Bones, Jug, Xylophone, kazoos, steel pan resonator guitar, banjo, double bass, drums, all sorts of noise makers. These are just some of the instruments we play around with at our shows. The group began with the dream of throwing an energetic party with acoustic instruments, a high quality, clearly audible musical experience that could be had on street corners, on the beach, in living rooms, or amplified in a club.
We started with some old xylophone rags, featuring Cody Jensen, and have since built a large repertoire of originals and covers, old and new. As old as Leroy Carr’s “Barrelhouse Women”, Memphis Jugband’s “Sugar Puddin’”, and the classic “Salty Dog Blues,” and as new as the Beastie Boys’ “Girls,” Bone Thugs N Harmony’s “Crossroads,” and Abigail Washburn’s “Divine Bell.” We are highly influenced by jugbands and string bands, both new and old. We also perform calypso tunes featuring Tim Berg on steel pan, Mississippi John Hurt tunes featuring the guitar work of JP Goguen, and a slew of bluegrass standards and not-so-standards. With our extensive collection of instruments, our large spectrum of influences, and our quirky and thoughtful songwriting we embark on our journey of creating a new sound to share with all who will lend an ear.
We pride ourselves on being seriously silly, it’s a commitment to fun. We want to party. We want, we want to party. With you. And your friends. And other people that neither of us know. We’re hoping we can all dance till we fall down, sing till our voices cannot be found, and smile till our faces fall off. Bones.
Ghostwriter could be the post-punk version of a Harry Smith era self-accompanied singer-songwriter… For the last decade, Ghostwriter has hit the road in true troubadour form; one man traveling, music that is direct and uncompromised. Ghostwriter has shared the stage with icons like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Real Kids, and T-Model Ford, and is currently supporting his sixth album on End of the West records, “Prayin’ all the time” – LP & MP3, 2012.
Jai Young Kim – Bass (Secret Chiefs 3)
Arian Jade – Vocals/Violin (Nik Turner’s Hawkwind)
Kephera Moon – Keyboards/Vocals (Nik Turner’s Hawkwind/Brainticket)
Jason Willer – Drums/Percussion (Nik Turner’s Hawkwind/Brainticket/UK Subs)
Nicky Garratt – Guitars (Nik Turner’s Hawkwind/Brainticket/UK Subs)
History German? British? American?
Actually Hedersleben was hatched in the village of the same name on the outskirts of Quedlinburg, Germany by British guitarist Nicky Garratt yet are based in the Oakland/San Francisco bay area.
In the role of musical director Garratt pulled together musicians to record the Nik Turners Space Gypsy album in Los Angeles. After a short incubation period the prototype version of Hedersleben manifested from Nik Turner’s touring band.
Following the success of Space Gypsy, Hedersleben, worked with original Brainticket Keyboard/Flute/Sitar player Joel Vandroogenbroeck recording a new album for his legendary Swiss band.
Hedersleben recorded their debut album Upgoer back to back with Brainticket’s Past, Present & Future, again working again with engineer Jeremy Goody at Megasonic Sound.
In October 2013 Hedersleben embarked on their first national tour, both opening for and backing Nik Turner. Hedersleben’s second, highly acclaimed, album Die Neuen Welten featured guest vocalist Kati Knox, and was again recorded at Megasonic sound in Oakland in May 2014. Side A of Die Neuen Welten was set to film by San Francisco filmmaker Erin Franklin.
A one off gig On June 3rd featured special guest Captain Sensible on 2nd guitar. The show was filmed at 1234go records in Oakland. On August 26th Hedersleben took to the road again on a repeat of the previous years tour with Nik Turner. Again Hedersleben both opened and backed the ex Hawkwind front man.
Hedersleben have just finished recording their 3rd album The Fall Of Chronopolis.
IN DEFENCE
In Defence has been hitting the road since 2006. Starting as a hardcore band, In Defence incorporated wicked fast riffs with a satirical message. The early days brought the mantra ‘Call More Dudes’ to the basements across America. Calling for social change and bringing together Dudes of all shapes and sizes – no matter your gender, sexual preference, or dietary habits.
Later, In Defence kept that same tongue in cheek delivery and coupled it with ripping thrash riffs. Once In Defence was gaining some attention, it became clear that people needed to be taught proper mosh etiquette, and ‘Don’t Call Me A Moshist’ was born. ‘Fuck That Shit, Let’s Circle Pit’ was the new message for the kids. Then, In Defence started to raise issues that didn’t seem to make much sense: moshing in a circle and tacos instead if pizza. Maybe the fact that In Defence had people debating such meaningless topics was the joke itself. It’s hard to say.
Have you ever seen a room full of punks yell ‘The Police Are Fucking Rad’? In Defence has. Have you ever pissed off black metal fans by confusing them with Juggalo’s? In Defence did. And they did it all while praising Rob Halford. Praising him not only for being in one of the greatest bands ever, but for being out while doing it – especially during a time when Nu Metal was all the “rage”.
Nowadays, In Defence still keeps the van in motion. Crossing the US multiple times a year, In Defence has toured/shared the stage with bands such as: The Casualties, MDC, Toxic Holocaust, DRI, Cro-mags, Goatwhore, Skeletonwitch, Danzig, plus many, many more.
Although not a DJ by trade, Mike Velure is an all around fan of music specializing in late ’70’s early ’80’s power pop punk. He hobbies spinning records, dropping needles here & there. MVelure rarely disappoints drawing eclectically anywhere from metal to dance and all in between all from his bag of tricks he calls a record collection… Eh, Fame. Whatchya like is in the limo.
CHANEL WEST COAST
Of course, she’s the sharp, smart, and saucy blonde from the MTV hit shows Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory and Ridiculousness, but she’s got a lot more up her sleeve than quick wit on-camera. In fact, her fierce and fiery flow will make you do a double take. Those impressive MC skills belie her sexy street chic style and high-fashion persona. You really want to get close to her though? Take her 2013 mixtape Now You Know for a spin…
Music came first for Chanel West Coast—born Chelsea “Chanel” Dudley. As a child, she took singing and dancing lessons with the encouragement of family. Later on, she’d eventually study violin as well, gaining formal musical training. Growing up, she split her time between North Hollywood with her mom and New York with her DJ father. Dad would even bring the eight-year-old along when he spun at packed nightclubs in the city. “I don’t know what the clubs were thinking letting me in,” she laughs. “I’d be in the DJ booth with him just watching everything. I was the tiniest kid ever so I don’t even think anybody could even see me. I’ve always been around music, and I knew it’s what I’d do for the rest of my life. I didn’t have a choice” Immersing herself in hip-hop and picking up skateboarding in the process, she formally got behind the mic in none other than the legendary Marvin Gaye’s Hollywood Hills studio. A friend had been recording there and invited her by to drop some verses. Despite feeling like the room was haunted, the atmosphere inspired her to go as hard as possible, pursuing that dream. At 17-years-old, she launched her first MySpace Music page under the name Chanel West Coast.
“I uploaded all of my music, and I spent all day every day adding people,” she remembers. “I tried to network as much as I could on there, and that’s how I became friends with Fantasy Factory’s Scott ‘Big Cat’ Pfaff.” As a result, she eventually met Rob Dyrdek who invited her to act as a receptionist and rap during a 2010 Carl’s Jr. promo on Fantasy Factory. Music essentially provided her gateway into television. She killed it on her first episode and joined the series full-time. In between, she tirelessly gigged around Los Angeles and the rest of the country, increasing her fan base dramatically in the process. 2012 proved to be a breakthrough year though.
Lil Wayne personally invited her to his Miami studio to play some of her tracks. She left the meeting with a record deal, signing to Young Money Entertainment/Cash Money Records. The first taste of her YMCMB output is the irresistible “Karl”, the first single from Now You Know. Lagerfeld himself would undoubtedly be proud of Chanel West Coast’s impenetrable delivery and seductive swagger.
She admits, “I’m stepping out of the box and showing everybody who I am as an artist. It’s ironic that people know more about my daily life than my music, but this song is really me. I love fashion, and it’s a tribute to that. I’m not going to be satisfied until I reach the top.”
Elsewhere on the mixtape is the undeniable anthem, “I Love Money”. Coupled with its raw party video, the track remains something of a declaration for Chanel West Coast. “I’m not just saying I love money,” she explains. “I love having a good time and doing dope shit like going to Las Vegas, popping bottles at the club, and looking fly. It’s about having fun, going hard as a motherfucker, and getting money. I’m working my ass off, but I’m having an amazing time. This is the lifestyle. This is Chanel West Coast.” She can do anything as well, whether it’s light up a beat with a head-spinning rhyme or carry a pop hook. Chanel may be all about her fashion, but she grew up as a girl skateboarder amongst a bevy of guy skaters. It’s another side of her. “I went from Tom Boy to Tom Ford,” she laughs.
She relates some of that panache to quite the legendary connection, and it’s the source of her nickname “Young Bonnie.” “I’m related to the real Bonnie Parker,” she smiles. “Bonnie Parker lived her short life to the fullest and did what she wanted no matter what—whatever the cost. That’s how I live my life, sans the bank robberies and shooting. ”
Ultimately though, Chanel West Coast is ready to be finally heard loud and clear. “This is who I am,” she concludes. “I go through the same things everybody else does, and I’m rapping about real shit. I hope people feel that.”
Now You Know Chanel West Coast…
In their short 5 year existence, Ottawa, Canada-based MonkeyJunk has cultivated a unique blend of SWAMP ROOTS ROCK. Their extensive touring has helped to develop a notable fan base across Canada, the US and Europe. They have been rewarded for their hard work with many awards including:
2012 Juno Award winner – Blues Album of the Year
2008-2013 – 15 Maple Blues Awards
2010 Canadian Independent Music Award – Blues Album of the Year
2010 Blues Music Award (USA) – Best New Artist Debut
“The name MonkeyJunk comes from Son House, who once said ‘I’m talking about the blues, I ain’t talking ’bout no monkeyjunk.’ But I am going to talk about MonkeyJunk – they are brilliant and have produced one of the best albums I have heard in a long time…; Ten tracks that prove that this Canadian band is here to stay. And as Son House would have said if he had seen these boys: ‘I’m talking ’bout the blues, I’m talking about MonkeyJunk!’” – Bob Boncey, Blues Matters (UK)
When one hears the word “Clan” one would probably think of a group, tribe or family. And that’s exactly what Caesar “C-zar”, Nicky Bars and their band of brethrens are. Since 2004, cousins Caesar and Nicky have been rapping together and making a name for themselves in their small, hustle hard hometown, Kankakee, located south of Chicago.
In 2010 the two decided to “Finally” become a group (Hence the name of the first track on their Debut Mixtape “The Investment”), calling themselves Get Money Cliq. Thinking they should have a name that better described their personal bond with each other and the close-knit group of friends and family around them they decided to drop the word “Clique” for “Clan” and separate themselves from the ones who were just a group, instead they’re {G.M.Clan}, a family.
With popularity and street cred the two slowly but surely took over their hometown Kankakee, Illinois gaining major attention from the other local artist in the area who were also looking for their shot at a major deal. Keeping everything real in their music and maintaining a firm value of “Loyalty over everything”, it made it hard for the other artist in their area to deny their movement, so instead, a handful of other prominent local artists decided to join “The Clan” and combine their grind into one.
His style is undeniably captivating, at 24 years old, this Chi-Town native is secretly plotting his take over to what we know as Hip-Hop. Possessing a flow that sounds rather smooth but yet slick, and charisma to have an addiction for, Chris Parker is the definition of what happens when skills and swagger meet the streets.
Music listeners, enthusiasts, and professionals around the world have asked what is left of this “Pop Rock/Powerpop” scene? Is anything left? Have we completely moved forward and on to “the next big thing?” The genre we speak of being so lifeless in 2011 was the genre once tagged on Crown Point, IN’s own Asteria. A band that has gained extreme respect in the industry over the past 6 years as being a self-functioning, business savvy group of passionate musicians who have opted over the years to pass on professional industry help and chose to put the fate of their music career completely in their own hands. Recording, producing, album artwork, promotional campaigns, music videos, websites, tours, and everything else most musicians dream of getting professional help with have all been jobs executed by the members themselves. Turning a typical group of 5 twenty-some-odd year old bandmates hoping to be in the right place at the right time … into perfectionists, dream chasers, and experienced young men who have seen the triumphs and tragedies of the industry, together as a family.
With previous success on their 2007 Broken English/Warner full length debut SLIP INTO SOMETHING MORE COMFORTABLE, to their most recent 2008 self produced and released self titled EP, both bridged gaps between uber pop and and edgy funk style proven to be their own. Now in 2011 the band’s most recent LP titled MOMENTUM proves that the “Pop Rock” heart that so many of us have suspected to be beatless, hasn’t flatlined just yet. A new album that has the power to singlehandedly reverse this cardiac arrest of which we speak dropped in September 2010. What most would call a step in the right direction, MOMENTUM’s 13 tracks are a collection of songs compiled by Asteria over the previous 2 years, displaying the utmost diverse collaborations between these Midwestern road worn rock and roll renegades. Salty and sweet, hot and cold, yes, maybe, and no have all come out to play and no card is left unturned when you hear MOMENTUM and its large spectrum of feelings and vibes.
TRAINWRECK SYMPHONY is the marriage of hard rock style and “NU” flare. Established in the fall of 2008 by a couple of high school friends, Trainwreck Symphony has always prided themselves on playing what they like, and enjoying the fact that they are not bound by the specifics of genres. Pulling from all of their influences to create what they’ve branded “Nu Hard Rock” or “Modern Metal”. In the short two years that they have been together, TWS has had the privilege to grace some of the biggest stages in Chicago. Including, but not limited to Kinetic Playground, Reggie’s, Elbo Room, Angels and Kings, The Cubby Bear, The Metro, House of Blues and more. TWS has also recorded and independently released their debut self-titled album, which was recorded and produced at “The Pilot Studio” in New Jersey by Rob Freeman–of Hidden in Plain View fame– Jake Antelis and Daniel Hubner–Catch Me if You Can. Trainwreck Symphony is poised to turn Chicago’s local music scene on its ears by delivering heart pounding rhythms, bone rattling soul grooves, jaw dropping solos, and emotionally raw vocals coupled with an over the top high energy and dynamic live show. These boys strive to leave every ounce of them on stage. Hard…Fast…Slow and Easy; if it rocks they do it!
A native of the turbulent Southside of Chicago, Latonya Sampson “Runway Bella”, is a young lady who is determined to share her story through music. From her fresh image to her soulful sound, the 21 year old artist presents herself as one of the most promising female rapper upstarts in the game. Through her debut mixtape, “Project Runway: The Introduction” (Feb ’13), one can take a closer glimpse into the everyday struggles of inner-city life from the special perspective of a strong woman. Runway Bella finds inspiration from her father who has been a pillar in her musical growth. She aims to appeal to young women, especially, with the intent to empower them to overcome adversity. Honing her craft as a writer and emcee, Runway Bella, is on her way to garnering a name for herself as one of the First Ladies of Hip-Hop!
Valaska’s new LP, ‘Natural Habitat,’ just released this April, is a true test to Dave Valdez, the man behind the band. It is a brand new place for him, as this album ramps up to be released. For the first time, Dave has a record that truly has the ability to make an impact in the indie music world. Commitment is a value Valaska has held close, and it has paid off. Just as Valaska returns home from a month long tour in February, there are no breaks. Now is the time for premieres, interviews, shows, photos, videos, and other potential goals to further the awareness and success of Valaska. Slowing down is moving backwards. There is no slowing down when you’re committed to moving forward, through thick and thin.
Beginning his musical career with his Grandma’s acoustic guitar, Dave Valdez became involved in local music in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, IL. After years of performing and touring in pop/rock bands, Dave decided to take his own approach and started writing. Valaska’s first self titled e.p., released in March of 2010, showed great potential and gained Valaska many opportunities for shows and press, although Dave was unfulfilled.
After some time taken off to write and hone his craft, Dave began changing his style to a much more raw and real sound.
“I didn’t feel like my first record was truly me. After spending time away from the songs and working on what came to me, I realized I had just hit the tip of my writing nature.”
After time well spent writing solid, new, and personal material; Valaska headed back into the studio with Aaron Marsh, Producer/Engineer and lead singer of a popular indie band, Copeland, at The Vanguard Room in Lakeland, FL. With the help of Aaron, Valaska was able to create exactly what Dave had in mind. Not only did he spend many weeks with Aaron, he also spent many weeks at home recording the record through tape. Dave didn’t want to lose the feel and strength behind live home recordings. So it was incorporated into the album, making the new record both indie and polished. Scheduled to release in March of 2012, ‘Natural Habitat’ will be Valaska’s first real album push into the indie music world. With a solid group now settling behind Dave, Valaska is now getting the chance to tour and promote effectively to create awareness of this record.
“People can take this record any way they want, and see in it what they will. I have a lot of faith in this record, but it was a record I created by myself in my room. I was alone with my thoughts and reactions, related to my relationships and life in general. I’ve always wanted to write a record that shows true meaning behind the words and expression it creates. ‘Natural Habitat’ is my first test toward that goal.”
Music comes and goes. It arrives in waves, and evaporates in the heat of new trends and is forgotten over time. For Mark Rose, time has allowed him to not only be remembered ‘right now,’ but to also bring forth some of the most charismatic and tasteful songwriting of our generation – and many more to come. You may recall Mark as the charming tongue-in-cheek frontman of indie/emo tastemakers Spitalfield, who spent nearly ten years touring internationally with acts like Fall Out Boy, The Early November, and Minus the Bear. Since Spitalfield’s ’07 departure, a gaping hole began to emerge in the scene. Where has the sincerity gone? Where has the house-show, family oriented, all-inclusive mentality disappeared to? After completing his 2013 solo EP The Sound of a Turnaround with Sean O’Keefe (Plain White T’s, Motion City Soundtrack, Fall Out Boy) at the mixing boards, Mark Rose has surfaced as the answer to those questions.
The 29-year old Chicago native has quite the resume under his belt. Out of pure jealousy of his older sister starting piano lessons, Mark begged his parents to give him a shot at the keys at the ripe age of 5. Fast-forward to pre-teen-Rose at age 11, when he received his very first guitar – and hasn’t slowed down since. Not only has Mark performed over 1,000 shows in 9 countries spanning over 3 continents, but also took the time to truly fine-tune his craft by attending Columbia College in Chicago for music composition. Following his stint at Columbia, Mark signed his first record contract and publishing deal before the age of 19, at which point his career shifted into the Spitalfield era for almost ten fruitful years.
It took Rose some time to re-discover himself after Spitalfield – as it would anyone transitioning from a 9-month travel year to writing songs in their apartment full time. The process began slowly, starting with two solo EPs and a stretch of about 150 shows between 2008 and 2011. The time came to finally put together a debut LP, at which point the momentum immediately shifted into gear after Rose picked up the phone to call his original partner in crime for Spitalfield’s debut Remember Right Now – none other than Sean O’Keefe. “The process of getting back into a rhythm of making records felt so natural with Sean on board,” says Rose. “The initial phone call was meant to test the waters, and we ended up accomplishing more than we ever thought was possible.” Sean O’Keefe went on to produce Mark’s 2011 debut solo LP Wonderful Trouble, referred to by Alternative Press as having the “style and emotion of a John Hughes movie soundtrack.” After some extensive touring and countless re-introductions, Mark went to work on his follow-up 4-song EP The Sound of a Turnaround, released in January of 2013. Turnaround possesses a realness that is not easily compared to Rose’s contemporaries – a realness that looks to reignite not only a scene, but also a way of thinking. Fans of John Mayer, Dashboard Confessional, and Spitalfield (the obvious lightbulb) will find themselves unable to detach from Mark’s soothing melodies and truly heartwarming lyrics. Chicago Examiner wrote, “The impact of this new sound should be a wider audience base for the multi-talented singer/songwriter.” Rose is in it for the long haul, and the songs truly portray that sentiment.
After wrapping up a successful but exhausting 26-day Southern/Midwest tour with JT Woodruff of Hawthorne Heights – where the duo played 33 shows over that span – Mark Rose has quite a year ahead of him. Although the element of his past writings is ever-present, Property of Zack said it best, “…Rose is so much more than Remember Right Now.” Perhaps Mark’s fans have been called upon to do just that.
Guns and Ammunition is a Chicago five man Clash cover band bringing the fire and fury of “The Only Band That Matters” to the 21st century.
Punk, ska, rockabilly, and high energy rock ‘n roll, the timeless music of Joe Strummer and Mick Jones gains new life!
Guitarists Tim Burns and Johnny ‘Larock’ Simpson, drummer Dan Quinn, and bassist Dave Martin have been playing together in various Chicago-based bands for years, and new singer Shaun Ingram brings high energy to the gang.
From the primal chords of 1978’s Clash City Rockers, to all the anthems — from classic London Calling (Rolling Stone magazine’s #1 album of the 1980s) to the haunting dub of Straight to Hell, from Combat Rock in 1982 to the sounds of the late great Joe Strummer and his Mescaleros and Mick Jones’ Big Audio Dynamite — prepare for a long, faithful journey through the catalog of one of the greatest rock bands ever!
With an extensive and amazing track record of unique and imaginative performances featuring his curious instrument and copious amounts of originality, Mike Silverman aka That1Guy has supplanted himself as a true one-of-a-kind talent that rivals any other artist currently in the entertainment industry. Averaging 150-200 shows a year all over North America and Canada, he has been a consistent favorite at such festivals as: Wakarusa, Electric Forest, Big Day out, All Good, Bella, High Sierra, Summer Meltdown, Montreal Jazz Festival, and many more. He was also the ‘Tap Water Award’ winner at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for best musical act. His legendary collaboration and multiple tours with Buckethead as The Frankenstein Brothers has further cemented his virtuoso story as a creative visionary as well.
His innovation continues to soar with the announcement of a new tour, That1Guy & The Magic Pipe Present: An Evening of Musical Magical Wonder… The Likes of Which Ye Haven’t Yet Seen, kicking off in the early spring of 2013. Along with his pioneering main instrument, The Magic Pipe, a monstrosity of metal, strings, and electronics, facilitates the dynamic live creation of music and magic in ways only That1Guy can conjure, expect to see magic as well now integrated into the already clever performance. With this addition of incorporating magic seamlessly into his live shows, he has legitimately achieved an all inclusive audio/ visual performance unlike anything experienced before. “So much of my music has miraculous qualities to it because it’s hard to tell what’s going on. There are lots of slights of hand and sonic misdirection. It feels like I was meant to do magic”.
Silverman’s back story is very similar to many musicians that have come before him. He grew up a self proclaimed music geek, soaked in the influence of his jazz musician father, and enrolled in San Francisco Conservatory of Music before joining the local jazz scene himself as a sought-after percussive bassist. This is where the similarities end, though, and where That1Guy truly began. “In my case, being a bass player, I just felt very restricted by the instrument itself,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to sound different and have my own sound. I was headed that way on the bass, but for me to fully realize what I was hearing in my head sonically I was going to have to do it my way”. His influential and innovative double bass style eventually evolved into what we see today as That1Guy and ‘The Magic Pipe’.
As his story continues to develop, Billboard has famously noted, “In the case of Mike Silverman’s slamming, futuristic funk act… the normal rules of biology just don’t apply.” In addition, Silverman also has promised new music and videos for the early part of 2013 that will only further validate his status as an industry trailblazer. “I like being my own person”, he says. “I didn’t set out to be a weirdo but I’m starting to embrace it”.
Ultimately, his motivation can be encapsulated as this: “Human beings do our best work when we’re challenged and pushed up against the wall”. He further explains, “By nature, we’re hunters and gathers, spending each day looking for their next meal. It’s easy to be lazy when you don’t have to come up with something creative right away.”
I’ve had way too many writers think they could sum me up & relay what I’m about from an hour long conversation so they could write my “bio” but I’ve had it. Screw that. I’ll tell it in my own words.
I was born & raised In Chicago, Illinois. I grew up on the south side of the city where I attended a gospel church. I was always around a lot of heartfelt soulful music & hardworking, real, down to earth people. Although I no longer abide by any religion, I value the times I had and how they shaped me to be what I am now.
I’ve moved around quite a bit living in all different parts of the US. While absorbing all sorts of different cultures from here & around the world, I’ve developed my own sound.
I started releasing my own music in 2012 and haven’t stopped since. I play a wide range of music from folk to blues, r&b, Gospel to rock, metal & alotta things in between. The main constant amongst all the genres would be that it’s all done with emotion, feeling, heart & a lotta soul. I mean what I say & deeply feel what I play.
I play covers of songs I dig sometimes and although some people may only know me because of those, I’m hardly just a cover artist.
If you come see me play live and expect just one style or aspect of what I do, you may be disappointed to learn that our shows are a roller coaster of emotions, musical styles, intensity & energy. I get bored easily & love to mix things up. Be ready & bring your ear plugs just in case..
I’ve always been the underdog so to speak since I’ve never had the backing of a large record label, big marketing firm or massive PR company & I truly like it that way. I feel as though I’ve earned what I have through hard work, determination, a good bit of luck & the great relationships with people I’ve made along the way. I’ve learned a lot of lessons the hard way being in this “music business industry” and that’s alright by me. I’ve seen that with your support (the listeners out there) I can make my wildest dreams come true.
If you want to listen to an artist that’s authentic, genuine & original then you’ve come to the right place.
I hope you enjoy the music & will join me on this journey that I’m so extremely grateful to be on. Thank you all so very much.
Led by screenwriter and activist Rob Warmowski, SIRS is a Chicago noise-rock trio releasing their third record “High Minors”. From high school beginnings in early punk rock, SIRS extends the Chicago tradition of hard, smart and loud reflections of an absurd city. Disturbed crooning, pummeling rhythm, and a fistful of guitar.
Kerosene Stars is an American rock band formed in Chicago, IL. The band is composed of Scott Schaafsma (bass, vocals), Andy Seagram (guitars, backing vocals), Jim Adair (drums), and Tom Sorich (percussion).
The band has released an ep in 2011, an album (digital only) in 2014, and three ep’s titled “Burn the Evidence” and “a million little trees”, and “The Lost ep” throughout 2016 & 2017.
Since Summer 2021 KS has released a series of singles every few months with the first in the series titled “Where have you been?/Don’t Pass Me By” on Big Stir Records. You can find more singles including upcoming releases at https://kerosenestars.bandcamp.com
Garret’s songs sneak up on you. Have you ever read a news story about some poor guy walking along a set of railroad tracks; using those tracks to map where he is, where he’s going, where he’s been? Then the next thing anyone knows, he’s been run down and he’s gone; lost up in the guts of the gears and the valves. And you think to yourself, how did he not hear it coming? How did such a mighty & powerful presence manage to get the best of him? Well, That’s how it happens. Mr. Clemens’ songs will sneak up on you in just such a way. You will end up in the underbelly of the engine before you even hear the whistle. -Woodrow Hart
Mark Panick isn’t a man of narrow vision. Witness Razorhouse’s single and accompanying video, “Neu Sensation,” a carnal, conceptual combo dropped at the end of 2014. The single will appear on the second Razorhouse EP, Codex Du, slated for release on April 7, 2015.
Panick has fronted the reformed outfit of veteran musicians since 2011. He writes with his industrial rock roots planted firmly, but don’t be fooled: he may be a composer entranced by the darkness of the human condition, but he isn’t one to be pigeonholed. He’s a lover of campy art flicks as much as he is the visceral source of your next trip. His recordings are rife with unabashed sexuality, gutter-punk abandon and tasty grooves. Every Panick song is a standalone odyssey—proof that he isn’t defined by structure but by the inner workings of his madcap mind. He marches to the beat of his own drum, wails on it with a sledgehammer and isn’t afraid to bring you along into the swirling chaos.
He takes inspiration from a diverse spectrum of musical forbearers–the Ink Spots, Tom Waits, Merle Haggard, the Kinks, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Alex Harvey to name just a few. He also taps other mediums in search of “tools for thinking,” including the works of filmmaker Alejandro Jordorowsky, painter Mark Ryden and philosopher Daniel C. Dennett.
Panick is best known for his work in the short-lived, seminal post-punk outfit Bonemen of Barumba, which released a handful of recordings in the early 1980s. His next project, Chac Mool, was spawned from a fruitful writing session with house music wunderkind Dean Anderson. It included members of other Chicago music mainstays such as Revolting Cocks, KMFDM and Sister Machine Gun, all of which would become fodder for the earliest incarnations of Razorhouse.
Codex Du follows 2013’s Codex Jun and marks the era of a musically mature Panick, who describes the current formula as “38% less chaos and 17% less drama.” The EP features contributions by musicians David Suycott (Robert Pollard, Stabbing Westward) Jim Demonte (Insiders), Tommi Zender and many more, while the production team of Howie Beno (Ministry, Black Asteroid) and Danny McGuinness (Ex Senators, Coven of Thieves) ropes in the feral tendencies of Panick’s madcap mind and myriad influences.
The musical horizon is wide open for Panick after Codex Du, and he’s not one for routine. He has kept the Razorhouse lineup fluid as he recruits musicians for an upcoming tour. Everything else is equally wide open, as he promises: “new music, new film and video projects; a gallery show or two and lots of exploration. I’m just doing what I’ve always done, building forts and looking for others who wanna play.”
In the beginning, there was a X, and a Dick. Established in 2011, Dick Johnson brought the backbone beat on drums complimenting BigX’s poetry and soulfull rhymes. Portraying personal and life struggles of an upcoming emcee, raised by wolves and keeping a family together in the midst of an urban jungle. The duo rocked stages and clubs throughout Chicago, Indiana, and outskirts. Wowing audiences with their grittiness, BigX’s commanding presence and lyrics and Johnson’s metal influenced, hard hitting drumming. Later that year, Alex “Bull” Emetti joined the group through Johnson’s co-worker. He quickly brought the needed guitar and vocals, establishing a melodic presence. Hence allowing them to transform into, “BigX and the Band.” In Early 2012, Dick Johnson stumbled across a high school friend from the commercially crushed back woods of Peoria, IL. Roy “Rolls Royce” Freeman who became the final component to establishing “BigX and the Caucasians.” Orchestrally trained/teacher Roy completed the bands’ sound with his dynamic skill, range and composition. BigX and the Caucasians remains Genre-less, although they have coined the term “Ghetto Metal.” Their songs, performances and music videos shatter the pre-defined conventions of sound, Always leaving the audience salivating for more…
We are a four-piece rock band who focuses as much on wanting you have fun and live well as we do on our craft. let’s have a good time and keep it clean. Rock’n’Roll.
Sprung out of the mountains in Cleveland, Tennessee, Behold The Brave sets out to share their good spirits with anyone willing to listen.
Pulling from their southern roots of Rock’n Roll and contagious grooves, this quartet will make you move with their diverse and high energy performances that they have come to be known for.
Singer-songwriter Matt Sellars lives and breathes southern music and culture. They are the driving forces that keep him moving forward day after day. For fans of folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and the like, Matt Sellars is worth a listen.
After years of honing his craft in front of audiences in western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and throughout the south, Matt stepped in to the studio to make his first recorded effort, 2013’s This Side of the Mississipp. The recordings on this album reflect the array of regional influences Matt has absorbed over the years. His style rings true to the music he loves and devotes himself to; the sounds of classic artists like Doc Watson and John Prine marry seamlessly with contemporary favorites like Tim O’brien and Justin Townes Earle.
Listeners looking for a new artist to enjoy are sure to get their fix from Matt Sellars. There is plenty of heart and soul in Matt’s music, interlaced with his characteristic lightheartedness. Good songwriting always comes from a place of passion and inspiration, and these qualities are inherent in this latest collection of original songs.
What is courage? When you’re a young rock ‘n’ roll band—courage is throwing yourself into your music fully and completely. It’s stepping onto a stage and just given’r. It’s touring new places far from home, and opening up, scars and all, to your fans. Courage is saying what you really think. It’s being unafraid of change, of becoming who you really are.
Courage My Love is all of these things.
The Kitchener, Canada band consists of twin sisters Mercedes Arn-Horn (vocals, guitar) and Phoenix Arn-Horn (drums. vocals) with their friend Brandon Lockwood (bass).
Call them a power trio, pop-punk, alternative metal. As you wish. They grew up on it all. But while you are jumping around and banging your head with abandon, don’t miss the message: They have no appetite for destruction. They do not seek to destroy. No, Courage My Love is here to uplift, inspire.
Becoming, the band’s new EP, produced by Chris Perry in Toronto, is eight tracks bled out of Courage My Love during a period of exciting changes. “Our first EP For Now came out when we were 17,” explains Mercedes. “When you’re our age, a lot can happen in two years.” Yes, many good things. Like heavy rotation on MuchMusic/MusiquePlus, more than 3.8 million YouTube views, and being on Alternative Press Magazine’s list of the Top 100 Bands to Know in 2012. “Before we went on tour we’d never been away from home,” says the guitarist. “You meet all these new people, and you learn about yourselves. We’ve all grown a lot. That was the inspiration for Becoming.”
Opening track “Skin and Bones” captures the fear and longing of leaving something behind. “We’re too old to die young,” they sing over thunderous beats, the heart of the matter. Hard- knocking first single “You Don’t Know How” cranks it up, intense and defiant: “Find out I’m strong enough on my own now.” By the time the EP closes with the haunting ballad “Dark Wood, Dark Water,” about finding the one thing that pulls you out of the darkness, Courage My Love’s mission is clear: rock out, be happy, stay true.
For this next generation of musicians, that means truly embracing social media. With their popular DIY podcasts and viral videos, Courage My Love not only connect with fans, they reveal more of their true selves. It’s all part of what they do best. “This whole band is about being yourself,” says Phoenix. “You don’t need to play by the book to be successful. Being a girl isn’t that big of a deal in music anymore. You don’t need to have a certain look. Break the rules, stand apart.”
Chicago has been the proverbial fertile crescent of pop rock and pop punk bands since the turn of this century. From Alkaline Trio, to Rise Against; Allister to Fallout Boy; The Academy Is.. to the Hush Sound and The Plain White Tees, this bustling city stands as a towering beacon of catchy hooks, driving rhythms and a party in the crowd, every time.
So it is in this mold that the next in a long pedigree of musical heavy hitters comes from the very streets that shaped a generation of music. Farraday formed in the fall of 2010 as an amalgamation of the best parts of some of the most endearing local Chicago bands in the past five years. Aubyn Scolnick and Phil Serratore (formerly of Beauty and The Breakdown), Glenn Eck and Danny Casady (of Addison Park fame) and Nic Kaiser and William Scott (former members of Robot Love Story and How Bright The Sky) decided on one unusually warm November day to combine their talents and vast knowledge of movie quotes, and bring it to the people of Chicago and the world beyond.
Much like the circumstances that brought this eclectically diverse band together, the sound they produce is representative of the city they call home. A surprising fusion of pop, punk, hip hop, swing, indie, and garage rock all combine into a exhilarating live show that will fill you with an overpowering desire to pump your fist or nod your head in ecstatic approval.
Their first release: Farraday’s “The Fear Of Missing Out” takes everything they can muster live and throws it in your face with an explosion of sounds and textures to tantalize your ear buds, and shoot to the top of your Itunes most played list. Recorded in the winter of 2010/11 with Manny Sanchez (producer of Patrick Stumps new solo record), Farraday poured their heart, souls and lives into creating something special they wanted to share with friends, family and complete strangers. It is a testament to their love and dedication for their craft.
The best way to describe Farraday is a gang of best friends and excellent musicians laying it all on the line with every note and lyric on the stage and in your radio. And they wouldn’t have it any other way.
The west coast of Wisconsin is not typically thought of as a hotbed of alternative reggae music. However, TUGG, hailing from La Crosse, WI has done an amazing job channeling tropical grooves and breezy melodies and has quickly become a top draw in the Midwest and beyond. Coming from a state known more for the Green Bay Packers, cold weather, and cheese, they boast an impressive resume of rubbing shoulders with reggae heavyweights. From shows with Barrington Levy and Slightly Stoopid to recording tracks with the likes of Pato Banton, Josh Heinrichs, and Outlaw Nation, TUGG continues to prove why they are a fast rising star in the alternative reggae scene. All of the bands last 3 albums have debuted in the Top 50 of the iTunes Reggae Chart. Their most recent album, Home Brew EP went to #2 and spent 3 weeks in the Hot 100 iTunes Reggae Album Chart. Last Spring TUGG was asked by The Dirty Heads (EMG) to provide support for a string of shows in the Midwest on their first ever headlining tour, which included a sold out show at the House of Blues-Chicago on St. Patrick’s Day. It is often said that to achieve greatness you must first surround yourself with greatness. If that is any indication about TUGG than their future is looking good. In the last few years alone they have been fortunate enough to share the stage with: Slightly Stoopid, The Dirty Heads, Cage the Elephant, SOJA, Barrington Levy, Pepper, The Aggrolites, Tribal Seeds, Ballyhoo!, Iration, The Movement, Mad Professor, Karl Denson, Rusted Root, Pato Banton, The Ziggens, Josh Heinrichs, New Politics, Pacific Dub, Tech Nine and many more.
Signed by Frankenfoot records Piss Drunk & The Whiskey Pistols is a psychobilly band based out of Evansville, IN. The band consist of Tate Hall, lead singer and upright bass player, Kimmy Hall, Drummer and vocals, and Cliff Coultas, guitar and vocals. They are a touring band who has graced the stage along with acts such as; Twistin Tarantulas, Be My Doppelganger, Bush League, Vice Tricks, Jane Rose & The Deadend Boys, and many more. A band who is always looking to do more shows, look forward for them coming to your town.
Matt Woods is a product of Appalachia. You can hear his East Tennessee roots tangled in the lines of his songs and it is through this filter he distills the world, both external and internal, into his unique brand of songwriting. You can call it Americana, folk rock, even country music but no matter what it’s called it is, at it core, honest and heartfelt. Spending most of his time on the road, either engaging listeners as a solo artist or enrapturing them with his band, Matt Woods and the Natural Disasters, he would say, if asked, that he is “just trying to share some truth and get along.” 2019 brought the release of Woods’ 4th full length studio album, Natural Disasters, and an impressive touring schedule in support of it across the US and Europe, the latter of which having become a yearly endeavor since the release of 2016’s How To Survive. As the global Covid-19 pandemic brought touring to a halt, Matt moved forward in other ways including keeping connected via online events, writing for future releases, and even releasing an EP titled Mornings After as a companion piece to the 2019 album.
Both Natural Disasters and Mornings After, produced by Joey Kneiser (Glossary and Austin Lucas), share insights to the realities of our place in time as perceived through Woods’ eyes and enriched by the talents of Adam Meisterhans on electric guitars, Jeremy Mackinder on bass guitar, PJ Schreiner on drums, and Mike Webb (Chris Stapleton, Poco) on keys with Lance Howell (Big Shoals) and Kashena Sampson providing harmonies throughout. Along the way, Matt has shared the stage with the likes of Chris Knight, Black Oak Arkansas, Bobby Bare, Frank Turner, Roger Alan Wade, Zac Brown, Drivin’ n’ Cryin’, Will Hoge, Roger Clyne (of The Refreshments), CAKE, Robbie Fulks, The White Buffalo, The Black Lillies and others.
