D. Bess is a one-man band who loops all his licks live. Born and raised on Oahu, the roots of his Hawaiian upbringing can be heard in his original mix of reggae, ska, blues, folk, hip-hop and dance funk. No pre-recordings, no laptops: just pure D. Funk, recorded and rocked live. Get you some.
“Bess dazzles as a one-man band, writing, playing and singing everything into an ambitious, genre-tripping groove-athon… a shape-shifting hybrid of dub, hip-hop, ska, reggae, funk and classic early ’70s soul.” – No Depression
“D. Bess (as he’’s known on stage) creates his unique tunes from the ground up as he builds the music on itself tier by tier using a stage’s worth of pedals and instruments. The labor-intensive results set an emotive backdrop for high times, low times and the unyielding roller coaster in between, creating positive pieces of poetry and winding loops for the listener to dissect.” – Flagstaff LIVE
Ed Anderson and Scott Tipping have been making music and mayhem together since the late ’90s, when they hosted an open mic featuring drunken jazz artists, angry poets and puppeteers. Ed moved on to found roots rock trio Backyard Tire Fire in 2001. Through the 2000s, the band toured relentlessly, recording 5 albums and 2 EPs. Scott went on to become a mainstay of the Chicago music scene, playing and touring with bands like Mighty Blue Kings, Peter Himmelman, The Steak House Mints and Dayna Malow. Their paths crossed again in 2008 when Ed asked Scott to join Backyard Tire Fire on tour to round out the band’s sound. BTF’s album Good To Be, produced by Steve Berlin, saw them touring the country, headlining shows and opening for the likes of Los Lobos, Buddy Guy, ZZ Top and Cracker. In back alleys, dank hotel rooms and a van that at least once tried to kill its masters, a new music partnership was formed, and when Backyard Tire Fire decided to take a break from touring, Scott and Ed chose to bring together some of their favorite Chicago musicians to work on new songs: Steve Gillis (drums), Scott Stevenson (keys and vocals) and Matt Thompson (bass). The new project features songs by both Ed and Scott, staying true to the rock-and-roll tradition of BTF while transitioning into a more dynamic, harmony-oriented sound.
Alex Robert Felten was born from the mud and the clay in the not-so-distant future province of Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The singer/songwriter grew out of the indie/ alt-rock outfit known as REPLICA REPUBLIC where he did wield a fire-red telecaster and contributed in the song writing process. As REPLICA REPUBLIC dissolved in 2010 Felten was forced to forge his own path. Today, with guitar in hand a head full of original tunes he is conquering the Mid-West one city at a time. Felten’s music is derived from americana, folk, country and blues, writing in the style of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Robert Earl Keen, Bruce Springsteen and Ryan Bingham. When absent from the stage Felten enjoys older women, imported cigarettes, aged whiskey and sleepwalking.
The Gated Community is dedicated to pursuing the ideals of the American dream, as expressed and embodied in the form of country music. Liberation for the people, and their pets.
GIN PALACE JESTERS
“Chicago’s original honky-tonk fools,” the Gin Palace Jesters are purveyors of the finest in hard hitting hillbilly Honky-tonk, Country Boogie and Western Swing . Infused with a deep and sincere fondness for all traditional American musical styles, the sound of the Gin Palace Jesters could best be described as being akin to the sounds of Country Music’s “Golden” age. Although a portion of their live performances come from their vast catalog of the Hillbilly & Country Hit Parade, these boys are not mere followers or imitators. They also posses the talent of 3 songwriters performing original novelty numbers, heartfelt love songs, honky-tonk weepers, drinking songs and dark ballads. Delivering 3 and 4 part country harmony, the Gin Palace Jesters prove that authentic country and cowboy music can still hold validity in both traditional songs as well as brand new originals. The Gin Palace Jesters are a true authentic American band often seen holding court where the thrones are bar stools, the lights are made of neon, the holy spirits are served on the rocks, and Hank Williams is King.
LUCKY TUBB AND THE MODERN DAY TROUBADOURS “If Ernest Tubb is the King of Honky Tonk music, then Lucky Tubb is surely the Prince” Choosing to carry out the legacy of his great-uncle, Lucky’s style is reminiscent to the raw and original country style of the earliest Nashville artists. Before music row forgot their heritage. Lucky Tubbs album “Generations” was recorded in January of 2003, after a devastating Christmas Eve house fire burned away all of his belongings. Through generous donations, he was able to re-establish equipment and love from the music community. He carried on. Never breaking stride and never retreating, Lucky has moved up the ranks of the Texas music scene. Starting out playing coffee shops for tips with only a snare drummer, to opening for country music cornerstones such as ET’s old pal Ray Price and country superstar Dwight Yoakum. Lucky wears his life experiences like a well-tailored suit with the sleeves ripped off. In the early days, despite poor management, heavy drinking, and quick temper (alongside many acclaimed honky-tonkers and country legends), he has grown to realize the responsibilities bestowed to him through heritage. Bottom line, Lucky Tubb is the real deal. People will always like good honky-tonk music, and will for generations to come.
Singer/Songwriter/Multi-Instrumentalist Joseph Huber is a founding member of, and also had spent 6 years of playing banjo and heavy touring with the Milwaukee, WI based “streetgrass” group, the .357 String Band–a group that, despite it’s abrupt break-up, still continues to gain popularity, is known as one of the most influential groups in the recent insurgent underground country and bluegrass movements. Hard living put together with plenty of downtime has offered more than enough motivation and opportunity for his songwriting, and Huber has continued moving onward and upward captivating folks with his sincere and well crafted songs.
“Bury Me Where I Fall”, Huber’s introductory solo album was an unseen side to his writing–less high-octane and blistering as his known work, “Bury Me…” reveals multiple, new landscapes, ranging anywhere from desolate, world-weary ones; to brooding and ominous ones. His 2nd release “Tongues of Fire” is much the flip-side to that–joyful, light-hearted, and laughing even in the face of hard times. Being a multi-instrumentalist, Huber performs all the tracks on his records on his own…fiddle, banjo, guitar, harmonica, percussion, and bass. Huber can be seen playing with a backup band, or also opting for a “one-man-band” setup–singing and playing banjo/guitar/harmonica and opting for a trusty ol’ Samsonite suitcase as a kick-drum. In his solo career he has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with many great performers including Hellbound Glory, Bob Wayne, Graham Lindsey, Robert Earl Keen, Keller Williams, and more.
His lyricism and introspective writing style has received high acclaim from many Americana enthusiast looking for a more substantive substitute to much of today’s modern country. Maintaining a solid touring schedule, playing all throughout both the U.S. and all around Europe, he has steadily gained ground and gotten much positive press, and has shown himself a sincere and influential member of the growing roots movement. Huber has a planned release of his 3rd solo album ‘The Hanging Road’ featuring 10 new tracks, which will be available on Nashville’s ‘Muddy Roots Recordings’ in Spring 2014.
Lonesome Wyatt and the Holy Spooks is a project by Lonesome Wyatt of “Those Poor Bastards,” which has a rather dark sort of folk sound. Lonesome Wyatt lived a mostly reclusive existence in the Wisconsin countryside during his formative years, which developed into an intense imagination and a constant feeling he was an outsider. Compelled by unknown forces to create music, he began recording songs in his parent’s basement and credited them as Lonesome Wyatt and the Holy Spooks. With references ranging from Nick Drake to Rozz Williams, these primitive songs remained unheard. Somewhere along the way, Wyatt met a similar-minded misanthrope who called himself The Minister. Fueled by their shared hopeless view of humanity, the duo became legally certified holiness preachers and began to create music together as Those Poor Bastards. They melded many influences, including a love of pre 1960’s country music, classic horror films, and a rudimentary grasp of instrumentation. Their first album, Country Bullshit, may too have been relegated to obscurity if it wasn’t for a small but significant act. On a whim, Wyatt gave a copy of the EP to Hank Williams III after a show, and so taken was Hank by their efforts that he began to play their song “Pills I Took” live, and released a version of it on his record “Straight to Hell.” That support burgeoned a devoted following and 5 full-length albums and a handful of EPs later they continue to spread the doom.
Panic Years is an indie alt-rock band from Philadelphia, PA. Their past two EP’s (Panic Years (2009) & Finally Today Is Tomorrow (2010)) have received critical acclaim as well as radio play on over 200 stations nationwide, charting #1 in over 30 markets. 2011 saw Panic Years share the stage with acts such as Naked and Famous, Airborne Toxic Event, Mae, Terrible Things, Jenny Owen Young, and Atomic Tom among others. Currently the band has recently completed recording their new self titled full length record, The Month’s Mind, due Spring 2012. Panic Years will performing select dates along the east coast after the new year, and will be on a full nationwide tour next spring in support of their new album.
The Mason Burrow Sound came together from four students at Loyola University Chicago with a shared love of music. The four students put together a sound that derives from much experimentation, arranging, and discovery of different musical identities within each song. They currently play shows around the city and are always preparing new material.
We are a 3 piece band from Chicago. We play punk with a slight country twang on it. We just recently recorded a 7″ EP that we are looking to release in the near future. We’re all about having fun and enjoying the music we play!
MALCOLM LONDON, called the Gil-Scott Heron of this generation by Cornel West, is an internationally recognized Chicago poet, activist & educator. A member of the Young Adult Council of the prestigious Steppenwolf Theater, London brings vim & vigor to his energetic performances tackling tough contemporary issues head-on. He has appeared on PBS for the first ever televised TED Talk with John Legend & Bill Gates & has shared stages with actor Matt Damon & rapper Lupe Fiasco as a part of the The People Speak, Live! cast. He also appears on Season 2 of TVOne’s Verses & Flow.
In 2011, Malcolm London won the Louder Than A Bomb youth poetry slam in his native Chicago, scooping the top award as both individual performer & with a team. The poet, performer & activist recently wrote & directed a spoken word infused play responding to the Zimmerman verdict called Two Years Later at the Goodman Theatre with an ensemble of five youth poets. Malcolm’s work has been featured on national outlets including CBS, NPR, Huffington Post, The Root, and the Chicago Tribune. Only 21 but he has wielded a dynamic spirit for speaking engagements utilizing his feisty & passionate performances as words of encourage for next generations to tell their stories.
London attends University of Illinois at Chicago & is a member & co-chair of BYP100 Chicago Chapter, a national organization of black activists & organizers. Deeply interested in working on ways to improve the national education system, London regularly visits high schools, youth jails, colleges & communities to work with students on writing workshops and performances. London is currently devoted to being a youth advocate & coordinator of The Know Your Rights Project out of Northwestern Law School, a project dedicated to educating young people on their rights within the juvenile justice system, & continuing his work as teaching artist on staff at Young Chicago Authors, a program working to transform the lives of young people by cultivating their voices through writing, publication and performance education.
Carolina Still is an acoustic band with a new sound and an old-time feel. They will take you down on the farm, out into the tobacco fields, and down a dirt road with a trunk full of ‘shine; you never know where they might take you. One thing’s for sure, you will be schooled in southern American culture after listening to their music. They blend musical styles such as old-time, bluegrass, country, blues, rockabilly, punk, and many more. Their sound is deeply rooted in traditional music but is delivered with a more progressive edge and a great amount of energy.
In early 2003, Danny Kay and Johnny “Lawless” Ray Carroll formed the band in Johnny’s basement playing a few original and a lot of rockabilly and traditional country covers. While Johnny continued to learn how to play the upright bass, Danny honed his skills as a song writer. After a few months of practice, they played a few shows as a duo and occasionally had a few people sit in as a lead guitarist. At a local open mic show, friend and musician, Jimmy Swope, sat in with Danny and Johnny and blew the roof off the place. Right then and there, they new they had something special.
Plunging into Jupiter’s deep and increasingly dense atmosphere, the on-board Galileo electrical power supply a set of 144 plutonium-238 fuel pellets would ultimately implode; that the plutonium Galileo carried would ultimately collapse in upon itself under the enormous pressures of Jupiter’s overwhelming atmosphere.
Triggering a runaway nuclear explosion…and igniting Jupiter as the solar system’s second sun.
Singer at Large and recording artist Johnny J. Blair is known for his innovative brand of “pop music with a twist,” a fast-paced mix of old school soul/rhythm and blues, psychedelia, punk/new wave, and a melodicism breathed by classical, gospel, jazz, and world beat. Goldmine Magazine said his music is “pop music with a conscience,” while Spotlight Magazine dubbed Blair “the Harry Houdini of rock and roll” for his ongoing “escape from typecasts.” Urban humor, romantic abstraction, and bittersweet spirituality are images in Blair’s lyrics. His vocabulary is influenced by the Bible, classic comedy (Charlie Chaplin, Marx Brothers), film noir, the poetry of T.S. Eliot, and the writings of Raymond Chandler, Graham Greene, and John Steinbeck. Common song subjects are metropolitan allegories (“She’s Not Some Animal”), apocalyptic justice (“Throw the First Stone”), surreal road trips (“Desert Ruby”), and nutty nostalgia (“I Wanna Bein Pennsylvania”). As a solo act, Blair performs with “a vivid energy.”
The Dropsteppers formed in January of 2010 from members of Doug Otto & The Getaways and The Poor Nobodys. The band consists of members Albert Perez on guitar, Paul Perez on percussion/vocals, Eric Struve on bass, Doug Otto on keys/vocals, Chris Gray on drums/vocals and Tom McDowall on lead vocals/guitar. Our genre of music blends Jamaican early reggae (1969-72), Jamaican rocksteady (1966-1968) and American Soul. 90% of our music is original!
Drawing influences from Punk, Ska, Reggae, and Rock Break the Cycle has created their own brand of soulful genre bending music that is just simply put Break The Cycle.
The Tzvi Lichtenstein Trio’s performance plays well in a wide variety of venues. They have played intimate low-volume wine bars, Websters and Blue Star Bistro; have experience with sound reinforced outdoor festivals; and have individually played rooms as large as Cabaret Metro and Park West. Their music is melodic and contemporary, exploring the spaces between Americana and jazz. The Tzvi Lichtenstein Trio welcome inquiries from discriminating corporate and private event planners. email: tzvi@tzvimusic.com | website: www.tzvimusic.com/trio or click on the link below. Tzvi’s own music is a modern take on the jazz idiom including in.uences from American musical sources, some standard jazz repertoire, as well as blues and some rock elements. Having recently come off of 2 years touring with the Fareed Haque Group almost exclusively, Tzvi is again leading his own trio playing many new compositions. Currently in the studio recording the upcoming CD “For Simplicity’s Sake”
Born and raised in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood DJ Sound Culture has always had a great affinity for world cultures and deep music. His passion for both has to a large extent laid the path in front of him for most of his life. In the dj booth DJ Sound Culture is somewhat of an ethno-musicologist or rhythmic cultural chemist of sorts, exploring the world’s sounds and finding the threads that tie us all together globally. From Bhangra to Balkan Beat, African Soukous to Latin House, he knows how to navigate your auditory senses. His live mixes are both dynamic and cohesive, whether you’re a world music enthusiast or dance floor regular, he keeps things interesting and moving smoothly.
EMEFE has only one intention: to play music that frees everybody in the audience, everybody listening at home, and everybody in the band. The band was created by drummer Miles Arntzen in 2009 to explore and share the afrobeat music pioneered in the 1970’s and 80’s by Fela Anikulapo Kuti and carried on today by Antibalas. In the same way that Fela used afrobeat music as a confrontation against corrupt politics, EMEFE uses its music to fight the inner authorities that we put on ourselves, each for our own specific reasons. EMEFE draws heavy influence from the funk music of Sly Stone, James Brown and Earth Wind and Fire, as well as hip hop and neo-soul influences. Mixed with a rock and roll edge, the powerful and exciting EMEFE sound never fails to get audiences jumping. EMEFE hopes to spread awareness of the healing power of music, dancing and smiling, which explains their reputation as one of the most exciting and engaging live bands in New York. EMEFE consists of a drummer, a bassist, 2 guitarists, a keyboardist, two percussionists, and a 4-piece horn section.
Members of EMEFE have played with and studied with artists such as Antibalas, Sharon Jones & the Dapkings, Soulive, Charles Bradley, Menahan Street Band, TV on the Radio, Tower of Power, Medeski Martin and Wood, and many more. EMEFE – it’s the way!
Occidental Gypsy pioneers the sound of Gypsy Pop. Their mélange of high-energy Gypsy rhythms and catchy melodic Pop hooks deliver a thrilling auditory experience. Perhaps this is why they decided to gypsify Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on their debut album, Over Here. Released in February 2011, Over Here has quickly garnered critical acclaim. Motif Magazine wrote, “listeners will surely be all-in with Occidental Gypsy’s Over Here,” and defined the band as “a terrific and unpretentious fab four”. Playing from 8-9:45pm
Armed with electric guitars, swooning vocals, and songs that split the difference between rock & roll and dreamy psychedelia, Angela Perley & the Howlin’ Moons pack the biggest punch of their career with Homemade Vision.
Like the band’s debut, Hey Kid — an album whose kickoff track, “Athens,” earned Perley an International Songwriting Award in 2014 — Homemade Vision was recorded in the Howlin’ Moons’ hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Many of the songs were dreamt up somewhere along the highways and backroads that crisscross America, though, coaxed into life by a group of roots-rock road warriors who regularly play more than 100 shows a year. As a result, Homemade Vision is the sort of wide-ranging record that creates its own geography, building an imaginary place where the influences of David Gilmour, Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin, and Nebula all intersect.
It’s also the work of a genuine band. Chris Connor’s guitar playing — a flurry of fuzz, crunch, twang and bang — occupies just as large a role as Perley’s voice, while Billy Zehnal’s bass — coupled with cymbal crashes and snare hits from an arsenal of heavy-hitting drummers — glues the mix together. Inspired by love, heartbreak, and everything in between, Homemade Vision is a battle cry from a band that’s spent years fighting the good fight, carving out their own brand of atmospheric, aggressive Americana along the way.
Orchestral indie rockers Paper Thick Walls began on a green carpet with an acoustic guitar, piano, and a few stories crafted into melodies. The songwriting talents of Eric Michaels and Kate Schell create a truly genre defying sound that “is a sweet miss-mash of influences from Wilco to Sufjan Stevens,” with “a bit of Cursive’s dramatics and a dash of the boldness found in bands such as Broken Social Scene and Arcade Fire.” (Loud Loop Press). The past two years have combined the talents of band members Jacques Rene, Roger Sherman, and Andrew Sabo to add lush orchestral instrumentation behind the profound lyrical imagery.
Following the successful press reception of Paper Thick Walls freshman album, “A Thousand Novels”, the band spent the year touring over 50 cities in the US and Canada to move more than a thousand records with their own hands, playing with touring bands such as The Lumineers, Company of Thieves, Drive by Truckers, Joe Pug, and Smoking Popes.
With such an infectious live show, it’s not hard to see why Paper Thick Walls have been named one of the top five emerging artists from Chicago by The Deli Chicago and Chicago Magazine. The band’s 2011 debut record “A Thousand Novels” claimed numerous “Best of 2011” lists and over 150 positive reviews. The band played key music festivals including NXNE, CMJ, Mid-Point Music Festival, and Summer Fest.
This year, the band is set to release a new EP that will showcase five new songs that further utilize the many instruments in the five piece group to further explore what TimeOut Chicago calls their, “anthemic folk rock”sound.
In addition to the rigorous touring schedule of 2012, lead members Eric Michaels and Kate Schell performed the principal roles in a full-length feature film premiering in 2013 entitled,WE GREW UP HERE The film, directed by Kevin Pickman and produced by 15 in the Dark Collab, will also feature a soundtrack composed and performed by Eric
and Kate.
Part man part wheel, Delaney Davidson is part wandering minstrel, part travelling salesman. One hand holds a small brown suitcase, his trade, his ghost orchestra, the other holds his guitar. One foot firmly in the Blues Trash corner of the ring, the other on the road, you could say Delaney sees music as he sees geography, and that although he has certain preferences, in fact all territories are up for grabs.
Fans of singer/songwriter and one man band Possessed By Paul James my be surprised to find out that playing music is not his only passion. Though he somehow finds the time to make appearances all over the US and Europe throughout the year, down in the Texas Hill Country he’s in charge of an elementary school special education classroom, teaching children with intellectual disabilities. And you may think that with juggling so many responsibilities between music and work that he wouldn’t have the energy or the time to excel at either one. But Possessed by Paul James is not your average musician, or teacher. – Saving Country Music
WWMR comes from the heartland of America, otherwise known as Missouri. Bringing their own brand of blues/rock, it is a show that you will not soon forget
THE MISSION: Spending six homeless months in rural Asia gives a man a lot to think about. Brett Newski wandered Bangkok to Hong Kong to the Philippines and everywhere in between before moving to Saigon, Vietnam on a whim. Here Brett Newski & the Corruption was formed with drummer Mean Matt Green (Great Britain), & bassist Jeffro Gantner (Saskatoon, Canada). The band remains based in Saigon, but tours internationally whenever humanly possible.
Mama’s Love Child is a trio composed of Mr. Dan Turner, Shawn Tuthill, and Monroe Stinson. Dan and Shawn started the group in June of 2010 and Monroe joined in spring of 2011. MLC is known for its acoustic blues and upbeat rhythm. Dan Turner is known for his smooth, soulful voice while he lays it out on the acoustic guitar. Shawn keeps the groove lock in with playing the djembe, bongos, and sometimes throws out a whistle or two. Mr. Monroe lays down the bass flawlessly and keeps the groove sexy…
BAD SNEAKERS ORCHESTRA will be playing Steely Dan’s GAUCHO front to back, LIVE~!
Stevie Robinson-Lead Vocals
Paul Martin-Bass, Musical Director
Pat Fleming-Guitars
Neal Alger-Guitars
Kent Wehman-Keyboards
John Erickson-Keyboards
Neal Wehman-Drums
Scott Burns-Tenor/Alto Sax
Tim McNamara-Bari/Tenor Sax
Michael McLaughlin-Trumpet
John Mose-Trombone
Pam Bradley-Background Vocals
Sandy Caulfield-Background Vocals
Maggie Bynum-Background Vocals
The Mark Lavengood Steel Guitar Ensemble focuses on original music steeped in tradition and repertoire from the 40’s and 50’s, the heyday of the non-pedal steel guitar. The musical soundscape is set by the straight steel guitar, vibraphones, electric guitar, mandolin, solid vocals upright bass, and trap set. From Santo & Johnny tunes to Leon McAuliffe mixed with some blues and western swing, the Mark Lavengood Steel Guitar Ensemble is a crowd pleaser for all audiences!
Born of a mutual appreciation for jazz, country, good bourbon, & black coffee, Labors’ songs owe just as much to Chet Baker as they do Hank Williams. Labors’ brand of sad-bastard music is Midwestern to the core. The Chicago-based quartet started out as an outlet for the songs of Kansas City native Zechariah Melton. After relocating to Chicago he was joined by bassist Jacob Hand, drummer Addison Ashbaugh, and guitarist Alexis Dionissopoulos.
To what to attribute Merchants of Moonshine’s quick success depends on who you ask. The fans (a.k.a. Moonshiners) will tell you it is the energetic live show and original songwriting. The band will tell you that it’s probably because they are a group of younger musicians exploring and revitalizing an older style of country.
Singer-songwriter Mimi Betinis has been obsessed with music since early childhood. Growing up in suburban Oak Park, Illinois, the Betinis house was usually filled with the sounds of his mother’s imported Latin, Greek and classical records. “Everything from Mariachi to Vivaldi,” says Mimi, when asked about his early musical influences. “I even loved Eydie Gorme and Trio Los Panchos.” The British Invasion of the mid ‘60s impacted Mimi forever though–especially at age 12, when his Mom took him and his sister (in the family’s Pontiac Bonneville) to see the Beatles play live at Comiskey Park. “The year 1966 was ‘the year’ for me,” he says today of the experience. Within a few short months, he’d seen the Yardbirds (with both Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page on guitar) at Chicago’s Civic Opera House–and the Jimi Hendrix Experience play there as well. Soon after, Mimi taught himself to play guitar and keyboards, and began writing his own three-minute pop-rock songs.
Ed Anderson and Scott Tipping have been making music and mayhem together since the late ’90s, when they hosted an open mic featuring drunken jazz artists, angry poets and puppeteers. Ed moved on to found roots rock trio Backyard Tire Fire in 2001. Through the 2000s, the band toured relentlessly, recording 5 albums and 2 EPs. Scott went on to become a mainstay of the Chicago music scene, playing and touring with bands like Mighty Blue Kings, Peter Himmelman, The Steak House Mints and Dayna Malow. Their paths crossed again in 2008 when Ed asked Scott to join Backyard Tire Fire on tour to round out the band’s sound. BTF’s album Good To Be, produced by Steve Berlin, saw them touring the country, headlining shows and opening for the likes of Los Lobos, Buddy Guy, ZZ Top and Cracker. In back alleys, dank hotel rooms and a van that at least once tried to kill its masters, a new music partnership was formed, and when Backyard Tire Fire decided to take a break from touring, Scott and Ed chose to bring together some of their favorite Chicago musicians to work on new songs: Steve Gillis (drums), Scott Stevenson (keys and vocals) and Matt Thompson (bass). The new project features songs by both Ed and Scott, staying true to the rock-and-roll tradition of BTF while transitioning into a more dynamic, harmony-oriented sound.
Gifted new artist Devin’s debut full-length album, Romancing, is out now on Frenchkiss Records. The video for the album’s first single, “Masochist,” recently premiered on NME and can be seen here: youtube.com/watch?v=6CycE_JJPhc KCRW declares “Bold. Brash. Boisterous. Teeming with hooks and spilling over with attitude. If this is how you prefer your rock n’ roll, you have a new hero for 2012. He goes by the name Devin.” Time Out New York describes Romancing as a “hip-thrusting, beer-sloshing record that fairly drips with swagger—a fine contrast to all of Brooklyn’s indie-pop sighs and whispers.” Devin’s three-song EP for Frenchkiss, You’re Mine, received critical acclaim from Rolling Stone and earned him comparisons to David Johansen and Jack White. Named one of NME’s “20 Acts That Will Matter in 2012,” Devin is receiving airplay on the BBC’s Radio 1 and was included in The Guardian’s “Guide to the Next 12 Months.”
“Welcome to the art-punk renaissance”, declared Rolling Stone magazine last year, triumphantly heralding Crocodiles’ debut album. It was all just deserves for a San Diego duo who’d spent years kicking against the mundanity of their sprawling military town.
Combining musical versatility, instrumental prowess, beautiful vocal harmonies and a superb rhythm section, the Easy Star All-Stars have established themselves as one of the top international reggae acts since their live debut in 2003. Thanks to their best-selling tribute album releases, Dub Side of the Moon (2003), Radiodread (2006), and Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band (2009), the remix album Dubber Side of the Moon (2010), as well as original releases Until That Day EP (2008) and First Light (2011), the Easy Star All-Stars have built a growing, dedicated fan base throughout the world, bringing together fans of reggae, classic rock, dub and indie rock into one big family.
Brando Little (Harry Manhole) met Rod Henson (Tri-POd Rod) while working at the pumping station. Both felt a connection, but couldn’t put a fingure on what it was until Augie Lopez told Rod, Brando Plays guitar in a punk band called Lazy Affair. Augie then informed Brando that rod was a musician as well and he thought “Finally!!! I can start a gay band!” The next time Rod saw Brando at the pumping station, all he said was, “We need to talk.” Brando replied, “Yes, I believe we have business to discuss.” A week later The Gloryholes were a band, and found Adam Richards (Gaycy “The Go Go Boy” Slater) through mutual friend Harry Koniditsiotis, the frontman of The Angel Sluts. Now they were ready to gay up the Memphis punks, and haven’t slowed down since. With high energy music and lyrics that would make a sailor blush, The Gloryholes have been taking over the Memphis punk scene.
The Murder Junkies is an American punk rock band, best known for having been GG Allin’s final backing band before his death. They perform songs from Allin’s back catalog as well as their own original material.
DELIVER US FROM EVIL is a fully functional metal band from Southern Indiana that has already set itself apart in the Midwest. Armed with brutal guitar riffs, technical percussion, thick bass grooves, and throat shredding vocals, all at lightning speeds and stupefying precision, DELIVER US FROM EVIL is a force to be reckoned with.
“Two Ton Anvil is an original rock band from the Chicago area. Their sound combines different elements of rock and metal in a heavy but memorable format that rocks on command, but yet is “easy” to listen. That, along with the not-so-common practice of having dual lead singers in a band and very clever songwriting, has given them a different and somewhat unique sound that has definitely caught the public’s ear in their time together.”
Hammers of Misfortune was formed in the mid-1990s under the name Unholy Cadaver. At the time, the only members were guitarist John Cobbett and drummer Chewy Marzolo, both of whom shared vocal duties. Enlisting the help of other musicians, among them Mike Scalzi of The Lord Weird Slough Feg, they recorded a full album’s worth of material in their rehearsal space. However, only three of these nine tracks were included on the band’s aptly titled Demo #1, and the majority of the material remained unreleased until 2011, when Shadow Kingdom Records released the entire recording as the Unholy Cadaver LP. Unholy Cadaver’s output laid the groundwork for what would become Hammers of Misfortune’s signature style, but it also contained elements of death metal that would be phased out in future recordings.
Raw young talent at its best. This is a young group that has the direction and outlet to create something special. You will be shocked that this is 16, 17 and 18 year olds creating unique Indie music that works. They will turn heads if you give them the chance. They have performed on big stages like the Rave in Milwaukee, Congress Theatre and will be playing the House of Blues at the end of the month.
Chicago’s best New Wave dance night — since 1994! DJ Dave Roberts spins New Wave, Punk, Ska, New Romantic & more. Every Saturday night till 5am at Late Bar!
The south side of Chicago is pretty rough, especially Blue Island. It reeks of drunks, gun powder, crime, exhaust, and weed. For the sake of not confusing the reader, Chicago pedigrees NIGHTCAP wouldn’t have it any other way. When not making runs to Miska’s Liquor Emporium and the infamous Harold’s Chicken Shack, these Blue Island locals are sawing through their set all over the Midwest.
