Jake Blount

JAKE BLOUNT

Jake Blount is an award-winning banjoist, fiddler, singer and ethnomusicologist based in Providence, RI.  He is half of the internationally touring duo Tui, a 2020 Strathmore Artist in Residence and a board member of Bluegrass Pride. He is a 2020 recipient of the Steve Martin Banjo Prize. Blount specializes in the music of Black communities in the southeastern United States, and in the regional style of the Finger Lakes. A versatile performer, Blount interpolates blues, bluegrass and spirituals into the old-time string band tradition he belongs to. He foregrounds the experiences of queer people and people of color in his work. His teachers include Rhiannon Giddens, Bruce Molsky and Judy Hyman. He has claimed first place in both the Banjo and the Traditional Band categories at the prestigious Appalachian String Band Music Festival in Clifftop, WV. Blount has shared his music and research at the Smithsonian Institution, Yale University, and Berklee School of Music, among other venues and institutions. He has also appeared on Radiolab, Soundcheck and NPR’s Weekend Edition. He regularly teaches fiddle and banjo at festivals and camps like the Augusta Heritage Center, the Ashokan Center, and Midwest Banjo Camp. Blount tours domestically and internationally as a solo performer, with his duo Tui, and with his band The Moose Whisperers. He has performed and recorded solo, and in ensembles of up to six people. His first full-length solo album, Spider Tales, is out now on Free Dirt Records & Service Co.  It debuted at #2 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart, received positive coverage from NPR, Rolling Stone and Billboard among others, and earned five out of five stars as The Guardian’s Folk Album of the Month.

Eric Emmerson

ERIC EMMERSON

Eric Emerson is a Stand-Up Comedian originally from North Carolina, now living and working out of Chicago, IL. An alumni of Appalachian State University, Eric began performing stand-up in his college town of Boone, NC. Since moving to Chicago, Eric has begun headlining, featuring, and hosting at comedy clubs, showcases, and events throughout the city and across the country, most recently headlining the Comedy Bar in Nashville, TN. A former producer of ‘Derailed Comedy’ at the Chicago Laugh Factory, he now hosts of the Chicago Comedy Bar’s ‘Thursday Showcase,’ and is one half of the on-again-off-again podcast ‘Space Cadets’.

TylerFowler

TYLER FOWLER

Tyler Fowler’s witty and clean brand of stand up comedy has made him a favorite around Chicago and across the US. Regularly appearing at Zanies Comedy Clubs and The Laugh Factory Chicago he was named among the ‘Best Of The Fest’ at the Cleveland Comedy Festival. Tyler’s debut album Friends With 401(k) Benefits premiered #1 on iTunes and Top 10 on the Billboard Comedy Charts.

Mo Good

MO GOOD

Mo Good is an up and coming female comedian from the south side of Chicago. This mother of two has performed at comedy clubs all over the country including The Laugh Factory, Riddles and Zanies. Best known for her hilarious story telling, Mo sheds light on the women’s perspective of life on and off stage. Hosting several events and working while working in Healthcare, this artist never runs out of relatable material.

Ossilegium

OSSILEGIUM

Black Metal hailing from Chicago, Illinois, USA

Fonzie and the Dego Tees

FONZIE AND THE DAGO TEES

Greasy Italian heavy hitting Rock N Roll… Get it? Nuff said… Sit on it Potsie

Neuromorphic

NUEROMORPHIC

Leonard Leal (Lead Vocals)
Joseph Howard (Drums & Vox)
Keith Sanchez (Guitar and Vox)
Jacob Howard (Bass & Vox)
stoner, tech, grind
Black Knife

BLACK KNIFE

Black Metal Punks from Lexington, Ky

AOTR

ATTACK OF THE RISING

AOTR is
Mandrake -Vox
Michael Risucci -Bass
Billy Sablan – Guitar
Tony Lepre-Guitar
Chris Lepre-Drums
– New Album coming late 2020, produced by Bill Metoyer –
“Game Changer”

Emerald Rage

EMERALD RAGE

Heavy metal/power metal band from Akron, Ohio.
Consisting of:

Jacob Wherley: Lead guitar/lead vocals
Patrick Kern: Lead guitar/vocals
Erik Curry: Bass guitar/vocals

FURBABY AND THE TIGHT SPACES

FURBABY & THE TIGHT SPACES records demos, reads, does yoga, drinks wine and takes long walks along the beach in Chicago USA.

Dreamed up during our 2020 quarantine, FURBABY & THE TIGHT SPACES is an alt/garage/psych art project that experiments with music, videos, photography and reflects on what’s going on in a world that just got fast-forwarded into the future, unexpectedly.

In past and current lives members of the band have played, toured in, and/or recorded with The Last Vegas, The Steepwater Band, Urge Overkill, The Cynics, Warrior Soul, ABBARAMA, Tyla and Dogs ‘D Amour, Early Sound and others.

Uncle Sexy

UNCLE SEXY

“Uncle sexy is a rock and roll, beer chuggin outlaw machine that sometimes feels like it will take you through a brick wall and other times feels like it will hold you until you fall asleep and then gently tuck you in to bed. Its a blend of blues, country, rock and soul that is best described by a quote from the late great Billy Joel. “Its all rock and roll to me” No tricks. No BS. These boys are livin it. Go see them live, we beg you.” ~ Rolling Stone

NWRH

Now with Real Humans

MARU MARTINEZ

Hi! I’m Maru. I’m from Montevideo, Uruguay and i write, record & produce music in my bedroom 🙂

ERNIE CLARK & THE MAGNIFICENT BASTARDS

Ernie Clark & the Magnificent Bastards began as an idea during a rock ‘n’ roll session atLeelanau Sands Casino in January, 2017. That’s when Ernie looked at his wife and said, “I’d liketo give it one more shot.” Having played in bands since he was 16, to that point Ernie Clarkhadn’t played more than an open mic or a song at church in almost a decade. Two weeks later,after much contemplation, he placed an ad on Craigslist and the adventure began. Ernie met witha couple of drummers and a couple of bass players telling them about his idea to mesh countrywith punk and gospel and rockabilly and blues. Some scoffed but some got it. A core three-piecerhythm section came together by the end of 2017 and as a group they auditioned and tried to findthe right guitar player. The line-up of Ernie Clark (vox/rhythm guitar), Brett Booher (bass),Derek Tiller (lead guitar) and Billy Hirt (drums) released their first independent record, FamilyAlbum, was released January 17, 2020.

Dog Spelled Backwards

DOG SPELLED BACKWARDS

The powerhouse lineup that is Dog Spelled Backwards was pieced together over time. It all began when Max and Denis got together and realized their musical kinship almost instantaneously. Not long after they started vibing musically, they had a song put together – what we know today as The Life We Buried. After deciding they wanted to move forward and put together a band, they found Zak, with who they had that same instant chemistry. The final and integral piece to the puzzle was Anthony, who came in on vocals and completed the band.
Dog Spelled Backwards came out of the pandemic with a brand new EP. Descension dropped on August 6th and was quickly followed with a live stream on August 15th, from The Extraordinarium in Chicago. The Chicago-based quartet, also known as DSB, has dropped a number of singles over the past couple of years and has gathered a loyal following, with their song The Life We Buried sitting at over 5,000 streams on Spotify. Descension includes a completely redone version of the track, featuring Johnny Craig of Emarosa. With some upcoming and more shows to be determined, the band will be coming to you live from Reggie’s on Nov 3rd.

THE ROLLING STONES “TATTOO YOU”

Performed Live By: performed by Phil Angotti and Naughty Neighbors

Tattoo You is the 16th British and 18th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 24 August 1981 by Rolling Stones Records. The album is mostly composed of studio outtakes recorded during the 1970s, and contains one of the band’s most well-known songs, “Start Me Up“, which hit number two on the US Billboard singles charts.

A combination of touring obligations and personal feuding between band members made it difficult to arrange dedicated recording sessions for the band’s follow-up to 1980’s Emotional Rescue. As a result, the band’s production team combed through unused recordings from prior sessions, some dating back almost a decade. While a few of the songs were used essentially as-is in their original form, most of these earlier recordings were not complete, consisting of song fragments requiring much work. Studio time was booked throughout 1980 and 1981 and band members came in when available to finish off the tracks.

The credited members of the Rolling Stones for the album were vocalist Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, bassist Bill Wyman, and drummer Charlie Watts, though two tracks feature former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor. Keyboardists Nicky Hopkins, Billy Preston, and Ian Stewart also appear on the album.

ANTHONY DRAGONS

eXamine Your Zen.™

Jordan Ward

JORDAN WARD

Raised in St. Louis, Jordan Ward is emerging as one of R&B’s rising stars. Developing anaffinity for music and dance at a very early age, Jordan polished his skillset after first trying hishand as a choir member before transitioning into musical theater. After experimenting with rap,Ward later focused on singing and dancing. By 18, he moved to Los Angeles and joined JustinBieber’s Purpose Tour in 2016. Ward’s precocious dance abilities earned him gigs as a dancerfor Janet Jackson and Beyonce, as he appeared in the singer’s Homecoming documentary forher epic Coachella performance.In 2017, Ward began his musical quest after releasing his EP, A Peak at the Summit. It wasn’tuntil 2019 that Ward’s breakthrough became the talk of R&B. His project, Valley Hopefuls, waspropelled by his single “Okok (Hibachi)” and “Sandiego,” produced by singer Arin Ray andmusic producer heavyweight No ID. Ward followed this up with his stellar 2021 EP, RemainCalm, which featured the infectious single, “Lil Baby Crush”, produced by Lido and MayerHawthorne.Now, Ward’s silky croons and elevated songwriting abilities are at peak form as he readiesdebut studio album, Forward. FORWARD showcases Jordan exploring sounds and pushing hiscreativity forward. Forward is about evolving and breaking generational cycles. Forward is ForWard, a tribute to the Ward family, past and present. The album has themes of togetherness,hardship, and triumph. Guests on the album include upcoming stars Ryan Trey, Joyce Wrice,Joony & Gwen Bunn who lend their voices to help tell these stories. The album was producedby Lido, Nascent, Beat Butcha, Mike Hector, Eli Heisler and Xavi.

Everyday Specials

EVERYDAY SPECIALS

we make rock n roll music in Chicago

WRONG WAR

Wrong War formed in Chicago in 2019 and features Matt Weeks on lead vocals. In addition to being at the helm of Council Records from 1992-2006, Weeks played and toured extensively with the widely influential bands Current, Calvary, and Ottawa. On guitar and bass, respectively, are Patrick Keenan and Dave Pawlowski, who are back together for the first time since serving time in the raucous Chicago five-piece, The Phenoms. Salvo Beta drummer Dan Smith, along with Weeks, is responsible for much of the band’s relentless, aggressive sound. Smith also handles all noise and sampling heard throughout the band’s debut release, Fixed Against Forever.
Wrong War, while influenced by the Chicago and Detroit scenes they came up in, certainly gives a nod to classic DC punk and the Dischord Records releases of that time. Early on, the band has drawn direct comparisons to Crucifix, Battalion of Saints, and Born Against. They play blistering, politically-charged punk rock in a time when we need it most.
Wrong War’s debut album, Fixed Against Forever, was released digitally by Council Records on Election Day, 2020.

E.F. LEDBETTER

E.F. Ledbetter III is a new independent artist that describes his music as Gospel Lo-Fi Neo Soul. His parents are his greatest influences; his mother raised him listening to Blues and his father raised him listening to Jazz. The church is his foundation which allows him to find the soul in all genres of music. His E.P. “After Church” is a blend of R&B, Hip-Hop and Jazz melodies that are nontraditional yet inspirational in content. His recent album “The Midnight Musical” is an extension of him exploring his sound which he feels is an intentional rebellion of who he is expected to be.

Legacy Black

LEGACY BLACK

Legacy Black from Chicago, IL USA. Merging prog metal with other genres of music to create a unique sound of their own. Formed in 2016 the lineup is:

Juan Cardenas – Drums/jPercussion
Joyce Jenkins – Keyboards/Vocals
Donovan Torres – Bass
Clint Davis – Guitar/Vocals

DEATH POP RADIO

You have found the home of Death Pop Radio – A new Chicago hard rock collaboration that will vibrate the foundation of your soul

MCSTINE MINNEMAN KENEALLY D’VIRGILIO

McStine & Minnemann – the duo comprised of multi-instrumentalists Randy McStine (Lo-Fi Resistance) and Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats) – will join forces with Mike Keneally (Beer For Dolphins, The Zappa Band) and Nick D’Virgilio (Big Big Train) as a quartet to play a live show together as McStine & Minnemann & Keneally & D’Virgilio at Reggies on Friday, October 8th.

“Good and rewarding news! It feels great not only seeing our new McStine & Minnemann material coming to life and receiving such a warm welcome in the music world, but furthermore, now being joined by our dear friends and fellow multi-instrumentalist/composers, Mike Keneally and Nick D’Virgilio,” says Minnemann.

D’Virgilio adds, “I am super excited about sharing the stage with three men I consider to be musical superpowers. Not only will this be fun, but super challenging as well, and I love when those two things come together. For those that get the chance to witness this special event, it will be something really special. I can’t wait!!!”

The upcoming performance will be their first time together as a unit, but the connection between Mike Keneally, Marco Minnemann, Nick D’Virgilio, and Randy McStine has deep roots within a diverse family tree of musicians. Sprawled over decades, they have crossed paths with a multitude of artists in different genres, many of which eventually brought them in direct collaborations with each other.

“I have such tremendous respect and admiration for all of these guys,” says Keneally. “Both Nick and Marco I’ve recorded and played live with many times over the years, but it’s been too long since I’ve played with either of them, and the idea of playing with BOTH of them at once makes my eyes water with anticipation. Randy I’ve never played with, but I love his work and am blown away by his talent. The possibilities seem pretty endless with this group!”

“For me, a condensed history is something like this…”, McStine begins to explain. “My musical and personal bond with Nick started with my first album under the name Lo-Fi Resistance in 2009. Lo-Fi Resistance caught the attention of various musicians who started bringing me into their projects. One of those projects, In Continuum, featured Marco, Nick, and myself extensively on the recordings. I didn’t know Marco personally at that point, but the opportunity for In Continuum to play a couple of live gigs put the two of us in a rehearsal room and on a stage together for the first time in October 2018. On the subject of Mike Keneally, there just isn’t enough time or space to express what it means to me to have him in this group, so I’ll just say that I’m beyond excited and honored to make some music together.”

Randy McStine is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer whose diverse career as a solo artist and side-man has led to collaborations with members of King Crimson, Joe Satriani, Tears For Fears, King’s X and many more. Randy’s work embraces genres such as Rock, Progressive, Blues, Singer-Songwriter, Folk, Pop, and Ambient music. In 2020, he formed McStine & Minnemann with acclaimed drummer/composer, Marco Minnemann. The duo has recorded and released two albums, and are currently working on their third.

Marco Minnemann is one of the world’s most respected drummers, having recorded and performed with diverse artists such as Paul Gilbert, The Buddy Rich Big Band, Steven Wilson, Necrophagist, and U.K. His own band, The Aristocrats (featuring Guthrie Govan and Bryan Beller), is a hugely sought-after touring act all over the world. Marco is also an accomplished guitarist and composer, which is evident throughout his vast catalog of solo albums. His most recent album, ‘My Sister,’ was released in 2019.

Mike Keneally joined Frank Zappa’s band in late 1987. Keneally’s debut solo album, hat. was released in 1992, and he has released about 30 solo albums since then (with a new double album in the works now). Mike has played in the bands of Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Devin Townsend, along with leading his own band, Beer For Dolphins, since the ’90s, featuring Bryan Beller and Joe Travers as its long-standing rhythm section. Presently, Keneally is a member of The Zappa Band, alongside several other Zappa alumni. Mike has also been a member of the bands Dethklok and Z, and has collaborated with Andy Partridge, Robert Fripp, Mastodon, Ulver, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Lyle Workman, and many other fine folks. He also enjoys ping-pong, and the All-Music Guide said that he is “the leading progressive rock genius of the post-Zappa era,” but who can quantify such things?

Nick D’Virgilio has had a long and fruitful career in music. Playing drums for artists/bands such as Tears For Fears, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Kevin Gilbert, Frost*, Fates Warning, Robben Ford, Steve Hackett, Jonatha Brooke, Marcus Scott and many others. D’Virgilio was also a founding member of Prog Rock giants, Spock’s Beard, where his 20 years with the band saw 10 studio releases, multiple live DVD’s, and many tours of the US and Europe. Since 2007, Nick has been a member of the critically-acclaimed band, Big Big Train. From 2010 to mid-2014, Nick was part of the Cirque Du Soleil touring production, TOTEM, where he was the drummer, lead vocalist, and assistant bandleader. In August of 2014, Nick joined Sweetwater, which is the largest online retailer of musical instruments and pro audio equipment in the United States. Nick’s positions at Sweetwater include “in-house” drummer, vocalist, producer, and engineer in Sweetwater’s world-class recording studios, as well as being one of the main web content providers. Nick released his third solo record, INVISIBLE, in 2020.

THE REVEL

Brotherhood binds a rock band together much like a gang.
Rather than throw down in the streets, The Revel throw down on stage and in the studio. The New Jersey quartet—brothers Dean [lead vocals, guitar] and Dillon D’Antuono [lead guitar, backing vocals], Stephen Mir [bass, backing vocals], and Kyle Smith [drums]—pack a knockout punch with howling vocals, rip-roaring leads, and stadium-ready rhythms. After performing alongside icons such as Bon Jovi and receiving acclaim from American Songwriter, The Aquarian, and many more, they roar to life on a series of independent singles and their forthcoming 2021 EP.
“We’re not just a band; we’re a gang of brothers,” affirms Dean. “The four of us create a vibe and bring a distinct energy.”
“We share the same fire in our hearts and souls,” Dillon agrees.
Dean and Dillon discovered this energy as kids in Jersey. At seven-years-old, the elder Dillon received his first guitar, and Dean soon followed suit. By middle school, they launched a garage band of their own, unlocking inimitable chemistry in the process. Inspired by everything from Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, and U2 to Rival Sons and Royal Blood, the musicians developed their chops over countless hours of jamming.
Along the way, The Revel drew just as much inspiration from New Jersey as they did from dyed-in-the-wool rock.
“We’ve got that Jersey attitude and mindset,” Dean admits. “It’s about never giving up, not taking shit from anybody, and making it fucking happen. We fight for what believe in. It comes from looking across the river at New York City and having the hunger to get there.”
In 2017, the duo made their debut with the self-titled The Revel EP. Welcoming Kyle and Stephen into the fold, the lineup solidified. During 2018, they caught the attention of Bon Jovi and opened up for the New Jersey legends at The Prudential Center in Newark. The guys also canvased the country with the likes of Buckcherry, Blue Öyster Cult, Skid Row, and Joyous Wolf and unleashed the Don’t Let Me Go EP during 2019. In the midst of the Global Pandemic, they kicked into high gear creatively, cranking out new music.
“We said, ‘Fuck boundaries’,” admits Dean. “We dug deeper, expanded our palette, and really defined our style.”
“We’ve got this unbelievable chemistry,” says Dillon. “We’re so close now it’s like we can read each other’s minds. It’s completely opened up Pandora’s Box. We decided to capture that.”
They did so on the single “And It Goes.” The Revel lock into an airtight four-on-the-floor groove as the momentum builds towards a swaggering chant. A scorching riff winds around the hypnotic hook and resounding lead.
“The goal was to write something that would get stuck in your head no matter what,” Dean explains. “We’re combining this earworm vibe with meaningful lyrics. We really play every card on it.”
On the other end of the spectrum, “Lost In The Moment” takes shape as a bold ballad pushed to heavenly heights by piano. “We tried to do something a little different,” adds Dillon. “We’re really pushing ourselves.”
In the end, this gang might just flip rock ‘n’ roll upside down.
Dillon leaves off, “We want to take people on a ride and let them bring that energy home.”

THE OPERATORS

8-piece ska/dub/reggae/punk – straight outta Indianapolis, IN.

Indianapolis Ska
formed Nov 2018
Heath – trumpet/vocals
Drew- trombone
Brittany- vocals
Brandon- guitar/vocals
Dave- bass
Cris- drums
Gregg- keys

BOOMTOWN UNITED

Based out of St Louis, Missouri, Boomtown United is quickly growing into St. Louis’s premier ska collective. With horn driven and harmony-laced songs, their catalog is overflowing with an innovative sound that is captivating audiences everywhere they play. Compiled of veterans from all over the StL ska and reggae scene, Boomtown United bring an energy that is both refreshing and therapeutic!

BoomTown United are hard at work recording their debut album and are out to help put Ska music back in the spotlight!

Kevin Griffin / Vocals

Jimmy Hogenmiller / Guitar

Shelby Carter / Trumpet and BG Vocals

Mike Powers / Sax and BG Vocals

Al Gibbs / Keyboard

Danny Kombrink / Bass

Deshon Mitchell / Drums

BITE ME BAMBI

Bite Me Bambi brings sounds reminiscent of British 2 Tone and 3rd wave ska into the 21st century. With energetic songs BMB gets the crowd on their feet and dancing.

The Freecoasters

THE FREECOASTERS

Founded in 2014, The Freecoasters were designed to be a sort of musical anachronism: a perfect blend of two musical heritages that never truly overlapped.

Originally the brainchild of bassist and band-leader John Schiller, the musical vision was a blend in equal-measure of the 60’s and 70’s American Southern soul music of labels like Stax, Atlantic and Hi-Records, and the 60’s and 70’s Jamaican reggae and rocksteady of labels such as Studio One, Treasure Isle, and Pama.

Corralling like-minded musicians, and the stellar vocal and songwriting talent of singer and guitarist Claire Liparulo, The Freecoasters self-released their first full-length album, “Show Up,” in 2016. Produced by singer, songwriter and powerhouse front-man Jesse Wagner of renowned reggae recording artists The Aggrolites, the album created waves in the ska and reggae scenes and generated for the band a supportive and receptive following.

A few line-up changes, and more than 500 live-appearances later, The Freecoasters long-awaited follow-up record, “A Different Kind of Heat” is set for release on March 12, 2021; again with production by Jesse Wagner, and this time with label support from venerable ska and reggae mainstay Jump Up Records.

Temptress

TEMPTRESS

An quartet of misfits thunderously tempting fate to boom their way across Big Texas and beyond at the speed of sound. By way of Dallas, Texas comes one raucous TEMPTRESS.

Kelsey Wilson (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Andi Cuba (Drums/Vocals), Erica Pipes (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals), and Christian Wright (Bass/Vocals)

Monte Luna

MONTELUNA

James Cl – Guitar, Vocals

Danny Marschner – Drums

Garth Condit- Bass

Oddly Shrugs

ODDLY SHRUGS

PRESSURE
Art
deathproof
East Los baby

Rod Gator

ROD GATOR

 You can take the Gator out of Louisiana, but you can’t take Louisiana out of the Gator.

Years before launching his career as an internationally-celebrated southern songwriter, Rod Gator grew up in the Louisiana backcountry, making trips to his family’s crayfish pond while absorbing the sounds, stories, and swampy swagger of his surroundings.

“My dad is an old-school Cajun guy who wanted to name me ‘Gator,'” he says. “He’s got a good sense of humor, and I think he was also a big of Burt Reynolds’ Gator films, which were a big hit at the drive-ins in the ’70s.”

Gator’s mother didn’t approve of the suggestion, and the boy was christened “Rod Melancon” instead. It was under that name that he first made his stand as a musician, releasing four albums — including 2019’s critically-lauded Pinkville — that blended Louisiana soul with greasy country-rock, Texas blues, and electrified funk. Rod’s music didn’t just nod to the American South; it created its own sonic geography, too, channeling everything from the dark, cinematic sweep of Los Angeles (where he moved as an 18 year-old actor) to the amplified twang of Austin (his adopted hometown for nearly half a decade). With 2021’s For Louisiana, he blends that diverse sound with sharply-written songs that take a hard look at his old stomping grounds. This isn’t just a love letter to Louisiana — it’s also an examination of the state’s hard-to-love struggles with social justice, political reform, and natural disasters.

For a frontman who’s at the top of his game — writing every song, leading a multi-cultural band of road warriors, and whipping up his own musical gumbo — there’s never been a better time to level up while still embracing his roots. That’s why he’s adopting a new name. A name with humor, heritage, and a bit of a bite: Rod Gator.

“For Louisiana is a product of where I grew up and where I’ve been since I left town,” Gator says, speaking in the southern drawl he picked up during his childhood in Vermilion Parrish. “It’s also a product of a group of players from different backgrounds, coming together to create. Any time you have a unique group of musicians from all kinds of cultures, the sound is going to be special. That’s emblematic of Louisiana, too. It’s emblematic of the Cajun people.”

These are the strongest performances of his career, laced with Muscle Shoals-worthy grooves, overdriven amplifiers, sharp storytelling, and Gator’s unique blend of spoken-word delivery and southern crooning. He doesn’t just sing; he rasps, twangs, talks, and howls, dipping into his background as an actor for a larger-than-life approach that’s every bit as evocative as the songs’ arrangements. There’s something equally cinematic about songs like the moody, guitar-driven “Chickenhawk” (a war song delivered from a military man’s perspective), the funky “Mermentau Bridge” (a nostalgic look at the places we’re from, and the vices that are slow to leave us), and the heartland-rock title track, all of which were co-produced by longtime collaborator (and son of Emmy-winning composer Snuffy Walden) Will Walden. Meanwhile, “August 29” is a talking-blues anthem punctuated by Stax-sized organs and thick vocal harmonies — the sort of song that might have blasted from the AM radio dial of a muscle car as it pulled into the drive-in for a Gator showing — and “Out Here in Echo Park” is a slow-building, piano-driven power ballad fit for slow dances and lighters hoisted into the air.

The first album to be tracked at Grammy-winning producer Adrian Quesada’s new studio, Electric Deluxe Recorders, For Louisiana also features contributions from Melancon’s longtime drummer, Adam Nurre, and Black Pumas’ keyboardist, JaRon Marshall. On an album that’s heavy with A-list collaborators, though, it’s Rod Gator who swims to the top. His source material may be heavy — with songs inspired by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the murder of George Floyd, and the long-simmering racial tensions that continue to plague Louisiana — but his writing is elevated, full of the cadence, characters, and charisma of his home state. For Louisiana is equal parts love letter to the motherland and rallying cry for cultural progress, delivered by a Bayou State export who’s still happy to let his freak flag fly.

Lavisher

LAVISHER

LAVISHER is a rock band from Chicago whose sleek riffs and time-bending grooves draw comparisons to Failure, A Perfect Circle, and Queens of the Stone Age. Their darkly uplifting songwriting is composed of minimalist poetry, textured guitar work, throbbing low end, and focused drumming.

Anatomy Of Habit

ANATOMY OF HABIT

Anatomy of Habit formed in Chicago in October 2008 and is now composed of Alex Latus (Guitar), Isidro Reyes (Percussion), Skyler Rowe (Drums), Mark Solotroff (Vocals), and Sam Wagster (Bass).

OBSCENE

Malicious Midwest Death Metal.

GRAVHAUG

Maul

MAUL

With self-released demos, eps, and splits under their belt, MAUL set their sights on an upcoming debut full length offering of devestation scheduled to drop under the banner of Redefining Darkness Records. Combining just enough classic Death Metal stylings with hardcore, sludge, and d-beat influences, they’re bearing the torch for Midwest Death Metal into the next decade.

MAUL is: Anthony Lamb – Guitars Garrett Alvarado – Vocals Robby Anderson – Drums Mike Griggs – Bass Alex Nikolas – Guitars

Hanging Fortress

HANGING FORTRESS

Hanging Fortress is a Death Metal band from Ohio.

Vocals – Ian Reiter
Guitar – Jack Ponke
Guitar – Kyle Boyak
Bass – Jimmy Huffman
Drums – Eric Haubert

Gored Embrace

GORED EMBRACE

Gored Embrace is a death metal band from Chicago formed in early 2020. With numerous influences across old school and brutal death metal (Suffocation, Pyrexia, Defeated Sanity, Skinless, Internal Bleeding, etc.), their music prioritizes raw aggression, groovy rhythms, and catchy riffs/hooks. Common lyrical themes include horror, gore, grim aspects of reality, and state of mind.

DEAD HEAT

Nardcore

Chris – Vocals
Tony – Guitar
Yogi – Drums
Jnut – Guitar
Vince – Bass

Midwestlust

MIDWESTLUST

MIDWESTLUST noise power-violence sludge grind based in Chicago, IL and St. Louis, MO

Black Magnet

BLACK MAGNET

While birthed in the late 1980s, it was in the 1990s that the ‘Industrial Metal’ genre came to full fruition with the likes of Godflesh, Ministry, Pitch Shifter, Fear Factory, Front Line Assembly and even Nine Inch Nails carving out (or in some cases sampling) metal inspired riffing over a backbone of electronic malevolence and brutal machine driven percussion. In that tradition Black Magnet offer the haunted pummeling synthesis that is ‘Hallucination Scene’. From the initial battering of opener ‘Divination Equipment’ it’s clear Black Magnet play HEAVY guitar focused music with equal devotion to Industrial rhythms and electronic machine thunder. Throughout the punishing lurch a dark melodic sense throbs with uniform attention paid to the club floor as much as the mosh pit. All the while Black Magnet progenitor James Hammontree guides the hallucinatory torment and ecstasy with his acerbic delivery. The sonic magnitude of Industrial Metal and post-punk muscularity, heavy synth textures and rhythmic militance imbue ‘Hallucination Scene’ with a frenetic pulse acutely attuned to the head on collision of alternate dystopian timelines that is 2020.

Trace Amount

TRACE AMOUNT

Experimental harsh industrial.

REEK OF DIVINITY

MANY BLESSINGS

Many Blessings is the experimental outlet created by Ethan Lee McCarthy (Primitive Man & Vermin Womb

SORE DREAM