS PLUSKA
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 LA
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
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.
SCHOOL OF ROCK (HINSDALE, NAPERVILLE, ELMHURST)
For more than a decade, School of Rock has been inspiring kids to rock on stage and in life. Through its performance-based approach to music lessons, School of Rock students are inspired to learn, more motivated to excel and more confident as a result. To date, School of Rock students have played thousands of concerts to more than 100,000 people at such legendary venues such as CBGB’s, The Trocadero, The Knitting Factory, The Whiskey, The Roxy, The Experience Music Project, as well as major music festivals like Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.
SEX THERAPY
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
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.
HIBRIA
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
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
THE STONED LONESOME
“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!
DU VIDE
rock trio Du Vide, whose gentle, wistful sound harks back to 1990s “slow-core” greats like Codeine, Bedhead, and Duster.
BLAKA WATRA
Blaka Watra (pron. BLA-ka VA-tra) is a band from Cleveland, OH. Sludgy, guttural, often pretty, sometimes poppy, always loud.
SPORTS COACH
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
“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
MARS RED SKY
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.
MANY ROOMS
calm ambient sad girl shit
WANDER
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
Trade Wind, a band featuring Stick To Your Guns frontman Jesse Barnett and Stray From The Path guitarist Tom Williams.
GRAFH
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.
Grafh has also been heavily supported by his peers, including Drake, Wiz
Khalifa, Raekwon, Bun B, Jim Jones, Busta Rhymes, Waka Flocka, and many
others. Grafh was surprised, however, when actor Shia LaBeouf said he was
“really, really, really good” in a late-night TV interview with Carson Daly.
This sense of appreciation has motivated Grafh to stay true to his fans while
touring and releasing new music online via his official website, GrafhOnline.
com. He has also built a strong following on Twitter, where he applies an
entertaining combination of sharp humor and brutal honesty to everyday life.
Grafh is currently focused on completing his new project Pain Killers: Reloaded, scheduled to be released this summer. The first single off of the release is “
MAGIC LIKE DISNEY WORLD” featuring Shalone. The project also features Wiz Khalifa, Bun B, Jadakiss, Styles P, Sheek Louch, Chris Webby & Jarren Benton.
Over the last year, Grafh has built a creative team of young, talented people
that are working with him toward the project’s release. He has redefined his
sound – drawing inspiration from multiple genres – and has made a concerted
effort to be more emotionally candid. The result has been the best music of
Grafh’s career, with more songs still to record. With this album, Grafh hopes to
prove that he’s more than just raw talent. He has set out to challenge the labels
that have been put on him as an artist – to push his own boundaries musically,
lyrically, and visually. Just as he did at the start of his career, Grafh plans to let
the music speak for itself
PHASE ORDER
fuzzed out riffs