Chris Barretto – Vocals Browne – Guitars Olly Steele – Guitars Adam Swan – Bass Mike Malyan – Drums
Transcontinental metallers MONUMENTS have come a long way since starting as a side project of John Browne (guitars; Fellsilent) and Josh Travis (guitars; The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza). From a surprise appearance on BBC Radio 1 to debut full-length, “Gnosis“”, the group immediately found a fanatic audience. Praised for their brainy yet song-oriented approach to heavy music, MONUMENTS bridged the progressive metal gap like few before. On one side they challenged. “Gnosis“” was full of mind-bending, betcha-can’t-play-this-type passages. On the other side, fans deeply connected to hook- laden songs like “97% Static” and “Empty Vessels”.
Fast forward two productive years later and MONUMENTS – now with Chris Barretto (ex-Periphery, Ever Forthright) on vocals – have grown tremendously. While they’re still way into instrumental gymnastics and impressing fans with their musical prowess, they’ve really honed in on writing huge, impossibly memorable songs for new album, “The Amanuensis”. Like bigger, badder, and even more epic-than- before type stuff. If “97% Static” and “Empty Vessels” stuck to the brain, new songs like “I, Creator”, “The Alchemist”, and “Origin of Escape” hit the head, body, and mind hard. “I really like the chorus of ‘The Alchemist’,” guitarist John Browne smiles. “It’s really simplistic, but I think that part will sound big and open when we play it live. I also dig the ending of ‘I, The Destroyer’. I can’t really focus on one part or song. All of the songs I’m happy with how they all turned out.”
“The Amanuensis” is a complete experience, actually. Even Browne’s mom is impressed: “I know my mum will blast this out of her car like she did with ‘Gnosis’. She loves groove.”
If one thing’s certain about MONUMENTS and Browne in 2014 they’re keen to move away from needless classification with “The Amanuensis”. They’re specifically referring to their tenuous association with the djent movement. “Music is music,” Browne says. “It has the same 12 notes as any other music. The only difference is the way it’s expressed, so we use pretty silly words to try and explain the sound. The word ‘djent’ makes no sense whatsoever to describe a genre. The tone that it references isn’t really utilized by many bands that are classed as it. I feel progressive metal is a much better reference to our music, with a huge dose of groove.”
ERRA is a five piece progressive metalcore band hailing from Birmingham, Alabama that formed in 2009. Their namesake comes from Akkadian mythology and represents mayhem (something that comes to mind when giving them a listen). The band, consisting of Garrison Lee, Jesse Cash, Alan Rigdon, Sean Price and Alex Ballew, solidified their technical sound after relentlessly practicing and writing. They take their influences from well respected groups like Misery Signals, Born of Osiris, As I Lay Dying and Saosin, and thrive on being creative and showcasing their talent through their intense live performances. Erra takes great pleasure in offering their refreshing sound in a sometimes stale and over-saturated market. It’s not about fashion or status; it’s about using raw talent and energy to create genuine songs that will give hope to the listener.
Liz Sloan was born in Abilene, TX and grew up in a small west Texas town called Breckenridge. When she was three years old her mother entered her into violin training. Her first violin was a Cracker Jack Box with a ruler taped to it. She was home schooled for most of her childhood so she could focus on playing violin. She eventually got fed up with the classical world and looked for a change in the world of country and bluegrass. She joined began touring with Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies in 2009 where she met Jared.
Jared was born in Pensacola and grew up in Chattanooga, TN. He grew up playing in local punk bands that never made it out of the basement. He joined the Navy in 2001 and after his time in the Navy he wanted to play music again so he bought an upright bass and taught himself how to play. He played in a lot of New England rockabilly and psychobilly bands as well as partially fronting his own band, Soul Reapin’ 3. In 2009 he decided to ‘make a go at the music thing’ and left everything behind to tour with the Hillbilly Hellcats in Europe for a month. The day he came back he got a phone call from Bob Wayne saying that he needed a bass player. That evening Jared hit the road from Connecticut and met the Carnies in Austin, TX.
Liz and Jared hit it off immediately and since then have toured and recorded with countless bands in the roots community. The Urban Pioneers are Liz and Jared’s new project where they set out to conquer the blacktop sea playing their brand of old time music that is guaranteed to get you stomping your feet!
One of the most popular big bands in Chicago during the 1980’s and 90’s was the Déjà Vu Big Band. Now, several veterans of that group have come together once again to form the Stardust Big Band.
Led by award-winning composer-arranger Jon McGahan, the Stardust Big Band is dedicated to promoting and continuing the jazz traditions as practiced by Maynard Ferguson, Neal Hefti, Bill Holman, and Quincy Jones among others. This 10-to-13-piece ensemble combines inventive writing with vibrant solos by some of Chicago’s finest big band practitioners.
The Stardust Big Band takes its musical influence from the classic jazz of the 1950’s and 1960’s, a time when martinis were in, class was where it was at, and bands like Count Basie, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson and Buddy Rich were taking the world by storm.
The Stardust Big Band has been the house band at both Cafe Touché in Edison Park and Romano’s in Park Ridge, as well as having been featured twice at Bannockburn Green’s “Music on the Green” series, and played to enthusiastic audiences at local venues such as Wise Fool’s Pub, Morseland, The Heartland Café, Crimson Lounge, Red Kiva and Gallery Cabaret.
Austin Asinine is one man’s punk rock assault on four tiny strings. The songs short, the strums erratic, and passion unquestionable. Armed with just an ukulele, serving proof it’s not the size of your weapon that matters
Da$H was born in the heart of Chicago. He grew up playing sports, but would soon begin to channel his thoughts and energy into poetry. After years of practice and writing, Da$H knew that he wanted to create poetry for the rest of his life. He began experimenting with music and fell in love. Hard. Since that moment, he Da$H has done everything in his power to continue to advance and develop his skills, and the proof is in the pudding.
In 2011 he assembled his first band that would consist of drums, guitar, piano, bass, trumpet, saxophone, violin, and a female vocalist to accompany him: Da$Htone was born and their music was unheard of. Drawing influence from artists such as Lupe Fiasco, Immortal Technique, John Legend, Lauryn Hill, Jack Johnson, Citizen Cope, Amy Winehouse, and Blu; their melodies were honest and pure promoting love, peace and understanding. “If violence is the answer, than the question, it was wrong anyway. Let’s build something great. There’s never been a limit on what love will create” –Felix by Da$Htone.
Fast Paced, Groove Based and ready to rock your world, Werewolves at Hour 30 are an original rock band based out of Chicago IL. These Chicago natives blend together a menagerie of musical flavors into a tight groove rock package. WAH30’s influences reach wildly across the musical spectrum. They span anywhere from Foo Fighters to Fu Manchu, from Kings of Leon, to Queens of the Stone Age and so on. Werewolves at Hour 30 are carving a path through the thick Chicago night with a dull knife, a hip flask and dark sunglasses.
Music has always been my priority. I really wanted to learn to play the saxophone but 12 years was given to me a keyboard, and from there it all started. At home I have always breathed notes and different genres of music, the radio in the kitchen with a ball Baptists while my mother was a cleaner in my brother’s room and the ACDC Dream Theater. Still not quite a teenager I started playing the guitar, going through the summer lying on the couch strumming.
cellar became a small rehearsal room that slowly began to fill tools, constantly inviting friends to beat some stroke of cash while I destreggiavo with the solos of “The Darkness.”
After a few group lasted less than a few months I went into a tribute band Rage Against the Machine as drummer, breaking more or less one or two sticks at every stroke of the roller. In the meantime, I wrote poignant love songs in my bedroom and started to record them conscious of being a bit ‘”loser.”
Stubborn and believes I took courage and contacted some musicians to play my pieces exhibiting me loads of love in different contexts.
In 2010 to solve an emergency arise musical Brothers McFly duo with whom I experience all kinds, rearranged covers of international artists, but mostly play live. In 3 years I collect more than 100 concerts.
Passing the days in my basement that had now become a study also began to realize my video, and to improve my skills as a producer, releasing three albums of covers with The Brothers McFly.
melt In 2013 the duo determined to create something truly mine, keeping the music in the first place in every aspect of my life.
Down North masterfully mixes underground rock and party-fueling soul,
regularly lifting up audiences that have been craving new soul sounds
from the city that gave the world Wheedle’s Groove and Jimi Hendrix.
Down North’s upcoming new line-up debut will still feature the bold
and sensual talents of lead vocalist/dancer Anthony “RenaGade”
Briscoe, whose North Carolina-bred approach to making fans swoon has
no equal in the Pacific NW. Raised on Michael Jackson and Sam
Cooke, Anthony is as stylish and emotional as Prince in his vocal
expressions. Co-leader Brandon Storms is an extremely versatile
bassist-guitarist who writes much of the music and taps into his love
for everything from Hendrix to James Jamerson in making tunes both
infectious and substantial.
The recent additions of Drum Off! award-winning and crowd-amping
player Conrad Real (drummer for Ayron Jones and The Way and Society’s
Child as well) and the psychedelic-jazz trills of guitarist Nick Quiller make the
band an unusual and extremely welcome addition to the regional music
scene. Depending on whim (and the size of the stage!), Down North
expands to a seven piece, integrating horns and other players to help
deliver their dazzling grooves.
They’ll probably also transcend to higher level of acclaim very soon;
early single “Danger” was played on MTV’s The Real World even before
this killer line-up was settled on. Newer meatier cuts like “So What,”
“Your World,” “Running,” and “Heartbreaker/Revolution” (which features
the Black Rock psyche-outs of guest legendary axeman Jabrille) reveal
the band moving in even edgier, sweatier musical realms.
“We want to be an opening beacon for this scene that’s happening now
and not getting enough notice,” Anthony says. He loves to hang out all
over Seattle, but the other night was blown away when he met two gals
on Cap Hill “who had lived all their lives here and never heard of
Marmalade.” He wants to open up the party to rock fans “who want to
dance again!” and to those who have been craving fresh, warm, loving
soul in the midst of a chilly indie scene. “The people that play in
this band are excellent at what they do and we’re all here to play
music for people who want to move and connect.”
Down North is part of the zeitgeist not only of bands mining a deeper,
better played history, but also one that taps into the 90s music scene
when anything was possible. “I grew up pretty sheltered,” Brandon
admits, growing up in a small Washington town near the Canadian
border, “and had my life turned around by feasting on albums like
‘Check Your Head’ — the fusion of all those beautiful sounds going on
at that time.” Serious about his playing (like Anthony, they were
raised in the church and really learned how to practice and perform
music), he moved to Seattle, and enrolled in the Shoreline recording
program. He joined some musicians which became the formative version
Down North, and their first gig was opening for Alien Crime Syndicate
before a crowd of 500 people. “I was playing in a soul band before I
even listened to soul!” he says (and has truly grown into the role).
Like many bands these days, the two met on Craigslist — Anthony
finally finding collaborators who wanted to make the good time, high
quality sounds he loves to listen to and make, and Brandon eager to
add him to Down North’s line-up. “I want to have a body of work,”
Brandon says about their recent playing in the studio, “We’re going to
focus on short releases (EPs) of great songs; I want to release as
much as I can but it has to be high quality material.”
SONA BLISS is a new rock band based out of Chicago, USA.
Original music that doesn’t suck.
Their sound has been described as Rock or Hard Rock with a touch of old school Power Pop. A combination of various musical influences, both new and old, that will literally rock your face off when you see them perform live. The band is composed of John Checuga (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Jim Bashaw (Drums and Backing Vocals), and Phil Armato (Bass Guitar & Backing Vocals). Three long time friends who each went their separate ways but were unexpectedly reunited to form SONA BLISS in 2013.
Applying their combined years of experience spent in other bands (some as major label recording artists, etc…) along with their common creative goal of crafting “music that sticks in your head”, memorable songs that not only rock… but also have hooks… has led them to finally look beyond the confines of their rehearsal space and eager to introduce SONA BLISS to the world-or at least to anyone who will give them a listen (we know you’re out there!!!). In addition to getting out and building a fan base in 2014, SONA BLISS also plans on releasing an upcoming EP soon that is in it’s final stages of mixing and mastering at Gravity Studios, Chicago.
The Misery Jackals deliver the hillbilly hoedown to modern day punks and old timers alike. Being lovers of punk rock, bluegrass, blues, country, roots, and various forms of ethnic musical styles, they put together a sound that embodies what they’d like to hear. The result is what they call “Pillbilly Browngrass,” “Bluethrash,” or “Dirty Bluegrass.” One guy said it was the kind of music he wished played in his head all day.
The Misery Jackals’ write songs to live by… or rather a roadmap to avoid the common pitfalls of life. Most songs are based on real people and circumstances. They are known to perform their own take on their favorite punk or disco songs. Their live performance is paired nicely with alcoholic beverages and folks who like to dance. A good time is the goal, every time.
The ensemble’s lineup currently consists of the following members:
Tim Burrows (Dawghouse Timmy) – contrabass, vocals
Bill Corgan (Sweet Willy C.) – banjo, percussion, vocals
Jeff Selzer (Beaner Nix) – guitar, kazoo, vocals
Ben Shuber (Shubes) – accordion, washboard
To call Toronto’s déVah quartet a ‘string quartet’ would be a boldface lie. YAMAHA Artists since 2011 and D’Addario Artists since 2013, déVah is comprised of Emily on electric violin, Sharon and Moira on electric 5-string violin/viola hybrids, and Liza on electric cello.
Often accompanying them are a small roster of excellent session drummers who add modern breakbeat and metal beats. déVah invents a rich texture of sound utilizing various non-acoustic modifying tools creating different tones and dimensions to music. Void of a stereotypical mold, déVah is continuously evolving and recreating itself, with hopes of innovating the quartet world through electric string creativity.
In June 2013, déVah released their much anticipated eponymous debut album. Produced by prog rock heavyweight Robert Berry, their genre has also been labeled everything from indie rock to alt pop. Whatever the style, the music is high-energy artistry performed with virtuosic ability.
The band has been featured in the UK Magazine ‘PROG’, and performed for Toronto’s 2015 Pan Am Games Countdown Launch, Vancouver’s Alternative Fashion Week, ISES, and aired on radio across North America.
Smoke No.7 is the stuff that feels good. Smoke No.7 that feeling that makes you want to move, destroy, create, LIVE. Get your ass off the couch and move to some real music made to rock your bones and make your ears bleed. Please Enjoy Irresponsibly.
Based out of Chicago, IL, Dead Feathers has proven themselves to be a band with exceeding potential and lasting appeal since day one.
Building off of the success of their 2019 debut album “All is Lost” on Ripple Music, Dead Feathers has been gaining a growing fan base across North America and overseas through ambitious touring and supporting acts like Kikagaku Moyo, All them Witches, SLIFT, and many more in their home city. During that time, they have established their name and carved a debut full-length album with the anticipation of their sophomore album “Full Circle ” soon to be released september 22nd, 2023 on Ripple Music.
Their live shows, filled with sensual and thunderous energy on stage, have put concert goers under their spell. Brought on by the soulful and emotional vocals from Marissa Allen combined with The fuzz and reverb backed guitars, ever flowing bass lines, and booming drums, Dead Feathers sets a mood which has been crafted with the skill and artistry they’ve come to be known for which has attracted mentions and praise from music blogs such as Rolling Stone France, Classic Rock Magazine, and more.
While Dead Feathers has been compared to various classic 60’s & 70’s bands such as Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother & the Holding Company, and Frumpy – along with modern acts like Blues Pills, Black Mountain, and Graveyard, they bring a style and songwriting that is exclusively their own.
Born in Cincinnati, Oh resides in Chicago, IL 24 yr old rapper/singer KIT created his own world when it comes to music. Debut project NewWavey was a new sound, he plans to make new genres of music and take it another level. He has another project dropping June 2014 called ‘Lownt God Rising’. Kit likes to be hands on with all his music and visuals. He directs a lot of his music videos as well. To describe KIT in one word it would be ‘creative’
New Orleans-based gangsta rapper Juvenile was born Terius Gray. After beginning his performing career while in his teens, he released a 1995 album on Warlock titled Being Myself. He eventually crossed paths with Cash Money label owners Ronald “Suga Slim” and Brian “Baby” Williams, who issued 1996′s Solja Rags; the album became a major underground hit, and set the stage for the release of 1998′s 400 Degreez. In 1999, with Juvenile’s popularity growing, Solja Rags was reissued nationally, and Warlock jumped on the bandwagon with a remixed version of Being Myself. The year ended with the release of a new studio effort, Tha G-Code, followed by Project English two years later in 2001. In 2002 he left Cash Money and formed his own collective, the UTP Playas (Uptown Project Playas), with whom he recorded a posse album, The Compilation. The album went nowhere and a year later he was back on Cash Money and releasing Juve the Great, which featured the chart-topping hit “Slow Motion.” The 2005 “Noila Clap” single from the UTP Playas was another big track, and Juvenile was ready once again to shop for a new label. As he was signing a new contract with Asylum, his Slidell, Louisiana home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane and its grim aftermath were hot topics on his chart-topping 2006 album Reality Check. His next two albums — Cocky & Confident (2009) and Beast Mode (2010) — featured much lighter material. In 2011 he released Rejuvenation, an album primarily produced by Mannie Fresh.
Two former ‘bag carrying record salesmen’ for Virgin Records – Bill Giardini and Kent Anderson have reunited, this time instead of being backstage they are on the stage. To round out the trio they have recruited a most capable drummer and nice guy – Eric Pancer to lay down the groove to some old jazz & blues tunes.
The Dan Meinhardt Quartet has introduced itself as an important facet of the Chicago jazz scene. Playing original compositions and arrangements, the quartet explores melody and improvisation with a minimalist, yet powerful approach. Joining Dan are trumpeter Justin Copeland, bassist Tim Ipsen, and drummer Andrew Green. Combining flavors of jazz, hip-hop, folk, chamber, and improvised music, Dan’s compositions bring an organic, accessible quality to the quartet.
Experimenting with the eclectic sounds of jazz and heavy metal, Fall Of The Albatross creates music that is beautiful and chaotic. Released in May 2011, their debut EP “Entanglement” is still sending shock waves around the world. Their live performances take hundreds of people through a thrilling, genre defying experience.
Striker is a JUNO Award winning Edmonton-based recording and performing heavy metal band that has grown immensely through their years in the industry.
A modern mix of classic heavy metal, hard rock, and 80’s hair metal, their music features powerful, clean vocals, catchy choruses, vocal harmonies, and impressive guitar leads.
We are acoustic guitars, stories, and melody. We are the resonant, pounding beat of a kick drum, the deep pulse of bass guitar, and the siren’s wail of an over-driven tube amp. We are open fields and skyscrapers – equal parts modern folk and alternative rock – a fusion of inspired anthems and the art simple storytelling.
From the local coffee shop to the largest festival stages, we’ve built a reputation as one of the most diverse, polished, and passionate original bands on the Wisconsin scene. With each new song we continue to explore and evolve – invoking styles that range from raw, powerful grunge rock through intricate acoustic folk and lush soundscapes. We take these songs to the stage with a rare combination of gritty, sweat-drenched energy and honest, heart-felt sonic grace. Every concert is crafted to be an experience like none other.
In the end, we have taken a great many influences and blended them into a sound that is uniquely our own. Soaring melodies emerge from the urgent sounds of guitar, bass, and drums. Impassioned, soulful vocals whisper, roar, haunt, and illuminate – leading the audience through stories of love and loss, hope and doubt, fury, optimism, and pure, unbound wonder.
We invite you to come and listen, and promise to give you everything we’ve got.
The Byrds’ Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album by the American rockbandThe Byrds and was released in August 1967.
THE MIZZERABLES
Formed in 2013 by Joe Mizzi, The Mizzerables are a Chicago-based punk rock trio with gritty, vocal-driven hooks. With Dave Vazzano and Korey Brisendine holding down the rhythm section, the band has been refining their sound over the past few years, culminating in their latest effort “Whatever… This Sucks,” a 30 minute trip through Mizzi’s psyche. Mizzi, a Michigan native and former member of Ten Ninety, Common Rider, and About the Mess, pulls influence from much of the music he cut his teeth listening to layered on top of the seemingly always forward-moving foundation set by Vazzano and Brisendine. Recorded with 88 Fingers Louie guitarist Dan Precision at his Bomb Shelter studio, the album will be released on August 23rd, 2019
D’Wayne Wiggins is no stranger to what it really takes to create million dollar projects. He knows all the aspects of making great music. D’Wayne is best known as the founding member of the 90s New Jack Swing/Neo-Soul group, Tony! Toni! Toné!. The group made no less then 14 Billboard charting R&B singles, including five number one hits, three Top Ten Pop singles, one gold album, two platinum albums and one double platinum album. They have sold over six million albums during their career together.
Just before the group disbanded in 1996, Wiggins established Grass Roots Entertainment located in his West Oakland recording studio, “House of Music”. Also in 1995, D’wayne Wiggins developed and signed Destiny’s Child to Grass Roots Entertainment. The group went on to become a powerhouse of female performers and the best-selling girl group of all time. He worked with the group through three albums, which have collectively sold more than 15 million copies. He also worked with artist Keyshia Cole, who resided in the “House of Music” from 1999-2001. Cole was mentored and received guidance from Wiggins during that time and went on to sign with A&M Records. He also worked with Laurnea of Arrested Development on her release Laurnea II and collaborated with Jody Watley. His “House of Music” was patronized by artists such as Alicia Keys, Beyoncé Knowles,India.Arie, Keyshia Cole, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Money and producer Scott Storch.
Wiggins released first solo project with Motown Records, Eyes Never Lie, in 2000 featuring collaborations with Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish, Jamie Foxx and Carlos Santana. This album contributed to the foundation of the Neo Soul genre.
Wiggins also worked with the pioneers of what is known as Oakland’s “Hyphy” movement on such projects as: Too Short’s How Does It Feel and Hoochie; Messy Marv’s Blades; and The Coup’s Pick A Bigger Weapon album released in 2006. You can find Wiggins guitar skills and vocals on Ludacris ’s Splash Waterfalls Remix. He formed the group Kenya Gruv performing Top Of The World the original movie soundtrack Menace II Society.
In 2003, Wiggins went into the studio to work with platinum artist Alicia Keys. The title track single, Diary, made Top Ten on the Billboard charts as well as the album going platinum and winning four Grammy Awards in 2005. D’wayne Wiggins co-produced another track on the album and performed the sitar, If I Was Your Woman, winning him a Grammy for production.
Wiggins continues to tour performing Tony! Toni! Toné! songs with current lead singer Amar Khalil (since 1998), trumpeter Bill Ortiz, saxaphonist Vince Lars, drummer/keyboardist Timothy Christian Riley, guitarist John “Jubu” Smith and bassist Elijah Baker.
Wiggins’ current projects include Poplyfe, which had a run on America’s Got talent where they placed 4th in the final round (2012). Currently he is working with Oakland’s next generation of talented youth through his non-profit Youth Aid. Wiggins is also putting together the Tony! Toni! Toné! 25th Anniversary Album and other special related projects.
Hellwater plays irreverent, raunchy and original traditional American music from honky tonk to high-lonesome country to oldtimey bluegrass and tub-thumping jug band and country blues tunes.
“Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a musician by his promo shot. For example, take a good look at Patrick Sweany. Do you think he plays NME hyped new rave? Nope. He’s an honest, hard workin’, roots rockin’ blues man from the rust belt.” – I Rock Cleveland
Dave Katzman has been working in the Chicago Blues scene for over 4 decades. He has traveled the world as an Engineer, Guitarist, Producer and Road Manager. Working with artists like Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Albert King, Otis Rush and many others.
NATTY NATION
Hard Roots Rock Reggae & Dub–this is the unique blend of music that is Madison, WI’s Natty Nation. The independent all original touring & recording outfit is one of the leading forces in USA based reggae.
Their messages of spreading positive vibrations, peace, love, building community, & universal spirituality have been ringing out since Natty’s inception in 1995.
Natty has backed up reggae legends Lee “Scratch” Perry, and Chaka Demus & Pliers, and shared the stage with Ziggy, Damian, & Stephen Marley, Sister Carol, Steel Pulse, Burning Spear, Toots & the Maytals, Wailing Souls, Culture with Joseph Hill, Beenie Man, & countless others.
JAH Boogie and his backing band’s tight but fluid, rootsy but funky, beautiful but gritty, righteous but real vibration is clear to anyone listening to their music either on their stereo or live in concert. It’s almost impossible not to dance at a Natty Nation show. Every concert is a different experience.
Their energy is infectious & their dubtastic jams are complex, yet their overall message is simple: spread the positive vibration.
Join the Natty Family on this beautiful road of life! Blessings to you and yours!
Death metal is more than just music. It transcends such a limited mortal state of mind. Death metal is the aural expression of humanity’s darkest side, of devastation, sorrow and the harbingers of mankind’s own inhumanity and ultimate destruction. Death metal is not a trend, a fashion parade or a means to an end. It is much more than that. It is a way of life. A life in death. This is the doctrine Italy’s HOUR OF PENANCE, spewn forth with unrelenting musical ferocity through their sickening, mind-obliterating auditory assault on the senses. Forged in the dark shadows of “The Holy Capital,” this most unholy of quartets have steadily been making a name for themselves as one of the most intense, talented and impressive modern death metal bands both in-studio and onstage.
“Recording artist Les Dudek is known in the music world as a Guitar Legend whose contributions have influenced the history of Rock n’ Roll. He is best remembered for his radio hits, “Old Judge Jones and “City Magic”. After releasing four successful solo albums and one collaboration (DFK) with Columbia Records, the legendary Southern Rocker has gone on to release three more albums with Eflat Productions; “Deeper Shades of Blues”, “Freestyle” and “Delta Breeze”.
In addition to a successful solo career, his uniquely recognizable guitar style can be heard playing with some of Rock and Pop’s biggest names, such as the Steve Miller Band, Boz Scaggs, The Allman Brothers Band, Dave Mason, Stevie Nicks and many more.”
Carbellion was formed in late 2004 based on the idea that a band with soulful eclectic vocals, guitars that are equally comfortable being aggressive and subdued, drums shifting from tranquil to thundering, and a bass that conjoins them into complete balance can accomplish more musically with the sum of these parts than by the strength of any one. Lyrics that convey a concept or tell a story coupled with music that sets scenery and mood quickly captured the attention of people across the US and abroad.
Carbellion is a band that can capture any ear via the recorded material, hold the attention of the crowd hostage with their impressive live performance charisma, and floor anyone in the industry with their “uncharacteristic for a hard rock act” work ethic and professionalism.
Out here tryna make it as a musician. And i say musician because i dont just write songs and rap to a beat. I also play many instruments and know music inside and out. I love music and this is my way of expressing myself. SHINE FOREVER
Coming from the westside of Chicago,IL musician “Mickey Gran Estez” is the most intriguing artist coming from the second city. He began writing his own stories at the age of 9 some pages would consist of 11 pages or more with illustration by him. He also likes to brag that Dr.Seuss was his mentor in rhyming, but it really was his uncle also a underground Mc who goes by “Westside” gave him the foundation to build his music career. It is his long time dream to be known for putting his section of the city known to music industry. He wrote poems and songs and made homemade microphone and guitars at age 11 he’s come from place of violence ,but manages to over look it and expresses how he’s feel about it in his music. His Sound to him is consider out of this world strange, but yet unique it’s safe to say he has develop his own genre of music by composing his own beats. His influences seems to be mostly Midwestern hip hop artists ranging from Eminem,Common,DoOrDie, Twista,Kanye West, 80’s-90’s Hip Hop Artists. He feels it’s not just hip hop that inspires him, but all music does listeners can hear it in his music it could sound like classical,rock,alternative, soul,punk, and organic he’s wants to credit so many artists f or their involvement on helping him think outside the box he even acknowledges Albert Einstein for his of saying “never give up on what You really want to do the person with big dreams is more powerful than the one with all the facts” Mickey will be releasing his first Ep in Spring 2013 called “League Of Shadows”
The Chicago music landscape is changing. It is not only Chicago and the Midwest that have taken notice. This evolution takes place on a national stage, where the world awaits what is next to come. The sounds of the Windy City now belong to a new generation, a REDEFINED generation. Leading this movement is two of Chicago’s very own MCs, ATM and Mentality. Together the duo formed THE REDEFINERS with a goal to bring a brand new approach to authentic, an innovative guide to genuine, and a pioneering perception of today’s hip-hop.
KiDD Chi is a rapper, songwriter & producer from Chicago, Illinois. He started writing at the age of 8, but didn’t become serious in a career in music until the age of 13. Since then KiDD has been co-signed by Coast2Coast, signed by On The Grind Management, released a buzzing single “CUL8R”, performed with artist such as Mac Miller, Chance The Rapper, Kid Ink, Chuck Inglish, etc & started building his label 2ill Entertainment. KiDD dropped his first full length release, #KiDDChiMania, on March 29th, 2013. Get your copy today at www.kiddchimania.com!
I was born in the Northwest side of Chicago. I was raised by my grandparents due to unfortunate circumstances. I always found my life surrounded by a mixture of bad luck and negative situations. At a young age, I didn’t know how to deal with the negativity & often found myself in trouble & on a bad track. Eventually I found poetry as a way to escape everything and found that as a way to let out all my emotions. At 17, I wanted to take my talent to the next level and decided to try rapping. I became. My biggest song to date has been a Fall For Your Type Remix I made in the backseat of a car on my way to 6 Flags. Just a regular day where I was feeling emotional, and people felt my pain. People loved the song, & discovered my other songs. Now, little by little I’m getting more known. My musical inspiration is Dizzy Wright. Other artists I’m inspired by are: Eminem, DMX, & Nas. Each of my songs are about my life & personal experiences: rough childhood, my father incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit (before I was even born), as well as many more struggles that have bumped me along my road. I have received overwhelmingly positive reviews with my songs because of the powerful message behind them that can relate to everyone. I refuse to rap about the bullshit that’s making “rappers” famous now. Who supports me to be brave enough to write about my life? My Pops. Although I have never seen him outside of prison walls, my Dad remains my hero & biggest influence. Our bond remains as strong as ever despite this country’s corrupt “justice” system separating us. Whenever I’m going through rough times, I always remember what my Dad once told me, “When you get hit, put your chin up and fight back until you come out on top”. I get hit every day, but I won’t stop fighting until my voice is heard around the world.
Hickory North Carolina products the FLAT TIRES have been burning a trail around the country bringing their brand of “mean-ass jukejoint rock-n-roll” to countless bars, honky-tonks and punk clubs from east coast to west coast. During this time they’ve been barred from venues, broken up marriages, witnessed numerous stabbings, shootings and a murder. They’ve played through and/or been the cause of countless barroom brawls, received numerous injuries including but not limited to broken teeth and facial lacerations from flying beer projectiles.
Somewhere during the chaos they were picked up by three independent record labels, released three albums, three 7” splits (one w/ ANTiSEEN and another w/ Joe Buck Yourself) and upcoming splits with with John Stabb of History Repeated (formerly of Government Issue) and The Queers as well as had their music featured on the Discovery Channel “Cafe Racer” series. They’ve had their music on five different record label compilations, the latest of which is a double vinyl L.P. compilation featuring Supersucker’s Eddie Spaghetti, the Dwarves’ Blag Dahlia, ANTiSEEN and the CandySnatchers.
The FLAT TIRES have toured with THE QUEERS, AGENT ORANGE and THE DWARVES. They’ve also shared the stage with the likes of GWAR, MURPHYS LAW, D.I., SLEEPER AGENT,CJ RAMONE, MEAT PUPPETS, D.O.A., YOUTH BRIGADE, WAYNE THE TRAIN HANCOCK, UNKNOWN HINSON, ANTiSEEN, 9 POUND HAMMER, JOE BUCK YOURSELF, THE LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS, MURDER JUNKIES, the DEXTER ROMWEBER DUO, JB BEVERLY & THE WAYWARD DRIFTERS, CRANK COUNTY DAREDEVILS and DAVID CHILDERS & THE MODERN DON JUANS. They’ve made countless legions of national and international fans and have put down more Pabst Blue Ribbon than most of the folks they’ve played for combined.
With this corpse re-animated in January of 2013 for a few reasons, 2014 will be the 25th anniversary of our ‘Wedding the Grotesque’ demo and we wanted to celebrate somehow. With founding members willing and able, we have decided to once again to kick out the jams. The songs have an energy and excitement to them that we feel are still valid and want the sounds to reach new ears. Being a ‘sub-underground’ band, we know our success will remain limited yet are absolutely blown away by the support of fans old and new.
“Chevy Who? Chevy Who?” might just sound like a lyric from Wiz Khalifa’s 2011 hit “Taylor Gang,” but there was a point when this was a very common question asked.
Pittsburgh, PA also known as “The Steel City,” is not your average city; it’s a city with a story to tell. Kevin “Chevy” Woods, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, played sports all throughout high school and college, and began taking it seriously until he was introduced heavily to hustling. The early years of college saw Chevy dividing his time between hustling and rapping, leaving no time for college. Soon after dropping out of college, Chevy began spending more time focusing on rap and spent more time writing and honing his flow and subject matter.
After years of writing and recording in his home studio, Chevy traded in his keyboard for cash, to pay for studio time. While many would think pursuing a rap career is no reason to give up a chance at a serious college sports career, Woods note that his time as an athlete has paid off when rapping and performing. “There’s definitely a connection between music and sports. They are really intertwined when it comes to the mental aspect of it. It’s all about listening and reacting. It’s all about pushing yourself to do your best.”
In 2004, while recording at Pittsburgh’s I.D. Labs Studios, Chevy had an encounter with a fellow young rapper from Pittsburgh by the name of Cameron Thomaz, better known as Wiz Khalifa, that would change his life forever and the two instantly formed a bond. “Me and Wiz, we always had each other’s backs. Since we were both recording at I.D. Labs at the same time, we would hold each other down,” Chevy says of his relationship with Wiz, “even if it was just picking up Wendy’s for the other one on our way to the studio.”
At the time, Chevy was going under the alias, Kev “Tha Hustla” Woods, until one day his friends dubbed him with the new name ‘Chevy.’ “One day my homies just started calling me Chevy as a nickname. I don’t know why they did but it just started to stick. I never really thought twice about it until Wiz heard it and was like ‘That’s dope! Chevy Woods’.”
As the two continued to record, Wiz invited Chevy out on a small 2-week tour. “Once he told me that he wanted me to start going on the road with him, I quit hustling cold turkey. After two weeks, I started preparing for tour life….getting into the mental state of constantly working and writing and recording and really working on my stage presence.”
2004 also saw the release of Chevy’s first mixtape “Hustler’s Dream,” which featured music produced and recorded at both Chevy’s in-home studio and music that he recorded during his time at I.D. Labs. The motivation to take rap, from something that he did in his spare time during his early years of college, to a career came from a place of significant purpose; family. “I’m doing this for my family. It’s a different type of hustle than I was used to. There is so much more that comes with the street hustle. You have to let something go, in order to gain something new.” Woods says on working hard each day at perfecting his rapping, to support his girlfriend and daughter.
Chevy’s time on the road saw the release of several mixtapes including “Red Cup Music” and “The Cookout,”( the latter which was a joint project with Wiz Khalifa), two projects which were created and released during a pivotal time in Chevy’s career. “There was this moment between ‘Red Cup Music’ & ‘The Cookout’ where it just clicked. It was no stopping me from that point on.” Woods always stayed consistent by making music that mirrored how he was raised in the sense of his surroundings, neighborhood and culture.
Touring with Wiz served many purposes aside from the financial aspect. Woods was constantly inspired by the places he was going and the people he was meeting. “Seeing more than Pittsburgh and meeting different people and seeing how they operate. If they’re grinding like that, why aren’t I?”
At a time when Wiz’ popularity was rising, it was easy for many to assume that Chevy began to feel jealous or resentment towards his friend who he came up in the game with. It was actually the opposite; Woods used Wiz’ rise to rap stardom as a motivation tool. “Wiz and I have always been competitive like brothers. He’ll make a record and I’ll hear it and say ‘Oh word? Give me an hour in the studio real quick.’ He pushes me to do better and I push him to do better.”
All of Chevy’s hard work proved worth it on August 6, 2011, when the Rolling Papers World Tour, rolled through Pittsburgh’s Station Square Arena. This was the first time Chevy was touching down on a major stage in Pittsburgh, and was doing so performing his own set. “Everyone was there. From cats you went to high school with, to cats you played with in Little League. It’s all good when you’re travelling around the country, but when you bring it back home and you get that type of love. Man, that’s real.” Chevy recalls about the emotional return back to the Steel City, where he started 7 years prior.
Now, with his latest release, “Gangland,” which was released on June 6, 2012, Chevy is proving that he is here to stay. He’s proving that he’s not just another former hustler trying to make it big as a rapper. He’s got something to say and a story to tell, and wants you to listen.
