NO DEVOTION
Stuart Richardson, Mike Lewis, Lee Gaze, Luke Johnson and Jamie Oliver have joined forces with former Thursday frontman, Geoff Rickly, to bring a common love of post-punk and epic melodies to life.
THE PAUL WERTICO TRIO
THE FRANK CATALANO & PAUL WERTICO DUO
JUICY J
NANCY TRANSIT
NANCY TRANSIT is a “post-punk” trio from Vienna, Austria. They connect alot of different roots, genres from psychodelic garage tunes, over spheric kraut-rock, to surf or rockabilly and heavy, trippy blues. NT is a very recent project, they released one debut Single & Video and now released their debut album “FANTASY – LP” in July 2014.
FOUR STAR BRASS BAND
There ain’t no party like a Four Star Party. We are a professional Chicago based New Orleans Style brass band ready to play any party. From festivals and stages to weddings and crawfish boils, we are bringin’ the Louisiana sizzle to you all night. Come fuel the excitement as the FOUR STAR BRASS BAND becomes the hottest and hardest hittin’ Brass Band of their generation.
POUYA
ROBB BANKS
GENESIS “SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND”
Selling England by the Pound is the fifth studio album from the English progressive rock band Genesis, released on 12 October 1973 on Charisma Records. It was recorded in August 1973 following their tour supporting Foxtrot (1972).
YES “CLOSE TO THE EDGE”
Close to the Edge is the fifth studio album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released on 13 September 1972 on Atlantic Records.
PALLUS LANDING
“A prolific home-studio musician in the tradition of the Magnetic Fields–he claims to have written and recorded 300 songs to date–Osvaldo Paese is an earnest young singer and songwriter with seemingly boundless ambition and a wildly diverse set of influences. Though he’s clearly enamored of the Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Neil Young schools, he describes his musical goal as evoking “Leonardo the Ninja Turtle singing the songs Britney Spears will be writing in the year 2169.”
Nothing I’ve heard on his new seven-song demo, D.I.Y. album “Definitions” or the online jukebox on his MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/osvaldopaese) is quite that far out. But my favorites in his catalog–“We Dot Com,” “Whatever You Want Done” or “If You Had Nothing”–do sport a fascinating Beck-like love of psychedelic surrealism colliding with sudden clear-eyed social observations. “If you had nothing would you start living instead?” he asks amid the otherwise cheeky wordplay in the latter tune.
A versatile multi-instrumentalist particularly adept at Jimi Hendrix-meets-Syd Barrett electric guitar freak-outs, Paese performs solo acoustic at open-mike nights around town. Though he doesn’t have any dates listed at the moment, he does offer a bounty of homemade videos on his YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/osvaldopaese), which means you can see him perform without even leaving the couch.”
Jim Degrogatis (author, music critic for Chicago Suntimes)
ERIC GALES BAND
Eric Gales grew up in a musical family with four brothers, two of them who learned to play the guitar upside down and left handed in the same fashion that Eric does. Eric’s brother Eugene Gales played bass in the Eric Gales Band and his brother Little Jimmy King had a thriving career as a blues artist before his untimely death. Eric released his first record at Age 16 for Elektra records to an amazing response from the media and music fans around the globe. Guitar World Magazine’s Reader’s Poll named Eric as “Best New Talent,” in 1991. After recording a second record for Elektra, all three brothers teamed up for The Gales Bros. “Left Hand Brand” which was recorded for the House of Blues label in 1996.Through the years, it would not be unusual to look out in the audience and see artists like Carlos Santana, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, B. B. King, and Eric Clapton, looking on with interest as Eric took his God-given talent and worked crowd after crowd into a frenzy. The new Millennium presented new opportunities for Eric and he was signed to a deal with Nightbird Records which was affiliated with the Hendrix family and distributed through MCA/Universal. Under this deal, Eric recorded the critically acclaimed record “That’s What I Am” in 2001 and hit the road, mesmerizing fans around the world with his uncanny connection to his guitar. In 2006 Eric recorded the critically acclaimed CD “Crystal Vision” for Blues Bureau and set the stage for his incredible Blues Bureau follow-up, “The Psychedelic Underground.” in 2007. Eric followed sharply in 2008 with “The Story of my Life” and in 2010 hit a new stride altogether with the incredibly successful album “Relentless”. That album combined with his latest studio album “Transformation” released in 2011 set the stage for his upcoming Double Live Album/DVD due in October of 2012.As both an African-American left-handed guitarist of extraordinary ability and an expressive vocalist, it is natural for people to compare Eric to Hendrix but Eric has developed a unique hybrid blues/rock sound that also draws upon influences as diverse as Albert King and Eric Johnson. A unique amalgam of styles, Eric Gales stands head and shoulders among other guitarists in his genre.”
“One of the best if not the best guitarist in the world today.” – Joe Bonamassa
THE OBGMS
Toronto punk quartet The oOohh Baby Gimme Mores are a guaranteed booty shaking, fist pumping, machine built to make you sweat on the dance floor. Being named to North By Northeast top 60 tip-sheet, playing shows at the Edge 102.1, Afro Punk Festival, Indie Week Toronto, and Canadian Music Week, The OBGMs have shared the stage with artists such as Saul Williams, Janelle Monae and Kathryn Calder of The New Pornographers. Feeding off pure energy and oozing with infectious drums and catchy synth lines: The oOohh Baby Gimme Mores are truly harbingers of the party groove..
THE MUFFS
Kim Shattuck formed the Muffs with bassist Ronnie Barnett, drummer Criss Crass and Melanie Vammen. After three singles for indie labels Subpop Records, Au Go Go in Australia, and
Sympathy for the Record Industry, which generated a large underground buzz, the Muffs were picked up by Warner Bros and subsequently released their powerful eponymous debut album in 1993. Shortly after, Crass left the group and was replaced temporarily by drummer Jim Laspesa for the tour.
In the Spring of 1994, ex- Redd Kross drummer and longtime Muffs friend Roy McDonald joined the group. The Muffs had asked him back in 1990 but he was moving to Dallas and couldn’t do it.
After switching to Reprise Records in late 1994, the Muffs headed back into the studio to record the follow-up, Blonder and Blonder; now a three-piece due to Vammen’s departure.
They toured extensively in 1995 in support of their 2nd album Blonder and Blonder, creating havoc and chaos wherever they went. (Mostly in a good way).
Happy Birthday to Me followed in 1997 and two years later Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow was released by a Fat Wreckords label, Honest Don’s; a rarities collection, Hamburger, appeared in early 2000 on Sympathy for the Record Industry.
After a long break, The Muffs released their new CD Really Really Happy on Oglio Records during the summer 2004 and toured the US and Japan later that year.
January 2005 The Muffs released a limited edition LP of Really Really Happy on Sympathy for the Record Industry.
In September 2005 The Muffs were featured in a series of Canadian Milk commercials that played throughout Canada.
In February 2009 the Muffs tried out new material during a 20 day tour of Spain. It was wildly successful.
Another tour in September 2010, this time of Spain and Italy. Lots of people and lots of fun chaos.
1/17/11 Another b-sides CD called Kaboodle comes out on Cherry Red Records from England!
Currently the Muffs are gearing up to release their 6th studio album July 2014. It will be released in North America by Burger Records and the rest of the world by Cherry Red Records.
LONERO
When LoNero married groove and melody driven songs with rhythm and verse then focused it all on the audience, Guitarcore was born! Legendary rock photographer Neil Zlozower describes LoNero’s style as, “Mean, intense, nasty, urgent, aggressive, and angry! I am definitely a fan!!!!” Bill Lonero has performed and recorded with Cliff Williams (AC/DC), Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani/Steve Vai), Mike Mangini (Dream Theater/Steve Vai/Extreme), Simon Kirke (Bad Company), Gigi Gonaway (Mariah Carey) and many more. LoNero and his bandmates James Manalili, Mike McKaigg, and Marco Bicca have continued to win over new audiences by supporting the Pat Travers Band and opening for legends Michael Schenker, Uli Roth, and Tony MacAlpine. With recently added a third guitarist Nasser Abdala, LoNero remains true to the Guitarcore principles of creating a real bond with their fans.
MC JUICE
(A.K.A. MC JUICE) The OFFICIAL & ORIGINAL… Born in Chi – Cali raised. Best lyricist on earth – test if U want!
DENMARK VESSEY
In the wake of nu hip hop, Detroit native Denmark Vessey maintains the signature “soft-as-concrete, beautiful/ugly” Motor City sound all too well. From d-boy to b-boy—-armed with quality music production, Denmark makes his presence felt in a lasting matter behind the boards and on the mic.
TRIPLE S S.L.A.N.G.
Triple S S.L.A.N.G. stands for South Side Stoners Slowly Leading A Nowhere Generation. The crew consists of the artists Klim, Loppsyded, Colombian, and Hard Tymes. Plus their sicc ass producer, J Holben Productions. Triple S S.L.A.N.G. was created in early 2010 by Dave Klimczak (KLIM) Ryan Kocanda (Loppsyded) and Tom Kelly (Big T) while smoking a blunt and playing Call of Duty. Klim & Loppsyded are a group and solo artists as well. Klim has been spitting hot 16s for about four years .Loppsyded started about three years ago and engineers all of Klim and Loppsyded’s music. Hard Tymes (Jeffery Cole) has been rappin wit triple since late 2011, Colombian joined the crew in early 2012 but has been rapping for 6 years prior. And our newest memeber is Josh Holben, (J-Holben Prod.) Triple S S.L.A.N.G. originated on the South Side of Chicago and is not a record label but more so an independent movement. Klim and Loppsyded have opened up for Psycho Drama, Project Pat, Busy Bone, Durrough, and many more. Their hit single “Blowin Diesel” was produced by Yo Gotti’s producer, Drumma Drama. Since early 2011 Klim and Loppsyded have been managed by Michael Hoover who has been in the industry long enough to work with Tupac, Bone Thugs n Harmony, Common, DMX, Paul Wall and many more. Some of the artists that have influenced Triple S S.L.A.N.G. are Eminem, Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Tech N9ne and the Beastie Boys.
B-SIDE KINGS
The B-Side Kings consists of members from several original Chicago bands and numerous guest vocalists covering deep cut tracks from some favorite 70’s acts.
STEPHEN NEEPER & THE WILD HEARTS
Stephen Neeper & The Wild Hearts play rock ‘n’ roll music.
The Neeper sound represents a coalescence of influences, ranging from Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and The Black Crowes, to Ryan Adams, and Pearl Jam. The Neepers, Stephen and Zeke, started learning the art of guitar picking from their father so long ago that it is a part of who they are. After multiple tenures with various local bands, SNTWH formed through jam sessions in the Neeper garage with other Arkansas musicians, beginning with the addition of drummer Evan Barr in late 2011. Drew deFrance became a part of the Neeper band family as a result of similar late night jam sessions. Since then, the band has shared the stage with the likes of Cody Canada and the Departed, The Wild Feathers, Whiskey Myers, Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown, and The Dirty Guv’nahs.
SNTWH has garnered attention from the press as well. In the Arkansas Times, Robert Bell wrote, “It’s hard to convey the extent to which this band has swaggering, blues-steeped Southern rock down cold….frontman Neeper is a shred-meister extraordinaire… and the rest of the band members are stone-cold bad-asses, too.” SNTWH guarantee one thing: a rockin’ good time.
REBUILDER
Rebuilder is a Boston based band with a modern punk sound and old school roots. Formed in January 2013, Rebuilder has already cultivated a following in their hometown and across the country – opening for Dropkick Murphys, The Dead Milkmen, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Diarrhea Planet, Frank Turner, Stiff Little Fingers and performing on Warped Tour and Pouzza Fest. Members Sal Ellington (guitar and lead vocals), Craig Stanton (lead guitar and vocals), Daniel Carswell (Bass), Rick Smith (Electric Piano and Organ), and Brandon Phillips (drums) are all friends with the common goal of creating their own fresh and invigorating take on punk rock music. Rebuilder just released their self-titled EP on their label Refuse, Rethink, Rebuild Records and is ready to take over the world.
JASON GUY SMILEY
After 12 years in punk band Midget Fan Club, Jason Guy Smiley has struck out on his own. Jason is now covering his favorite punk rock songs and writing new original material.
HOMEMADE SPACESHIP
Just a musician with a computer In chicago trying to make people get down and think about space at the same time. Forever jam lyfe.
MIKE ZABRIN’S FUNKTASTIC
All of 25 years old, Mike Zabrin is already considered to be a bass phenom, featured in Bass Player Magazine, No Treble Magazine, and WGN to name a few. Mike grew up touring across the United States with Chicago blues artists, playing behind some of the best names in blues music at places like Allstate Arena, House of Blues, Chicago Blues Festival, and Bonita Springs Blues Festival.
In May 2014, Mike left his nightly side-man club gigs to become producer and band leader of soul infused, funk driven powerhouse, Mike Zabrin’s Funktastic. His 2014 debut record, Funktastic, features collaborations with members of Kool & the Gang, Fishbone, and Kendra Foster of Parliament Funkadelic. Opening for renowned artists like Fareed Haque, his energetic live shows along with his insanely talented musicians is what keeps MZF one of the most working funk bands in the Chicagoland area.
Outside of performing, Mike is a band ensemble coach and bass instructor at Terra Sounds Music of School & Arts in Glenview, IL.
SAMMY LLANAS
Sam Llanas (pronounced yanas), formerly of the BoDeans, will release his new album The Whole Night Thru November 18th. Determined and confident, gloves are off on this guitar-driven collection, produced by longtime collaborator Gary Tanin featuring nine new Llanas originals.
With a career spanning decades, Llanas is continuing his solo pilgrimage after 25 years with the band he co-founded. His 12th studio album and third major solo effort, The Whole Night Thru, blends the roots-rock style that was a signature sound of his former band with Llanas’ own genre-bending musical influences.
Work on the new record started in 2013 occurring over a few weeks time. With the majority of the basic tracks recorded, Llanas began completing The Whole Night Thru at Daystorm Music in Milwaukee with producer-musician Tanin, who had also worked on the singer-songwriter’s previous solo efforts, A Good Day To Die, 4 A.M. (The Way Home) and 4/5 Live – Vol. I. Milwaukee musicians Sean Williamson, Matt Turner and Ryan Schiedermayer contributed guitar, bass, drums & percussion respectively, while Tanin supplied the string arrangements, piano and mellotron on the new recording.
Llanas’ new solo opus reveals a new found clarity, “I view The Whole Night Thru as my first ‘official’ solo record. Though I previously released two solo studio records, I had always been very careful to not compete with the BoDeans sound. But now that I’m no longer in that band, the gloves are off and this is a record that has many elements that fans of my former band love. If fans are looking for that BoDeans sound, it comes from my voice and it’s all over this record.” The result is a mix of Johnny Cash’s fiery fervor and Otis Redding’s nostalgic soulfulness, without limitation– stylistically or by genre classification.
“I’ve always been influenced by what I heard. In the ‘60s, when radio was wide open, you would hear the Beatles and the Stones, Motown Soul and Atlanta Soul, Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding and Southern Soul. You’d hear Tom Jones, The Carpenters, Glen Campbell and country artists, you’d hear Johnny Cash and folk. Those songs were all really well-written and well performed.”
In asking about his departure from the band he co-founded Llanas clarifies, “I think people have this misconception that I left The BoDeans to pursue a solo career, but that’s just not the truth. I never wanted the break up of the BoDeans. It broke my heart.”
Going solo at this point in his career, however, has allowed Llanas to combine the experience of a seasoned professional with the passion of an emerging artist. It is a need for deep self-exploration and expression that drives him to create his music and continue to perform. As Llanas admits, “I think the best part about being solo has been that I get to express myself completely now. I never got to sing half of these songs, and I always wanted to. I love being able to have that freedom.”
On The Whole Night Thru Sam Llanas embraces his new found freedom revealing a unique musical style that is simultaneously invigorating, passionate, inspiring and a surprising place of calm.
Sam Llanas’ The Whole Night Thru will be available on digital and CD formats November 18th via Llanas Music (distributed by OARFIN).
SVART CROWN
Spawned in France by guitarist/vocalist J.B Le bail, Svart Crown was born in 2005 with the idea to push the boundaries of extreme music, and create a new dimension of brutality and blackness. Following numerous tours in his native land, Svart Crown released its first album, Ages of Decay in early 2008. The band has been promoting this first effort since then, with countless shows and two European runs.
Around J.B. Le Bail, guitarist C. Frandrois, bassist L. Veyssière and drummer G. Barthélemy (also known for his works with Diabolic, Drowning, Balrog and Antaeus) complete the line-up.
Svart Crown has now finished the new album: Witnessing The Fall marks a new and significant step in the history of the band. The sulphurous and oppressive atmosphere are emphasized by an organic sound crafted by Sébastien Tuvi (Antaeus, Hell Militia, Aosoth) and Francis Caste (Kickback, Arkhon Infaustus, Phazm) at St Marthe Studio.
Svart Crown has successfully mixed an old school feeling with various modern influences. Witnessing The Fall is simply the new face of the band; a black beast, full of anger, a symbol of humanity in perdition.
BEHEADED
Beheaded regrouped its writing core and started stitching together the successor to Ominous Bloodline. Along Chris (Drums), Omar (guitars) and Dave (bass) the band welcomed Frank (vocals) and Robert (guitars) to its fold. The new line up which without doubt is one of the strongest since the band’s inception started work on the successor of ‘Ominous Bloodline’ whilst hitting the road once a number of times again taking the stage at festivals such as Neurotic Death Fest, Death Feast Open Air, Mountains of Death.
CARACH ANGREN
The Dutch masters of horror are back! On ‘Franckensteina Strataemontanus’, CARACH ANGREN resurrect the gruesome story of troubled soul ‘Conrad Dippel’; the inspiration of Mary Shelly’s novel ‘Frankenstein’.
CARACH ANGREN set out to tell ghost-stories with a set of paranormal cases recorded on the demo ‘The Chase Vault Tragedy’ (2004). This was soon followed by the official release of the ‘Ethereal Veiled Existence’ EP (2005) as a prelude to the haunting ‘Lammendam’ (2008). Their full-length ‘Death Came through a Phantom Ship’ (2010) witnessed the band setting sail to bring their eccentric and capturing live performances to audiences and festivals all over Europe. In the wake of third album ‘Where the Corpses Sink Forever’ (2012), the haunting had reached the US and started to spread rapidly. While firmly remaining in the horror genre, their tales revolve around the evils of war. This mature streak was taken a step further with the fourth full-length ‘This Is No Fairytale’ (2015), which is on the surface a darker variation of the “Hansel and Gretel”, but also deals with a dysfunctional family. With ‘Dance And Laugh Amongst The Rotten’ (2017), the band returned to pure story telling that centred on a girl playing a little too long with a Ouija board.
CARACH ANGREN return with the monster ‘Franckensteina Strataemontanus’, where the Dutch have pushed their unashamedly theatrical style to new heights. Press play and have your soul transferred with this new elixir of life!
MARTIN $KY
PHILLIP LASSITER
Philip Lassiter’s contribution and relevance to the music industry are as diverse and celebrated as he is. The highlights of his impressive career include production and arranging work for seven GRAMMY winning projects with Fred Hammond and Kirk Franklin in addition to working as section-leader, arranger and lead trumpeter for Prince. Lassiter is revered as a sought-after songwriter (SESAC) and Jazz musician whose talents earned him an endorsement with Cannonball Instruments and a recent record deal with GroundUP Records. Lassiter is also the musical genius behind the funk group Philthy.
Two decades of gospel, soul, R&B, funk, jazz and salsa sounds have served as a combined muse for Lassiter. Eight years in Dallas, TX brought these inspirations to life, and all the while under the wing of some of the most talented musicians and producers in the world. Bernard Wright, Bobby Sparks, Keith Anderson and many others opened new musical doors and further expanded his notoriety in the gospel and funk industry. As an arranger with multi-platinum artists including Prince, Fantasia, Kelly Rowland, Jill Scott, Roberta Flack, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Al Jarreau, Anthony Hamilton, Frankie Beverly, Ledisi, Regina Belle, Donald Lawrence and hundreds of others.
Several years in Nashville further diversified Lassiter’s musical portfolio. While there, he worked with the legendary producer Tommy Sims, performed and arranged the music of former Columbia Records country artist Shelly Fairchild, and performed in numerous awards shows such as the Dove Awards, The Stellars, and performed with My Morning Jacket at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. While in Nashville, Lassiter also formed his funk group Philthy. The talent Philip gathered for Philthy was representative of his working relationships with the best players and performers in both Nashville and New York. Based in DC, he currently leads an 11-piece horn section for Prince, with whom he tours internationally and in the U.S, and is preparing for his long-awaited album release of DreamZzz which is slated for June 10th, 2014.
BREMER & THE NO GOODS
JENNIFER WESTWOOD & THE HANDSOME DEVILS
Detroit has a musical heritage that is rich, proud and ever expanding with no limits or restrictive bounds. That is why Emmy award winning vocalist Jennifer Westwood was able to boldly assemble the Handsome Devils and combine elements of soul, gospel, hill country blues and outlaw country all into one package.
Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils have collected numerous awards in their musical history including Detroit Music, Blue Water Music, Caddy and the aforementioned Emmy awards while compiling nearly 20 albums in their careers. While having toured the country and the world, the members have also had songs featured in ABC’s Nashville, NBC’s Fear Itself, FX’s Sons of Anarchy, MTV’s Nitro Circus and on the Fall Guy DVD set to name just a few.
Jennifer grew up singing gospel in Detroit. She has joined forces with guitarist Dylan Dunbar (Rumpshakers, Whitey Morgan) and bassist JD Mackinder (Whitey Morgan, Deadstring Brothers), she was able to utilize those experiences and combine it with her devil’s talents and create a Hill Country Outlaw Swamp band that is unique in style and yet familiar to the ear all at once. It’s dirty, greasy and foot stomping. It’s Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils.
GS HARPER
BUDDHA BLUE BAND
Buddha Blue is an eclectic mix of Blues, Funk, Soul, and Rock. Buddha Blue “Buddha-fies” everything they do, resurrecting your favorites…infusing new life. Each member brings his/her individuality and artistic genius to the stage. Collectively, the band commands your attention and leaves you wanting more. Leave your worries + stress behind and come out for a guaranteed good time!
RETROSPECT
MIC TORRENCE
DJ JOHN “MISTER WIGGLES” PHILLIPS
STUPIDITY
In the last days of 2005 STUPIDITY was formed in Stockholm, Sweden by former members from the bands Eager Beaver and The Cool Jerks. They took the name “Stupidity” from the great Solomon Burke song. The band’s first recording was a four song demo in september 2006 and they also played their first gig in november the same year. In February – March 2007 they started recording new songs and doing a number of gigs. In April-June 2007 they went back into the studio and recorded the rest of the songs for the coming album. The album titled “I need you…like a hole in my head” is now available to buy here, just click on the album-cover and links to our distributors on the left! In June 2008 Stupidity toured the USA for two weeks, doing shows and radio in three states. After the tour Stupidity was discovered by Little Steven Van Zandt (from Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band & The Sopranos) who in August named their song “Girl Named Moe” the coolest song in the world on his radio channel The Underground Garage. The album “Illegal U-Turn” was released in June 2009. The new album “Move” was released in June 2011 and Stupidity did a tour in the U.S. during June & July 2011 promoting it with shows and radio. And once again Little Steven picked a song, “Move”, to be the Coolest Song in the World on the 4th July! In fall 2013 Stupidity toured the East Coast for the 6th time in a row and later that year the single, “King Midas”, was the Coolest Song In The World. On the 13th Dec Netflix released the serial “Lilyhammer 2” and “King Midas” appears ion the soundtrack of episode 6! More dates in Sweden and Europe are coming up during the end of 2014! So check the blog and the calendar here and on Myspace and Facebook for the latest news and coming gigs! See you & rock on! Miss Anna, Tommy Boy, Erniz & PA. .
WHITE RADIO
White Radio is a high energy hard rock band blowing up the Chicago club scene. White Radio has an original yet familiar sound. Their influences are as diverse as 70’s heavy rock and 80’s metal & hardcore punk to 90’s grunge and 2000’s indie rock. White Radio fits well on all hard rock, metal, punk, and indie shows. Ockam’s Razor’s show is lively and dynamic. They “bring it ” every show, every time.
With radio play on stations regionally like 94.7 The Razor, 95.1 Wiil Rock, 105.5 The Kat, 103.9 The Bear, 94.1 WJJO & 97.3 The Rock, White Radio’s regional following is building fast. White Radio has also shared the stage with bands like Black Stone Cherry, Saving Abel, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The Lovehammers and Anthrax, and has played or is currently booked at premier venues like House Of Blues(Chicago, 1300 capacity),The Hard rock Cafe'(Chicago capacity 690), Reggies Live(Chicago 500 capacity), The Rave/Eagles Ballroom(Milwaukee Wi. 3500 seat venue),The Brat Stop(Kenosha Wi. 1200 capacity) MoJoe’s(Joliet,1200 seat venue), The Back Bar(Janesville Wi.capacity 400) and more. White Radio has also played a number of outdoor music festivals like The Bash On Wabash(Chicago 6000 attend) & The Galena Music Festival(Galena Ill/Dubuque Ia)
With their self titled debut EP selling more than 3000 copies in total White Radio has recently finished recording their first full length album with producer Jon Lawhon(Black Stone Cherry) and will be mixed by multi-platinum producer/engineer Sean O’Keefe(Hawthorne Heights, Fall Out Boy, Plain White Tees). The album will be released this spring. In addition, Bassist Connor James is a Warwick Bass endorser/artist and drummer Dominick Cappetto is The Sunset Island Music Radio 2014 Drummer Of The Year 2014.
LIAM HAYES
“It was surreal,” says the Chicago composer and performer Liam Hayes, about appearing in the forthcoming Roman Coppola film A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III. “I haven’t played many gigs on a beach with a Hammond organ, you know?” Hayes, who has made music under the name Plush since the early ’90s, was contacted by Coppola after the director became a huge fan. “I just got so absorbed by his music,” Coppola recently told GQ (UK) about Hayes and Plush.
The result of this appreciation was Hayes and Coppola making a soundtrack out of Hayes’ music. “It evolved,” says Hayes. “When we met to discuss the project we talked about possible songs. We talked some more, added a few more songs, and I ended up doing the score.” Hayes also appears in the film performing the tune “So Much Music.” It isn’t his first time onscreen: In 2000 he appeared in High Fidelity performing his song “Soaring and Boring”. His imaginative, atmospheric, cinematic style is well suited to movie soundtracks, and his Charles Swan soundtrack is made up of songs from Fed, Bright Penny and the forthcoming Korp Sole Roller along with music written specifically for the film.
Hayes has been making critically acclaimed pop records since 1994, when he released the single “Three-Quarters Blind Eyes” b/w “Found a Little Baby”. Considered by many to be a pop classic, it helped to establish him as a songwriter. In 1998, he released More You Becomes You, a spare, stripped-down collection of his intimate tunes. In 2002, he released Fed, a lush, orchestral album. 2009’s Bright Penny, an ode to pop music, was released under the name Liam Hayes and Plush. Although he emerged from the Chicago indie-rock scene, Hayes is often compared with artists such as Jimmy Webb, Brian Wilson, Laura Nyro, Burt Bacharach and Harry Nilsson. Like some of the best folk-pop or soft soul from the 1960’s of 1970’s there is a timeless quality to his music.
Hayes is not the kind of artist who spends all day interacting on social media. He doesn’t reveal a lot in interviews. He’s not trying to be cagey or eccentric or elusive, he would just rather keep the focus on his songs. And let’s face it, mystique is underrated in this era of over-sharing.
Liam Hayes and Plush plan to announce new releases in 2014.
DEAD ON TV
Dead on TV is a Chicago based outfit that has stroked audiences all over the country with their brand of masturbatory new wave garage punk narcissism which, coupled with the smash and grab disruption of ADHD lead singer Dan Evans, the brutal machine-like ineptness of drummer Vince Mcaley, the pounding low end of synth player Mike Bradberry and a complete and heinous disregard for the life of guitar player Corey Devlin has resulted in some of the most epically offensive shows ever removed from youtube for violation of community standards.
When broken on the sidewalk, their debut EP, “Fuck You, I’m Famous” seems to somehow cut deeper than other plastic-coated CD releases. “Fuck You, I’m Famous” has garnered the attention of the FBI and college radio stations across the US.
Dead on TV is currently working on the follow up to their debut and sharing the stage with the biggest names in modern rock, like Skillet, to classic hardcore punks Fang and The Vibrators.
Dead On TV is available for Bar-Mitzvahs, Bris ceremonies, birthdays, concert engagements, race riots, Internment facility brush ups, Large scale uprisings, local revolutions, executions, opening engagements for national acts, Environmental deforestations, church functions, fetish parties and corporate management training seminars. Dead on TV does not trust fall.
SHORTSTOP
Wily, adventurous four-piece with riff heavy guitars, moody bass, and a drummer that goes to clown school.
THE GNAR
Chicago rock and roll, we’ll play your next house show or in your parent’s kitchen or bathroom.
FOURSQUARE
GENERAL ZOD
General Zod is a Chicago-based fusion band with the core members being Katherine Andrick (violin), Zoey Witz (guitar), Chris Clemente (bass), Paul Mutzabaugh (keys), and Frank Alongi (drums). Having violin as a lead instrument, General Zod is able to give their unique take on the compositions of the likes of Jean Luc Ponty and The Mahavishnu Orchestra. They also are known to throw down on everything from Tony Williams to John Patitucci, as well as originals from the band members. With such a stellar cast of musicians, General Zod does not disappoint when throwing down on a set of face melting fusion!
TROY AVE
Troy Ave, taken the name of the block he grew up on in Brooklyn, has been buzzing in New York since 2006. Bringing heat in the form of hype songs with real lyrics this high energy MC got music made by and for the streets. Never apologetic, Troy Ave’s attitude and demeanor is direct and without effort, unlike those who have created a gimmick. He raps what he lives.
After seeing a friend get caught up on a serious charge that he himself narrowly escaped, he figured it was best to take his talents off the streets and into the studio, especially after seeing an average rapper from his neighborhood make $100,000, he knew that if someone without talent could make it then he definitely had a chance.
In 2003 he heard 50 Cent’s first album and was inspired to pick up the mic, since then he’s dropped four mixtapes which he sold over 70,000 copies of right out his trunk. In fact his music has been so hot on the streets that he’s the first unsigned rapper out of New York to get bootlegged. His biggest influences include the aforementioned 50 Cent, Master P, Lil’ Flip, Young Jeezy and the late, great Notorious B.I.G.
With a cinematic sound that paints a vivid picture, Troy Ave’s music is autobiographical and he hopes to turn his hobby into a profession where can build and add on. Starting with “Major Without a Deal” through “Troy Ave is the Future” and “I’m In Traffick” and now his latest effort, “Bricks In My Backpack”, Troy Ave has been creating his own distribution in corner stores, liquor stores, and further cementing his place in the streets as the person to go to for that gettin’ money music
ELTON JOHN “CARIBOU”
Caribou is the eighth album by the English singer-songwriter Elton John, released in 1974. It was John’s fourth chart-topping album in the United States and his third in the United Kingdom. The album contains the singles, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”, which reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart and number 2 in the US, and “The Bitch Is Back”, which reached number 15 in the UK and number 4 in the US.
Upcoming Performances:
Nov 16 – The 1975 Album “Captain Fantastic”
Dec 14 – Elton in the 80s
ELTON JOHN “ELTON IN THE 80’S”
Simply Elton will be performing a collection of Elton John’s 80’s material.
ELTON JOHN “CAPTAIN FANTASTIC”
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth studio album by the English singer/musician Elton John, released in 1975. It debuted at number 1 on the US Pop Albums chart, the first album ever to do so, and stayed there for seven weeks.
SHORTY K
U2 “ACHTUNG BABY”
Achtung Baby is one of U2’s most successful records; it received favourable reviews and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 Top Albums, while topping the charts in many other countries.
U2 “THE JOSHUA TREE”
The Joshua Tree is the fifth studio album by rock band U2.
HATRIOT
Shrieking out of the infamous California Bay Area metal scene is Hatriot – a second generation American metal act with pedigree. Consisting of Cody and Nick Souza, sons of Steve “Zetro” Souza (Exodus) on vocals/bass and drums respectively, along with guitar titans Kosta Varvatakis and Miguel Esparza, Hatriot are ready for world domination. With music that stays true to the Bay Area thrash sound while evolving to today’s standard of multi-tone vocals, death metal elements, melodic hooks, and face melting dual-guitar solos, some say Hatriot are hard to classify. After four solid releases through Massacre Records including 2022’s “The Vale Of Shadows” and array of concerts in both The United States and Europe; Hatriot aims to play in front of every metal fan in the world, carrying the torch for the next generation. Hatriot is: Cody Souza: Vocals / Bass Kosta V: Guitar Nick Souza: Drums Miguel Esparza: Guitar
SACRED MONSTER
Formed in early 2012 out of a mutual love of Doom Metal acts such as Electric Wizard, Saint Vitus, and, of course, Black Sabbath, Sacred Monster has gone on to gradually include other influences from Thrash, Black Metal, Death Metal, and NWOBHM to arrive at their current style. Their music alternates between oppressive doom riffs, chainsaw thrashers, and eery acoustic passages. The band also has a love of lyrical topics such as mythology, Lovecraftian horrors, and even old Twilight Zone episodes.
MANDATORY ABORTIONS
South side Chicago, hardcore punk dirty blues bitches !
All original songs out of us !
We love food, music, skating, and whiskey.
Cumming to a city near you ! D.I.Y.. Bands that help us up with a gig in your town, we can return the help here in Chicago set you up a gig !
THE CONSOLATION
Kathy, Steve and Mat have been making music together for twenty years.
It started in 1993 when Steve and Mat, along with Jim Arrigo and Joe Rogers got together to record a demo of Mat’s songs. During the process a band had come into being, and the group decided to move forward.
When Joe decided he could not commit to the project, the group went searching for a new bass player, and found her right under their noses. While not a bass player proper, Kathy had played bassoon in her high school band, and rightfully, figuring that if she could play bassoon she could play bass, they asked her to join. For her decision to join she was given a recording of some demos and an old bass guitar and told to get busy.
Get busy she did. Her fingers quickly caught up with her knowledge of music, and the band got moving. Of course, they needed a name, and after a long and tedious process they got one. Sylvia Said.
Sylvia played around Chicago for many years at the usual places: Beat Kitchen, Elbo Room, Empty Bottle, The Abbey, and many clubs now long gone. Years of practice, booking, writing, and fighting took its toll. The band got restless and eventually lost their drummer. But, that did not last long.
The three decided to move on, and put Steve, their star guitar player, on drums. The name of this combo, after an off hand comment during an earlier rehearsal, was WAD.
WAD stormed forward with piss and vinegar. A leaner, meaner version of Sylvia Said, they made musical progress with this stripped down trio. Steve’s drumming seemed to powerfully communicate the new material. They started playing out and recorded a demo. All signs were moving up, and then life stepped in.
By this point the members had grown up. Real life began to overtake the importance of the band, and it seemed like it was time to let it go. Give up the dream, sure, but the music… she never leaves you.
Kathy took up steady gigging with several local bands, including the highly regarded Paddy Go Easy featuring Finbarr Fagan. Mat upgraded his studio from multi-track cassette to Protools digital, and committed to writing and recording. Steve was constantly working with other musicians, and putting together interesting combinations of players.
They reformed for a one off show for the release of Mat’s solo CD “Tin Two Star Moon”, and completely entertained the crowd with a mix of the new and old songs. The magic was still there, but the opportunity to continue was not.
C’est la vie.
Mat later joined a solid lineup that Steve had developed named wadE. This was a powerful, talented band that worked together for many years featuring Steve’s college bandmates Ron and Jimi.
The world, looking for balance, soon saw Steve join one of Mat’s projects, Jake & the Wranglers. Interestingly Mat and Steve, regularly guitarists, were the rhythm section for this combo playing bass and drums respectively.
It was during this collaboration that the seeds for The Consolation were sown. The old magic of Steve’s drumming and Mat’s arrangements came flooding back. They set out to put the band back together, but ran into roadblock after roadblock, until, like so many years ago, they asked Kathy, recently relocated back to Chicago, to bring her singular sense of musicality back to the fold.
Twenty years later, they are back together again. Older, seasoned, more cynical, and concerned about one thing, making good music. This is the future and this is the past. This is The Consolation.
CONTINENTAL
For the better part of the last two years venues from concert halls to basement bars have resonated with the sound of Granite City Rock & Roll. Continental uses their Quincy, MA hometown moniker to describe their unique blend of rock that draws influences from punk, country, folk, and blues.
Founder and songwriter Rick Barton sings the songs of the everyman, speaking to our common experiences of love, loss, wandering, and resurrection. The songs are as true and real as any from the English punk bands of the 70’s, capturing the energy of youth, yet delivered with the wisdom of a life lived.
Continental is the latest project from Barton whose resume also includes notable Boston acts The Outlets, Everybody Out!, and Dropkick Murphys. The concept for Continental began with Rick’s son Stephen Barton who, after hearing a rough solo recording of his dad playing his original composition ‘Curious Spell’ in 2009, encouraged his old man to put a band together and bring this style of songwriting on the road. In Rick’s words, his style is ‘…a blend of folk, punk, and country with a heartfelt message of love, loss, pleasure, and pain.’
The father and son duo then recruited drummer Tom Mazelewski and began their pilgrimage. Continental set out on their first full U.S. tour in September of 2010 as support for the Street Dogs and Flatfoot 56 and have never looked back, touring the country multiple times on headlining tours or as support and making appearances at festivals like the Vans Warped Tour.
To date, Continental has released a 6-track EP and they are anxiously awaiting the release of their much anticipated debut full-length album ‘All a Man Can Do’. The new record will be released July 17 on Michigan label East Grand Record Co. and the band will immediately embark on another headlining tour that kicks off in New Jersey on July 18. This tour is scheduled for 10 weeks, but ‘We could be out even longer if I have it my way…’ says Rick, ‘… the road is my life now and the music is my commitment to me and my fans!’
This blue-collar mentality may mean that the band spends more time in a van and sleeping on floors than they do at home, but in the minds of the Bartons this is a small sacrifice to make as they dedicate themselves to the delivery of their music.
CASTRO
Mubu Gang Affiliate Castro is back on the streets with a prelude to his “Welcome Home” project with 6 bangers including his collab “Murda Muzik”with King Louie . Look for Castro’s full length project hosted by Dj Honorz & Stack Or Starve Due Out In Nov! Follow @Castro_Ibf
NEX2KIN
Nex2Kin consists of two rap protégés, Bligg and Rich-an-Yung, who are blood related cousins from Chicago’s Southside. Nex2Kin’s connection was instantaneous and it happened while attending their family reunion. Both knew each other as cousins but never knew the other person had the talent of rapping. It was a shock to the rest of the family at the reunion when they started to freestyle for everyone. By the end of the reunion, Nex2Kin was born with Bligg and Rich-an-Yung, and, since that day, they’ve focused on conquering the rap world as a duo.
Bligg often dabbled with rapping but didn’t take it seriously until high school, despite the countless people who told him he had a knack for the art. He found himself deeply submerged in this art form, literally eating and sleeping music. Although he’s still very young, Bligg had many life experiences that he drew from that allowed him to give a certain level of authenticity that his music exemplified. With so many positive things happening in his career in such a short period of time, Bligg was hopeful that greatness was on the horizon, and that’s when he and Rich-an-Yung joined forces in 2010.
Like Bliggs, Rich-an-Yung is no stranger to hard work. Rich-an-Yung has had some experience within the music industry. His father, Big Ray, worked with a number of rap artist that include Chicago’s own, Do Or Die. Although he was exposed to the industry and the politics of it all, Rich-an-Yung didn’t get bite by the rapping bug until he was 14-years-old. But when the desire hit, he saw refuge in it. He looked up to LL Cool J, P. Diddy, Jay-Z, 2 Pac and his idol, T.I. as inspirations.
They both write their own music and love the creative aspect of it all. Making “party” music is what they are known for and in a very short time, have garnered a lot of respect for it. Coining themselves as “undefinable,” they would consider themselves musically versatile. Having many career highlights already, the rap duo shared a song with longtime friend and respected colleague, Twista, on their song “Bad Than A Mutha,” was a dream come true for Nex2Kin. They headline their first tour “Hella of Laughs & Hip Hop Tour”with comedian Kenny Howell and it became a huge success in 10 cities across America in venues seating approximately 4,000 people. All the love across the country feels great but it’s nothing like receiving the love from your home town. That’s why it’s no surprise that Nex2Kin is a main-stay on Chicago’s radio station WPWX Power 92 (92.3FM). Currently, they are putting the finishing touches on their upcoming mixtape “Cheeks & Drinks” that is being released on Cole City Music Group, an independent record label.
Although Bligg and Rich-an-Yung are rappers, they both look forward to the day other opportunities will open up as a result of their music. They envision endorsements, clothing lines, and even owning their own record company to sign other up and coming artist in the future. The sky is truly the limit for these rapping moguls who will one day take over the rap charts.
K’VALENTINE
As a little girl, K’Valentine’s artistic ability was so extremely exceptional that it was evident that she had a gift for the arts…period. It was about this same time that she discovered Hip Hop. She dove in, fell in love and impressed many with her vast knowledge of the Hip Hop world and its reigning Kings.
K’Valentine began writing poetry as an alternative to express her emotions and then had the opportunity to meet with the world renowned author and poet Dr. Maya Angelou of whom she held in high esteem. Dr. Maya Angelou ensured K’Valentine that if she continued to practice and use her skills with words that she would be the best. Taking that most cherished advice, K’Valentine wrote poetry non-stop and she started to notice her poems transitioning into songs.
After reciting poetry at numerous spoken word events and receiving positive feedback, it was time for K to finally get in the booth. Shortly after, she released her debut project, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” 2011. Her first project was the best introduction for herself, giving sight of her personal experiences through her music.
K’Valentine’s love for words and music has birth some of the most lyrically divine work. Her writing proved to be not only a talent but also a form of therapy and an outlet during trying times in life. K’Valentine introduces herself to the world with her well written flowing and stylized rhythmic music. Experience K’Valentine and enjoy.