TY DOLLA $IGN
Ty Dolla Sign is an American singer, rapper and producer from Los Angeles,California. He is currently signed to Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang Records and Atlantic Records.
CODY JINKS
Relentless and uncompromising, a punk rock mentality with no apologies, this is Cody Jinks. Growing up on traditional country, classic rock, and heavy metal, Cody has been around and seen it all. Cody’s latest studio album “30” stayed on the Texas Country charts with its first single “We Get By” for six months in 2012 and has no signs of slowing down in 2013 with the second single “Glad to Say”. There is no formula for good music, it just is or isn’t’ and there should never be any punches pulled. Cody pulls no punches and has survived in this business because of that very reason, life has no sugar coating and neither does Cody. If nothing else it’s real and that’s all it should be.
5TH WALL CONCEPT
5th Wall Concept (5WC) is a band based out of Deadtree Studios in Livonia, Michigan. Having performed their debut show and releasing their first album, “We Broke It”, in May of 2012, 5WC has quickly become one of Detroit’s most sought after acts. Taking to the stage with a commanding 125 shows in their first year, 5WC is truly bringing the “LIVE” back to the “live music scene”. Priding themselves on bringing a professional, high-energy party to the stage and putting butts in the seats, 5WC has set a new standard for the local music scene and is quickly becoming known as the standard in live Rock N’ Roll today.
5th Wall Concept expresses the idea that no artist should be forced within the confines of a box or label. Music should be a free-flowing organism that can morph into anything. People listen to every style of music out there. The “Concept” is that one band is willing to take the plunge into the unknown and bring an eclectic sound, spanning every musical avenue that one could enjoy, 5WC is a wall of sound; breaking the four walls that leave us all trapped in the paradigms set forth by mainstream music..
MARTIN LUTHER
Martin Luther is a dynamic soul singer with a heavy rock sound. Martin has continued to release music on his own label Rebel Soul Records and is now ready to release his third studio LP entitled ‘Love Is The Hero’. He has toured with The Roots as a member of their ensemble and has shared stages with the likes of Jill Scott and Dave Matthews and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and many others. He made his cinematic debut as a lead in Julie Taymor’s Beatles tribute film ‘Across the Universe’ and has made cameos and appearances on both the large and small screen.
BLUE COUPE
The three iconic rock stars in Blue Coupe are the angry orphans of Blue Öyster Cult and the Alice Cooper group, and they’re out to prove something to the world with show-stopping performances and a wall shaking sound that keeps their legion of fans calling for more.
Blue Coupe’s multi-talented entertainers include Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Dennis Dunaway bassist of the legendary Alice Cooper group, along side multi-instrumentalist, Joe Bouchard who founded Blue Öyster Cult with his brother Albert Bouchard master of the drums. These revolutionary originals were the heartbeat of several of the best known songs in the history of rock. And note for note, their full-throttle expertise hits you over the head and grabs you by the heart in Blue Coupe.
With the original Alice Cooper group, Dennis co-wrote smash hits including “I’m 18,” “School’s Out,” and “Under My Wheels” while Albert and Joe were co-writers and arrangers of many of Blue Öyster Cult’s biggest hits including “Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll,” “Hot Rails to Hell,” and “Astronomy” (covered by Metallica). Joe, Albert and Dennis have sold over 15 million albums and have been awarded over 30 gold and platinum records worldwide.
In 1973 Blue Öyster Cult opened shows for the Alice Cooper group on a record-breaking tour of outdoor festivals and sold-out arenas that made the cover of Forbes magazine for the highest grossing tour of the year. As Alice Cooper became world famous with hits like “No More Mr. Nice Guy” and “Elected”, Blue Öyster Cult continued with their own sold-out tours with hits like “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and “Burnin’ For You.” BÖC also pioneered their own groundbreaking stage show with rock’s most elaborate lazer light show with pryotechnical explosions and a ginormous Godzilla.
But Blue Coupe have found continuing glory with their highly acclaimed album, Tornado On The Tracks, which has multiple Grammy considerations in 2011 and 2012, including “Angel’s Well” featuring Robby Krieger legendary guitarist for The Doors. And Blue Coupe continue to tour North America and Europe with such illustrious shows as the Halloween Parade in New York City where they were seen by more than a million people.
Blue Coupe have wrapped up their second album, featuring Tish and Snooky from Manic Panic, Ross the Boss from Manowar and the Dictators, Buck Dharma from Blue Öyster Cult and Goldy McJohn from Steppenwolf as special guest stars. The album was recorded at the Carriage House Studios in Stamford CT and was mixed in LA by Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, John Lennon, Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, BOC, etc.) and Warren Huart (Aerosmith, The Fray, James Blunt, etc.)
RACHEL HANSON
Rachel Hanson is an alternative-country singer, songwriter and guitarist from Northwest Wisconsin. Her music is blatantly honest, oak-strong and country honey-sweet, taking hints of inspiration from every piece of her relatively short story. Barely 22, Hanson’s unforgettable croon and relatable yet dominant songwriting style are rapidly gaining her footing in the midwest music scene.
In 2010, Hanson moved to Stevens Point, Wis. to attend college and within six months Back Alley Blossoms was formed. She was lead singer and guitarist for the Blossoms, an all female folk/bluegrass band, from their beginning in 2011 until their final show at Winona’s Boats & Bluegrass in September 2013.
Hanson has shared the stage with or opened for William Elliot Whitmore, The Giving Tree Band, Joseph Huber, Cory Chisel, and Now, Now among many others. She plans to release her first album in the Summer of 2014.
DRIVIN’ N’ CRYIN’
I Played Guitar on a Chain Gang or, things you might want to know about my fuckin’ rock band by kevn kinney
“We are a band that’s like your record collection.”
–That’s a quote from me in one of the first articles ever written about drivin’ n’ cryin’ back in the Eighties.
THE ’80s
We released our first album Scarred But Smarter in 1986 on 688 Records. 688 was the center of the underground Atlanta rock scene in the 1980’s. Bands as diverse as Hüsker Dü, Rank and File, Lords of the New Church, The Residents and a week-long stint by Iggy Pop graced the hallowed walls of that now-defunct nightclub. If you drive down Spring Street today, there’s just a doc-in-a-box where the punk rock used to be.
I met Tim Nielsen just after I moved to Atlanta from Milwaukee. One night I was playing in a pickup band with Die Kreuzen, my good friends from back home. (Check out their Touch and Go records produced by Butch Vig.) They were staying on my floor, just passing through on tour. We played a lot of shows together a couple of years back when I was in a punk band called The Prosecutors, so we figured what the fuck? Let’s see what happens.
Tim was there that night. He played in the big 688 band The Nightporters and was a rock star in Atlanta. He pulled me aside after the show and asked me if I lived down here. I told him that I had just moved to town and was working at the sewage plant, retired from the music world for good at age 24.
Tim stopped by my apartment one afternoon a couple of weeks later and TOLD me he was gonna find me a band to be in. My music was on the folk side of Dylan at the time but I decided I was up to playing just for the fun of it. He got me practicing with a few guys but it wasn’t really happening, so eventually he decided we’d just start our own damn band.
Tim quit The Nightporters and stole their drummer and we played our first drivin’ n’ cryin’ show at 688 in October 1985. A little over a year later, I’m sitting in my living room with an album, a real, freakin’ 12-inch vinyl LP record called Scarred But Smarter.
I wanted to be in a band that would be unafraid of changing genres, mostly because I’m easily distracted and change subjects mid-sentence. “Needs help with self control,” read every report card after fifth grade….smartass…underground comic-readin’ journalistic wannabe…too lazy to write a complete story….I settled on the song format…it’s perfect…a short poem…with its own soundtrack. At 24, I wrote:
“Nobody said it would be fair
They warned you before you went out there
There’s always a chance to get restarted
To a new world, new life
Scarred but smarter”
At that time, I had restarted myself. I come from an industrial land of things that used to be: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, class of 79…a town, back then, that encouraged you to leave high school, get a job in a factory, get injured and then get workers compensation while picking up a side job at a liquor store or record shop where you got paid under the table.
The band released its first album for Island, Whisper Tames The Lion, produced by Anton Fier, in early 1988. The album peaked at No. 130 on the Billboard 200. College radio success (and some commercial) accumulated with airplay of the songs “Can’t Promise You The World” (for which the band filmed its first video) and “Powerhouse”.
1989 marked the release of some of the band’s most memorable songs on the Mystery Road album, such as “Honeysuckle Blue” and “Straight To Hell.”
THE ’90s
In 1991 the more hard-rocking Fly Me Courageous ended up being the band’s most commercially successful album, with the album being certified gold. The next few years the band toured with artists such as Neil Young and Soul Asylum. In 1993, DNC released another album produced by Geoff Workman, entitled Smoke, which peaked at No. 95 on the Billboard’s Top 200 album chart. This album was another all-out rocker, marked with guitar assaults, but it failed to catch on with the public as had its predecessor.
Lotsa touring, lotsa recording, lotsa people, lotsa stress, lotsa change, lotsa lotsa.
In 1994, the band decided to move away from the heavy guitar sounds of the previous two records and brought in keyboardist Joey Huffman to replace Buren Fowler. That same year the band left Island Records and found a new home at Geffen Records. The band’s first and only Geffen album, 1995’s Wrapped In Sky, featured newly added keyboard sounds and a return to the band’s original sound. 1997 brought along a self-titled album, followed two years later by a live album, The Essential Live Drivin’ ‘N’ Cryin’.
THE ’00s
2009’s (Whatever Happened To The) Great American Bubble Factory (the first recording of new material in 12 years!) was the perfect crescendo to a long twenty-plus year career of drivin’ n’ cryin’. I think we found the true essence of what we started to build back in 1985. It’s the truth as we see it set to a soundtrack fueled by music we love, everyone from The Ramones, The Clash, The Seeds, Iggy, Dylan, Patti Smith Group, R.E.M., Thin Lizzy, The Rolling Stones. You get the point.
The song title for (Whatever Happened to the) Great American Bubble Factory hit me one afternoon when I was at the dollar store getting some bubbles for the neighborhood kids. As I was standing in line, I looked down at the “made in” label and noticed that those bubbles were made in China…..China!! That’s a long way for a bottle of freakin’ soap to travel. Come on, maybe we can’t make TVs or refrigerators or cars here anymore, but bubbles?
In my world, the first step to a renewed America and our deliverance from an unspeakable disrespect of the American workforce would be the opening of THE GREAT AMERICAN BUBBLE FACTORY. They would come from miles around to see the Willie Wonka of the New Deal….There’s hope again!!! If you can make it here, why don’t you make it here…
We started demos for this record back in 2001 on September 10th. The next day the world was upside down and traitors were everywhere, underneath every coffee cup. Joe McCarthy was back and I just didn’t feel like I was ready to tell the story of the blue-collared optimist…
“She said, ‘Son, you’re dreamin’
Well, ma, if I’m dreamin’
Just don’t you wake me”
That record weaves in and out of the “Midwestern Blues” to the Flannery O’Connor South of “This Town” to the industrial grind of “Detroit City” to the optimistic anthem (and Dictators cover!!) “I Stand Tall” to the genuine pining for home in “I See Georgia.”
I wanted you settled in, riled up, loaded for bear and somewhere out there on the road in search of the great American dream…..
The ’10s
Cut to 2011/12: the Georgia General Assembly commended Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ in a house resolution for the band’s achievements.
Sadler Vaden joins the band (replacing Mac Carter on lead guitar), we cut a deal with Redeye Distributors to keep our records out there in the public eye, we sign on with the William Morris Endeavor to book our shows, and a new record release concept comes to mind…!
A couple months ago I was writing in the morning and my wife was listening to a record. She said I should record that song and I said ‘well, I did.’ It was the last song on the last record ! It dawned on me then that most people that listen to records don’t usually listen past five or six songs, so I’m going to make a record with only five or six songs on it. In fact, I’m going to do four… Or five… Or maybe the rest of them this way!!!! This solves a lot of problems for drivin n cryin. I love the fact that we have never shied away from the fact we are influenced by so many different sounds. But sometimes combining them on one record can be somewhat disconcerting to a particular group of fans. I love that. I love the psychedelic element of challenging the listener. I mean it’s all based on a library of music from our past… THE KINKS and THE WHO meet the RAMONES and THE COUNT FIVE at a little bar owned by BOB DYLAN and JOHNNY CASH… But the opportunity to focus on a specific genre or subject is exciting to me…. Also an opportunity to record with all the people we have been looking forward to working with is almost limitless… We would love to work all over the country with our friends and the five song format means we only need a few days of their time… I think people will be excited when they own a few and can contrast the different sounds and producers… We released number one, Songs From The Laundromat, on June 12, 2012. Paul Ebersold produced number two: Songs About Cars, Space And The Ramones (released Oct 1, 2012) – a tip of the hat to The Ramones, Stooges, MC5. So we toured all over for those 2 EPs and then headed in the studio again to work on number 3… Songs From The Psychedelic Time Clock.
Now jump to 2013: Songs From The Psychedelic Time Clock is released April 16, 2013. The band hits the road (again!) in support of all 3 EP releases, starting the tour in Atlanta with 2 sold-out nights at the legendary Star Community Bar (2 NIGHTS! NO HITS!) and capping it with a very cool show at Atlanta’s Music Midtown Festival, sharing the stage with Journey and Phoenix. Work begins on a super secret TV project for Fox’s FX Network to air January – April 2014. (more on this at a later date!) On days off between tour dates, the band convenes in Nashville TN and Memphis TN with producer Paul Ebersold to work on EP4 Songs For The Turntable.
2014 ushers in great new things including new lead guitarist Aaron Lee Tasjan. Tasjan was honored by ASCAP at the Kennedy Center in 2013 as one of America’s great songwriters of the next generation. A much sought after guitarist, he has played lead guitar with The NY Dolls, Alberta Cross, Everest, Todd Snider, collaborated with Sean Lennon in the band Operation Juliet and had his songs recorded by Jack White and Pat Green.
Season 5 of F/X Network’s hit TV show ‘Archer’ features 12 songs produced by Kevn Kinney (8 of which are Kinney-penned songs, including a complete re-working of DNC hit ‘Straight To Hell’).
‘Songs For The Turntable’ is released to great reviews and acclaim. Once again uber-producer Paul Ebersold assumed the helm, working with the band both in Nashville and Memphis, TN. Work begins on compiling the tracks and bonus material for a vinyl box set release.
I don’t have the patience anymore for a two year recording project, a big build up as if you’re JD SALINGER, a tour and then reality again… I don’t like hype… I just want to offer up my art for the fans or soon-to-be-fans. A five or six song recording every three months like a magazine subscription… I want it now!!! And I want it NEW!
Did you know…
Drivin’ N’ Cryin’s Whisper Tames the Lion was the lowest debut in the Billboard Top 200 albums chart the same week that Dark Side of the Moon fell off that chart for the first time since its release.
Did you know…
Minneapolis 60s garage band band The Trashmen (“Surfin’ Bird”) had Tim’s Uncle Gary as a member. They used to practice in his grandmother’s basement.
Did you know…
Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ is the only band to share a stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sonic Youth AND Neil Young in the same twelve-month period.
Did you know…
The Violent Femmes’ Brian Ritchie was Kevn’s high school locker partner. They would go to his house after school and Kevn would watch Brian play guitar before they both watched 8mm porn films.
Did you know…
Peter Buck produced Kevn’s first solo folk record MacDougal Blues, which is coming up on its twenty-fourth anniversary. Peter also road-managed and played on the MacDougal tour (which featured our great, late friend Nikki Sudden) on his break from R.E.M.’s Green tour!!…
Did you know…
DNC’s lead guitar player Sadler Vaden was voted Charleston’s Best Guitarist 2011. Other Sadler highlights include playing the White House with The Blue Dogs in 2006 and appearing in the Ben Stiller/Robert Downey Jr. movie ‘Tropic Thunder.’
THE CONCRETE ROOTS
The Concrete Roots is a collaborative of Chicago artists. Coming from various bands & scenes, they’ve created a unique 6 piece bringing more power to the Chicago Reggae scene than ever before. Combining rootsy vibes with HipHop bass lines, soulful harmonies, and hard hitting drums that separates The Concrete Roots from every other mainstream reggae band. their high energy live show and particular cross genre sound can appease every music lover
STOLEN AIRPLANE
One of the songs starts with Jim playing a somewhat busy, muted riff. After the second time through, Marv hits a chord and bends the note. On the third time through the riff, Jeremy does a snare roll and Jay rides a lower Bass note and then…well, you’ll just have to hear it to get the big picture.
TED STEVENS AND THE THIRD RAIL
Ted Stevens and The Third Rail are a band defined by their songs, at once both fresh and familiar, classic rock sounds underpinned by a modern Indie sensibility. As the name implies, The Third Rail are an electrified band full of loud heavy guitars and boisterous top-of-your-lungs vocals. Inspired and energized by the hard rock on the late 1960’s and the song oriented FM rock of the early 1970’s, their music is rife with hard edged guitars, heavy drums, and power pop hooks.
After spending four years in Glasgow, Scotland as a performance artist, Stevens returned to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky in the summer of 2011 and released an album of material for sonaBlast! Records entitled “Waiting.” Shortly thereafter the band that would become The Third Rail was formed, featuring the artful and melodic bass of Kirk Kiefer, and the aggressive, dramatic drumming of Tony Gantt.
The band began to craft the songs for their upcoming album, “Music for Cars,” last fall. Written by Stevens, they bear little to no resemblance to those on “Waiting”; gone are that album’s layered synthesizers and stacked background singers, replaced with simple three piece rock and roll arrangements. The band set out to lay down as much as possible live in the studio, working without the restrictions of headphones or click tracks and recording to a vintage analog tape machine. All overdubs were performed by the three band members themselves in order to keep the sonic identity of the record cohesive. The material teems with themes of youth, vitality, excitement, and conversely, the anger and frustration of that youth, along with the desire to take control of life. The characters in the songs struggle with the places they grew up in and how to live a life with consequences. Beneath the drama of the lyrics lay hard rocking, barn burning, tracks rife with musical hooks.
A perfect introduction to The Third Rail and their dedication to the traditions of good rock and roll is the new single “Live Forever” mixed by veteran Austin, TX producer Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Fastball, Patti Griffin, Heartless Bastards, And You Will Know Us By the Trail of The Dead). Having spent the last year honing their live act at festivals and opening for bands such as What’s Made Milwaukee Famous, Nerves Junior, Stephaniesid, Mobley, and Josh Krajcik, as well as receiving extensive college radio airplay for the songs on “Waiting”, the band is now spending the majority of its time on the road playing around the midwest bringing their dramatic high energy show to new audiences and preparing to unleash their new music.
THE GRASSTRONAUTS
The Grasstronauts have never fit neatly into one specific genre. While bluegrass may be the basis, it’s clear their sound is anything but traditional. Blending elements of bluegrass, rock, jazz and a number of other influences they bring a high energy sound of their own.
Armed with guitar, banjo, mandolin and bull fiddle, The Grasstronauts create a powerful sound that is constantly evolving. “We’re always trying to work new things into our sets,” says guitarist Lee Syrjanen. “There are songs that have evolved quite a bit since the first time we played them.”
Based out of Chicago, The Grasstronauts have been fortunate enough to play various music festivals, clubs and bars. Their unique sound draws people in quickly and engages them until the very last note. With each member having different backgrounds, The Grasstronauts are able to bend genres and provide an experience unlike any other.
FOREIGN POLICY
Founded in a basement of our drummer’s house is where Jose, Julian, and Victor would meet to form music that wouldn’t be commercial radio bullshit or something you could easily write on an acoustic guitar but to be something that would inspire those to hear their songs to be inspired and forever changed by every single aspect that would go into the song. They wanted a band that made music not for the money but for the beauty it gave them and the beauty it gives back to the world. The band originally started with Victor playing bass/vocals, Jose playing drums and Julian on guitar. Victor couldn’t play the bass that well while singing so the band looked for a bassist and found Nick Fontana. Nick brought a whole new spirit to the team with his eagerness to take part in music that’s not that hard to play but played with true spirit.
They’ve played a countless number of shows together (We weren’t counting.) From Berwyn to Indiana they’ve been playing shows like crazy. Foreign Policy is known for it’s crazy live performances. They go out and mosh with the audience. Victor sung his head off, Nick playing crazy bass, Julian shredding, and Jose pounding the shit out his drums. They were angry and they were showing it to everyone who came out to a show and they’re not gonna stop.
Nick left the band in June 2013 due to differences within the band.
Andrew Torres was added to the line up June 2013 and brought a whole new flavor of funky, crazy, punk rock feeling to the music and will continue to do so.
MARYLEIGH ROOHAN
Though she’s only 22, singer-songwriter MaryLeigh Roohan has already been likened to “a wizened old soul.” She first began playing guitar and writing songs at the age of 15, and honed her guitar and vocal skills during a yearlong, weekly residency at a pub in St. Andrews, Scotland. Back to the states, MaryLeigh has played everywhere from intimate cafes to festivals, sharing the stage with Sean Rowe, Jill Sobule, Chic Gamine, Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds, Willie Alexander (the Velvet Underground) and many others.
Named the Capital Region’s ”Best Female Singer-Songwriter” by Metroland in 2012, Roohan’s style shifts seamlessly from sunny indie pop to sultry jazz crooning to heartfelt Americana reminiscent of Neko Case, with influences ranging from Joni Mitchell to Etta James.
MaryLeigh’s sophomore release, Skin and Bone, will be available at all live shows beginning November 8, and nationally through all digital download and streaming sites beginningJanuary 28 on Fake Chapter Records.
PASTOR FUNKPLEEZ
This IS an introduction 2 a brand new breed of funk-a-teers. Brought 2u by the makers of funky thangz 2 play with. Big Ced aka Pastor Funkpleez of funk rock giants ROOM 11 from chi-town makes his solo debut \m/\m/! Head bobbin’ grimy funk,kool layered vocals and of course plenty of BASS!
VERSKOTZI
Hailing from Minneapolis, MN, Verskotzi is Joey Verskotzi, Izaac Burkhart, Grady Kenevan & Ian Allison. Verskotzi is releasing their new album, “Lemon Heart”, the group’s first full length record on November 2nd at Icehouse. The album was produced by Izaac Burkhart at The Color Lounge in Minneapolis. Drawing from his 60’s, 70’s & indie rock influences, Joey has crafted an album that reveals his ‘roots’ musical tastes, and depicts his issues of addiction, trust, and relying on yourself to get through and out of the valleys.
LIVING IN PRETEND
We’re Living In Pretend, or as we’re also known, the collective consciousness of Andrew Lothian and Eli Noll. Hey. We wrote some songs for you, and then we made them into a kick-ass record. Along the way we had some of the most ridiculous musicians we’ve ever come into contact with (Paul Hall, Herf Yamaya, Packy Lundholm, Derek Bahr, Tim Yamaya, Hannes Butzer, Marty Sirvatka, Neil Carson, Bill Prokopow, and Noam Wallenberg) lay down their collective consciousness on our songs. The result was something we could have never imagined at the beginning of our journey and we couldn’t have come close without their help.
We’re going to need your help for this next part. We want to get this record out there, EVERYWHERE. It’s FREE. If you like it, give it to somebody else. Burn it. Blog it. Post it. Whatever you can do to spread the love. It’s one click to download and it’s free, sounds like a pretty risk free situation to us. But the reward will be much, much sweeter. We hope you enjoy these songs as much we enjoyed making them — they’re yours now. So take a listen, come out to a show, hang out, dance, and be happy because life is great when you’re Living In Pretend.
THE LION’S DAUGHTER
THE LION’S DAUGHTER was born out of a hatred for the insincere and uninspired cookie-cutter fodder the mainstream metal scene has become. They takes notes from black metal and doom, but live by no musical limitations and are driven to please no audience but themslves. The band’s most recent work is a prime example of their play-to-please-no-one credo. Previous releases include two self-released EPs, a 12” split with Fister (Hands up Records, 2011), and the full length Shame On Us All (Pissfork, 2012), which Cvlt Nation described as a, “hard-hitting blast of bruising riffs that will surely leave you drained from start to finish.” The trio was created in 2007 by guitarist/vocalist Rick Giordano and drummer Erik Ramsier after leaving a band that neither liked much, and named their new project after a campy romance novel they saw at the airport because fuck it. Scott Fogelbach of Love Lost But Not Forgotten soon joined and opening spots for Torche, Nachtmystium, High on Fire, Dark Funeral, Eyehategod, and more ensued as well as a national tour with Fister, with the band delivering a live show that the Riverfront Times called, “absolutely punishing.” Additionally, THE LION’S DAUGHTER won the RFT Reader’s Poll “Best Metal Band” (in St. Louis) award in 2011 and again in 2013. Forever Cursed calls THE LION’S DAUGHTER, “one of the most underrated bands out there,” No Clean Singing champions their, “heavy, harsh, and harrowing,” sound while The Bone Reader welcomes their,“caustic, blistering noise of the post-apocalypse.” But the band doesn’t play as if it simply wants to see the world end; it sounds like they want to be the ones to destroy it.
CRYSIS
John Maher writes and sings songs of love, human nature and socially disturbing events. ” I’m honored to be on stage with the following fab four.”
Ray McKenzie, ( Bass, lead guitar, songwriting and vocals ) has toured and recorded with The Jen Justice Band, among countless other successful bands. Ray founded Zero Hour Records over a decade ago.
Michael Mejia ( vocals, keys, guitar ) has been stunning the local clubs with his soulful songs and a voice that grabs the audience and locks them in.
Dean Cassara (drums, percussion) was also a member of Jen Justice Band, but believes he has been a member of 50 bands. We all hope he will not leave us for number 51. His beat and artistic contributions are spot on.
Kelli Ann. ( vocals and some 15 instruments including classical violin.) Performing at Carnegie Hall as a teen, Kelli Anne recently played hundreds of gigs with her band “Who Knew.” Kelli Ann is a famed international vocal coach (four Winds Vocal Artistry Studio) and a former Miss America Contestant. You do not want to miss Kelli Ann sing. Think Blondie/Joan Jett.
ROSIE FLORES
Alternative country meets the rockabilly revival meets California guitar virtuosity in the music of Rosie Flores. Since the late ’70s, guitarist, singer, and songwriter Rosie Flores has been an important figure on the alternative country scene in both Austin, TX, and Los Angeles. She’s a hard-working, independently minded artist who’s well-respected for her gritty, energetic vocals and fiery guitar solos.
A native of San Antonio, Flores moved to San Diego with her family when she was 12. Her family encouraged her singing and guitar playing, and as a girl she soaked up the sounds of southern California — surf guitar, country and country-rock, blues, and rockabilly-flavored garage rock. By the time she was in her teens, Flores was playing in a band called Penelope’s Children. During the first explosion of punk rock in the late ’70s Flores formed Rosie & the Screamers, an otherwise all-male band that played hard country and rockabilly material, much of it written by Flores herself. She worked as a solo acoustic artist for a time but then formed an all-female punk band, the Screaming Sirens, who recorded the album Fiesta in 1984.
Rosie Flores In 1987 Flores recorded her first solo album, Rosie Flores, produced by Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakam’s producer and guitarist) and released by Warner Bros.. The album gained critical acclaim, and among music-industry folk a Flores concert remains a strong draw to this day. But it was only modestly successful commercially, and Flores was dropped by Warner Bros.. She signed with the California independent label Hightone and in 1992 she released her second solo album, After the Farm, followed by Once More with Feeling a year later. These albums featured original songs by Flores, her own sharp guitar leads, and crackerjack session work from a variety of Los Angeles veterans. Flores then spent the better part of 1994 playing lead guitar in Butch Hancock’s band.
Rockabilly Filly In 1995 Flores recorded Rockabilly Filly, a spirited tribute to the music she grew up with. The album featured duets with her longtime idols Wanda Jackson and Janis Martin, both of whom Flores brought out of retirement for the project. The album led to a cross-country tour with Jackson, who hadn’t played in nightclubs in over 20 years. In 1997, Rounder re-released her Warner Bros. debut along with six new bonus tracks under the title Honky Tonk Reprise, helping to sustain the momentum of her career. That same year, the Austin label Watermelon released her duet project with Ray Campi, entitled A Little Bit of Heartache. In the late ’90s, Flores moved to the folk-oriented Massachusetts label Rounder, pushing the stylistic mix of her music slightly in the direction of rockabilly but not really changing course. The 1999 live album Dance Hall Dreams was recorded at a San Antonio country club and featured several of the top session players Flores has always been able to attract, among them Texas steel guitar stalwart Cyndi Cashdollar. Flores released Speed of Sound on the Eminent label two years later, offering yet more original songs as well as a scorching cover of Buck Owens’ rockabilly classic “Hot Dog.” Flores offered her fans an intimate perspective on her music with the solo acoustic live set Single Rose in 2004, and an album of country- and rockabilly-styled holiday favorites, Christmasville, followed in 2005. After a short hiatus, in 2009, Flores celebrated over two decades of recording with Girl of the Century, an album recorded with the Mekons’ John Langford and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts for Bloodshot Records. Her raucous 11th album, Working Girl’s Guitar, which appeared in 2012, was the first in which she handled all the production and guitar leads herself. Prolifically creative, Flores deserves to be numbered among the creators of the alternative country movement. Her career, never really flagging, has outlasted those of a host of other acts in that fast-moving genre.
DILLON COOPER
At just 21 years old, rapper Dillon Cooper is already taking the world by storm with his startling combination of fresh beats, lyrical prowess, dynamic, energetic flow and his own brand of cool style. Without a doubt, this New York native is set to become a permanent fixture on America’s musical landscape.
Born and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, to immigrant parents from the Caribbean, Cooper’s passion for music began at an early age. “I love music. I’ve always loved music. I’ve listened to music my whole life,” he says with a knowing smile which tells you that making music is exactly what Dillon Cooper was born to do.
Cooper didn’t start off as a rapper though. In fact, he is a serious musician who played the piano as a child before picking up the guitar at the tender age of seven, continuing through childhood and then more seriously in his teens. “I just thought the guitar was a cool instrument that I wanted to play at that age,” he explains.
He was so good at the guitar that his talent led to a place at the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston – home to such musical luminaries as super producer Quincy Jones.
However, it was just a few semesters after enrolling that Cooper knew he had to quit. “School really just wasn’t for me,” he admits. A chance conversation with musical star John Mayer, who’d gone to talk to the college’s freshmen students, solidified his decision. Cooper asked Mayer what he would do if he disliked college. Mayer’s words of wisdom were: “I would just leave”. Cooper took Mayer’s word for it and he hasn’t looked back since.
Although Dillon Cooper’s earliest forays into rap had been “just for fun” he knew he had to take his gift to the next level especially if he wanted to stand out from the other guitarists around him. He started recording demos with a host of local and international producers and eventually shot a video, set in Brooklyn, to Shadows, the track that established him as a force to be reckoned with and got the music industry to sit up and notice this fresh-faced wonder.
After posting the video to his Facebook and YouTube pages, Shadows went viral online. It was then brought to the attention of legendary rapper Jadakiss who loved the song and posted it on his blog SoRaspy.com as well as throwing in a retweet! Things took off from there. Cooper started racking up thousands of views online and has been developing a strong and loyal fan base from all over the world ever since.
Of course, this attention is no surprise to Cooper who prides himself on the time and effort he puts into his rhymes. “When I’m rapping I’ll think about the message I’m trying to put across and I’ll think about how to make it catchier or how to add that rhythm and swing,” he explains. “I just want to push the envelope… listeners shouldn’t have to just settle for mediocre content.”
Cooper thinks a lot about his audience and how his music will impact them. Despite his young age, Cooper’s music is timeless, inspired by the personal and the political: “Generally, I just try to talk about stuff that I’ve been through and that I’m going through which older people can relate to because they’ve been through it and people who are my age can relate to because they are going through the exact same thing or feel that same way because we’re in the same group. I try to put it in a way that anybody can latch onto and say ok, I get this”.
Sonically, mix a little Kendrick Lamar and Drake; add a sprinkle of Lupe Fiasco’s conscious lyrical clarity and the urban edginess of A.S.A.P. Rocky then you’ll begin to get some idea of what Dillon Cooper sounds like. He brings an old school hip-hop vibe, with a new school hip-hop attitude, which is radio-friendly enough for everyone to enjoy.
But while he counts a number of rappers as his influences and inspirations – “I love Jay-Z. I love Big L. J Cole is dope. Wale is dope. Eminem by far is one of my favorite rappers of all time….” – he is very much an individual. “I just want to bring me to the table.” And you can hear him, unmistakably, in everything he does.
The rapper has already predicted his own future: “When I pay them loans back, and when I’m in them magazines, that’s when Berklee gonna send me that honorary degree” he rhymes. Many already believe him.
Dillon Cooper may be only 21 years old, but his music stands with some of the best of what’s out there already. Sit back and enjoy the ride. Dillon Cooper is on his way to the top.
DENZEL CURRY
Denzel Curry is a 23 year old rapper from Carol City, Florida who has recently emerged as one of the underground’s most vibrant young talents–and one of its best candidates for breakthrough success in the mainstream. Unlike other artists who are fixated on the morbid, Curry’s music isn’t sprawling or indulgent, trite or aphoristic. Instead, his acute sense for the less savory parts of his life has manifested in hip-hop that’s laser-focused, that sounds steeped in the headier approaches of the genre’s greatest technicians yet remains distinctly Southern.
Denzel continues to impress and is only gaining more recognition after the critical and commercial success of 2018’s TA13OO. With the release of TA13OO, Denzel appeared on Billboard’s Emerging Artists Top 10 at #7, debuted on the Rap Chart at #6, and debuted at #28 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. The album includes critically-acclaimed singles “Clout Cobain,” “Black Balloons,” and “Sumo” and has received the highest praise from publications including Billboard, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and Stereogum.
Across TA13OO’s three acts, Denzel explores topics including the presidential election, fame, hatred, paranoia, revenge, love, the current state of music, and personal tales of his own near-death experiences. Sonically, the album ranges just as widely as its subject matter – sounds of paranoia, fear of loss, brooding melancholy and mood swings straight from hell all find their way onto TA13OO, making this Denzel’s most groundbreaking musical performance to date.
ELTON JOHN “MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER”
Madman Across the Water is the fourth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1971 through DJM/Uni Records.
Simply Elton will perform “Intimate Solo Performances” in an ongoing series of monthly Sunday evening shows, each featuring a classic Elton John album. Presented in an intimate solo setting, Brian Harris channels Elton John with wild costuming, virtuoso piano technique, and meticulously Elton-styled vocals. Over the coming months, surprises will be in store with guest musicians joining Simply Elton in presenting these classic albums and music.
Currently scheduled shows:
April 27 – The 1970 Album “Elton John”
May 25 – The 1970 Album “Tumbleweed Connection”
June 22 – The 1971 Album “Madman Across The Water”
July 13 – The 1972 Album “Honky Chateau”
Aug 24 – The 1973 Album “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player”
ELTON JOHN “TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION”
Tumbleweed Connection is the third album by English singer/songwriter Elton John.
Simply Elton will perform “Intimate Solo Performances” in an ongoing series of monthly Sunday evening shows, each featuring a classic Elton John album. Presented in an intimate solo setting, Brian Harris channels Elton John with wild costuming, virtuoso piano technique, and meticulously Elton-styled vocals. Over the coming months, surprises will be in store with guest musicians joining Simply Elton in presenting these classic albums and music.
Currently scheduled shows:
April 27 – The 1970 Album “Elton John”
May 25 – The 1970 Album “Tumbleweed Connection”
June 22 – The 1971 Album “Madman Across The Water”
July 13 – The 1972 Album “Honky Chateau”
Aug 24 – The 1973 Album “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player”
ELTON JOHN “ELTON JOHN”
Elton John is the second album by English singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1970.
Simply Elton will perform “Intimate Solo Performances” in an ongoing series of monthly Sunday evening shows, each featuring a classic Elton John album. Presented in an intimate solo setting, Brian Harris channels Elton John with wild costuming, virtuoso piano technique, and meticulously Elton-styled vocals. Over the coming months, surprises will be in store with guest musicians joining Simply Elton in presenting these classic albums and music.
Currently scheduled shows:
April 27 – The 1970 Album “Elton John”
May 25 – The 1970 Album “Tumbleweed Connection”
June 22 – The 1971 Album “Madman Across The Water”
July 13 – The 1972 Album “Honky Chateau”
Aug 24 – The 1973 Album “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player”
OUTRUN THE SUNLIGHT
We are a progressive metal band from Chicago, IL, and have been making albums since 2011. Founded by Austin Peters (guitar), the current line-up consists of Phil Kalas (bass), Ken Stebliy (guitar), Luke Angle (drums) and Kyle Kunkler (synths). Our newest record, The Return of Inertia 2.0, is a follow up to our 2021 release (A Vast Field of Silence) and takes the listener on an exciting rediscovery of the music that put our band on the map. Beyond releasing records, we also stream on Twitch, run a Discord dedicated to music discovery and production, and create tone and producer packs for guitarists and producers on Gumroad. See and hear everything we make at www.outrunthesunlight.com
BREWSKI
Robert O’Brien aka “Brewski” born on November 3, 1992 on the south side of Chicago. Growing up Robert O’Brien was the front man in several local rock/metal bands (Victory At All Costs, The Narragansett Tragedy, & I Killed Everyone) before switching over to rap. Was given the nickname “Brewski” by friends because he was known as the party starter in his teenage years. Brewski began rapping his senior year of high school while attending De La Salle Insitute in Chicago. Shortly after his first release Brewski grew a strong buzz in the Chicagoland area. Brewski used outlets such as Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook to release his material. In a short period of time Brewski has already opened up for big name acts such as Wu-Tang Clan, Nappy Roots, LEP Bogus Boys, Syleena Johnson and etc. Brewski performance is described as ”hype” because of the high intensity/energy he brings.
BURKE
Fun facts about Burke:
1. He Hates Beards
2. He Hates being 6’3″
3. He Hates Smoking Meats
4. He Likes People
50’s & 60’s Rock
NICK VAN HORN
Catchy melodies meet garage rock in the music of Nick Van Horn. The Chicago two-piece rock harder then any punk show in the city.
WARFORGED
We, Warforged, are a Chicago death metal act, focused on refining our own take on death metal. We are playing exactly what we want to be playing, and what we feel that we can offer to the vast world of metal. Not only are we musicians, we are also huge fans of the genre as well, bringing our knowledge together to create some of the music that not only we enjoy, but that we know fellow fans of metal will enjoy.
THE MIRANDAS
Garage punk-rock band from Mt. Prospect, IL.
BURNDOUBT
We’re burndoubt and we play surf rock music.
FACELIFT
FACELIFT -is , the Premier ALICE IN CHAINS Tribute Hailing From Chicago Il.! Concentrating Solely On The Early Albums , Immortalized By Original Singer/ Front man Layne….FACELIFT Brings the Sound, Look, & Feel of the Bands Greatest Material & Performances to the Stage , From the Intoxicating Vocals , to the High Energy Performances by All the Musicians, Covering All The Great Songs That Have Made The Band One Of the Most Hauntingly Charismatic Bands Of Our Time! Strap Yourselves Down,& Come Witness The Experience & Awe of ..
~FACELIFT~ Brendan Maier-VOX / Stephen Serio-BASS , & VOX/ Guido (ZILLA) Cameli-DRUMS, & VOX / Eddie Ferrazzi- GUITARS, & VOX
PLAGUE BRINGER
ferocious: marked by unrelenting intensity; extreme.
uplifting: To raise to spiritual or emotional heights; exalt.
These two words embody the sonic, visionary, and aesthetic experience that is Chicago’s industrial metal duo, PLAGUE BRINGER. Featuring guitarist/drum programmer, Greg Ratajczak and vocalist Josh Rosenthal, PLAGUE BRINGER is an ever-evolving project whose mission to be as progressive as it is aggressive, has garnered comparisons across the ‘heavy’ music spectrum from TOOL to GODFLESH to PIG DESTROYER.
‘Life Songs in a Land of Death’, PLAGUE BRINGER’s sophomore release and their first for HeWhoCorrupts INC, is the product of over two years of creative fervor, merciless judgment, and obsessive attention to detail both artistically and conceptually. The album satisfies the duo’s selfish need to create intelligent, relevant, and personal art which also aims to captivate listeners by drawing them into a ferocious and uncomfortable yet rewarding and uplifting sonic experience. Thematically, the album addresses ideas of self realization through adversity, the death of the impassioned, and the search and discovery of beauty beneath filth. The album was mastered by Scott Hull at Visceral Sound and is the follow up to 2005’s acclaimed debut full length, ‘As the Ghosts Collect, The Corpses Rest’ (Seventh Rule Recordings/Lo Fi Violence).
PLAGUE BRINGER formed in December of 2002, shortly after Ratajczak’s work at Clava Studios with producer/engineer BRIAN DECK and MODEST MOUSE on “The Moon and Antarctica”. Ratajczak asked long time friend and artistic collaborator, Rosenthal, to contribute his unique writing style to the project and provide lyrics that when read and reflected upon, unveil deeper layers of meaning to the reader. Ratajczak began the project with and has chosen to continue using the drum machine, which is just as significant to the PLAGUE BRINGER sound, both live and in the studio, as either human member.
PLAGUE BRINGER has established a strong presence in the metal underground. Consistent shows throughout the Midwest and several tours to the East coast afforded the group the opportunity to share stages with the likes of BRUTAL TRUTH, PIG DESTROYER, DEICIDE, the BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, KHANATE, the RED CHORD, and RUSSIAN CIRCLES.
MRS. SKANNOTTO
Riding a career spanning 15 years, the guys in Mrs. Skannotto are no strangers to their brand of third-wave ska-rock. The Rochester, NY-based six-piece just dropped its fifth studio release, a brand-spanking-new 14-track full-length effort titled All These Evolutions.
Ranging from huge-sounding choruses on tracks like the blistering opener “Just As Well” and the forceful “Lost and Found” to more mellow sounds (think RX Bandits meets The Police) on songs like “The Blame” and “Fair Weather Foe,” All These Evolutions sees Mrs. Skannotto continuing to break ground even after more than a decade as a band.
A testament to the ideals of teamwork and the do-it-yourself ethos, Mrs. Skannotto is looking to continue to build upon its fanbase in 2013 while it supports its new record. The band was recently out on the road for 40+ dates with their good friends in The Toasters, and spent a chunk of 2012 on Less Than Jake’s 20th Anniversary Tour with Reel Big Fish, Mad Caddies, Flatfoot 56, and A Wilhelm Scream.
LA REPUPLICA
La República, is a fresh and dynamical 3 piece Latin/Rock band influenced by the musical work of The Beatles amongst many other artists of the 60´s and of current times. La República´s vision and goals through music are to represent culture & Latin America.
COFFINS
Coffins are a Japanese death-doom metal band, formed in 1996 by guitarist and vocalist Uchino. Having gone through several lineup changes in the past, they now consist of Uchino, Ryo (drums) and Koreeda (bass). Their sound is influenced by old school ’80s and ’90s doom metal, death metal and thrash metal.
NATE GORDON
Nate Gordon is an americana blues guitarist from the rolling hills and muddy creeks of the “heck yes, midwest” lands of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Regionally, Gordon has made a name for himself playing various music houses, cafes, and larger indie-rock venues like the barnstormer shows at the Codfish Hollow Barn. He’s shared bills with a range of acts from blues chuggers The Ghost Wolves, to backcountry rockers The Deadstring Brothers, and even folk rock wonders Mark Mulcahy and Pieta Brown.
Gordon’s original sets often include a mix of blues tunings, as his influences are varied, ranging from traditional greats like Son House and Blind Willie Johnson to modern alt-rock bands like Dawes and These United States.
CHESTER THOMPSON TRIO
The Chester Thompson Trio was formed in June of 2011 when pianist Joe
Davidian, bassist Michael Rinne and legendary drummer Chester Thompson
were hired to accompany some of the world’s leading jazz trombonists
at the International Trombone Festival, held that year in Nashville,
Tennessee. After a week of playing workshops and concerts several
hours a day, the trio found that they really enjoyed playing together.
After that, they played every Monday at a club called the Commodore
Lounge for more than a year.
Thompson has recorded and performed the world over with some of the
biggest names in jazz and rock, including Weather Report, Joe Sample,
Freddie Hubbard, Ahmad Jamal, Phil Collins, Genesis, and Frank Zappa.
He teaches drumset at Belmont University and regularly tours
internationally, giving performances and drum clinics.
Joe Davidian also teaches at Belmont and at the Nashville Jazz
Workshop, maintains an extensive private studio, and plays regular
jazz gigs around town. He also has recorded three trio albums under
his own name, the third of which will be released in April, 2013.
Michael Rinne is quickly becoming one of Nashville’s first-call
bassists for sessions, and is a member of the premiere studio
orchestra, the Nashville String Machine. Rinne also tours domestically
with various Nashville-based artists.
Thompson’s enthusiasm for the relatively young trio is apparent:
“It was difficult to schedule time at first because [Davidian and
Rinne] are always in demand.
Nashville has a nice jazz scene and they are two of the busiest
musicians in the city.
I am fortunate to play with them.……Joe Davidian and Mike Rinne are
very young and have a lot of energy but they play with wisdom of
musicians twice their age. The musical communication
we have is very special, so things happen when we play that we do not
have to talk about.
It is nice that after so many years of touring and recording; I am
very excited about
this band!”
PIG DESTROYER
PIG DESTROYER boil metal down to its muscle, sinew, and bone – razor-sharp guitar, percussive pummeling, and a lone, stark howl – and use them to commit a vicious assault. The lyrics paint loathsome, frightening images of pitch-black self-hatred and the frailty of the human experience. These musical manifestations only serves to cement their already legendary status.
THE GUTTER GHOULS
Many things can be said about Detroit, not only as a city, but also as a pioneer in the music scene. In a city constantly changing and adapting, the music begins to reflect it, not only in popular music of the mainstream, but also in bands and individual musicians. Such a band was conceived in January of 2012. Crafting a style of their own by seamlessly blending styles of music such as punk, psychobilly, hardcore, classic rock n’ roll and a hint of classic horror, the Gutter Ghouls are creating a style completely unlike anything in Metro-Detroit.
The Gutter Ghouls began as a project of Branden Gelineau (upright bass/lead vocals, ex-Distinguished Gentlemen) and Kevin Hardy (drums/backing vocals). Soon they were joined by Billy Causey (guitar/backing vocals) and hit the ground running, immediately booking countless shows and recording their self released ep ‘Motor City Murderbilly’.
The band began to gain instant notoriety through a grueling regiment of shows, promotion, and recognition from countless national and local bands. Having performed with such acts as the Misfits, the Chop Tops, the Stolen Babies, the Krank Daddies, the Strikers, The Everymen and the Independents, the Gutter Ghouls have transformed from a small opening act to a mainstay in the Michigan music scene.
With a new album in the works, as well as a new music video and plans for touring, keep an eye out for the Ghouls! For fans of psychobilly, punk and the Devil himself, grab a beer and a shot, light up a cigarette and hold on tight!
DISROTTED
Disrotted was formed in mid 2013 by members of other local bands such as Pit of Spikes, Sick/Tired, Hate, and Harpoon with the mindset of playing slow, depressing, funeral paced doom infused with death metal. This is the bleak soundtrack for entering the void.
COMFORTABLY FLOYD
Launched in 2009, this five-member group works diligently to perform the many details of sonic and expressive nuances essential to emulate the true Pink Floyd sound in every performance. From the sound effects like airplanes, heartbeats, clocks, etc. to matching the lead vocal characteristics of Roger Waters and David Gilmour, Comfortably Floyd does it all. In addition to the sound effects and expressive vocals, the characteristic sounds of monstrous guitar solos, spacey keyboards, smooth jazzy saxophones lines, with solid laid-back drum and bass grooves will please all listeners, especially the biggest Pink Floyd fans. Add to that a projection screen along with a light show with lasers, Comfortably Floyd provides an excellent Pink Floyd experience that will thrill any audience.
POWDER MILL
Verisimilitude isn’t a word you’re likely to hear out of Powder Mill but it’s the one that fits. Everything about these Missouri men feels damn real: salt of the earth substance apparent in every tune, every rugged but right vocal, with every line ringing true and strong backed with the kinda muscle that lays a body flat. A palpable sense of place permeates their music, deftly carved mountains and rivers winding through their tunes, the backwoods stills and boogie shacks breathing along bad roads everyone knows you just shouldn’t wander down but do anyway because, well, human nature – something this band understands very well, clearly fellas who’ve spent a few nights in jail AND learned a thing or two from it.
But these are no wannabe outlaws, just guys telling it like it is, unvarnished reports from the blue collar trenches, putting melody to every solitary late night thinker wondering, “I’m working this damn hard and this is all I’ve got?” There’s a healthy measure of early Asbury Park Springsteen to the gritty pondering of the band’s 5th album, The Land of the Free, which strives to drag Jesus from the dark side of town, eager to bring the good word to every battered, struggling soul living on the ragged, shadowy edge.
Make no mistake, this is rock ‘n’ roll that needs no adjectives (modern, classic, Americana, etc), but this is also unabashedly country as fuck, embracing the world outside big cities and tied to the land and its cyclical flow in tangible, lived ways. In this way and many others, Powder Mill are the true sons of Ronnie Van Zant, with a game that’s tight, tough and fired up about all the right things – family, freedom and fun – and a surprising tenderness that slips in between all the fisticuffs, hot messes and weed running in their tales. Their willingness to tussle extends to love, understanding that the real thing has to be fought for and defended with all one’s might, perhaps most so against one’s own failings and dumb decisions.
Powder Mill, particularly on The Land of the Free, put the lie to notion that they don’t make ‘em like they used to. This is a band that can proudly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with pre-plane crash Skynyrd, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, The Black Crowes and contemporaries like The Drive-By Truckers and Slobberbone as torchbearers for rock rooted in unremittingly honest soil that takes full advantage of Southern musical traditions – People’s Music made by real people with more heart, balls, raw charm and natural talent than most God made. -Dennis Cook
THE DUSTBOWL REVIVAL
The Dustbowl Revival is a Venice, California-based roots collective that merges old school bluegrass, gospel, jug-band, swamp blues and the hot swing of the 1930’s to form a spicy roots cocktail. Known for their inspired live sets, the Dustbowl Revival boldly brings together many styles of traditional American music. Imagine Old Crow Medicine Show meeting Louis Armstrong’s Hot Seven Band in New Orleans or Bob Dylan and Fats Waller jamming with Mumford & Sons on a front porch in 1938.
Growing steadily from a small string band playing up and down the west coast (hundreds shows in the last two years), DBR has blossomed into a traveling collective featuring instrumentation that often includes fiddle, mandolin, trombone, clarinet, trumpet, banjo, accordion, tuba, pedal steel, drums, guitars, a bass made from a canoe oar, harmonica and plenty of washboard and kazoo for good luck.
With an enthusiastic and growing national following, DBR released their first LP, You Can’t Go Back To The Garden of Eden to rave reviews. Their tune “Dan’s Jam”, received Americana Song Of The Year honors by the Independent Music Awards (Tom Waits, Ozzy Osbourne judging). The group has placed songs in several independent films and TV projects including “Made In China” (IFC) which won SXSW, and in a 2013 episode of FOX’s AMERICAN IDOL. National radio play includes LA’s KCRW, KPFK, and KCSN, Austin’s KGSR, SF’s KPFA and Seattle’s taste-making KEXP.
Their EP + vinyl 7’’ Holy Ghost Station was released in the summer of 2011 under the auspices of analog specialist Raymond Richards with Rockets Red Glare (Local Natives) and in 2011-12 Dustbowl played with artists as diverse as The Rebirth Brass Band, Best Coast, Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers and more, hosting shows from Chicago to Seattle, Anchorage and San Diego as well as playing festivals like Outside Lands, Lightning In a Bottle, Make Music Pasadena and The New LA Folk Festival.
2013 has a new album – Carry Me Home, on the way. Merging their vintage style with a hip, lose-your-troubles-and-start-moving vibe, the record perfectly encompasses the band’s upbeat message. Seeking to travel more widely in 2013, the band will be playing Mountain Song Bluegrass Cruise to The Bahamas (Punch Brothers, David Grisman) as well as venturing to Arizona, Colorado, New York and beyond.
VATTNET VISKAR
Something wicked this way comes, wending its way through damp back alleyways and down leafy New England back roads, whispering through still water and dark fog. The clarion call for the next great wave of American black metal has sounded, and Vattnet Viskar is leading the charge. They’ve once again followed the open road ahead, and returned bearing their most important work yet.
With the autumn equinox not far off, Vattnet Viskar has completed work on Sky Swallower, their debut full-length album. Recorded at Universal Noise Storage under the watchful eye of producer Brett Boland, Sky Swallower features eight songs of masterfully executed atmospheric black metal devotion.
KING PARROT
King Parrot are a 5 piece from Melbourne Australia who play extreme music with elements of thrash, death, grind and punk rock. Uniquely Australian with their energy, presence and humour King Parrot are well renowned for their aggressive and visually entertaining live show. Since the bands inception onto the live scene in Australia in 2011, their work ethic and commitment to touring and releasing new material has seen them become one of the leading acts in this genre. The band have released one EP “The Stench of Hardcore Pub Trash” in 2011, and their debut album “Bite Your Head Off” has been released worldwide in 2013.To top of a massive year for the band King Parrot won The Age Newspaper – Music Victoria – Wifire Music – Best heavy album award and “Act of the Year” at the Cherry Bar – AC/DC Lane – Jagermeister awards.
King Parrot signed a 3 album worldwide deal with Candlelight Records who are based in the United Kingdom and United States of America.
The EP and album have been combined and released under the “Bite Your Head Off” banner for the worldwide market and re-released in Australia on CD and vinyl.
In March 2013 the band toured to Indonesia where they played and appeared at the first Obscene Extreme Festival in Jakarta. Festival organiser, Miloslav Urbanec proclaimed the King Parrot set was one of the “most enjoyable performances I have seen in 20 years of running the festival”. King Parrot has been a major draw card on Australia’s Bastardfest, Obscene Extreme, Devil’s Kitchen, Dead of Winter, Cherry Rock and Whiplash Festivals.
In June 2013 King Parrot participated in a national tour presented by youth broadcaster Triple J with internationally recognised acts Thy Art is Murder and Cattle Decapitation (USA). After touring with Australian legends Psycroptic, they have followed that up with their own Australian tour in September 2014 and pre- christmas tour with rockers Gay Paris. The band have also supported acts like Obituary, Kvelertak, Forbidden, Macabre, Unida and Eyehategod. Solidifying the bands presence in the national market, King Parrot have recently been rewarded with the cover of Veri-Live magazine in July, and featured on the cover of the nationally distributed Heavy Music Magazine in August.
A second single and video for the track “Bozo” has just been released. The video is based around the bands live performance and was filmed at the Cherry Rock Festival in AC/DC lane Melbourne in May 2013. Their first single and video for the song “Shit on the Liver” was a finalist in the Australian music video competition at St Kilda film festival. The video has over 100,000 hits on Youtube and has been hailed by critics and media alike as one the best Australian underground music video’s of all time.
King Parrot will continue to push the boundaries of extreme music, drawing on diverse influences and delivering a unique, energetic and captivating live show.
OKAPI
OKAPI utilizes each of its musicians’ unconventional juxtapositions to create an alternative sense of aesthetic unity. The intimate orchestrations form a mosaic abundant with meanings that project an honest yet satirical sense of realism, which stimulate the cryptic emotions presented in everyday life.
THIEVES & GYPSYS
THIEVES & GYPSYS is an indie rock’n’roll band from Santa Fe, New Mexico. That started in early 2011 in a small town in New Mexico, crammed in a smaller room where Jared Garcia and Dave Vigil elbow to elbow penning out small songs in hope of expanding and making their world bigger. The band emerged once they added bassist Aaron Jones. The trio would soon begin work on develpoing a sound that they would call wavepop and catch the ear of the world.
NACOSTA
Brandon and Shane formed Nacosta in 2011. A little later, they met Christian Gibson, and together they are working on their debut record. “Under the Half Moon” will be released in March 2014 followed by a national tour.
THOSE CROSSTOWN RIVALS
Kentucky rock and roll for people who know how to party. For fans of Gaslight Anthem, Lucero, The Replacements
JEREMY PORTER & THE TUCOS
Jeremy Porter & The Tucos are a Detroit based band playing original Rock And Roll. They love their power-pop but they’re influenced by Gram Parsons, Uncle Tupelo and Waylon Jennings as much as Cheap Trick, The Replacements and X. It makes for an interesting, hooky blend of energy, melody, distortion and twang. Goes great with a cold PBR, whether you are crying in it or raising it up and singing along.
Jeremy Porter grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As a founding member of one of the UP’s first punk bands – The Regulars – Jeremy learned at 16 what a rock bar smells like. By the late 80s he was living near Detroit and playing clubs across the Midwest. For the next 2 decades he would front bands that would gig, record and tour across the country to varying degrees – SlugBug, The OffRamps, Fidrych, and more. In 2010 Jeremy released his first solo album Party of One on Toronto’s prestigious indie label Magwheel Records (Spoon, The Nils) and toured the US and Canada extensively.
In late 2010 Jeremy recruited Jason Bowes (Bass) and Gabriel Doman (Drums) and The Tucos were born. Jason was in The OffRamps and Fidrych with Jeremy and Gabe came from The Hotwalls, a Detroit powerpop-alt-rock band he formed and led for years. The Tucos played dozens of shows across the Midwest in their first year, headlining and opening for national acts like Jesse Malin & The St, Mark’s Social and Whitey Morgan & The 78s. They released a 7″ single on Magwheel Records in 2011 and spent most of 2012 recording their first full-length. Partner In Crime was released in February of 2013 by Detroit’s coveted New Fortune Records on limited edition vinyl, CD and download. The Tucos will spend the next year and more promoting it.
ALTITUDES & ATTITUDE
Altitudes & Attitude, the new project from longtime friends Frank Bello of Anthrax and David Ellefson of Megadeth, who have released their self-titled EP on January 14th music together while traveling the world during clinics now known as Metal Masters.
“What started out as simple bass ideas quickly developed into some really great songs together,” says Ellefson. “Our fans would probably never suspect that a couple of metal bass players would have songs like these inside of us. It’s exciting to write melody with diversity while still pushing the limits of lead-bass playing. Frank’s singing, and both of us playing guitars and other instruments, gave us a whole new dimension for creative opportunities.”
“We thought it would be cool to let fans hear something they wouldn’t expect from us- which is what Altitudes & Attitude is,” adds Bello.
Bello and Ellefson have devised an exciting and interactive format for their live performances with Altitudes & Attitudes that is flexible enough to include a clinic format, Q&A with the audience, as well as closing up the performance with classic cover songs that have inspired them in their own careers. Songs from artists such as Cheap Trick, The Clash, The Ramones and more are part of the Altitudes & Attitude repertoire that rock and metal fans will appreciate from these two metal masters.
TN TWISTERS
We play multi-genred and our original music…And while we are doing that we play the game Twister on stage, visit with and involve folks in the crowd, and yes sometimes we put on socks!!!
DEX ROMWEBER DUO
Dex Romweber is nothing less than an icon of the American music underground. Pioneering the template for the stripped to-the-essentials guitar/drums duo format in the (should be) world famous psycho-surf-rockabilly-garage-punk combo Flat Duo Jets—so often emulated, so rarely duplicated—Dex continues his resurgence with the new album Is That You In The Blue? With sister Sara on drums, the Dex Romweber Duo is a potent combo that’ll get your leg twitching with the beat and your heart racing -and sometimes breaking- with the feral excitement of music. If it don’t, you might want to consider turning in your “I Heart Rock n Roll” badge. Seriously.
In Dex, you have someone who burrows into the guts of American roots music with a uniquely alchemical mania; he’s a man clearly bored with, or oblivious to, genre constraints. With a mix of originals and obscure nuggets from rock and roll’s dusky back closets, the DRD romps through the sweaty cinder block studios of Memphis of the 50’s, channels street corners on the wrong side of town with existential blues and instrumentals that’d find a home in a Tarantino spy flick.
For pure rock and roll at its most glorious, Dex, his vintage Silvertone guitar and Sara’s wall of sound drums kick out the jams, mf’ers, on “Jungle Drums,” the dragstrip rave-up “Gurdjieff Girl” and the soundtrack for your next knife fight at the juvey home “Climb Down.” Bust out your hip flask and hand jive to heaven to that wicked Bobby Fuller beach party groove on “Wish you Would,” or strut down the Rio strand to the buoyant Bossa Nova throw down “Brazil”—a classic that runs a sonic spark plug from Xavier Cugat to Tav Falco’s Panther Burns.
Beyond the wild ruckus the Duo conjures so well, Is That You in the Blue? is colored by Dex’s broken romantic trips to the deep tunnel of un-love. From the slinky, cinematic revenge noir of “The Death of Me,” to the unhinged, edge of the abyss vibe of “Nowhere” to the jazzy, ghostly howl at the “Midnight Sun,” he’s on a dark and sometimes vengeful ride he ain’t taking alone. And the title track has as bitter and liberating a kiss off line that’s ever been sung, the one we’ve all wished we could have come up with when she was walking out the door.
For Is That You In The Blue?, recorded at Southern Culture on the Skids Rick Miller’s studio in North Carolina, DRD filled in their already formidable sound with Tarheel luminaries from the bands The Old Ceremony and Savage Knights, as well as Rick Miller himself and fellow SCOTS Mary Huff. Since their last Bloodshot album, Ruins of Berlin (2009), the DRD recorded a 7” single of hillbilly folk-blues with Jack White as well as a live album recorded at his Third Man record store in Nashville.
R DUBB
STILL FRAMES
like the thompson twins x2, minus two, because there were actually three of them, and we don’t have a black dude :'(
RIGHT ON RED
There’s a new meaning behind your favorite traffic regulation phrase. Right On Red, the five piece band out of Chicago, IL, ironically stops at nothing to make music that reflects what we all feel, but can’t all express. Balancing a beautiful blend of all their favorite influences, the five friends that make up ROR have proven to be more than an imitation of the past heroes in Pop/Punk. Piecing their energetic personality with sheer musical genius, Right on Red packs excitement into every performance, post performance, and social media post-and are pretty much the poster boys for the emerging “Wiener/Punk/Pop” movement (see future instagram and twitter references).
Right On Red has graciously shared the stage with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, City Lights, Phone Calls From Home, Carousel Kings, Reject My Reality, Patent Pending, Rust Belt Lights, Stickup Kid, Rookie of the Year, Savior Self, Arkham, Vanatica
TANKS & GUNS
Tanks & Guns is comprised of four veterans of the Chicago music scene with former members of The Delivery Boys, Satellites, Chasing Mars, and One Summer’s Night. All members can attest to the fact that playing music is in their blood. Tanks & Guns is driven by pure passion to establish themselves by connecting to every fan by their powerful and honest music, which is explosively delivered both live and in the studio. What makes this band so unique is that this project means everything to each member. Every chord strums with the goal of achieving their most deepest dream, which is playing music for a living. With the release of their first two singles right around the corner, the Tanks & Guns will hit the ground running.
THE GREAT BARRIER REEFS
The Great Barrier Reefs are a steel drum fronted funk fusion group based in Nashville, TN. Lead by pannist Tony Hartman (of Roy ‘Futureman’ Wooten’s Black Mozart Ensemble), the Reefs have been delivering their high energy show to music lovers in the Midwest and Southeast since 2009.
PFM (PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI)
Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) (translation: Award-winning Marconi Bakery) is an Italian progressive rockband. They were the first Italian group to have success abroad, entering both the British and American charts. Between 1973 and 1977 they released five albums with English lyrics. They also had several successful Europeanand American tours, playing at the popular Reading Festival in England and on a very popular national television programme in the U.S.A.
PFM introduced new sounds, such as the synthesizer, to the Italian musical world. They were also among the first to combine symphonic classical and traditional Italian musical influences in a rock music context. Such innovations and their longevity have made them among the most important bands in the international Progressive rock genre.
EXMORTUS
Los Angeles-based neo-classical extreme metal mavens Exmortus return on new album, “Necrophony.” Four years in the making, the group’s sixth album offers nothing but savage rebirth and fierce renewal. “Necrophony” marks a significant turning point—one foretold by the Legions of the “Undead” EP in 2019—for the Angelenos. Not only have they emerged from the throes of the pandemic stronger, faster and crazier, they’ve signed on to global metal powerhouse Nuclear Blast. The passion and fury of lead-off single “Oathbreaker” is merely the tip of Exmortus’ darkest tower. Follow-on singles like the powerful “Mind of Metal” and “Storm of Strings,” a whistle-stop, no-joke cover of Greek-American composer Yanni interpreting Vivaldi’s “The Storm,” add greatly to Exmortus’ masterly oeuvre.
Exmortus was founded in 2002. The group issued a bevy of well-received demos and EPs that culminated in debut In Hatred’s Flame in 2008. Since then, Gonzalez—now flanked by specialists Phillip Nuñez (bass), Chase Becker (guitars), and Adrian Aguilar (drums)—has gone on to release four more fan-favorite full-lengths. Exmortus have toured with Amon Amarth, Obituary, Death Angel, and more, playing gigs in North America and Europe. The group’s highlights have also included a stint with thrash legends Exodus at industry lighthouse event NAMM and a coveted spot on the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise. Necrophony, a portmanteau of “necro” and “phony” (or “dead sounds”), is Exmortus bigger, badder and wickedly restless.
Written from a fresh slate, Necrophony’s origins can be traced to preludes “Masquerade,” “Overture,” and the intro to “Children of the Night.” Once Exmortus had the feel down, they settled on expanding on the motifs by forging Viennese sophistication with metal might. Careful observers will hear Exmortus’ clever use of the album’s musical theme throughout its 12-song range. That includes “Darkest of Knights” and the aforementioned “Children of the Night,” as well as Necrophony’s shorter bursts of bravado in “Oathbreaker” and “Beyond the Grave.” The most important attributes were, however, vibe and Exmortus’ careful crafting of their next-gen sonic fingerprint.
Whereas previous albums up through 2018’s “The Sound of Steel” have been predicated on heroic fantasy/sword & sorcery, Necrophony turns a decidedly darker page. Exmortus have gone from a “Conan the Barbarian” and “Gladiator” aesthetic to something blacker, more nefarious as illustrated by the eeriest and evilest Lovecraftian and Tolkien-esque tales. There’s even a classic horror thing happening. This is, of course, a reflection of our immediate world, and the darkness that’s engulfing everything in it.
Exmortus invited Renaissance man Zack Ohren (Fallujah, Immolation) to return as engineer, producer, mixer and mastering ace on Necrophony. Certainly, the team that had cemented the group’s three previous albums into the annals of metaldom was going to work yet again. With Ohren at the helm, Exmortus holed up in Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, CA. Necrophony was fast-tracked in just under two weeks. The result is a clap of virtuosic metal sure to leave fans battered, bloodied, and hungry for more violent opulence.
With “Oathbreaker,” “Mind of Metal” and “Storm of Strings” ringing darkened ears Exmortus’ paroxysmal ascent to extreme metal’s upper echelons is guaranteed with Necrophony. Bow in reverence to the high-flying, six-stringed dynasts now.
JAKE E. LEE’S RED DRAGON CARTEL
Jakey Lou Williams was born and raised in West Virginia, USA. His Japanese born mother and his US Naval officer father were constantly on the move. Eventually settling in San Diego, the Williams family put their roots down. Jake and his sister took to the California culture and lifestyle as if born into it. Jake’s mother, recognizing that her son had tremendous musical talent, encouraged Jake to learn classical piano at an early age. However, his sister was instrumental in showing Jake that a world beyond classical music existed. She played Jake her favorite hard rock artists like Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Soon Jake had switched to guitar as his instrument of choice and started on his road to becoming the legend that he is now. Unfortunately, his mentor and sister passed away in a motorcycle accident. But her influence was already established in her kid brother Jake.
During high school, he formed a band called Teaser changing his name to Jake E Lee. The band developed a large following in the Southern California area. Jake caught the eye of guitarist and good friend Warren DiMartini, and soon DiMartini was asking Jake for lessons. He also caught the eye of Stephen Pearcy the lead singer of a San Diego band called Mickey Rat. Pearcy asked Jake to join his band as lead guitarist, and he accepted. They changed the band’s name to Ratt, moved to L.A. and began playing the L.A. club circuit. The band’s established a huge fan base and much acclaim followed. However, Jake decided that Ratt didn’t fit the style of the music he wanted to play and decided to leave the group. DiMartini replaced him on Jake’s recommendation.
Jake played a few shows as lead guitarist of Rough Cutt, until Ronnie James Dio discovered his incredible talents. They planned to work together until Ozzy Osbourne interrupted them. He asked Jake to audition for his band following the sad passing of Randy Rhoads. Jake knew that Randy’s shoes were hard to fill, but he believed he was able to fill them. Ozzy auditioned around 500 other guitarists from around the world, eventually choosing Jake to fill the void of Randy Rhoads. Jake flew to England for rehearsal, and then went on tour with the legendary madman Ozzy Osbourne.
For the next four years, Jake recorded, wrote and toured with Ozzy. They released “Bark at the Moon”, which eventually went multi-platinum, and quickly quieted critics who said Rhoads could never be replaced. The “Ultimate Sin” album followed, which was another huge success for Ozzy. Osbourne, at the time was going through his well-documented drug and alcohol periods, and during a rehearsal fired Jake in the middle of one of his rages. Contrary to common belief, however, Ozzy and Jake remain good friends to this day. Ozzy has recently talked to Jake about a possible reunion, although Jake has repeatedly turned him down.
After the Ozzy Osbourne madness, Jake decided to take a well-earned break. He wanted to spend more time with his wife and daughter. As soon as word spread that Jake had left Ozzy’s band, the phone calls came in fast and furious. Nothing interested Jake, however, until he received a phone call from ex-Black Sabbath lead singer Ray Gillen. Gillen was hoping to form a blues-based metal band with Lee, and Lee responded. Together, they recruited bassist Greg Chaisson and drummer Eric Singer, and formed Badlands.
Badlands released their first album in 1989, self-titled “Badlands”. It was a mix of blues and hard rock, powered by hard-driving guitar riffs, receiving amazing critical acclaim as well as fantastic sales. The band toured worldwide to support the album, and followed it up with “Voodoo Highway”. This album was an even deeper dive into the blues, and again received much acclaim from critics. However, due to health issues, Ray left Badlands, and was replaced by John West. This incarnation proved not to be one that Jake wanted and Badlands disbanded. Unfortunately, Ray Gillen would eventually pass away due to complications caused by AIDS. In the year 2000, however, “Dusk” was released, which was recorded live in earlier sessions with Ray Gillen.
The passing of his friend Ray as well personal issues persuaded Jake to move away from the scene for a while. During this period of reflection, he was invited to play on many albums but only now has decided to re-launch his career.
Working with Kevin Churko and Ron Mancuso in Las Vegas, Jake E Lee’s spectacular new band ‘Red Dragon Cartel’ has recorded its’ eponymous first album for release on Frontiers Records in early 2014. The band features Darren Smith on lead vocals, Jonus Fairley on drums, Ron Mancuso on Bass and of course Jake E Lee on lead guitar. The album also features guest appearances from Robin Zander of ‘Cheap Trick’, Maria Brink from ‘In this Moment’ and many other all star musicians who appear on this album.
This amazing virtuoso guitarist with his new band will once again grace the rock world with his fire burning even brighter. Get ready for Jake E Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel to blast your head off in 2014.
BANDS/CUTS FEATURING HORN SECTIONS/HORN SOLOS
DJ JIMMY JAMS
Spinners should bring cuts that feature horn(s). Range of genre is encouraged…
PURGE
Purge was formed in Chicago in late 2006. It all began when guitarist/ vocalist Bernardo “Burns” Mendia crossed paths with drummer Rob Martin. The two were very ambitious and determined to create a buzz in the local area. Just a few months later, at only age 16, they quickly released a 5 song demo “Simply Gorgastic”. The released was a huge success and they soon became known by locals and all over Myspace for their sheer brutality at such a young age! In early 2007 the lineup was complete acquiring Bill Russell on bass and Josh Wheelock on rhythm guitar. Now, establishing their sound with brutal speeds and bone crushing breakdowns, the band was ready to take it to the next level.
They immediately began performing live all over northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin playing with big names such as Cannibal Corpse, Satyricon, The Faceless, Cradle of Filth, Obscura and many more. Purge was also featured in 2009 Blasphemer Festival. Soon after they released another demo featuring they’re hit song “The Urge to Purge” as well as “Artistic Torture”. Purge was really beginning to create a name for themselves in Chicago land catching the attention of Pit Magazine and Rebel Access TV. Unfortunately, in early 2009 the band decided to take a break for personal and financial reasons.
In early 2012 Purge reformed, re-releasing their hit single “The Urge to Purge”, determined to move up. The band quickly began playing shows all over Chicago land to re-establish their name, performing with reputable bands like Deicide, Nile, Cannibal Corpse, Decrepit Birth, Job for a Cowboy, Between the Buried and Me and many more, not to mention being a part of Summer Slaughter Fest 2012 in Milwaukee, WI. Purge is also regularly played on Rebel Radio, The Kat 105.5 WKAN and Max Ink Radio! Having just released their new EP “Beyond The Unknown”, Purge is determined to crush the metal scene with technical guitar passages racing across the fret board and rumbling break downs sure to melt off anyone’s face. PURGE is now stronger than ever, stunning audiences with their raw energy, insane riffs and professional musicianship. This band is guaranteed blow you away!
Metal / Metal / Metal
THE MASHINE
KABUKI MONO
Kabuki Mono is a side project of Yakuza.
GUERILLA
Guerilla is the greatest band you have never heard of. As much as these four mid-twenty year old guys would like to say they don’t give a shit, they have been playing music together since they could barely play their instruments. Guerilla plays music for the people – and by people I mean punks, 90’s music addicts, and anyone who will still get drunk on a Wednesday. As much as they enjoy playing at some of the more well known venues of Chicago, they would much rather have you catch them in some random guys basement. If the gritty chants and powerful riffs don’t get you hooked the first time you see them, then their sexy guitar shreds and occasional sax wailing will. It’s hard to sift through all the crap music and bands blowing smoke up your ass these days, so we’ll make it easy for you. Go listen to Guerilla.
CLINICAL TRIALS
Like Elastica with extra vitriol and a dash of grandeur.” – MTV Music Blog
Clinical Trials is the electro-grunge offspring of Somer Bingham, a self-produced multi-instrumentalist and a powerful performer who recently brought her grungy edge & likable personality to Showtime’s docu-series The Real L Word. Both Bingham and the music of Clinical Trials can be similarly described: fueled by punk, tinged with sexuality, and dangerously charming.
The other half of this riotous duo is pop-punk, riot-grrl inspired drummer Stacey Lee, a powerhouse behind the drums. With every bang on her kit, she adds her own touch of femininist-A.D.D to the male-dominated genre of rock n roll, inspired by the likes of Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Quasi, Wild Flag) and Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint). As a combined force, these two ladies put out more volume and sonic pleasantries than most 4 piece bands.
Taking inspiration from the energy of Nirvana, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and PJ Harvey, Clinical Trials oozes an intoxicating dysphoria that breeds in a world of whiskey waterfalls & post-punk pop. “If only Frances Bean would make up with Courtney – they would probably enjoy checking out this band together.” – Dave Cromwell, The Deli Magazine
AJ GAITHER
Everything is better when it’s home-made. And it don’t get more down home or DIY than AJ Gaither. From the building of the instruments to the writing of the songs and making of the albums, everything about this “one man junk band” is lo-tech and hands on.
The sound is cold lonely bars and old empty barns, highways and heartaches. From raging high octane foot stompin’ brag songs to slow and soulful songs about struggle and being homesick, every bit of it is drenched in whiskey and hard living.
The instruments are old cigar boxes and scrap lumber, spare bolts and wood screws. Each is one unique in tone and appearance. A large feed bucket and a wooden mallet provide the kick drum, accompanied by a junk snare drum rigged to be played by foot. All built by the same hands that play them.
Often referred to by his peers as “the hardest working musician in Kansas City”, you will be hard pressed to find any solo musical performer that plays as many shows a year and exudes so much energy on stage night after night. The love for his craft is blatantly apparent.
Born in southern Arkansas AJ spent his early childhood in a rural community known as Locust Bayou. After growing up while moving around northern Arkansas and Memphis, at age 18 (to avoid arrest in the previously mentioned states) he found himself living in Kansas City KS. After 13 years of knuckle busting on old cars to make a dollar he formed the hillbilly two piece The Fall Down Drunks, who after releasing one album, “13 Shots”, and a brief amount of touring disbanded in the end of 2011.
In an effort to bring as much energy, sound and originality as he could while performing solo, he chose the path of a DIY multi-instrumentalist. Marking this transition was the release of his first solo album “Half-Lit & Whole Hearted” in 2012. He currently travels back roads and haunts biker bars, honky-tonks and dives of the South and Midwest, or anyplace with a good supply of whiskey and folks to lend an ear.
Look for the brand new album “Home Made” to be released Spring of 2013.
JACK RABBIT
Nate Zaremba ~ Guitar/Vocals
Josh Haddad ~ Drums/Vocals
Mike Villagomez ~ Bass
DONNA THE BUFFALO
Donna the Buffalo’s feel-good, groove-oriented, danceable and often socially conscious music all began over twenty years ago with roots in old time fiddle music that evolved into a soulful electric Americana mix infused with elements of cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country. Donna the Buffalo is known for touring the country remaining fiercely independent as one of the industry’s most diverse roots-music bands and has “earned a reputation as one of the most respected, eclectic and hardest-working acts today,” praises Encore.