Cocoa Greene are a 3 piece rock band from Chicago, IL, formed in 2014. The band consists of Carlin Hobbs (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Maxwell Harris (Bass), and Alex Kennedy (Drums).
Cocoa Greene are under Press Pot Recordings (Dark Matter Coffee) and released their debut album, Hypnagogia, in 2019, showcasing the bands dramatic guitar riffs, chunky bass, and classical influences.
Cocoa Greene embodies a vast collection of sounds. Greene rebased their debut album inspired by Dali’s “The Persistence of Memory”. This album follows the journey of romantic love in an unforgiving world. It begins by utilizing spatial textures to illustrate the dream-like state that is falling in love, one that is seemingly free from the restrictions of time. The album matures into a chaotic symphony when the romance meets reality, and crashes in a life that is socially constructed and structured religiously around the clock.
As a hip hop artist, Manasseh Champion performs under the sobriquet “Doso”. His performances are energetic and strong with cutting, contemplative lyrics.
Formed in the mid 90s by bassist/singer Chris Kosnik, guitarist Ed Mundell, and drummer Keith Ackerman, the self-titledalbum “The Atomic Bitchwax” was released in 1999 with the N.Y.C. label Tee Pee Records establishing them with audiences of the burgeoning “Stoner Rock” community.
As of 2020 the band has released nine studio albums and have performed over 1,500 live concerts worldwide.
Eugeine Grey and The Bad Habits born out of the bustling gutters of Chicago’s very own rock-n-roll centric surrounding borough of Lombard, IL formed in 2017 around the talents of Patrick Goray (guitar, vocals), Mike Arturi (drums) ,Brad Haptas (bass, vocals), and Shaun Meek (Lead Guitar). A full throttle, high energy, blood pumping ,muscular display of hypnotizing hard-hitting rock-n-roll force in the vein of Clutch,All Them Witches, Queens of the StoneAge, Fugazi, Aktar Aktar, and Highly Suspect.
Inspiring youth across the nation and beyond to pick up an instrument and find their passion – that’s what NOT UR GIRLFRENZ is all about. Along the way, this young Dallas-based, all-girl power trio is making waves in the local market with their high-energy shows, award-winning performances and an ever-growing base of loyal fans, a.k.a. “The Frenzone”.
NOT UR GIRLFRENZ was recently crowned 2017 “Battle of the Legends” Champions by Dallas’ new premiere music venue, Lava Cantina – besting adult bands several times their age, and captivating audiences with their combination of youthful energy and musical prowess.
NOT UR GIRLFRENZ is Liv Haynes (13), a tour de force on guitar and lead vocals; Maren Alford (13), who beats the drums like they owe her big money; and Gigi Haynes (11), keeping it sick and steady on bass. Influenced by greats like Foo Fighters, Paramore, Green Day, Heart and Led Zeppelin, NOT UR GIRLFRENZ already rocks iconic classics, soon-to-be classics, and their own brand of original music.
The band is currently working with producer Jaret Reddick, Grammy-nominee and seller of over a million albums as front man for pop punk icons Bowling for Soup.
NOT UR GIRLFRENZ is also featured in the 2017 Reliant Energy “Girl Power” ad campaign with VO by fellow Texan Matthew McConaughey. Drummer Maren Alford is also a guest blogger for The Gretsch Company (gretsch.com).
Illustrating “Girl Power” at its finest, NOT UR GIRLFRENZ has only scratched the surface of what the future holds for them in today’s music industry – if they promise to complete their homework first!
Old Man Saxon spent 2014 living out of his car while pursuing his rap career. He slept in the backseat of his Ford Explorer, showered at gyms, ate Happy Meals twice a day, and worked nights at a restaurant to keep money in his pocket.
Every night, he wrote lyrics to keep his mind off the daily struggles. Over the course of the year, he wrote hundreds of songs, recorded about 30, and selected four songs that best captured the year—a defining moment in his life and career—for his new album, The Perils.
The music video for the title track of the album is directed by Anthony Yano Hays. His goal was to truthfully and powerfully portray the indescribable loneliness, anxiety, and vulnerability that Old Man Saxon felt while being homeless.
Legendary guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein has broken new ground with his solo project, “DOYLE”. A horror based hardrock/metal band of epic proportions. Still grinding out heavy riffs is the hulking monster himself, Doyle of MISFITS fame,and Alex Story from ‘Cancerslug provides vocals filled with misanthropic rage, while still capturing the beauty of the dark side. Solidifying the quartet is Graham (ex-Graves, ex-Let It Burn) on bass, unifying the skull crushing sound that is the machine Doyle himself has put together. DOYLE cranks out music as scary as the Misfits, as doom laden as Black Sabbath, and has the same hard-hitting in your face style of metal as Motorhead or Slayer.
Life of Agony emerged from the New York music scene in the early ’90s with one of the most distinctive sounds in its genre. Best known for its 1993 metal/crossover debut “River Runs Red” (Roadrunner Records), named by Rolling Stoneas being one of the “100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time” the band instantly built a die-hard, cult following. For over two decades, the group toured relentlessly all over the world, sharing stages with the biggest names in rock, including Metallica, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Foo Fighters, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. LOA went onto release two more studio albums for Roadrunner: “Ugly” (’95) and “Soul Searching Sun” (’97), before signing to major label Sony/Epic Records in 2005 to record “Broken Valley” with producer Greg Fidelman (Slipknot, Metallica). In 2017, the group released the highly acclaimed “A Place Where There’s No More Pain” via Napalm Records. Life of Agony has sold over one million albums to date.
LIFE OF AGONY’s hard-hitting, emotional concept album The Sound of Scars (Napalm Records) was released to critical acclaim in October, 2019.The record was named Album Of The Year by The Aquarianand the #1 Album on Metal Hammer’s (DE) ‘Best of 2019’: Alternative-Rock/Punk List.The album was produced by Sylvia Massy (Tool, System of a Down) along with LOA’s very own Joey Z (mixing duties helmed by Massy), and mastered by Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, Metallica, Soundgarden). The Sound of Scars continues the haunting narrative from the band’s groundbreaking 1993 debut River Runs Red.
Life Of Agony Video “SCARS” Premieredon BILLBOARD!”
By far, this is the best Life of Agony record you’ve heard in years,” explains guitarist Joey Z. “We really went back to our roots on this one and tapped into the mindset we had when we first started the band.”The group recently toured Europe where they filmed a chaotic, high-energy video for lead-off track ‘Scars’with director Leigh Brooks of Firebelly Films. “We decided to perform right in the middle of the pit to capture what it’s really like to be at a Life Of Agony show,” said bassist Alan Robert. “It was a sweaty whirlwind of raw emotion and non-stop energy… something I’ll never forget. And to drive home the message of the song even further, we decided to include a handful of fan-submitted LOA tattoo images in there, too. Literally hundreds of them have been pouring in from fans all over the world and they looked so incredible, we had to use them. It just goes to show how deeply connected we all are through this music, both on an emotional and on a personal level.”
The airwaves were rife with so many great eclectic, genre-melding bands in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s that it’s kind of understandable that 24-7 Spyz got lost in the crowd. Their image and sound wasn’t as MTV-ready as the Red Hot Chili Peppers or Faith No More and they didn’t write songs with the same anthemic scope as Living Colour or Rage Against the Machine. While the foundations of 24-7 Spyz lay in a fusion of heavy metal and soul, their excursions into jazz, funk, hardcore punk, hip hop and reggae served to confound, almost as much as it delighted, when the songwriting faltered.
However, inspite of having spent most of the past two decades since the release of 1996’s Heavy Metal Soul By The Pound largely inactive, and inspite of having weathered all manner of personal, physical and psychological struggles, 24-7 Spyz have managed to turn in a career highlight brimming with palpable joy at still being alive and able to make music. And that joy is infectious. While Soundtrack To The Innermost Galaxy was made by the band purely for their fans and for themselves, its sheer joie de vivre is sure to win some new fans.
Like all Spyz records, Soundtrack is highlighted by Jimi Hazel’s signature six-string work—which draws on the acidified grooves of his namesakes, Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Hazel, but ratchets up the heaviness several notches—and his surprisingly warm and soulful voice. His riffing and stylistic shapeshifting is ably matched by the equally nimble and irresistible rhythm section of Rick Skatore on bass and Phillip “Fish” Fisher on drums. This time around Hazel is also joined by Ronny “Head” Drayton, who shares guitar and vocal duties, and a host of collaborators on practically every track.
Despite the multitude of contributors to the album Soundtrack is one of Spyz’ least disjointed sounding records even when it jumps from soulful funk metal to old school hip hop (Anthem), to neo soul (Brothers and Sisters) to Philly soul (Home), to acid jazz and bebop (the title track), and back again (Waiting for the Sun). Somehow, incredibly, none of this genre-hopping sounds forced, awkward or calculated. Throughout its runtime Soundtrack exudes an air of light-hearted organic looseness, almost as if every song here was a live jam improv recording. The only point at which the album gets a little bogged down is on the Eric Garner-inspired “Repeating Myself” which doesn’t have the kind of vocal and instrumental fury that the lyrics seem to demand. Spyz seem much more comfortable preaching the gospel of love than militantly confronting hate.
This relatively minor quibble aside, Soundtrack is a gem of a record that will please anyone with an open mind and ear for diverse music that is fundamentally rooted in heavy metal and soul, but constrained by little else, and whose air of positivity is as addictive as its virtuosity. There might not be a better way to start the new year than by letting The Soundtrack to the Innermost Galaxy put a smile on your face, a bounce in your step, and a groove in your soul.
Mán Cub is the performance name of singer, songwriter, and producer Richard Juarez. Mán Cub grew up in Chicago’s Little Village. From a young age Richard was exposed to a wide range of music, from R&B and Yacht Rock to Psychedelic and Boleros. He played guitar and wrote songs all throughout high school and college where studied theatre and performance at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2017, Richard began developing his new project Mán Cub. He released his first single “Powder Room” featuring Jesse, in February of 2018 with good reception. In 2019, Mán Cub released his debut EP “Self Control” to rotation radio play and good reviews. He also produced records for artists Madera Once and Jesse. Mán Cub has played LatinXt Fest and opened for Tropa Magica aka Thee Commons at the Empty Bottle.
BLUE BEAM
Like any good conspiracy theory, Chicago-hailing rock band BlueBeam was formed in a joint mission between three brothers to defy what’s predictable. Combining the soaring vocals of rock, to the foot-tapping beats of pop; from relaxed rhythms of lounge, to impromptu fits of psychedelia, BlueBeam constantly challenges concertgoers and alt rock music enthusiasts alike to stay on their toes. Their debut EP, “The Manhattan Project” (2019) catapults listeners into an effortless blend of funky grooves and interactive lyrics, while their latest single “Hotel Next Door” (2019) displays a softer side that’s nothing short of catchy. Fans appreciate BlueBeam‘s ever-evolving setlist, tight live sound, and captivating performances, all of which keep audiences coming back for more — a good time that’s anything but predictable.
Chicago-based punk band, Capgun Heroes play fast, hooky pop-punk in the vein of the Ramones, Screeching Weasel, andRiverdales.
Capgun Heroes are Joe Capgun (vocals), Matt Cappy (guitar), Andy Hero (guitar), Nick Hero (guitar), Jimmy C. (bass), and Scotty (drums). They have opened up for Smoking Popes, The Lillingtons, Nerf Herder, The Copyrights, The Queers, Dan Vapid and The Cheats, and more.
Spies Who Surf are a surf rock/instrumental band from Chicago. They are recognized by Billboard [magazine] as being part of a global surf rock movement. They have shared the stage with national acts, including The Ventures, Dick Dale, and Agent Orange. The current lineup includes…Tommy Klein, Marshall Dawson, Dan Polonsky and David Suycott. Their 1993 release Calling All Martians [produced by Jay O’Rourke] received critical acclaim. SWS are planning more performances and recording in the very near future.
THE READY FREDDIES
A unique and heartfelt attempt to re-create the feeling and frenzy of watching Freddie Mercury’s QUEEN
A charismatic band of mostly female musicians who pride themselves on delivering the intricacies of each song
Johleee, is an eclectic multifaceted singer, songwriter, rapper, & producer from the small yet thriving city of El Paso, Texas.
Currently based out of Atlanta, Georgia, Johleee has embarked on an independent journey to deliver sultry, trap inspired, yet soul captivating sounds for her audience. With many projects in the stash, Johleee is prepping a satiating catalog with a melting pot of genres for a soon to come debut. I encourage you to get on board and stay tuned for what’s to come from this up and coming Texas artist.
Xavier Robert, known professionally as YOUNG XAV, is an American recording artist and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. Aiming to be the Great Gatsby of this century’s twenties, he’s a representative of the modern musical era by date but not by sound. Although he’s only been making music for a year, the sound is colossal, the approach – timeless. Having lived in a household with a DJ for a father, musical aptitude is embedded in his DNA. Most people plan their music career but XAV’s reeks with serendipity, after one day randomly deciding to reach out to some producer friends, booking a session in Milwaukee, and recording his first song “Summer Love” which would amass thousands of streams upon its first day of release.
The release of his debut album After Dark in February 2019 marked the genesis of what will be one long and fabled career. In the process of creating the album, he released “On The Low” and “Still Alive” as singles. Both records garnered unanticipated traffic in the thousands, a healthy foreshadow of the full-length projects approaching success. With a growing fan base hailing from SoHo to SoCal, it’s evident that his sound transcends through cultures, area codes and time zones.
YOUNG XAV’s innate ability to cultivate sound and bend frequencies rest perfectly next to his ardent desire to tell his narrative to the world. His music bleeds with intensity, diary-like reflections, wicked lyrical capabilities and fitting production. More than an MC, XAV represents musical creation, inception, diversity, versatility and expansion.
Chicagoland’s NEWEST and BEST tribute to the British legends of Heavy Metal : Judas Priest !
Formed in 2019 by Chicago-area musicians with decades of stage expertise, HELL PATROL “Delivers the Goods” every performance, both sonically and visually, to recreate the unforgettable Judas Priest concert experience, note for note & scream for scream!
HELL PATROL rocks all corners of the extensive Judas Priest catalog, playing selections sure to please both the casual and hardcore fan alike including:
– favorites like “Metal Gods”, “Electric Eye”, and “Hell Bent for Leather”
– stadium rockers such as “Breaking the Law”, “Living After Midnight”, and “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’”
– the deep cuts: “Running Wild”, “Devil’s Child”, and “Dissident Aggressor”
REFLEXICON is a hard rock / progressive melodic metal band from Chicago, formed by Paul Kratky -of the respected underground 80’s progressive metal band SLAUTER XSTROYES. Other members: Jerry Buczko- Guitar; Bill Dixon- Bass; John Ashe- Drums; and Fred Morg- Lead Vocals. Angular melody, sharp, jagged rhythms, and a tenacious forward drive.
Sanhedrin’s sound is familiar but not derivative. While their songwriting is clearly rooted in the classics, their take on rock and metal comes across as fresh and honest. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Sanhedrin’s sound is a combination of the toughness and beauty that their home borough embodies.
Church of Misery is a doom metal band from Tokyo, Japan, formed in 1995. Church of Misery’s musical style melds early Black Sabbath-style doom with psychedelic rock
Noose is a 3 piece Death/Black Metal band decomposed by 3 south side Chicago scumbags. Started in 2016 by The Judge and The Executioner the duo began drinking and working on songs to praise filth and mayhem.
Joined in mid 2017 by The Jury the Noose began to tighten its grip. The filth hounds entered and desecrated Audio Vomit studio in mid October to shit out it’s first release simply tittled Demo 2017.
Thrashed, Burnt & Branded Seditious, malicious, fiends, the horde of highwaymen ride on! The Black Moriah is influenced by hymns buried deep beneath dried earth, T.B.M. drinks the spirits of past greats Bathory, Kreator, Motorhead, Slayer, Venom, and other Kings as they frequent dens of iniquity, homes of misfortune and girls of ill-repute. T.B.M. was founded by The Mad Arab (Bleed the Son) and Zawicizuz (Absu, Bleed the Son, Infernal Oak, Rape Pillage and Burn) In the Fall of 2011, The Black Moriah entered the studio to record their first effort “Casket Prospects”. Upon completion of the album, these outlaws on the outskirts spread their gallows medicine from Mexico to Canada. With The Black Moriah’s second full-length release, they gear up for a journey of carnage across barren landscapes. “Road Agents of the Blast Furnace” is a never-yielding, all-consuming raid, hell-bent on tormenting every town in its path. For the release of their sophomore effort, T.B.M. has made an alliance with Folter Records. With this mighty underground force, the audio plague known as The Black Moriah will relentlessly spread Vulture Culture throughout the land. Look to the horizon for the demented highwaymen this year. They come to pillage your village and soil your doves. Bring your gold and pay tribute or face the wrath of this desert funeral party.
American death metal pioneers Possessed are often referred to as the godfathers of the genre, having established themselves as such in 1983 with the creation of a three-song demo simply called Death Metal. Distancing themselves from the crowded Bay Area thrash scene with sheer savagery and the distinct, guttural howl of frontman Jeff Becerra, the band blazed a fiery trail for future death metal enthusiasts with the influential LPs Seven Churches (1985) and Beyond the Gates (1986) before disbanding in 1987. They re-formed in the 2010s and eventually returned to the studio and released their long-awaited third full-length effort, Revelations of Oblivion, in 2019.
True to their name, San Francisco’s Possessed seemed cursed by dark and evil forces throughout their troubled career. Formed by guitarist Mike Torrao and drummer Mike Sus in 1983, the group would lose first singer Barry Fisk to suicide before even graduating from garage band status. They persisted, though, and after recruiting vocalist/bassist Jeff Becerra and guitarist Brian Montana, the band was offered a slot on Brian Slagel’s Metal Massacre, Vol. 6 compilation. Possessed’s savage sound immediately stood out from the competition and drew the attention of Combat Records, with which they signed in 1985 after replacing Montana with guitarist Larry LaLonde. Issued later that year, the unwaveringly brutal Seven Churches was arguably the first true death metal album and set the stage for the genre’s breakaway from thrash. Their second effort, Beyond the Gates, was released, fittingly enough, on Halloween 1986. After recording the five-track EP The Eyes of Horror the following year (produced by LaLonde’s guitar teacher Joe Satriani), the band decided to call it quits. Two years later, frontman Becerra was shot during a mugging and left paralyzed from the waist down. He re-formed Possessed in 2007 and played that year’s Wacken Open Air festival backed by members of Sadistic Intent. LaLonde would go on to a long career with bassist Les Claypool’s bizarro funk-metal trio Primus.
In 2017 Becerra put together a new Possessed lineup and inked a three-album deal with Nuclear Blast. Revelations of Oblivion, the legendary group’s first collection of new music in decades, arrived in 2019. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi
Sleepy Gaucho’s discerning brand of Panamerican influenced folk music floats somewhat aimlessly in a realm of it’s own. Born in Wisconsin while also growing up some time in Argentina, the young multi-instrumentalist’s music can at times be melancholic, at others ethereal, but always agreeable. The seven track debut record “Another Time”, while initially recorded in Madison, WI, was eventually finished after the songwriter happened to find himself drifting around an East London neighborhood for a few months. Spring of 2019 brought the release of “Another Time” on vinyl via Hear Here Records, with the songs being brought to life by trusted musicians in the Midwest scene. Since returning to his hometown of Milwaukee, he began the creative process for his next project. Straying away from his usual approach, he recruited the likes of veterans such as Patrick Sansone of Wilco and fellow talent ranging from local friends and Nashville session musicians for his upcoming sophomore album, “Morning Light”.
Front man, Clay Rose was raised between an outlaw, truck-driving father in the mountains of Colorado and a country song-writing mama in the sticks outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Clay’s penchant for open roads and trouble making are the backbone of the Gas Pops’ sound. The rest of the band consists of Don Ambory, Scott Coulter, “Bad” Brad Morse, and Kevin Matthews who all come equipped with music degrees from Chicago, Boston, Jacksonville, and Denver, respectively. They each add flavors of their own background and heritage, further diversifying the band’s signature sound.
Fresh out of the legendary Dockside Studio in Lafayette, Louisiana, Gasoline Lollipops are promoting their new album, All The Misery Money Can Buy, whichpursues happiness and the American Dream to the end of the rainbow and chokes on a pot of gold. Gas Pops collaborated with Clay’s song-writing Mama, Donna Farar (“Last Thing I Needed” recorded by Willie Nelson and Chris Stapleton) to create this politically-charged union of soul music and Southern rock.
Gasoline Lollipops are three-time winners of Colorado Daily’s “Best Local Band” award, and two-time winners of Denver Westword’s “Best Country Band” award. Over the last four years, they have toured throughout the U.S., Belgium, the Netherlands, and Belize. In 2018 they made Billboard’s top 10 Spotify chart, as well as Pandora’s top 10 Trend Setters list. Today, the Gas Pops continue to bend genres and electrify live audiences with ferocious sincerity.
Music is the debut studio album by Omaha alternative rock band 311. It was released on February 9, 1993. “Do You Right” was released as a single. The album was certified Gold in 1999 by the RIAA, having sold over 500,000 copies.
Hailing from Ballarat in rural Victoria, Australia, Ebonivory creates an engaging mosaic of raw emotion, complex rhythmic devices, and prismatic melody. Formed in 2014 by prodigious composer, multi-instrumentalist and lead vocalist Charlie Powlett, this world class 5-piece ensemble employs a unique distillation of alternative rock, progressive metal, post-hardcore and modern punk, delivering a breathtaking performance that unifies musicians, melomaniacs, and casual listeners alike.
From the first EP “Ebonivory I” (2014), to the full length progressive Australian cult-classic “The Only Constant” (2015), to their most recent EP “Ebonivory II” (2016), Ebonivory has built a reputation in the Australian progressive music scene as an act that consistently delivers music that grows in ambition and scale with each release.
Previously sharing the stage during their high-school years, Powlett is joined by long-time musical collaborators and childhood friends Jake Ewings (guitar), Louis Edwards (guitar, backing vocals), Connor McMillan (bass, backing vocals), and David Parkes (drums, percussion) to deliver a powerhouse of musicianship. Together, the band has embarked on a journey exploring the lyrical concepts of struggle via phenomenal musical grandeur and breadth, interspersed with unforgettable musical moments.
Ebonivory kicked off 2019 with a whirlwind performance at Australia’s acclaimed PROGFEST festival, alongside international heavyweights The Ocean, Monuments, and Skyharbor. Soon after, they signed a management deal with Wild Thing Presents (Caligula’s Horse), and record deal with Wild Thing Records (Circles). Early-mid 2019 saw the Persistence Australian Tour, which included supporting alt-rock powerhouse Dead Letter Circus. Throughout July & August 2019, Ebonivory traversed Australia with progressive rock juggernaut Circles for The Winter Tour, in support of their single “Patting the Black Dog” which landed coverage with PROG Magazine (UK), Triple J’s “The Racket”, Spotify’s “Homegrown + Heavy” & “Prog Metal Essentials” Playlists, and Rage (ABC TV). Going from strength to strength, Ebonivory headed out on their first ever Australian headline tour in October 2019, in support of their single “Tales of Termina”, which similarly garnered an overwhelmingly positive response worldwide.
Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, Caligula’s Horse is a progressive alternative rock powerhouse. Their unique tapestry of progressive metal laced with raw rock power is at once fluid, monumental, and striking, offering a wide audience a broad palate of unforgettable moments and timeless music.
Now established as one of Australia’s finest live acts and at the forefront of its progressive rock scene, with four well-loved albums under their belt, and a passionate and ever-growing worldwide fanbase, Caligula’s Horse are broadening their horizons to the rest of the globe. 2019 will see the band reach the USA for the very first time for the prestigious ProgPower USA Festival, after headlining its European counterpart in 2018 to rave reviews. In the meantime, writing has begun for the fifth album for Caligula’s Horse, which will become yet another enormous leap forward in their colourful signature style.
Formed in 2011 by Sam Vallen and Jim Grey, Caligula’s Horse unleashed their vivid debut Moments from Ephemeral City in the same year. An evocative and powerful unveiling of the dynamic and cohesive songwriting partnership, “Moments” was a commanding charge into modern progressive music: energetic, eclectic, and poignant. Going from strength to strength, The Tide, The Thief & River’s End was released in 2013, and was received with international acclaim. A dark, eloquently woven concept album, the narrative explores isolation, exodus, and the power of the human spirit. The release of “Rivers End” piloted the group to perform with such luminaries of the international progressive heavy landscape as Opeth, Mastodon, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Protest The Hero, The Ocean, Twelve Foot Ninja, and Ne Obliviscaris.
In 2015, after signing with the prestigious German record label Inside Out Music, and joining the roster of AMF Publishing in the UK, Caligula’s Horse released their vibrant and emotional third album Bloom. Bloom reached the heights of #16 on the Australian Albums ARIA Chart, and #2 and #7 on the Australian iTunes Metal and Rock Charts respectively. Metal Injection (USA) proclaimed they “evoke a striking amount of greatness”, while PROG Magazine (UK) stated “they are sounding ever more like they just need an arena to fill”. Bloom saw the group embark on an extensive first tour of Europe alongside Shining (Norway), win the 2016 Queensland Music Heavy Award for their track ‘Marigold’, and complete five Australian tours; including national dates with Opeth, TesseracT, and sleepmakewaves, as well as headlining Melbourne’s iconic Progfest Festival.
In June 2017, Caligula’s Horse advanced to Europe for a second time; including support slots with Opeth, Anathema and Pain Of Salvation, UK headline shows and festival appearances at Midsummer Prog
Festival (Netherlands) and Be Prog! My Friend Festival (Spain). 2017 also saw the release of the band’s most addictive and emotion work to date, In Contact, an album of deeply personal stories told over four chapters. In Contact is an incredible and ambitious work that has left audiences breathless across the globe. In Contact debuted at #50 on the ARIA Chart, bringing Caligula’s Horse into the ARIA Top 50 for the first time. Caligula’s Horse have toured solidly on the back of the success of In Contact, most notably their All Aussie Invasion headline tour of Europe in 2018 with Australia’s Circles and ibuiltthesky.
Northern California rapper RAMIREZ unveils his new album Son Of Serpentine, out now via G59 Records.
Recorded in the small town of Lavello, Italy, the 14-track project is an impressive display of RAMIREZ’s sharp lyricism over Mikey The Magician’s track-laden beats. With the ominous opening of the ZillaKami-assisted “Mosh Pit Killa”, RAMIREZ alternates between hard-hitting flows on “Nine Shots”and “Cerberus” and catchy, melodic hooks on “Horns And Halos” and “Liquid Sunshine” with frequent collaborator Pouya.
Son Of Serpentine follows the recent release of the music video for the album’s lead single “Does It Real Good”. Animated by William Child Pictures, the innovative visuals feature Bonnie and Clyde-style claymation that pairs seamlessly with the track’s sampling of Three 6 Mafia.
With a penchant for ‘90s hip hop including OutKast, RBL Posse, and Andre Nickatina, RAMIREZ puts his own modern twist on the Bay Area classics as heard on “P.O.P.” and “2 Step Stevie”. Son Of Serpentine features an eclectic mix of all the flavors from the era that heavily influenced the talented MC’s sound.
Having collaborated with the likes of $UICIDEBOY$, Fat Nick, Shakewell, and more, the self-proclaimed “Silverback Gorilla” has established himself as a force in the SoundCloud underground scene with a rapidly growing fanbase eagerly anticipating this release.
Son Of Serpentine is available worldwide on all streaming platforms via G59 Records.
You’re in the right place for everything Sumo Cyco! This site is run by me, Skye aka Sever Sweetnam including our official merch store!
We are about to transcend into an explosive new era with our upcoming full-length, Initiation, scheduled for release on May 7, 2021 via Napalm Records!
SUMO CYCO is Matt “MD13” Drake, Matt “Trozzi”, Oscar Anesetti & me, Skye “Sever” Sweetnam.
You may have seen us on tour with bands such as Jinjer, The Birthday Massacre, Nonpoint, The Butcher Babies, Fozzy, Alien Ant Farm, The 69 Eyes, Devilskin & more!
We have released “Lost in Cyco City” in 2014 and “Opus Mar” in 2017, NOW we are excited to announce “INITIATION” in 2021!
The album’s title, Initiation, stems from wanting to invite the audience to be “initiated” into our world. There are usually two congruent themes to each of our albums – one is real-world inspiration, and the other is “Cyco City”, a comic book-esque alternate universe where all our music videos take place. With Initiation, we introduce four gangs or clubs. Our music videos for Initiation all include a theme of these clubs – whether it’s gang vs. gang, a forbidden love between opposing sides, or the idea of having to choose where you belong.
Outside of the story, the lyrics relate to the polarization of the world we live in now. We all have a longing to belong, but what makes one feel accepted or ostracized from a group? To be INITIATED, would you be willing to try to understand another point of view? I have always written lyrics about internal struggle, the war within oneself. Throughout the album, we bounce back and forth between struggle and overcoming. It reflects the times, and there are moments that seem a bit dark.”
If you love fun, words, jokes, friends, learning, and DRANKS, then The Slurring Bee Chicago is the smartypants bar game for you!!! Join adorable, hilarious, exceptionally intelligent and modest hosts Billy Parker and Mandy Levy for the most exciting spelling competition since the 7th grade! We’ve taken this party from Brooklyn to Los Angeles and many places in between, but our favorite buzzy hive is CHICAGO! So we’re BACK FOR MORE! Come on down to Reggies and take a shot at being a boozy spelling hero!!!!
Here’s how it works:
Pay 5 bucks to compete. Receive your first Slurring Bee Shot. (Don’t worry; it’s like, a sugary delicious shot.) Shoot it. Spell something. For every round you stay standing, you’ll receive another free specialty Slurring Bee nectar. Keep spelling till we crown a queen (or king) bee! Winner receives half the pot, fabulous bee-themed prizes and their picture immortalized on our Wall of Fame, plus automatic placement in our Tournament of Champions!
Phil Yates & The Affiliates are a rock band based out of Chicago (formerly based out of Burlington, Vermont.) With his hookysound that’s “too folky for the rockers and too rocky for the folkers,” Phil has played with The Mountain Goats, The Babies, Cave Singers, Holly Golightly, The Dead Milkmen’s Joe Jack Talcum, Franklin Bruno, Wckr Spgt, and Mary Prankster
Workbook is the 1989 debut solo album by American guitarist and singer Bob Mould, following the breakup of the influential rock band Hüsker Dü. The album has a strong folk influence and lighter overall sound than he had been known for, although heavy guitar features occasionally. Drummer Anton Fier and bassist Tony Maimone, both of Pere Ubu fame, served as Mould’s rhythm section on the album and on the subsequent live shows. The single “See a Little Light” was a hit on the US Modern Rock chart.
WILCO “BEING THERE”
Being There is the second studio album by the American alternative rock band Wilco, released on October 29, 1996 by Reprise Records. Despite its release as a double album, Being There was sold at a single album price as a result of a deal between lead singer Jeff Tweedy and the band’s label Reprise Records. The album was an improvement for the band in both sales and critical reception, in contrast to their debut album A.M. (1995). Taking its name from the 1979 film of the same name,[2] the self-produced album featured more surrealistic and introspective writing than on A.M.. This was due in part to several significant changes in Tweedy’s life, including the birth of his first child. Musically, it juxtaposed the alternative country styles songs reminiscent of Uncle Tupelo with psychedelic, surreal songs. It was the only Wilco album with steel guitarist Bob Egan, their first with multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett and their last with multi-instrumentalist Max Johnston.
BEGGARS BANQUET
Together for over 25 years, performing with all five member in authentic costume. The boys visually and aurally recreate the look and sound of “The Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World”. Add some real excitement to your club, festival, concert or private function with Beggars Banquet.
