SOLID GIANT
Solid Giant is a black doom band from New Orleans, LA
BURIED AT SEA
ABOLISHMENT OF FLESH
Hailing from the High Plains of West Texas, ABOLISHMENT OF FLESH was formed in 2008 by founding member Ramon Cazares. Shortly after the release of their first self-titled release the band started to hit the road. Despite the lineup changes, the band continued to perform non-stop and release additional music.
In the summer of 2011 AOF took part in a two and a half week tour supporting Shawn Whitaker of Insidious Decrepancy. In 2012 they released an EP titled “Decimation”. They followed up this release by headlining the Brutal Alliance Tour which included a full 21 dates of shows. AOF continued performing throughout 2012 at various Metal Festivals and show dates from Texas to California.
In 2013 the band again headlined the Brutal Alliance Tour which now has grown into a full 5 week long tour throughout the summer, including stops nationwide. They continued throughout 2013 with their non-stop touring schedule including stops again across the mid-west and west coast at various metal festivals.
2013 ended with the release of AOF’s second full-length album titled “Creation to Extinction”. They already have a busy touring schedule throughout 2014 in support of the new release.
Abolishment of Flesh’s new music is a blend of death/black and thrash metal. Although their music is primarily death metal, their style is not limited to one genre; instead the band continues to incorporate various heavy metal styles.
The name Abolishment of Flesh is a concept of how we as humans are our own enemies and will be the eventual cause of our own demise. Lyrical contents include war and violence, disease, corruption, anti-religion, and disasters that have impacted mankind’s way of life. Although AOF’s violent and grim nature of their lyrics is serious, their main focus is about metal music and creativity. Taking their music out on the road, they strive to not only put on a performance but a show as well.
Melodic Texas Death Metal!
WOO PARK
Psychedelic soul quintet and assault from all sides, Woo Park, has been unleashing an aural assault upon audiences since the year twenty-thirteen. A fiery rhythm section with near clairvoyant rhythmic flexibility consists of polyrhythmic champion, Luke Swaggermans, and self-proclaimed bass god, Parker Grogan. The undeniable groove exists in tandem with a lush atmosphere of ethereal soundscapes fit for even the most heady of new age souls to bask in; Christian Zwit, aural chemist and knob tinkerer, wields keyboard and synth alike while Brian Sanborn’s playing transcends guitar with his singing melodies and cloud-like chordal textures. Emily Nichols’s alluring voice floats effortlessly atop of the controlled chaos and forms a cohesive narrative. The music ebbs, flows, and bends to their will with each instrument’s role extending beyond tradition. In performance, each member constantly engages in improvisational soul-searching within the confines of their elaborately crafted compositions. Their EP, “Smokes”, is their formal musical introduction.
EL FAMOUS
El Famous is a band. We play music.
We enjoy Capri Sun and Blade.
COLD BEARDED KILLERS
Chaz Baker (Funeral Nation), Scott Davidson (Rebel Radio, Stonehenge, Dizmal Daze & X-Earthen Grave) & Nefarious (Macabre) & Mike Le Gros (Disinter, Earthen, ex-Novembers Doom & ex-Nachmystium) got together to form Cold Bearded Killers
JACOB HORN TRIO
A ill-named narcissistic band from Chicago.
MAD CONDUCTOR
Mad Conductor’s ability to consistently create highly original, captivating music while touring extensively in the United States, Canada and also Europe, has earned them a devoted cult following around the world. The independent release of their second full-length album, “MC Rises”, in summer 2013 has legions of fans reeling with excitement and many newcomers being drawn to their fresh sound.
Formed in 2005 in Center Valley, PA by song-writer/ vocalist MC Devlin and studio engineer/ pianist Dan McKinney, the duo combined hip-hop, funk, reggae, blues, jazz and psychedelic rock to forge a unique, innovative sound. Devlin and Dan’s 20 year age difference also spawned a textured variety of hip-hop that tore down generational barriers, this coupled with Devlin’s imaginative, “clean” lyrics created a fun and inviting new genre attracting listeners of all ages. After releasing their first EP, Mechanical Claw, on Christmas of that year, Devlin formed a live band and began touring heavily the following spring. During this time, the band was also writing and recording, and in June of 2007 self-released their first full-length album, “Renegade Space Rock”, which has proven to be a timeless masterpiece.
The band continued touring, and after releasing a two song EP titled “Members Only” in February of 2008, Devlin moved to New Orleans where he planned on writing a new album and returning to Pennsylvania to record after a three month stay. Instead, upon arriving in New Orleans, he put his musical efforts on hiatus and spent the next three years dedicating himself primarily to Kung Fu training, meanwhile releasing only an obscure four song EP titled “Central America” in January of 2010.
After receiving a black belt in the spring of 2011, Devlin once again assembled a live band line up, this time of New Orleans musicians and returned to the concert circuit, debuting his six-piece outfit at the New Orleans Block party in 2011. Currently the Mad Conductor live band consists of MC Devlin as lead vocalist with five players mainly stationed on keyboard, bass guitar, electric guitar, saxophone and drum-kit, also offering back-up and lead vocals, with several members platooning between baritone saxophone, synthesizer and hand percussion and utilizing a myriad of effects to capture Mad Conductor’s inimitable studio sound in a live setting. The band has steadily been touring the United States and Canada, headlining premiere venues and performing at national festivals with a European tour coming in the near future, with Devlin continuing his Kung Fu training in between tours and also on stage during the band’s performances – MC Devlin, known for his lyrical creativity is also gaining a reputation as a daredevil performer, often climbing up walls and swinging over the crowd from rafters during concerts, and showing off with handstands and aerial kicks while rapping his songs with the band.
JETPACK HOTLINE
After cutting their teeth in the Chicago punk and rock music scene, writing and playing with multiple bands, Mike Spinelli and Randy Daniels decided to do something completely different. Floating tracks and ideas back and forth, they labored in their studio, attempting to create an adventure and new sound, neither had experienced before. In 2012, they posted a few tracks on Soundcloud, and immediately started to gain a following and positive feedback from other artists, and at that moment knew they were on to something. They hit the studio, committed their time, and founded Jetpack Hotline. It’s a mix of pop, edm, punk, and funk…all rolled into one ambitious sonic experience. They teamed up with Dan Robb on bass and Joe Precup on drums to create a high energy and laser light filled show, coming to a city near you. Come check us out, you might even see a dancing robot.
TAYLOR MALLORY
LILI K
“This jazz aristocrat has the kind of chops that stop you in your tracks.” – VIBE Magazine
Singer and songwriter, Lili K, is known for her smooth-sultry vocals and eclectic mix of musical genres, including Jazz and soul. Lili’s self-produced and highly acclaimed debut album, Ruby, was recorded with The Lili K Band. Visuals for the album were premiered on Saint Heron and Life+Times. Upon the release of Ruby, Jay Z’s streaming service, Tidal, named her their first ever-Tidal Rising Artist. This led to her headline appearance at the Tidal Stage at Made In America 2015. Ruby is available for purchase on all music streaming services.
Originally from Milwaukee, WI, she began performing in her early years through church and elementary school choirs. By the time Lili turned ten, she began writing her own original lyrics. Following her completion at Milwaukee High School of the Arts where she was trained in classical, opera, and jazz, Lili graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management from her alma mater, Columbia College Chicago. It was during her time at Columbia that she made her entrance into the Chicago music scene.
With performances at Made In America, North Coast Music Festival, SXSW, Lollapalooza, Pitchfork, Summerfest and CMJ, Lili has shared stages with R.Kelly; Chance the Rapper, BJ The Chicago Kid, Vic Mensa, Jidenna, Musiq Soulchild, The Suffers, and Dwele. She was listed ‘Best of 2013’ in Rolling Stone, NPR, and Complex for her feature work with Chance the Rapper and Vic Mensa, and has since been recognized by the Huffington Post, Karen Civil, and VIBE for her solo material.
Lili and the Lili K Band are currently working on their second studio album, entitled Planet of Flowers. It is slated to release in early 2017.
Vocals / Lili K
Guitar / Cullen Bogan
Keyboards / Phil Patterson
Bass / Matthew Skillz
Drums / Myron Cherry
DEE WILSON
ERTHE ST. JAMES
A native from the Westside of Chicago. This Modern Soul singer has obtained the ability to intertwine genres to create his own unique blend of Soul, Jazz, & Funk.
Playing Chicago venues, with his band, The ErtheTones, such as City Winery, Untitled Supper Club, House of Blues, Navy Pier, The California Clipper, The Promontory, and opening for artist such as Erykah Badu, Estelle, Mali Music, SUCH, Rudy Currence, Conya Doss, Tye Tribbet, & Nikki Giovani.
£rthe has been featured on the albums, R.O.E’s “LIVE in Chicago” [2015], Lili K’s “Ruby” [2015], The whoEVERs?’s “Marathon” [2016], Tovi Khali’s, “French Quarter Style” [2017], Neak’s “KWESBAAR” [2019], R.O.E’s “Radiant” [2020], Flowers For The Living’s “Bouquet of Beautiful” [2021] and on the 2017 documentary, “Got The Love: A Soul Music Documentary”. £rthe has also been featured on Chicago’s WGN Mid-Day News.
£rthe can be seen on supporting vocals as a member of Sam Thousand & The Soul Vortex and also apart of Harold Green’s , Flowers For The Living [FFTL] Collective.
THE RAIN WITHIN
Heartfelt synthwave with its heart in the 80s.
DIE SEKTOR
Die Sektor was founded by Scott Denman and Daniel Gant in 2004 as an outlet for experimenting with dark aggressive electronic music. With the addition of Alan Smith in 2005, Die Sektor released their first album ‘To Be Fed Upon’ on the harsh industrial label Noittek in 2006. After several week of topping the DAC and a handful of shows in the U.S. and Mexico, Die Sektor went on a long hiatus while Scott starting putting together material that would advance and not copy dark electronic music. In 2010 Edwin Alter joined Die Sektor and the album genre bending album ‘Applied Structure In A Void’ was written and conceived. Upon the release of ‘ASIAV’ in 2011 Die Sektor divided audiences and critics. For many fans in the genre of Industrial ‘ASIAV’ raised the bar as far as the quality and songwriting that could be done with dark electro industrial music.
After several shows across the US Die Sektor began to gain a reputation for intense, exciting and powerful live performances. In 2012 Die Sektor released the follow up to ‘ASIAV’ with the extremely emotional and dark album ‘The Final Electro Solution’. With ‘TFES’ Die Sektor continued to raise the bar for the industrial genre and a specific and unique sound that is Die Sektor, began to emerge. Die Sektor set out on a US tour to support the album, gaining fans and raising the craft of electro shows to new levels. Through 2011 and 2012 Die Sektor remixed bands on almost every industrial label and of every industrial style across the globe. Die Sektor has built a strong reputation as one of the top remix producers in the genre.
2013 finds Die Sektor putting the final touches on a new studio album titled ‘(-) existence ‘. The new album has been touted as the final chapter in ‘The Void Trilogy’ made up of ‘ASIAV’ and ‘TFES’. Die Sektor is preparing to unleash ‘(-) existence, claiming it to be their most accessible, experimental, darkest, emotional and complex work yet. (-) existence is a true concept album that follows the protagonist down a path of internal division and self destruction. Look for Die Sektor to bring their live show to your city in 2013 and prepare to enter the void.
EGO LIKENESS
Current line up LIVE:
Steven Archer – Guitar / Programming / Music & Words / Vocals
Donna Lynch – Lead Vocals / Piano / Synths / Words & Music
Mike K. Johnson – Drums
Mindcage Rick (Mindless Faith, Chemlab) – Drums
Studio Members:
Dan Clark (The Dark Clan)- Production/ Co-writer
Ego Likeness was created in 1999 by artist Steven Archer, a DC native, and writer Donna Lynch in Baltimore, Maryland. Taking their name from Frank Herbert’s classic science fiction novel ‘Dune’, the band began as an experimental/ dark trip hop project. A demo called ‘Songs From a Dead City’, recorded on a four track, was released in 1999.
By 2000, Archer and Lynch were moving the project in a darker electronic/ dance direction, resulting in a self-released full-length album entitled ‘Dragonfly’.
Ego Likeness signed with Dancing Ferret Discs for the release of 2004’s ‘Water to the Dead’. This album featured the band’s electronic roots while exploring a heavier rock sound.
2005 saw the band tour Germany, Luxembourg, and the continental US with label mates The Cruxshadows, and their first album ‘Dragonfly’ was re-released on Dancing Ferret Discs.
In 2006, EL toured Germany once again with The Cruxshadows, performed at Dragon*Con in Atlanta GA, and released their third full-length CD ‘The Order of the Reptile’ (DFD), as well as their first video for the track ‘Aviary’ (directed by Lynch, Archer, and late Baltimore photographer Lauren E. Simonutti).
The winter of 2006-2007 saw another US tour with The Cruxshadows and Ayria.
In late autumn of 2007, EL was back in Germany, as well as Poland, and the UK with Alfa-Matrix act Ayria (Canada) and Australia’s Angelspit (DFD). The band also released the first of four limited edition EP’s entitled ‘South’.
In early 2008, they headlined a warm-up tour of the US and performed at Black Sun IV before setting off with Voltaire in the spring for his month-long Maiden Voyage Tour. EL performed once again at Dragon*Con 2008 in Atlanta GA.
In 2009, the single ‘The Lowest Place on Earth’ was released, as well as the ‘West’ EP.
Their fourth full-length album, ‘Breedless’, was released on Metropolis Records in 2010, as well as the ‘North’ EP.
The band continued touring throughout the US in 2010 and 2011, performing a third time at Dragon*Con 2010.
2012 saw the release of the final compass EP, ‘East’, and a second re-release of the now-out-of-print album ‘Dragonfly’. A new single and video (directed by Kyle Cassidy, Lynch, and Archer), ‘Treacherous Thing’, will be released in the fall.
The fifth full-length, ‘Know Thine Enemy’ is scheduled for release in early 2013.
In addition to touring extensively with The Cruxshadows, Voltaire, Ayria, Angelspit, The Ludovico Technique, EL has had the honor of sharing the stage with The Damned, Peter Murphy, Chris Connelly, Collide, Razed in Black, Bella Morte, Das Ich, Rasputina, Iris, Decoded Feedback, The Azoic, More Machine Than Man, In Strict Confidence, Combichrist, Stromkern, New Model Army, And One, Seabound, Attrition, Assemblage 23, Nitzer Ebb, Aesthetic Perfection, Terrorfakt, The Gothsicles, and many others.
EL has performed at festivals throughout the US and in Europe, including Dragon*Con (Atlanta GA), Convergence 11 (San Diego CA), Dracula’s Ball (Philadelphia PA), Ring Con (Fulda, Germany), Balticon (Baltimore MD), Black Sun Festival I (New Haven CT), Freaks United (DC), Eccentrik Festival (Raleigh NC), Reverence (Madison WI), Wicked Faire (Somerset NJ), WTII Mini-Fest (Chicago IL), several Electronic Saviors Benefit shows, and others.
They have appeared on numerous compilation CDs, including Electronic Saviors 1 and 2, several Asleep by Dawn and Hot Topic releases, and ‘Where’s Neil When You Need Him?’ (a tribute to the work of author Neil Gaiman, DFD 2006); released remixes for The Cruxshadows (Cassandra-Fortress in Flames), The Last Dance (Terribly When- Reflections of Rage), Thou Shalt Not (Inside of You, In Spite of You- The Projectionist), Black Tape for a Blue Girl (Tarnished- Scarecrow), Information Society (This Way Tonight- Synthesizer), Angelspit (Vena Cava- Krankhaus, Girl Poison- Black Kingdom Red Kingdom , Ditch the Rest- Carbon Beauty), and many more, and have been remixed by acts such as Komor Kommando, Bella Morte, Angelspit, Terrorfakt, and many others.
Archer and Lynch appear on Voltaire’s album ‘Then and Again’, and Lynch has lent her vocals to tracks on The Dark Clan’s ‘Dance Magic Dance’, Angelspit’s ‘Hideous and Perfect’, and Aiboforcen’s ‘Dedale’.
EL has been featured in publications such as Gothic Beauty, Outburn, ABD, Sideline, Pollstar, Sonic Seducer, and COMA to name a few.
The band works extensively with renowned Philadelphia photographer Kyle Cassidy, one of his photographs of Archer and Lynch appearing as “Photo of the Day” on Wikipedia’s main page in 2012.
THE ICARUS LINE
Sometimes you struggle so hard to feed your family one way, you forget to feed them the other way, with spiritual nourishment. Everybody needs that.
James Brown
“Joe Cardamone slanks in a room like some sick fuck who actually knows how to live on the street, instead of pretending that he still does,” writes Permanent Midnight author Jerry Stahl. “Walking down Vulnerable Hardass Ave – the one where OG rock’n’rollers, the early eat-their-arms screamers and bar walkers that paved the way for posers and haircuts to come, first started screaming out the truth that was eating them alive.”
In a time where The Frontman (let alone The Rock n’ Roll Band) is all but extinct, Joe Cardamone and his gang, better known as The Icarus Line, are still here fighting the good fight for all of us poor souls without a proper voice. You can call them the last rock n’ roll gang, or one of the last good authentic rock bands; either way, they are one of the last true originals, still making rock n’ roll relevant. The Icarus Line fill a sonic void that is just as important and American as apple pie. The Icarus Line have been deep in the rock n’ roll trenches since their debut album Mono in the late 90s, yet sound more significant now than ever. Compromise and giving up are not part of their story: sentiments that are (sadly) extremely rare for contemporary rock bands today. What is part of their story is continuing to survive as visionaries, despite the odds stacked against them. No one in this group came from a home of privilege. Crime or dead end life were both much more a distinct reality then say art school. In between chaotic bursts or cathartic orchestration you will find an aching sense that comes when the invincibility of your 20s fades away. Obstacles have been overcome and a visionary record was born despite living on the edge of poverty, original member Alvin DeGuzeman being diagnosed with cancer this year and various other members disappearing into the ether. The struggle is real, and from that place of uneasy discomfort this band has learned to thrive!
Over the years The Icarus Line have proved to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable live bands around, again and again. Their performances are explosive, dangerous and sexy all at the same time. Being in the front row of an Icarus Line show is an exhilarating experience, you never know what is going to happened. Sometimes it’s damaged gear, maybe a dive into the crowd, blood, sweat or a swinging mic buzzing your ear. You want to be close just to see what might happen next, like passing a beautiful carwreck. But yet not too close, cuz a guitar could take your head off at any moment. Unflinching and unchoreographed, The Icarus Line live are like a wild animal set free in their natural environment. This ain’t a trip to the zoo folks.
For their eighth studio album, All Things Under Heaven (October 02 / American Primitive / Agitated Records) , The Icarus Line have refined a sound that they’ve been calling “American Primitive.” Recorded and arranged live as a g0up in Cardamone’s studio, Valley Recording Company in Burbank, the sessions “were very private and conducive to conjuring,” the frontman describes. “If you are lucky, you can capture something before it dies. I feel like all great music is a fleeting inspiration. You only have so much time to capture it before it either turns into routine or it turns its back on you.”
The album features a guest appearance from legendary outsider artist Joe Coleman who helped coin the album title. Also appearing is Bad Seed / Grinderman/ Dirty Three band leader Warren Ellis who helped pen the track “Bedlam Blue” with Cardamone. All of this follows the band’s most productive streak yet: Slave Vows (2013) and companion album Avowed Slavery (2014).
Art work for All Things Under Heaven was found during the making of the record. Veteran news photographer Randy Taylor was receiving attention for some works of his that were created out of destruction. During the Sandy hurricane his archive was flooded and many of his photos were “destroyed”. Out of that mess came some of the most beautiful fine art of our generation. The pictures that would make up the record’s sleeve were simply a document of a 4th of July cookout but after the waters of Sandy they became the american dream in a car crash with mother nature. The perfect visual to compliment a document about a melted american dream.
All Things Under Heaven packs the kind of swagger, raunch & ascent that would make Iggy Stooge and Sun Ra proud parents. It is a record that expands the vocabulary of what rock music can be without sacrificing the critical spirit that makes it Rock N Roll. The Icarus Line have summoned up the demons from the past, paid their homage and taken the sound in an entirely new direction; because this band are never ones to be caught on their knees. The album is a sprawling sonic landscape that has a timeless quality about it as it traverses between low valleys, towering skyscrapers and all the dirty alleyways that connect them. It’s a record that’s as sprawling as the city of Los Angeles to which The Icarus Line have always called home. It’s a fuck you to the bite size society that has become music consumption. Life is bigger than that. And just like LA, this is a record that from the opening hollow echo swallowed pounding drums of “Ride Or Die” to the final free jazz funeral lullaby of “Sleep Now” is all its own world.
He would baulk at the compliment but The Icarus Line’s frontman/founder Joe Cardamone is one of the key figureheads of the 21st American underground. Where other contemporaries have come and gone – often crashing and burning while chasing the fast buck – he has never sold himself out. He has seen trends come and go. Joe Cardamone sings, screams, truth tells and virtually tries to claw his way out the speakers into your soul for refuge. His vivid lyrics paint a picture of a 21st century man trying to make right in a bleak post-apocalyptic record industry world full of lowlifes, broken promises, love lost and every kind of sickness imaginable. This is the sound of a band refusing to give up. This is the sound of a band refusing to be silenced. This is modern day tortured soul music. This is the perfect prescription for your acute adult pain.
“’Giving up on doing this’ just doesn’t need to be part of my vocabulary,” adds Cardamone. “There’s a very narrow spread of reasons, as to why I do this music. Almost all of those are personal, and do not depend on the outside world for corroboration. It’s like asking someone why do you breathe? I just do, because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t exist anymore.”
THE CLAP
THE CLAP – Formed in 1978 in Catasauqua ,PA. Cool raw punk, powerful & snotty, and still melodic. Great if you’re into Killed by Death type stuff. Had a rare single in 1982.
MENACE
Featuring: Noel Martin – drums, vocals; Finn Panton – guitar Vocals; Rob – bass, backing vocals. Charlie Casey (bass) and Steve Tannett (guitar) will join the band for as many gigs as possible through the year so keep an eagle eye on the news.
Menace are an English punk band formed in London in 1976. They are notable for being one of the immediate forerunners of the ‘Oi’ sound later adopted by skinhead bands.
EL CLAN
Legendary and mysterious Rock band that impacted the Mexican rock scene back in the 90’s, a band who were 2nd place in the notorious national Battle of the Bands II contest from Mexico City, after this event took place EL CLAN was given support and numerous comments from the press and media, EL CLAN was labeled for many people like the first band who started and represented the Dark scene in Mexico.
In 1994 EL CLAN released a first album titled “ Sin Sentir” it was well received and successfully sold out, later after the release of this album EL CLAN was given an award by the National Arts Institute for best video clip “Las Brujas” .
Years after performing at many underground clubs and venues along with famous American bands like The Last Dance and Human Drama, in 1998 EL CLAN released a second album “Sigue soplando el Anima” with the mastering of the notorious musician Johnny Indovina from the L.A. band Human Drama and Sound Of The Blue Heart.
In 1999 EL CLAN participates with the song “Sera por eso” in a compilation album tribute to the famous Mexican band Caifanes.
In 2005 EL CLAN releases a live album “Distante al Ultimo Latido” recorded in some of the most popular Mexican clubs like Hard Rock Café and Dada X.
2007 EL CLAN releases a rare album “Cronología de el Embrujo” álbum that includes rehearsal old recordings, never released songs and some live sessions from 1991 to 2007.
In 2008 EL CLAN releases a third studio album “Nadie esta mejor muerto” produced by Gerry Rosado from Intolerancia Records and invites to participate in this recording some notorious musicians from the Mexican music scene like, Jarris Margallis, Sabo Romo and Alex Otaola.
In 2009 this album is reviewed by the Rolling Stone Magazine Mexico as one of the top 10 best in Latin America. This same album was given an outstanding article by the known British reporter and writer Mick Mercer. The song “ Embals-amame” from this album was given first place in the IV Macabro Festival and event organized by the Radio Mexican Institute.
In that same year EL CLAN was invited to be part of the many bands that performed at the massive festival “Vive Latino” a yearly 3 day event similar to Coachella Festival.
In 2011 EL CLAN releases an experimental EP including only two songs, “En mi libro” and “Painkillers” this last one in English.
In 2012 EL CLAN decides to celebrate a tribute to the very first album “Sin Sentir” event that takes place at one of the most popular Clubs from Mexico City “Rock and Road” after recording this live album EL CLAN goes on tour all around Mexico, after this tour EL CLAN alternates at the World Trade Center Mexico City with the British band The Mission and continues performing at many other venues.
2013 EL CLAN is on the process of recording a new album and planning touring the USA and Europe.
EL CLAN has been considered in the Mexican music scene as an underground band that transforms and adapts to the challenges of time and generations, never loosing the essence of its music and unique performance.
SAUROM
Saurom is a Spanish folk metal band based in the city of San Fernando, Cádiz. Its lyrics is often about traditional legends and poems. Some of his songs deal with fantastic literature’s stories, like The Lord of the Rings or Song of Ice and Fire.
HAYLEY THOMPSON-KING
Hayley Thompson-King is a Boston based singer, songwriter and guitarist. She is best known as the singer for American psychedelic rock band Major Stars, and front woman of girl group-garage trio Banditas.
AMIGO THE DEVIL
Murderfolk. True Grime.
ALL TORN UP
Staring at this ugly/fucked up world everyday can either tear you apart, leaving you broken and unable to cope, or it can drive you crazy with rage, inspiring you to rip this place to pieces until we have a world in which we would actually want to live. All Torn Up is a collective of community organizers and rage filled musicians firing out aggressive tunes to break this shit down. We’re dedicated to bringing punk music and community back to being a source of rebellion against all the injustices that have shaped our angry little lives.
All Torn Up was forged with two desires: to make music that not only challenges ourselves and others to consciously think more about the wretched world we have been given AND to invigorate people to make fight harder everyday to make this the something worth struggling for. Our tunes are torches to set fire to their oppressive institutions and to shine light upon our fellow rebels. Those are the fury filled faces are the reason this fight is worth starting, and they are the reason we know we can win.
Music holds us together, while the dusty ideas of the past hold us down. The trick is using that which holds us together to destroy the shit that holds us down. We are here to help empower those who have been held down to hold their heads up as high as their fists, stick together, and start raging for a world in which we’d ALL actually want to live.
LEFTOVER CRACK
Leftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998 following the breakup of its predecessor Choking Victim, sharing band members Stza & Alec Baillie (also bandmates in their first band that they formed together in high school: No Commercial Value) until Alec’s tragic death in November of 2021. The band is currently recording new music & will be reissuing all of their previous albums, with the exception of their debut LP “Medicore Generica” (Hellcat/Epitaph). Manufactured & distributed by MVD in North America, Leftöver Crack’s own Recidivist Bible Camp record label released its first song & video for the track “Shooticide” from the upcoming Leftöver Crack recording: “Abandon the Precincts” aka Volume 4 on RBC records & psalms.
KEITH SCOTT AND TONY MAC
Keith Scott is one of Chicago’s most vibrant musicians. For the past 20 years he’s built his reputation as a sizzling blues guitarist, dynamic performer, noteworthy songwriter and bandleader. Keith has toured the U.S. and Europe both with his band and blues great Jimmy Dawkins.
CHAMPAGNE CHARLIE
Champagne Charlie combines elements of Jazz, Blues, Waltz, Dark Folk and Punk Rock to create their own musical gumbo. While the band plays a drinking man’s music, Ryan “Peepers” King sings with the gravelly delight of a parched throat encased in a sailor’s bones about love, loss, damnation, and a lack of forgiveness.
THE BABYS
One of the world’s most beloved classic-rock bands, The Babys, are back together after a 30-something year layover! With a string of ’70s and ’80s classic rock radio hits like “Isn’t It Time,” “Every Time I Think of You,” “Back on My Feet Again,” “Head First”, “Midnight Rendezvous”, and so many more, The Babys created some of the most memorable arena anthems of their era. The shows are jam packed with material that has entire audiences on their feet – singing and dancing to every tune.
Tony Brock: Drums
Wally Stocker: Lead Guitar
John Bisaha: Singer/Bassist
Joey Sykes: Guitar
Original drummer Tony Brock and original lead guitarist Wally Stocker have reformed the band with an incredible new singer, John Bisaha, whose vocals and bass playing fits The Babys to a tee, along with guitarist Joey Sykes, a renowned singer/songwriter. In concert, The Babys feature a keyboardist and The Babettes.
This new incarnation of The Babys created an instant buzz with their first new song in 30 years, the aptly titled “Not Ready to Say Goodbye,” which was released in November 2013. It has all the classic Babys elements – amazing vocals, thoughtful lyrics and a chorus that lodges itself in your brain, refusing to leave for days. In June 2014, fans were blown away with the release of their brand new album. I’ll Have Some Of That, that boasted 12 dynamic, new songs that resonate with the classic Babys sound, including the single “I See You There.” That single was released at the end of 2014 and reached #5 on Billboard’s Hot Singles Sales Chart, and stayed in the top-10 (reaching #5 as well) on FMQB’s AC Top-40 for 10 weeks.
Previous band members John Waite, Jonathan Cain and Ricky Phillips have all given their blessings to The Babys 2014. Waite continues on as a solo artist, Cain joined Journey after leaving The Babys and penned a string of hit singles including “Don’t Stop Believing,” the most downloaded song in history, and Phillips is the longtime bass player for Styx.
Below is a capsule look at each member of The Babys:
Tony Brock, drummer – Strongly considered one of the best drummers in the world, Brock plays with a rare combination of feel and timing, combined with a preference to hit the drums just about as hard as possible. Post-Babys, Brock was a long-time member of Rod Stewart’s band in addition to playing with Jeff Beck, Bernie Taupin and others. Eventually, Brock founded Silver Dreams Studios (www.silverdreamsstudios.com) near Los Angeles, where he produced platinum records for Jimmy Barnes and a string of others.
Wally Stocker, lead guitarist – A key force throughout The Babys’ original rise to stardom, Stocker first left home in London at 15 with just a couple of pounds in his pocket and a guitar strapped to his back in pursuit of his rock and roll dreams, and he has never turned back. A favorite among Babys fans for his spellbinding guitar riffs that always played the spaces as well as the notes, Stocker went on to join Rod Stewart’s band, Air Supply, and Humble Pie.
John Bisaha, vocals/bass – Blessed with a terrific voice that sounds about as close to one-of-a-kind Waite as you can get, Bisaha proved an instant hit at The Babys’ first comeback performance in July 2013. The first song was “Looking For Love,” and it took about 30 seconds for Bisaha to have the capacity crowd in the palm of his hand. Through the years Bisaha has made his mark in several bands, theater and studio work.
Joey Sykes, guitars – Born and raised in New York, currently living in L.A. Sykes also spends time writing in Nashville. He got his first real taste of the industry with the band Boystown and Coward (Elektra Records) who shortly after signing their record deal signed a publishing deal with Warner-Chappell Music. In addition to The Babys, Sykes has been writing for other artists, television and motion pictures as well as producing other artists.
For more info on The Babys – visit their website at TheBabysOfficial.com.
ANGELA MARTIN
If anyone has ever come close to being an angel, it’s Angela Martin. Not because her name is one letter shy of being the perfect angel or that she has lived a perfect life, but because she has weathered the perfect storm. The world was introduced to this Chicago native when she premiered on American Idol season 7 and returned for seasons 8 and 9. Her voice enchanted the judges, but sadly a series of unfortunate events caused distractions that lead to her elimination each season. Angela’s father was murdered by his girlfriend shortly before her first audition; she was arrested for unpaid traffic tickets which landed her in jail for 6 days the second time around; and her mother went missing her third try.
But American Idol isn’t where music started for Angela. Therefore, it won’t be her end. Angela grew up in church playing the drums never having the desire to sing or intention of singing. However, Angela’s mother and grandmother knew singing was also her God given gift and assigned the then 11 year-old Angela to sing “Lord I’m Available to You” at her aunt’s funeral. “I was so scared with my eyes closed; when I finally opened them everyone was standing,” says Angela. “I saw how I touched people and from that moment on I knew I was supposed to sing.” Music has always been the key to Angela’s ongoing song. Around the age of 18 she got her start being in front of an audience at the legendary Cotton Club. She hosted a live open mic night at A Touch of the Past for nearly 10 years. She even won over the audience, competing in amateur night at The Apollo in a girl group named Trios. Angela has worked on several projects both before and after American Idol. She recorded demos with R.Kelly as reference tracks and recorded two songs on his unreleased album “Best of Both Worlds 2” with Birdman. The unreleased album was a big upset for Angela given the time and effort she put into her part. Yet she moves forward, never skipping a beat. Continuing on her path, Angela competed in Missy Elliot’s The Road to Stardom and Chicago Idol. She performed in the Budweiser Tour with Herb Kent, opened for Lil Romeo, sang background for Lupe Fiasco, opened for El DeBarge and Goapele, appeared on Windy City Live and more.
The entertainment business isn’t for the weak. There has to be something that keeps one motivated and passionate. Angela’s daughter is her constant motivation. Her daughter is a child with special needs who, at the age of one, developed Rett Syndrome; a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes seizures. “Everything I do is for my daughter because she’s the gift God gave me,” says Angela – who’s also a spokesperson for Rett Syndrome and looks to start her “Angels for Angela” charity soon. “She can’t talk or walk but she smiles and laughs every day after having seizures; showing her strength, so who am I to give up?”
Angela’s journey has presented great opportunities with some rough terrain along the way. After her final attempt at American Idol, Angela felt her chances were few and began to fall into a deep depression. Ellen DeGeneres was even impacted by Angela’s elimination from American Idol and invited her on her show with an offer to help her find a record label, but the deal never came into play due to the terms of Angela’s contract with American Idol at the time. Angela takes it all in stride now, lives in the moment and looks ahead knowing God hasn’t given up on her. “Life is a journey within itself,” says Angela. “I can’t wait to live in my future as well as I’m living in my present and show the world you can’t let life defeat you.”
And speaking of showing, there are several sides to Angela that many have not seen. Her showmanship is that of a Renaissance woman. Like the fact that she’s a great drummer, energetic dancer, and passionate actress who got her first lead acting role in Crazy Love by Kevin Nathaniel. Angela has a long resume that currently keeps her busy working as an entertainer at corporate events and weddings. In between her busy schedule she found the time to begin writing and recording her first EP and has been titled, #MYPAIN Art imitates life, so Angela naturally wrote about her life experience. She wrote about everything between the extremes of love and pain, loss and victory and is close to signing a deal soon.
Although Angela can belt out the Blues, don’t expect an R&B album from her. Tina Turner is her idol. She loves so many genres, especially Rock and Funk and plans to make an album full of fused energy. “It’s hard to put me in a box, I just hope my album explains it and makes people feel good,” says Angela. With all of Angela’s experience, gifts and talents combined, she has a resilience that resonates as bold as her vibrato.
LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS
The Legendary Shack Shakers’ hell-for-leather roadshow has earned quite a name for itself with its unique brand of Southern Gothic and swampy “hillbilly blues” that is all-at-once irreverent, lyrical, dangerous, and fun. Led by their charismatic, rail-thin frontman and blues-harpist JD Wilkes, the Shack Shakers are a four-man wrecking crew from the South whose explosive interpretations of swamp blues, rock n’ roll and hillbilly music have made fans, critics and legions of potential converts into true believers.
Between intermittent hiatuses to work on other projects (including JD’s sideshow banner-style artwork for acts like The Squirrel Nut Zippers and Marty Stuart…plus his two published books The Vine That Ate the South and Barn Dances & Jamborees Across Kentucky), the band is constantly re-inventing and re-mobilizing, much to the excitement of many a Shack Shakers fanatic. Despite Wilkes’ extracurricular projects, the Shakers’ reputation for intense entertainment endures.
On stage, JD has been compared to the likes of Iggy Pop, David Byrne, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The Nashville Scene named Wilkes “the best frontman in Nashville”, while former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra has called JD “the last great Rock and Roll frontman.” Guitar virtuoso, Gary Siperko (Pere Ubu, Rocket from the Tombs) intones a variety of strains, from garage blues to gypsy jazz, while the rhythm section rounds out with Preston Corn (The Dirt Daubers) on percussion and Fuller Condon (Two Man Gentlemen Band) thumping the upright bass.
Although not necessarily “legendary” upon being named, the band has grown into its reputation the last several years due to their heavy tour schedule, seven critically acclaimed studio albums, and songs that have been featured on television shows such as HBO’s True Blood, CBS’s The Unit , Swamp Loggers, and movies like Julia Roberts’ Duplicity. Past tour mates and fans include Sturgill Simpson, Reverend Horton Heat, Rancid, The Black Keys, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, and Hank Williams III. Robert Plant is also a noted Legendary Shack Shakers fan, and picked the band to open for him on his 2005 tour of Europe. Plant named the band’s third album Believe as one of his favorite records of 2005. The list of esteemed admirers goes on to include horror novelist Stephen King, who listed “CB Song” as among his iPod’s Top Five in a 2008 Entertainment Weekly article. Such a wealth of devoted, cult-like fans over the years has only added to the mystique that the Legendary Shack Shakers possess, carrying them down the road toward new creative pursuits and intense new tunes.
STARLESS
Driven by heavy, down-tuned guitar riffs and melodic vocal harmonies, Jess Ambriz and Jon Slusher bring you a haunting variation of doom and slow core, conveying darkness and light with heavy guitars and voice. Drummer Quinn Curren and bass player Alan Strathmann fill out this dystopian beauty that will have your ears ringing and your head humming.
MORPHEUS DESCENDS
Although they would forever lurk in the shadows of more successful brethren such as Suffocation, Immolation, and Incantation, Middletown, NY’s Morpheus Descends (initially named simply Morpheus) were also minor contributors to establishing the Empire State’s peculiarly dense and Byzantine brand of ’90s death metal (as compared to the dominant Floridian strain). At the very beginning, in late 1990, though, Morpheus Descends’ guitarist Rob Yench, vocalist Jeff Reimer, bassist Ken Faggio, and drummer Sam Inzerra had world-conquering plans of their own, so they hastily (and, in retrospect, regrettably) partnered with independent JL Records to assemble their 1992 debut album, Ritual of Infinity, from a series of demo sessions undertaken over the previous two years. Not surprisingly, the band soon found their label sorely lacking in promotional support and endeavored to release 1994’s Chronicles of the Shadowed Ones EP (featuring second guitarist Bryan Johnston and new bass player Andy Newton) themselves; a move that at least allowed them to pocket most of the cash from what copies were sold during their extensive ensuing tours with Incantation, Anal Cunt, Absu, and Enslaved. But aside from growing respect within the underground death metal scene, Morpheus Descends returned home with precious little to show for all of their hard work, and had fallen hopelessly behind their onetime peers (Suffocation, in particular) by this time. So, after replacing Reimer and Johnston with vocalist/guitarist Tom Stevens (ex-Nokturne, Ripping Corpse, etc.), the group recorded 1997’s The Horror of the Truth EP in a last ditch effort to turn their fortunes around — alas, all to no avail. By the following year, Stevens and Yench had begun moonlighting with the aforementioned Incantation and bassist Newton had created the pseudonym of Lord Typhus Mirinor and launched the black metal band Fog. Drummer Inzerra also resurfaced eventually, in a crossover side project named Generation Kill, featuring Pro-Pain’s Rob Moschetti and Exodus’ Rob Dukes, but original Morpheus Descends vocalist Jeff Reimer was less fortunate, passing away from a reported heroin overdose in August of 2005.
NECROPHOBIC
Members: Anders Strokirk – Vocals Alexander Friberg – Bass Fredrik Folkare – Lead & Rhythm Guitar Joakim Sterner – Drums
THE CHOCOLATEERS
What began as an acoustic modern folk duo in 2012 has evolved into a roots rock garage band recently dubbed “northern swamp” by friends and fans. Highlighted by unique songwriting and soaring harmonies, The Chocolateers are Wisconsin based.
SETH MERCER
After fronting several rock bands over the last few years, Seth Mercer announces his first acoustic/solo project. Sure to please the listeners of Chuck Ragan, Dustin Kensrue, and Johnny Cash, Seth brings an eclitic mix of folk, rock, and blues. With catchy hooks you’ll be humming for days, and lyrics that will both tell stories and inspire, Seth’s first EP entitled “Prisoner Of Love” is available now! Seth will be playing shows throughout the Chicago-land area at different venues including bars, coffee houses, churches and maybe even street corners…but you’ll feel like you’re in his living room.
AMERICAN GRIZZLY
American Grizzly is a Rock & Roll band of sorts influenced by all things past, present, and future. From tube-screaming “noise rock” to the minimalist approach of rural American folk music, this band transcends any one genre and hits many of the stops along the musical landscape. Pairing well-crafted song writing with tasteful sonic euphoria and sometimes tones that elicit bouts of melancholy, American Grizzly creates music for current times. After years of shaping their craft in basements, garages, bowling alleys, and taverns, American Grizzly has heeded the call for original artistry with recordings and are actively supporting their efforts with live performances. Based in Chicago, Illinois, the band is comprised of Matt Ladd on vocals, Jack Doyle and Dennis Wilson on guitars, and Marty Funk on bass.
BEYOND CREATION
Since the release of their debut full-length album, The Aura, in June 2011, Montreal progressive death metallers Beyond Creation have become known for taking the innovative and exciting metal sound of their Quebec homeland and launching it into uncharted territory. Guitarists Simon Girard and Kevin Charté blend top-notch technical death metal playing, at times reminiscent of Gorod and The Faceless, with uid and progressive slides and taps, inspired by everything from
Guthrie Govan to Animals As Leaders. They are joined by arguably one of the most
forward-thinking players in metal, Dominic ‘Forest’ Lapointe, on six-string fretless bass, known for his work with Augury, Quo Vadis, Teramobil, Atheretic and others. Backed by the relentless assault of hyperactive drummer Philippe Boucher (Other bands: Incandescence, First Fragment, Chthe’ilist, Décombres) and led by Girard’s blend of guttural growls and inhaled/pitched screams, Beyond Creation are blazing their own trail through hard work, originality and a fresh perspective on the metal genre.
RUKUS
THE ROBBY CELESTIN BAND
An energetic performer and skilled songwriter, Robby delivers an exciting show with a soulful vibe. His lyrics are smart and moving and his songs are truly memorable. He speaks of life, love, and everything in between.
With songs that run the gamut of soul, funk, Latin and reggae, Robby’s powerhouse band delivers a pulse pounding ride. He is backed by a collection of Chicago’s most talented and sought after musicians. This local singer has performed at the White House, throughout the Caribbean, in Tahiti and for NATO troops all across Europe. He has opened up for and shared the stage with many famous performers including The Goo Goo Dolls, Jay Leno, The Four Tops, Destiny’s Child, Stormy Weather, Survivor, ELO, The Little River Band and Chicago legends Jerry Butler and Gene Chandler.
Robby was selected by Midwest Beat Magazine as favorite male vocalist and his CD “Voiceprints” was chosen by www.NWI.com as the number one Chicagoland independent CD. Voiceprints has continued to bring forth both critical and public acclaim around the globe. It was a CD Baby top 10 seller and named as one of CD Baby’s top 5 editor’s picks. Music runs in his family. Robby’s father, Robert “Cuate” Celestin, was a member of the Atlantic soul group the Enchanters and performed with many Motown acts including The Jackson 5.
BRANDT CARMICHAEL WITH WRONGWAY
Brandt Carmichael is a young, bright, musician from Royal Center, Indiana. Brandt started playing music when he was four when his parents Kevin and Jody Carmichael got him a guitar and drums for Christmas. Brandt entered a Talent Show and rocked out Bob Seger “Old Time Rock And Roll” Although he did not win it drove him to work harder with his music. Brandt then picked up the piano and later found where he really wanted to be which is a guitar player/ front man. He started a band “WrongWay” in 2010 and started recruiting local band mates. After a long and hard search for band mates lasting over three years. Brandt found his right match when attending Kokomo Sound of Music’s “Rock Star Training Academy” A summer camp for musicians. He got the chance to meet a lot of young musicians. He find one that fit just right he was perfect for his band and they practiced and picked up a drummer and started playing shows. Brandt picked up lots of shows from Brandt’s Harley Davidson Concert Series. He also plays at festivals, private parties. Brandt has also started an annual event called “A Little Help For My Friends” A benefit for the Emmaus Mission Center a homeless shelter. This event is held at McHale Performing Arts Center. This is the first concert Brandt ever planned and played at Brandt raised three thousand dollars for them in 2013. He has bigger and better plans for the next year’s concert! Brandt also DJ’s for Weddings, Receptions, Graduations, Birthdays, Retirements, Holiday and Office parties etc. If you ever need entertainment for any type of party or event. Please give us a call we will meet any budget call 574-732-1742 or 1-765-210-1884. Call and Book Today!
THE AV CLUB
Welcome to the club. The AV Club. Funk/jazz noises for your ears!
KINGS OF THE LOBBY
A jazz-funk band based in Chicago founded by saxophonist Chris Madsen.
MIKE AND CHAD
We are Mike and Chad an acoustic duo that offers a rich and diverse catalog of music. We consist of Michael Noonan(keys/melodica/vocals) and Chad Aul(guitar/vocals) and have been playing together for over ten years. We play all different styles of music from folk, rock, blues, funk, indie and jazz to name a few. Hailing from the south side of Chicago, we have been playing music together for over 10 years. Our mission is to continue to work on our craft and build off our dynamic performances to deliver something special for the listener every time.
CAUGHT ON CLINE
Caught on Cline has a vision to create positive music and a culture, which broadens our perspective of social barriers and stereotypes, through a cornucopia of musical notions. From the Jazz motifs on the trumpet, to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern runs on the bouzouki, to the funky soulful rhythm section, Caught on Cline encompasses the diversity musically that creates their ethos.
Coming into fruition in the summer of 2014, it has conjoined musicians from Funk, Soul, Jazz, R&B, and World Music, to organically engineer articulate, dynamic and harmonious melodies that ring in the memory of the listener, be it an adolescent set of ears to a mature trained professional.
Caught on Cline’s self titled debut album, is a collaborate effort from founding members Nicholas Kazonis, Alex Akers, Ray Vick, and Nikolce Janakievski with the help of good friend Keith O’Brien to expose the sincerity of the human sentiment. The members pull experiences from their everyday lives of teaching, traveling, and humanitarian service, to closer connect to the lives of their listeners with the passion and love they can relate to.
GIVE
Conceived in Iraq, the back of a van hurtling across the desert, Mississippi, and the leaf shrouded seclusion of a Mount Pleasant basement, GIVE has existed in one form or another for close to five years. We played our first show in November of ’08, since then we have played many shows in many places. We’ve had three recording sessions, all with Don Zientara at Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, VA.
DJ ERIC OF FCS SOUNDSYSTEM
Spinning the best in Ska, Soul and Rock and Roll!
MONO IN STEREO
Based out of Rockford, IL. Mono in Stereo is comprised of former members of mid-west punk bands, Mulligan Stu and The Shakes.
Mono in Stereo wear their influences on their sleeves, obvious nods to Husker Du, 7 Seconds and Bruce Springsteen are quite apparent in their music. The songs span across break-neck paced hardcore anthems about the music itself to honest melodic confessions about life’s ups and downs.
RESTLESS ROAD
Talented. Charming. Unstoppable. America first became acquainted with the Country music trio Restless Road while watching Season 3 of The X Factor USA and these are just some of the words that immediately came to their minds. The breakout act didn’t just leave a lasting impression on audiences, but also mesmerized the show’s judges including Simon Cowell and Kelly Rowland. “X Factor” of course refers to that undefinable and innate “something” that a star simply embodies. And fans and tastemakers recognize that Restless Road has got it times three.
Zach Beeken (19), Garrett Nichols (18) and Jared Keim (21) each bring their own “All- American” experience to a transformed Restless Road. Evident in their self-taught musical skills, these three guys do share one important thing in common above all else: determination. Zach’s very first job was pollinating corn on a farm in Iowa where he discovered his love for Country music and taught himself how to sing. Garrett on the other hand grew up in Alabama and was involved in everything from school musicals to baseball. One day at age 12 though, he picked up an acoustic guitar and never looked back. Also at a young age, Jared’s community watched in awe as he performed on stage at his local church in Missouri; he found his calling before he could tie his own shoes. Into his teens, Jared trained himself on the guitar, piano and drums. “Getting together to write or record is great because we all grew up with the same hard- working attitude and approach our music in the same way together,” says Zach. It’s this dedication and positive outlook that’s responsible for so much of the group’s success.
One of Restless Road’s biggest accomplishments to date is landing at #1 on the iTunes Country Chart. With a Country spin, the group covered one of the most popular songs of 2013, Avicii’s “Wake Me Up”, and quickly realized that they had a growing and passionate fan base to satisfy. One of these fans was legendary music manager Johnny Wright. Wright has helped launch Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC and Jonas Brothers (to name a few), so he thoroughly understands what it takes for a group of guys to be successful and began working with Restless Road in 2014. With Wright’s ear for talent and Restless Road’s capability, this Country “man band” (as they refer to themselves) is ready to show the world what they can do. Jared sums it up well by explaining, “We’re three guys who have something to prove. We love what we’re doing, we’re real and we’re going to carve out a place in music history for ourselves.”
SET FIRE
“I AM THOR” MOVIE SCREENING
Jon Mikl Thor was a bodybuilding, steel bending, brick smashing rock star in the 70’s & 80’s whose theatrical band THOR hit the scene alongside Metallica and Kiss, but never achieved the gold record status of its contemporaries. After a brief but memorable film career saw him starring in the cult classics Rock ‘n’ Roll Nightmare and Zombie Nightmare, Thor all but disappeared from the entertainment map. But ten years into retirement, and incapable of living like a normal mortal human being, Thor attempts a comeback to achieve the level of success that had eluded him his entire career – a comeback that nearly kills him. Tracing the rise, fall, and rebirth of a determined performer over the course of a career that has seen more than its fair share of highs and lows, I AM THOR paints a fascinating and sometimes unbelievable portrait of this larger-than-life icon.
THOR
The Rock Warrior THOR has always shaken the very halls of Valhalla itself with inspiring anthemic Metal as powerful as the enchanted warhammer Mjolnir itself! Now he’s taking us on a thunderous, epic quest with his July 2007 release, “INTO THE NOISE” (Smog Veil Records)!
“INTO THE NOISE is basically a concept album where the band goes on a journey to the center of the mind, of noise,” said THOR. “They come across all these alternate characters and creatures like The Sound King. It’s a quest. Like in the song ‘Back For More’, it’s about coming back to rise up again and do battle again. Sometimes you have to retreat when you get overwhelmed or defeated, but then you regain your strength and go back in. So we’re heading back Into the Noise.”
This unique digital release is going to be a prelude to another new CD to be unleashed in Fall 2007, and heralds several legs of an upcoming tour.
Jon Mikl THOR is an enduring icon of glam rock/metal, and one of the true originators of rock theatre. THOR’s enviable career got off the ground with his appearance on the Merv Griffin Show in 1973 and he has maintained a steady pace ever since, selling hundreds of thousands of records. Over the last three decades, THOR has explored the tongue-in-cheek Sweet/Mott the Hoople/Bowie stylings, hard hitting metal moves of the 80’s, and flirting briefly with Nu-Rock/Metal in the late 90’s.
Starting out in Vancouver, THOR first made waves in the bodybuilding world, becoming Mr. Canada and Mr. USA, always using heavy music as an intensive training tool. He blended his powerful physique with powerful rock, and thus began this amazing cult legend’s long reign in the hazy area between superstardom and the dark underground.
Along the way he has become a movie actor and producer, turning out collectible classics like “Rock & Roll Nightmare”, “Zombie Nightmare”, “Graveyard”, and others. Most recently, THOR appeared in the USA Network movie “Murder At The Presidio”, the recent Lifetime Network TV movie “A Family Lost”, and starred in “The Intercessor”. And even more movie news will be released soon. (Keep checking www.thorcentral.com for updates).
THOR is still an immensely powerful man in incredible shape and a dedicated performer. Blowing up hot water bottles, bending steel, and having cinder blocks broken over his chest are all in a night’s work. THOR has successfully managed to re-invent himself once again. The legions of fans are still there and new generations are finding out for themselves that THOR is just as cool now as he ever was in 1978, 1985, or 1999.
THOR was voted one of the Greatest 100 Frontmen of All Time in the July, 2004 edition of the UK’s Classic Rock Magazine – a list compiled by polling professional Rock journalists.
The concept album “Beastwomen” was released in 2004, and for this phenomenal Metal Opera, THOR hooked up with American fantasy artist extraordinaire Mike “Mick” Hoffman, one of the best fantasy artists currently working in comics today. Hoffman’s work summons up the spirit of adventure in Classical Art for a modern audience.
Jon and Mick joined forces in 2001, and have produced several THOR comic books including “Thor: The Rock Warrior #1” and “Thor vs. Beastwomen From the Center of the Earth.” The hot-lava finale of “Beastwomen” leaves ample room for a sequel, and the highly-prolific artist Hoffman guarantees that the third stanza of a “Thor Trilogy” is indeed on its way. Not your typical Rock album, “Beastwomen” is a total-experience multimedia product as a concept album, an illustrated comic book, and with a movie and videogame in the works.
Two more albums, “THOR Against The World” and “Devastation of Musculation” followed in the interim between “Beastwomen” and “Into The Noise”. This is Metal the way Metal SHOULD be – tapping into and channeling the very heart & soul of the genre! Both albums feature extremely catchy and addictive, with a timeless quality that will make the songs just as fresh decades from now as they were when first released.
MILES OVER MOUNTAINS
Miles Over Mountains is an acoustic Bluegrass / Roots / Americana band based in McHenry, IL. Their musical styles range from bluegrass, to rock, to folk, to reggae, to punk and beyond, all delivered in a “not-so-traditional” bluegrass voice. Their live shows are high energy, centered around their arsenal of original material and refreshing variety of cover songs interpreted in their own way.
Only in their first years as a band, Miles Over Mountains continue to turn heads across the nation as they’re momentum and touring schedule continue to grow. In 2014-2015 they’ve performed hundreds of shows at bars, clubs and festivals with no signs of slowing. Besides playing notable Chicago venues such as Cubby Bear, Martyr’s, Tonic Room and others, the band also held a weekly residency show at the Abbey Pub from May until October carrying on the longstanding local tradition of Bluegrass Tuesdays in the city.
The 2014 and 2015 festival seasons have seen M.O.M. performing at such fests as Shoe Fest, Down On The Farm, Jam for Jam Music Fest, Frankfort Bluegrass Fest, Byrd Fest, Blottopia, Summer Stomp and more, and sharing the bill with The Wood Brothers, Split Lip Rayfield, Sierra Hull, Blue Highway, Ben Miller Band and a host of national and regional acts. M.O.M. has been the opening act for such groups as Town Mountain, Henhouse Prowlers, Cornmeal, Ben Miller Band, The Big Wu, Family Groove Company and many other longtime staples of the music scene.
Collectively with decades of stage experience under their belts, M.O.M. strives to provide the audience with a fun and freeing experience at each show with unique sets every time. The band released their debut album, “Five Star Heart Breaker” on March 20, 2015. They have been and continue to be on the road and the stage constantly in support of this record, and can be seen this festival season at over a dozen fantastic Midwest music festivals~
WHITFORD ST. HOLMES
After selling tens of millions of records around the world with Aerosmith and Ted Nugent, Brad Whitford and Derek St. Holmes have reunited for their second record and world tour. Whitford/St.Holmes self titled debut received strong radio play and as well as critical reviews followed by a very successful run of US dates. However, shortly after its release their respective camps reunited and those schedules simply did not allow for a follow up…until now!
The newly reunited line up also features drummer Troy Luccketta from Tesla and Nashville A-lister, bassist Chopper Anderson. The bands second release is slated for early 2016 with a new single arriving this Fall. Look for Whitford/St.Holmes tour dates to be announced in June!
As Brad and Derek put it, “ We are so excited for this record and we absolutely cannot wait to get out there and share it with all of our fans….check that, “FRIENDS!”
THE GO SET
The Go Set are an iconic Australian act. Fiercely independent, they have travelled the world delivering their brand of high energy folk/punk. Since 2003, they have played in 25 countries, performed over 1000 shows at festivals and clubs, and released seven albums. Traditional sounds of the bagpipes and mandolin, punk rock guitars, and a penchant for socially and politically motivated lyrics, they’ve been likened to everything from The Pogues, to The Clash, Flogging Molly and early Midnight Oil.
2015 sees the release of their long awaited full length feature film ‘These are the Days” through ABC television. The film depicts the plight of independent music in an ever changing world, and the universal language that it speaks – from villages in some of the poorest countries in the world, to huge rock festivals in Europe. ….The Go Set are touring the US for the first time in September/October 2015!!