The notorious and prolific Cleveland cult, Midnight, have been slaying the metal/punk underground with their own, highly addictive brand of lust, filth, and sleaze dating back to the band’s inception in 2002. Vocalist / guitarist / bassist / drummer Athenar has always known exactly what he wanted Midnight to be, and over the course of countless demos, EPs, compilations, splits and three full-lengths he has stayed true to his roots. Building up a strong reputation and a rabid following in the underground, the band’s trademark blend of speed metal, black metal and punk rock, Midnight’s most recent opus, Rebirth By Blasphemy sounds both fuller and more raucous than ever before.
Longboards Rule! DJ Rogue Wave has been riding the nose, goofy-foot ever since he crawled ashore to shake up this once in a lifetime cocktail of sun, sand and surf for the background vibes at the summer’s hottest performance of Surf Rock. This playlist is available to rock your private beach party. Search: Rogue Wave / Beach Blanket Bingo on Spotify…
THE REAL PRETENDERS
Real Pretenders are four Chicago music scene veterans with a passion for the hard driving rhythms, catchy melodic hooks, soul-tortured lyrics, and back alley sex appeal that characterize the music of the Pretenders. They aren’t a costume act and they don’t play the original members of the band as characters. Instead, these established players with audiences of their own have come together to thread the musical needle between faithfully rendering the Pretender’s sound and joyfully harnessing these timeless and lustful pop rock gems as a means to expressing their own musical identity. Not only do they take on both the band’s classics and deep cuts, they also offer a new take on songs covered by the Pretenders as well as those that perhaps might have been. Real Pretenders aren’t simply a tribute to the music of the Pretenders, they are a tribute to their essential spirit. Do not miss.
The ever-metamorphosing entity that is GONG launches, as ever, into unknown – and unknowing – territory with new tours destined to be talked about, discussed, and argued over, up and down the land.
From its beginnings in a French commune in 1967, through the Virgin Records years, mismanagement, court cases, break-ups and re-joining’s, deaths and rebirths – there has always been a continuous thread of beautiful, dangerous and extraordinary music.
The current holders of the flame have come together over the last eight years; sinuous bass player Dave Sturt joined just as the album 2032 was shown to the world; Ian East (Sax, Flute) was the next to blow in through the portal; Fabio Golfetti brought his guitars from Brazil (after working with Daevid Allen for many years); Kavus Torabi (lead vox and guitars) appeared to Daevid in a vision; Cheb Nettles (drums) just sort of turned up.
In 2015, Daevid Allen passed away. His influence and legacy were honoured on the band’s subsequent album, Rejoice! I’m Dead! (2016). In recent years GONG has performed with the Steve Hillage Band (himself a former member of the 1970s GONG line-up) and released the critically acclaimed album The Universe Also Collapses (2019) and a stunning new live album Pulsing Signals (2022) captures the band at a creative peak with tracks drawn from their 2019 tour. Their new studio album, Unending Ascending, was release in November 2023.
Gong’s musically diverse world includes shades of psychedelia, space rock, jazz, avant-garde, krautrock and surreal soundscapes.
GONG KAVUS TORABI vocals, guitar FABIO GOLFETTI guitar IAN EAST sax, flute DAVE STURT bass CHEB NETTLES drums
DAVID CROSS is an English electric violinist and keyboardist best known for playing with progressive rock band King Crimson from 1972 to 1974. Cross appears on their studio albums Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (1973) and Starless and Bible Black (1974), as well as “Providence”, a live track on Red (1974), in addition to numerous concert recordings that have been released by Robert Fripp’s Discipline Global Mobile label in the decades since.
After leaving the band, David was a senior lecturer in Music Education at the London Metropolitan University and besides several projects and recording sessions, he kept alive his own band since 1994 releasing 10 albums. In recent years David Cross has toured all around Europe, Latin America and Japan with Stick Men (with other King Crimson alumni, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto, plus Markus Reuter), vexing featured on albums Midori and Panamerica; as well with David Jackson, the legendary sax player from Van Der Graaf Generator. In 2023 David toured with his band all around Europe celebrating the 50th anniversary of Larks’ Tongues In Aspic album. In 2024, DAVID CROSS and his LARKS’ TONGUES BAND will continue touring all around Europe, Japan and North and South America, adding some material from Starless And Bible Back and Red album to the band’s live repertoire.
Hailing from the depths of Long Beach, California, Pythagoras emerged in 2016 as a relentless force in death metal. Founded by guitarist Ian Espinosa and bassist Etienne Bouyer, the band has undergone dynamic transformations in both sound and lineup.
The current roster, featuring guitarist Juan Morales, drummer Dylan Cutler, and vocalist Andy Henriquez, delivers a ferocious blend of old-school death metal and technical intricacies inspired by the likes of Cannibal Corpse, Archspire, Dying Fetus, and Obscura.
Having shared the stage with Psycroptic at Los Angeles’ iconic venue, 1720, on September 3rd, 2023, Pythagoras has solidified their presence in the live music circuit. The band’s sonic journey includes two EPs, “Active Shooter” (2019) and “Killdozer Rampage” (2020), along with their debut full-length album, “Botched Field Surgery,” released in December 2022.
Pythagoras continues to captivate audiences with their unrelenting energy and commitment to pushing the boundaries of death metal. With a history marked by evolution and a relentless pursuit of sonic extremity, Pythagoras stands as a formidable name in the California death metal scene, leaving an indelible mark on those who dare to experience their intense musical journey.
Ever wanted the theatrics of emo and the horror of hardcore to smooch a little? Are you a lil freak boy who desperately wants to be Mommy’s Favorite??? Gross. May we introduce to you, Chicago’s own eerie, dancey, scream-soaked… Carnivore Mommy.
The duo of Niko Kapetan & Bailey Minzenberger – an essential addition to Chicago’s long lineage of forward-thinking indie rock. On Where we’ve been, Where we go from here, their full-length debut release on ATO Records, the band merges elements of post-punk & chamber-pop & experimental rock, magnifying their music’s exhilarating power with a steady barrage of spirited gang vocals. Poetic, explosive, & sublimely raw in feeling, the album brings an equally visceral intensity to brutally heavy anthems & heart-on-sleeve ballads alike, creating an immediate outlet for the most unwieldy emotions. Formed in 2019, Friko soon began taking the stage at legendary Chicago venues like the Metro, Empty Bottle and Schubas Tavern, self-releasing their acclaimed debut EP Whenever Forever in 2022 and making their festival debut at Bonnaroo the following spring. Known for their high-energy live show, Friko aim to deliver a live experience that’s fantastically disorienting in its emotional arc. Mastered by Heba Kadry (Björk, Big Thief) and engineered by Jack Henry and Scott Tallarida, Where we’ve been, Where we go from here embodies a sonic complexity befitting of a band that names Romantic-era classical music and the more primal edges of art-rock among their inspirations. Friko hopes that their music’s emotional potency might have a galvanizing impact on audiences. Niko says, “I want our music to pick people up, so that they can actually go out and do something with whatever they’re feeling.”
The album, often referred to as “The Blue Album”, was released July 25, 1995. The album contained three successful singles, “Don’t Stay Home”, “All Mixed Up”, and “Down”, resulting in the band’s mainstream breakthrough. It has been certified triple platinum with sales over three million albums. The album, unlike the first two, was recorded live, with no instrumental over-dubs. This album is home to some of their most relaxed music (“Purpose”) and also some of their hardest-hitting (“Hive”, “Brodels”). It is also the first album to not feature heavy slap bass, with the only appearance being in a small segment of “Misdirected Hostility”.
YANA RENEA
“Meet Yana Renea, a dynamic performer and visionary entrepreneur hailing from the South Side of Chicago. With a passion for the arts and an unrelenting drive for business, Yana has become a shining example of creativity and ambition. Her talents have captivated audiences, while her entrepreneurial spirit continues to inspire those around her. Yana Renea: a name synonymous with talent, innovation, and the heartbeat of the Windy City.”
With a sound that has been dubbed “a refreshing fusion of rhythm and blues, gospel. jazz and hip hop” and the stage presence of music legends, B. Lilly sings, writes and performs from his soul. Born and raised on Chicago’s west side in the Austin community, he discovered his love for music at Greater St. John Bible Church where he grew up enjoying the band and choir. At 13, he channeled his love into learning to play the piano; then, during his senior year at Chicago’s Providence St. Mel School, he landed the role of Tony in at production of “Westside Story” and fully embraced his love for the stage.
B. Lilly was named a Hurvis Scholar at Lawrence University. There, he received a B.S. in Anthropology; activated his passion for community outreach; and further developed his musical talent. His songs and performance style range from passionate and high energy to smooth and classic — taking his audiences on a soul-filled and soul-stirring musical journey.
B. Lilly also has a heart for people and serves as a school-based mentor with the College Mentoring Experience (founded by his dad, Bernard Lilly Sr. in 2014), where he leads life-empowerment workshops for middle- and high-school youth. He is also a member of CHICAGO 200, a program for emerging leaders whose goal is to enhance the quality of life for residents across the city.
Voice of the community… lover of music… man of faith: B. Lilly is set to take the nation – and, ultimately, the world – by storm.
Chicago Soul Explosion is 10-piece horn show band that plays R&B/Pop/Soul/Motown/Funk. Music directed by Robert Burks, musical director/guitarist for Chicago’s own The Chi-Lites, this band made up of all-star musicians from all over the Midwest who’ve played with many well knows acts including The Jacksons, The Temptations, Prince and The Chi-Lites among others. Chicago Soul Explosion stretches their reach with tunes not many bands usually cover and try to make themselves unique amongst the music community.
Bold, sensual vocalist, Alysha, mesmerizes audiences with the sultry vocal styling of jazz and soul music. Her endearing aura bewitches listeners into the essence of love, individuality and self-actualization. Surrounded by incredible musicians who strive to push their music to an innovative level, Alysha’s creativity and originality continue to ascend upward. An experience with Alysha is striking, genuine and poignant.
Jenise Grandberry who goes by the moniker of Harmoney Chicago is a leader in the new school of contemporary artists. She’s a multi talented
Singer/ songwriter and rapper who was born and raised on the west side of Chicago.
She began her career performing cover songs by artists such as Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan and an array of others on the Red/ Blue line Chicago train platform.
Since a child, she has always had a vast array of musical influences, however; she accredits the pivotal influences in her music to R&B and soul artists such as Fantasia, Missy Elliot, and Brandy just to name a few.
She draws inspiration from her own life experiences while using her music as a vehicle to express her perspectives and tell stories. It is clear that Harmoney Chicago is on her way to becoming a worldwide phenomenon and a musician that will continuously change the status quo of the industry. Harmoney Recently released her latest single “POPPIN” in 2023 and plans on coming into this new year harder than ever. Not only is she planning to release her next single entitled “BottomLine” February 2024, but she also will be releasing her 2nd Mixtape, entitled “ 7 DAYS A WEEK …
Guardin is an alternative singer songwriter from Western New York whose music has inspired countless others through his honest lyrics and creative endeavors. Guardin has toured around the country as a headliner and co-headliner and in support of Oliver Francis, Gnash, Wicca Phase, Guccihighwaters, Lund, and Sewerperson.
Artur Menezes’ playing is a distinctive blend of fiery, hard-rocking blues that at times borders on shred, combined with an ability to effortlessly switch gears into swinging, jazz grooves. His Brazilian roots add a unique flavor to the mix and further distinguish his playing from that of his contemporaries. Menezes’ songwriting sparkles as it switches between straight-ahead blues and funk- flavored workouts, and his vocals channel the deep emotional content of his songs as effectively as his guitar playing. Fading Away, Menezes’ latest album (produced by Josh Smith and featuring a guest appearance from Joe Bonamassa), was a serious step up in both writing and playing. Its arrival laid down a clear marker for his place among the front-runners of the new breed of blues guitar heroes. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Artur is releasing new music in 2023 with Black Hill Records.
Earth Radio finds itself in a profound nexus of contrasting styles, clashing aesthetics, and true diversity that coalesces into a new brand of driving, psychedelic, open-ended, and heavily improvised Rock n’ Roll
Earth Radio Is:
Mungion is Justin Reckamp (Guitar/Vocals), Joe Re (Keys/Vocals), Grant Martin (Bass/Vocals) and Jonny Gifford (Drums). Drawing inspiration from a wide array of musical styles, they create a raucous, yet jubilant sound all of their own. Since their inception in Spring of 2015, Mungion is quickly becoming known for their undeniably explosive and charismatic live shows. The Chicago-based four-piece is rooted in their ambitious compositions and improvisational ability.
Known for their whimsical songs and goofy stage antics, Mungion’s joyous presence is a natural extension of its members, making for live performances that are infectiously lighthearted and deeply sincere. Mungion is guaranteed to have you smiling ear to ear and leaving wanting more.
Pulverizing death metal from Melbourne, Australia. Riffs so heavy it’s like bricks hitting your ears. Members of Derailment, Headless Death, Incinerated, Internal Rot, Incinerated, etc.
6kitty is a Chicago 3-piece, female-fronted indie rock band formed in 2018. Their sound has been compared to Vanishing Kids, UV-TV, and the Pixies. They fuse blended vocal harmonies, melodic forward bass lines, and hard-hitting drums. They released their first album, Tux, on 11/11/22 which was included in Fast ‘n’ Bulbous’ Top 100 Albums of 2022.
Lithia is a Chicago based project harboring sounds from indie/alternative/experimental rock. They are currently working on their debut full length album, Pink House.
CARDIEL is a two-piece rock band originally formed in Mexico City in 2010 by drummer Samantha Ambrosio and guitarist/vocalist Miguel Fraino, both from Valencia, Venezuela. Their style contains elements of skate rock, fuzz punk and psychedelic dub.
Shubzilla and Bill Beats are a rapper/DJ duo based in the Pacific Northwest. They began working together in 2011. After releasing the single “Wonderful World” for “Bill Beats For President Vol.1,” the pair have gone on to release EPs “Late Checkout,” “BOOMERS,” “BOOMERS Vol. 2,” “The Belmont Tapes,” and more. Shubzilla and Bill Beats have performed at Super BitFest, SXSW, San Japan’s Jamspace, MAGfest, Nerdcore Dayz, The Never Give Up Never Surrender Tour, and many others. They have toured with acts such as mc chris, Kadesh Flow, Mark Cooper, and Prowess The Testament.
They are also the hosts of Seattle’s Friday Night Get Down, a monthly community hip-hop show. Occasionally, Shubzilla and Bill Beats stream gaming and music making on Twitch. They have livestreamed sets for shows such as Bonus Stage Vancouver, Virtua Ongaku, and The Four-Eyed Horsemen.
With Shubzilla’s frank and aggressive lyrics and Bill Beats’ penchant for samples and
bass-heavy compositions, they do not disappoint.
MC Snax has made it his mission to spread some much needed joy and freshness in an often negative and stale world. In his ever-building career, he has self-released several albums and EPs, all the while building a dedicated support base. Whether he’s writing about saving the world from an alien invasion with former WWE Champion and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, or rapping at length about his favorite discontinued snacks, the MC Snax discography is a vast resource of absurdly positive and oftentimes positively absurd music. Snax also co-hosts a Juggalo-themed podcast named Hatchet Chat with MC Lars. With his strong D.I.Y. ethic, MC Snax produces, records, mixes and masters all of his own music. Formulating a combination of synth-pop, chip-tune and hip hop, MC Snax plans on taking his unique style of music as far as it can go!
For over twenty years, MC Lars has built a fanbase across the US, the UK and the rest of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. In addition to touring, he has performed at Carnegie Hall, South by Southwest, San Diego Comic-Con, Slam Dunk, Truck Festival and as part of the ANS Warped Tour. He has performed on stage with numerous artists, including Bowling for Soup, MC Frontalot, Wheatus, Say Anything, Gym Class Heroes, Simple Plan, T-Pain, SnoopDogg, Nas, and Koo Koo Kanga Roo. His work includes collabs with a wide range of musicians – among them, “Weird Al” Yankovic, KRS-One, Sage Francis, Watsky, Mega Ran, Jaret Reddickof Bowling for Soup, Wheatus, the Matches, Kool Keith, Spose, MC Frontalot, YT Cracker, Schäffer the Dark Lord, Beefy and K.Flay. He has been featured on CNN, NPR, and MTV and
has been profiled in Rolling Stone, SPIN, and Alternative Press.
Lars has presented on the similarities between Shakespeare and hip-hop at two TEDx conferences and at numerous colleges and high schools. He has worked on a public-service basis with the American Heart Association, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Nantucket Historical Association, the New York City public school system, and the Los Angeles public school system (through the USC Annenberg School for Communication). His work has been featured in the Cambridge University Press Companion to Hip
Mak and Jamie have been making music since the summer of 2023. Jamie responded to a flier that Mak put up in a Northwestern building which said something like “Looking for Bandmates that like Big Thief,” and Jamie likes Big Thief. The rest, needless to say, is history. They started writing together and performing around Chicago; their voices and brains seem to just fit. Lily (drums) joined in December—she responded to the same flier that netted Jamie. Levi (bass) responded to a different flier, but a flier nonetheless. They are having a lot of fun, playing their songs for people, and are excited to keep doing it.
Chicago’s Gorgasm arose from the remnants of another local band, Crematorium when guitarists Tom Leski and Tom Tangalos joined forces with bassist Russ Powell and drummer Derek Hoffman in 1994. A six-song demo showcasing their single-minded brutality and amazing speed emerged two years later, and a full album, sensitively named Stabwound Intercourse, followed in 1998. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, Rovi
MASTER BOOT RECORD (aka MBR) is a project founded in 2016 by producer Victor Love (Vittorio D’amore) mixing together heavy metal and synthesized electronic music.
MBR released 14 albums so far with multiple record labels and has been one of the most successful musicians on US digital distribution platform Bandcamp charting #1 in general charts several times. Because of that Bandcamp often featured the albums and made interviews directly with the artist.
Starting in 2016 releasing albums under the indie label Data Airlines has moved in 2018 to synthwave iconic label Blood Music to expand its audience to the electronic community. In 2019 MASTER BOOT RECORD settled with Metal Blade Records, the historic metal label based in Los Angeles to release the latest two albums “Floppy Disk Overdrive (2020)” and “Personal Computer(2022)” helping the project to gain increased popularity worldwide. MBR has also produced the video game “VirtuaVerse” as well as its original soundtrack. VirtuaVerse was released in 2020 on all gaming platforms as well as Nintendo Switch, Xbox and Playstation.
The project as a live band increased their live activity in 2022 including live performing artists such as the guitar virtuoso and Ibanez endorser Edoardo Taddei at lead guitars and technical death metal drummer Giulio Galati.
The rapid growth of the project sparked an intense live activity that culminated in 2023 with over 42 shows including 2 full tours in Europe and UK as well as participation in renowned European festivals such as Resurrection Fest (Spain), Euroblast (Germany), Complexity fest (Netherlands), Resistanz Festival (UK), SWR Fest (Portugal), Frantic Fest (Italy)
The band is currently scheduled to perform at major european festival Brutal Assault (Czech Rep.) in summer 2024 and has recently joined major booking agencies Doomstar booking in Europe and Heavy Talent in North America to increase their live activity in the future.
The new album HARDWAREZ will be released by Metal Blade Records on 11 October 2024 and will be followed by a tour in North America, Europe and the UK between 25 September and 19 november with over 35 shows. The tour dates and tickets are available on the official website https://mbrserver.com
Live at Max’s Kansas City is a live album by the Velvet Underground recorded at the famous nightclub and restaurant at 213 Park Avenue South in New York City. It was originally released on May 30, 1972, by Cotillion, a subsidiary label of Atlantic Records.
Hailing from the West Side of Chicago, Amir Tripp is a artist/producer. He first discovered a passion for music in high school where he started making beats. He does most of his own production alongside notable Chicago producers like Zay Rock and his god brother Kenny Black. In 2018 he released his debut project entitled “Pyro” which featured the likes of Chicagos very own Saba and King Louie. Amir has already been highly touted by many respected publications including DJ Booth, Jeff Weiss’ Passion of the Weiss, and Chicago’s Lyrical Lemonade as an emerging artist. His recent singles “Master P” and “New Growth” has already garnished the attention of some of the biggest hip hop pioneers.
Anglo-Mancunian musician IAMDDB is the original architect of Urban Jazz – amulti-dimensional musician, actress, and creative polymath inspired by the rhythmic incantations of jazz, the pulsating beats of hip-hop & trap, and the soul-stirring vibrations of R&B.The release of DDB’s debut single ‘Leaned Out’ in 2016 marked a hazy-harmonized introduction to her versatile and ever-growing music repertoire. From collaborations with Masego & Diplo to touring with legends Lauryn Hill, Bryson Tiller & Jhene Aiko, the northern songstress made herself known for an undeniable stage presence, showcasing her varied sounds and moods from heartbreak hitters to soul-wrenching jazzy chillers.
Getting signed at the age of 21, going viral with the smash-hit video & single ‘Shade’ in 2017, and performing a legendary Colors show with‘Pause’ (taken from Vibe: Vol2), DDB boasts over 123 million YouTube views, taking her fans through a constantly growing visual journey soundtracked by her soul. Forever rediscovering her essence, Diana De Brito has independently released 5EPs and a string of successful singles, delving into a spectrum of global influences, including reggae, jazz, neo-soul, trap, soulful house, and beyond .Ever-evolving and sound-surfing, IAMDDB hypnotizes you into her universe; whichever sound or mood, DDB is riding the wave.
10ZEN is an American singer-songwriter and a good friend of Odetari. Last Life / Cant Go (2023) Time To Flood* (2024) DOUBLE HOMICIDE* (2024)
NINE POUND HAMMER
COSMIC PSYCHOS
Cosmic Psychos are an Australian punk rock band which formed in 1982 as Spring Plains. Founding members included Ross Knight on bass guitar and vocals; Robbie Addington on guitar and vocals; and Steve Morrow on vocals. Australian rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, described their music as “arty kind of punk noise, somewhere between The Birthday Party and a more narcotic sounding Ramones”.
Born and raised in Chicago, Joe Kilgallon has been performing stand-up comedy since 2006. With a background in improv and sketch writing, Joe fuses well-polished material with riffing and crowd work to construct a perfectly well-rounded act.
His in-your-face style and charismatic charm help Joe paint stories drawn heavily from personal experience and his Chicago-Irish roots, making him an instant favorite and the type of comedian everyone wants to share a drink with after the show.
Chelsea Hood is a stand up comedian living in Chicago, IL by way of the comedy scenes in both Dallas, TX and Brooklyn, NY. You may have seen her on WGN, The CW Network’s Eye Opener, or CW33’s Nightcap. She was also featured on Stand Up Records’ “Texas Mess” album recorded at SXSW. If you’d like to see her perform live, her shows are listed on this here website.
She stumbled into the performing arts at an extremely young age singing in children’s choirs, and working in high school productions. She went on to get her BA in Acting from Illinois State University with a concentration in vocal performance. She’s studied improv at both Second City in Chicago and Four Day Weekend in Fort Worth, Texas.
Chelsea’s style of humor is observational, feminist, and pleasantly self-deprecating. Some of the comics she has been delighted to open for include; Marc Maron, Jay Mohr, Donnell Rawlings, Maria Bamford, Ralphie May, Richard Lewis, Pauly Shore, JB Smoove, Paul Rodriguez, Tom Green, Michael Winslow, Bobby Lee, and many more.
She was most frequently featured performer at Limestone Comedy Festival, one of eight chose as the Best of the Midwest at Gilda’s LaughFest and a Comic to Watch at RIOT LA. Some of the clubs and venues she’s had the privilege of performing at include The Comedy Store, Caroline’s on Broadway, The House of Blues, The Improv, Zanie’s, Thalia Hall Chicago, Upright Citizen’s Brigade NY, the Lincoln Lodge (Chicago), a long list of prestigious bar basements across this country. Once on the bed of a tractor trailer, in a field in Texas, in the middle of an ATV park.
