Since 2004, WARTORN has assaulted humans live across thirteen countries in North America and Europe and released an arsenal of recordings on Profane Existence, Crimes Against Humanity and more before hooking up with Southern Lord, who released the band’s brutal Iconic Nightmare in January. Keeping up their raging tradition of pissed-off socio-political crustpunk/hardcore in the realm of Victims, Disfear, Words That Burn and labelmates Wolfbrigade and From Ashes Rise, Iconic Nightmare brandishes WARTORN’s most powerful warcries and energetic attacks to date.
Melodic Punk Rock members of SIN ORDEN,TRAGATELO & MUGRE From Los Angeles,CA/Chicago,IL) Descarados is furiously driven emotional hardcore with members from Los Angeles and Chicago. Musically they draw heavily from Revolution Summer Era-DC punk yet with a raw, biting hardcore edge. They string together chiming guitars, driven bass, chaotically rhythmic drumming, and intensely sung vocals. They purposefully sing in Spanish and about the personal and political travails of working people of color. To date they’ve released a one sided 12” on Emma Navajas (2007) and 7” on Stonehenge (2010).
THE AGGROLITES
The Aggrolites are more than a band they are a movement unto themselves. They carry a banner – one created with their own hands. This banner reads, “Dirty Reggae,” and represents their signature fusion of Reggae, soul, grit and determination. For seven magnificent years, this dirty Reggae bunch has rolled from city to city, across the pond and up main street USA. They rally the kids, the parents, the students, the cops, the bosses and the drifters. The people come, they relish in The Aggrolites, the dirty Reggae and the joy that comes with it all. The liberating rhythms and catchy grooves demand a return trip.
Formed in 1987 by Chris Reifert and Eric Cutler. Danny Corralles joined in 1988. Dis-banded in 1994, the group has been Awakened by Gore and have returned to continue their brutal assault on the metal scene. In a short time Autopsy has released the E.P. “The Tomb Within,” Full Lengths “Macabre Eternal” and “The Headless Ritual” and the comp plus E.P. “All Tomorrows Funerals.” To be released April 2014, a new full length record from Autopsy titled “Tourniquets, Hacksaws & Graves” comes to crush and continue what Autopsy does best, play death metal.
Maurice Mahon (CEO & Founder of New Face Of Soul) is a Chicago original and is certainly not a newcomer to the music business. Born on the city’s west- side, he entered the music scene by winning the first “Chicago Idol” contest hosted by Fox Television and Clear Channel Radio. By earning the 1 st place trophy he quickly attracted the interest of Chicago’s most influential members of the entertainment industry. He was the opening act for an event sponsored by The Delfonics, Ray Goodman and Brown and The Emotions, which he also won the first prize trophy. His top-notch singing and acting skills gained him a role in numerous stage plays and performances with Tyler Perry. Since then he has established himself as a powerful presence in entertainment circles throughout the Chicagoland area. His reputation quickly reached the production staff of R. Kelly, and Mr. Kelly himself reached out Mr. Mahon and contracted him to perform on a world-wide tour. Maurice Mahon is also on numerous songs with R. Kelly including a track with Kelly Price entitled “3-Way Caller” on R. Kelly’s “Happy People” cd. With his sleek smooth tone, Maurice Mahon has established himself as an elite artist, and he is continuously making his presence loved by everyone who comes to see him. In addition to Maurice Mahon’s continuous work with artists such as R Kelly, Tyler Perry and Kelly Price he has also worked with many of the industry’s greatest entertainers: John P. Key, Kim Burrell, Angie Stone, Christopher Williams, Dave Hollister, Angela Martin are just to name a few. As previously mentioned, Mr. Mahon is no stranger to the theatre either. With his latest production that just toured the nation, Issues “We All Got Em!” Written and produced by Laterras R. Whitfield, the hit play packed theatres from state to state, and Mahon pleased the crowd once more, capitalizing on each male character. His skill for acting was another way of displaying his many talents that revolved around music. Maurice Mahon has a modern and entertaining stage presence. He certainly has established himself as a vocalist to be recognized.
Jake Mack and The Last Stand is a 4-piece, blues and blues-based rock band that plays high-energy covers and originals. Face-melting solos, groovy, funky rhythms, top-notch vocals, and veteran-style showmanship are standards for Jake Mack and The Last Stand.
We are four best friends who love playing music together. We just finished creating our debut EP “Sea Bears”. Its available for download on Bandcamp for however much you’d like to pay. We love all of you, see you soon.
Songs about life, love, loss, and finding the strength to do it all again tomorrow. Anthemic rock arrangements with female vocals, enhanced by ambient synth and orchestral sounds.
Vesicant (formerly: Attack Imminent) started in the Summer of 2009, after a name change and a few lineup changes the band is now a three piece. We are a raging concoction of Old School Death Metal: (Death, Obituary, Cancer, Autopsy ect.) and raw aggresive Thrash Metal: (Sadus, Exodus, Possessed, Morbid Saint ect.)
Former front man for In the Red recording artists The Horrors, Paul Cary is back with a new lineup and a new set of haunting melodies. Following a split 7″ with Thee Oh Sees, his first solo LP – Ghost of a Man (Stankhouse) – has been met with critical acclaim. Featuring Johnathan Crawford on drums and Toby Summerfield on double bass, Ghost of a Man feels like a ride through the dark depths of a deep Iowa night in a ’57 Chevy. Paul is truly an old soul, creating timeless music for these modern times.
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”.
AUTUMN OWLS
“Dublin Ireland’s Autumn Owls chose Chicago as the location for seminal producer Brian Deck to produce their debut lp, Between Buildings, Toward The Sea. Which is fitting considering their major inspirations include Chicago luminary artists Wilco and Calfione. Featuring deconstructed folk and elements of post and indie, Autumn Owls are unequivocally distinct.”
“Like Pioneers preview songs off their new lp, Oh, Magic, due out May 22 on Abandoned Love Records. Frenetic, multi-vocalist indie rock that builds up and shreds apart.”
There might not be a duo these days – in Chicago or elsewhere – making as big of a noise as Brontosaurus. The pair of Nicholas Kelley and Nicholas Papaleo formed Brontosaurus as an outlet for their often pretty, often eerie powerful pop constructions. Drawing inspiration from a variety of sources as well as their varied musical upbringing (classical/indie rock/metal/prog), Brontosaurus performs their songs using all 8 limbs, often at the same time, as well as intertwining their distinct voices to create a unique and and entertaining live experience. Brontosaurus’ debut LP, Cold Comes To Claim, released in 2011 on the revered Chicago label Plus Tape owes as much to the sound and feel of Tin Pan Alley as it does to the Pacific Northwest of the late nineties. Cold Comes To Claim runs the gamut – from sweeping grandeur to math-induced freak-outs. The duo has been touring throughout the U.S. in support of Cold Comes To Claim and has shared the stage with Maps & Atlases, Suuns, Des Ark, Maserati, Owen, The Pass and A Lull to name a few.
Many have tried to define their style, the L.A. Times calls Locos por Juana “a funky, pan-Latin amalgam,” and referenced their “pulling listeners into a reverse Gulf Stream churning through the Straits of Florida south to Jamaica, Venezuela and Colombia, and over to Puerto Rico.” Miami New Times has regaled their 2008 American Grammy nominated release, La Verdad (Universal Music) as “the truth of a new multicultural, cosmopolitan generation, played out in the music that represents their cross-cultural connections.” and The Miami Herald dubbed them “Miami’s beloved Latin-Reggae-Hip-Hop mashup master.”
“Sensational” is the term that is synonymous with the name David Way; one of OneFLO Entertainment’s leading men. As an extraordinary vocalist, songwriter, dancer, rapper, arranger, actor and producer; David Way undoubtedly has the music industry wondering, “What can’t he do?” He is more than a quadruple threat, which transcends what the industry is looking for. David Way is definitely a breath of fresh air. Unlike much of today’s insipid Pop artists, his music is Pop meets R&B, with a twist of Rock and Hip Hop. Contrary to what many may say, David Way can tackle many different genres with a sound so explosive it will leave you wondering, “Who is this guy?”
Thick as Thieves is on the cutting edge of the ever changing musical spectrum, bringing each members unique taste and stylings to the stage. From Nas and Tupac to Elton John and One Republic, Thick as Thieves exists harmoniously within musical contradictions. Each song is a unique opportunity for an audience member to explore various musical genres seamlessly, each song flowing between the other in a fresh and gratifying way. Up-tempo and honest, the lyrics and melodies allow the band to share intimate moments with the audience, engaging each listener with passionate performances and energetic sets.
PJ is a Bassist, writer & entrepreneur from Chicago’s West Side. PJ began playing bass guitar at the age of 8 years old. His cousin bought a bass guitar and a keyboard for his son to play. He did not take to it and passed it on to PJ. While PJ was practicing with his cousins, PJ realized that he could play by ear. This was the beginning of a beautiful thing for PJ.
While PJ was attending Hugh Manley High School in Chicago, he learned to read music and to go on and sharpen his bass playing skills. In his sophomore year PJ was selected to be a part of Manley’s Jazz band. From there PJ was selected to be the bass player for The Chicago All-City Jazz Band from 1984 to 1987. During this time PJ received numerous awards which include “The Outstanding Soloist Award” at the Midwest Jazz Festival and “Outstanding Musician of the Year” from All City Jazz Band of Chicago.
After High school PJ started playing professionally around the Chicago area and Gospel recording artist Rev. Jessy Dixon approached me and asked me to become the full-time bass player for him and his choir. It was Rev. Dixon, who taught PJ showmanship and how to be a professional musician. This position provided PJ with the opportunity to perform with the talents of Andre and Sandra Crouch, Kurt Carr and Abraham Laboriel.
Currently PJ working with his new project “PJ & Soul” and just finished a CD to be release in November 2013. PJ also is touring the USA and abroad with Rodney Sir Nose Trotter as Bass Player and Musical Director. When not touring PJ is doing clinics and studio sessions.
Michael Gaughan has a BFA in Painting from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and an MEd from the University of Minnesota. He was awarded City Pages’ 69th most creative person in the twin cities 2010, and L’etoile’s Best Artist of 2011. He has been a visiting artist at the Walker Art Center, and at the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art. He has exhibited his paintings in numerous group and solo shows including Deitch Projects at Art Basel Miami, Deplayer in Rotterdam, Portland Institute for Contemporary Arts in Oregon, the Ace Hotel in New York City, at the Soap Factory, Soo Vac Gallery, and the LACE Museum in Los Angeles. His paintings have recently been used in a neurological medical study of aesthetic experiences at Liverpool John Moores University. He has been interviewed and featured in The Onion, Irish American News, 89.3 the Current, and Radio K. He has made illustrations for Nike, American Apparel, Andrew WK, Diplo, Rhymesayers Entertainment, Jagjaguwar Records, Troma Films, City Pages, Flaunt Magazine, Good Magazine, Surface Magazine, the Seattle Weekly, Dining Out Magazine, and other musical, arts, magazines, and film projects. Michael has orchestrated over ten city-wide scavenger hunts as performance art/public art in Minneapolis, MN and Portland, OR.
European transplant Samir Merchant, local Chicagoan Patrick Hiller, and California native Connor Lynch formed the first incarnation of Simple Machines in 2009, working out of Hyde Park. In the time since then, the trio has been writing material and honing their craft, as well as adding a keyboardist and a full time drummer to their line up. Hinging their musical influences on such acts as Radiohead, Blur, Coldplay and Foo Fighters, Simple Machines work to create quality songs, never settling for anything less. Spirit of the Shoreland (2011), is the band’s first release, receiving good initial acclaim and establishing themselves into the local scene.
Katy Needs A Life started as a basement recording project in 2007. After hearing all of her older brothers recordings, Katy May decided to take on her own DIY entertainment project. In 2009, Katy Needs A Life debuted at Lowell Senior High School’s annual variety show. By 2010, an entire demo was made with bassist Sean Burrows. Sadly, Sean was abducted by man-eating aliens that June. With shows already booked for later that summer, Katy asked her brother to join the band to generate new creativity. When Scotty May joined, it instigated a steady flow of new and improved music. Scotty isn’t in any studio recordings, but he brings a level of excitement to the live experience.
ThinGrin is a band comprised of former and current members of the legendary Chicago pop group Slammin Watusis, Green and Raving Mad. Bassist Clay Tomasek and guitarist Steve Zahradnik, have emerged on the scene with songs that blend great pop hooks with a little bit of alt-country soul mixed in. Drawing inspiration from bands like the Kinks, Cheap trick, The Rolling Stones and Gram Parsons, ThinGrin is looking to stake their claim in the tradition of other great midwestern bands, with songs that stick in the subconscious.
With grooves swung and grooves straight, exploring the highest of peaks, and the lowest of valleys, The Snake Oil Salesmen blend the intensity of punk with the soul of funk and blues. A visceral and cerebral venture through the ancient catacombs of future endeavors, The Snake Oil Salesmen take a fearless approach to their performance, righteously playing the hell out of whatever is on the set list that night.
PANDAMONIUM started originally as The Dirty Dentist in October of 2011..It all started with the idea of having something for everyone to do on those boring weekends in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, and quickly, a small following started. My goal now is to create some of the funkiest, dirtiest bass music known to man added with some of the most epic live experiences people have ever seen before in their life…stay tuned because this is only the beginning…
Making a dent onto a competitive heavy music scene, Dirge Within quickly made a name for themselves through extensive touring and earning rave reviews from the press and public alike. Already seen touring with such acts as Trivium,Fear Factory,Static X, Devildriver,Gwar,Kittie,36 Crazyfists and Nonpoint.They have shown their versatility towards playing in front of a variety of crowds and holding …their own. Following up their highly acclaimed debut release, ‘Force Fed Lies,’ Dirge Within issued a three song Digital EP titled ‘Absolution 2011 EP’ (out August 16, 2011) Giving a taste of what’s to come from their forthcoming sophomore release “There Will Be Blood” due out in April 10th 2012. via Rocket Science ventures/Sony red.
In Greek mythology, the Elysion Fields serves as the final resting place of the heroic and virtuous men upon whom the gods have bestowed immortality. Enter these five brave souls, destined for greatness and steadfast in their duty: to defend these fields and guard the gates, opening them only for those that prove themselves worthy. The broodingly epic and melodic metal created by Elysion Fields matches this philosophy. This five piece metal band from Chicago recently released a self-titled EP that showcases their obvious talent as musicians and songwriters. Heavy machine gun drum patterns support dynamic soaring guitars, relatable lyrics, commanding vocals, and plenty of sing along choruses.
Chicago’s Woodrow Hart & the Haymaker bring 78-rpm into the modern age. With simple instrumentation—guitar and resonator, fiddle, trumpet, piano, upright bass, and trap kit—the self-proclaimed “dirty old-time band” and its five multi-instrumentalists craft an honest, rowdy sound that is at once both old and new. A unique mélange of pre-electric country, blues and folk, with hints of early jazz and imbued with the spirit of Chicago punk rock, the band reinvents American musical tradition while holding fast to the integrity of each genre and its artists to create a sound that is distinctly genuine, distinctly Southern, distinctly restless, and all its own.
“Well-traveled folk that’s both hick and haunting. There’s something strange in the water and Lindsey’s drunk it up,” writes Rollingstone of acclaimed Americana folk-rock artist Graham Lindsey. Known for his dark razor sharp lyrics, or what the Chicago Sun Times has called his “roadmap of the human condition,” Lindsey’s most recent offerings, 2009’s We Are All Alone In This Together and it’s counterpart The Mine EP, earned praise from the likes of Uncut and Q Magazines for the raw, stripped down approach he takes to American roots music.
At age 12, The Onion explains, Lindsey “was a member of the world’s youngest punk band, Old Skull. His solo material couldn’t be further from those days, though: He now plays dark Americana informed by his travels around the country.” The now 33 year-old Lindsey first garnered widespread critical acclaim for his 2003 folk-rock debut, Famous Anonymous Wilderness, and achieved similar success with the world-wide release of follow up Hell Under The Skullbones in 2006. His songs have been featured in several independent films and appear on a slew of compilations, most notably Bloodshot Records For A Decade of Sin: 11 Years of Bloodshot Records, and Danielle Colby Presents: The Music of Farmageddon Records Vol. 1.
Lindsey’s music has been said to fall somewhere in the middle of Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and ‘if Gillian Welch had a male counterpart,’ while following in the traditions of Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly. But it does so with plenty of his own punk rock sensibilities in tact. Armed with a guitar, banjo, and an arsenal of harmonicas, Lindsey also performs with a drummer, his wife Tina.
Coming out of the ugly valley of salt lake city, Ugly Valley Boys bring you a steady beat of American Roots music, with a unique mixture of Rockabilly, Hillbilly Blues, Punk Rock and Americana, Ugly Valley Boys are here to keep you partying all night!!
In recent years, hip-hop and electronic music have inched ever closer to each other, cross pollinating healthy scenes for a fresh sound that is winning over countless fans of both genres. Yet few rappers have effortlessly melded true lyricism with house and electro-infused beats….until Na Palm.
Beginning his musical career deep in the Chicago house music scene, Na Palm took the clubs by storm with his lyrical prowess and live element that routinely complimented electronic deejay sets abound. Over the past two years, Na Palm has taken his message from the underground Chicago club scene to the rest of the country: performing live to new and older fans alike via opening up for larger artists and headlining college shows. Having 100+ national tour stops under his belt in just over two years, the future MC of the EDM generation has managed to procure over 260K Facebook fans. After performing at Ultra Music Festival in 2011 and being a chosen as a featured artist at SXSW in 2012, Na Palm is helping pave the way for electronic MC’s and beyond. His mainstream edm-inspired banger Two Days Straight has been a staple in DJ sets all over the globe while also getting regular spins on BPM.
With his new game-changing Electronic Chronic Podcast series set to release Summer 2012, Na Palm is ready to take his burgeoning national presence to a another level. The party is rapidly heating up for Na Palm this year, and all of the world is invited.
The only national College Battle of the Bands with partners Live Nation and GrammyU! Prizes include cash and gear plus a trip to LA to record with Grammy award winning producer for semifinals and a shot at National title!
Winners also get a slot on our Textbooks & Tickets Tour, opening for national acts on bigger stages around the country (with artists like T-Pain, Big Sean, Big Boi of Outkast, Dev, MNDR, Chiddy Bang, etc) Former winners include Mike Posner (Duke), Local Natives (Pepperdine) and Rozzi Crane (USC) (she recently signed with Adam Levine, now featured on a Maroon 5 track on Hunger Games soundtrack)
“MIKE FELTEN IS THE REAL DEAL” -Illinois Entertainer Mike has been playing since the 1960’s. That’s right. A veteran of rock, country and blues bands. Mike sat in Muddy Waters bedroom, had Buddy Guy show him around the blues clubs where Willie Dixon, Junior Wells and Mighty Joe Young among others were hanging out. The 1970’s found Mike playing folk gigs at places like the Fifth Peg and Orphans in Chicago, alongside guys like Steve Goodman & John Prine
Seamlessly blending their rock and Celtic influences into a high energy, anthemic and lyrically poignant mix, the band whose lineup since 2002 includes co-founder Keith Roberts (vocals, guitar), fellow Dubliner Brendan Holmes (bass, vocals), American-born members Bob Boulding (guitar, vocals), Chas Waltz (violin, keyboards, harp, mandolin, vocals) and Dave Ingraham (drums, percussion)–jumps energetically from ballad to barn burner, documenting as they go the vibrant yet chaotic world they find themselves in. From edgy political tunes to the travails of life in an internationally touring band, Saints and Sinners chronicles and tackles it all with joy, wit, enthusiasm and a profound belief that things can get better. They’re joined once again by Uillean pipe and pennywhistle master Eric Rigler, famed for his film work on the Titanic and Braveheart soundtracks, who has appeared on the bands last three albums and is a regular touring member.
MIDNIGHT 20 YEARS OF THE FILTHIEST BAND AROUND 20 YEARS OF SPEED AND DARKNESS
“Rebirth By Blasphemy is a rebirth,” states Midnight’s sole driving force, Athenar . “It’s a change in life and it’s a rebirth of doing whatever the fuck you want and seeing what happens after that. It’s about saying yes, taking opportunities, taking a fucking chance.” These sentiments are backed up by the notorious – and prolific – unde rground band’s trademark blend of speed metal, black metal and punk rock, sounding both fuller and more raucous than ever before. “Overall, I would say the sound is pretty vicious, vicious but I keep things hooky, and that’s what I like it to be. I want to still keep it raw but at the same time I wanted this record to be a little more hi – fi, which was my only plan when I started making it.” 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, Midnight’s most recent opus, 2017 ’s Sweet Death And Ecstasy, stood as their most accomplished work to date. “Looking back on that record I think it’s a fantastic piece of work, really. It’s pretty varied, it has a nice bookend front and back song. I think the lyrics are thought provoking, and I think it’ll be a pretty important piece of work over time, up there with the Mona Lisa.” Making the jump to Metal Blade Records did not mean any change in the way Athenar went about making Midnight records. “I never really thought about writing a fo llow up to Sweet Death . If a song comes it comes and where it goes is wherever it goes, but nothing is ever really intended as ‘this song will be on the new album’.” There is also no denying that, like its predecessors, Rebirth By Blasphemy is a ruthlessly catchy collection, every song, vicious as they are, wielding the kind of hooks that sink deep and don’t let go, and this too came naturally. “There’s no real intent. I think a rock song in general should be catchy, so if someone thinks it’s catchy that’s a good thing. If they don’t think it’s catchy then they probably don’t have ears.” While the likes of opener “Fucking Speed And Darkness”, “Escape The Grave” and “Warning From The Reaper” are all d – beat – driven thrashers they don’t lack when it comes to hoo ks, and “Rising Scum”, built on a titanic stomping beat, reins in the speed but is easily one of the standout tracks on the record, Athenar referring to it as being “quite 1979 Priest – like, just with its drum and vocal.” When it came to penning lyrics for the record, Athenar’s perspective shifted over the course of the writing process. “I would say I started out in a very positive frame of mind. One of the first tunes Midnight Bio.docx written was “Escape The Grave”, and from there I went on the positive path – and then it turned negative by the end of the album. The title track is very negative lyrically, so I ended it again with complete and utter disgust for humans in general, but then you want that to come out of you. Just like you take a poop and you take a pee you want the rotten shit to come out of your body, because if you keep the rotten shit in your body it’ll rot you internally.” Handling every instrument himself and being quite unfussy when it comes to production typically means that the recording process is a str aightforward one for Midnight, and this time was no different. Staying in his home town of Cleveland he opted to record at Mercenary Studios with the assistance of Noah Buchanan, laying the drums down in a day, the guitars in a little more than that, bass in a few hours and then tracking the vocals to two or three songs a day, depending on how his voice was holding up. “I think there’s really no production value on the album, it’s really just get in there, press record and see what happens. Maybe you can te ll that the sessions went pretty quickly when you listen to it. There are so called mistakes, of course, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He also wouldn’t have it any other way when it comes to touring this latest collection hard , with a lot of dates with a variety of bands already locked down. “It’s the rebirth, it’s saying fuck it and getting out there and doing what you’re supposed to do, and we’re supposed to play music. If people want to damage their ears by listening to it that’s welcome.”
Nice Peter is a rock singer/songwriter turned Youtube sensation best known for his hit original series The Epic Rap Battles of History. Hailing from Chicago, Nice Peter made a name for himself playing every small club and open mic in the Windy City. In 2008 he shipped off for LA, where he got his big break in the emerging online entertainment business. He and long-time comedic partner EpicLLOYD (Chicago Native #2) started the Epic Rap Battle Series which pits two quasi-unrelated characters against each other in a musical battle of wits and rhymes. See: Darth Vader VS Adolf Hitler. For his live set at Reggie’s Rock Club, Nice Peter combines his original songs, a medley of popular rap battles and the unique crowd interaction and improvisation that first put him on the map.
He has been a professional singer/songwriter/musician since the late 1960s as a member of such progressive rock bands as Mogul Thrash, Family, King Crimson (working with childhood friend Robert Fripp), Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry band, Uriah Heep, UK and Wishbone Ash. Wetton found worldwide fame in 1982 with the band Asia, whose self-titled debut album sold millions and became Billboard magazine’s #1 album of 1982.
Pinkerton is the second studio album released on September 24, 1996. After finishing tours in promotion of their 1994 album Weezer, the band originally planned to record a space-themed rock opera entitled Songs from the Black Hole. However, this project was eventually abandoned and the group used some of the songs from the discarded album on Pinkerton. Much of the album was written while frontman Rivers Cuomo was studying at Harvard University, which influenced the themes addressed on the record.
“We want to play music all year and meet cool people and make some money and not live with our parents. Ryan- Lead guitar,vocals, piano – Collin-Lead vocals, guitar – Averil-percussion instruments – Matt-Bass – Alex -Drums
From Rick Saunders at the Deep Blues blog: “Devin Miller ain’t nothing but trouble. He’s a hellraisin’, honkytonkin’, ‘stone lovin’, guitar slangin’, singin’ songwritin’ babyfaced grandson of a pig farmer. Twenty-five percent equal parts Jerry Lee, Keith, R.L., Hank, Elvis, Carl, Johnny, and Jack. That adds up to two hundred percent all American badass.”
The marriage between old west folk and the ambiguous genre of “indie rock” makes the songs of Dastardly a palatable playlist for those who aren’t normally attracted to cowboy crooners. In fact, by the sound of the screaming girls heard at Subterranean, we’re pretty sure the band was responsible for converting quite a few pop princesses into banjo loving broads. Experimental enough to feel fresh but traditional enough to feel familiar even to first timers, Dastardly is band that asserted itself as notable early in the game and now can enjoy the steady rise to local fame they’re guaranteed. —reviewsic.comDastardly is a Chicago outfit that plays americana music with just the right ratio of “sticky-sweet” to “fuckin’ shit up.” Every note is deliberate and controlled, but just barely masks an urgent and immediate sense of existential, frantic terror that must be slowly driving them mad. ..-am3r1cank1ds.tumblr.com..Their indie-folk, Americana sounds is perfect for a 2010 Hoedown (meaning PBR and cigarettes). The band has no shortage of instruments including lap steel, dobro, or accordian. Their tunes have a top side of bluegrass, finger-lickin’ pickin’, but there’s always a seemingly modern undercurrent whether it’s the echo-y lead guitar line of “Excercises In Self Loathing” or the big, tribal beat outro of “Brief Thoughts On Death” —loudlooppress.com
Hailing from St. Louis, MO, Aaron Kamm and the One Drops merge flavors of Roots Reggae, Mississippi River Blues, Improv-laced Jams, and Soulful Vocals. With a High energy performance and a unique sound this band is a must see.
Let the songs write you! Musical Charis formed in the summer of 2008 as a male/female 4 piece with the intentions of creating an encouraging, light-hearted atmosphere for songwriting and creativity. “Charis” is the Greek word for gift, so the name literally translates to “Musical Gifts” Since then, the group has grown into a cabaret of multi-instrumental musicians who constantly tour, write and record new material. The band even made time to open “Musical Charis Music School” for low-income families in Sacramento. Members of the band teach private piano, guitar, and voice lessons to over 50 youngsters in the area. “People People” (JMB Records) the 10 song full length album released on July 23rd, 2010 was co-engineered by John Baccigaluppi (Editor of Tape OP Magazine) “Forward” may be the highlight of the ten track record, a catchy indie rock number that is in a class of its own on this album. The instrumentation here and throughout the record is extremely impressive, as each band member know their own roles. This makes for a wonderful chemistry that is audible even in a studio recording.” [Absolute Punk]
Forty years after four legendary musicians crafted a classic album named for the studio they made famous, another group of supremely talented musicians is re-imagining that same album in their own unique way. For Dub-Reggae rockers, Yellow Dubmarine, who formed in the fertile music community of the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas, the choice to take on the Beatles masterpiece, Abbey Road, was a simple one. There was a natural vision for it, they explain, “It is more of a concept album, and we knew it would be the perfect place to start. The resulting album, Abbey DUB, is an aural journey through the history of reggae with The Beatles as your guide. From “Come Together” through “Her Majesty,” Yellow Dubmarine finds new life in all of the legendary album’s 17 songs, keeping the heart of each tune present, but simultaneously re-creating them in an entirely new light. Producer Kenny Liner of The Bridge, crafts a sonic landscape that in one instant recalls traditional Nyagbinghi drumming, before becoming a simple Rock-steady cadence which subtly evolves into a horn-laced, Ska groove full of Caribbean and Calypso overtones that gives way to a bass heavy Dub “riddim” that sways and bounces and gets everyone up and moving. The decision to work with Liner was an easy one for the band, proclaiming, “There is no one we would trust more musically or professionally with this concept than him. The development of the identity of Yellow Dubmarine’s horn section as a strong singular voice and separate entity within the band helped create a wholly unique sound that allows the instantly recognizable tunes from Abbey Road to take on a whole new personality, a personality that is full of intoxicating, deep, danceable grooves. Abbey DUB is a shockingly original take on the legendary album. Horns where there were once voices, a slinky groove where there was once none, and a smooth mellow essence that seems to find the long lost island-roots soul of Abbey Road. A blissfully exuberant, rock-steady, Jah-worthy celebration of the Fab Four, Abbey DUB is quite simply a chance to hear this much loved classic again for the first time.
Stage Door Canteen is a legendary big band out of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, the southernmost tip of Cape Cod. Dedicated to “The Big Band Sound,” the Stage Door presents a musical tour-de-force spanning classic swing tunes, repertory big band music, and horn-fueled, dance-driven rhythm and blues. In celebration of their twentieth anniversary, the band is traveling to Chicago on the iconic Lake Shore Limited rail line, in homage to the great big bands who came before. In 2007, celebrating their fifteenth anniversary, they toured Ireland, playing gigs in Dublin and at several beautiful rural theaters, as well. An institution on their native Cape Cod, Stage Door Canteen has headlined every major music festival in that area and have opened for the Boston POPS. They bring the unbridled energy and swinging style of perfect summer party on the beaches of Hyannisport with them everywhere they go.
