FLY OVER STATE is a post-dance-punk fueled alternative/indie band rocking the famous Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago since 2009. Equal parts Blondie and Blonde Redhead, the songwriting team of Jess and Jim has been leading the band to a disco-rock sound that now crystallizes as the debut album Fly Over State. Establishing a strong musical identity through performances at Chicago venues such as the Metro and an appearance on Fearless Radio, Fly Over State is releasing their self-titled effort in 2012.
DREAM JOB, is exploding on the Pittsburgh scene. Three musicians, Ricardo Iamuuri, Barrett Black, and David Neuhart make up this dynamic trio. In less than a year together, the band is already winning over audiences and building a loyal following across the region.
Girl Detective is a Chicago duo creating original alternative and experimental music with a lush and cerebral 80s / postmodern / altrock sound. Consisting of Rani Woolpert and Jason Oppman, the band formed in May 2010 when Woolpert, a visual artist and singer, was looking for a guitarist for another band and found Oppman on Craigslist. Oppman, a composer and songwriter since the mid-‘90s, had been seeking a collaborator who shared his musical influences—‘80s bands Depeche Mode, New Order, The Cure, Cocteau Twins, The Smiths, Joy Division, and others—to add to the numerous songs he had written. After hearing his music, Woolpert realized his songs had the sound she was looking for, and suggested they work together on a new project. The collaboration started with sending tracks back and forth—Oppman providing the music and Woolpert writing lyrics and recording improvised vocals on first listen. The duo began meeting weekly in Oppman’s home studio in late summer 2011 to build the live sound, while also continuing to write collaboratively in the original manner.
New Oceans is a grunge rock band in Chicago. They deliver a gritty, distorted sound reminiscent of music coming out of Seattle in the early 90’s. John Kehoe plays drums, Rob Miller brings the bass, and David Downs offers guitar and vocals.
Formed in Summer 2010 in Chicago, The Newburys are working to bring back that 80’s jangle sound reminscent of The Smiths, REM and The Housemartins. Original songs are heavily influenced by the musical composition and meaningful lyrics that made such music appealing to the college demographic. Lead by the writing and clean chorus tone of guitarist Peter with Jon’s unique sim-drum and Chuck’s walking bass, The Newburys create a full, brilliant sound. Ruthie’s high powered voice adds tonic dimension to the sound.
The Geneva Convention is a Chicago-based band playing good time music with a feel for the blues. Powered by the dynamic singing and irresistible stage presence of their vocalist Geneva, this driving 6-piece always rocks the house.
Featuring covers from the Mississippi Delta to Maxwell Street and the Chicago Gin Halls, as well as original tunes reflecting more modern blues cross-over sounds.
The Vinegar Strokes are a three man powerhouse that brings a stripped down yet in your face rock n roll experience. If you like music about drinking, redemption and out running the devil then you will find a home with this band. Currently recording their first full length album and booking shows. Keep your glasses filled and your dancing shoes close The Vinegar Strokes are coming and they are here to stay.
ALL CHOCOLATE
GREAT GRAY BUILDINGS
The right combination of pressure and heat can turn coal into a diamond. An equally intense fusion of raw vocal energy, bipolar instrumental dynamics, and literary-poetical muse has improbably yielded Chicago’s newest underground gem: Great Gray Buildings. A shouting match between the keyboard slams of frontman Kevin Whelan (The Pipes, Bransen) and guitarwork of Daniel Hawthorne (The HT Renegades), is chopped to firewood by the clockwork percussion of Matt Tanaka (HKHC) — then lovingly stacked and set ablaze by the trio’s warm and earnest vocal harmonies. But a bonfire howl-at-the-moon this is not. Rooted in the hooks and swap-patterns of modern rock, Great Gray Buildings wanders and experiments without straying from the logic of their pop-oriented predecessors. If they do strike you on the one cheek, you can expect a kiss on the other — which is to say it’s worth the listen. -IndieMonday.com
The New Old Cavalry is a young, energetic, and dynamic bluegrass group that has tore out of Bloomington, IN reaching as far as the west coast in only a few short years. While maintaining the format of a traditional string band, NOC sends astral bodies of loose psychedelia and jazz inspired improvisation crashing like an asteroid into the mountains of Appalachian harmonies and traditional bluegrass. Armed with a monstrous and diverse collection of original music, The New Old Cavalry has positioned itself as a late-night fan-favorite at festivals of all varieties, such as SummerCamp Music Festival, Tall Tree Lakes, and much more. In 2012 NOC will release its first feature album Carry Me Out This Way produced in San Francisco by Nat Keefe of Hot Buttered Rum. Onwards and Upwards, The New Old Cavalry
Rock band 20 Shades was founded by frontman James Pergolatti in 2010. The band brings a diverse new sound that is a mix of classic metal and modern day Rock with a positive message.
Since forming, the band released 2 Pergolatti penned demos Faith and Animal which successfully caught the ear of fans, radio stations, and producers. Internet sensations, 20 Shades has already sold significant downloads and CDs, and has almost achieved 1,000,000 profile hits!
Van Halen is the debut studio album by American rock band Van Halen. Released on February 10, 1978, the album initially peaked at #19 on the US Billboard Albums Chart.
Demons and Wizards is the fourth studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released May 19, 1972 by Bronze Records in the UK and Mercury Records in the US. The album was a success and has sold 3 million copies worldwide.
A guitar player, a drummer… that’s all. Magical groove, original feeling and sharped sense of rowdy rythm make The Inspector Cluzo the funkiest rock duet in the world… or the opposite? Fishbone lead singer Angelo Moore and bass player Norwood Fisher agreed with that and got involved in their first LP, produced at Jet Studio in Brussels by Stephane Kraemer (Yann “Amelie Poulain” Tiersen, Jack The Ripper, Watcha, Pleymo…). That’s the most surprising thing with Inspector Cluzo, besides that they are only two guys and make more noise than a big orchestra : it’s an unique mix of high-voltage rock’n’roll and fresh funky groove. Their first record is amazing, full of these little pieces of snapshot hits (Mad, or the acoustic Change) that never let the listerner take his breath…
Makahiya was formed in early 2004 by Steve-Guitar of “Torg,” Rob-Bass of “Gravelbone” and added drummer Brian Hulse in 2011. All three members are based out of Chicago. The band started working together as a fluke, as session after session lead to more sound experimentation. Metal riffs, thunderous acid-funk, driving rock rhythms manifested into psychedelic infusions. The band focused on collaboration, constantly working on new sounds in the studio and performing live. ..
HURRAH! A BOLT OF LIGHT!
“triumphant, heartfelt, sweaty. . .an unrivaled energy that will have you shouting along to choruses you just heard for the first time.” -UnveiledArts.com “It’d be difficult to stand motionless during one of their sets unless you are in a body cast.” -QRO Magazine “Hurrah! A Bolt of Light! traffic in anthemic and melodramatic material.” -The New Yorker
Necrodemon DOES NOT and WILL NOT follow trends, fads, or fakes. Ripping Black Death forever! Necrodemon are sworn to metal. Hence the title : Allegiance to the End. Those who are Elite understand. They stand on their own. Necrodemon began in late 1998 from the ashes of Lordes Werre. From 1999’s “Deadly Demo” to Necrodemon’s current dark dominion, the band has focused in on dark hatred and has broke alot of ground as far as musicianship and writing. Rageful and pissed off metalheads! …And so Necrodemon are blasting out a path of their own! Bands like Necrodemon who stand out and do not sound the same on every song and every album should be something to respect. Necrodemon has been misunderstood, hated, and deceived yet still stand proud and unchanged. They are waging war against false metal! Ripping Black Death!
The Living Deads take Do-It-Yourself to a new level. From living full time in their RV, designing and printing their own t-shirts, to booking their own tours, this band takes it all upon themselves and they are still ready for more………
With Randee McKnight on drums/vocals and Symphony Tidwell on upright bass/vocals, they have made a name for themselves across the U.S. and Canada by “Kidnapping” various guitar players after their guitar player quit on them at 3 am as they were leaving town for their tour.
This rockabilly duo set out to turn the tables on the traditional way things are done in a band. Normally, it is the guitar player/singer who makes the calls. The Living Deads. Would rather throw a burlap sac over the head of tradition and start making demands.
They have kidnapped Danny B. Harvey, of The Head Cat; Chuck Hughes, of The Hillbilly Hellcats; James Hunnicutt, of the Revolvers; Hank Hays and many more.
There is no telling who they will have next in their burlap sack, so don’t even think about missing a show when they come to your town!
Zach Myers was born November 7, 1983. He was both born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. Zach began playing guitar at age thirteen. By fourteen he had a manager, a record deal, and began touring the world. He released two records under the band name Zach Myers Band. Zach also played with bands such as Fairwell, Saliva and Breaking Point. Zach Myers joined Shinedown in 2005. He has played both bass guitar and lead guitar. With influences such as Jimi Henrix and Jimi Page it’s no wonder Zach has provided fans an experience like no other.
Rising Lion is roots reggae, urban and dub artist based in New York and Florida. “Feelin Irie” the first single from the upcoming Changes album was released on May 18, 2010, on Klem Records, with worldwide distribution by L G N Entertainment Distribution Inc. It can be purchased on i-tunes, CD Baby, Amazon.com and at www.risinglion.com. Changes is the fourth R L album and is scheduled for release in early 2012. The band has a proven touring track record and has appreciated successful sponsorships with Budweiser, Jagermeister and now Candy Rocks, a division of H.O.W. Inc. With a remarkable mix of Roots Reggae, R&B, Rock, Blues and Hip-Hop in his sound, Rising Lion has a reputation for bringing good vibes to every show. His uplifting message, fiery guitar and soul stirring music will make your body groove and your feet want to dance.
JuxTApose is a four piece blues-rock band hailing from various places in Michigan. Making Grand Rapids their home in 2008, they’ve been vigorously carving out their niche in musical style ever since. With various covers from Kings of Leon to Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson and even Muse being reflective of their original material, it’s no surprise their ability to live up to their name of juxTApose. All of the band being natural born story tellers, the subject matter of their music is as interesting as the music itself, and with songs like Drone that span the planes of time signatures, keys, and musical styles, to the catchy horn pop/blues riffs found in T-Dog World of Trouble, the band has no limits in adaptability and skill. With each member constantly growing as individuals and within the band, juxTApose is a force to be reckoned with.
Anti-Flag is a political punk band, which is obvious from their name alone. But over the course of 12 albums across more than 25 years together, they’ve rarely set their sights on singular individuals in songs. Unlike their punk predecessors in the 80s, who made targets of Reagan and his cronies, Anti-Flag has always opted not to date their work with current references, instead focusing on fighting ongoing oppression and dismantling deeply rooted systems of injustice. But on their new album, 20/20 Vision, the band is drawing a big, fat line in the sand.
“We have actively chosen to not attack Presidents directly, either with album art or songs about certain times in history, because we recognize that the issues we’re dealing with are cyclical,” says bassist Chris #2. “But this record in particular, we kind of said, well fuck that, we need to be on the record in opposition to the policies of Donald Trump and Mike Pence.”
“This record is a warning to people holding neofascist ideas or people who are enabling these types of positions, whether you’re outright racist or you’re enabling racism or sexism or homophobia or transphobia,” adds guitarist Justin Sane. “You need to make a choice at this point. What we’ve seen with this White House is that there’s no grey area anymore.”
Produced by From First to Last’s Matt Good, 20/20 Vision (Spinefarm Records, January 17, 2020) kicks off with a soundbite of Donald Trump speaking at a rally. And while just about anything the man has said over the last few years would make for a fitting sample on a punk record, Anti-Flag were deliberate in their choice. “In the good old days, this doesn’t happen, because they used to treat them very, very rough,” Trump is heard saying over the opening track, “Hate Conquers All.” “And when they protested once, they would not do it again so easily.”
“What I found compelling about that particular Trump sample is that it’s the quintessential move that he pulls, which is: Say the thing into the world early, so that when it happens later, people are already accustomed to it,” says #2, who believes that dissenters like journalists, protestors, and punk bands are not far down on the list of those who will eventually be rounded up and detained. “We’ve always cautioned that if you’re not standing up for the most marginalized and the most oppressed then you’re not truly free.”
“Hate Conquers All” seeks to dissect the lexicon we use around racism to hold ourselves more accountable. “The song is a kneejerk reaction to the idea of Love Trumps Hate and this idea that love can beat back
hatred,” notes #2. “That equates racism with hatred. That’s a false equivalence of what the language should be. If you’re racist, you’re racist. You don’t just hate people. It should be considered a much more vile term.”
Later on the album, “Christian Nationalist” calls out those hiding behind religious zealotry to mask their neofacism, and the chorus makes it clear that these people will be held accountable: “We all know who you are!”
“When you listen to David Duke talk, you’re listening to Donald Trump talk,” Sane says of the track. “These people hide behind the veneer of suits or speaking well and the various ways in which they hide their bigotry, but the reality is that they’re just as bad as the fascists in the 1930s or the segregationists in America.
“I’m not saying doxxing is OK, but I think it is important to let a community know that their neighbor is a racist who was chanting, ‘Jews will not replace us! There has to be accountability.”
On 20/20 Vision’s title track, the band takes a deliberately poppy approach to grappling with a tough pill they’ve had to swallow recently: Seeing elements of the framework that punk bands like Anti-Flag have established over the last couple of decades as it is coopted and used as talking points by the alt-right.
“The roadmap that we created in the 90s, of alternative media and forms of communicating, was a left-wing strategy to bring truth to power,” says drummer Pat Thetic. “The right wing has very effectively taken all those skills we learned in the 80s and 90s and turned them against the left. That’s been a challenging thing for us, to see the strategies that we grew up with being used against us in such an effective way.”
And while the newscycle moves faster than ever before, 20/20 Vision aims to take a step back and stare down the most pressing problems of our time: kids in cages, the fentanyl crisis, rolling back EPA restrictions. It’s a record that at once feels both timely and forward thinking. 20/20 Vision is a work that Anti-Flag hopes will serve as an immediate form of communication with those who are politically engaged as well as a document of our modern times for a future generation.
As #2 puts it: “We hope that when someone trips over this record in the sand of the post apocalypse, they’ll know that there were people who once stood in opposition to all of this.”
Formed out of the ashes of Stray Bullets and Chicago Typewriter (two Boston punk mainstays) in October 2007, Have Nots combine catchy, energetic, melodic punk rock, with rhythmic, almost hip hop-esque vocals, and a smattering of reggae/ska influence.
It takes timing, dedication and hard work to realize a dream. The biggest ideas take both Time and Sacrifice. Mountains must be moved stone by stone. It takes dedication and hard work to fully achieve a dream, Sometimes you have to say Goodbye to everything you ever called home to finally find yourself where you want to be. The band formed officially in 2008, the line-up has changed frequently, though Greg Jackson Combs and Jeff Brown are the only remaining original members. Since 2008, Goodbyehome has been making themselves known not only in their local Chicago scene but on the national circuit. In 2010 they hit the road to spread their debut album The Troubles(2010) in over 20 states, kicking off in Nashville and ending in Los Angeles. The band received press in the Chicago Tribune following the release. There music has brought them to share bills with acts like Bela Fleck, Dr. Dog, Grace Potter and Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeroes. Goodbyehome’s music has been inspired by a wide variety of artists and styles,. The Troubles(2010) focused primarily on a sound reflecting folk or alternative country, but has since introduced more experimental aspects to their music to be released in their follow up Electric Cowboy Lullabies, including elements of alternative rock, jazz, heavy metal and classic pop. The band plans to release Electric Cowboy Lullabies sometime in the Spring of 2011. The Album will be released on CAU Dog Records.
Led by the powerhouse vocals of Katie Bithos, this fun rock/acoustic/electric band has been rocking our socks off with pop hooks and power like nobody’s business. Since we first saw them at Hiiden Shamrock and Goose Island Wrigleyville, we knew they were something special. CAUDog Records is proud to be presenting this group with a full set of covers and originals. Check out their tasty cover of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep.
Citing influences as diverse as punk, balkan, jazz, metal, nightmares, and wet dreams, Lexington, Kentucky’s The Ford Theatre Reunion creates a sound that defies easy definition. In one moment ethereal vocals drift over flighty clarinet and melancholy accordion, and in the next moment it’s a full-bore, guitar-snarling rock n’ roll assault. It is the perfect soundtrack for a puppet show at a funeral or board game night with some werewolves.
Describing them is complicated. So let’s just call them well-hyphenated.
Despite their disparities, The Ford Theatre Reunion has one particular aspect that never changes: once they catch your eyes and ears, you aren’t going anywhere for the rest of the night. Since 2008, they have been bringing their unique sound and high-energy show to clubs, basements, bars, and bungalows across the US, and they are guaranteed to get even the most stubborn audience moving.
Fists of Rage officially began in the summer of 2008 after vocalist Sean joined the band. With a complete change in direction we have been writing hardcore tunes for three years now. After a brief hiatus in 2009/2010, F.O.R has just finished recording their first full length album, self titled “Fists of Rage”. The album and newly recorded songs will be available for download on Reverbnation, Facebook, Myspace, and soon to come iTunes. These 12 songs will be featured at all of our upcoming shows. We look forward to seeing you there and thank you for your continued support!
Straight out of Chicago Illinois! The Hairlips! Heavily infuenced by 50’s and 60’s rock, surf, doo wop, and of course the mighty Ramones. This group is bringing the feel of the 50’s and 60’s back to the pop punk scene with powerfull songs that will be sure to make you stomp, twist, and shake the night away. Guys grab your girls, and hold on to your hats because here come the Hairlips!
“We are from the southside of chicago. The band was started in feb of 2009. Original members are Tony, Mikey, and Danny. The newer members are the greats Sam and Justin. We all met in high school and now we slap ur face off with our music.”
“Started in 2005 by Josh Ortiz and Zech Pluister, Hometown Heroes is a Pop Punk band from the south suburbs of Chicago, IL. Today they consist of Zech Pluister, Josh Ortiz, Brad Harvey, Kyle Grzejka, and Chase Lombard. They like to play shows, hang out, talk about themselves in third person, and they’re currently writing/recording their upcoming EP! So stay tuned!”
Pork ‘n Beans is an acoustic mix of indie and prog rock. With firey vocals of bassist Shanna Berry combined with Shane Wallace on guitar, Pork ‘n Beans offers a unique sound and plenty of extended solos.
Il gruppo UMAGROSO soul funky music nasce dalla fusione di due band attive nei primi anni 90 i Keydea che proponevano cover italiane e straniere e gli United FreaK OUT gruppo rock che stava lavorando al primo disco autoprodotto. L’invito in sala registrazione alla sezione fiati dei Keydea per una collaborazione fece nascere il progetto che dopo alcuni mesi decollò sotto il nome di UMAGROSO.
FUNK FUNK FUNK MUISC!Born in the 1993 the band was originally formed by 8 elements. Funk music made a breakthrough in the soul of the band due to the discovery of Tower of Power group. Our funky repertory was integrated in time with the most famous songs of soul and R & B music. With a 4 elements brass section the band makes specific arrangements on the most famous songs of Otis Reding, Maceo Parker, James Brown, Ray Charles and Steve Winwood. The energy created by the band strongly affects the audience, wrapping it with the songs that made the music history.
With a percussive guitar style and soulful voice, Donna plays fingerstyle as well as blues slide guitar on her resonator guitars, including a 1930’s National Steel Triolian and National Steel Tricone.
Donna was born and raised on the northwest side of Chicago. She began playing guitar at the age of 10. By 16, she was playing lead guitar in bands and writing original blues songs.
Influenced by slide guitar players Rory Block, Bob Brozman, Bonnie Raitt, John Hammond, Jr., Eric Sardinas, and Johnny Winter, Donna set out to discover the early blues musicians that inspired these players, which included Son House, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters.
An accomplished slide guitarist, Donna performed a tribute to slide guitar master Robert Nighthawk at the 2009 Chicago Blues Festival for his centennial celebration. She also performed as part of a Nighthawk symposium for the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Arkansas (Nighthawk’s hometown), the King Biscuit Blues Festival (Helena, Arkansas), the Mother’s Best Music Festival (Helena, AK), the Bayfront Blues Festival (Duluth, MN), Blues By The Bay (East Twas, MI) and The Festival for the Eno (North Carolina).
With harpist John Jochem, Donna won the 2010 Chicago Blues Challenge, solo-duo category, and represented the Windy City Blues Society at the 2011 International Blues Challenge.
Donna’s second CD “The Moon Is Rising: Songs of Robert Nighthawk” was released in February 2011. The CD reached #32 on the Roots Music Report for most played blues album on the radio. In October 2011, Donna was nominated for the Best Female Blues Artist by the Chicago Black Music Awards.
Donna plays National steel guitars and is a featured artist on the National Reso-Phonic Guitars website.
She has been on blues radio programs including King Biscuit Time and Delta Sounds, with Sonny Payne, legendary host and member of the blues hall of fame, and Terry Buckalew, both on www.kffa.com through the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Arkansas.
Humanitarian | Educator | Entertainer | Renaissance Man
Fernando Jones is an original. This world-class American Bluesman, educator and songwriter was born to loving Mississippi parents on the Southside of Chicago in Bronzeville who were advocates for education and the arts. Jones has performed his compositions from basement parties to the University of Hawaii to The Smithsonian Institute to the Conservatory of Music in Pescara, Italy.
Inspired by his older brothers, Foree, Marvin and Greg, Jones taught himself how to play guitar when he was just four years old, and has been playing since. Fernando Jones & My Band! is a sharp dressed, raw guitar driven power trio: An uncle, a nephew and a Godson. Their sound [is] full, sexy, and always evolving.
“Fernando is one in a million trying to get to the bottom of the barrel of the Blues.”
– Buddy Guy
Jones is the go-to-guy for all things Blues when the City of Chicago needs an ambassador. Whether playing alone in someone’s living room or with his band in concert, each performance is entertaining and engaging among multigenerational audiences. He has tricks or gimmicks and easy to work with and is one of the most complete Bluesmen and scholars of his generation. Sample of his scholarly writing.
He and his music have been featured in the Travel Channel’s “America the Wright Way” Series (worldwide broadcast, seen in over 125 million households), Eric Clapton’s Crossroads DVD, ABC7’s “Someone You Should Know.” Dateline NBC, Downbeat Magazine’s Musicians Studio and countless international music documentaries.
From books to films, from sound recordings to theatrical productions, his contributions to this American art form have been paramount. Jones has been recognized and celebrated by his peers and the press as being on the “cutting edge” of the Blues. He adds new blood and a new perspective to its legacy musically and culturally. As a composer, he has taken great pride in performing his original works publicly to help insure the evolutionary development of this movement.
“I work on my craft and my complete package every single day. I perform every show as if it were Carnegie Hall — even if it’s a gift of my time in a classroom, retirement home, front porch in Mississippi, a TV show or on stage for thousands of dollars. My music and I are one. Being born 5 months premature, one looks at life differently. Therefore, each day is a lifetime achievement award proven earned the following day.”
– Fernando Jones
While refuting the many negative stereotypes that haunt this music, he is on a mission to show its beauty through academic implementations, lectures, and concerts globally. As a result, Jones’ hands were photographed by National Geographic Magazine. His book, I Was There When The Blues Was Red Hot, has been used as a resource by the likes of the Discovery Channel, Newsweek, the Chicago Tribune, Living Blues Magazine, London Times, and Al-Jazeera. Radio stations such as ABC, BBC, CBS, CLTV, NBC, WTTW, NPR, WGN and PBS have celebrated him for his playing style and unique perspective on the status of Black music in America.
As a music festival producer, Fernando Jones created the first Blues Festival at the University of Illinois at Chicago when he was only a sophomore in the Spring of 1984. It was produced in February of 1985 and featured his eldest brother Foree Superstar, Junior Wells, Magic Slim, Buddy Guy and Phil Guy. Four years later he wrote the book I Was There When The Blues Was Red Hot.
Sponsors and professional relationships: American Federation of Musicians, BMI, Fender Musical Instruments, Jim Dunlop, Real Men Cook, Shure, The Chicago Blues Festival Advisory Board, NABSE.
Honors: Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee, Blues Kids Days Proclamation from the City of Chicago, California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition, City of Riverside, CA Proclamation to Recognize and Honor, State of California Senate Certificate of Recognition, Corona, CA Blues Day Proclamation, State of Illinois Proclamation for a Blues Day, and a Keeping the Blues Alive Award recipient. See certificates. Teacher of the year finalist (Columbia College Chicago).
Formed in summer 2008 with original cast Jason and Jeremy on strings, Labrat on da drums. and Betsy on the trumpet. Played a couple shows at the weiser space, including the Post – Apocolypticrust show, and many a nighttime ragaish jams at the humble Scrap Irony House and and atop the epic mount happy , and out in the streets busking on firey nights anticlimactic afternoons, and crazy mornings.We also enjoy taking to the streets with the buckets, bones and flags and jamming against the state. We have many inspirations musically including everything, cockroaches, human wastefullness, oppression, trying new things, hitchiking and going travelling, and Desmon Decker. Project on hiatus until Labrat learned the Saxophone, and went through a couple drumms till ol boy Malcom came round randomly and been doign the drums ever since. THen we recorded a DIY 8 song EPIC disc, Askacalyptic Freeganza. After Malcolm headed west, the cast was pretty much a revolving door, picking up drummer Aaron, on drums, betsy and andrew (briefly) on trombone, and a plethora of Conga players, but when Jason and Labrat decided to hit the road, they decided to put the surgeons to sleep… for now! Now We’re back and better than ever!!! With Jason on guitar, Jeremy on Bass Labrat back on drums, and Betsy and xsjado on the horns, throwin down along side the every act from fast-core-power-grinders to folk singing gospel punks and everything in between. We are not an easy band to tie down. We have influences from across the musical board and we have done our best to encorperate that diversity into our music. From Ska, to free jazz, to black metal, to balkan brass, to punk rock and everything in between we celebrate them all individually and have combined them into one musical entity: The Dirty Surgeon Insurgency.
We are a politically charged ska punk band from Northwest Indiana. We are passionate about creating and performing original music. Contact us if you are interested in setting up a show. We are willing to play with any type of band.
The Skinnies sound takes garage punk sweat and balls and seamlessly mixes it with lush, hauntingly beautiful Americana. The dark, brooding, folk-noir lyrics penned by Mike, mixed with the gypsy like violin of classicly trained prodigy Meghan O’connor, create an undeniably pure sound, often compared to Bob Dylans “Desire” album. Live shows are always unpredictable, as The Skinnies believe that the best rock shows are the ones that have the potential to completely self destruct at any second, leaving audiences enthralled, sweaty, and wanting more.
On his new release Another Day (Eusonia Records, 2011), Zach Deputy demonstrates his extraordinary ability to perform and record in multiple contexts and conveys the sensibilities of a mature singer/songwriter. Another Day offers another look at Zach Deputy and seeks to help him cross over into other audiences. Rich with ballads and mid-tempo songs, the music on this recording is best described as soulful rhythm and blues, with flavors of Al Green, Taj Mahal and Stevie Wonder emerging in the swells, changes and modulations of the music, in the voice and even in the lyrical content. The record will appeal to fans of contemporary artists like Jack Johnson and Amos Lee, but the origins of the style and feel remain classic.
Recorded over 5 days in August 2010 at Mission Sound Recording in Brooklyn, NY, Another Day is the truest example of pure musicianship. As heard in this recording, Grammy winning producer Scott Jacoby and his team of musicians demonstrate that large budget recordings and “over-production” are simply not necessary. Drummer Graham Hawthorne (Aretha Franklin, Paul Simon, David Byrne), bassist Al Carty (Lou Reed, Alicia Keys, Gavin DeGraw) and pianist / organist Will Buthod (Jay-Z, Swizz Beatz, The Harlem Gospel Choir) and Zach Deputy met for the first time on day one of recording and– despite their diverse backgrounds– instantly clicked with each other and created the perfect landscape to support Zach’s songs.
In contrast to the music and feel of Another Day, Zach Deputy has made his mark thus far as a touring powerhouse. As a boy, the music of his Puerto Rican, Cruzan and Irish heritage was cooked up in the South Carolina heat. The Calypso rhythms and folk songs of St. Croix competed with the R&B / soul of pioneers like James Brown and Ray Charles for space on the family stereo. As Deputy honed his craft, a unique hybrid of these influences emerged, ultimately creating the signature Zach Deputy sound. To bring this sound to the stage, the big, impossibly upbeat South Carolinian with the infectious smile puts on a solo show– enhanced by looping technology– that is essentially a one man dance party offering up what he calls “Island-infused, Drum ‘n’ Bass, Gospel-Ninja-Soul” to the enthusiastic crowds of dancers who flock to clubs from coast-to-coast. It is these late night dance parties— more than 250 per year– that have made Zach Deputy one of the hottest up-and-coming performers on the camping festival circuit and “jam band” scene. For Zach, most days begin in a hotel room and end a couple of hours after walking off stage. The constant touring and the compelling live show may be the key to Zach’s success on the road, but it is an unlikely inspiration for Another Day, as there is little similarity between what fans have come to expect from Zach and what is offered up in this new record.
Thus, Another Day is an appropriately titled album, and it is truly an album in the classic sense— a collection of songs that come from the same time and place, inspired by the same muse. Reflective and introspective, it provides a glimpse at the soul of an artist and the depth of a songwriter. Full of hope and anticipation of the promise of another day, a new day, it is a pivotal point in the career of a touring musician. Whereas it is a departure for Zach Deputy, it is one that he feels confident his fans can relate to, but it isn’t the end in itself. Deputy’s multi-faceted diamond gets one side polished in this offering, and it is a side that will shine brightly for a new audience.
In April 2016, Zach released an album called Keep on Movin’ under the name Zach Deputy & the Hashtags. “Keep on Movin’ is a turn-around point in my career. All I expected was a jam session, with maybe a cool take or two, but to my astonishment in only two afternoons at the boat house, we produced an entire record and inspired the birth of a band.”
The story of the Alabama Shakes begins in a high school psychology class in Athens, Alabama. Brittany Howard, who had started playing guitar a few years earlier, approached Zac Cockrell and asked if he wanted to try making music together. “I just knew that he played bass and that he wore shirts with cool bands on them that nobody had heard of,” says Howard.
They started to meet up after school and write songs sitting on Howard’s floor. “It had that rootsy feel, but there was some out-there stuff,” says Cockrell. “David Bowie-style things, prog-rock, lots of different stuff. We started to come across our own sound a little bit, though it’s evolved a lot since then.”
Steve Johnson worked at the only music store in town, and Howard knew he played the drums. She invited him to a party where, she says, “he met everybody from our side of the tracks.” The three young musicians began working together, further expanding their style and approach. “Steve is kind of a punk-metal drummer,” says Howard, “so we embraced that edge he brings to everything he does.”
The trio soon went into a studio in Decatur to record some of the songs they were working up, and this proto-demo found its way into the hands of Heath Fogg, with whom Howard had been familiar because he had been the lead guitarist in what she describes as “the best band in our high school.” Fogg, who by now had graduated from college, asked them to open a show for his band, which they agreed to do—on the condition that he play with them. The response was immediate: “That first show was really explosive,” says Howard.”
Though they had been focusing on original material (“It’s just more fun to write than to learn someone else’s music,” says Cockrell), as the band—newly christened the Shakes—began playing out, they added more cover songs. They played classics by James Brown and Otis Redding, but also by Led Zeppelin and AC/DC. “We had to find music we could all agree on and figure out how to play together,” says Howard, “and that had a lot of influence on how we play now.”
Attempting to record their songs with the honest sonic qualities they cherished, the Shakes bought a few microphones and a vintage Teac mixing board and set up in Howard’s house—which didn’t work, since she lived right next to some railroad tracks. They eventually found their way to a Nashville studio in early 2011, where the songs they cut included “You Ain’t Alone” and “I Found You.”
When they appeared at a Nashville record store, people started to take notice of the group’s relentless, hard-charging live attack, and Howard’s magnetic stage presence. One especially ardent fan raved about the band to his friends, which included Justin Gage, the founder of the Aquarium Drunkard blog. Gage wrote to Howard, asking if he could post one of the Shakes’ songs. She sent back the yearning, intense “You Ain’t Alone,” which he put up in late July, calling it “a slice of the real.” And, literally overnight, all hell broke loose.
Creepy Band …. A pack of demonic wolves, slaves to the curse of the cloak, were called forth on hallows eve to reek havoc and inflict upon others their pain of satans wrath… And so Creepy Band was born on the Devils night.. The combination of guitar, bass, drums, church organ, and screaming vocals wove together in a dissonant harmony, loud yet maintaining a subtle eeriness not to be forgotten. They quickly realized that the horror must be continued and are now doomed to haunt Chicago venues forever with their distinct new genre of Creepy Rock n Roll.. Since that fateful day, Creepy Band has been working ever since. These slaves to the cloak have been playing shows, recording, and spreading the gospel in every back alley they find… Looming in the darkness of night, they have begun spreading the curse of the cloak and soon no human alive will be able to turn away…
Fireking is a rock experience for the twenty-first century. The two founding members, Anthony Kaczynski and Smitt E. Smitty, both formerly of Figures on a Beach (Sire Records), have been musical collaborators in various forms for years, and Fireking represents their newest, loudest, and best incarnation. Andrew Morrison on bass rounds out this power-pop-rock trio.
Anthony Kaczynski serves as Fireking’s band leader and lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, as well as being the actual King of Fyre himself. Smitt E. Smitty proudly powers the group from underneath his long tassled fez and behind his classic red Pearl drum kit. The new addition of bass player Andrew Morrison raises the bar for Fireking in every way possible.
Fireking specializes in hook-filled slamming rock tunes. Unafraid to tread where others have trod, yet somehow totally original, Fireking aims for that sweet spot somewhere between “Face to Face”-era Kinks and Iggy & The Stooges’ “Funhouse,” owing to their original roots in the Motor City.
The Electric Rag Band is a guitar driven rock band that draws on many styles of American music of the last 100 years. Blues, Ragtime, Rockabilly, Hillbilly, Punk and everything in between. They play hard and they engage the crowd. The song structures and the playing are a bit more complex than your average modern rock band. They don’t fit easily into any established genre. They are never boring or formula. Their new CD, “The Esoteric Ramblings of” was released on February 12.
Influences range from country blues artists like Blind Willie McTell and Big Bill Broonzy to newer acts like The Reverend Horton Heat, The Gourds, and The Black Keys.
Headspins play 70’s/80’s style original punk rock tunes, reminiscent of Screeching Weasel, The Muffs & Teenage Bottlerocket, all laced with Ace Frehley style lead guitar.
Based out of Chicago, The Luna Blues Machine fuses acoustic hip-hop with soul, folk, latin and any other genre that moves them. Fronted by sisters Belinda and Maritza Cervantes (mandolin and guitar), LBM stands out as one of the most experimental acoustic music acts working in Chicago today. With the accompaniment of bass and drums, their feel-good rhythms, engaging stories, tight harmonies and charismatic hooks will make you want to getcha self a little luna love.
Children of October, a Horror/Punk/Metal band from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, having a cult following worldwide, has been terrorizing punks for over 15 years with their “more metal than punk, more punk than metal” sound. With 3 worldwide releases, they’ve shared the stage with numerous acts such as The Misfits, Michale Graves, Blitzkid, The Devil Wears Prada, Sponge, Days of the New, and countless others from all genres of music. A bright future for Children Of October means a Dark future for all!
Also known as ProFess… DJ/MC/Producer member of the Big Bread KLIC, DJ/Promoter for Last Dragon Ent… South Burb native and current Hyde Park aka OBAMAVILLE resident… “i dont really DJ i just like to make the turntable do things, I dont rap i just put words together, but most of all i dont produce i just make beats…” Fess Grandiose ….
When not out & about playing live as Orphans Club or playing as sidemen for other acts, the band is busy writing and recording new material. They have just released their fifth record, “As You Fall”. Their previous four releases are “Cowboyville”, “A Clear Moment”, “Just Another Line”, and “Trying To Get Along.” Their previous work has won them several prestiges awards, including songwriter awards (for Santucci), from Ascap and Billboard………….. They are an eclectic, Chicago-based band, comprised of multi-instrumentalists (guitars, keyboards, mandolin, violin, harmonica, bass, drums, percussion, vocals) all drawing from different influences and backgrounds. Often including guest musicians (pedal steel, accordion, saxophone, flute, tin whistle) and different set-ups to alter their sound. This is probably why categorizing their sound or style has depended on the listener, as well as the project. They’ve been described as alternative-rock, alternative-country, and even celtic-influenced-folk-rock
