QUESTION MARK AND THE MYSTERIANS
“96 Tears is the best Rock ‘n Roll song ever” – John Lennon. .. ..Question Mark & the Mysterians were the first band to be described as punk rock. .. .. In October 1998, QUESTION MARK & THE MYSTERIANS topped the bill at New York City’s Cave Stomp, a garage music blow-out that included such luminaries as the Lyres, the Hentchmen, the Fleshtones, the Nomads and loads more garage bands. The two night affair was a total gas, but the whole deal went into rapid overload with the appearance of the MYSTERIANS on stage at 3:15 in the morning. They started out with the instrumental intro workout to “Do You Feel It”, in the midst of which the insanely gorgeous QUESTION MARK came bolting out like the perfect brat spawn of James Brown and Ronnie Spector! Oh, my lord! .. .. They totally rampaged through a set that had people’s gourds being blown straight off, they were simply the perfect band, in perfect form, as though they recorded their anthem “96 Tears” last weekend instead of 30+ years ago! They look great, sound insane and simply ARE the wildest and most fabulous human beings ever to walk this planet’s surface! Anyway, upon leaving New York, the guys left to crisscross the country, playing everywhere from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Austin, Texas to Chicago and all spots between! Everywhere they went, they slayed the locals! .. .. If you haven’t witnessed the majesty of QUESTION MARK & THE MYSTERIANS yet, then get ready to go where you’ve gotta in order to grab an earload and an eyeful of the unbelievably sensational QUESTION MARK & THE MYSTERIANS!
QUIETUS
QUINTA ESSENTIA
Experimental extreme metal that draws from Death, Progressive, Black, and Thrash Metal.
QUITZOW
QWEL
Hailed by many as one of the most skilled and innovative lyricist since hip hop’s conception, Qwel is not your average ambiguous applause monger. Seasoned within Chicago’s unrelenting battle circuit, Qwel found his niche among his soon to be crew at University of Chicago’s WHPK Wednesday night rap show. The show, a staple in Chicago underground history, was then hosted by DJ Natural and Kid Knish. There he would meet both Denizen Kane and Qwazaar and soon after they would form Typical Cats. The project that they shortly after released, would instantly gain both national and international acclaim. With production from Natural and lyrics from, arguably, the three rawest lyricists to date, Typical Cats would set the pace and tone as just the beginning of Qwel’s notoriety. After the release of Typical Cats’ debut album and Qwel’s vicious appearance and performance in the Chicago blaze battle, what could fans expect?
Nothing would have prepared the underground world for what was next. Qwel’s first solo effort “If it Ain’t Been in a Pawnshop, Then it Can’t Play the Blues”, far surpassed any expectations listeners held for him. With more introspective, thought provoking topics, Qwel proved his writing prowess, while displaying his graceful flow and fiery soul, three things which Qwel feels are missing not only from underground hip hop, but from this numb and dumb world. The “Pawnshop” (as it has become more commonly known as) combined production efforts from Galapagos4 teammates DJ Meaty Ogre and DJ White Lightening, giving it a unique and melancholy form, which is just now starting to be imitated (and poorly) years after its conception.
Qwel’s sophomore effort “The Rubber Duckie Experiment” would forever disqualify him from any conventions or pigeon holes that listeners would try to slump him into. In a world ravaged by chaos and confusion, Qwel dared to sort out the mess of post 911 propaganda as others would cower. In a world looking for any reassurance of life out there, Qwel erected an unbreakable, sealed monolith: the rubber duck. Very content laden and experimentally produced, the “The Rubber Duckie Experiment” challenges the questions of purpose and existence. Qwel beautifully shines light on the statistic based, TV nation we slave for with a statistic of his own. There are more rubber duckies on this planet right now then real ducks. What would follow?
When Qwel and Maker first discussed the possibility of collaborating on the first of the four horsemen/seasons albums neither one of them could have fully known exactly what they were unleashing on the underground hip hop world. With Makers rare and completely unprecedented production style, Qwel saw an opportunity to return to true school ripping it with the proper canvas to topple topics that the cornier, true school emcees wouldn’t dare. With a much more up beat and banging approach to the songs Qwel and Maker dropped one of the greatest underground hip hop albums of all time, “The Harvest”.
Soon after, fans would get an added treat in the release of the long awaited and greatly anticipated sophomore effort from Typical Cats, “Civil Service”. “Civil Service” would mesmerize both fans and critics alike. No one could have anticipated the more rugged, mature production style from Natural or the more centrifugal topics from the three lyricists. Civil Service was a return to the “fuck what ya heard” hip hop that has been long overlooked in this day and age of glam and glitz that plagues both the commercial and underground realms.
Qwel continues to grow in his writing, as he shows off his story telling ability throughout his fourth and possibly most skilled release “Dark Day”. With monster production provided by Jackson Jones (whose earlier collaboration with Qwel on the exclusive release “Rapid Eye Movements” gained overwhelming and abundant applause), Qwel continues to render the mold null and void. In his “Dark Day”, Qwel ruminates over the notion that he who does not know his history is doomed to repeat it, and that leaves no time for blame in this cave. Qwel attacks the very principles that enslave us to our modern Tower of Babel. Qwel cleverly distributes story rhymes and furious triple time heat to officially seal the fact that he ain’t going nowhere and growth is eminent.
From Qwel’s prolific debut to his most recent works, he has proved to be groundbreaking and exceptional in all his endeavors. He continues, time after time, to shatter the molds and preconceived notions set for hip hop. With his clever lyricism and cutting edge versatility and topics, Qwel continues to fight to gain legitimacy for hip hop.
QWEL & MAKER
Hailed by many as one of the most skilled and innovative lyricist since hip hop’s conception, Qwel is not your average ambiguous applause monger. Seasoned within Chicago’s unrelenting battle circuit, Qwel found his niche among his soon to be crew at University of Chicago’s WHPK Wednesday night rap show. The show, a staple in Chicago underground history, was then hosted by DJ Natural and Kid Knish. There he would meet both Denizen Kane and Qwazaar and soon after they would form Typical Cats. The project that they shortly after released, would instantly gain both national and international acclaim. When Qwel and Maker first discussed the possibility of collaborating on the first of the four horsemen/seasons albums neither one of them could have fully known exactly what they were unleashing on the underground hip hop world. With Makers rare and completely unprecedented production style, Qwel saw an opportunity to return to true school ripping it with the proper canvas to topple topics that the cornier, true school emcees wouldn’t dare. With a much more up beat and banging approach to the songs Qwel and Maker dropped one of the greatest underground hip hop albums of all time, “The Harvest”.
RB GREEN
R&B ENSEMBLE
RAASHAN AHMAD
RABBLE RABBLE
“You blew out another speaker!?”
RABID RABBIT
andrea jablonski – bass/vox
mike tsoulos – drums
arman mabry – bass
dan sullivan – guitar
formed 2005ish as a duo … rabbits multiply
RACHEL KATZMAN
RACHELE EVE
RADIO RADIO
RADIO SILENCE
RADIUS
RAGER
RAISE HIGH THE ROOF BEAM
RAISE THE RED LANTERN
RAMMING SPEED
Ramming Speed have been pounding the highway hard since 2007. Borrowing heavily from d-beat punk’s charging rhythm, NWOBHM’s twin guitar harmonies, thrash metal’s aggression and grind’s blinding speed, we have have released one cd, four records, and two tapes on six different labels. Touring has covered the entire US many times over, along with 14 other countries, including the UK, Iceland, Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Poland, Austria and beyond. The band has toured/done one off’s with Trap Them, Torche, Municipal Waste, Phobia, Holy Grail, Toxic Holocaust, Black Tusk, Doomriders, Saviours, Revocation and many more.
In the beginning it was “Write metal punk song, release 7″, go on tour, repeat” but over the last two years we took time to pause and refine our craft – the results of which are upcoming full length “Doomed to Destroy, Destined to Die” (recorded by Kurt Ballou).
The Blog Noisecreep.com called us “One of the hardest-working bands in heavy metal” and after our set at Czech Republic festival Obscene Extreme Terrorizer Magazine printed that we were the “band of the decade” and stated “Why their set wasn’t extended for, well, the rest of the weekend will remain a mystery. Looks like we’ll have to make do watching their videos. On repeat. Forever.”.
We have a regular guest column on DecibelMagazine.com and MetalInsider.com and are committed completely to all of the sweaty, sleepless nights it takes to keep the band on the road. See you at the show.
RAMOVA
Ramova plays raunchy-but-tight punk – and while countless other bands make a career of sounding like they’re going to lapse into complete chaos at any moment, the Chicago trio makes it clear that it’s always in control.” -the ONION
RANA SANTACRUZ
PRETTYOUNGRAVES
PRIM ROSES
PRIMA DONNA
PRIMERIDIAN
PRIMITIVE EVOLUTION
PRIVATE JOKER
PRIZZY PRIZZY PLEASE
PRO LOOKS
PROCESS
PRODUCT OF HATE
With a vicious blend of groove, thrash, and new-wave metal, PRODUCT OF HATE was formed in the fall of 2007. Having performed in support of bands such as TESTAMENT, LAMB OF GOD, GWAR, CHIMAIRA, UNEARTH, MESHUGGAH, LAZARUS A.D., DIRGE WITHIN, and JOB FOR A COWBOY, PRODUCT OF HATE entered Belle City Sound in Racine, Wisconsin to record their debut EP entitled THE UNHOLY MANIPULATOR in 2010
PROFESSOR KLIQ
PROFOUND
PROGNOSIS
PROJECT .44
Unabashedly Chicago Industrial. Machines, guitars, beats and aggression.
PROJECT 99
PROJECT BADASS
PROJECT:THREEVILLE
PROSAIC
PROSPER JONES
PROTEST FOR PLUTO
PROTEST THE HERO
PROXIMO
PSYCHED TO DIE
PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT
PSYCHOBILLY KADILLAKS
PSYCHOMANTIA
PSYCHOSTICK
Psychostick is a comedy metal/hardcore band. You may have heard of us from your mom’s ipod.
PSYCHOTICA
PSYCROPTIC
Isolation can often result in unique outcomes. Hailing from the tiny, frosty, untamed and detached Australian state that is Tasmania, Psycroptic have become an unparalleled act in an enigmatic world wide movement commonly known as death metal. Fifteen years have passed since their formation in 1999, the band having released five critically acclaimed studio albums, all which show an organic progression along a clandestine path from which they will never stray.
On the eve of their sixth full-length, though more technical and brutally intuitive than ever, the four-piece has not been afraid to get in touch with their softer side. Long known as the ‘Tasmanian devils’, they recently became the first band in the world to adopt their own Tasmanian Devil, whom they dubbed Psycro, in an attempt to help preserve the critically endangered carnivorous marsupial. Newer elements too can be expected when the new album is finally unleashed – more vocal variation, a heightened handle on instrumental melody, and an overwhelming sense that this act has truly mastered their craft.
Psycroptic have toured all corners of the globe with names that need no introduction to those in the know – Cannibal Corpse, Suicide Silence, Decapitated, The Faceless, Obituary, Carcass, Nile, The Black Dahlia Murder, Origin, Kataklysm, Aborted, Despised Icon, Suffocation, Veil of Maya, Cryptopsy, Misery Index, Vader, Born of Osiris, Hate Eternal… you get the picture right? They also recently guest hosted the ABC music video program Rage, an honour reserved for only the most class Australian acts. Metal legend Max Cavalera has also been sporting the band’s merch in recent promotional photos, bringing things full circle from the days when they were influenced by Sepultura in their youth. It’s safe to say that Psycroptic’s place in the history of heavy metal is solidified, and that everything that happens from here on in is simply a bonus…
PTODA
PUGSLEE ATOMZ
PUKING PEARLS
PULL THE PIN
PULLING TEETH
PUNCHLINE
Punchline is proud to be from Pittsburgh, PA.
PUNCHY KEATON
PURE MAGICAL LOVE
PURE REMEDY
They say… “Where there was once no place there is now a home”…for Pure Remedy has been brought to us by various parts of the city of Chicago, Blue-Island IL, Alsip IL, Belmont Ave, Logan Square, Pilsen, Ukrainian Village. Four musicians with none other than divine nonjudgmental passion, heart filled collages, and soulful colors of chimes by surroundings. Along with the unification and brotherhood, the past roots and journeys of every member intersect; make this band test new heights and transformations. Self taught, and with help of musically inclined family relatives teachers and peers, they began in the summer of 2008 to finally proclaim their creativeness indulgence in music. Inspired by all of life and hardships including loved one’s health, and continuity of growth in learning from every sound… Differentiating from common inspirations from the late 60’s and 70’s, early 80’s and 90’s, Pure Remedy increasingly finds the source of the rhythm of the words in a melody. Influenced by their first bands such as Mito Nocturno, Aire Mistico, Nora Wears Angora & Whispering Lake Drive…heavily inspired by strangers, lovers, close friends and family. Pure Remedy lives and plays for those who have struggled, those who have been victimized, and those who would rather be unified in the cause for peace and the sanctuary for the discovery and freedom of creativity! Pure Remedy will always look forward across all lands and skies adapting to the differences in chaotic, optimistic, eccentrically familiar and unfamiliar tones of music. Acquiring strengths of the transformation of sound, to blend in their faith and fight, in all of their positive energy like magicians.
PURPLE APPLE
Chicago-based indie pop quartet Purple Apple is made up of three 15 year old girls and their twentysomething babysitter, Devin, on drums. The three schoolmates at the core of the band – Olivia, Madi and Nonie – are wise beyond their years, and nowhere does this show more than in their songwriting. While their peers were playing tag and trying out for the junior high cheerleading team, Purple Apple focused their free time writing songs about the things that matter to them, songs that capture the complex world of being a teenager. Armed with a handful of original material, the band released their debut EP, Sweet Wolverine, in 2010. For the past couple of years, the girls have worked hard to perfect their live sound, initially at venerable venues like Schubas and the Hideout, and eventually graduating to become the youngest band to ever headline Chicago’s legendary rock venue, The Metro.
PIPE
Pipe hails from the south side of Chicago and you can hear it in their tough no nonsense hard rock sound. Stephen Favarato (vocals/guitar) responded to a Craigslist ad from Frank Damiano (lead guitar) as he was in search of a muse to ink some songs. Two days and a few emails later they had Two songs finished….ahh the wonders of the internet. They met the next day and found themselves onstage doing an open mic night and laying down some Zep, Alice in Chains thus welding the bond. Their first album entitled “Shovel mouth” was finished in 2008 and brought a modern hard rock/metal sound that is a grinding churn of several influences. Several personnel changes later, Pipe found there cut to the bone core when they added former Well of Souls drummer Paul Brodlo and local Chicago bassist John Sterba . The new sound went back to their true love and style combining all the influences they grew up with. Hard rock, a slather or blues and at times hint of country and western rounds out the knock out punch of Pipe’s sophomore offering “Hit This”. Released in 2014 Hit This was recorded in Chicago but then brought to New York and the doorstep of Sonic Stomp Studio and into the hands of Mike Orlando guitarist/recording engineer for Adrenaline Mob. His take on the music sent it to the next sonic level and brought out the real barn burning sound of Pipe. Their style and sound is most notable in their debut video “Play that Johnny Cash song”, a true life tale of a wild party and heavy dose of the man in black
PISCES AT THE ANIMAL FAIR
We all met in schools I guess, is that weird?
PISTOFFICER
Bringing it on . Influencing hometown music scene growth and unity.Giving away something real. Political without leaving out the reasons why we care , for instance, having fun and individuality and acceptance of others.Pistofficer repels record labels cuz PISTOFFICER IS THE BUG they are frightened of. Pistofficer would like a label to help do all this crap. Merchandise goes much to quikly damn it all !