JJ & Dre initially formed in Chicago, IL as a trio in 2011 when the husband and wife duo of Justin and Andrea Dotoli met guitarist Jason Paradise at the city’s storied Vic Theater. The trio quickly found a strong chemistry, began working up original material and spent most of 2011 performing in and around the greater Chicagoland area before locking in its full lineup of Eric Allen, Mike Schroeder and Andy Need on keyboards, drums and bass respectively, in 2012.
The potent combination of numerous songwriters, vocalists and styles quickly created a musical stew of sorts, in turn sparking a creative surge that shows no signs of slowing down. This is proven by the fact that JJ & Dre has released a full length LP (2012’s One Single Event) and two EP’s (2013’s The Bandits and 2014’s Clark) over the course of the past three years.
The band has become a musical amalgamation of Rock, Blues, Funk and Soul and while they’re all clearly experienced and capable as a studio unit, the live stage is where they’re truly at their best.
After four years studying music and culture in New Orleans, Schuyler “cut his teeth” in the songwriting circles of Manhattan’s West Village. Paired with his prowess for writing and powerful vocals, Schuyler’s unique fusion of American Folk and Southern Blues make him a stand out in all the circles he now traverses.
TGE is a very powerful rock band with a foundation from the Band of Gypsy’s Era. The original Band of Gypsy’s featured Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Miles and Billy Cox.That trio released a self titled live album on Capital Records that is unprecedented
and unrivaled as one of the greatest of all time. The musicians in The Gypsy Experience are actual players that worked with Buddy Miles and Jimi Hendrix, so this is more than an average tribute band, it is as the name describes, an experience!
Willie Basse – vocals & bass guitar –
Basse worked and studied classical music with 2x Grammy Award recipients, The Texas Boys Choir from age 10-15 years old. He has also worked with Hendrix drummer, BUDDY MILES, OV Wright, ZZ Hill, Johnny Taylor, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Canned Heat, Slash and more.
Alvin Taylor – drums –
Taylor who at 14-years old, played with LITTLE RICHARD.
Richard’s band featured Jimi Hendrix and Billy Preston. Then on tour with Elvis Presley. Alvin is currently the recipient of 55-Gold Album Awards (500,000 in sales each).
Mitch Perry – Guitar –
Mitch Perry has spent the last 25 years working alongside some of the most renowned and popular musicians in the world. Through his recording and touring experience with such popular and diverse acts ranging from the Michael Schenker Group to Cher, Mitch has accumulated a vast wealth of knowledge and experience that has inevitably led to him fronting his own projects.
Formed in 1986 Mad Dog has been playing in and around south Louisiana for over 25 years. Currently we are in the studio recording our 2nd full length album to be entitled “Vicious” Stay tuned to this site for updates as we make progress
Tim Seisser New Trio feat Jim Tashjian on Guitar and Makaya McCraven on Drums. The New trio is Tim Seisser’s latest modern jazz/fusion experiment. Tim Seisser aims to take the electric bass to new levels with this contemporary music trio featuring Jim Tashjian on guitar (District 97, Miss Remember) and Makaya McCraven on drums (Bobby Broom Trio, Marquis Hill Band). This group brings top level musicianship to Reggie’s for a very special set of Tim’s original music and arrangements.
Extreme Technical Death Metal from Vancouver, B.C.
For the recent successes of technical death outfit ARCHSPIRE to come into fruition, certain variables must align. Talent, drive, creativitiy, and absolute dedication are only a few characteristics one may notice about the group, and indeed many have experienced the bi-product of these characteristics:
A tight live performance, where impressive speeds come grinding to a halt, and in even less time twist and contort into complex passages rife with beautiful harmonies, juxtaposed against insidious melodies. An attention to songwriting, focusing not only on technicality, but originality as well, take this sub genre and put it on it’s ear. And the combination of musical backgrounds, which is apparent in much of ARCHSPIRE’S music, showing itself through catchy rhythms, interesting riffs and arrangements, and progressive passages.
Pushing boundaries of speed and endurance set only by the genre’s top artists, while remaining accessible and interesting is no small feat. These Canadians have proven themselves worthy of touring and playing with bands like Origin, Decapitated, Hate Eternal, Abysmal Dawn, Vomitory, Fleshgod Apocalypse, and Aborted.
When all the elements required align in such a way that they form something original, and interesting, it becomes a catalyst for something new… and in the case of ARCHSPIRE, All has indeed, Aligned.
Not much is known about Ghoul as they are always seen wearing masks. The members go by the stage names Cremator, Fermentor, Digestor, and Dissector. The band has a large line-up of characters in their lyrics, including the four of themselves. Most of the information about them comes from the “Curio Shop Owner” one of the many characters mentioned in their songs. They claim to be mutants that came from Creepsylvania. Ghoul was signed after self-releasing a demo. Their musical style is best described as a blend of thrash and death metal with death metal vocals and lyrics.
The Dick Dale Phenomenon. His style is something different and unique. Since his first appearances Balboa, Ca. at the famed Rendezvous Ballroom, he has set and broken attendance records everywhere he’s performed. His appearances at the Rendezvous Ballroom broke every existing record for the Ballroom by drawing capacity crowds of over four thousand screaming dancing fans every weekend each night down on the Balboa peninsula.
Dick Dale invented surf music in the 1950’s. Not the ’60’s as is commonly believed. He was given the title “King of the Surf Guitar” by his fellow surfers with whom he surfed with from sun-up to sun-down. He met Leo Fender the guitar and amplifier Guru and Leo asked Dale to play his newly creation, the Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar. The minute Dale picked up the guitar, Leo Fender broke into uncontrolled laughter and disbelief, he was watching Dale play a right handed guitar upside down and backwards, Dale was playing a right handed guitar left handed and changing the chords in his head then transposing the chords to his hands to create a sound never heard before.
Leo Fender gave the Fender Stratocaster along with a Fender Amp to Dale and told him to beat it to death and tell him what he thought of it. Dale took the guitar and started to beat it to death, and he blew up Leo Fender’s amp and blew out the speaker. Dale proceeded to blow up forty nine amps and speakers; they would actually catch on fire. Leo would say, ‘Dick, why do you have to play so loud?’ Dale would explain that he wanted to create the sound of Gene Krupa the famous jazz drummer that created the sounds of the native dancers in the jungles along with the roar of mother nature’s creature’s and the roar of the ocean.
Leo Fender kept giving Dale amps and Dale kept blowing them up! Till one night Leo and his right hand man Freddy T. went down to the Rendezvous Ballroom on the Balboa Peninsula in Balboa, California and stood in the middle of Four Thousand screaming dancing Dick Dale fans and said to Freddy, I now know what Dick Dale is trying to tell me. Back to the drawing board. A special 85 watt output transformer was made that peaked 100 watts when dale would pump up the volume of his amp, this transformer would create the sounds along with Dale’s style of playing, the kind of sounds that Dale dreamed of. BUT! they now needed a speaker that would handle the power and not burn up from the volume that would come from Dale’s guitar.
Leo, Freddy and Dale went to the James B. Lansing speaker company, and they explained that they wanted a fifteen inch speaker built to their specifications. That speaker would soon be known as the 15” JBL -D130 speaker. It made the complete package for Dale to play through and was named the Single Showman Amp. When Dale plugged his Fender Stratocaster guitar into the new Showman Amp and speaker cabinet, Dale became the first creature on earth to jump from the volume scale of a modest quiet guitar player on a scale of 4 to blasting up through the volume scale to TEN! That is when Dale became the “Father of Heavy Metal” as quoted from Guitar Player Magazine. Dale broke through the electronic barrier limitations of that era!
Dale still wanted to go further, and as the crowds increased, Dale’s volume increased, but he still wanted a bigger punch with thickness in the sound so that it would pulsate into the audience and leave them breathless. The JBL-D130 was doing its job until Dale froze it in the frame that held the speaker, the speaker cone would twist from the heavy playing from Dale and it would soon twist and stop to fluctuate back n forth.
Leo, Freddy and Dale went back to the JBL speaker company and told them to rubberize the front ridge of the speaker allowing it to push forward and backward from the signal of Dale’s guitar without cocking and twisting. The new updated version was called the JBL D-130F; the F stood for Fender.
Leo, Freddy and Dale designed a speaker cabinet and in which they installed 2 -15”-JBL-D130F’s. This caused Leo Fender to have to create a new and more powerful output transformer, they would call it the Dick Dale Transformer and it was made by the Triad Company.
This became the 100 watt output transformer that would actually peak 180 watts. Nothing like this had ever been done before in the world of guitars and amplifiers. This became known as the Dual-Showman Piggy Back Amp. This is why Dick Dale is called the Father of all the power Players in the world!
It is a Phenomena, that Dale is still playing with not only the same vengeance as he did in the 50’s, but his playing is unleashed and shredding into the 90’s with a focus and power as if from mother nature. He shares the stage with fellow players of all generations up into the alternative’s of the 90’s. Being completely self taught, Dick Dale plays left handed upside down which was a result of holding the guitar left-handed. The strings became upside-down, chords are designed for right handed players making it very difficult for a left handed player unless he were to change the strings for a left handed guitar, something that Dale never did.
Dale is also a master at the Acoustic, Electronic, Bass and Spanish Guitars’. As well as the Ukulele, Banjo, Drums, Piano, Organ, Electronic Keyboard, Harpsichord, Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone, Harmonica, Xylophone and, believe it or not… the Accordion!
Dale was also responsible for another creation to the world of guitar players, “The Fender Tank Reverb”. As Dale sang in his shows, he found that he did not have a vibrato in his voice, and he did not like the straight flat dry sound. to sustain his vocal notes, he turned to an old Hammond organ and found a reverb unit and showed it to Leo Fender and together they came up with the “Fender Tank Reverb”. Dale then plugged a Shure Dynamic Bird cage Microphone into it and as Dale sang, his voice took on a very rich, sexy and full sound. Later, Dale then plugged his Fender Stratocaster guitar into the Reverb Tank to sustain his guitar notes which became Dale’s trademark sound.) (NOTE) Dale had already been titled “King of the Surf Guitar” by his surfer friends before his creation of the Fender Reverb, Dale’s first album called “Surfer’s Choice” was the first Surfing album to be commercially sold with a picture of Dale surfing by the pier in San Clemente, Ca. with a surfing title on it. This album alone sold over eighty-eight thousand albums in the late 50’s and today in the 90’s it would be like 4 million. There was not one song on that album that had a Reverb for effects, everything was played with nothing but Dale’s sheer force and power. A bit of trivia, Dale’s recording of “Miserlou” became the title song for Quentin Tarantino’s Blockbuster movie “Pulp Fiction”.
Dick Dale has been called one of the hardest working men in show business. In the past five years he has maintained a heavy concert tour and public appearance schedule throughout the world. Focusing in Europe, Australia, Japan, Canada, South America and the U.S.
He makes time to endorse some of his favorite products, including Dean Markley strings, Dale’s string sizes are 16p, 18p, 20p. 38w, 48w, 58w…they use to be 39w, 49w, 60w…..he says he’s getting lazy now. Pearl Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Graphtech String Saddles, Billabong clothing and Australia’s Ugg Boot Company. Perhaps his most prominent endorsement would have to be for Fender Musical Instruments. Because of the popularity of Dale’s signature playing, Fender added to their inventory of guitars, the making of the Dick Dale Signature Stratocaster which seems to be a favorite amongst the Dick Dale guitar players. John English, Fender’s custom guitar maker set out to the task of building Dale’s Signature Stratocaster guitar with Dale being the overseer. To be included with his favorites was the honor distinction to be the first musician ever to be endorsed by Telex Corp. Using the Telex FMR450 Digital Wireless which has made it possible for Dale to play his guitar walking into the audience.
Along with his Dual Showman Fender Amps, Dale is particular in what tubes that he uses to help create his sound, he has chosen Ruby Tubes from a company called Magic Parts located in Point Reyes Station, California (800) 451-1992
Dale has also recorded original material for Disneyland’s Space Mountain roller coaster ride, and the soundtrack for the History of NASA video shown in Space Mountain. Dale’s music is being used in all the Disneyland’s throughout the world along with being featured in a Disneyland Music album which is being sold by Disneyland. May 21, 1998 a historical day for Disneyland, Dick Dale was chosen to be the person to highlight the grand opening of Tomorrowland by standing on top of Space Mountain (without the use of a safety harness) with his Gold Fender Stratocaster guitar (the beast) and play for all to hear throughout Disneyland “Ghost Riders”& “Miserlou” – Dale’s music has gone down in the annals of Disneyland history.
Being a unique and versatile artist, Dick Dale is not limited to his musical skills. He has proved to be a respected Home designer and builder, personally designing and hand drawing the elevations and building his parents 7,000 square foot single story dream home in the California high desert so that he can be within easy reach to them. As of January 24, Dale’s parent’s celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary, his dad is 86 and his mother is 81 years young. Dale is an accomplished Horseman, Exotic Animal Trainer, Surfer, Martial Arts Expert, Archer, and Pilot. His favorite plane is a Cessna 337B Super Skymaster, a twin tailed, front and rear engine aircraft which was also flown in the military and also sold to the general aviation pilots. Dale has a twin engine pilot rating.
Featured in various articles including the Los Angeles Times Calendar Section, Guitar World Magazine, Guitar and Guitar Player Mag and just recently the back cover of Fender Frontline Magazine with his 5 year old son Jimmy Stix holding their Fender Strats. And in 1981, Dick Dale was awarded Guitarist of the Year by Guitar Player Magazine.
2007 Dick Dale Presented 3rd only Personalized Medallion in 40 Years from Guitar Player Magazine as ”Guitar Legend”.
2006 Dick Dale Inducted the First Presidential Historical Society Lifetime Member in Quincy Massachusetts into the Presidential Historical Building.
2006 Dick Dale voted No. 1 Top Concert in 400 concerts and 400 Bands and Artists in Madrid Spain.
2000 Dick Dale Presented “Lifetime Achievement Award” by “The L.A. Weekly Magazine”
2000 Dick Dale inducted into the “White House Congressional Hall of Records” by Congressman “Jerry Lewis”
1999 Dick Dale Nominated for “Lifetime Achievement Award” by “The L.A. Weekly Magazine”
1998 Dale Performed on top of “Space Mountain” for Grand Opening of “Tomorrowland”
1997 Dale Recorded and Performed the Music for Disneyland “Space Mountain”
1996 Dale Inducted into the “Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame” – Hollywood, California
1996 Dale presented a Platinum Record award for his performance recording of Miserlou, the guitar instrumental that gave Quentin Tarantino the energy force to create the the all time award movie Pulp Fiction. Miserlou was made the Title song.
Dale awarded the Lifetime Pop Music Culture Award from UC Berkeley with Ice-T, John Lee Hooker and Mick Fleetwood (Drummer of Fleetwood Mac)
1989 Dale Inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame located in the Hall of Champions building in San Diego, Ca..
1988 Dick Dale and Stevie Ray Vaughn Nominated for a Grammy Award for the music in the motion picture Back to the Beach.
1986 Dale was named Forefather of Rock and Roll by Thirty Years of Rock and Roll,
1963 Dale was the first power rock guitarist to be featured in a double page layout in Life magazine.
1963 Dale was the 1st rock guitarist to perform on the Ed Sullivan Show, The nation’s number one national show.
Dick Dale was the first person to create the surf music sound. The first to take a sport and develop a music for it. He was also the first to have more than one record on the Top Ten charts at one time, and also to have five songs from a single album on the charts at once. He was first to sell out the Los Angeles sports arena.
Must Be The Holy Ghost (MBTHG) is the latest vehicle for North Carolina’s longtime sonic traveler Jared Draughon. Layeredelectronic rhythms fuse with thick looping guitars and soaring vocals, a sound both intricately crafted but with ever shifting landscapes.
The legendary metal band Fates Warning began in the early 1980’s playing a traditional style of heavy metal. However, they quickly began to adopt a more technically proficient style influenced by Rush and are considered by many to be the first true prog-metal band.
While the band has subsequently moved in more melodic and ambient directions, they have remained a vibrant and well-respected cornerstone for the prog camp within the heavy metal strata.
“Oceans Of Slumber is what heavy metal music should sound like in 2013, being a cacophony of sounds and styles that all seem to meld together into an awesome and unforgettable trip.” 10/10
Eric May, The Grim Tower
Houston Progressive Metallers OCEANS OF SLUMBER Release Aetherial
On February 1st OCEANS OF SLUMBER self-released a progressive metal whirlwind called Aetherial. Labeling a band like OCEANS OF SLUMBER is never quite as easy as one would think. The Houston band features in its ranks the drummer of grind purists INSECT WARFARE (among many others), a degreed Jazz guitarist, and an all-around cast of “players’ players.” What results from this collective of skilled musicians and a broad cross section of influence is the adventurous Aetherial. Musical classification is of no interest to the band however. Instead, OCEANS OF SLUMBER create waves of stimulating atmosphere and use their talents to exploit the dynamics of the music, thereby creating the undeniably epic wall of sound that has become the Texans’ trademark. The person responsible for the mixing and mastering of Aetherial, UK madman Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR, EVILE, etc.), had this to say about his work with Houston prog-metallers:
“Oceans of Slumber are of one of the top 10 bands I’ve ever worked with. The perfect mixture of sheer brutality with ultimate musicianship taking you on a journey through music. Old school metal mixed with prog and psychedelia brought right up to date with cutting death metal and black metal influences. All my favorite stuff rolled into one!”
With soaring vocals, lightning fast guitars and a rock solid backline, Borealis is bringing leather back, and dragging power metal up with it. It’s been that way from the start for these 5 Canadian guys: all or nothing, and it shows in their music.
Starting out in 2005, Borealis wasn’t supposed to sound as it does today. The first songs and live performances were done with a female opera singer. It was quickly realized that the possibilities were limited following that path, so they set out to find the right sound. During their search, enough songs were written to record an album, but there was no luck finding a singer. However, at some point the band realized that guitarist Matt Marinelli had been holding out on them by not letting them know that he could sing up until that point.
With Matt now stepping in as their new singer and an arsenal of songs, Borealis entered the studio, and after a long and endlessly drawn out time, the debut album was unleashed in 2008 by the band itself. ‘World of Silence’ has quickly garnered attention from all angles of the industry, and word is just starting to get out.
“To me it was a chemistry that worked right away, ‘World Of Silence’ is a power metal masterpiece, capturing the sheer essence of the genre and improving it by adding speed and progressive metal elements! Their sound can be described as being both expressive and melodic, especially in the keyboards and guitar sections as a result of harmonized layering. The vocals of guitar player Matt Marinelli are another point that lifts this band to a very high level. Yes, brothers and sisters; there’s a new star born, heading from the west! This release is a blistering one for all those into Progressive Power Metal. Borealis is a band you should try out and believe me you won’t be disappointed for one minute.” – Officer Nice, Metal to Infinity Webzine
Having been playing locally with such world-renowned bands as Kamelot, Epica, and Sonata Arctica with nothing to sell, patient fans were elated to finally get their hands on the album, and Borealis played a packed show with Edguy to support it. Suddenly Borealis was a band on everyone’s lips in their home-area of Ontario, Canada.
A short history of a band working to fill a tall order! Consisting of Sean Werlick (keys), Ken Fobert (guitar), Sean Dowell (drums) and Jamie Smith (bass), along with the aformentioned Matt Marinelli, the top of the power metal scene is where these Canadians strive to be, and if there’s only one certainty, it’s that they won’t stop until they’re there.
Summer of 2010 was spent recording and mixing the sophomore album, sinisterly titled “Fall From Grace”, an album that will bring the band to where they need and deserve to be – as one of the best young bands on a growing metal scene.
Musically Borealis leans towards the classic power metal sound, not too far removed from bands such as Evergrey or even Savatage in their prime, but also the more progressive bands like Vanden Plas or Dream Theater springs to mind here and there. It’s all about energy, aggression, melodies and finesse – and Borealis has it all in spades.
Australian pop sensibility with modern progressive heaviness – the cult force that is VOYAGER.
With 5 full-length albums under their belt and shows throughout North America, Europe and Asia with the likes of Devin Townsend, Children Of Bodom, Soilwork, Nightwish, Epica and Orphaned Land, the five-piece from Perth is now firmly entrenched in its international repute as “the band who doesn’t sound like anyone else”.
With a fiery red keytar, a feisty female guitarist and concerts described as “amazing chemistry blending pop with heavy, technical and progressive riffs”, Voyager are consistently a live force to be reckoned with. Deftones’ Chino Moreno recently likened singer Danny Estrin’s vocals to Duran Duran’s Simon LeBon.
In June 2014, Voyager released their fifth opus; the internationally critically acclaimed ‘V’. Their new album received incredible reviews from media outlets such as Metal Hammer, Prog Magazine, Classic Rock Magazine and Revolver Magazine. In addition, ‘V’ entered the top 20 on the CMJ US Loud Rock Charts and led Voyager to receiving a nomination for the ‘Breakthrough Artist’ award at the 2014 Prog Magazine Music Awards and an invitation to appear at Bigsound 2014.
Voyager has performed at major festivals such as ProgPower USA and Hammersonic Festival (Indonesia) and will be touring the UK & Europe in October 2014, including an appearance at the prestigious ProgPower Europe Festival in The Netherlands.
When We Was Kids is a progressive rock band based out of Cicero, IL Their sound incorporates progressive and experimental stylings over post-hardcore base
Formed in 2011 by a group of advanced percussionists, Bloco Maximo is a Chicago based percussion group that brings the awesome sound of Brazilian batucada from the Pelourinho and the Sambodromo – combining the traditional sounds of timbal, repique, surdo, caixa & tamborim in a funky, energetic dose of wall-to-wall rhythm. Bloco Maximo performs across the city, bringing energetic beats to your next celebration!
This is not your father’s kind of metal. This is definitely not a hair band. Hephystus is a new metallic breed ~ tight, pounding, progressive and dramatic. Three life-long friends blended their unique styles to form the core of the band. Guitarists Brandon Miller and Matt Halberg, and drummer Troy Surratt all played in previous bands together but their sound was truly cemented by the arrival of Aaron Yow’s bone-shaking bass tone. Dense and melodic, Hephystus puts the life and soul back into metal.
Room 409 is an eclectic, stylistically diverse pop band playing tunes by Queen, Peter Gabriel and Cold Play. The group has performed with Paula Cole and features a front line of powerful singers and shredding guitarists.
ELEGANT PEOPLE
Elegant People is a dynamic fusion group which plays compositions by Herbie Hancock, the Brecker Brothers and Aaron Parks. The group received 3 Outstanding Soloist Awards at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival and performed with Wycliff Gordon at the Jazz Showcase. The band features the great vocal talents of Amber McMillian.
SISSY BROWN
Sissy Brown is a sweet voiced country singer influenced by honky tonk, outlaw, and classic country gold legends.
The Blues Kids Foundation is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. We were established to preserve, perform and promote the Blues among America’s youth, parents and educators under the tutelage of highly qualified instructors. Our focus and social responsibility is education (pedagogy + andragogy), literacy and music as a second language.
Each summer we present Fernando Jones’ Blues Camp in different parts of the United States and abroad. This “priceless,” fun-filled, weeklong experience is designed to impact the life of the Blues Kid who simply wants to create, perform and experience this cultural enrichment opportunity in an organized and nurturing environment with like-minded others.
Former known as Blue Daven’s Code, this Canadian trio from the defiant Quebec City decided that the changes that their music and style, not to mention the departure of the 4th member and the decision to continue on as a trio, warranted a new name. That name came easily on their trip to the city of angels in February 2015 (LA) for their showcase presentations. The stylish rockers that had an EP released in September of last year called Blue Daven’s Code are now back in Quebec and getting ready to hit the road with female rock legend “Girlschool”, Swedish female act “Crucified Barbara” and fellow Canadians “Old James. The North American tour antecedes the recording of a full length album to be released by Native Alien Records later in 2015.
Back in 2011 at the very dawn of the band – then called Blue Daven’s Code – these rockers showed that they were not just another band by finishing in 2nd place at the prestigious Budweiser’s “Omnium du Rock” battle of the bands, beating out 42 bands in the process. Filled with hope and enthusiasm, they continued relentlessly to tour and record until in 2013 the band released the single “Dangerous”. They got airplay on major radios in Canada, such as CFWF (Regina, SK), CIKR (Kingston, ON), CJRX (Lethbridge, AB), CKMH (Medicine Hat, AB) and were a featured on the notorious ‘New Rock Nation’ show.
Formed in Stockholm in 1998 by bassist Ida Evileye and guitarist Klara Force, CRUCIFIED BARBARA is Sweden’s hardest rocking quartet, playing a fiery brand of rock ‘n’ roll tinged with metal and lashings of punk, pop, thrash, and whatever else dares to cross their path.
No strangers to hard work or success, CRUCIFIED BARBARA’s debut single from their 2005 debut In Distortion We Trust climbed to #8 on the Swedish pop charts. They played Australia, toured across Europe opening for Motörhead, Sepultura, In Flames, and Doro, and earned a prestigious slot alongside Black Sabbath, Velvet Revolver, and System Of A Down at the U.K. Download Festival. With all that touring, it would be four years before the band got around to recording their second album, 2009’s ‘Til Death Do Us Party. Next thing you know, there they were on national television performing in Eurovision’s 2010 Song Contest and made it to the semi-finals. Go figure.
Entering the legendary Music-A-Matic Vintage Recording Studio in Gothenberg with sound engineer Henryk Lipp and producer Chips Kiesby to create CRUCIFIED BARBARA’s third studio release, The Midnight Chase features the beautifully evil “Rock Me Like The Devil,” the anthemic “Everything We Need,” and the commandeering “Into The Fire.” Ida Evileye dominates her trusty Sandberg bass, Klara Force rocks steady on her ’76 Gibson Explorer, Mia Coldheart belts out her unapologetic vocals while riffing all over her Gibson Gothic Flying V, and Nicki Wicked pounds on her glittered Yamaha Maple drum kit until you’re splayed across the floor with a bull’s-eye knock-out punch that’ll make you spit your teeth out. Now you know what happens when Motörhead mates with The Runaways.
So how did they get their name? The band members attended Denmark’s legendary Roskilde Festival and came across something very unexpected in a nearby forest: a blow-up doll (generically called “Barbara” throughout Sweden) attached to a crucifix. And no, they didn’t identify with the victim, they claimed the power of the aggressor right on the spot and have never looked back.
If ever you cross their path, bring some brass knuckles to better protect yourself.
Girlschool are a British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band, still active after more than 35 years. Formed from a school band called Painted Lady, Girlschool enjoyed strong media exposure and commercial success in the UK in the early 1980s with three albums of ‘punk-tinged metal’ and a few singles, but rapidly lost their momentum in the following years.
In the 1990s and 2000s, they concentrated their efforts on live shows and tours, reducing considerably the production of studio albums. During their long career, Girlschool travelled all over the world, playing in many rock and metal festivals and co-headlining with or supporting some of the most important hard rock and heavy metal bands. They maintain a worldwide cult following and are considered an inspiration for many succeeding female rock musicians such as The Donnas. Despite of line-up changes in the past, original members Kim McAuliffe, Enid Williams and Denise Dufort are still in the band to this day. The only original member no longer in the band, lead guitarist and singer Kelly Johnson, died of cancer in 2007. and was replaced by Jackie Chambers in 1999.
Uninhibited by genre sub-types and categorization, Francis Wreck is an amalgamation of alternative-grungy, experimental desert rock that twists and bends through sonic landscapes that range from spacey, tranquil themes to a cacophony of madness inducing sound. It actually gets pretty listenable.
Erik and Doug started playing rock in high school. Then they stopped. They played in lots of other Chicago bands. Many years later,Erik built a studio. Doug and Erik started playing again.
Ted came to Erik’s block party in 2014 and played a mean guitar. Ted joined the fold. Stephen and Erik discussed music at the 9:00 A.M. roach coach for the last couple of years. Stephen plays a mean bass. Stephen joined the fold in December of 2014. Stephen and Ted played in numerous, Chicago bands. This one is ours.
The AJ Ghent Band is an Americana band that fuses the sounds of southern rock, blues, soul, and funk together. AJ’s songs are witty, energetic, and funky, but they have a message. The message portrayed in each song gives listening ears an outlet. The songs allow those who are going through to sing about it, dance it out, and clap it out, and by the end of the song, forget about the problems and the issues.
In 2015, Dallas rock band Somebody’s Darling, taking a page from Tom Petty, packed up camp, pushed all their chips in, and headed for Nashville to run down the dream of doing this forever. Think My Morning Jacket fronted by a woman, or Alabama Shakes if they’d been born in Texas.
“Equal bits Gary Clark Jr. and ZZ Ward, their track “Generator” whose delightful Tame Impala’s “Elephant”-esque intro gives the track a propulsive spurt right out of the gates. It’s off their upcoming LP, Adult Roommates, and we’re ready to hear more.” – Baebel Music
“Somebody’s Darling have all the elements you would expect from a Southern rock band: Lead singer Amber Farris’ commanding vocals, dominant guitars, powerful drums, and lyrics that make you pay attention.” -CULTURE COLLiDE
Hailing from the Heart of Illinois, Steady Flow is a power funk band on the rise, blending new-age/progressive funk, with a classic 1970’s feel. Formed in 2012 by 18 year old guitar prodigy Tanner Brown, his brother Ky on bass, and longtime friend Jonathan Bobo on the drums, this band instantly caught fire. With the addition of a vintage rotary organ and a three piece horn section, they have become the full funk package. Steady Flow was recently crowned champion of the “Dos Equis Toast of the Coast” competition, topping hundreds of bands throughout the U.S. and winning a headlining slot at North Coast Music Festival 2013. The band’s first EP entitled “The Oneoff Sessions” made its debut in 2013 and quickly set the bar for the FUTURE OF FUNK! – See more at: http://www.steadyflowfunk.com/about/#sthash.I6nBddjB.dpuf
Grabbing influences from all over the musical spectrum, the Ars Nova has something for everyone. They pride themselves in never having two shows be the same and embrace the musical freedom that is their improvisational jams. From Umphrey’s McGee to Led Zeppelin, from STS9 to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, from Jimi Hendrix to Kings of Leon, the Ars Nova is a must-see act. After breaking on to the festival circuit in the summer of 2014 at Summer Camp Music and Arts Festival in Chillicothe, IL, everything has been up hill for the Ars Nova. Catch them all over the Chicago area and be sure to follow them closely on Facebook, Soundcloud, Twitter, and Instagram. Do NOT forget the name ‘The Ars Nova’.
Justin Adam Beaver was born in Rockford, IL. One decade later, he fell madly in love with the bass guitar. A short while later, he formed 7th Street Saints, a bass guitar focused, alternative funk rock trio. 7th Street Saints were involved with the RAMI organization (Rockford area music industry). They have performed at venues such as The Elbo room, Davis Park, and On the Waterfront Festival, as well as various benefit shows.
Justin is currently attending Columbia College Chicago for a bachelors in music and studying Contemporary, Urban, and Popular music, majoring on electric bass. While at Columbia, he formed the group, Metropalis, and they were selected to play the official SXSW AEMMP showcase in 2013.
After graduation he is interested in collaborating with as many musicians as possible on stage, in the studio and on tour. He writes solo material that he will record, release, and perform in the very near future. He also plans to continue to merge community and music through benefit concerts, charities and organizations so that his art can give back to the community.
I started playing music when I was in middle school and it quickly consumed my life. When I started going to school for it, the passion took off. Now I write, perform, and compose every day of my life and plan to continue for as long as I can. I have played in countless bands of many different styles, and love new collaborations. I also am very experienced in recording and engineering, as well as music business knowledge.
Metropalis, a Chicago based rock band with a menagerie of influences ranging from Blues, Jazz, Reggae, and Funk, has made a splash in the Chicago scene. Founded in September 2013, as part of the Recording and Performance Ensemble at Columbia College Chicago, all six members are pursuing a Bachelor of Music in the Contemporary, Urban and Popular music program. Their tasty hooks, hypnotic grooves, and luscious harmonies will not only continuously captivate your attention but demand meticulous movement from your hips. Metropalis enjoys seamlessly blending their influences and crafting original songs that they love to perform for any music lover.
Sautéed in the pool of grease that used to be your brain, Jollys is an array of common vegetables that have rotted just enough to be mistaken for organic.
The road to rock ‘n’ roll glory is littered with the smoldering remnants of bands that blazed brightly for a few brief moments and then fizzled out in a cloud of thwarted ambitions. But every now and then a band emerges that walk, talk and rock like true saviours of our beloved music’s spirit and soul. Founded in Northern Ireland in 2000, The Answer have spent the last decade proving their rock ‘n’ roll credentials and making the kind of life-affirming, eardrum-threatening music that separates the truly great from the merely adequate.
The band emerged into the mainstream spotlight in 2005 when their debut single Keep Believin’ became the subject of critical acclaim and led The Answer to the ‘Best New Band’ award at that year’s Classic Rock Awards. The following year, this young band consolidated that early promise with ‘Rise’, a debut album that received universally great reviews and backed up their burgeoning reputation with fistfuls of gloriously anthemic songs like Under The Sky, Into The Gutter and Come Follow Me that delighted everyone from cantankerous classic rock fans to bright-eyed teenagers with a penchant for balls-out rock ‘n’ roll. ‘Rise’ went on to sell over 125,000 copies worldwide, a startling achievement that ensured that when the band released their second album, the mighty ‘Everyday Demons’, three years later, the world was more than ready to embrace The Answer on an even greater scale.
The end result of their fearsome reputation, both as an astonishing live band and as rock’s brightest hopes, was a two-year stint as chief support to AC/DC, which took them around the world and into some of the biggest venues on the planet.
“We were thrown to the wolves a lot of nights on the road with AC/DC and all we had to fall back on was the four of us playing together,” recalls mercurial guitar hero Paul Mahon. “We had to make it work and dig in really hard. After all that time on the road, our song writing’s so much tighter, all the fat has been stripped away and we’re much more direct. Songs that we had in that vein seemed to go down with their audiences, and we took all of that on board.”
Undeniably, The Answer – completed by perennially charismatic front man Cormac Neeson and the powerhouse rhythm section of guitarist Paul Mahon, bassist Micky Waters and drummer James Heatley – have achieved a great deal in their career so far, but 2015 looks certain to be their most gloriously triumphant year to date. Signed by Napalm Records in 2012 the band have just re-signed with the label and are releasing their new album entitled “Raise a Little Hell” on March 6th 2015 (GSA/Benelux), March 9th (UK and Europe) and March 10th in North America.
Lead vocalist Cormac Neeson commented, “We’re delighted to be extending our relationship with the Napalm family and look forward to great times ahead! During summer 2014 we hightailed ourselves down to Madrid to record our new album with long time friend and producer, Will Maya. Our time in Spain represents one of the most productive and enjoyable chapters in The Answer’s colourful history. Our new album ‘Raise A Little Hell’ comes from deep down inside. We brought the blues, the swagger and soul back into the studio and emerged from it with an album that encapsulates our unabated love for making the music we make. We’re all incredibly proud and thrilled with this record!”
John and I started writing material back in 2013, with the idea of eventually turning it into a recording project, originally known as “Project Huxley”.
After tediously making demos and rehearsing, we decided that it was time to start playing some gigs together!
After a year of random bar shows, it was time to put everything we had written to tape (so to speak). With the help of our good friend Danny, and lots of elbow grease, we were able to record our first album, “Concrete Echo” in a mix of basements and bedrooms.
Since then, we have kidnapped our buddy Jon Glabus to play the bass (opening up a WORLD of sonic possibilities, and allowing John to rip out guitar solos) and have even been working on a plethora of new material.
Music flows through me like a river runnin down a mount side.
It’s been in me since I was born and once I was introduced to Michael Jackson, heard my first Pearl Jam Cd and sang to 4 non blondes it was over. What’s funny is how I’ve come to truly appreciate the role music plays in my life. And I don’t just mean music- I mean performing! I love to perform in front of people and share that special energy of being connected through the vibe, the lyrics, the beats and the melody. I left music behind for almost 10 year of my life to pursue traditional business success. I was successful yet unfulfilled.
So I left the business goals behind to pursue music. Again unfulfilled cause I was broke! So I decided to tap into both and that’s when my world changed. I’ve found a way to use each to support each other through planning and finding my true passion. I want to travel the world as a musician speeding a conscious, real and positive message. I want to share my time with people who want to just flat out let go and enjoy themselves!
So my passion of travelin the world as a well known respected musician fuels my passion to work so I can afford to put all the pieces in place to do so. It’s a beautiful thing to know you’re working to support your passion- it will literally strengthen your work more than any generic business skill set. Passion is the key!! I have pinch myself cause I’m on an extraordinary journey!
So I have a question- what are you passionate about? What adventure do you want to live? Join me for this journey and you’ll find honesty, integrity, honor and of course an overall positive message. If you like it share it and spread the good vibes!
Sporting such elegantly performed and smartly written duets, New Mexico natives Christian Felix & Kendra Lyons moved to Chicago in 2011, but they could’ve truly come from another eraaltogether. Though co-ed pairs have taken center stage nationally as of late – She & Him, The Civil Wars – here’s a team that not only exudes such natural sounds, but is wise beyond their years when it comes to putting pen to paper. It’s that maturity that has brought them opportunities to perform along side a wide range of national acts, from Daniel Johnston to ZZ Ward.
Having begun performing in college back in Santa Fe, Felix & Lyons maintains a flexibility that eludes other acts of their ilk: Having added Jason Peters on bass around September of 2012 (right around the time their debut album Something Between Us dropped), Christian and Kendra remain just as powerful with a backing band as they are standing shoulder-to-shoulder against the world.
Despite the change of scenery, their tunes have an old-west quality but not in a faux, alt-country sense. These are songs with true grit, often accompanied by thunderous, distant percussion (as on the charging “Broke My Heart”), stories of complex love (“Open the Door,” where Felix plays the nearly baritone Johnny to Kendra’s June Carter-Cash) or ghostly tales of travel, like on the charming “N. Bethesda.” Having passed through several of Chicago’s top clubs – Cubby Bear, Goose Island, Beat Kitchen, Bottom Lounge, Hard Rock and Uncommon Ground among them – this is a group well on their way to commanding a substantial local – if not, national – following.
Scattered across the West Town area of Chicago, Simpleton & Cityfolk appeal to the listener with a blend of roots rock, Americana and folk. The band’s roots go back to Iowa when Geoff Glenn (guitar, vocals) and Chris Bennett (guitar, vocals) met as roommates at the University of Iowa. In 2010, college over, Bennett returned home to Chicago. Glenn soon followed. Chris “Foo” Williams (bass, vocals) and John Conlon, (guitar) filled out the rest of the Cityfolk with Mike “Sku” Skowronski joining on drums after Conlon’s move to Utah.
In the past 4 years, S&C has been playing to receptive crowds throughout the Midwest, at summer festivals and many of Chicago’s finest venues including: Metro, Double Door, House of Blues, Schubas, Lincoln Hall, Bottom Lounge, and Beat Kitchen. They’ve opened for , The Dirty River Boys, Daniel and the Lion, Run Boy Run and in August 2014, they were asked to be main support for Big Head Todd and the Monsters at Soldier Field.
Simpleton & Cityfolk has released two EPs and one LP; The Williams Account EP (2012), No Man Is An Island (2013), and Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken (2014) which is their most ambitious effort to date. They continue to push the boundaries on the ever-changing genre of Americana and are looking to release another record in early 2015.
MurrKat has been following her two passions of music and hooping for most of her life. She has performed live shows all over the Midwest including Chicago, Madison, Champaign, and more.
MurrKat’s first single, “Spring Don’t Come,” was released on October 24th. Stay up to date on MurrKat and her forthcoming EP by following her on social media.
Many bands who claim to wave rock’s gnarly, pedal-to-the-metal flag forget the intricacies and innovation that go along with it. True: Sometimes a great rock and roll song can be just four chords, but rearrange them all you like and they can only get you so far. What’s refreshing about Draft Week’s style is that they incorporate rich dynamics and throw a wrench in atypical song structures, while still remembering to keep things consistently hooky with fervent energy and back-alley cool.
Though Kevin McNamara (vocals, guitar), Mike Zevin (bass, keys, back-up vox), Mikey Plahm (drums) and Chad De Leon (lead guitar) all performed in rival bands in high school, they eventually started Draft Week together in 2009, during their college days. Through two national tours and four self-released EP’s, the band has racked up prized opening slots for the likes of Fuel, Taking Back Sunday, Lucky Boys Confusion, AM Taxi, Empires, the Ataris, Sister Hazel, and Motion City Soundtrack. Locally, they’ve played some of Chicago’s most renowned venues (Metro, Congress Theater, House of Blues) as they continue to build a solid fan-base throughout the second city.
Jen Korte first had the idea to start The Dirty Femmes 5 years ago but quickly realized she didn’t have the chops or the musicians she needed to pull it off. So she put the idea on the back burner for some day when she knew it would be the right time. Finding out that 2012 was the 30 year anniversary of the recording of the platinum debut album,”Violent Femmes,” she knew the time was now.
Jen quickly sent out to find a rhythm section that could handle the audacity of Brian Ritchie’s well known bass playing style and the complicated sounds of Victor DeLorenzo’s minimalist drum kit. Now enter Neil Mitchell and Andy Bercaw who back her with the same truculent musical styling that the Violent Femmes possess.
The Dirty Femmes pay tribute to the original Violent Femmes debut album its entirety along with the bonus tracks and a few songs off the second album, “Hallowed Ground”.
The Dirty Femmes premiered on April 7th, at the Hi Dive Denver and was met with an overwhelming response from Violent Femmes fans and the press.
Columbia College Chicago: CCC Reggies take over/ WORLD MUSIC
OZRIC TENTACLES
Ozric Tentacles are, simply put, legends of the UK underground. One of the most influential bands to emerge from the UK’s festival scene, “The Ozrics” layer ambient and ethereal landscapes with freeform dub trips, incredible rave grooves, and psychedelic progressive rock. Their aim is not just to make truly unique and culturally diverse music, but to harmoniously unite all in attendance, and create portals for astral travel. Most fans and listeners report feelings of euphoria, an immediate connection to nature as well as others around them, and intense feelings that they have transported to other dimensions or met with other-worldly beings. It’s an open exploration of music and the soul.
In their 30+ years, the Ozrics have experienced the vicissitudes of the rock and roll life. The band has scored two hit records, created 2 record labels (Dovetail & Stretchy), owned 3 tour busses, flourished through a number of line-up changes, spawned several side projects (including Eat Static and Nodens Ictus), released 29 albums, played 35 countries, 45 states, and sold over a million albums world-wide. And yet, the basic motivation behind the band’s existence has never wavered.
A campfire at the Stonehenge free festival in 1983 witnessed the birth of Ozric Tentacles. It was there that synth player Joie Hinton, stumbled upon brother’s Ed Wynne (guitar) and Roly Wynne (bass), performing in a band known at the time as Bolshem People, along with drummer Nick ‘Tig’ Van Gelder (Jamiroquai). From that very first jam session, a healing musical presence was evoked that has since been a trademark of the Ozric Tentacles. It’s a signature blend of hippy aesthetics and raver electronics with spiralling guitars, textured waves of keyboards, midi, samplers, and super groovy bass and drum rhythms. Having no vocals or lyrics, the multi-ethnic musical references leave the underlying meaning of each song or improvisational moment entirely up to the listener’s own interpretations.
The Ozrics swiftly claimed their place as a staple of the UK’s burgeoning festival scene, and are now credited an influential musical linchpin of the scene’s re-emergence.
Throughout the early 1990’s, constant touring of the UK helped the Ozrics to build a tremendous national fan base on a grass roots level. With the band’s 1993 release “Jurassic Shift,” which debuted at #11 on the British pop chart and climbed into the Top 10 in the National Album Charts, the Ozrics eventually won over the adulation of mainstream press, and found itself heralded in publications such as NME and Melody Maker. It was, and still is, an astonishing accomplishment for a band with no hit single, no celebrity status, and no major record label backing.
Ozrics have just completed their new double studio album, “Technicians of the Sacred”. Ozric’s 21st studio album is 90 minutes of mind bending astral journies ready and waiting to transport you to another world. Over 30 years into their musical career, Ozric’s continue to push the boundries where no band has gone before. This epic offering takes you on a journey of awakening through musical celebration, it encourages listeners to take a step away from the restraints of traditional and modern days styles or genres, and open their minds to any possibility. “Technicians of the Sacred” is the group’s first double length album in 25 years, since their ground breaking Erpland LP released in 1990. “Even after all this time, we’ve never been so excited or pleased with an album”, says Ed smiling, as usual. “We just can’t wait for people to hear this one. If (hypothetically), for any reason we would not able to make another album after this, we would be content in knowing we have had the opportunity to bring this particular musical journey to everyone.”
“The newt, an amphibious creature, is not solely terrestrial or aquatic; it spends its life as a land and water dweller. Much like the characteristics of the animals, Noot does not confine themselves to one genre or niche. Drawing from elements of jazz, funk, blues, rock and roll, psychedelia, reggae, and even Afro-beat, a set moves through decades, countries, and musical cultures that is sure to be an eclectic listening experience to your ears.”
Noot began as an afternoon jam session between friends in the summer of 2013 on the tree lined street of Altgeld in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Bassist Michael Ryva and guitarist Spyridon Hasiakos began collaborating in the dorms of Loyola University Chicago. Through the music department at Loyola, the two were connected with guitarist Jarrett Donoghue and drummer Cecil Gardner. Mutual discussions of upcoming concerts, favorite Grateful Dead eras, and iconic jazz albums led the four to an exchange of talents that culminated in the formation of Noot.
