Rhoda Dakar began her musical career as lead vocalist with all female 2 Tone band, The Bodysnatchers. They only ever released two singles, ‘Let’s Do Rocksteady’ and ‘Easy Life’. After a year together they split and Rhoda went on to guest with The Specials in Europe and the USA, having featured on their second album, ‘More Specials’. After their demise, and before joining Jerry Dammers’ new project, she recorded The Bodysnatchers’ first original song, ‘The Boiler’, a harrowing tale of date rape, which was inevitably banned. The Special AKA spent the next two years recording ‘In The Studio’, spawning a top ten hit with ‘Free Nelson Mandela’. Disillusioned, Rhoda left the music business, only returning occasionally to guest with friends like Dr Robert, The Communards and Apollo 440.
In the early noughties, Rhoda was enticed back by the opportunity to work with both Pauline Black of The Selecter and Jennie Matthias of The Bellestars. Though the project was short-lived, she was back on the road and soon began writing and recording again. In 2006, Rhoda released her first solo album, the semi acoustic ‘Cleaning In Another Woman’s Kitchen’, followed in 2009 by ‘Back To The Garage’, an old school Garage Rock album with collaborator Nick Welsh. In the meantime, she was featured on Madness’ brilliant ‘Liberty Of Norton Folgate’ album, duetting ‘On The Town’. Rhoda has appeared with them from time to time in venues as varied as Newmarket racecourse, London’s O2 Arena in Greenwich and the House Of Fun weekender in Butlins Minehead. Five years after recording the album, Rhoda finally got to play a set featuring songs from ‘Back To The Garage’ at Blackpool’s famed Rebellion Punk Festival, with longtime friend Tony Feedback, aka Tony Perfect, guitars turned up to eleven!
In 2015, she released what has been hailed as “the lost 2Tone album”, ‘Rhoda Dakar sings The Bodysnatchers’, including many previously unrecorded tracks. It was crowd funded through Pledgemusic, reaching the target in just 16 days! Featuring old friends from The Specials, Horace Panter and Lynval Golding, plus the cream of current Ska scene musicians. It was launched on Halloween at London’s Jazz Café to the delight of many fans from back in the day.
The LoTek Four, Vol II EP was released on 26 October 2018. Beautifully packaged and available on four track vinyl and vinyl effect CD. Recorded at Paul Weller’s Black Barn Studio on a day trip. Volume I features her regular band playing live, all together and vibing off each other. The EP has a great old skool feel; wonderfully mixed and produced by Ska/Reggae guitarist Lenny Bignell and then mastered by Mr Dubstep, Jason Goz. So, even when the tunes are jazzy, there’s a nod to the blues dance. As a reaction to this year’s school shootings in Florida, Rhoda has recorded a version of Sam Cooke’s ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’, her modified lyrics reflecting the young people’s plight and fightback.
An in demand DJ, Rhoda is known for playing Rocksteady and Early Reggae. However, with an eclectic musical taste, there will always be a sprinkling of the unexpected. Taking the crowd along with her, she played Arabic pop, Punk, David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Grime and Dubstep as The Selecter’s tour DJ on their recent USA West Coast outing, joining them onstage for the encore!
Rhoda has a neat sideline in writing sleeve notes and has curated a brace of compilation albums, ‘Ska Madness’ volumes 1 (for which she just received a gold record) and 2. Having first trod the boards at the end of the Sixties, she now draws on her considerable experience to teach vocals and performance to some very talented young people. As a compere, Rhoda has hosted the Literary Stage at Rebellion Punk Festival and December 2016’s Concert For Corbyn at the Brighton Dome!
Superkick is an alternative indie quartet from Chicago, IL. Superkick is Vocalist and guitarist Mike Vaughn, Vocalist and Guitarist Joey Youngs, Drummer Tom Ruby, and Vocalist and Bassist Colin Kaniff. Check us out on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter boys and girls. Superkick to the face.
Raised in Wisconsin, Rebekah started performing stand up in local Wisconsin bars and coffee shops. Now residing in Chicago, she is quickly making a name for herself performing in local Chicago bars and coffee shops. Movin’ on up, she recently opened for Gilbert Gottfried. Her comedy and style have often been called “very Midwest” so you know you’re bound to have a good time.
During its early years, hip hop was known for its raw panoramic depictions of urban street life. In an effort to yield the most accurate content, descriptions were often presented in a severely sparse and straightforward tone. The Bronx-bred The Ultramagnetic MCs didn’t fit the mold, but they were a significant force in the budding hip hop movement. Originating in the mid-‘80s, the group leaped into the scene with bizarre metaphors, a complex vocabulary, and boasts of an absurd nature. Another innovation introduced by the crew was their style of production. While most hip hop of the ‘80s merely consisted of recycled disco breaks, Ced Gee — The Ultramagnetic MCs’ primary in-house producer — was one of the first hip hop composers to deconstruct existing samples and rearrange them to create an entirely new musical organism. While they are perhaps one of the genre’s most overlooked groups, The Ultramagnetic MCs were prolific and responsible for launching the careers of several other prominent hip hop figures.
Formed in hip hop’s famed birthplace of The Bronx and comprised of MCs Kool Keith and Ced Gee and DJ duo T.R. Love and Moe Love, The Ultramagnetic MCs’ first release was the 1985 12” To Give You Love (Diamond International). The following year, they released the 12” Ego Trippin (1986 Next Plateau Records), which acquired a global buzz and still holds strong to its status as a hip hop classic. In 1987, the group rearranged a Joe Cocker drum sample for their third 12” release, Funky/Mentally Mad (Next Plateau Records), which became a hit like the MCs’ previous release and is noted for its wordplay. Funky/Mentally Mad has since become one of hip hop’s most prestigious collector’s items.
At this point, a good amount of hype had begun to encircle the crew. Kool Keith’s oddball lyrics were some of the first to efficiently rhyme polysyllabic words together and his fondness for unorthodox topics put him in a realm all his own. Meanwhile, Ced Gee’s production was also drawing interest. Apart from his work with Ultramagnetic, Ced Gee also worked alongside artists like the legendary group Boogie Down Productions, for whom he contributed a sizable amount of production for their watershed debut album Criminal Minded (1987 B-Boy Records). While Ced Gee is not credited for his work on Criminal Minded, the album’s uncharacteristic sampling of artists like AC/DC is certainly indicative of Ced Gee’s revolutionary manipulation of samples.
Following the trio of well-received singles, The Ultramagnetic MCs released their first full-length album, Critical Beatdown (Next Plataue), in 1988. Though the album was somewhat disappointing in terms of sales, Critical Beatdown is widely considered a hip hop classic. Songs like “Break North” and “One Minute Less” highlight Kool Keith’s absurd lyrics, which vividly paint an abstract but immensely enjoyable rhythmic picture. These eccentric musings would be an early indicator of later Kool Keith projects rooted in absurdity. Ced Gee’s production techniques were also snagging plenty of attention and his re-working of samples for Critical Beatdown is often credited as having pioneered the “golden-age of sampling,” an era later made famous by legendary hip hop producers like DJ Premiere and Pete Rock. Just as Ultramagnetic’s debut is an amalgamation of the music of other artists like James Brown, The Meters, Afrika Bambaata, and Kraftwerk, Critical Beatdown has subsequently been sampled by the likes of The Prodigy and Nas. The album’s first single was “Traveling at the Speed of Thought” with the b-side “A Chorus Line,” which has arguably surpassed the original single in popularity and also introduced fellow-Bronx rapper Tim Dog.
A mere one-album into their careers, the group temporarily disbanded in 1990. Most of the members of Ultramagnetic MCs kept a low profile. However, Ced Gee continued to involve himself in productions, including the track “Fuck Compton” from Tim Dog’s album Penicillin on Wax (1991 Ruffhouse). The song was a scathing response to several Los Angeles-based rappers who were flamboyantly championing the West Coast’s newly found mainstream visibility. “Fuck Compton” is often seen as one of the pivotal songs in the formation of the tense West versus East Coast feud.
The Ultramagnetic MCs reformed and released their second album, Funk Your Head Up (Mercury), in 1992. Now on a major label, the quartet’s music was pushed in a more commercially viable direction. While the group recorded Funk Your Head Up in their typical fashion, mixing and remixing duties were outsourced to producers outside of the Ultramagnetic camp at the label’s demand. Thus, the final product was not completely in-line with the uniqueness the group had built their name on. Consequently, the album’s commercial feel repelled longtime fans. The non sequitur feel of he album also did nothing to improve the album’s sales. The only remotely successful element of the Bronx crew’s sophomore album was a remix of the track “Poppa Large,” re-worked by New York production mainstays Da Beatminerz. However, this mix was not included on Funk Your Head Up.
Their third full-length album, 1993’s The Four Horsemen (Wild Pitch), is not only a return to the strange sensibility The Ultramagnetic MCs had originally built their reputation upon, but it is also the group’s most esoteric and dark effort to date. Manifesting their ability to evolve their sound to coincide with the evolution of hip hop, The Ultramagnetic MCs implemented a smokier and jazzier feel, similar to the jazz-powered groves in the music of other contemporary groups of the time like A Tribe Called Quest and Digable Planets. The entire group contributed to the production of The Four Horsemen and they also recruited the services of fledgling underground producer Godfather Don, who helped fine-tune the Jazz-based feel of the group’s new sound. Kool Keith’s lyrical imagery is as otherworldly as ever and a welcome return to form for hardcore fans. Despite the fairly positive response to the Bronx-crew’s third album, they decided to split up again. Kool Keith went to work with Godfather Don, calling their duo The Cenobites (named after the hermit-like conditions they recorded in). In 1993, they released Cenobites LP (Fondle).
While Ultramagnetic MCs were split up, the compilation The Basement Tapes 1984-1990 (1994 Tuff City) surfaced, most notable for its immensely rugged sound-quality due to its decrepit source cassette tapes. Subsequently, several Ultramagnetic releases were also released while the group was still separated, including New York What Is Funky (1996 Tuff City), Mo Love’s Basement Tapes (1996 Old Skool Flava), The B-Side Companion (1997 Next Plateau), and finally Smack My Bitch Up (1998 Tuff City).
Meanwhile, Kool Keith steadily began to emerge as one of underground hip hop’s most iconic figures. Recording under the first of many aliases, Kool Keith adopted the lyrical guise of Dr. Octagon and released Dr. Octagonecologyst (Dreamworks) in 1996. Dr. Octagonecologyst was produced by fellow hip hop innovator Dan the Automator and was supplemented by the scratches from the prolific DJ, Q-Bert. The album has been called a “psychedelic concept album” and fused an enthusiasm for horror, science fiction, and pornographic films. The Bronx-born MC then recorded his first solo album under his original moniker, Kool Keith. Further exploring the pornographic themes from Dr. Octagonecologyst, Kool Keith dropped the album Sex Style (Funky Ass Records) in 1997, which Keith claimed was the first album in the genre “pornocore.” Two years later, Kool Keith took another alias and recorded First Come, First Served (Funky Ass Records) under the name Dr. Dooom. While Dr. Octagon was a gynecologist with clandestine intentions, Dr. Dooom was a deranged serial killer who kills Dr. Octagon in a skit on the album — a move many critics felt was symbolic of Kool Keith attempting to again stray towards more street-centered themes. Keith followed up with Black Elvis/Lost in Space (1999 Ruffhouse) that same year before releasing sequel albums for both Dr. Octagon with The Return of Dr. Octagon (OCD International) in 2006 and Dr. Dooom’s Dr. Dooom 2 (Threshold) in 2008. He also unleashed several more releases under the name Kool Keith, such as Matthew (Funky Ass Records) in 2000 and Spankmaster (TVT) in 2001.
After The Ultramagnetic MCs collectively released a single titled “Make it Rain” in 2001, it was believed that a reunion was imminent. Finally, over twenty years after their formation, the group released The Best Kept Secret (DMAFT) in 2007. One of hip hop’s most daring groups, The Ultramagnetic MCs innovated the art form of MCing by highlighting language. They showed that the MC is not merely a competitor but also a poet. Not content to match their lyrical dexterity with ready-made compositions, the group revolutionized the art of sampling as well and stand as one of hip hop’s most groundbreaking groups.
Based out of Fort Worth, Texas, The Unlikely Candidates are an indie rock band initially formed as an acoustic duo by childhood friends Kyle Morris and Cole Male in 2008. Eventually expanding the lineup to include guitarist Brenton Carney, bassist Jared Hornbeek, and drummer Kevin Goddard, the band was also able to expand its sound in bigger, more sweeping directions. In 2013, the band signed on with major-label Atlantic and released their debut EP, Follow My Feet. In early 2016, the Unlikely Candidates returned with a hooky new single in “You Love Could Start a War,” which made a strong showing on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart.
Rock Duo, The Score, channel fearless rock ferocity with fuzzy guitar riffs and adrenaline pumping beats, dressed in pop hooks and motivational declarations. The LA-based NYC transplants have become a mainstay on the Billboard Rock Songs and iTunes Alternative charts, rubbing shoulders with bands like Fall Out Boy and Imagine Dragons.
In October of 2017, the duo released their self-written, self-produced and self-mixed debut album ATLAS on Republic Records, debuting at #7 on the iTunes U.S. Alternative Albums chart. Its leading single “Legend” became the ubiquitous sports anthem of 2017 and the theme song of the NBA playoffs.
That energy transformed the New York-born and Los Angeles-based duo into a genredefying phenomenon, incinerating the lines between rock, pop, indie, and electronic. Powered by anthems such as “Legend,” and “Unstoppable,” The Score reached hundreds of millions of cumulative streams within four years’ time over the course of three EPs — Unstoppable and Myths & Legends and Stay — and a 2017 full-length debut, ATLAS.
As they ignited venues across North America, Europe, UK and China, their music also began to become omnipresent in movies and television, with songs placed in Power Rangers, Sing Street, Pitch Perfect 3 in addition to campaigns for Jeep, NBA, the Daytona 500 and most recently the NFL playoffs including the Super Bowl.
Inspired by rap adjacent artists Post Malone and K. Flay they began writing in Los Angeles and collaborating with a bevy of high-profile artists, writers and producers including, JT Daly [K. Flay], Heavy [Dirty Heads, Saint Motel, Sleeping with Sirens], and Dave Bassett [Elle King, Vance Joy].
The Score’s new EP Stay, out now, is harder and darker than Pressure. Pressure highlighted how to improve yourself and face that inner conflict and the pressures that life throws at you; while Stay is about staying true to who you are as people from the outside world and from within. Stay explores the darker side of the human pursuit.The Stay EP features songs such as “Rush”, “In My Bones”, “Run Like A Rebel” and their new single, “Stay.”
The Score is set to go out for their third US headline tour in 2020.
A recovering alcoholic and queer comedian, Cameron is a loud, abrasive, and absurdly honest person. Hailing from Chicago, they have been performing all over the country in various clubs, punk house basements, bars, living rooms, and pretty much anywhere that will let them (Laugh Factory, Midwest Queer Comedy Festival, Milwaukee Comedy Festival). For the last 5 years, Cameron has yelled about a lot of weird things. It will be loud. It will be weird.
BOB KEEN
Hailing from the Chicago area, Bob Keen is as world-weary as the world is Bob
Keen-weary,. Weaving dry wit and harsh satire with ever-so-subtle toilet humor, his onstage confidence belies the self-loathing that marks only the most gifted of narcissists. Please give him money.
Germ Ripper has been a mainstay of the Chicago punk rock scene for the past 20 years. He has always been able to interject his irrelevant humor into his performances as the frontman of The Rotten Fruits and Modern Day Rippers. Now on his own, he’s come to take the comedy world by storm and take no prisoners.
a cinematic musical experience based in Milwaukee WI. Ambient rock riffs ebb and flow to smashing crescendo, accompanied by a live video score presented by Stephen Anderson.
The conception of Voimaton (VOI‧ma‧tOn) began immediately following the demise of Narcotic in 2016, whose lineup included Dave and Pat. While the project had no official name, and despite numerous false-starts throughout 2017 and 2018, Henry (ex-Sable Beldam) was welcomed into the fold in November 2018 to help bring Voimaton into the physical realm, solidifying the trio.
Playing B side wedding covers. 80’s dance tunes with some yacht rock mixed in.
KING ROPES
King Ropes, an experimental garage band from Bozeman, Montana, effortlessly couples the inventiveness of The Pixies and the alternative country twang of Wilco with remarkable results. Psychedelic hard country shoe gaze garage roots rock, ya know?
One hears an eclectic range of influences at work, from The Velvet Underground to Willie Nelson, The Swans to Kurt Vile and Flaming Lips, Beck to Built to Spill, X to Kraftwerk.
Kevin Kellam is a producer and co-host of Roast Battle Chicago. If you (still) listen to radio in the Chicago area on Q101 in the past or follow professional wrestling, you probably have heard Kevin’s energetic style and broadcaster voice with Sportskeeda. Kevin is a reliably loud 4th child of 5 in an Irish American family from the Southside of Chicago.
I am a television personality, stand-up comic, writer and producer based out of Chicago. Those are a lot of labels, which suggests either A) I am a prodigious talent, or B) I’m not really excellent at any of those things. I really have no idea at this point.
As a TV guy, I’m the sports anchor for Chicago’s top rated AM newscast, The WGN Morning News. I was also a host of the ABC primetime show Shaq Vs, filled in for Reege a few times on “LIVE With Regis and Kelly,” and have auditioned to host about a half dozen hugely successful network shows, each time acing the audition, but ultimately learning I was not “the right fit, tonally.”
As a stand-up, I perform all over Chicago and the Midwest, headlining clubs like Zanies and the Laugh Factory. And as a writer and producer, I’ve optioned a handful of show ideas to be developed. I’m hoping at least one of them gets a pilot order so I can build an IMDB page.
I have a wife that I like an awful lot, and a dog that’s way more interesting than your kid.
ScribeCash, the multitalented, California-bread female emcee, singer, and director premiered her video “Never Breaking Up” feat. TreVante on BET’s 106 & Park. Soon after, she then aired the video for her single “Get on My Level” feat. Eric Bellinger. Igniting the fire that is her rough edge with refreshing beauty, she lays bars similar to the likes of her predecessors with a unique flare of west coast flavor.After opening up for Kid Ink, Eric Bellinger, Derek Luh, Sammy Wilk, Futuristic and many more, Scribe headlined her first national tour. Recently, Scribe released her project “99+1” and the lead single also titled “99+1” peaked at #34 on the iTunes charts. In June of 2017 Scribe started a video series “Road To One Million” where she’s been dropping a new song and music video every month in pursuit to hit one million views on one video. This young performer is just beginning her trip to the top. Keep waiting at the edge of your seat to see what she does next.
Just some friendly neighbor kids, playing silly tunes.
Imagine The Moldy Peaches and The B-52s listening to the Shaggs ?
WEIRD PAUL PETROSKEY
Weird Paul Petroskey is one good lookin’ S.O.B. But, more importantly, he writes the damn catchiest songs. Paul began releasing his own cassettes in the late 80’s. In 1991, Homestead Records released “Lo Fidelity, Hi Anxiety”, Paul’s cult classic CD. Since then, Paul has released many more albums of fun indie-pop, including his latest (and 33rd), LIT AF!
The Science Fair has been playing with this line up for a little over 3 years. Their music can be described as the things you loved about 80’s synth-pop that has been modernized and turned up all the way. With Motown quality bass and drums, crossed with the ambient attack of the guitars, the science fair can make you want to rage as much as it makes you want to dance.
Chicago band made up of three night staff workers who met working at The Second City. With soulful and powerful vocals contributed by Gideon Reddic, alongside the classical and blues based roots of John Love (Piano/Keyboard) and Jake Stopar (Guitar/BassRock
Based out of Orange County, CA, Eureka sound is a 6-piece band that contains a potent mixture of conscious reggae with musical elements of jazz.
Eureka’s music attempts to illuminate minds that have been lead astray by blind leaders, leaders who have neglected the solemn matters of the world: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Liberation from the golden pillars/false idols begins with sound; for those who are blind cannot see, but they can listen.
Eureka Sound has been performing locally throughout Southern California since late 2014. The band has performed at venues such as House of Blues, Saint Rocke, Gallagher’s Pub, San Pedro Brewing Company, N.O.S. Event Center – High Times Magazine Cannabis Cup 2016, as well as a live acoustic performance on KCSB 91.9 FM, etc, and have been humbled to share the stage with artists such as John’s Brown Body, Iya Terra, Ital Vibes, Dubbest, True Press, etc.
Josh Heinrichs is a stalwart in the American and worldwide reggae community. Beginning his own reggae band, Jah Roots, in Springfield, Missouri in 2001 as well as forming his own record label, GanJah Records with his wife, Kaytee. Josh wrote and recorded 5 albums with his former band, Jah Roots, and gained a loyal independent following via Myspace and a tireless touring schedule from 2005-2009.
Since leaving Jah Roots in 2009 to pursue a solo career, Josh has released a #1 Billboard Reggae album(Good Vibes 2016) & several other Billboard top 10 debuting albums. As a solo artist, Josh has toured the entire USA coast to coast multiple times & has been a part of many tours & has shared the stage with many headline acts including Bob Marley’s children (Ziggy, Stephen & Damian), Rebelution, Ben Harper, SOJA, The Wailers, 311, Slightly Stoopid and many more. Josh has also made numerous appearances at music festivals all over the USA, Guam & Hawaii including 4 appearances at the largest Reggae festival in USA, California Roots, where in 2016 he also filmed his first live concert video which can be seen on youtube. Josh has also performed for the island nations of Hawaii & Guam multiple times to thousands of screaming fans singing along to every word. With all these accolades, years of touring and constantly promoting positive Reggae music through out the world, Josh’s form of Reggae music and message remain a constant driving force behind the current reggae scene, worldwide.
A new project from Justin and Jimmy from Blue Dream
BUCK-O-NINE
Buck-O-Nine has been playing it’s unique brand of ska-punk since early 1992. Since then the band has released five studio albums, toured much of the world, and continues to play shows in and around North America.
Inspired by the brooding, slant rhymes of Smino, Kiraly Payne’s unique skillset — and sound — is perhaps the city’s best-kept secret. It’s been a minute since KP dropped a project, sharing singles over the the last two years, one with fellow artist SONNY (“It Is What It Is”). Whether you’re bumping wavy, bar-heavy cuts like “Freez” or electro-infused bops in “You Need Me” and “Back Down,” consider the BLUEPRINT show as a return to form for the eclectic MC — whose long-awaited debut album looms closer each day.
Manasseh Croft known as “Manasseh” was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. He has always possessed the gift of music which started with his mother, whom herself was a vocalist. He is currently working as a background vocalist, vocal/session coach and songwriter – in which lends his assistance and talents to local singers and rappers. He has performed at a number of venues and is a favorite/regular performer with Sofar Sounds. In June of 2018, Manasseh founded Dope Tunes Productions LLC. The artist centered company focuses on assisting creatives with starting and finishing their respective projects. Manasseh is slowly but surely becoming the “go-to guy” for session and vocal coaching and arranging. His album “Monochromatic Dream” is slated to be released Summer of 2020. Artists that Manasseh has worked with: Enyar Wax Roof Nayo Nayo Jalen Anthony Ami Johari Noelle Elton Aura Andrew Bedows Burns Twins Demetruis LA Vangogh Hurley Mower Bella Bahhs Eleven SheepMan Nosidam Synesthesia Daniel Lamar
“Phamous Mockingband aims to recreate the energy, feels, jams and intricate catalog of the jam legends Phish. These seasoned musicians bring their love for music and Phish together to form a unique take on the songs. Their deep improvisational jams, experimental ideas and creative transitions really set this group apart from your typical tribute act.”
I am that cheeseburger you thought about eating when the tears subsided after your older brother smashed your parakeet against the wall, broke its beak off, moved the dresser out to see that Tom was dead and threatened to murder you if you didn’t go tell mommy and daddy that the bird flew into the ceiling fan. Fuck you. Ya killed the bird and we’re playing.
Formed in 2010, Serial Hawk is a crushingly heavy three piece from Seattle, Washington. They bring a massive wall of sound that will bring you to your knees. Punishing riffs with destructive tone, a band that truly needs to be experienced live.
With riffs and lyrics as bleak and crushing as a Michigan winter, Blackened Doom outfit Temple of the Fuzz Witch bring a unique take on the genre. The Detroit three piece blend multiple styles and influences into a sound completely their own.
oux “/ɒ/” is a band from Chicago, IL. formed by indigo finamore (they/them) and manae solara vaughn (she/her) in early 2018. as a duo, they self-released their debut “honeymood” ep in 2019 and re-released 2020 via chillwavve records. in 2021 they were joined by arya woody (bass, they/he). oux is releasing their debut LP, “necronym”, in 2025.
vita cleveland (she/they), as well as alaska jules (she/her) previously played drums for oux and contributed greatly to the band.
Dyscarnate have long been flying the flag for UK death metal all over the world. Having toured across Australia, Europe, Indonesia, USA, Canade, Israel, Russia and more, the three piece powerhouse’s dominance is now spreading even further around the globe following the critically acclaimed album ‘With All Their Might’. Three men, one purpose, one sound.
Industrial band MissFit Toys was founded by Virus Suriv in Orlando, FL in 2008, began performing live in 2011, and released their first EP on February 11th, 2012. The band continues to evolve and ascend to this very day, integrating new sounds and styles into the music and growing their numbers of fans at each show with high energy performance and intense stage atmosphere.
In the pocket with nuanced, reflective bars or riding atop sunny, soulful bounce, Sacramento-born, Berkeley-bred Caleborate’s sharp, deft flow, gripping narratives, and charismatic, infectious energy paints a vivid portrait of life as a Northern Californian 20-something.
Lauded by Pigeons & Planes as “smart, introspective hip hop” and deemed “one of the most promising spitters out right now” by XXL, the 25-year-old carefully assembles a kaleidoscoping mosaic of love and heartbreak, weed smoke and college loans, family ties and simmering ambitions, triumph and loss – from the cinematic vistas of the Oakland hills to visceral childhood memories.
COCK SPARRER are widely considered to be one of the most influential Street Punk bands in history. 2017 sees them celebrate their 45th Anniversary.
The thing about Sparrer is that they’re not just a band. They are childhood friends and have been making a noise since they got together way back in 1972. They were playing, drinking, going to football and generally making a nuisance of themselves when the late 1970s punk scene started in London. Finally it seemed that there were hundreds of likeminded people with the same attitude.
However, the boys were from the wrong side of town and didn’t quite fit in with the ‘art school’ scene – they were more at home on the terraces wearing jeans and Dr Martens boots than being fashion victims in bondage trousers. They’ve always done things the way they wanted to. As Punk ended up with its own set of rules they were always on the outside as they just didn’t buy into it.
Despite being courted by Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren (who they turned away for not buying a round of drinks), early tours with the Small Faces, Thin Lizzy, Motorhead, Slade amongst others and a record deal with Decca, the ‘music industry’ just wasn’t ready for Cock Sparrer.
British music paper SOUNDS sums it up perfectly in a live review from April 1978:
“Musically and visually, the Cock Sparrer crew are just about as motley and uncouth as its possible for a band to project. Imagine five collectively imageless Cockneys with hair length varying from skinhead to Woody Roller, wearing clothes that looked they pool from the jumble sales, and singing about how East End life is tough but fun…(they)…create a good time sound that occasionally approximates to the original spirit of Slade.”
When the Oi! Scene started in 1980 the band found themselves on a number of compilation albums and a new breed of fans discovered them. This was Punk from the streets and Sparrer and their fans just seemed to fit in. 1983 saw the release of the bands first official album, the seminal SHOCK TROOPS which today is a certified classic and regularly features in the ‘most influential punk album ever’ polls.
Never having got (or needed) the critical acclaim they deserved from the music press the band went largely unnoticed by the masses. However, this brought them cult status amongst those that mattered; the real punk fans and the band have kept that spirit alive for the past 45 years.
1992 saw the resurgence of the band to a level that they never expected. Many new bands had come along and all cited Cock Sparrer as an influence or “the Godfathers of Street Punk”. What followed was the ability to go anywhere in the world, any night of the week and play to packed venues all singing their hearts out.
Rarely do a band get the reaction that these guys do. A Cock Sparrer show is an event. It’s like cup final day. A family singalong. Theirs is a career in reverse, they’re bigger now than they ever were. Regularly headlining all the major punk festivals in Europe and occasionally hitting the US to headline events such as Punk Rock Bowling and Riot Fest.
2017 see’s the band release “FOREVER”, their first album since 2007s Lars Frederiksen (Rancid) produced album HERE WE STAND.
Cock Sparrer – 45 years on, still five blokes in a pub, five mates having a laugh, more than just a band.
Dashboard Confessional is an American rock band from Boca Raton, Florida, led by singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba. The name of the band is derived from the song “The Sharp Hint of New Tears” off their debut album, The Swiss Army Romance.
Chris Carrabba: Guitar
Scott Schoenbeck: Bass
Armon Jay: Guitar
Chris Kamrada: Drums
Jack Butler‘s Jones is a powerful combination of contemporary lyrics and arrangements with the raw, dangerous, but comforting fell of old school Chicago blues.
Honest-to-goodness, bonafide, doggone, Ohtucky/Kentio, pretty-dang-decent, original, unadulterated, Rocknrollin,’ Bluegrassin’, Old Timin’, Honkytonkin’, Western Swingin’, Country Blues music from the Ohio River Valley, written and led by Joe Macheret.
The songs are stories of travelling, love, temptation, heartbreak, family, banjo pickin’ tobacco spittin’ women, gas station sushi, and so much more…
We’ve released a handful of self recorded demos and two studio albums, the Free Showers EP in 2014 and American Dreams, which came out in May 2018 to very positive reception.
“”…the song order throughout the album is like a well thought out mix-tape playlist. Throughout the album, Joe’s Truck Stop displays humor, insight, taste, and skill. Songs like “Blues for Two” and “One More Night” will take you to the era when country music’s stories felt timeless. Enjoy the humor in “Banjo Pickin’, Tobacco Spittin’ Gal” and “Knockin’ Boots”, and get lost in the love stories told in “Moon Sang” and “One More Night.”
– CincyMusic
Ross Hollow has moved around the country, planting musical roots in New Mexico, North Carolina’s blue ridge mountains, New Hampshire’s upper valley, and now Indianapolis. From Americana music rooted in the south west, to folk music of the Appalachian mountains, his music represents place as much as sound. His original music draws from many old and new artists such as Brandi Carlile, Woody Guthrie, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Shakey Graves, Bon Iver, and friends up the hollers of Western North Carolina. Ross Hollow’s music takes you on a journey through roads, deserts, forests and thoughts.
Juniper Douglas is a collaborative music and visual performance group with over 30 contributors collected and grown out of the Twin Cities in northern Minnesota. They released their album Error To Introspection via Subaquatic Records Sept 21st. Error To Introspection includes a story boarded visualization, a completed story-line performance, as well as media updates on characters involved. They are on what they call an “Endless Tour” in their converted school bus throughout the United States, planning on setting up small residencies in many towns they visit. Juniper Douglas is committed to bringing connections to communities outside of the regular circuit that most bands approach performance with.
