POCKET CANDIES
Pocket Candies is an indie rock band with electronic, industrial and jazz influences, based out of Ann Arbor, MI–where they like to get funky
ANDY TIMMONS BAND
As guitarist for pop-metal band Danger Danger, he toured the world opening for Kiss and Alice Cooper, sold over a million records worldwide, and had two #1 videos on MTV, plus amassing a discography that includes 7 solo releases that range from blazing guitar instrumentals, to blues, and even a Beatles/Elvis Costello-inspired collection of pop tunes.
As a session player, he’s been highly featured on CDs by drumming legend Simon Phillips, a live CD with Olivia Newton-John (Andy has been her music director/guitarist for several U.S. tours), two internationally acclaimed CDs by Kip Winger, recording sessions for Paula Abdul, Paul Stanley, and countless radio and television jingles. He has also played alongside many of his heroes such as Steve Vai and Joe Satriani (as a regular guest on their G3 tours in Dallas), Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Mike Stern, Ace Frehley, Ted Nugent, and Pierre Bensusan, as well as some of his fave ’60’s singing stars such as the Beach Boys, Lesley Gore, and Gordon Waller (of Peter and Gordon fame!)
Andy’s musical career began in his hometown of Evansville, Indiana at the age of 13 with his first band, Taylor Bay. “Early on, I realized that making it in a rock band was such a long-shot, that I better figure out other ways of making a living playing guitar. I began reading about players like Steve Lukather and Larry Carlton who made their living as session musicians. This really appealed to me, since I really loved a wide variety of musical styles.”
The decision to pursue the studio scene led him to more serious music studies. He studied classical guitar for two years before moving to Miami to study jazz guitar at the University of Miami (largely because the Dixie Dregs, Pat Metheny, and Jaco Pastorius had all gone there). He eventually ended up in Dallas where he was very fortunate to get a foot in the door of a very good studio scene. In 1988, the Andy Timmons band was formed and he quickly gained a following in Texas. Around that time, Epic recording artists Danger Danger recruited him to finish their debut record, film several videos, and begin touring.
After 4 years in New York with Danger Danger, Andy returned to Dallas in 1993 to resume his studio career and the Andy Timmons Band. His first solo release, ear X-tacy, was released in 1994 to critical acclaim followed 1997’s ear X-tacy 2. He then released Pawn Kings (1997), Orange Swirl (1998), The Spoken and the Unspoken (1999), and And-thology 1 & 2 (2000). In 2001 Andy signed with Favored Nations and released his first international record, That Was Then, This is Now, a compliation of the first two ear X-tacy records and and five new tracks. Resolution (2006) marks Andy’s first full-length new release for Favored Nations.
Andy has been consistently voted a “Top 20 Favorite Guitarist” in most of Japan’s rock music magazine’s reader polls, as well as being voted “Musician of the Year” four years in a row in the acclaimed Dallas Observer Music Awards. He also has become one of the most respected and sought after clinicians representing Ibanez Guitars, touring the world on their behalf.
JENNIFER BATTEN
The buzz on Jennifer Batten rose from the guitar underground, and the guitar magazines promptly began chronicling her savvy musicianship and highly original approach to the electric guitar in print.
At one point Batten was in 6 different bands, playing everything from straight ahead rock, to metal,fusion, and funk. A major turning point came when she was selected from over one hundred guitarists to play in Michael Jackson’s highly skilled band which toured the world for one and a half years playing for over four and a half million people. Jennifer wasted no time after the” Bad” Tour’s grand finale, diving into work on her own album with renown producer (and Stevie Wonder guitarist) Michael Sembello. The stunning results can be heard on “Above, Below, and Beyond”, the title appropriately describing the interesting diversity within. With this debut release, the world at large learned what all the excitement was about.
Shortly after the record’s release in the spring of ’92, she was asked again to join Michael Jackson for his upcoming “Dangerous Tour”. In January ’93, she joined Jackson to partake in Superbowl XXVII’s half time entertainment which aired to one and half billion people in 80 nations. It was the largest audience in television history.
She completed her second solo record “Jennifer Batten’s Tribal Rage~Momentum,” just before she was again asked to join Michael Jackson for his 2 year world tour supporting his double album “HIStory” in 1997.
Jennifer’s Tribal Rage project took a much different direction than her first record and is heavily influenced by world music. It is a hybrid of rock and very exotic sounds, including African percussion, Australian didgeridoo, Caribbean steel drums and Scottish bag pipes.
In the spring of 98 Jeff Beck asked Jennifer to join his band. They joined forces for 3 years on the CD’s “Who Else”, and “You Had It Coming” which were both supported by world tours.
Other guest appearances include CD’s with Carmine Appice, Michael Sembello, Carl Anderson, Carina Alfie and several rock tributes.
Jennifer has authored two music books and has just released her third solo CD/DVD entitled “Whatever”. With this 3rd effort, she’s ventured into electronica, vocal samples, and film. She’s supporting this release with a multimedia one woman show, playing guitar in synch with films projected onto a giant screen. The companion DVD includes over 90 min of art films, previously unreleased music videos, interviews, commentary, and an innovative guitar lesson.
CARL VERHEYEN
In his 40-plus years of playing the instrument, Carl has created a wildly successful, multi-faceted career. He is a critically-acclaimed musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, producer and educator with 11 CDs and two DVDs released worldwide and is commonly regarded as a guitar virtuoso capable of playing any style of music with remarkable mastery and conviction. He has been one of LA’s elite “first call” session players for the past 25 years, playing on hundreds of records, movie soundtracks and television shows. Carl has graced the pages of countless industry publications and been the subject of numerous articles chronicling his rise to the forefront of the modern day guitar scene. Carl has won numerous polls and musical honors in the US, Germany, France, Italy and the UK.
A member of the smash hit British rock group Supertramp since 1985, Carl has played to millions of enthusiastic fans in sold out arenas worldwide. As the creative force behind The Carl Verheyen Band, he has released an impressive and eclectic discography that showcases his endless talents across a wide array of musical genres.
A much sought after studio musician, Carl plays on other artists’ CDs whenever his busy schedule permits. He has recorded and played with a virtual who’s who of the music industry. His vast collection of movie soundtrack and television credits are enviable. Carl was heard by 67,000,000 people as a featured soloist at the 2009 Academy Awards. He will also be heavily featured in the forthcoming film documentary about the electric guitar, Turn It Up!
On the educational front, Carl has produced two instructional videos called Intervallic Rock Guitar and Forward Motion as well as various on-line lessons. He also has a book/CD detailing his unique “intervallic” style called Improvising without Scales. Another book entitled Studio City is a compilation of all the columns Carl wrote for Guitar Magazine between 1996 and 1999. He has written a monthly column for Chitarre, Italy’s #1 guitar publication as well as Guitar World and Guitar Jam Daily, a website devoted to serious guitarists. He currently writes a monthly column for Guitar Player magazine, contributes to other guitar publications and blogs regularly for GuitarPlayer.com and his own site. Carl also lectures and teaches at clinics regularly when not on the road.
As if that weren’t enough, working closely with Dean Markley Carl developed a line of signature strings for the electric guitar that perfectly balance the tremolo bridge of the Fender Stratocaster, the Carl Verheyen “Balanced Bridge” Helix electric string set. He also helped design the LsL Instruments “CV Special” and “CV Studio” signature guitars, in addition to his numerous existing endorsements.
“Best Guitarist 1998” LA Music Awards
Chosen as one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time Classic Rock Magazine 9/09
“ Best Studio Guitarist” Guitar Player Readers’ Choice Awards
2005 release Rumor Mill nominated for four DVD Entertainment Awards (“Best Musical Performance,” “Best Audio Presentation,” “Best Dual Disc,” “Best Authoring Design”). Win for “Best Dual Disc.”
“Best Additional Features” Surround Sound Award for Rumor Mill
Featured in dozens of magazines: Guitar Player, Guitar World, Rhythm, Vintage Guitar, Gig, Guitar Shop, Musician, Premier Guitar, 20th Century Guitar, Jazztimes, Chitarre, Jazziz. Cover of 1998 Guitar Techniques with his long time idol B.B. King. Cover of Axe Magazine twice.
Motion Pictures : Star Trek, UP, Land of the Lost, The Crow, The Negotiator, Strange Days, LA Story, Gladiator, Blow, Walking Tall, Titan AD, True Lies, The Usual Suspects, Collateral Damage, Scrooged, The Big Hit, Forces of Nature, Mad Love, Idle Hands, Race the Sun, Ratatouille, Speed Racer, Cars 2, Mission: Impossible IV and numerous more.
Television Shows : Cheers, Scrubs, Samantha Who, Frasier, Married…with Children, Larry Sanders Show, Seinfeld, Happy Days, Murphy Brown, The Tonight Show, The Gary Shandling Show, The Martin Short Show and many more.
Performed/Recorded with: Robben Ford, Albert Lee, Joe Bonamassa, Rick Vito, Scott Henderson, Guthrie Govan, Glenn Frey, John Fogerty, B.B. King and countless more.
DETHBEDS
From 2006-2007 we went under the name, ‘Murder Party.’ From 2007-2008 it was ‘Dethamphetamines.’ Now we’re back after 6 long years to bang some fucking heads..
KICKBOX
sXe. your dad’s favorite rock and roll
CUP CHECK
Cup Check is a female fronted Pop Punk band from the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. Thank you for your continued support!
TAKE A BREATH
Take a Breath is a band from Pittsburgh
BRIAN MORONEY
Drums/keys/vocals for Airways. Raised in Chicago.
DOGS AT LARGE
Shit kickers from Chicago, purchasing lightbulbs and eating them since the late 1980s
“A nameless, soundless exploration” – Will Leemkuil
JOHNNY HALFTON
CROSSTOWN
ADOT
NATURAL STATE
TWIN HITS
Twin Peaks + Todays Hits
DUSTIN PRINZ
Dustin Prinz was born and raised in the small town of West Point, Nebraska. Dustin’s take on life and love push the boundaries of current indie pop and produce an intriguing view of his world.
THE GOLDEN RULE
After putting out an acclaimed debut EP and putting a year’s worth of club dates behind them last year, Chicago Modern Indie/Surf-Punkers The Golden Rule are of the city’s busiest bands to date with a brand new EP in tow.
“The first time Malcolm, Rob and I got in a room, it was just f*cking magic. The energy just sparked like a match and the ambiance that came from the music we made together was like fireworks,” says frontman and guitarist, Mohit Mehta. “It’s just something you have to experience live. There is no substitute. The first time we heard the term ‘surf-punk’, we were kind of surprised. Personally, I had never heard the term, and it seemed to pigeon-hole us into a weird subgenre. Pretty much not more than five minutes later I realized ‘surf-punk’ is the most fun music I’ve ever played.”
The Golden Rule started out as a solo project for Mehta in late 2012. After a few one-off gigs and some finely-written tunes, TGR entered Backhouse Productions to churn out a debut EP, “These Shoes” in May 2014. Well-received by critics, the EP was featured on WXRT, WZRD, WLUW, WGN and Fearless Radio among local stations, and was well-reviewed by local press.
Soon after, Mehta recruited Rob Miller on bass and Malcolm Rutter on drums to help him slug it out in the underground rock and roll club scene in Chicago. “We met at a record store north of Lakeview,” Mehta explains about teaming up with Miller. “Yeah they have cool weird shit, like records and art and stuff,” interjects Miller. “I was playing with another group and we had brought all our stuff there, and the owner shut us down for being too loud.”
“Yeah it was lame,” adds Mehta, “but he brought his 70s Ampeg V-4, which was sexy as hell. I thought it was the coolest thing, plus he brought all of his neat pedals.” “Don’t get this kid started on gear,” jokes Miller, “he’s got a borderline obsession of Marshall Amps built between 1978 and 1983.” “My babies,” replies Mehta, with a ridiculously silly smile.
Malcolm “Fancy Hat” Rutter came along by random coincidence alone: “We went to school together, [Mohit] was in business school, I was a liberal arts kid myself,” Rutter explains about both his and Mehta’s time in college together at Loyola University Chicago, in the Rogers Park neighborhood on the north side. “Malcolm and I both had the same circle of friends, probably met once or twice, but never really hung out or anything. It was so random how we got in contact,” responds Mehta. “Craigslist,” explains Rutter, “solves 90% of the world’s problems. It was how we got things started and how I got in the group.”
With the trio intact, The Golden Rule started to make a name for themselves as one of the hardest working original rock bands in the Chicago DIY scene. TGR proceeded to take Chicago’s indie scene by storm in 2014, playing 17 dates in the summer alone to support the release of “These Shoes” as well as numerous radio appearances on Chicago’s major stations. “We ended our run at Double Door,” states Mehta. “The Stones played there!” Rutter has to exclaim. “We know. And when we played, it was one big party,” finishes Mehta.
The music for the second EP came almost instantaneously as the group came together. “I brought these songs to the guys and we wound end up putting these incredible tunes together in like 2 hours. Which was fun but not the brightest idea, because we had an ever changing setlist every night we played,” explains Mehta.
The “Crowes” EP releases on March 10th. This is not one to be missed.
JOHNNY LIGHTNING AND THE THUNDER
Johnny Lightning and The Thunder is the most haunted band in the Midwest.
THE SABRES
An American instrumental rock ‘n’ roll combo recreating the savage guitar sounds that ruled the world in the 50s and 60s.
VIVA LA POLE SHOW
Viva La Pole Show (Formerly Rock & Roll Pole Show) features all levels & styles of pole dance set to a bad ass soundtrack
NOW I’M NOTHING
Now I’m Nothing (NIN) is the Midwest’s ONLY Nine Inch Nails Tribute band replicating the sound and energy of ‘90s Nine Inch Nails while covering the entire catalog of music.
NIN was created in 2009 by Mike Reidy, founder and lead singer of W.O.R.M. (Chicago original industrial band.) Since conception, NIN has played in the Chicagoland area at many venues including the Cubby Bear Wrigleyville, Durty Nellies, and Mojoes.
VICARIOUS
Tool Tribute Band
THE CONQUEROR WORM
The Conqueror Worm formed in 2014 organically due to the members mutual love of traditional doom metal. Kneeling at the altars of Candlemass, Trouble, Cathedral and early to mid 90s Paradise Lost, TCW doesnt abide by current trends or any sort of fashion. From Wisconsin, the band features current/ex members of Protestant, Choose Your Poison, Half Gorilla, and more. Metal from the heart, not from the patched up vest.
SABBATH ASSEMBLY
Sabbath Assembly formed in 2009 to share the hymns of the Process Church of the Final Judgment. The band currently records original material in an occult vein.
INTERDEPENDENCE
THE DAMN TRACKS
The Damn Tracks are a punk rock and roll 3 piece from Chicago, IL. The band formed in 2012 releasing their first EP “On Tap” in November of the same year. They’re a mix of 90’s punk such as Face to Face mixed with more new-school influences such as The Copyrights with a sprinkling of good ole fashioned in your face rock n’ roll. They released a split 7″ record in 2014 and recently release their second self-titled album in October of 2015.
TALK TO YOU NEVER
Talk To You Never is a high energy nostalgic pop punk band from the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. In it’s 3 years of existence Talk To You Never has played countless shows around the Chicago area. Highlights include headlining shows at the House of Blues and Wire, and opening for bands such as The Millennium, Sleep On It, The Run Around and Marina City.
Talk To You Never has toured the east coast and several cities among the Midwest off of the success of their first E.P., “Don’t Mind Me”. With the release of their second album, “What Are You Waiting For?” the band continues to push for better opportunities and expansion of their fan base all across the U.S. and out to the rest of the world.
DECAPITATED
Decapitated was formed in the town of Krosno, in south-eastern Poland in 1996 by Witold “Vitek” Kieltyka, Waclaw “Vogg” Kieltyka and Wojciech “Sauron” Wasowicz. Band is one of the most popular Polish bands in their genre, who played many tours around the world.
During that time band has released six studio albums and DVD.
BAND MEMBERS Waclaw Vogg Kieltyka – guitar Rafal Rasta Piotrowski – vocal Pawel Pasek – bass Michal Lysejko – drums
DJ HOOP DREAMS
1/2 CEO of Craze Productions LLC. / @CollegeCraze | #CrazeFest | National Show/Tour DJ & #PartyRocker |
DUKE DA BEAST
OVER THE SIDE BAND
Over The Side with Mike, Joe & Quinn consists of Mike Courtney, Joe Pacelli & John Quinn, an acoustic trio formed over 3 years ago during a local Sunday music session at a South Side tavern in our original neighborhood of the Southwest side of Chicago. Since that time the we have been perfecting our craft covering our musical influences such as Will Hoge, Stephen Kellog, James McMurtury, Reckless Kelly and Chicago legend John Prine.
We have played throughout the City at places including Joes on Weed, Bub City, Countryclub Wrigleyville, HVAC, Cubbie Bear, Firewater Saloon, Four Shadows, Cork & Kerry, 115 Bourbon Street, Twisted Shamrock, Hartes, Barney Callaghans, Lawlors & Old Crow in Schaumburg as well as Corporate Events.
METAL THREAT FEST
An underground metal fest that was inspired by these other fests in North America: Maryland Deathfest, Martyrdoom, Cathedral of the Black Goat, Defenders of the Old, Messe des Morts, Wings of Metal, and Ragnarökkr Metal Apocalypse.
ATRUM INRITUS
Black Metal from Minnesota.
Vindicaré -Voice/Keys
Eversor – Guitars
Abyssus – Guitars
Cassum – Battery
VIOLENTOR
Violentor is a Metal band from Italy.
Cane – Throat&Guitar
Rot – Bass&Backing Vocals
Iago – Drums
BAPHOMET’S BLOOD
Baphomet’s Blood is Speed Metal from Italy.
Necrovomiterror – Vocals, guitar
Angel Trosomaranus – Guitar
Speed Necromancer – Bass
S.R. Bestial Hammer – Drums
KING NINE
King Nine is a hardcore band from long island, new york
MALFUNCTION
Malfunction is a hardcore band from Buffalo NY.
TAKE OFFENSE
Weathering countless trends and defying all odds, over the past decade Take Offense has established themselves as one of the West Coast’s most prominent hardcore acts. Sonically, Take Offense hits hard, with a sound steeped in late 80’s NYHC tradition, coupled with the distinctively Venice crossover stylings of Suicidal Tendencies and the like. Take Offense manages to both whet the palate of the stodgy old guard, while satisfying the youths’ insatiable lust for hard hitting, mosh riffage. Established in 2005, Take Offense have never been ones to rest on their laurels, and after a handful of EPs, 2011’s landmark full length Tables Will Turn, and a hell of a lot of time on the road with stalwarts such as Terror, Agnostic Front, D.R.I., Trapped Under Ice, Backtrack, Alpha & Omega, and Rotting Out, the band are set to unleash their latest magnum opus, United States of Mind, on the mighty Reaper Records. Though Take Offense are at a point in their lifespan when many bands shrug their shoulders and crank out half hearted riffs and reheated lyrics, United States of Mind proves the group has the stamina and creativity to push their sound forward without losing touch with their roots. In short, Take Offense are one of the most engaging hardcore bands to emerge in recent years, and lucky for all of us, they don’t appear to be going anywhere. All that’s left is to accept your fate and enter: THE T.O. ZONE
FULL OF HELL
On tour forever. Numb your mind.
TOMBS
Tombs front-man Mike Hill is not a man interested in appeasing his existing audience or modifying the music he makes in the hope of luring in a broader one.
HOTSTOP
Hotstop is a high energy rock band based out of Northeast Los Angeles. With influences ranging from Led Zeppelin to Michael Jackson, Hotstop has been creating a unique blend of rock and pop since the band formed in January 2013. Hotstop has 4 members – Bryn William (originally from Ohio), Drü Marshall (originally from Florida), and the Wlodyka brothers: Waldemar and Derek Max.
The brothers were born and raised in the heart of Los Angeles. Derek, the younger of the two, has a street performer background. Waldemar has been classically trained.
Bryn & Drü moved to Los Angeles in the Summer of 2012, meeting through serendipitous circumstances that included chow mein and the Star of David. Once Bryn & Drü got the ball rolling, they met Waldemar who saw their ad seeking a guitarist on Craigslist but did not respond. When roaming Melrose Avenue in search of a Members Only jacket, he noticed a flyer featuring a striking face; it was that of his future drummer and soulmate, Drü Marshall.
Hotstop’s music is loud, fun, and is sure to give listeners of all ages aural pleasure.
FINDING TORY
Finding Tory, a 3 month old Columbia student group, aims to move and inspire. The band features 8 talented players and songwriters whose goal is to satisfy their own creative itch without sacrificing all the things they love about pop music. Through purposeful lyrics, meaningful chords, and unforgettable melodies, Finding Tory will exercise your heart, your brain, and your feet.
THE F.A.U.X.
We are a multicultural musical patchwork combining musicians from Chicago, France and Germany to a Soul, Funk and R&B melting Pot. Our music is influenced by bands like Tower of Power, Robert Glasper, Hiatus Kayote and Electro Deluxe.
Join us for a Set of original Songs written during our extended songwriting sessions.
BLACK ICE
Roots, rock and should in a heady stew
ETHEREAL BLOOD
“…Conceived In Cemetery Soil…”
Many moons ago a group of diverse and vainglorious bastards conferred together with the intention of forming an independent band. After much inebriated discussion (and vomiting) the stars aligned in favor for the decrepit birth of the musical group Ethereal Blood. The vision was later established and agreed upon; to create by whatever nefarious means were available to them the most eclectic, symphonic, dark, and melodic heavy metal music they could possibly aspire to bring into existence. And so the metamorphic beginnings of the quartet commenced. Many a year was spent writing music, rehearsing, and constructing the cast of the grim tragedy only to watch it be demolished anew. Eventually the surviving line-up consisted solely of a duet between Lord Vardoulacha and Abyss. With no one to take the place of the other former musicians Lord Vardoulacha and Abyss agreed that it was paramount to keep the music alive (or undead) and so endeavored to construct a project recording studio where they could continue to compose their sinful symphonies and bide their time for other unsuspecting musicians they would abduct.
Together they spent the next several years refining material, purchasing equipment and sharpening the proverbial claws of their musical technique and production skills on the E.P. Cold Crypt Sonatas Vol. I. During the last part of the production a pair of scoundrels and notorious revelers baring the names Nephilim and Thanatos entered the coven and were indoctrinated as perennial guitarists. The summer solstice of 2014 witnessed Ethereal Blood as an independent band writing, recording, mixing, and mastering music. On Halloween 2014 the quartet released the long labored Cold Crypt Sonatas Vol. I on the unsuspecting masses.
At the start of the new year guitarist Thanatos parted ways with Ethereal Blood to pursue a diferent life style. He was replaced shortly thereafter by a hungry ghoul going by the name of Shtrigo.
They continue to audition additional live members for future concert scenarios and have begun working on the second installment of the album Cold Crypt Sonatas Vol. II.
RIC WILSON
Ric Wilson is a 20 year old black self-proclaimed Artist and Prison Abolitionist from the South-side of Chicago, is also 1/2 of Chicago Rap Duo “Fuck Yo Institution”. On November 24th Ric Dropped “The Sun Was Out” EP In the words of Ric ” Theres a moment In life when you find yourself naked on a porch and everything you thought you were before is stripped off of you and can either stay and freeze on the porch naked or walk off the porch as your new self. This is my walk.” He describes his still as “jazzy soulful with modern elements, such as 808s”. Ric also, is one of the 8 delegates chosen to travel to Geneva, Switzerland in November of 2014 representing the We Charge Genocide coalition. They successfully presented a shadow report and testified at the United Nations, charging the Chicago Police Department with genocide and torture actions on black and brown youth within the city of Chicago. Along with Headlining Promontory, Northwestern University, Ric has also been featured on sites such as Ebony, The Source,HipHopDx, BET, Sprite, FakeShoreDrive, Pigeons & Planes, OkayPlayer,NBC and more.
COLBY BESERRA
SPEAKING WITH GHOSTS
Melodic hardcore band out of Chicago, IL. Debut EP “Searching for Direction” out now!
DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY
Metal band based out of Chicago Devil in the White City breaking the boundaries of modern metal music today.
LITHUANIA
Eric Slick and Dominic Angelella have been collaborating as Lithuania for about a decade, and yet until recently they’ve only had an EP (Heavy Hands) and a 7″ (Domesticated God) to show. The two friends are infinitely busy—Slick plays drums in Dr. Dog and Angelella writes songs for DRGN KING—but they finally orchestrated the time to record their first full-length album aptly titled Hardcore Friends, being released by Lame-O Records this August.
Slick and Angelella first met in the jazz program at University of the Arts in Philadelphia and quickly realized they were the oddballs amongst their classical peers. They immediately connected through mutual musical interests like Husker Du, Captain Beefheart, Boredoms, and Bjork. Dom would take Eric to basement punk shows in West Philly, while Eric would take Dom to the Avant Gentleman’s Lodge, a defunct venue that catered to the Philadelphia art scene. Eventually the two began playing music together and started a conversation about bad band names. “We’ve been a songwriting duo this whole time,” said Eric. “When [Dom] said Lithuania I thought, ‘Oh, it’s like that no man is an island thing.’ No man is an island, so two men are a country, and I thought that was hilarious.” They began playing shows around Philadelphia and went on a short tour last May, but quickly realized they would need to expand live and so they added Ricardo Lagomasino on drums.
Recorded in five days by Joe Reinhart and Kyle Pulley at The Headroom Studios in Philadelphia, Hardcore Friendsspans the last ten years of their friendship. “It’s an old perspective,” says Angelella. “All of those early songs are from or about five years ago. It’s this thing where you’re a completely different person. It’s cool to update it to now.”
Writing Hardcore Friends was a completely contrasting experience for the two: Angelella was used to being the sole songwriter in DRGN KING while Eric was usually playing drums in a band. The first half of the album contains older songs from 2007 when Slick was staying with friends in Asheville and emailing song ideas to Angelella in Philadelphia. The second half is all brand new songs written over the past year. “It’s sort of like this chronological narrative of our friendship,” says Slick. “In the past year we’ve gone through some heavy stuff—family stuff, relationship stuff—and it was pretty wild. We finished up this album with a wiser perspective on the first half of it. We even sequenced it so it would tell that story.”
Hardcore Friends opens with the pop-fueled and fleeting “God in Two Persons,” moved along by Slick’s reflective vocals and racked drumming. “Pieces,” the first single off the album, is a solid anthem with unshakeable guitars and genuine lyrics that invoke the likes of Stephen Malkmus and Archers of Loaf. Aside from their mastered melodious punk style, Lithuania is just as capable of writing a dawdling and quiet song like “Coronation Day,” showing their softer side with acoustic guitars, synthesizers, and Angelella’s mollifying vocals. The album closes with “Hardcore Friends,” a mid-tempo anthem with guest vocals from friends Frances Quinlan (Hop Along) and Rachel Browne (Field Mouse). It’s a culmination of what the rest of the tracks have been leading up to: a resilient friendship that resonates in the face of failure and heartache, and prevails sonically.
WEBSTERX
1/100th of the RooSevelt Collective, past poetry freak turned MC. painting vivid pictures for the listener. MILWAU(KEY)
FOUND HOUNDS
You’ll find these Found Hounds right where bluegrass smacks into honky tonk,
where brother harmony hits up a driving rhythm, where beer chases a shot of whiskey, and where a Southern sound roots itself in the finest Midwest soil.
What began as a side project for four Chicago pickers from several bluegrass bands, took over as lead dog in 2015 with local festivals, shows and a residency at The General Logan Square.
FRENCH CASINO
“French Casino is an indie rock/pop band hailing from Chicago, IL. Writing and playing together since 2014, FC has a sound that could be described as Guided By voices meets The Bats (or, not). French Casino has released an EP, Tricky Tiger, and has a slew of new songs we’re looking forward to putting out there soon! French Casino is: Pat Winters- guitar/vocals, Pete Bush- guitar/vocals, Fran Tuminello- bass and Ed Fee- drums.”
ATOMIC SUNDAE
Atomic Sundae is a Chicago-based rock band of many colors, flavors, sounds, and original songs. High-energy Power Pop blends with Grunge. A dance beat hypnotizes with a slow groove. World beats work into Glam slams into Punk. And through the eclectic Psychedelic atmosphere, solid unapologetic Garage Rock reigns supreme.