ZCFOS
ZIP TANG
Zip Tang began as a conversation between Perry Merritt and Rick Wolfe at a local jam session in a suburb of Chicago, IL. in 2002. The idea was to start a fun little project covering some of their favorite artists’ music – Steely Dan, Jeff Beck, Traffic, Yes, King Crimson, etc… The search began for a drummer and keyboard player, and Fred’s audition locked in the core trio of the band then known as RPM. With no luck finding a keyboard player, Fred brought in his orchestral mate from the College Of DuPage big jazz band – Marcus Padgett – who played saxophone and a little keyboards.Soon after, the band’s name was changed to Zip Tang and the decision was made to start writing original material. The first album released in 2007 – Luminiferous Ether – gained some recognition with the track “Tower Of Tuna” and their interpretation of the “Tarkus” suite by ELP. The next album Pank was warmly welcomed by critics and was nominated for best progressive rock album by the “grass roots Grammys” organization Just Plain Folks in 2009. Great reviews continued with the two follow up releases Feed Our Heads and Das Reboot. In the summer of 2015 ZT v2.0 released their fifth collection of tunes Private Shangri-La. We are currently working on our first concept album with our new bassist Andrew Bunk. Stay tuned for the next chapter!
ALEX ZELENKA
OVERNIGHT FIRE
ROCKIE FRESH
If you are looking for a versatile rapping style infused with intricate bars and self-inspiration, Rockie Fresh is the artist for you. The independent Hip-Hop vet is a product of the cultural hub Chicago and brings a style unlike any other from the city.
Rockie Fresh aims to reach new levels of success, inspiring fans and living up to promise to his friends and family along the way. In each release, Rockie seeks to show a different side of himself as a person and an artist, providing a complete look into his story with each bar and beat. The latest glimpse into Rockie’s world is the Slide Thru Part 2, capitalizing on one of the best 2020s of any artist and pairing him alongside some of the elite artists in his city.
His family currently inspires Rockie Fresh, presently engaged in a journey of fatherhood alongside music. He is presently using his music to give his take on everything that is going on in his world.
“My recent life experiences taught me that prayer is important when trying to navigate properly through life,” Rockie said. “Also, hard work can beat bad situations; when times get tough, work harder.”
With a new project on the horizon, Rockie Fresh is focused on creating better art with each drop. With two albums in the works for 2022, Rockie exudes excitement for his new music.
XITING THE SYSTEM
STANDING STILL
TRE GATOR
HEROES
FAIRBANKS
ILL NINO
ANEW REVOLUTION
EKOTREN
THE SEEDY SEEDS
NO NO KNOTS
THE BOSTON THIEVES
THE SMUTS
PUBLICITY STUNT
“Pop punk. Depending on how old you are, how many pairs of Dickies short you used to/currently own, or how many times you have suffered waiting in line for a port-a-potty at Warped Tour, the term “pop punk” could mean a hundred different things. We are some twenty-one years removed from the pop punk explosion from the turn of the millennia and we are finally starting to see some a return to the pre “Enema” era of pop punk. Publicity Stunt hailing from Northwest Indiana is putting their own spin on the classic pop punk sound. You dig the Smoking Popes, Face to Face, or Wax? Then Publicity Stunt will be right up your alley. They recently dropped a live recording from the Super Satan Show from back in October and I must say the set delivers. High energy, guitar driven, and tight it was a joy to listen to.” — James Lear, Middle Music
THE WICK
THESE GUYS THESE GUYS
THEY DIE SCREAMING
In January 2007, Jerry Kavouriaris, Steve Uildriks, Stephen Kavouriaris, and Ken Kurasz, decided to start a band that would use their obsession for Horror and mix it with Death metal. In May, 2007, guitarist, Justin Clark, (ex Trench Feeder), joined the band. In May of 2009, Stephen Kavouriaris quit the band. In July of 2009 John Usher, (ex Mordrid and Degradation) joined up. We are in the process of recording our first album, entitled “The Organic Phenomenon of Human Decay”
TIM LARSON AND THE OWNER/OPERATORS
“Now, here is a band I can get behind. Chicago-based Tim Larson & the Owner Operators recently dropped A New Deal, a record lands on the spectrum somewhere between Nebraska and The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place, depending upon how much you goose the volume pot. Clearly influenced by the stark lyricism of both Cave and Cash, Larson and his boys fill their bag o’tricks with layers of guitar that will send the meeker Americana stock running for the hills.” – Dodge, My Old Kentucky Blog
TIN TIN CAN
TOBY AND KYLE DJ SET
TONOS TRIAD
Formed in the late fall of 2006, Indianapolis-based trio Tonos Triad has continued to
push beyond the boundaries of genre. The Triad is currently made up of upright bassist
Aaron Ransdell, guitarist Luke Stanley on nylon strings, and accordion / mandolin
player, Rod Schindler, who also plays a makeshift drum kit consisting of a suitcase and
cardboard box, played with brushes. Though primarily an acoustic band that centers
their sound on complex and euphoric melodies, they can shock listeners by plunging into
the intense realms of avant-garde ferocity before settling down into hard groove. If one
were to try to compare Tonos Triad’s music to anyone else, Astor Piazzolla or John Zorn
might come to mind, however, being that their sound is so diverse it is almost impossible
to label them under the school of any one master. They seem to be an enigma that
wanders on the outskirts of genre and classification yet, enters the listener to pluck their
heartstrings with subtle notes weaved with pop nostalgia and the dark unknown.
TOXIC HOLOCAUST
TOXIC HOLOCAUST mutated into existence in 1999, when Joel Grind merged his love for classic punk and metal into his ideal band. Like his influences – Bathory, Venom, English Dogs, Possessed, Broken Bones – TOXIC HOLOCAUST featured blazing riffs, gravel-throated vocals, and a deadly fixation on the evil in man and a post-apocalyptic world. Grind wrapped all of these elements up with a DIY attitude.
TRANSIT
Taking chances is always easier said than done – musically, there’s nothing quite like a risk taken to shine light upon an artist’s growth from their former selves. Boston rock outfit Transit has stirred up a unique recipe for success throughout their career, packing one album after the other with fresh ideas. Their newest collection of stripped down tracks in the form of an EP, Futures and Sutures, showcases the group’s collective ability to take on new concepts and come through flawlessly. Futures and Sutures features 5 musically revamped fan-favorites taken from Transit’s previous two full-length records, plus a bonus instrumental track.
2013 also brought on the anticipated release of the band’s full-length, Young New England, which debuted at #4 on Billboard’s Heatseeker’s Chart and was followed by a U.S. headlining tour. Young New England features a collection of Transit’s signature punk-infused tracks with thoughtful lyrics tying together the overall theme of the album, the band’s hometown of Boston.
Composed of Joe Boynton (vocals), Tim Landers (guitar/vocals), Torre Cioffi (guitar/vocals), P.J. Jefferson (bass) and Daniel Frazier (drums), Transit formed in 2006, signing with indie label Rise Records in 2011.
Transit’s following has grown immensely over the past year alone, many thanks to their ability to move forward musically. This summer, the group took advantage of (hometown) Boston’s lively nightlife and took excited fans along for a bar crawl to film a fun music video for the track “Young New England.” The true power of the internet came to surface when an online post inviting people to be a part of the video shoot sparked interest from a girl to fly across the country from California into Boston to be a part of it all.
Transit wrapped up 2013 in the strongest way possible, headlining a sold-out NYC show, embarking on a nationwide tour with Taking Back Sunday, and announcing their headlining role in 2014’s Acoustic Basement Tour presented by Vans Warped Tour. For a band that treads a notably unique line between indie and alternative, one thing’s for certain – expect the unexpected from Transit in 2014.
TRENTON WILLEY
VAT OF CHOCOLATE
VAUDEVILEINS
Vaudevileins is a rock band from Chicago. Since 2010, the band has toured throughout the Midwest and East Coast using the power of aviator sunglasses, sweat, beards, and a green Ford van.
VENTANA
VESTIGES
VIC MENSA
Born in 93, Vic Mensa is an independent recording artist from Chicago, Illinois who released his mixtape INNANETAPE online last year to critical acclaim. Vic has toured North America with J Cole and Disclosure and Danny Brown on his recent European Tour. Vic is also the leader and co-founder of the SAVEMONEY collective.
VIT
VOYCE G.I. GO
VULTRESS
WELLS NEXT THE SEA
Chance encounters in the frozen foods aisle and at a going away party for a friend of a friend first brought the group together. Mike Medina, Dann Morr, Philip Robbins, and Sarah J Wille were a combination of new acquaintances and old friends; veteran sidemen to many Chicago artists and newcomers to the Windy City music scene. Their common interests in folk and roots music plus the enjoyment and challenge of learning to play new instruments inspired them to collaborate on a sound of their own. The result of this collaboration is Guest House, Wells-next-the-Sea’s debut album.
WHATITIZ!
WHORRID
WINSLOW
THE DEVIZE
THE DIRTY FEATHERS
THE DREADNOUGHTS
THE HANDSOME BANDIT
THE HAPPY TALK BAND
HUSKER DUDES
Hüsker Düdes is the planet’s only Hüsker Dü tribute band. It’s composed of Dan Fanelli, Eric Mahle and Geoff Greenberg.
THE ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS
THE JONAS FRIDDLE BAND
THE LAST STRAW
THE LIGHT ASYLUM
THE LIMBOS
Formed in Chicago in 2010, The Limbos began as a two piece with only Keyboards/Vocals and Drums/Vocals under the name “Stu Benedict.” Shortly thereafter Maccabee Kelem joined Ryan Miera and Drew Current adding a bass and back up vocals. Ryan and Drew met studying improv in 2003. Maccabee had met Ryan when they played in a previous band named “Off the Radar” in 2008-09. All three being band veterans began rehearsing weekly at Music Garage in Chicago. Still do in fact. A year after forming, they met Ryan Imboden who jumped on board playing trumpet becoming the fourth full member. The Limbos have two albums titled, “Mmmm..” and “Rodeo Ballet.” They are both available on iTunes, at live shows or at Reckless Records’ locations in Chicago.
THE NOD
THE OLD COMISKEYS
One time, Eric had a wrestling pay-per-view party at his parent’s house when they weren’t home. He was 24.
THE OPPOSITION PARTY
The Opposition Party is a ten-piece Chicago musical collective, centered around performance of polyrhythmic music, particularly the cross-pollination of African music, Jamaican reggae and dub, and American funk and jazz. Heavy grooves and high-energy rhythms come alive in a catalog that features music from artists like Mulatu Astatke, Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, Thomas Mapfumo, Jackie Mittoo, and originals that stir up all these influences and bake them into something new.
THE PECULIAR PRETZELMEN
Fronted by the fearless, and occasionally lucid M. Incroyable, The Peculiar Pretzelmen have been kicking, stomping, screaming, and destroying stages, equipment, and minds since 2006. The outfit exists as anything between a two to a ten piece band pounding away at every type of tablescrap instrumentation they can cobble together.
Two full length albums, four EP’s, and hundreds of shows, and tens of thousands of miles have cultivated a band unlike any other. The ethics and musicality of pre-World War II blues and jazz men ignited by the “post-everything” DIY mentality of artists too broke to buy into preconceived notions, and too angry to be convinced this mayhem could possibly fail.
THE PIPE DREAMS
Chicago Rock and Roll
THE POWDER KEGS
THE RIPTIDES
THE SAWYER FAMILY
“Stoner Americana Thunder… like Slim Cessnas Auto club formed a side project that was part Black Flag part Black Sabbath..” Motif Magazine, Providence,RI
THE SHAKER AND THE EGG
THE SHAKES
THE SHAKIN MONEYMAKERS
THE SOMERSAULT FACTORY
Rich Neier—Bass, Vocals
Often compared to the likes of Geddy Lee (ok, so it’s usually for the way he throws back Canadian beer and hangs out in the North Woods…), Rich brings his over 15 years of gigging and songwriting to the band, while still maintaining a “happy puppy” devotion to his craft.
Erik Olson—Keys
The man who makes the golf clubs (sheet music) work so that the rest of the band doesn’t have to think – which is a good thing, since his is the best mind of the bunch. Erik’s influences go back as far as Beethoven and track forward to Porcupine Tree. Betcha can’t wait to hear how THAT sounds!
Larry Crawford—Drums, Vocals
Larry is a bald-headed bundle of energy that makes Animal the Muppet look tame in comparison. A must-see powerhouse of sound.!
Juliann Salinas—Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Once told that she was “completely folked up,” (at least that’s what she thinks he said) Juliann now puts her story and soapbox-stance songs to “da boyz’” rocked-up riffs.!
Pete Rosenberg—Lead Guitar, Vocals
With a voice that could make both Barry White and Freddy Mercury jealous, and licks that Hendrix would die for (oh, wait…) Pete writes, sings, leads and weaves a head-spinning myriad of tunes.!
THE SWAY MACHINERY
THE TUBES
SLEEPY LOU
SONS OF MARY
The SONS OF MARY is the brainchild of singer/songwriter Donald Bond Moreland. The band has had many formation with different members but always with its core Donald and his Brother Dallas. Proficient in an array of styles of music and songwriting the band covers almost every genre in the spectrum. While Blues/Rock is the main influence they feel comfortable in any situation. Never afraid to push the boundaries you will here folk,reggae and hip hop peppered into everything. With recently added Bassist and long time friend John Strand and Santino Carbonaro on rhythm guitar the band feels poised to make a mark on an industry filled with mediocrity.