LAKE EFFECT DELEGATES
Together, Brandon Hurn aka Seally (Mic), Matt Nelson (Strings), Dave Konieczny (Keys), Gabe Coria (Drums), Sir Arthur(Bass) all build a mean progressive sound that fuses their hometown roots encompassing Hip Hop, Jam, Funk & Rock n Roll!! These guys have been noted as Chicago’s up n coming crew that has stirred the scene with their explosive rhythms by defiantly breaking the barrier. Lake Effect Delegates, the name speaks for itself…
RAMA
Bringin’ that good music to everyone! Old school feel to my music, bringin’ Chicago back to a major hip hop force.
PUZZLE & POLO
TRAY 57
Tray 57 is a Local CHicago Artist from the Eastside side of the City. 1 of 3 in a Rap group named BTD. Ceo of head huntaz Ent., The young talented Rapper is versitile.
BELLADONNA DEVERO
Onesha “Belladonna Devero”, daughter of Pat and Larry Oglesby, was born in Chicago, Illinois, three years later moved to a surrounding suburb area. There she was exposed to many different ethnicities and cultures which helped her become well rounded and receptive to all sorts of music. From an early age she experienced hip-hop and rap within her home life seeing as her father, Larry, was an old school MC whom created a buzz within the inner city before her conception under the stage names “Big Dog” and “Maxx Chill”.
VAWTER
Brought together by the love of music and the desire to rock! Vawter was born in 2011 in the heart of South Bend, Indiana near the campus of Notre Dame and quickly started writing and performing some of the areas best original rock that has ever come from the region. With a show that consists of 90% original rock, these guys have gained the respect of many local bands and fans in the area for the quality of the songs. The lyrics are meaningful and the music is raw, quality rock. Sharing the same stage with bands like Static X, Davey Suicide, 9 Electric, Prong, Wayland, Illusions Fate to name a few, these guys have developed a powerful stage performance and deliver a high energy rock show.
MATTHEW SCHARPF’S STRANGERS AND SAINTS
As the founding member and lead guitarist of the former Chicago-based band Jamestown, Matthew Scharpf is no stranger to the Chicago music scene. He has been playing music in one form or another throughout the Midwest for over twenty years. At the core of it Matthew is a singer-songwriter whose lyrics are introspective, observant, and meaningful. With his band the Strangers and Saints he has once again established himself as one of Chicago’s must see acts. Their New Folk sound, reminiscent of The Beatles, Counting Crows, Del Amitri, and Paul Westerberg, is highlighted by Matthew’s poignant songwriting and their hard hitting rhythm section, while their energy and passion for music is evident in their live performances.
NOWAY JOSE
Not much is known about this comic. He travels the country making audiences of all colors and backgrounds laugh about what it’s like to be on the wrong side of the law since birth. Not much can be found online about NoWay Jose due to his risk of getting caught by the authorities. All that is known is that after he cracks a few jokes about his life and upbringing, he finishes his set with a 5 minute incredible impersonation of the late great Charlie Chaplin, then immediately leaves the venue. Come catch the only true illegal of comedy: NoWay Jose
FISTHAMMER
Fisthammer formed in the winter of 2008. After lots of shows, touring, a few demos and relentless songwriting, they recorded their debut album entitled “Devour All You See” at Atrium Audio with Carson Slovak. Devour All You See was released January 24th 2012 through Horror Pain Gore Death Productions. Fisthammer plans on extensive national touring, always stay updated for dates near you!
MASTER
There have been quite a few metal bands that have survived the test of time but do not have the appreciation they deserve and Master is definitely one. Formed originally in Chicago (they are now in Czech Republic), they have been making death metal since 1983 a few years before Possessed or Death and impressingly enough they are still going strong today. Master started out slow, but in recent years they have been averaging a new album every other year. “The New Elite” is their eleventh full length album and they show no signs of slowing down.
I would suggest this thrashy death metal band to any metal fan who enjoys their music extreme. Master has accomplished with three members what many bands have been unable to do with five members. Influenced by Slayer, Venom and Motorhead, they have a very heavy thrash sound. Vocalist Paul Speckmann greatly reminds me of Tom Warrior, the vocalist of Celtic Frost. Master has also greatly matured with age, unlike many death metal bands. In this respect, I would compare Master to Death. Just like Chuck Shuldiner and company greatly evolved from “Scream Bloody Gore”, so has Master from their debut release. Master’s lyrics definitely show the thrashy pissed off side with themes of politics, death and religion. A great example of this is from Smile As You’re Told, “Commanders are just put in place, the soldiers are easily blamed. The governments feed the machine as taxpayers simply complain.” www.metal-temple.com
AKOGU
DENNIS
I’m a singer-songwriter born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. I have been playing the guitar since the age of 5 and have kept at it ever since. As of the last couple years I have grown extremely fond of the blues and the emotion that is packed into every tune. As a current student at Columbia College Chicago, i am discovering the city and the impact this wonderful place has had on me and my music thus far has been tremendous. When playing acoustically I tend to write songs that pertain to life and the struggles that love and pain bring about. I love a good groove. Music be the way.
BENNIB
BenniB’s debut album, Journal of a Journey, was released on November 1st 2011. Within two months, his single, “I Won’t Crash,” debuted on Seattle’s #1 music station, Kube 93.3 FM, marking BenniB’s major radio debut. The album has been a great success and has kickstarted BenniB’s career. A few months after the release, he moved to Chicago to take advantage of new opportunities. He is currently finishing up his second project set for a Fall 2012 release. Stay tuned!
LUCIFERUM
Killer Black Death Metal Band from Round lake,IL
WELKIN DUSK
Plays a very raw and primitive form of black metal mixed with crustcore and this a review of their 2010 demo.Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with a good amount of blast beats being thrown into the music, while the bass playing has a very strong and powerful tone with riffs that dominate throughout the recording.
Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast black metal riffs that are very raw and primitive sounding mixed in with a great amount of crustcore influences, while the lead guitars are very primitive sounding black metal guitar solos and leads with a slight melodic edge on the last song.Vocals are a mixture of high pitched black metal screams and crustcore style growls, while the lyrics cover hateful themes, as for the production it has a very raw and primitive sound to it. In my opinion Welkin Dusk are a very great sounding raw and primitive black metal band mixed with crustcore and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band.
GARROBOS
Garrobos is a Mexican Hardcore Punk / Metal band. In 1996 they recorded their first album entitled “Garrobos” which featured the single “Walls” that aired internationally on MTV’s “Headbanger’s Ball”. They signed a contract with the record label BMG in 1997 and entered the studio to record their second album “Shake the skull” the track of the same name placed them inside the top 10 rock bands in Spanish and were nominated by MTV as the best latino metal video latino.
In 2000 they participated in the tribute album for LUZBEL with the song. “Green Warrior” and released their third album “One more second,” this time the label was P & P-Sony Music. The single “Blood” put the band at number 12 of the 40 groups in Spanish rock. In 2002 they went on their third North American tour as headliner’s of the “Aztlan Fest” with over 17 dates throughout the United States and northern Mexico. In 2003 the fourth album “Skull Riders” was released
This disc offers elaborate passages that beautifully combine fast and powerful metallic hardcore that has always characterized Garrobos.
RESISTANT CULTURE
Resistant Culture is the development of extreme and tribal music that has weaved the indigenous flute, rattle, tribal drum, and chant into an organic and flowing tapestry with contemporary punk and metal.
Resistant Culture’s root structure extends deep from the tree of extreme music. In its original form going back to the late 1980s, the band was called Resistant Militia. It combined the arts of punk and metal to incite a new movement that fused dark heavy sounds with the politics of survival.
Over the years, Anthony (the founder) has belted out hauntingly audible growls while being backed by many fleeting members. The current line-up consists of the following musical visionaries.
For over a decade, Katina, a classically trained guitarist has brought a high degree of sophistication to the band. Thrashing hair, shredding leads, and incendiary tonedistinguish her as an axe-woman to rival the hordes of men.
Since the late 90s, Rafa, a veteran avante-guard punk innovator has brought diverse musical elements on bass.
In 2003, Ben Axiom, the anarcho-punk/metal influenced drummer was recruited. He thunders out an alternating barrage of machine-like blasts and traditional heart-driven punk beats.
As the current line-up congealed and proved to be the most powerful and dynamic yet assembled, the late Jesse Pintado R.I.P. (TERRORIZER/NAPALM DEATH) a long time friend and former band-mate of Anthony, began writing, recording, and playing with Resistant Culture. He contributed on and off for two years before his tragic abrupt death in August 2006.
The last contribution Jesse made to the world of music was the monumental long awaited Terrorizer follow-up release Darker Days Ahead. It was his recent involvement in Resistant Culture that laid the foundation for Anthony’s vocal performance on this historic album.
Resistant Culture tours the U.S. regularly to support the first pressing of ‘All One Struggle’ on clear vinyl, with a gatefold, and 24×36 full color poster and the third pressing of their ‘Welcome to Reality’ CD.
Both releases are available at Seventh Generation Records and were funded by a co-op of international labels spanning the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and several European countries.
Resistant Culture recently recorded a 2012 demo that was mixed by Dan Swano at Unisound Studios. They’re now label shopping for the upcoming album “Shamanic Healing”.
YOUNG RAPIDS
“…Young Rapids are, for the moment, true to their name. The genesis of the up-and-coming band reaches back three years…they’ve spent the time since then carving out a colorful and dynamic blend of art rock…a sound that’s preserved on DAY LIGHT SAVINGS, it’s often stunning debut.” – Brightest Young Things (Interview with BYT)
AUTO DEFIANCE
With a signature sound of dreamy, lush instrumentation combined with pensive lyrics, a unique blend of art-rock has emerged. Hailing from East Nashville, Tennessee, Auto Defiance is led by enigmatic songwriter Bradley Boyer. Joining to build this ornately complex wall of sound is a small collective of passionate musicians who share a love for playing heavy-yet-atmospheric songs, which take you on an adventure from high-energy anthems to melodramatic ballads.
BENKOWSKI
Benkowski Trivia. Topics include: Music, Movies, TV, Sports, Locations, Celebs and More!
THE BIG DITTIES
The Big Ditties are professional and stuff. Their mission statement is “Let’s not take ourselves too seriously.” This mission is achieved by the following goals:
1. hang out
2. drink
3. smoke
4. play some tunes
5. talk shit
THE WIDGETS
What started as two drunk college mates diddling on acoustic guitars, making up songs about friends and faculty has transformed into the current entity known as The Widgets. The Widgets are a new force that needs some reckoning. They are already responsible for a Holy union as well as the destruction of many hearts and ear drums. Dually based out of Chicago and St. Louis, The Widgets are ready to make the midwest’s stomach ache from laughter. And while they’re doubled over, tears streaming down their face from laughing too hard, that’s when we eat their soul.
WILHELM MCKAY
Wilhelm McKay – Indie Folk Rock which is insightful and infectious. The professional and full-time Asheville NC-based group combines the singer/songwriter talents of Chris Wilhelm and Liam McKay with the sonic beauty and skill of cellist Cristof Ensslin. Their sound emphasizes love of a good story delivered in song and employs folk, roots and indie influences. The music is infectious and insightful.
NANA ZABIC
Nana resides in Chicago and hails from Croatia, by way of Serbia, Hungary, and Czech Republic. She was first a poet and a writer, and she’s been writing songs since 1998. She has performed and recorded both solo and as a member of Patti’s Breakfast (Belgrade), Good Apples (Chicago), and The Adaptations (Chicago), oscillating between indie folk and loud rock. Although she’s been living in the United States since 2002, her style bears an imprint of her Balkan roots. In the Balkans, contemporary music blends American jazz and rock and Western European cabaret influences with the traditional melodies and rhythms of the Mediterranean, that in-between region that’s equally European, African, and Asian. Nana is a singer-songwriter who sublimates diverse musical influences, and churns out tunes that sound both familiar and unique, performed in an understated, quietly powerful way.
CRUDE HUMOR
Crude Humor started in 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. In mid-‘08, Omar Ortiz and Nik Vasilic began talking about starting a band with Omar on lead guitar and Nik on bass. Nik and Omar wrote some stuff that summer, but it wasn’t until that fall that they actually practiced. That fall, Bradley Modjeski joined as the drummer and the three of them started writing. Omar recruited Griffin Koziol to sing that winter,but after having him sing some of Omar’s lyrics, the band decided he wasn’t what they were looking for and instead put him on rhythm guitar and Omar on lead vocals and guitar. For the next few months, they practiced constantly and wrote over 30 new songs. In May of ‘09, Bradley began talking to Xavier Gurrola, an old classmate who had been playing guitar since like 2003. Bradley saw a potential lead guitarist in Xavier and began inviting him to practices and jam sessions. After listening to Xavier play, the band agreed that he would make a better lead guitarist than Omar and he was hired, putting Omar on rhythm guitar. At a recording session, they realized three guitarists were too hard to control and decided to let Griffin go, so in early 2010, Griffin left. With the band writing faster and slightly more complicated stuff, Nik and Bradley switched instruments in the spring of 2010 due to the facts that Nik could play faster and actually owned a drum set and that Bradley could actually play bass.
With the lineup finally stable, they got to writing more stuff and played some shows in late 2010 and early 2011. By the time late 2011/early 2012 came, the band started playing more frequently. However, Xavier quit the band in early 2012, leaving the band with another open position. The band hired Nathan Haynes to replace Xavier on guitar.
We’re influenced by Nirvana, the Ramones, Minor Threat, Dinosaur Jr., the Sex Pistols, the Dead Kennedys, NOFX, the Minutemen, Sonic Youth, the Cure, Local H, RATM, the Clash, the Misfits, boredom, stupidity, space, confusion, fancy hats, itchiness, Dennis Hehn, constant yelling, science, Baby Geniuses 2, and thinking.
THE BLACKBERRY BUSHES STRING BAND
The Blackberry Bushes are a Northwest alt-folk stringband fronted by Jes Raymond and Kendl Winter. The Bushes’ innovative acoustic pop draws from the deep roots of American traditional music to create a rich patchwork that shares threads with bands like the Avett Brothers, Dixie Chicks, The Be Good Tanyas, and Nickel Creek.Jes and Kendl are supported by carefully constructed soundscapes that feature the virtuosic fiddle of Jakob Breitbach and Michael Connolly on the upright bass.
ZOOBOMBS
Zoobombs are a Japanese rock band from Tokyo, formed in full moon night of 1994. Changed some members in through eras, the band consists of three original members DON Matsuo (vocals, guitar, producer, direction), Matta(keyboards, guitar, vocals, design), Moostop (bass, driving) with new face Pitt (drums) since 2009.
MARLS IN CHARGE
After marinating in Cedar Falls for a few years, Marls In Charge is the latest arrival on the Des Moines music scene. The band’s chemistry is tangible, their songs born from years of playing together in dirty basements littered with empty Budweiser cans and cigarette butts. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what genre they play into, but could be described as a mutant hybrid of acid rock, jazz, blues, grunge, and funk.
RICE THE SOUND TRANSMITTER
Record Masseuse .
FREDDIE GIBBS
Hailing from the eastside of Gary, Indiana. Become a fan now, or become one later
MC ZULU
Having achieved worldwide acclaim for his off-brand variety of Electro-driven Reggae, MC Zulu continues to push the sonic envelope.
He deliberately chooses rhythms with a worldly, yet uncategorizable feel to them as the backdrop for his rapid fire, randomized cadence.
SPINAL TAP “THIS IS SPINAL TAP”
This Is Spinal Tap (or simply Spinal Tap) was the soundtrack to the film This Is Spinal Tap, released in 1984.
Androgynous Mustache will be performing the album.
THE MOMS
From the underground dark dingy basements of New Jersey comes asshole hoodlum punks The Moms, composed of vocalist/guitarist Joey Nester, bassist Jon Stolpe and drummer Donny Saraceno. Their first EP is a crystallization of the bands frenetic energy and diverse influences into a sophisticated sound that can’t easily be categorized but can easily be enjoyed.
SMACKSOFT
Bo Ryung Whang: Bo is an accomplished artist from Brooklyn, NY, and a veteran singer/songwriter. Bo’s first solo studio album “Cat with three Ears” (1998) and the second solo studio album “The Sun Sign” (2001) are iconic emblems of the South Korea’s first wave of indie music. After a seven-year hiatus, Bo returned to Korea and formed the band SmackSoft. The group released “SmackSoft 2.5″ (2008), awarded the 2008 Album of the Year in Korea. Guided by the personal of vision of its band leader, the following year SmackSoft released their third studio album “Shines in the Dark”(2009) nominated the best album of the year. In 2010, the release of their fourth studio album “Mana Wind” further explored the “creation of layered canvases of sound” and “moved beyond technical experimentation to focus on the spiritual depth” of SmackSoft’s original music. “Mana Wind” has won high praise from the critics in Korea and abroad. SmackSoft is based in Seoul, South Korea, and the group will be touring the UK and United States this 2012/2013.
HALF COYOTE
One of the real advantages to the Chicago music scene is that you never know what you’ll get, and there’s always something new and interesting right around the corner. Enter Half Coyote.
We can’t tell you too much about this Illinois-based band, mostly because their email address doesn’t seem to work, and they are not in a hurry to write about themselves anywhere. So, we’ll just share what we do know.
Half Coyote is not something you hear very often (those who have heard Devil in a Woodpile have a head start). Toy piano, banjo, ukelele…dogs–you’ll find it all here. But don’t think that it’s cartoonish hijinks. Rather, Half Coyote sounds about perfect for a back room, beer- and whiskey-soaked sway, maybe ending with a new friend or a black eye–either seems appropriate. (Hopefully, these guys are on The Hideout’s radar. If not, we’ll try to make that happen.)
We’ve heard a lot of half-baked folk music invade the scene over the last few years. This is not it. Half Coyote is all in. And the more we listen, so are we.
CRUSHED OUT
Crushed Out is an explosive hit of surf-garage momentum and rock & roll from Brooklyn, NY consisting of Frank Hoier on guitar and vocals and Moselle Spiller on drums. After four national tours and a well-received EP, 2010’s Show Pony, the couple, formerly known as Boom Chick, are set to release their debut full-length, Want To Give, on Nov.6, 2012 on their own Cool Clear Water imprint. Want to Give is a pure guitar/drum adrenalin rush – plenty of fuzz, tremolo, riffs, chunky chords, slide and Black Sabbath power chords. The songs are tight and lean; no fat, no studio fairy dust. Recorded both at Brooklyn’s Bunker Studio as well as at Crushed Out’s own analog studio in a rural New Hampshire barn, the tracks were all self-produced and mixed by John Davis.
THEY STAY DEAD
Past and present members of: Minutes Too Far, Wretch Like Me, Euclid Crash & Screeching Weasel.
VATICAN JUNKIES
Kinda sounds like your mom getting plowed by all three of us at the same time. Nasty I know… Like this one porno I saw called ” Fat Mama Jama”. These three dudes are on this fat chick…wait..never mind thats gross.
ZAPRUDER POINT
“The songwriting brings to mind the majesty of Leonard Cohen, but sweeter, in a cardigan-wearing, indie-rocker way. Much too good to remain overlooked and underheralded.”- Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun-Times
THE WORLD RECORD
The band formed in 2003 after songwriter Andy Creighton (Apex Manor, Papercuts, Foreign Born) began passing a solo album around to friends. Soon Creighton was playing out as The World Record backed by a transient lineup that included members of The Broken West, Wildcat Wildcat, The Parson Red Heads, Dashboard Confessional, and even Toad the Wet Sprocket.
In 2006 they released Guitars Forever on Tallboy Records. Though initially somewhat overlooked, by the end of 2007 the album was appearing on best-of lists and making a surprise CMJ chart entry at #107. Aquarium Drunkard wrote: “Sure, name checking a band as the West Coast heir apparent to Big Star is a bold statement, brave in fact, but that’s exactly how I’ve been hailing The World Record of late.” During this time the song “We’re #1” made appearances in several TV shows including Gossip Girl and How I Met Your Mother (and more recently Zooey Deschanel’s New Girl). But despite praise from L.A. Times, LAist, You Ain’t No Picasso and others, The World Record remained one of L.A.’s best-kept secrets, rarely venturing outside of Southern California. Freeway Special is about to deliver the band to a much wider national audience.
The band now consists of Andy Creighton (Guitars/Vox), Aaron Ballard (Bass), Brian James (guitarist) and drummer Jacob Summers (LauraLaura, The Rhone Occupation). With Influences ranging from bands like the The Records, The dB’s, Blue Öyster Cult, and Big Star, The World Record have crafted their own take on rock and roll, relying heavily on song craft and production. Freeway Special is a collection of songs which speaks to a time when it was important to make a lasting impression, because it might be a few years before another record was available.
Freeway Special will be released on October 9th and available for purchase through iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, and independent record stores everywhere. The band has posted 7 preview tracks online, and is currently setting up a 30-date U.S. tour. A follow-up EP is also in the plans for January 2013.
SHOCK T’S
The best part of a rock show meets the best part of a comedy show: The Shock T’s are a three-person comedy band bursting with high-energy songs. With strong vocals and clever lyrics, audiences are always drawn in by the power of three voices and one guitar.
GODDAMN ZOMBIE
Zombie Metal from New Jersey… The Mayans might be right.
ASHBURY
Ashbury is Tucson’s #1 selling Rock Band worldwide. Veterans of the AAA club circuit, performing throughout the southwest. In January, 1983, we recorded our signature album “Endless Skies”, which became an American and European cult favorite, and now the original LP is a highly sought after collector’s item–fetching upwards of $300.00 on ebay. “Endless Skies” was just named one of the top 10 epic Metal albums of all time by Hard Rock Magazine, and Arizona album of the year for 1983 & 1984 by KSTM-FM in Phoenix. Ashbury is lead by it’s founding members–Randy and Rob Davis. On the Rockadrome label, they are the labels #1 seller in both Hard Rock and Heavy Metal categories, outselling legendary bands such as Winterhawk, Slauter Xtroyes, Manilla Road, Legend and Anvil Chorus (just to name a few). In a 2010 Rockadrome poll, Randy won “Favorite Guitarist” by a 2 to 1 margin over Billy Lee Janey, Jordan Macarus and all other of the label’s superb guitarists. Their latest album, “Something Funny Going On” was released in 2004, with a new edition re-released in 2010. .
ELDRITCH
A unique mixture of progressive metal with thrashy riffs, and A.O.R. melodies…….. Something between Fates Warning, Faith No More, Queensryche, Annihilator, H.I.M. but in a personal way!!! Just Eldritch!
OZ
Formed in the town of Nakkila, Finland in the late 70′s. Their debut album was released on a Swedish record label – Tyfon Grammofon in 1982. By then the line-up consisted of Ape De Martini (vocals),Kari Elo (Guitar), Tauno Vajavaara (Bass guitar) & Mark Ruffneck (Drums). The Second-hand lady/Rather Knight-single was released the same year. The band gigged around Finland and even appeared on Finnish TV playing Hey You and Second-Hand Lady backed up with pyrotechnics and all.
Soon afterwards Jay C Blade was asked to join the band as a bass guitarist. Jay C. Bladehad been kicked out of Sarcofagus in which he had been handling the lead vocals on theEnvoy of death album released in 1980, after which he had re-joined his first band Masque.Jay joined OZ, bringing with him Esa Niva from Masque. Esa Niva got out of the band pretty quickly though, and somewhere along the way Spooky Wolff (ex Noitawaimo) and Speedy Foxx were recruited, both on guitars. The classic lineup was now complete. They played their debut gig at the Göta Lejon theatre in Stockholm. Jay C Blade became the main contributor of songs and soon the band recorded their next album.
Fire in the brain was released in 1983. It is arguably one of the best releases ever by any Swedish or Finnish metal band. With such classics as Search Lights, Black Candles and Megalomaniac it is an album with no weak moments, a major advancement from their debut and it was well received, selling fairly good in the USA and Japan as well.
By then the music market in Finland was underdeveloped and the band decided to move to Sweden to test their strength there instead. Their record label was located in Sweden anyway, so it was a logical choice. Mark Ruffneck was the first of them to move to Stockholm and the rest of the OZ-men soon followed.
Their next release was the Turn the cross upside down-single in 1984. The title track smelled of black metal and is still one their best remembered songs. The first royalty payment Jayreceived for the single was of the sum of 666 SEK (Swedish kronor). Jay took that as a sign of some sort and decided to cut down on the “satanic” stuff.
Though the next album still contained a bit of that dark religious stuff in the shape of the song Crucified. Their third full length album III Warning was also released in 1984. Solely written by Jay C. Blade, it included such goodies as Crucifiedand the title track itself. The band were supposed to go on tour as a support act for Venom on their USA and Canada dates, but their American manager somehow fucked it all up. They still played a few gigs around Sweden, though. Their stage act included the vocalist cutting guitars to pieces with the large knife which can be seen in the hands of the vocalist on the front cover of the III Warning album.
Their fourth album Decibel storm was released in 1986. This time the other band members apart from Jay C Blade had contributed more to the songwriting than on the previous album and the results were great. This was the first OZ album to have a little bit of keyboards on it, nothing too cheesy though. The songs Firestarter and Disaster Dreamer are classics. The band had planned to do a video for one of the songs on the album, but whether those plans came to realization or not is unknown.
Some while after the release of the album Jay C Blade was asked to fill in on guitar for New York-based Princess Pang on a 4 gig tour. Jay accepted the offer and headed to New York. The gigs went well and when he returned to Sweden it had already been decided that he was to join Princess Pang as a full-time member of the band. At the time, OZ had lost both their guitarists Spooky Wolff and Speedy Foxx, soJay was the third man to leave the band in a short period of time.
4 years went by before OZ would find themselves back in the business of recording again. New bandmembers had been recruited; Michael Lundholm as sole guitarist and Tobbe Moen on bass guitar, as well as a keyboard player by the name of Jörgen Schelander. Tobbe Moen was later replaced by Fredrik Thörnblom on bass guitar after the recording sessions at the Sky Trak Studio in Berlin. The album Roll the dice was released in 1991. The songs on the album were mainly written by Ape De Martini and the new guitar player, resulting in a bit different style and sound than the earlier OZalbums. The title track stands out as the best offering on the album. The band again played a few gigs, but the music scene had changed and the Swedish death metal boom was in full action, resulting in loss of interest and gig-offers for more classic kinds of metal in the underground scene of Stockholm. So, the band slowly faded away from then and there.
2010 – 2011 NEW OZ LINE-UP, VIDEO, ALBUM TITLE & PRODUCER
The reunited OZ were recording their new album at Park studio in Stockholm, Sweden. The most of AXworks on the new album was performed by Legendary Markku Petander (a former member of Finnish bands Popeda and Yö). LegendaryCostello Hautamäki known from Hanoi Rocks‘ 2002-period (Twelve Shots on the Rocks-album) and from voluminous albums and tours with the Finnish band Popeda and young AXman Michel Santunione (Guitar player in the Queen musical ‘We Will Rock You’ in Sweden/Norway) were firering on some of the tracks their best shots. Present in the studio was also Nicke Andersson (ex Entombed & Hellacopters) operating as producer. The new album was having working title ‘Greatezt Blitz‘ and is now having the official title ‘Burning Leather’ and contains both new songs and re-recordings of old OZ classics. Some of the songs included are ‘Dominator‘, ‘Seasons in the Darkness‘ and ‘Burning Leather‘. The new album “Burning Leather” was released 18th November 2011 World Wide by AFM Records, Germany and Spiritual Beast, Japan.
The new touring line-up consists of 2 new guitarists: Michel Santunione and John Berg, along with the classic trio of Ape DeMartini, Jay C. Blade and Mark Ruffneck . Michel Santunione is previously known as Guitar Player in the Queen Musical ‘We Will Rock You’in Sweden/Norway. John Berg is a former member of Dynasty and today playing guitar on stage with Chris Laney.
THE HELLBOUND HEPCATS
The Hellbound Hepcats are bringing back the sound of the 1950’s with an aggressive, big-beat twist-seamlessly fusing elements of Johnny Burnette, Chuck Berry and Brian Setzer with the pure energy of rockabilly. These hardworking rock’n’rollers combine the rawness and passion of the Sun Studio sessions with a harder, faster, more hip-shaking rhythm that is all their own. The Hellbound Hepcats’ music reflects the rebellious spirit of early rock n’ roll without imitating it. Their originality adds a much-needed new spin to the current rockabilly scene.
The band started out in 2006 as a straight-up rockabilly/country duo, consisting of front man Alexander Brown and standup-bass player Jordan Peddie. Heavily influenced by Montreal’s ever-growing rockabilly scene, they soon became masters of their craft-playing in clubs and bars in and around Montreal. In 2007 the addition of drummer Sylvain Lemire rounded out the equation bringing in the pulsing rhythm section that has made the Hepcats the band they are today.
The trio hit the road running, touring relentlessly at venues large and small….everywhere from the Toronto Convention Center to The Cadillac Lounge to just about every watering-hole, tavern and show-bar across Canada. They’ve shared stages with The Brains, The Creepshow, Gunsmoke, Bloodshot Bill and many others. All in all, The Hellbound Hepcats have played more than 500 gigs in the last 2 years. You name it, The Hellbound Hepcats have played it.
In 2009, The Hellbound Hepcats recorded and produced their first full-length in Montreal. The collection was recorded “off the floor” to capture the original feeling, intensity and rhythm that characterizes authentic rockabilly, as well as to record the spontanaety and musicianship of their live performance. Their self-titled debut album caught the ear of Stomp Records, who immediately signed the band point blank. The Hellbound Hepcats will be hitting the road this summer in support of their self-titled debut including appearances on the Montreal Jazz Fest, Vans Warped Tour, Hotrod Hootenany as well as festival and club shows across the nation.
The 13 track self-titled rockabilly album is a homage to the spirit of rebellion that gave birth to the rock n’ roll of the 1950’s. The album was recorded at Moonbabe Studio with engineer/producer Tean Schultz. All the songs were written over a a four year span by lead-singer and guitarist Alexander Brown and stand-up bassist Jordan Peddie. From heart-throbbing ballads like “She’s The Reason Why” to beat-bopping dance tunes like “Gimme More” and “Brand New Forty-Five”, the sound and themes of the songs are diverse. From the arrogance of “How Many Girls” to the tenderness of “She’s The Reason Why”, the album draws inspiration from the never-ending battle between love and lust.
PILGRIMS
Pilgrims are a four piece band that hail from the Kankakee, IL area. The band blends the arena rock of The Killers, the pop-punk sensibility of blink-182 and the emotionalism of Jimmy Eat World. They are set to record a new EP in mid-October and a small midwestern tour in early November.
THE BLUE SKY MIND
In autumn of 2011, four men came together with a purpose. To rock? Yes, but not just to rock. Also, to change the world. Lofty? Hardly. Rock music is sustainable with three chords and the world is quite impressionable.
WILD YAKS
“These fellows are the real deal, holding steady even with all the jim jims in this town and all the politicians makin’ crazy sounds, and everybody puttin’ everybody else down”_ ifc.com
DJ ALO
Chicago based producer/artist circa 1994-present. Founder and Producer of his label Garden Music.
Currently still working Garden Music, but more so helping artists get where they wanna go sound wise, where Garden is more of a vessel than a grassroots label ethic