As a young man Carter saw a guitarist by the name of Jack Owens — of Bentonia, Mississippi — in a documentary that had been rented on video from the local public library. Carter, from that point on, was deeply influenced by the music of Owens; and the school of music that is native to the Bentonia region of Mississippi. By far, the most well known musician from Bentonia was Skip James. During Carter’s last decade of living and busking on the streets in Chicago, he earned the nickname “Mississippi” through his front porch, “down-home” style of playing. Today, Carter’s blues has remained firmly rooted in the blues tradition and style of Bentonia; and has grown into something completely original and unique to the genre. In the summer of 2009 Carter played at the now legendary Deep Blues Festival of Minneapolis. In March of 2010 he performed at the Blues Autour du Zinc, blues festival in Beauvais, France. In the spring of 2010 he toured the South American country of Peru. And he also traveled to Bari, Italy to perform at the Tra Blues e Avant-Garde, blues festival in July of 2010.
Get ready for the new shit babies. You thought you seen it all…you ain’t seen nothin’. It’s time to rip it up in a modern way, it’s time to rip it up in the modern day, It’s time for the MODERN DAY RIPPERS! Featuring members of Rotten Fruits, Hotlips Messiah, Turbo Vamps, and Brothers in Crime. You’ve been warned bitches.
The Moist Guitars are a high energy original five piece band from the Chicago area. Their live shows are infused with theatrics and comedy that always leaves the crowd with a smile. Critics have said “they sounded like a genetically engineered mutant offspring of the Butthole Surfers, the Dicks, and the B-52s.” and “They were extremely entertaining and very energetic and their whole setwas just good fun.”The Moist Guitars have shared the stage backing up bands like The Eagles of death metal, The Tubes, and The Batusis. (Sylvain Sylvain and Cheetah Chrome) and have headlined shows at The Abbey pub, Silvies, Champs rock room ,and many other clubs in the Chicago and New York areas.
“Do not be fooled by the name. Chicago’s Molehill is more like a mountain constructed with big guitars, melodic keyboards, and pounding drums. Combining elements of progressive rock with pop sensibilities along with expansive and emotionally charged lyrics, this band delivers a symphonic listening experience.–Jesse Menendez, Vocalo and WBEZ, 89.5FM and 91.5FM Chicago
Chicago’s Molehill rose to the top 10 and Final Round of the Global Battle of the Bands ‘Hard Rock Rising’ 2012 Competition after 3 judged live performance rounds and 2 rounds of public voting. 12,000+ bands entered worldwide with 550 in the Chicago area. Coupled with the release of their first full-length album ‘Equinox’ 2012 continues to build for Molehill.
Mike Mictlan is a native to Southern California and a current proud resident of South Minneapolis. His style has roots in both scenes. In his delivery, he’s a rapper’s rapper and a technician. He can stick fast stuccato runs, flip a pattern, and freestyle long after everyone else has gone to bed. But he’s also a writer who doesn’t shy from big themes and personal narrative.
Mike met the founding members of Doomtree during his junior year in high school. In response to his deliquent streak, Mike’s parents had sent him from their L.A. home to live with his uncle in Minnesota. (No, the Fresh Prince storyline is not lost on us, please save your letters.) Living with his uncle and attending Hopkins High, he met P.O.S, Lazerbeak, MK Larada, and Paper Tiger. Although Mictlan soon returned to L.A., the Doomtree family tree had taken root. As the collective gained momentum in Minneapolis, Mictlan received more and more phone calls urging him to move to the Midwest. Five years later, he got off a plane with 2 duffel bags and a footlocker, ready to go wherever Doomtree was headed. In his debut collaboration with Lazerbeak, Hand Over Fist, Mictlan employed his understated poetry to epic effect. The album goes by in a pageant of imagery: of fire and flight, long odds and close calls.
A lot has changed in the four years since Mike Mictlan released Hand Over Fist, his first full-length album in collaboration with Lazerbeak. He’s played a key role in helping Doomtree, his rap crew for over a decade now, steadily climb into the national spotlight; touring the world over again and again, playing major summer festivals (Lollapalooza, Paid Dues), and winning over critics the likes of Pitchfork, MTV, Spin, and Rolling Stone off of their collaborative 2011 release No Kings.
SNAXXX is the culmination of those four years grinding it out on the road, and it marks a giant leap forward from Mike’s previous solo work. His million-mile-a-minute delivery, tongue twister patterns, and abstract introspection remain completely intact, but there is a much more playful, ambitiously creative side that now creeps heavily into the mix. Musically,SNAXXX takes the traditional everything-plus-the-kitchen-sink Doomtree sound and blows the doors off the hinges. New comer 2% Muck (Tha Clerb, Spyder Baybie Raw Dog) produces 11 of the 15 tracks, and it’s his rapid fire snare patterns, crushing low end, and blown out synth lines that anchor and shape this new sonic direction for Mike. SNAXXX also features a slew of Minnesota’s finest up and coming rappers (Lizzo, Greg Grease, Spyder Baybie Raw Dog, Freez) along with lifelong Doomtree partner-in-crime P.O.S, who shows up on two of the album’s cuts.
Doomtree released SNAXXX for free in the fall of 2012 while Mike wraps up his next official full length, HELLA FRREAL in order to give people a taste of where he’s at now and where he’s headed. With mainstream appeal, surgical precision, and unshakable crew love, Mike Mictlan is an unparalleled force in the underground. His live show is a spectacle of sweat and laughter and fury and communion. You could search every venue in every city, but you will not find an emcee in rap music with more heart than Mike Mictlan. No hype, just a simple guarantee. He believes in the music, the movement, and in his crew of friends. To see him in person, and to hear his voice, makes it hard not to believe it too.
Chicago dj native, Mano is a Artist/Producer with a super ability to seamlessly blend a mix of hip-hop, electro, alternative, and indie rock music. With a wide and versatile collection of music, Mano has mass appeal – the ability to liven up any crowd and elevate any song.
Mano’s DJ background transcends the local party scene. He currently serves as Kanye West’s personal DJ and has toured and spun for artists by the likes of Travis McCoy & MIA.
DJ, Producer, Trend-setter. Million Dollar Mano is triple threat – a connoisseur of the “new school.”
Mindsight has opened for internationally recognized bands including Staind on the Jagermeister Music Tour, Three Days Grace, P.O.D., In This Moment, The Cult, Powerman 5000, Soulfly, Stone Sour and many more.
Mindwarp Chamber, based in Chicago, IL. is composed of musicians well respected in the industry. They have all joined forces, blending their unique styles to create a very progressive and melodic style of music, filled with technical prowess, mellifluous passages, and displays of virtuosity.
With 2 full length releases under their belts, the band has carved out their own style and approach to the Prog Metal genre. Currently, they are writing and recording new music for an upcoming full length release, slated for 2013, that promises to establish them on the international scene.
Patrick Rios and Geoffrey Carr. Chicago, IL. Best friends with best friends. Many kisses. Feel good.
MEAN OHIO
MEANDER
MEANDMYMACHINE
MEANTOOTH GRIN
Formed in 2006 this Blues influenced hard rock trio has played all over the country and opened for Clutch, Monster Magnet, Chris Duarte, Buddy Guy, Gov’t Mule, Joe Bonnamassa, The Steepwater band, Scott Holt, Lonnie Brooks, Jeff Beck and Bob Marley’s Wailers. The three piece sites influences ranging from Clutch and the Sword, to Hank III and RL Burnside and even ZZ Top. Meantooth prides itself on its snarling dirty slide guitar and heavy thumping rhythm section, complimented by front man Tom Jordan’s Tom Waits meets Neil Fallon style vocals. Their debut album topped several wisconsin radio charts and was even on sever “best of” lists in various music mags and on several websites, including Blues underground; who gave it “best debut album” as well as placing in the top five of several other lists of theirs. The album was the #1 seller in their hometown of Wausau for 8 weeks straight and still enjoys radio play on 37 radio stations in the U.S. as well as 42 stations over seas. Their new live album “Outnumbered and Outgunned” will be available July 3rd. In 2010 the band won a WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) award for people’s choice, and were nominated again in 2011 and in 2012 the won peoples choice for the second time. Frontman Tom Jordan was also nominated for Guitar Player of the year. The band continues to be a presence in the mid-west, staying on the road as much as possible. They achieve a certain unique quality that in this day and age is a rare thing indeed.
Meaty Ogre is a Rockford, IL born seasoned beat maker/producer/drummer/DJ from Chicago known for his dusty dirty beats since1998. He is a champion of rare records, crusty samples from around the globe, hard drums, and playful styles. Check out his past work on with rappers like Chicago’s Galapagos4 crew and instrumental 7″ releases on Heardrums, Memphix, Bully, Fieldwerk, Curio, and Ish
