GOODBYE COASTLINE
GOODBYE GOOD SENSE
GOODNIGHT CITY LIGHTS
GOUDRON
GURG
GURG is a group of three musicians from the South Side of Chicago, IL that create an atmospheric fusion of funk, jam, reggae, rock, jazz, dub, and electronica, weaving together dual keyboard/synth-bass work, powerful, complex, and driving beats, and a range of organic and effect-saturated guitar sounds.
HAYLEY JANE
HEAVEN MALONE
HEAVEN MALONE of Chicago Suicide Club
HELLO VICTOR
HOLDFAST
HOOD SMOKE
“Bryan Doherty bends the bass into something rarely heard, but entirely worth the price of admission.” So says All Music Guide, and they’re right: Much like Doherty’s brilliant bass playing, his band Hood Smoke blends soul and pop a la Rufus, David Byrne and The Band. Hood Smoke’s line-up reads like a “who’s who” of Chicago music masters, all of whom have played with everyone from Quincy Jones to Koko Taylor to Steve Coleman and Howard Levy. Rising star Sarah Marie Young’s voice will no doubt turn heads with its uncanny combination of grit and precision. Her voice and her bandmates’ undeniable chops make Hood Smoke’s album, Laid Up In Ordinary, a must-hear release of 2013.
I DECLINE
The words “I Decline” represent a middle finger to the mediocrity in the world of modern hard rock and metal music. Fusing this creed with the attitude of Punk, riff-laden hooks of Classic and Stoner Rock, and the fury of Heavy Metal, I Decline crafts its own hybrid of hard-edged music that they define as the “New Wave of American Punk Metal” (NWOAPM). In 2010, I Decline released their 3rd full-length album Time To Shine, a bombastic onslaught of fist in the air anthems for a blue-collar society that touches upon mortality, desolation, and broken relationships. Time To Shine is a metaphor to the aftermath of 9/11 and the personal struggles we face as humans in this chaotic world, while searching for new hope. During their fourteen-year history in the Chicago music scene, I Decline has provided support alongside Nick Oliveri (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, Mondo Generator), Joe Preston’s “Thrones” (Melvins, High On Fire, Sunn O))), Earth), Toxic Holocaust (Relapse), Holy Grail (Prosthetic), and Krum Bums (Century Media).
IAN LEITH
DINNER AT THE THOMPSONS
DIRK QUINN
Philly based jazz/funk guitarist Dirk Quinn has been spending the past decade performing and developing his own unique style of music. Having just released his sophomore album, “QuinnTet,” Quinn’s musical prowess appears as prominent as ever. Drawing inspiration from music of all types, his solo acoustic sound has been compared to the guitar “pyrotechnics” of Keller Williams and Michael Hedges, while his full band compositions bear resemblances that range from the honest, urban funk of Soulive to the brave experimentation of Medeski, Martin and Wood. Since the inception of the Dirk Quinn Band at the beginning of 2007, the QuinnTet has landed some prestigious bookings around the region, all the while gaining a strong fanbase with its’ high energy live performances.
DIRT MERCHANTS
DISTRICT 97
District 97 is undoubtedly the most musically adventurous rock band in the world to feature an American Idol Top 10 Female Finalist. Formed in the Fall of 2006 by drummer/primary composer Jonathan Schang, keyboardist Rob Clearfield, bassist Patrick Mulcahy and guitarist Sam Krahn, the band drew upon influences from heavy metal to avant-garde jazz. The foursome from Chicago honed a no-holds barred style of eclectic and intricate Instrumental Rock before deciding the right vocalist was needed to complement their sound: enter 2007 American Idol Top 10 Female Finalist, Leslie Hunt. With a look, sound, and stage presence comparable to a young Ann Wilson from Heart, Leslie’s dynamic performances pushed the band into a new direction that forged a unique marriage between accessible, catchy vocal melodies and an adventurous instrumental prowess. She was followed shortly thereafter by one of Chicago’s finest guitarists, Jim Tashjian. With this new blend of charisma and stellar musicianship in place, their live shows over the past several years at festivals such as RoSfest, Prog Dreams II and V, and numerous appearances across the USA, UK and Europe cemented the band as a force to be reckoned with onstage as well as in the recording studio.
Hybrid Child, the band’s 2010 debut on record label Laser’s Edge, immediately made a big impression worldwide. The album garnered praise such as “District 97 is a wildly ambitious progressive-rock group whose youth belies its accomplishments onstage and on its new Hybrid Child CD” (Jim Derogatis of NPR’s “Sound Opinions” and Rolling Stone Magazine). The release of 2012’s critically-acclaimed followup Trouble With Machines proved the band was the real deal. They had attracted the attention of legendary bassist and vocalist John Wetton (King Crimson/UK/Asia), who sang the role of Chicago serial killer H.H. Holmes on Schang’s “The Perfect Young Man.” With the collaboration heralded as a “tour de force” (dprp.net), the band and Wetton joined forces in 2013 for tours of both Europe and the US, later documented on 2014’s live release, One More Red Night: Live in Chicago. 2013 also saw the band nominated for a Breakthrough Artist Award by Prog Magazine. Rather than rest on their laurels, District 97 took to the studio in 2014 to record the new material they’d been honing at home and on the road. The resulting album, In Vaults (released June 2015), continued and accelerated the upward trajectory of great songwriting and incredible musicianship that had become their hallmark.
In August 2015, Rob Clearfield and Patrick Mulcahy left the group and were succeeded by Andrew Lawrence and TIm Seisser, respectively. The new lineup debuted in highly successful tours across Europe and North America in 2016 and 2017, with highlights including joining the trailblazing prog rock band Yes on their Cruise To The Edge and supporting Pain of Salvation on the In The Passing Light Of Day North American tour. In 2016. District 97 launched the Inside The Vault Club via their website, a monthly subscription series featuring exclusive audio and video downloads, as well as physical releases, the first of which being their stunning Live At De Boerderij DVD. They joined the Dave Kerzner Band for the joint STATIC VAULTS US tour in Fall 2017, and ended the year with a pair of shows with the NYC-based Consider The Source.
2018 saw the band complete a much-lauded North American 10th Anniversary Tour, as well as completing tracking for Screens, their highly-anticipated fourth studio album, and first with the new lineup. Released October 2019 through the UK’s venerable record label Cherry Red, the band featured music from it to great acclaim on Cruise To The Edge, as well as Marillion Montreal Weekend, Seaprog, Summer’s End, and other dates throughout North America, UK, and Europe. One listen perfectly illustrates why iconic drummer Bill Bruford (Yes/King Crimson/Genesis) told Rolling Stone Magazine (10/29/19), “There’s a great band out of Chicago called District 97, who are very good, and they’re here in the U.K. right now. And you know, it’s the next generation of so-called progressive guys who played much better than we ever played.” Mike Portnoy (drummer extraordinaire of Dream Theater/Transatlantic/Liquid Tension Experiment) adds “District 97 continue to prove to be one of the most unique bands in modern Prog!”
The COVID-19 pandemic did not stop the band from innovating. Their Virtual Screening Tour and stunning Ghost Girl animated short film kept them at the top of the prog rock heap. The sprawling double-disc live album Screenplay (2021) delighted music fans worldwide and served as a preface to live dates in the latter half of 2021 and 2022. With new music having gestated during and following the pandemic, their fifth studio album Stay for the Ending (released October 2023 via Spirit of Unicorn Music) has been widely acclaimed as their greatest work to date.
DIVIDE
DIVISION
DJ BARBARA BUTCH & UNISEXY/DJS SECRET TRIANGLE
DJ HAPPY
DJ RTC
DK
DON TAKANO
DOUBLE TICKET
DOUG JAMES & THE POCKET
You probably want to know who we are, right? Well, we make music that matters to us – part blues, part funk, part r&b, part rock. We play real loose with the proportions, though.
In 2010, former Chicago Dee Jay Doug James recruited a veteran band of Chicago musicians to form Doug James and The Pocket. Since then we’ve been tearing through Chicagoland with shows at the House of Blues, Buddy Guy’s legends, the Hard Rock Cafe, Reggies, Harlem Ave Lounge, the Chicago Blues Fest, Ribfest and other venues. We finally captured our energy in a newly released cd “Leg Up”, available for download on itunes, cd baby, amazon, google plus and on bandcamp. Our music can also be heard all over the world on jango & spotify. We’ve appeared on WGN tv-9’s midday music show as well as frequent guests on the Hambone Blues radio show on wcdb 90.9Fm.
We hope that when you listen to us you dance a lot, laugh some, and yes, maybe even think some. That’s what we’re all about. Hope to see you at the next dance.
THE DOWN FI
Craig Bell was an original member of the highly influential Cleveland, Ohio punk band Rocket From The Tombs in the Mid 1970’s. Heralded as an important protopunk group, they were little known during their brief lifetime, though various members later achieved renown in Pere Ubu and the Dead Boys. Craig, meanwhile, migrated to the East Coast where he founded the bands Saucers, The Plan, & The Bell System in the fertile Connecticut music scene of the late 70’s & 80’s. Now living in Indianapolis, Craig has enlisted some of your favorite local degenerates, and fine musicians all, from The Dockers, Order of the Black Hand, The Relatives, and Hypnotic Velvet Propellers. We play old-old school style punk from the time before mohawks & niches. Craig describes their style as “enthusiastically skeptical”. Have a listen….
DREADNOUGHT
Nestled among the Rocky Mountains, it’s hard to escape the influence of nature in Colorado. Maybe they didn’t record in the woods or on the high seas, but Denver outfit Dreadnought breathes fresh air through extreme music like a torrential force of nature nonetheless.
DREW BLOMQUIST
DRUG HONKEY
The first incarnation of Drug Honkey arose in 1997 in the form of Chronic Illogic. Paul Gillis (Honkey Head) having come from the death metal outfits Crematorium & Embodied(which had become Gorgasm by this time) & Adam Smith(BH Honkey) emerging from the drum ‘n’ bass & rave scene in Chicago looked to meld various styles into one & create something different & original.
Struggles with members & creative differences led to a relatively quick disintegration of Chronic Illogic. Paul & Adam moved forward in 1999 under the monicker of Drug Honkey. Their S/T full length surfaced in 2002. It was a harsh mixture of electronics & weirdness. It was also mostly a studio album as there was very little live instrumentation. Sample driven & meticulously concocted, it is an important piece of the bands history & definitely has strong points, but not something reflected upon regularly as it didn’t fully represent the direction they were destined to venture.
In 2003 it was determined that a full lineup was needed & Gabe Grosso (Hobbs) was recruited on guitar & Jason Sneed(Black Honkey) on bass. Adam concentrated solely on drums & Paul handled vocals/synths/samples. With a solid lineup the band polished their style & vision, the result being the 2005 full length “Hail Satan”. This album introduced the groups experimental/Doom sound that is still present today. It also spawned one of the bands most sought after tracks/videos, “Heroin”. After the release of “Hail Satan”, problems arose with Jason & it was decided to make a change. Ian Brown(Brown Honkey) was chosen as his replacement.
Throughout 2006 & 2007 Drug Honkey played several shows with the new & improved lineup @ several great venues in Chicago including the legendary -Metro- as well as the -Double Door- where the band recorded what would become their live unreleased EP “Quatro de Mayo”. This EP showed extreme promise for the direction the band was headed in. The track “China Black(Heroin Pt. 2)” from the EP was a massive piece of work & ended up earning a spot on their then upcoming full length “Death Dub”.
In July of 2008 the third full length “Death Dub” was released, and this showcased the band @ their dirtiest, heaviest, & most tripped out level thus far. Many great shows were played in support of the album throughout Chicago and the surrounding states in the midwest, one of the most memorable being with Today is the Day.
“Death Dub” was circulated independently quite well throughout the underground & received several great reviews all the while the band continued to play more notable shows with bands such as Buzzov*en, Indian, & Coffinworm to name a few. Throughout this period they garnered the attention of many indiviuals including Kunal Choksi, owner of Diabolical Conquest Webzine & newly formed Diabolical Conquest Records. A deal was struck between the two entities & Drug Honkey’s fourth full length “Ghost in the Fire” was released on May 15th 2012.
Since it’s release the band has promoted the album themselves, along with distros such as CM Distro & Crucial Blast. The response has been great. Several excellent reviews have surfaced for the album thus far.
With the release of their strongest album to date, things are looking better than ever for the band. Together they are in the beginning stages of writing new material with plans of releasing an EP in 2014…
“The only drug you need is Drug Honkey”
Struggles with members & creative differences led to a relatively quick disintegration of Chronic Illogic. Paul & Adam moved forward in 1999 under the monicker of Drug Honkey. Their S/T full length surfaced in 2002. It was a harsh mixture of electronics & weirdness. It was also mostly a studio album as there was very little live instrumentation. Sample driven & meticulously concocted, it is an important piece of the bands history & definitely has strong points, but not something reflected upon regularly as it didn’t fully represent the direction they were destined to venture.
In 2003 it was determined that a full lineup was needed & Gabe Grosso (Hobbs) was recruited on guitar & Jason Sneed(Black Honkey) on bass. Adam concentrated solely on drums & Paul handled vocals/synths/samples. With a solid lineup the band polished their style & vision, the result being the 2005 full length “Hail Satan”. This album introduced the groups experimental/Doom sound that is still present today. It also spawned one of the bands most sought after tracks/videos, “Heroin”. After the release of “Hail Satan”, problems arose with Jason & it was decided to make a change. Ian Brown(Brown Honkey) was chosen as his replacement.
Throughout 2006 & 2007 Drug Honkey played several shows with the new & improved lineup @ several great venues in Chicago including the legendary -Metro- as well as the -Double Door- where the band recorded what would become their live unreleased EP “Quatro de Mayo”. This EP showed extreme promise for the direction the band was headed in. The track “China Black(Heroin Pt. 2)” from the EP was a massive piece of work & ended up earning a spot on their then upcoming full length “Death Dub”.
In July of 2008 the third full length “Death Dub” was released, and this showcased the band @ their dirtiest, heaviest, & most tripped out level thus far. Many great shows were played in support of the album throughout Chicago and the surrounding states in the midwest, one of the most memorable being with Today is the Day.
“Death Dub” was circulated independently quite well throughout the underground & received several great reviews all the while the band continued to play more notable shows with bands such as Buzzov*en, Indian, & Coffinworm to name a few. Throughout this period they garnered the attention of many indiviuals including Kunal Choksi, owner of Diabolical Conquest Webzine & newly formed Diabolical Conquest Records. A deal was struck between the two entities & Drug Honkey’s fourth full length “Ghost in the Fire” was released on May 15th 2012.
Since it’s release the band has promoted the album themselves, along with distros such as CM Distro & Crucial Blast. The response has been great. Several excellent reviews have surfaced for the album thus far.
With the release of their strongest album to date, things are looking better than ever for the band. Together they are in the beginning stages of writing new material with plans of releasing an EP in 2014…
“The only drug you need is Drug Honkey”
E.T. HABIT
EDDIE COHN
EDDIE SPAGHETTI
ENSIFERUM
If Black Metal and Power Metal were to ever have a child (gods forbid save this exception) it would be Ensiferum. Ensiferum uses the melodies and choral arrangements without sacrificing the thrash and black elements.
ESCAPE THE FATE
EZURATE
Pure Armafuckingeddon Soul Raping Black Metal” – the way it should be
from Chicago, IL USA
F. STOKES
FAREWELL FIGHTER
FATALIST
FILLABUSTER
We are an original 4 piece rock band from the south west suburbs of Chicago. Like any good local band we have a lot of hart and little cash. Unlike most bands however we have trouble pinning down a genera we fit into. From what are fans tell us “Fillabuster” has a sound that echos from mid 80’s underground punk up to early 90’s grunge. Our chord progressions are not intended to resemble any specific brand of music and are lyrics are deeply personal and thought out. We would like to make enough money at this to be able to quit our jobs and devote all our time to creating and performing. But the likely reality of being a struggling musician is we will forever be struggling. So we will continue to create our noise and perform simply for the love of self expression.
FINNTROLL
FOOTWORKINGZ
FORD PIER
FRANCESCA ESME
FRANK & MAC
CHICAGO DEAD BEATS
CHLOE CHARLES & ALY TARDOS
CHOCOLATE OF CHEESETOWN
Come out for the triumphant return of the ultimate tribute to the greatest rock band of our generation. We take it to the streets of Chicago, specifically the legendary stage of Reggie’s Music Joint. Call up your friends in Chicago. Make it a night. Carpool. Whatever you have to do… just don’t miss this show!
CHRIS FLOOD
CHRIS TIRITILLI & THE PEOPLE
A Chicago musician, Chris spreads a message of positivity. He blends soul/blues/pop with the likes of John Mayer/John Legend and the guitar playing of Jimi Hendrix/SRV. He has also appeared on the “WGN Morning Show”.
CHUDA
CONDUCTING FROM THE GRAVE
COSTUME CONTEST
CROWBAR
The moment you hear it, you know it’s CROWBAR. Praised by Pitchfork, VICE, and Metal Hammer. Twice immortalized by Beavis and Butt-Head. The group is worshipped by the heartbroken and downtrodden – those who exorcise their demons in smoke-covered riffs of mournful devastation. A genuine band’s band, with a wide-ranging influence across multiple genres, Crowbar “helped draw up the sludge metal blueprints” (Kerrang!). Celebrating a recent 30th anniversary, Crowbar is led by one of the most beloved figures in heavy metal, riff overload Kirk Windstein. His menacing bellow and smooth drawl put resilient, unrepentant strength behind even the most somber odes to suffering.
Crowbar songs are unapologetic emotional outpourings, with a bare-knuckle resolve alongside its soul-searching vulnerability, reliably delivered with crushing heaviness. Zero and Below, which cements the band’s dense catalog as exactly one dozen studio albums deep, is the most unforgivably doomy Crowbar record since their landmark 1998 effort, Odd Fellows Rest. Zero and Below is reverently old-school, counter-balanced by a resonant melodicism that’s stunningly mature. Songs like “Chemical Gods,” “Bleeding From Every Hole,” and “It’s Always Worth The Gain” demonstrate what Crowbar does better than any other band: powerful, evocative, and crushingly heavy music.
Gargantuan-sounding career-resurgence slabs Sever The Wicked Hand (2011), Symmetry in Black (2014), and The Serpent Only Lies (2016) sits mightily alongside Crowbar classics like Time Heals Nothing (1995), comprising a robust catalog worthy of examination, dedication, and repeat listens. Songs like “Planets Collide,” “Existence Is Punishment,” and “All I have (I Gave)” are anthems as demonstrative of the sludge sound as early songs by Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth represent Thrash.
Sever The Wicked Hand introduced guitarist Matt Brunson and drummer Tommy Buckley to the Crowbar faithful. Symmetry in Black began a partnership with producer Duane Simoneaux. Rolling Stone named it as one of the 20 Best Metal Albums of 2014; Pitchfork praised it as well. Exclaim! honored The Serpent Only Lies as “another worthy album to add to Crowbar’s influential and highly revered catalog.” Rounded out by bassist Shane Wesley, Crowbar and Simoneaux work their magic repeatedly on Zero and Below. As Metal Hammer astutely observed, Crowbar “exists in a genre of one.”