Descartes a Kant (DAK) returns with a new studio album titled After Destruction. Released in all physical and digital formats, this conceptual work proposes a narrative arc exploring the cycles of existential creation and destruction.
After Destruction portrays psychic discomfort in a compulsively hyper-communicative but emotionally isolated society, with a retro-futuristic aesthetic, destructive guitars, synthesizers and soulful melodies.
Lampooning contemporary emotional consumerism, the band integrates an automaton character into their lineup: The DAK, an innovative machine designed to repair emotional damage, which appears through interludes both on the album and in the live act. Looking to restore your life after a catastrophe? Turning your pain into a work of art has never been easier.
In 2024 the band started releasing a video collection of the full album in their youtube channel, directed by Persia Campbell, and started playing shows in support of this album with two tours in Europe, one in the United States and one in Mexico, playing in festivals such as Pohoda (Slovakia), InMusic (Croatia) Aftershock (United States), Pitchfork Music Festival (Mexico), Fusion (Germany), Louder than Life (United States). In early 2025 the band will release a KEXP Live Session, and will continue touring in South America, Mexico, Europe, USA and Canada.
Covers and Originals performed by Greg Woods Band featuring Paige Kizer
Greg Woods is a singer/songwriter based in Chicago. A mainstay in the Chicago music scene as both a keyboardist and vocalist, Woods has been producing and touring his original music all around the United States & Canada for the last fifteen years. With a new record in the works, The GW Band is excited to return to the stage to play through songs from his debut record “Hello, Goodbye, & Later On.” alongside a set of music by The Band.
Tamir Bryant is a rising stand-up star from Austin to Chicago, blending grit, humor, and resilience after a career-ending injury. Viral comic. Former athlete. Always unapologetically real.
A Syrian stand up comedian who uses his quick wit and sharp observational humor to paint a picture of what it is like to be a refugee living in America.
Featured for headlining comedians such as Kristen Toomey, Jenny Zigrino, Nimesh Patel and Adam Ray. Recent festivals and credits include:
2020 LaughFest Comedy Festival
2022 Rogue Island Comedy Festival
Featured on NPR’s What’s Funny Detroit Comedy Showcase 2022
Finalist at the 2022 42nd Seattle International Comedy Competition
2024 Tree Town Comedy Festival
2024 Columbus Comedy Festival
Born and raised in East Atlanta, J.I.D — a name adopted and adapted from what his grandmother called him as a jittery child — first appeared on the Atlanta hip-hop scene with his debut EP, Dicaprio, in 2015. Growing up, J.I.D’s first connection with music was through his parents’ collection of classic funk and soul LPs. After a stint at Hampton University playing football, J.I.D also hooked up with fellow MCs as part of the Spillage Village collective. By 2012, he had dropped out of college to focus on music, and in 2014 he headed out on what would be a productive tour with EARTHGANG, Bas, and Ab-Soul. Touring allowed J.I.D to craft his skills, and a year later he recorded and dropped the Dicaprio EP, which saw him team up with a host of producers, as well as EARTHGANG. While keen to distance himself from the generic abrasive trap sound that had dominated the Atlanta scene, J.I.D wanted to deliver something that was more than just about a beat, and instead focused his time and effort on lyrics as well. In 2016, J.I.D, alongside the rest of the Spillage Village crew, released the album Bears Like This Too Much, which saw the rapper honing his unique delivery and inspired lyrics. In 2017, he announced that he had signed to J Cole’s Dreamville label (a connection made with the rapper via J.I.D’s part in the 2014 tour with Bas and J Cole’s friend and producer Cedric Brown), which released the single Never and full-length The Never Story at the beginning of the year. ~ Rich Wilson, Rovi
“If you asked me why I want to be a rock star…it’s not about the fame or money,” guitarist/ songwriter Brandon Mendenhall states. “I have a unique opportunity to inspire people and kids with disabilities with my playing, my music and my story. I truly believe that’s what I was put on this earth to do.”
Born with Cerebral Palsy, an incurable neurological disorder affecting movement, coordination and, balance; Brandon Mendenhall faces numerous challenges. With limited movement on his left side and zero mobility in his left hand, the odds were stacked against him from birth.
However, inspired by acts such as Korn and Pantera, Brandon taught himself how to play guitar at the age of 19, rehabilitating his left hand without surgical intervention. “Once I was able to get a guitar in my hands, it changed my life,” he says. That passion for music sparked something in his soul and a dream began to form…a dream that was thought to be impossible: Brandon wanted to play guitar and form a band. He recalls, “My grandfather told me,‘You’ll never be a guitarist. Don’t even try.’ And that crushed me. Those words lit a fire in me. I was determined that I could do this.”
The Mendenhall Experiment was born as Brandon’s own personal aspiration to be in a world-famous band while working within the limitations of Cerebral Palsy, knowing full well that the cards were stacked against finding musicians willing to work with him. Possessing a fierce desire to succeed, Brandon went to visit a friend in the Rock & Roll Mecca of Los Angeles- and never left, pursuing his dream with relentless tenacity and bulldog determination. Failure was not an option.
Formed in 2008, The Mendenhall Experiment also features bass player Nathan Stockton, who overcame a disability of his own-childhood deafness-through the power of music. He and Brandon are joined by Alyce Hayes on vocals, Mike Lira on guitar, and Justin Lubeck on drums.
Based in Southern California, TMX has been regularly performing on the infamous Sunset Strip in addition to gigs throughout the region opening for the likes of such metal mainstays as John 5, POD, Alien Ant Farm, Kill Devil Hill, Fear Factory, Prong, Flaw, Metal Allegiance, Smile Empty Soul, Cold, and more. In 2013, the five-piece performed at the Monster Energy Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, California, sharing the stage with Korn, Megadeth, and Five Finger Death Punch.
A breakthrough occurred on June 17, 2014, when TMX made it to the final round of The Battle of the Bands for Warped Tour. After an electrifying performance that left the audience screaming for more, The Mendenhall Experiment took second place. The subsequent buzz reached the discerning ears at Liquid Bit Music Productions and in August 2014 TMX inked a publishing deal with the company, six years to the day after the initial incarnation of The Mendenhall Experiment performed its first show in Brandon’s hometown of Kankakee, Illinois. Shortly thereafter, the quintet put pen to paper again to sign their first development deal with Lucent Records, including national digital distribution through Universal Music Group.
TMX’s inspiring and energetic performances strive to bring a positive message to the masses. They stand strong for disability awareness in support of Brandon, who observes, “At our shows, we are starting to see the impact of our mission to inspire others on a consistent basis. Our fans and supporters come to us and give their personal testimonies and praise about how we are touching their lives, and the lives of others with disabilities.” The music and lyrics resonate far beyond the disabilities, inspiring people to seize every day and celebrate life.
The Mendenhall Experiment began recording their current EP in various studios in Los Angeles with the help of some very special guests: James “Munky” Shaffer (Korn) and Danny Lohner (NIN/A Perfect Circle). The EP is available everywhere online and the debut single, “Seize the Day”, has received over thirty-thousand views on Vevo/YouTube.
The music video was acclaimed Video of the Year at the 2015 LRT Music Video Awards in Hollywood,California, celebrating independent music, while Brandon was deemed Trailblazer of the Year at the 2015 United Cerebral Palsy Los Angeles Art of Care annual event. In addition, he was also named celebrity ambassador for Day Trippers, a UK-based charity assisting disabled people in Great Britain. A feature documentary film detailing Brandon and the band’s story, Mind Over Matter, was released in 2019; directed by French filmmaker Sébastien Paquet (Korn,Wounded Warriors). In 2016 TMX made a triumphant return to the Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, California, graduating to the main stage and playing to over four-thousand wildly enthusiastic fans. TMX has also performed at the 2017 Rocklahoma festival. So far the band has completed six tours which are comprised of three headlining tours and three national tours. In 2019 they released the singles “Unwanted” and a surprise acoustic version of “Nothing Good Came Easy” to much acclaim from fans. Currently The Mendenhall Experiment is back in the studio and have just finished shooting a music video for “Prosthetic” which features Munky from Korn. The Mendenhall Experiment is also currently sponsored by Monster Energy, Ibanez Guitars, EMG Pickups, SIT Strings, and InTune Guitar Picks.
Brandon maintains a vision for TMX that some may deem unrealistic: “I am confident that as The Mendenhall Experiment brand continues to grow and see greater success, we can begin to inspire people on a global scale with our music, touching not only the lives of individuals but also changing the global perception of people with disabilities.” But considering all that he’s overcome thus far, it would be difficult to bet against Brandon and “The Experiment” that bears his name fulfilling those goals!
Laikaa, a five-piece band of teenagers from Berwyn, Illinois, released a self-recorded debut EP, ‘Pouring Youth’, in February 2023. It’s a reaction to late 80s – early 90s alternative and underground music, portraying nostalgia from the perspective of kids born on the Internet.
CHART ATTACK: The World’s Oldest Cover Band
Calling all Elder Emos and Punks! Get ready for a nostalgia-packed, high-energy experience that blends your favorite chart-topping hits with a pop punk and punk rock twist. We’re here to bring the party, make you feel young again, and prove that just because you’re old doesn’t mean you still don’t ROCK.
Started in the summer of 2024, this project is Sachio Nang’s full blown vision of the perfect mix of jazz, funk, fusion, rock, and gospel. With a 5 piece horn section, and tunes that are equal parts groovy as infectiously catchy, Mid-Air delivers with electric solos, immaculate grooves, and thrilling live arrangements.
Sachio Nang started recording music in mid 2018, gradually upping his production value as he expanded his skills, eventually leading to his most recent release, a full blown jazz funk/fusion album entitled “Portraits”, in which he played Saxophones, Flutes, Clarinets, Guitars, Bass, Keys, and Drums, but also composed, arranged, mixed, and mastered all of tracks. An avid multi-instrumentalist, Sachio is never afraid to challenge not only himself, but the musicians around him.
Blending both old and new musical sensibilities, Mid-Air will certainly have something for everyone. Constantly pushing the boundaries of genre, Mid-Air can execute anything from a prog-rock tune to melt your face off, or even a reggae chart to kick back and relax to.
Based out of Chicago, HR Shovenstuff is a genre-bending fusion of blues, funk, hip hop & edm that harnesses the Chicago summer vibe. Friends since grade school and began creating music in 2007. Their musical journey has led them to winning contests to play at Summer Camp Music Festival and open up for GRiZ at the Heatwave Official After Party. They have also been blessed to play alongside acts such as Jimkata, Evanoff, SayWhat?!, Levity, Phyphr and Josh Teed.
Warren Zevon is the second studio album by American musician Warren Zevon. This album was recorded in 1975 and released on May 18, 1976, by Asylum Records.
Blasting brutal death metal inflected with mournful atmospheres, enhanced with lore from ancient and medieval texts.
Sacramento’s Embodied Torment unleashed their debut assault Liturgy of Ritual Execution (2015) on renowned extreme label New Standard Elite, followed by tours with the likes of Disentomb, Cerebral Effusion, and Omnipotent Hysteria. They returned in 2023 with a new lineup featuring Mark Chandler (Orchidectomy), Alex Cohen (Malignancy, Contrarian), and Andrew Smith (Splattered) for the long-awaited follow-up Archaic Bloodshed. The three-track EP heightened the contrast of dismal melody with unrestrained aggression and has pointed to an even darker future to come.
After a successful return to the stage in 2023 and a triumphant leveling of Chicago Domination Fest 8, Embodied Torment recruited permanent drummer Alex Lopez (ex-Fallujah) and released Tongue of Iron MMXXIV on the eve of a new era of live incursions. The band continues to prepare new material for their next full-length.
Ivy Drip is good ol’ Chicago rock. Got drunk in a loft and started a band. Ate the scorpion at the bottom of the tequila bottle and he’s been writing their music ever since.
Hot Fuss is the debut studio album by American rock band the Killers, released on June 7, 2004, in the United Kingdom and on June 15, 2004, in the United States by Island Records. The album’s music is mostly influenced by new wave and post-punk. Hot Fuss spawned four critically and commercially successful singles: “Mr. Brightside”, “Somebody Told Me”, “All These Things That I’ve Done” and “Smile Like You Mean It”.
The album reached number seven on the Billboard 200 and number one on the UK Albums Chart. As of December 2012, Hot Fuss had sold more than seven million copies worldwide, including more than three million in the United States and more than two million in the United Kingdom. It has also been certified platinum or multi-platinum in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. The album and its first three singles went on to garner five Grammy Award nominations at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in 2005.
COLDPLAY “A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD”
A Rush of Blood to the Head is the second studio album by the British rock band Coldplay. It was released on 26 August 2002 by Parlophone in the United Kingdom, and a day later by Capitol in the United States. The album was produced by the band and Ken Nelson, and makes greater use of the electric guitar and piano than the band’s debut album, Parachutes(2000).
LADY HATCHET QUARTET
Lady Hatchet Quartet features:
Lady Hatchet – guitar, lead vocals
Jade Tremba – bass, backing vocals
Jenny Whiskey – saxophone, backing vocals
Katherine Stock – drums, backing vocals
A satellite band of Rude Girl Revue, Lady Hatchet Quartet does more with less, reinterpreting her real ska-inspired sound with a slimmed-down 1950s rock’n’roll lineup, big 1960s girl group harmonies, and a healthy helping of that 1970s revolutionary girl attitude.
The Quartet made its electric debut opening for The Slackers and The Bandulus (featuring Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites) on their recent East Coast December holiday shows and already have bookings into 2025, as well plans to record a full-length album early in 2025. They are currently seeking offers to open for touring bands on the East Coast, as well as long-term goals of touring in North America and beyond upon completion of their album.
A versatile musician and accomplished saxophonist based in Chicago. As both a passionate educator and performer, Sam brings his deep love for music to the classroom and the stage. A graduate of North Central College with a degree in Music, he has dedicated himself to sharing his expertise with the next generation of musicians.
Sam’s career has been marked by collaborations with internationally renowned artists, including Burna Boy and Rex Orange County, as well as performances at major festivals such as Coachella and Camp Flog Gnaw. These opportunities have allowed him to showcase his exceptional talent on some of the world’s most celebrated stages.
Beyond touring, Sam has worked with an impressive lineup of artists, including Lupe Fiasco, Miki Howard, Solange, Randy Newman, 10,000 Maniacs, and Tyler the Creator, solidifying his reputation as a highly sought-after musician in the industry.
With a dynamic blend of performance experience and a dedication to education, Sam Somebody continues to captivate audiences around the globe and inspire a love for music wherever he goes
ANELLA
Anella Herim is an artist from Trinity, NC. Popularly known for his upbeat music and personality.
Rin Peisert is a conceptual and performance artist whose work disorganizes the relationship between performer and audience, favoring unscripted interactions that challenge societal norms and reconfigure connections to objects, spaces, and behaviors. With a background in visual art, butoh, and theater, her practice rejects representational modes in favor of direct engagement, often breaking the fourth wall to examine the reciprocal gaze between artist and audience.
Her approach avoids traditional performance contexts by operating in public and pedestrian spaces—street corners, tunnels, rooftops, and markets—where the work interrogates its own role within everyday environments. These site-responsive performances frequently involve sound, improvisation, and spontaneous collaboration, prioritizing process over outcome and dismantling conventional hierarchies between artist, viewer, and place.
Rin is the creator and director of Relative Intensity Noise, a durational performance series that situates multiple artists in shared spaces, generating unpredictable interactions and emergent dynamics. Her projects have been presented in institutions such as the Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art, Power Station of Art Shanghai, Defibrillator Gallery, and The Momentary, as well as bomb shelters and basements.
Rather than prescribing specific interpretations, Rin’s work allows for multiple contextual readings, relying on the chance engagement of audience interaction to determine its evolving significance. Her work emphasizes the relational and contingent nature of performance, situating meaning as a reciprocal process shaped by the conditions of its presentation.
CV
Connect with Kid Bode on various platforms, from his electrifying live performances to his social media updates. Stay in the loop about upcoming shows, releases, and initiatives that continue to define his dynamic presence in the music scene.
Moore is an emcee, producer and multimedia artist from the northwest Chicago suburbs – Elgin, IL. He got his start as a founding member of the Hip Hop collective Watch City. Since the groups inception, Moore has released a vast catalog of music as a solo artist and toured the United States multiple times. His mission as an artist is to create innovative music that stands out in the Hip Hop community and beyond, and to promote peace, love and prosperity within his works. Moore blends elements of modern and golden age rap music with his background in rock, electronic and jazz music to create a sound that is both nostalgic and undeniably fresh.
Since the release of his debut album, Moore has kept expectations high through collaborations with MillerCoors and Vans and a slew of high-profile appearances including:
-Performances with Twista, Slick Rick, Layzie Bone and Flesh-n-Bone, Trevor Daniel, Manic Focus, Lyrics Born, Mac Lethal, Masta Killa, MC Eiht, PMD and more
-Festival appearances at Milwaukee Summerfest, South by Southwest, Elgin Fringe Festival and more
-Tours with GLC, Jeru The Damaja, Security Culture, DJ Risky Bizness and Mic One
-Collaborations with Gift Of Gab (Blackalicious), Blake Rules, Watch City, KASZ, Low Key Beats, Banks The Genius, Coolout Chris, Blue Future and many others
Find videos, tour dates and more at http://moorewatchcity.com
Earth Tongue is a heavy psych rock two-piece from Wellington, New Zealand. Guitarist Gussie Larkin is a master of the fuzz-smothered riff, and along with Ezra Simons’ off-kilter drumming, they’ve been sending punters into transcendental states since their emergence in 2016. Their debut album ‘Floating Being’ (Stolen Body Records, 2019) quickly became an underground hit, seeing them embark on multiple tours across Australasia and Europe in the years since its release. Along the way they’ve picked up high praise from BBC Radio6, Bandcamp and headbangers all over the world.
After touring with American multi-instrumentalist Ty Segall, the duo caught the attention of iconic Los Angeles based rock’ n’ roll label In The Red Records – an imprint that has released albums from the likes of Thee Oh Sees, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Wand and Ty Segall himself. In The Red promptly signed them, and released their second album Great Haunting in June 2024. Written during the pandemic lockdown era while holed up binging on 1970’s and 80’s horror movies, the nine-track album is a doom-soaked overload — conjuring vast sonics from just guitar, drums and yowls.
Earth Tongue have hit the road time and time again, playing over 50 shows throughout Europe and the UK in 2024 and sharing stages with the likes of Queens of the Stone Age, IDLES, Ty Segall, Acid King, Brant Bjork and Kikagaku Moyo. Earth Tongue’s live show is a powerful, cult-like experience – the perfect mix of throw-your-horns-up heavy, and can’t-stop-listening catchy. Their third studio album is set for release in September 2025.
Cricket! is your favorite Chicago based DIY folk punk bug themed musician. Performances are loud, energetic, and deeply emotional; especially for a solo performer. Cricket! is a proud mental health awareness advocate, and his song writing brings catharsis to those struggling with social seclusion, self hatred, and all those other nasty things. In his spare time he enjoys long walks on the beach, rogue-lite RPGs, and dragging himself against the grain of cultural normality. Cricket! started his musical career with his release of the album Thinking About Bugs (2021), took a long break, then came back for a massive step up with the punchy yet heartfelt album Lucky Cricket (2023). He is most well known for his song Simple Science off his latest and most successful album Self Sufficient (2024) which all explore the complexities in self seclusion, different vices used to escape reality, and the dangers of thinking you don’t need help. While taking much inspiration from classic fast paced folk punk bands (Such as Days N Daze, Wingnut Dishwashers Union, and AJJ) Cricket! takes the raw energy from full band folk punk acts and compresses in nicely into one single explosive performer.
The Chicago Tabletop Gaming Association (CTGA) proudly presents its inaugural Artist Spotlight, featuring an exclusive screening of Perception Check – a documentary by local filmmaker Nick Garcia, recently honored as an official Feature-Length Film Nominee at the GenCon 2025 Film Festival!
Perception Check follows the journey of several first-time players as they embark on a campaign that stretches over 3+ years. From beginning initiates to seasoned adventurers, you can follow the group as both they and their characters develop over the course of their campaign!
Attending this event is a great way to connect with fellow artists, designers, and TTRPG enthusiasts who are shaping Chicago’s vibrant gaming culture. Critically, 100% of proceeds will directly support our featured artist and will support their work on future projects! This will be a great opportunity to prove your support for local artists and filmmakers in our ttrpg community!
As the first in CTGA’s Artist Spotlight series, this event embodies our commitment to uplifting local creators. Space is limited for this event – get your tickets while they last and help us support creators in our community!
THE OXYS
Live performance and live shows. Sleazy, snotty, and catchy as hell — The Oxys, formed by Ginchy (Dead Boys, Sylvain Sylvain) and Phil D., blast out late-70s gutter rock, punk, and power pop with sharp hooks and raw energy. Known for explosive live performance and live shows, they’ve hit the road hard behind A Date With The Oxys and Generation Irrelevant.Get addicted to the Oxys infectious sound.
Since forming in 2020, every single second of music recorded by Koyo has been completely and utterly genuine. Formed in Long Island, New York by five childhood friends who grew up together—vocalist Joseph Chiaramonte, guitarists Harold Griffin and TJ Rotolico, bassist Stephen Spanos, and drummer Salvatore Argento—Koyo’s music is the sound of Stony Brook summers flipping between Taking Back Sunday and Silent Majority while driving to the beach, living in songs that feel just like home.
Three years after their formation—and hot on the heels of a slew of acclaimed EPs—Koyo is now taking their next step in the hallowed halls of Long Island hardcore with Would You Miss It?, the band’s debut album. Following in the footsteps of the giants of hardcore, pop-punk, and emo that came before them, Koyo are aware of the weight a debut album carries, and they’ve been slowly crafting it since the band’s earliest days. “We really slow-cooked this record,” says Chiaramonte. “There are songs on it that go back as far as being written just after Painting Words Into Lines came out. Even as we were writing for Drives Out East, we knew certain songs had to be allocated or certain things. We’d just keep them in the bank and develop them over time.”
Despite all the planning and tinkering, there’s nothing contrived about Would You Miss It?, because there’s nothing remotely manufactured about Koyo. Every element is a genuine representation of the people creating it, and the album was concocted in the most authentic way possible: with five friends, all together, writing songs. “We have great chemistry as a band and as songwriters,” says Griffin. “That’s the beautiful thing about Koyo, that we can sort of fit into everything. We never try to box ourselves in, because no matter what we do, it will still be us.”
To fully immerse themselves in the recording process, Koyo decamped to a barn in rural New Jersey with producer Jon Markson (Drug Church, Regulate, One Step Closer) and spent six weeks digging into every detail of the record. The product is songs like “You’re On The List (Minus One),” “Message Like A Bomb (ft. Daryl Palumbo),” and “Anthem,” tracks that build upon Koyo’s established foundation, but feel sharper, stronger, and even more singalong ready. “This record was a labor of love,” says Chiaramonte. “Not just because of the work that went into it, but because of all the life experiences that shaped it. The record was a life-fulfilling, life-affirming thing to make, but it hurt a little bit to make, too.”
That’s no metaphor. Nearly every day working with Markson was a marathon 10-hour session with the band poring over every single detail to ensure their debut album met their expectations. Meanwhile, Griffin was learning how to walk again after an onstage accident precipitated a major ankle surgery. “The first week we were at the studio, I was in a wheelchair with my foot up and could not do anything,” says Griffin. “Three of thesongs on the album were written from that wheelchair. I had a physical therapist a mile away from the studio, so I learned how to walk while living at this farm for six weeks.”
For Chiaramonte’s part, the lyric writing process forced him to dig deep into himself. Musically, Koyo’s songs flow out of Griffin and Rotolico as naturally as a conversation at an all-night diner but, for Chiaramonte, writing lyrics proved to be a deeply introspective experience. He’d drive somewhere remote and sit for hours with a notepad until what filled the page was an honest, open-hearted sentiment. “Life’s A Pill” is a prime example, and a perfect encapsulation of the range of emotion Koyo captures throughout each of the tracks on Would You Miss It?.
“‘That song is about a family member of mine passing away from a drug overdose when I was on my first full U.S. tour,” says Chiaramonte about “Life’s A Pill.” “Ultimately, I chose to stay on that tour. I didn’t want to grieve. I didn’t want to think about it. It was all so overwhelming that I just opted to shoulder how I was feeling, finish the tour, and deal with it another day. I found that I started to do that with a lot of things because I started to tour full time that year. There were so many interpersonal problems that I was just smothering. That song dives into that. The loss, the avoidance, and what I was doing mirrored what some people turn to drugs for. It’s a giant song about loss and escapism.”
Would You Miss It? is the kind of album that could only be made by a group of self-proclaimed genre-obsessives. It’s why Koyo can seamlessly transition from playing the This Is Hardcore festival to opening for Bayside, because they make perfect sense no matter what bill they’re on. That natural musical dexterity is what fostered collaborations with Glassjaw’s Daryl Palumbo (“Message Like A Bomb”), Vinnie Caruana of The Movielife (“What’s Left To Say”), and Vein.FM’s Anthony DiDio (“Flatline Afternoon”) on songs where each part was written specifically with the guest vocalist in mind. Each person fits right into Koyo’s musical language, and expresses the range of sounds and feelings the band can express at any given time.
Taken in full, Would You Miss It? is the coming-of-age tale of five friends joining together to take on the world. Fueled by a love for music, and a shared creative bond, Koyo sets the bar for the new wave of Long Island bands. As Chiaramonte notes on “Anthem,” a lyrical love letter to Long Island scenes of the past, present, and future, “the best is yet to come.” Pay attention, because you won’t want to miss it.
