MELLOW BLUES DUO
DAVID HAYES & THE PROJECT
David Hayes & the Project is a unique and original rock band based in Chicago. The band is comprised of Midwest musicians who have worked together in multiple projects throughout the years. David Hayes (guitar, keys, & vocals) is a native of Rockford, Illinois and has lived in Chicago for nearly a decade. He is a graduate from Columbia College Chicago who teaches private music lessons, and composes original music in multiple genres. He released his first album “In With the Old” in 2010, and is releasing a twin album “Out With the New” in 2011. The Project includes Graham Burris (bass, vocals), Mike Lim (keys), and Christian Chamberlain (drums). Graham Burris is another Rockford native who performs with multiple bands in Chicago, and has collaborated with Grammy award winner Lupe Fiasco. Michael Lim hails from Detroit, Michigan and is also a graduate of Columbia College Chicago. He also composes original music for his project known as The Lims. Christian Chamberlain is from Morton, Illinois and also keeps a tight beat in multiple bands. He is beginning to start his own drum and bass project as well. Together David Hayes and the Project create a unified progressive sound that keeps the listeners interested.
RYAN DOYLE
SLEEPY KITTY
Sleepy Kitty is more than a band: it’s an all-in multi-media artistic collaboration. After spending the ’90s drumming in Harvey Danger (London/Polygram), and the ’00s in Chicago’s Bound Stems(Flameshovel), Sult heard Brubeck’s voice in her band, Stiletto Attack, and couldn’t shake it. Strictly for fun, they started mashing weird sound experiments into their natural pop instincts, and quickly had a batch of art-cracked, catchy songs. At the same time, they were designing and printing t-shirts and rock posters together. They called it all Sleepy Kitty—and they now run both their band and their print shop out of a formerly abandoned brewery on St. Louis’s Cherokee Street, which has since become the city’s unofficial printers’ row (you can check out their print work at sleepykittyarts.com). After two self-released EPs—Hustlin’ Kets (2007) and What I Learned This Summer (2009)—and some great opening slots for the Dresden Dolls, Chuck Berry, and Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s, Sleepy Kitty caught the ear of Euclid Records’ Joe Schwab. The band’s live show is a whirlwind: Brubeck loops her vocals live, crafting walls of girl-group harmonies above the tube-driven blast of her vintage Super Reverb. Sult plays at the edge of the stage with her—when he can contain himself to his drum throne. Infinity City transmits the power of their live show but reveals their canny control of pop architecture: “Gimme a Chantz!” opens with a theatrical flourish before bounding into a crowd of surging ’90s-era harmonies; garage-cranked “Speaking Politely” makes way for the delicately observed details of city-breakup ode “NYC Really Has It All,” and the Velvets/Fab Four mash note “Seventeen” revels in their influences.
COWBOY INDIAN BEAR
OLD WORLDS
ROCKET MINER
Rocket Miner, formed in February 2011, is original members Larry Hryn and Chip Wortel and Chris Ruffolo tackling the expansive guitar work. Joining them to hold down the rock solid rhythm section is Danny Garcia on drums and TJ Fulfer on bass and Ken Pendola on vocals and samples.
Their first record “Songs for an October Sky” was self released as a demo, before being picked up and re-released by Oxide Tones Records in October 4, 2011. Following that release they embarked on a Midwest/East Coast tour, with performances at some of Chicago’s top venues. The band released their record “Elegy” via Shunu Records in 2014. Rocket Miner has shared the stage with other great bands such as Laberinto, The End of the Ocean, Junius, Trioscapes, the Life and Times, You.may.die.in.the.desert, and many more.
Currently Rocket Miner’s newest release, ‘The Long Goodbye’ is due on on May 4 2018 on Shunu Records. It’s a follow up to their 2014 critically acclaimed ‘Elegy’ LP. The band is looking forward to promoting ‘The Long Goodbye’ with their memorable and bombastic live shows.
TEN FOOT POLECATS
Their sound, though hard to define, has been referred to as “punk-blues”, “gutbucket soul”and “explosive stomp and groove”. This high-octane trio from Boston, MA has been touring the country for the past five years, taking their unique form of roots music (influenced by the sounds of the northern Mississippi hill country) to cafes, restaurants, record stores, rock clubs, theatres, festivals and back yard parties, and playing for anyone who will listen. In 2010, they released their first full-length CD, “I Get Blamed For Everything I Do” (Hillgrass Bluebilly Records). Their new album, “Undertow” (also on Hillgrass), will be officially released in March/April 2013.
SHA-BOOM!
BACK ALLEY RIOT
After toiling away for years on the Northwest side of Chicago, Back Alley Riot busted down the doors of the punk rock scene, when original members, Mike Nakis (vocals/guitar), Matt Jankiewizc (drums), and Danny Starks (guitar/vocals), hooked up with bassist Russell Katzenmaier. Their sound unites blue-collar story telling with stage-shaking power chords, creating punk rock songs with a down-home twist. Back Alley Riot blends punk, rock, and southern boogie with an explosive live show that will leave you breathless and begging for more. With standout tracks like “Gasoline On The Fire” and “Gunfight”, fueled by Russell Katzenmaiers
jaw-dropping bass lines, Danny Starks’ raunchy chord attacks, and Matt Jankiewicz’s relentless drumming, look for Back Alley Riot to cause a ruckus in the rock landscape for years to come.
EVERLENE
ANDY COOK & THE WANDERLOONS
JOHNNY SKETCH & THE DIRTY NOTES
Well, Carnival is behind us and it’s ’bout time to get crawfish season into full swing, and that means it’s the perfect time to get to dancing with Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes!!! Coming up are some great opportunities to get that done, starting March 2nd with Sketch’s first appearance at Irvin Mayfield’s new I Club in the JW Marriott on Canal Street in the French Quarter. Looking for a party on St. Paddy’s Day? How ’bout JSDN rocking all night long at the Maple Leaf? ‘Nuff said. And make sure you come out to the Tulane Quad for a rockin’ FREE show on March 23rd at 4:30, then it’s off to Key West at the end of the month to rock the Green Parrot one more time before Festival season gets under way…
JOHNNY UNICORN
HATE ETERNAL
Started in 1997 by one of Decibel Magazine’s Top 20 Death Metal Guitarists of All Time, Erik Rutan (of Morbid Angel & Ripping Corpse), HATE ETERNAL has easily become one of the most prominent names in the extreme metal scene with Terrorizer Magazine recognizing the group as one of the Top 8 Bands of the last Decade! Erik Rutan, J.J. Hrubovcak and Chason Westmoreland weave complex riffs, devastating drums, and truly ferocious vocals into a new masterpiece – INFERUS. The new album is already listed as one of the most anticipated albums of 2015. It’s heavy, it’s catchy, it’s innovative!
Though the band has experienced great success since its beginning in 1997, HATE ETERNAL are no strangers to turmoil and strife. In 2002, Erik chipped vertebrae in his neck in a van accident on tour and spent the next couple of months out of commission. During this period, band members withdrew from tours mere weeks from start date. This included a tour on which a London show was filmed for the band’s first-ever live DVD. Replacements were found and the tours continued on as planned. One of the most unfortunate events was the untimely passing of bassist and dear friend, Jared Anderson, who passed in October 2006 while in talks to rejoin the band. None of the issues ever kept HATE ETERNAL from its trajectory. Almost three years after the metal masterpiece, “I, Monarch”, HATE ETERNAL returned to the death metal scene with a new record. Fury and Flames, the band’s fourth studio album, marked the start of a new chapter in HATE ETERNAL’s already illustrious career. Fury and Flames was hailed as a diverse, heavy, chaotic and emotionally fueled record and saw the band on the road in the U.S. and Europe including the large European summer festival circuit (Party San, Summer Breeze and Brutal Assault).
For the writing and recording of Phoenix Amongst the Ashes, HATE ETERNAL recruited J.J. Hrubovcak on bass to join the devastating trio. In terms of the writing on Phoenix Amongst the Ashes, Rutan stated “it was my goal to expand upon what the band has done in the past, and add new dynamics and twists to the traditional, dissonant HATE ETERNAL style, yet keep it in the same vein. It took the three of us really pushing ourselves, and digging deep into the essence of who we are as musicians and writers and players to create something very unique and special.” The touring cycle for this record took the band to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America as well as the standard U.S. and European tours.
Following Jade Simonetto’s departure, the band recruited Chason Westmoreland on drums and signed with Season of Mist for release of their sixth full-length masterpiece titled Infernus. It was recorded at frontman Erik Rutan’s own Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, FL with mastering handled by Alan Douches of West West Side. This time, artist Eliran Kantor (Hatebreed, Testament, Soulfly) was recruited to create the lavish cover art.
Regarding the recording and the signing, Rutan comments: “We are ecstatic about how the recording for our new album has been coming out so far, and our new label and home Season of Mist. We’ve worked very hard on crafting these songs to reflect our path, from our past to the present, and the journey of HATE ETERNAL and its members. Writing this album was a long and arduous process. It took a tremendous amount of determination, blood, and sweat to bring this all to fruition. We’re super proud of what we’ve accomplished creatively, and excited at the prospect of releasing what we feel is our most powerful HATE ETERNAL material to date. Now it is time to bring this all to life! The recording process so far has been fantastic. I’ve never felt so focused and determined on a HATE ETERNAL record, and I know that this will be an album our listeners and supporters will truly appreciate. It represents an important milestone for me personally since 15 years ago both HATE ETERNAL began recording its first album and Mana Recording Studios was born. We have so much more news to share with you over the coming months. We cannot wait for you to hear this album!”
HATE ETERNAL have been one of the leading death metal acts worldwide for over eighteen years. The band’s full-length albums are considered crucial genre touchstones, and HATE ETERNAL are a proven headliner on major stages across five continents.
ORIGIN
United States-based tech-death masters Origin strike again with their new album, Chaosmos. The long-standing outfit celebrate not only a return to Nuclear Blast but also ring in their 25th year on Chaosmos. The same fury, brutality, and musical savvy that brought Origin critical acclaim and a devout fanbase on Unparalleled Universe (2017), Antithesis (2008), and Origin (2000) returns with reinvigorated intensity, passion, and skill. In 2022, the group—Paul Ryan (guitars/backing vocals), Mike Flores (bass/backing vocals), John Longstreth (drums), and Jason Keyser (lead vocals)—are undeterred by unprecedented roadblocks and global uncertainty as they push forward. Indeed, Origin’s new-era shock and awe mission is complete on Chaosmos.
“The music of Origin is a fusion of order and disorder. Our music is viewed as a meaningless assemblage of infinite perspectives,” posits guitarist/vocalist Paul Ryan with cosmic import.
Formed in Topeka, Kansas, in 1997, Origin have eight full-length albums to their name. The group buzzed early with their 1998 EP, A Coming into Existence (Original Records). Fans of high-caliber death metal and record label representatives had noticed. It was after Origin joined luminaries Nile, Cryptopsy, and Gorguts on the 1998 Death Across America Tour that a monster was unleashed. In 2000, Origin signed to Relapse Records, issuing four full-length albums in Origin, Informis Infinitas Inhumanitas (2002), Echoes of Decimation (2005), and the Billboard-charting Antithesis. While on the label, the group gigged incessantly, appearing on such notable tours as Death Across America 2000, Relapse Contamination Tour 2008, The Summer Slaughter Tour North America 2009, and several successful European runs. Additionally, guitarist/vocalist Paul Ryan was listed on Decibel’s Top 20 Death Metal Guitarists list in 2007. Origin’s subsequent albums Entity (2011), Omnipresent (2014), and Unparalleled Universe garnered praise in Metal Hammer, Allmusic, and Exclaim!, while occupying prime slots on the Occupation Domination 2012, the Devastation on the Nation, and The Hell Over Europe tours. Chaosmos yet again sees Origin’s technically apt death metal in scarily superlative form.
“It’s our third album with the same lineup,” Ryan says. “And I personally feel it’s a continuation of who the band is currently. At the start of 2021, people started talking about a new Origin album, and I wasn’t sure if the world was literally ready for it due to lockdowns/restrictions. In March, I told myself, ‘I will write one song per month until I finish the album.’ When it was completed, I sent over what I had written to the rest of the band. From that point forward, our collective alchemy resulted in what you hear on Chaosmos.”
POLYFUSE
POLYFUSE is the creative outlet of musician and sound designer Justin McGrath. The spread of music genres under this alias are quite wide and range from the evocative long-form dark ambient piece “One Quiet Moment” to modern Industrial Dance to the jagged, broken-glass-to-your-throat analog Acid of the No One Will Come To Save Us and Output albums, and even a large catalogue of film-score style pieces. Together with Surachai he runs Trash_Audio
THE DEAD ROOM
The Dead Room: this where I’m supposed to be all clever & smart like, isn’t it? Hmmm… let’s see. We’re from Chicago. Founded by S@int and now joined on stage by Napalm Bettie and Turner Xie (Negutyv Xeiro.) What more could you possibly want written here? Let’s go, Start a Riot. Start a Revolution.
FLYING CARS
Chicago’s finest rock meets indie rock meets that NY vibe of early 2000’s
ALAN BROOKS
DAN YOUNG
DAN YOUNG (THIS PROVIDENCE)
JON WALKER
SATELLITES
VERSUS THE NOTHING
VERSUS THE NOTHING, a hard rock band from Vancouver BC features heavy guitars, powerful melodic vocals, and an infamous energetic live show. The group is carving out a name for themselves through extensive touring, and have built a loyal and growing fan base across Canada and the United States with their blend of post-punk infused grunge rock.
ROCKWELL KNUCKLES
CHARLIE GLITCH
THE GTW
The Gtw (Greater Than Wealth) is a kid with a fiery passion for hip hop, afro breaks and alluring synths. He was born in Chicago to two Nigerian Immigrants. He quickly got immersed in the culture of his native ibibio tribe. The sound of up tempo nigerian music flooded his household on a daily basis. “I guess all those years of listening to my parent’s favorite jams influenced the type of music to do,” says the Chicago born musician.
This 20 year old producer/writer has worked with many in the indie music scene. His music fuses house with hip-hop and other worldly elements which helps propels his music to an innovative standard. His buzz is steadily rising and he is getting looks as the next rap artist to push the envelope of creative music not only in Chicago, but everywhere in the world. His ability to perform with incredibly high energy is one of the reasons why he is gathering loads of people on his supporter bandwagon.
He created his first solo project “Dont Smoke The Cigarette” as celebration music for the world cup. The Gtw’s debut release has gotten allot of good reviews from notable magazines and websites such as MTV Iggy and Art Nouveu. Sgt Tibs from Chicago Now says, “Don’t Smoke The Cigarette is one of the more impressive mixtapes I’ve heard.” URB MAG calls the mixtape, “A project with an eclectic mix of beats and rhymes.” The project features collaborative efforts from such artists and producers as Sunny Norway, Zip Justin Warren and Braxton Holmes. With singles such as “Running all my life” and “Blow Me Away,” he is definitley giving the listener a quality hearing.
DEVIN MILES
BENG FANG
AWDAZCATE
CRUSADER
Hailing from Chicago and the UK, CRUSADER is relatively new to the metal scene in Chicago, although they are all veterans of playing live music, having only been officially a band since spring of 2010. Tired of hearing run-of-the-mill corporate produced ‘metal’, CRUSADER decided to raise the flag and rally the troops to their banner.
Raised on classic rock, speed metal and thrash through to doom, and everything in between and beyond, CRUSADER proudly and unashamedly wear their influences on their sleeves.
Early 2011 saw the release of CRUSADER’s self released EP ‘Rise of the Templars’ which has received rave reviews:
‘If you close your eyes, you can picture hundreds of spiked gauntlets, punching the sky, lock step, united in war against poseurs. When the song takes off, it’s a groove thrasher with crooning vocals that reminds me a lot Death Angel’ – American Aftermath Webzine
‘Rise of the Templars’ is one great epic metal release, I do love the bass sound, this is indeed everything I want from a metal release in all fairness right down to the Grave Digger inspired EP cover artwork. The gauntlet is laid down and the challenge is accepted. Setting their stall out to emulate the metal giants (credit vidovic at dhead tech), Crusader makes a good account of themselves and I for one simply love this EP’ – Brutalism Webzine
‘This is prime NWOBHM inspired heavy metal taking you back to the days of Black Axe and Angel Witch…’ – Powerplay UK Magazine
‘Their NWOBHM sound, the epic-driven song titles and the cool performance are enough to guarantee you that you are gonna have great time when these guys are onstage. During their 30 minutes’ performance, I enjoyed “Templar” and “Asgard’s Fire” and the sure thing is that I’m going to dig their EP asap. Just a perfect way to warm up for ANVIL’s invasion, don’t ya think? – Metal Kaoz review – show with ANVIL
2012 will see the band recording their full length album and taking their sound all over the country. Think of a Crusader tank driving over a minefield littered with the skulls of the enemy dead…they’re taking it back to the roots: Drinking beers, throwing the horns and playing metal…
SKECH185 & JAIDOT
RIFT NAPALM & MEATY OGRE
DEEPSPACE (VITAMEN D AND JAH SAFE)
DJ PRATT
THE COMPOSURE
THE VIOLET EYES
THE BUMPUS HOUNDS
ATTACK THE SOUND
AVERAGE HOES
UNPLUGGED AND REBORN
I AM THE LORAX
CALICO RADIO
BETH CHIN
MAN IN LOVE
BAD BAD MEOW
Critics have compared Bad Bad Meow’s style with the likes of Violent Femmes, The White Stripes, and The Pixies—all revolutionary artists in their own right, and an honor to be mentioned among. But where many artists fall victim to replicating their musical predecessors, Bad Bad Meow emulates only the vision and approach required of a Jack White to continue breaking boundaries.
Using an array of auxiliary instruments coursing over hook after catchy hook, BBM straps the boots on once again to kick down a few more walls with their third release, EP “Run Through the Middle.” Recorded at Chicago’s world-renown Engine Studios (Andrew Bird, Iron & Wine, Modest Mouse), this collection of tracks starts with a kick, downshifts and then kicks even harder. Bad Bad Meow has solidified its voice since bringing some Carolina twang to the Chicago scene, and it’s not an inside voice.
EAST SIDE WILDCATS
Little is known about these hooligans other than they rock and you better stay off of their turf. Rumor has it they met in a juvenile detention center on the east side of Chicago in the late 70’s. Their live performances are legendary often ending in the band being taken off the stage in handcuffs by the authorities. The Illinois supreme court has ordered that the fire marshall must attend all their shows in case he has to shut them down for overcrowding and rioting. The only thing they respect is Rock n Roll.
LA ARMADA
La Armada’s focus is to leave their mark on heavy music. A punk band at heart, they utilize elements of Afro-Caribbean rhythms and metal to create a style as unique as their story. Formed in the Dominican Republic in 2001 from where they dominated the Caribbean scene for years, the band opted to take a leap and relocate to Chicago in 2008, where they still reside.
Influenced by bands ranging from the Bad Brains to Death, they take elements from their native Island’s music to conjure a unique recipe; explosive live energy, and a clear cut narrative that highlights the effects of neo-colonialism on vulnerable communities.
Whether headlining tours throughout the world or supporting the likes of Sick of it All, Propaghandi, Strung Out, Death by stereo, and more, La Armada has come to bring a vibrant spin to the scene.
PRAYERS FOR ATHIESTS
Prayers For Atheists (PFA) is the first punk band signed to Strange Famous Records (SFR), the independent Rhode Island music label owned by renowned hip hop artist, Sage Francis. Fronted by longtime SFR affiliate, Jared Paul and Providence song writer, Alan Hague, PFA delivers the well-crafted and thought provoking lyrics that listeners have come to expect from Strange Famous. Thrashing rapidly between mid-80’s hardcore punk, counter-culture victory anthems, and politically-slanted hip hop, Prayers For Atheists gracefully snake in and out of genres while escaping lazy categorization. Using creative concepts to address pressing topical issues, the music remains fueled by the message, while the band demonstrates a sense of victory and hope. These songs are labor testimonials, dance jams, and anti-war hymns executed with heart, craft and integrity. PFA’s 2009 self-titled 8 song EP was a forceful opening statement for a group who intends on shaking things up while having fun doing it. It’s not macabre music. And it’s not cynical. That would be too easy.
SALEM BITCH TRIALS
We first got together to play a riot grrl cover show and continued to form a band out of it. Our name has a radical history behind it, it came from the witch trails. Many people don’t realize that even today, witch hunts still occur, mostly in Africa. Over 40,000 women were killed. Witch hunts were patriarchal and ended up being a gendercide. Women were targeted as witches if they were open about their sexuality, poor and asked for resources but could not return any, practiced medicine without consent from the church/men.
AHLEUCHATISTAS
EMERSON STREET RHYTHM BAND
MYSTIC SOUL
TORCH SINGER
VIDEOTAPE
MATT REED & TGP
KHIL
WE ARE THE O TOUR
YOUNG LOVES
THE HIT BACK
ELECTRIC BOOGALOO
THE STONE SUGAR SHAKEDOWN
The Stone Sugar Shakedown, a 5-piece Funk, Rock, Jam band from Saint Louis, Missouri, was united by a love of musical exploration, improvisation, & getting soulfully nasty. Among the members is a shared vision of pushing musical boundaries, all while embracing the legacy of Jazz and Jam Bands.
THE EMPTY SPACES
NATE Z
THE SOUNDWALLS
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND ‘CRASH’
ALANIS MORISSETTE “JAGGED LITTLE PILL”
RUN & PUNCH
LES ANIMAUX
Les Animaux [LEZZ ANNIE-MO] bring the worlds of punk, surf, garage, indie rock and ska together to deliver new life to the sounds you already know without succumbing to the stereotypes. You may have heard these sounds before, but not all together and never like this.
SECOND CITY CITIZENS
Chicago’s very own Trifecta of Mic Wreckers, the Second City Citizens, have not slept much in 2011. Since voltroning in 2010, the alternative hip hop trio has toured relentlessly in the Midwest—playing notable shows with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, C Rayz Walz of Def Jux, Mac Miller, Blueprint, CunninLynguists, Mac Lethal and many others. Emcees Rich Jones, Swords the Ronin and Troy Boy have released a combined 5 projects—filled to the snapback brim with fun storytelling, clever lyrics and twenty-something sight and sounds—headlined by the compilation album Spliff Notes. With a project with renowned producer Tony Baines (Supertrap) on the horizon, SCC is ready to spread their love for hip hop and energetic live performances to the masses—in the Second City and beyond.
WERMONE
THE WILD ONION PEOPLE
HALFMOON MAD
Halfmoon Mad is an alternative rock band based out of Chicago, Illinois. Its members include Joanna Stanielun (vocals, guitar), Maxwel Perna (drums), George Kolovos (guitar), Steven Perna (bass) and Rachel Atlas (keyboards). Inspired musically by bands like Incubus, Porcupine Tree, Alanis Morrisett, and many others; and lyrically by the beauty and difficulty of life, Halfmoon Mad brings together rock melodies and insightful lyrics, striving to bring truth to music. Having gone through multiple line up changes over the past few years, HMM has settled into a group with undeniable chemistry that shines through in the music, and the performance.
In a world of music that is auto-tuned, tells you you’re a firework and lacks substance, Halfmoon Mad stands out as both musically and lyrically deep. Their songs are created to reach in and grab your soul, toss it around and make you think about who you are and the world we’re living in. Halfmoon Mad has an alternative rock sound with progressive hints and is sure to appeal to a wide range of listeners. This is what people don’t know about but want to hear.