slapshot

SLAPSHOT

Slapshot was formed in 1985 by Steve Risteen (currently playing for the Boston hardcore/punk band Refuse Resist) and Mark McKay, formerly of Terminally Ill; Jack “Choke” Kelly, formerly of Negative FX and Last Rights and Jonathan Anastas, formerly of Decadence and DYS. Due to the reputations of its members, the band had a relatively high profile even before its debut; the zine writer Mike Gitter (who was also an A&R executive) wrote “Slapshot is a great live act”, before they had ever played in public.[1]
Diverging from their counterparts in the Boston hardcore scene, Slapshot decided to make the first album a 24 track recording as opposed to the usual 8 or 16-track hardcore album. To reduce costs, they recorded at night and completed the album in four sessions. Back On The Map was released by Taang! Records in 1986.[2]
The band’s lineup underwent a number of changes in its first few years, although its sound remained consistent. Jordan Wood, formerly of S.T.P. and later of Deathwish, joined as an additionalguitarist, but took over bass guitar when Anastas left the band to continue his education. This line up was featured on their sophomore release, Step On It (Taang! Records). In July 1988, Jamie Sciarappa, former bass player of SS Decontrol, joined the band and Jordan returned to his original slot as a second guitar player. This 5 piece line up recorded the 3rd record, Sudden Death Overtime (Taang! Records).[3]
As the band got ready to record the next record there was a significant line-up change. Jordan left the band returning Slapshot to a single guitar band and Jamie was replaced with Mark & Steve’s longtime friend Chris Lauria. Soon after, the band decided to fire Steve Risteen due to what they felt was a lack of guitar skill. It was a very difficult time for the band that is well documented in the Slapshot documentary “Chip On My Shoulder: The Cautionary Tale of Slapshot”. Mark McKay eventually also quit (and disconnected himself from the group personally as well) due to multiple issues including a lack of interest in the new material the band was writing.
Their 1993 album Blast Furnace (We Bite Records) was a move into sample-based industrial/metal/hardcore and only included one original member, Choke, along with a more metal-based backing band including Darryl Sheppard of Slaughter Shack, Barry Hite & Chris Lauria. Slapshot toured Europe that spring, and on the second date of the tour, they recorded a live album in Berlin called Live At SO36 (We Bite Records).
The following year there was another line-up change that resulted in Darryl leaving the band to be replaced by Mike Bowser. They recorded the Unconsciousness LP (We Bite Records) in Chicago with Steve Albini, ex-member of Big Black and producer for Nirvana.
In August 1994 Slapshot went off to Europe for a two-month tour with Ignite and a split 7″ single record was released to promote it. The tour kicked off at the Hultsfred Festival in Sweden on August 11 and ended on October 4 in Germany. Slapshot played 50 shows in 7 countries in 54 days.
Around the time Unconsciousness was being recorded tragedy fell upon the band. Ex-guitar and bass player Jordan Wood committed suicide. It was this moment that brought Mark McKay back into the group socially and ultimately back into the band.
With its most solid line-up in years Slapshot returned to the studio to record their heaviest album to date, “16 Valve Hate” (Lost & Found Records/Taang! Records) released in 1995. Less than a year later – with the same line-up – the band released “Olde Tyme Hardcore” (Taang! Records, 1996). This was a return to hardcore the way that the band thought it sound be and featured a cover of the classic SSD track “Get It Away”
In July 1997, Slapshot played what was to be their last concert in the United States for five years, in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They toured Europe in 1999, including a stop at the Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium. In December 1999, a Slapshot tribute album called Boston Drops the Gloves: A Tribute to Slapshot was released by Flat Records (the label owned by Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys) and San Francisco-based TKO Records. The album included covers by 22 Boston bands.
In 2001, Slapshot issued a new album entitled Greatest Hits, Slashes and Crosschecks (King Fisher/Century Media) featuring re-recorded & re-mastered versions of classic Slapshot songs, which featured the only recordings of the band with David Link on bass and was the last recorded material with Mike Bowser on guitar.
In 2002 Slapshot played a 15 minute surprise set at The Hideaway in Cambridge, MA as part of a bill alongside Poison Idea, Kill Your Idols, Thumbs Up! and more. The overall reaction to the short set resulted in a full show being booked at The Hideaway for October 13, 2002. Unfortunately the club was forced to close just days before the show was scheduled to happen. On October 26, 2002 Slapshot was finally able to play a full set in the US for the first time in over 5 years. The show was the “6th annual Back to School Jam” in Framingham, MA and also featured Blood for Blood, Converge, Reach The Sky, Panic, No Warning, Some Kind of Hate and a very rare set by Stars & Stripes.
Around this time Mike Bowser decided to move to New York for a new job and after a guitar search that ended with Ed Lalli (currently singing for The Welch Boys) they returned to the studio for 2003’s Digital Warfare (I Scream Records) followed by 2005’s Tear It Down (Thorp Records),[4] along with several more European tours.
In 2006, Slapshot released a statement on their website announcing that the band was defunct. However, on June 30, 2007, they played at the Significant Fest 2007 in Clearwater, Florida. Also on the bill were Killing Time, 108 and Uppercut. In July 2008, they played a couple of dates in Europe, with a stop at the With Full Force festival in Leipzig, Germany. These were to be the last shows featuring Ed Lalli on guitar.
Slapshot played a show at Anchors Up in Haverhill, Massachusetts on November 8, 2008 with Ten Yard Fight, Step Forward, and Word For Word. This show was a warm up for the 2008 Winter Tour which brought the return of longtime guitarist Mike Bowser and reformed the classic Olde Tyme Hardcore/16 Vale Hate line-up.
Upon returning from the tour Slapshot played as part of the “2008 Hometown Throwdown” in Boston on December 28 at the Middle East with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. One highlight of the show was Choke joining the Bosstones on stage during their cover of the Slapshot song “What’s at Stake”.
April 24, 2009 finally brought the world premiere of the long awaited Slapshot documentary film “Chip On My Shoulder: The Cautionary Tale of Slapshot”. It premiered at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, MA to a sold out audience as part of the Boston Independent Film Festival. Following its premiere the film was screened as part of a hardcore festival in Toronto Canada which also featured performances by Negative Approach and Supertouch. The film was also screened at the Salt Lake City Film Festival in August 2009. The film was directed and produced by Ian McFarland (Blood for Blood) and Anthony “Wrench” Moreschi (Ten Yard Fight) of Killswitch Productions and will be released on DVD by Taang! Records eventually (we hope).
After another line-up change (including Chris Lauria moving from bass to guitar) Slapshot headed back to Europe for 10 shows in August 2009 with the support of Frigate which features Chris Lauria of Slapshot, Linda Bean of Stars & Stripes and John Bean formerly of Bitter. The tour, dubbed the ‘2009 Replacements Tour’, went well but late 2009 still brought about another line up change.
The next line up of Slapshot included founding member Jack ‘Choke’ Kelly, longtime member Chris Laura (back on bass guitar), John Bean on drums and Craig Silverman (formerly of Only Living Witness & currently of The Enemy Within and the touring guitar player for Blood for Blood) on guitar. The band spent the first 1/2 of 2010 working on new material and hopes to have some new songs recorded before the end of the year. This line-up played the “Gallery East” reunion show in August 2010 after several warm-up shows in Europe.
In 2012, another lineup change brought Nick Charrette in to play bass.
June 6, 2012 The New 3 song EP “I Believe” will be released on TAANG! RECORDS it will be the 208th release for the label & the 11th release by the band SLAPSHOT on TAANG!
Ryan Packer joined on bass in late 2012.
the-green-waves

THE GREEN WAVES

We are The Green Waves a local band from Chicago who plays a mixture of rock and roll, grunge, and blues.

graveshadow

GRAVESHADOW

Graveshadow was originally conceived in the winter of 2012 by rhythm guitarist, William Lloyd Walker. The current line-up features Walker along with vocalist Rachl Raxx Quinn, lead guitarist Aaron Robitsch, and bassist Luci Rae. The band wrote and produced ‘The Uncertain Hour’ (M-Theory Audio), writing and recording over the course of 2020 and 2021, and releasing the new album in the Summer of 2022. With praise from the press and fans alike, the band prepared to step onto the stage again in support of the new record. Touring picked up in the Summer of 2022 with labelmates VINTERSEA,
seeing the band perform to new audiences up and down the US West Coast.

Since 2023, the band has toured across North America with acts such as Exmortus, Paladin, and Burning Witches, appearing at festivals such as Hyperspace Metal Festival (BC), Mad With Power Festival (WI), and Mile High Power Festival (CO). The band has connected with audiences of fans new and old alike.

Sonically, Graveshadow strives to immerse the listener, telling a story that stays with you. Harmonized guitars create a sense of grandeur and aggression as sweeping orchestration accentuate the drama. Held down by the earthly rumble of the rhythm section, drums and bass add depth and resonance, setting the tone. Soaring vocals give life, delivering the emotion and meaning of the tale, leaving the listener free to wander within the sonic tapestry.

THE TIMMYS

THE TIMMYS

The Timmys Midwest punk band that’s cool enough for school, if not TOO cool for it!

Ex Okays

EX OKAYS

Basement goons inspired by fast food and feelings

ALTERNATE FLOW

We’re Alternate Flow, from Chicago. All Original. We like to focus on the raw aspects of sound. We believe the best music is the kind that happens spontaneously in a garage banging your instruments. that feel.

FREAK ON A LEASH

Freak On A Leash was never intended to be more than a one time performance. A group of musicians ranging from Illinois and Indiana, came together to form Freak On A Leash for a one time gig on Saturday, December 8th at Another Hole In the Wall in Steger, Illinois. The event was a showcase for local musicians to perform an entire set as one of their favorite bands.

That entire set was well documented through a High Definition video and with the help of You Tube and Trashmouth Films, Freak On A Leash started to gain some major positive feedback. With a fresh tribute scene brewing in the Chicagoland area, Freak On A Leash decided to become a full-time project, in hopes of accomplishing something new and different.

It didn’t take the act more than a year to pick up steam and land themselves in some reputable clubs. Within three years of hard work, the band has managed to land the privilege to take the stage at such key spots as The Abbey Pub, Durty Nellies, The Cubby Bear, Mojoes and The Loft. In 2014, the band was given the opportunity to play House Of Blues in Chicago, leading to a headliner later in 2015 on the same stage.

With a few member adjustments and some fine tuning, the tribute band is preparing to take things to the next level. Expect things to get interesting very soon.

MISERY MACHINE

Misery Machine is a Chicago based tribute to Marilyn Manson (and The Spooky Kids).

firgun

FIRGUN

Firgun is an American indie-alternative duo from Chicago, Illinois, consisting of Phoenix Chayse Butler and Anthony Friedli.
shroom-factory

SHROOM FACTORY

Reggae inspired musicians based out of Chicago, IL

THE LAND BEFORE TIM

Face melting skacore from Chicago! Established Feb. 2014. We play shows and shitpost on the internet
the-bombats

THE BOMBATS

All Rocket Boosters and Astro Dudes beware, The Bombats are here to save your souls with rock and roll.

swellshark

SWELLSHARK

Swellshark is a Chicago-based duo incorporating smart lyrics, textural drumming, electric uke, loop pedals, beatboxing, and the occasional mouth trumpet. At times big and intricate, and at others quiet and intimate, the resultant sound crackles with both joy and intensity. Each member hails from a strong musical background. Henry Kellam (drums, bass, & beatboxing) gained experience in punk, classical, and jazz performance, and is the drummer of metal band Save the Son, who have performed at venues such as Bottom Lounge and Pub Yahoo. Shélan O’Keefe (vocals, guitar, & electric ukulele) began as a singer/songwriter and is an alumni of Girls Rock! Chicago, having played at Metro, Schuba’s, and The Vic. Together, they form Swellshark.

 The pair’s live debut, in October 2014, was opening for antifolk legend (and long-time Swellshark hero) Jeffrey Lewis, at Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago. Since then, Swellshark has played with the Australian duo Oxford & Co. at Township, poet Harold Green at The Promontory, and with local support at Martyrs’ and Debonair Social Club. In the summer of 2015, the band traveled to Iceland, spending over a month traveling the country to work on new material, film take-away style music videos, and busk throughout the various tiny towns they visited. “Songs From the Island,” Swellshark’s first official EP, was born out of these experiences and independently released a few months after their return. 2016 marks a new direction for the duo, who have begun to work on their first full-length album. With topics both playful and serious, covering betrayal, self-destruction, and PBS painter Bob Ross, Swellshark has many musical surprises in store as they continue to hone their live set and signature, off-the-cuff music videos.

bob-rok

BOB ROK

Bob Rok used to be an angel in the paradise of God. One day after working a double at this small Bar in Heaven, Bob got drunk and thought about going back to angel school. During a trip to the bathroom Bob bumped to a rather large man causing him to spill his beer. Bob demanded he and the guy step outside. When they got into the alley Bob realized it was God. Bob Fought him anyway figuring he could defeat aging deity with sheer will. Bob lost(badly) and because God wanted to be a dick about it he banished him to earth.
High Priest

HIGH PRIEST

High Priest is a 4 piece stoner doom band from Chicago, IL.

ROOBY MAN

Recording Artist ‍ Entrepreneur Investor Stock Market ‍ CEO New single “Wa gentan konnen

mcbeardo-horizontal-photo

MIKE “MCBEARDO” MCPADDEN

Mike “McBeardo” McPadden is the author of Heavy Metal Movies: Guitar Barbarians, Mutant Bimbos, and Cult Zombies Amok in the 666 Most Ear- and Eye-Ripping Big Scream Films Ever! (Bazillion Points). He also covers true crime for Investigation Discovery’s CrimeFeed; punk, metal, and classic rock for VH1; and stoner culture for The Kindland.com

Super Sonic Space Rebels

SUPER SONIC SPACE REBELS

“This sound is just what the doctor ordered. Totally different flow than anything out there. When I first started on it I thought…damn, they went Rockabilly. By the time it ended I was pissing on the stall in CBGB”. -Charles Browning (Club Owner, Concert Promoter).

WILEM “HURRICANE” SIMMONS

Born & bred in sunny Chicago, Wilem Hurricane Simmons & his band The Severe Weather Warning have been making goofy, heartfelt garage folk music in the city for a few years now. They’ve just recorded their first fully mastered EP “Enjoy Your Day” available on Spotify & Bandcamp, and are excited to play for you & have a few drinks. Oh, yep!

louda

LOUDA

LOUDA is a Chicago area recording and performing artist. Changing gears from the classical realm, LOUDA elevates her sound through scat and soul in her own songwriting and eclectic song cover choice.

vision-in-the-rhythm

VISION IN THE RHYTHM

Vision in the Rhythm Band from Chicago with an Alternative, Reggae, and World sound.

sammy-k

SAMMY K

Samuel Jacob Kalnitz, born in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American rapper representing young people trying to live up their dreams.
Artificial Brain

ARTIFICIAL BRAIN

Artificial Brain are a technical death metal quintet from Long Island, New York. Their core sound weds pummeling tech and death metal to the buzzing edges and Phrygian mode scales of black metal with an angular, dissonant edge and nearly subliminal growling vocals using science fiction themes as lyric inspiration. The self-released, three-track Demo 2011 presented the band with opportunities for regional touring while 2013’s Butchering Cosmic Giants EP won notice globally, netting them a record deal with Profound Lore. 2014’s long-playing debut, Labyrinth Constellation, was produced, mixed, and mastered by Colin Marston; it scored dozens of positive reviews for its bracing modern approach to death metal. 2017’s Infrared Horizon proved more experimental and wide-ranging, resulting in a prime slot on Cattle Decapitation’s tour. Founding vocalist Will Smith left the band in September 2021. He was replaced by vocalist Paulo Paguntalan for immediate touring, though Smith’s voice had already been recorded for material on 2022’s Artificial Brain. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi

Cognitive

COGNITIVE

Technical death metal troupe Cognitive are back with Abhorrence, their fifth full length album and a tremendously worthy successor to 2021’s Malevolent Thoughts of a Hastened Extinction. This is the New Jersey powerhouse quintet at its brutal best – unrelenting riffs leave the listener stunned, while a wave of thoughtful, devastating lyrics washes over. The album is a turbulent, draining but ultimately fulfilling experience.

Cognitive started work on Abhorrence while touring Malevolent Thoughts of a Hastened Extinction, sending tracks back and forth to each other while trekking from one intense gig to another.

2024 promises to be a big year for Cognitive, as they take Abhorrence on the road and bring more people into their vile new world. 13 years after the release of their debut EP, the band’s fifth full-lengther sees them continue to make giant strides forward while retaining the elements of their past efforts that got them this far.

Abhorrence may provide therapeutic commentary about how messed up the world currently is, but also, ironically, provides a breath of fresh air. We’re all in this together, so catch Cognitive on the road this year.

done-in

DONE-IN

Illinois Hardcore

Late.

LATE.

Psychedelic/Progressive Sludge Metal from the collective areas of Joliet and Plainfield, IL. A documentation and study in the failings and triumph of man.

tanjiir

TANJIIR

Post-Rock/Progressive Metal

For fans of: This Will Destroy You, Explosions in the Sky, Russian Circles, Pelican, The Contortionist, Tesseract

paper-hero

PAPER HERO

Progressive metal from Chicago. Debut EP out now! Available on Spotify, Bandcamp & iTunes

flight-plan

FLIGHT PLAN

Flight Plan is a 4 piece pop punk band from Chicago, IL. The band was formed in 2014 and consists of Vocals and Guitar Mike Morrissey, Bass/Vocals Josh Palkin, Guitarist Kyle Trevino, and drummer Dave Cieck. You can download their debut EP “Followthrough” for free now.

school-of-rock-glenn-ellyn

SCHOOL OF ROCK (GLEN ELLYN)

Through our performance-based approach to music lessons, School of Rock students are more inspired to learn, more motivated to excel and more confident as a result. We teach guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums and vocals in an interactive environment.

burns-twins-x-kaina

BURNS TWINS X KAINA

Born and raised in Chicago, Kaina & Burns Twins were destined to work together. As a group, Kaina, Eddie, & Iz blend their distinct talents into ear candy you just can’t put down; each song is sweet and smooth as the last. Serving as a proper debut from Kaina & Burns Twins, sweet asl shows the group’s ability to construct dynamic, soulful music. This authenticity in sound may be attributed to just how organically the project came to be. In the span of only 3 months, what started as friends having fun by jamming out turned into a cohesive 6-track project and defined artistic direction.

nams-homeless

NAMS HOMELESS

Here is Nams Homeless first solo release since his previous EP “Chingaso” released Aug 30th 2015. This project is a Demo for a new sound that he has been working on for the past year. The demo represents a cluster fuck of emotions surrounded by static, depression, loneliness, anger, and tranquility. Here he is expressing the harmonic sounds of his own suffering (we all get lost along our way to wherever we’re going). This demo is also one half of another project Nams has instored for us in the distant future so please enjoy.

THE FREEDOM PARADOX

Hello world, We are The Freedom Paradox formed out of Downers Grove Illinois.  We have three members Ryan Drobnik (lead vocals/guitar), Megan Gilley (Vocals/Bass) and Nate Kay(Vocals/Drums).  Our sound can be described as punk but we take other influences from general rock, metal, hardcore, and many other sub genres.  We have a Single titled “Dead End” that can be found on SounCloud, band camp, YouTube, and our Facebook page.  Since May of 2015 we have been playing in venues around Illinois.  Get in contact with us, as we grow our fan base around The Untied States.

WAYSIDE STORY

Wayside Story is a Chicago-based pop-punk band formed in the spring of 2015. With the members desperately in search of like-minded people to play music with, each turned to Craigslist hoping to fill the void (basically online dating for musicians). As soon as Brian (vocals, bass) and Casey (lead guitar) met in 2013, their shared musical interests and edgy style of play quickly clicked and led them looking for others to create a full act. Once Casey found an experienced drummer in Corbin shortly after, the three would meet in the west loop on a regular basis to jam out to their favorites and begin writing their own songs. After a long search for right person, they finally brought on Kevin’s (vocals, rhythm guitar) skill and creativity to round out the four-piece.

Wayside Story began playing in a number of different venues around the Chicagoland area, quickly gaining interest and notoriety within the local music scene. In the fall of 2015, the band teamed up with producer Roye Robley to begin recording their first official EP in Hammond, IN. After dozens of trips to and from Hammond, as well as countless hours spent by Roye perfecting the mixes, Wayside finally released “Young Adult Fiction” on August 5th, 2016. The six-song EP, which instantly drew high praise from fans, helped the band to secure an opening gig at the House of Blues shortly after on August 14th, Wayside’s biggest show to date.

Wayside Story will be featured on a number of shows around Chicago throughout the fall to promote “Young Adult Fiction”, which is available on iTunes, Spotify, and Bandcamp.

MEST

Cousins Tony and Matt Lovato grew up across the street from each other in the Blue Island section of the south side of Chicago and began playing together at seven, borrowing instruments from Tony’s father, with Tony picking up guitar and singing and Matt playing bass. In high school, they hooked up with guitarist Jeremiah Rangel and drummer Nick Gigler. Tony came up with the band name Mest while looking at a case of Milwaukee’s Best beer.

Playing in local Chicago punk clubs, the group self-released their debut album, Mo’ Money, Mo’ 40’z. They got their first real break when Tony wrote to Goldfinger lead singer John Feldmann and got a response. After listening to a demo tape, Feldmann agreed to let Mest open for Goldfinger, got them a record deal with Maverick, and produced their major-label debut, Wasting Time, which was released in July 2000. A year later, Mest returned with a cameo-filled (Young MC, Save Ferris’ Monique Powell) spiky-punk second album entitled Destination Unknown. A self-titled third album, which included a cameo from Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden, appeared in June 2003.

A lengthy stretch of Warped Tour dates followed, which led to exhaustion for Mest and back surgery for Tony Lovato in particular. But the band soldiered on, and in autumn 2005 they released their fourth effort for Maverick, Photographs. After ten years together, Mest called it quits in early 2006. They went out on an appropriately titled final tour, So Long and Thanx for the Booze, that February alongside Allisterand Scary Kids Scaring Kids. A brief reunion a few years later set the stage for the band to get back together, and they toured as well as releasing the 2013 album Not What You Expected. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi

RECREATIONAL DRUGS

Recreational Drugs began as a side project of Matthew Frank (Their / They’re / There, Lifted Bells) & Joshua Sparks (Into It. Over It.) The new live band is comprised of Logan Bloom (Merit Badge), Adam Beck (Merit Badge), and Derek Craig (The Zero Years).
john-tudela

JOHN TUDELA

Been in many bands over the years, written hundreds of songs, and never really ventured off on his own. With former bands, John focused on vocals, guitar and writing but dabbled in many other areas of music such recording, percussion, bass and piano. So it’s no surprise that he is extremely capable of taking on a solo project such as this one! Well that time is now, John is currently recording an EP in which he will “Phil Collins” it up and record all the instruments himself. One can say it is a collectivesound of punk/alternative and of course he will throw in a little bit of experimental indie dance beats for all the ladies! Mostly, he is ready to write music and expand instrumentally that touches base on many life experiences as well as some he wrote just for all of you to relate to. Enjoy, spread the word, and support local music!

firer

FIRER

Top Choice Unadulterated No Coast Metal

LET 'EM HANG

LET ‘EM HANG

Four dudes from from the burbs of Chicago playing for the love of punk rock, drinking, and having a good time!!! Check us out and LET ‘EM HANG!!!

arcadia

ARCADIA

ARCADIA- Chicago base Metal band that has taken the hard road to success ,With the typical lifespan of Metal bands predictably short, the band’s future is understandably not written in stone. But the profound wisdom gained by its remaining members has set the tone for even deeper meaning to their music than before; concepts of hope, destiny, inevitability of change and the need to adapt, among other existentialist reflections, are all subjects to be explored by ARCADIA with their new material.

ARCADIA is eager to showcase their powerful new material to fans locally and across U.S. The band’s goal and focus on live shows and the determination, will to work hard is to deliver a new brand of metal/hardcore music to Chicago

caldera

CALDERA

Members
Ray Nelson ( Vocals )
VooDoo ( Guitars )
Wookie ( Bass )
Rob Saviano ( Drums )
city-of-caterpillar

CITY OF CATERPILLAR

One of the first bands to successfully merge post-rock and hardcore together, with complex and intense build-ups that led into bursts of rage and chaos, City Of Caterpillar’s short lived existence from 2000 – 2003 has had a major influence on the hardcore/punk scenes since the original release of this LP back in 2002.

blend-acoustic

BLEND ACOUSTIC

Are you ready to take your party to the next level? Blend plays songs you know by heart with breathtaking harmonies and a passion for engaging the audience.

the-body

THE BODY

On No One Deserves Happiness, The Body’s Chip King and Lee Buford set out to make “the grossest pop album of all time.” The album themes of despair and isolation are delivered by the unlikely pairing of the Body’s signature heaviness and 80s dance tracks. The Body can emote pain like no other band, and their ability to move between the often strict confines of the metal world and the electronic music sphere is on full display throughout No One Deserves Happiness, an album that eludes categorization. More then any of their genre-defying peers, The Body does it without softening their disparate influences towards a middle ground, but instead through a beautiful combining of extremes. No One Deserves Happiness is an album that defies definition and expectations, standing utterly alone.

Buford and King are outliers at their core, observing the world as if apart
from it. They strive for music without a category. They embody many
contrasts. They are open and playful as well as thoughtful and disciplined. Live, they deliver punishing volume and scale with their spare duo set up, expanding their sound through a complex set of effects on both guitar and drums. For records, they approach things entirely differently and expand their group in the studio to include Seth Manchester and Keith Souza from Machines with Magnets (their long-time studio), as well as Chrissy Wolpert of The Assembly of Light Choir. The list of instruments used on No One Deserves Happiness is an unexpected collection that includes 808 drum machine, a cello and a trombone. The band employs instruments in their unprocessed state for the simple beauty of the sound, and then in equal measure push them to their most extreme (for example, the sounds at the end of “The Fall and the Guilt” are created by a guitar and a cello). Because they create an entirely singular sound, The Body is in high demand for collaborations with artists across the musical spectrum, from The Bug to Full of Hell to The Haxan Cloak and beyond. They build albums that are as lush and dense as a rainforest and as unforgiving.

creepers

CREEPERS

Creepers is a band from the San Francisco Bay Area that formed in 2010. Originally consisting of Shiv Mehra (Deafheaven) on guitar and vocals and Daniel Tracy (Deafheaven) on drums, the duo performed around the Bay playing their own brand of surreal psychedelic rock. Eventually, they recruited guitarist Chris Natividad (Golden Drugs, Useless Eaters) and bassist Varun Mehra to complete the lineup. Their first LP “Lush” was released on All Black Recording Company in 2014.

In 2016, Andrew Oswald (Recorded Fell Voices, Ash Borer, Black Spiritual, +more) replaced Varun Mehra on bass and Ross Peacock (Mwahaha, Clipd Beaks) was added on synths and electronics. They are currently working on a release slated for 2017.

astral-blood

ASTRAL BLOOD

Astral Blood is a North American black metal band located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band features Andrew Rasmussen, Joe Waller, Nick Stanger, Brandon Petree, and Ben Fagerness. If you are a fan of Symphonic / Atmospheric Black Metal you will dig our sound. In Dec of 2014 we released our Self titled debut EP through Tridroid Records. We also put out 2 music videos not long after. Currently writing/recording the next record.

Rhythm Giants

RHYTHM GIANTS

The Rhythm Giants are Matt Engler on lead guitar, Joe Magdaleno on bass, Blake Longewayon drums, and singer Zac Johnson. Currently featuring ’90s alt Rock.
the-tins

THE TINS

The Tins are an indie-rock trio from Buffalo, NY.   Spotify/Napster founder, Sean Parker, discovered their  standout track, “Green Room,” which currently has 2 million plays on Spotify.  The Tins just recorded their sophomore full length with help from Ted Young (Rolling Stones,  Kurt Vile, Grace Potter) and Robbie Takac from the Goo Goo Dolls.

heart-attack-man

HEART ATTACK MAN

glamour-hotline

GLAMOUR HOTLINE

Hailing from Chicago, Illinois- Hayley Jordanna, Riley Cavanaugh, Alex Lukawski have redefined the new wave of punk music with their Socratic, anti-establishment punk music as Glamour Hotline.

gunther

GUNTHER

GUNTHER is an electronic producer recently relocated to Chicago from Boulder, Colorado. He loves to mix chill, break beat melodies with hard hitting, technical baselines. Growing up in Atlanta he drew in a lot of hip-hop influences that can be heard in his tracks today. He recently released his debut album, The Getaway, and has another in the works. GUNTHER is also an Ableton instructor and group organizer, planning and teaching monthly workshops in Chicago.Voted “Favorite Emerging Artist” by The Deli Magazine: Chicago.

lwky

LWKY

LWKY is a live dance music production crew from Chicago, IL. They combine modern electronic music production techniques with classic live instrumentation both on the stage and in the studio. Their dedication to the live recording process creates a unique blend of Blues, Funk, and Soul undertones all played out in the context of dance floor ready Electro-Soul and Future Bass.

confresi

COFRESI

COFRESI pushes the boundaries of modern performance and production with a hybrid style and a refreshingly versatile live dj/digital-acoustic drum setup. In the studio, he creates a unique sound that is provocative, melodic & rythmic at it’s core. Live, his sets are full of energy as he showcases a unique ability to incorporate multidimensional digital and acoustic percussion into modern electronic music.

need

NEED

Jon V. – Vocals
Ravaya – Guitars
Anthony – Keyboards
Victor – Bass
Stelios – Drums
Lies As We Speak

LIES AS WE SPEAK

We are a local band from Chicago IL, our music interests and new ideas took us to a different direction.

Lies As We Speak was formed on April 6th 2009 Formallyknown as From Dusk Til Dawn.

the-truth

THE TRUTH

Kyle Middleton – Vocals
Nathan Cox – Guitar
Jake Anderson – Guitar
Nate Fowler – Bass
Kyle Anderson – Drums

counterweight

COUNTERWEIGHT

Mark – Guitar |
Joe – Guitar |
Woody – Bass |
Keith – Drums |
Chris – Vocals

Scumlord

SCUMLORD

SCUMLORD is a Chicago based Grind/Hardcore band. Whippits & Beer

Tower

TOWER

“TOWER bring the party wherever they are.” – High Times

“This is a group who capture the hearts of an entire audience and within seconds have them all dancing on the floor showing what they’ve got. This is a band who bring us back to the foundational beauty of the music and remind us why we got into it in the first place.” – TwoGuysMetalReviews

“Sarabeth’s roar scorches and seduces in the vein of Leather Leone, Janis Joplin or the late great Ronnie James Dio (she did front Holy Diva, after all).” – Slutist.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New York, NY (July 11, 2016) – Raised on a diet of pure 20th century rock, New York City’s TOWER produces a sound many admire, some attempt, and few can pull off.

Featuring members Sarabeth Linden (lead vocals), James Danzo (guitar), Zak Penley (guitar), and Philippe Arman (bass, backup vocals), the band delivers riffs like a newly discovered bolt of old cloth hidden away since the days of Scorpions and Priest, topped with Linden’s vocals which soar through the realm of banshees and angels.

Says the band, “Tower is proud to celebrate The End of a long dry spell for hard rock and metal.”

TOWER is currently putting the final touches on their debut album due out later this year.

aped

APED

Aaron Block – Vocals,
Grant Carlson – Guitar,
Maxwell Beckman – Bass,
Zafar Musharraf – Drums

chip-ratliff

CHIP RATLIFF & THE DIRTYBLUCRUE

The beat hits you in the chest like a jackhammer…your head starts bobbin’…the bass attacks with no mercy…now you wanna’ dance! You look around and people are groovin’ everywhere! You don’t know what’s going on, but it feels good! Don’t be alarmed! It’s a natural reaction to the force of nature called Chip Ratliff & The DirtyBluCrue!!! The band offers fans an unforgettable live experience steeped in the Chicago tradition of a good time!

Throughout the country’s music venues including Chicago’s Navy Pier (Chicago), Buddy Guy’s Legends, California’s Fender Center, and more, people have experienced the colossal low end and tasty grooves that this band dishes out routinely, and with a vengeance! Bassist/vocalist Chip Ratliff and his band is dedicated to not just rehashing classic funk, but to taking his own unique style of Funk, Soul, and Blues to new heights. Fueled by his own original releases, Chip takes his talent, infuses it with the sophisticated funk and showmanship of Prince, the tightness of any one of James Brown’s bands, the grit and excitement of Chicago Blues, the extended live jams of a Parliament-Funkadelic show, combines it into one big pot, and serves it hot!

Every show is different. “The set list is a guideline!” says Chip. “We keep it spontaneous and free flowing throughout. Makes it fun for me, the band, and the audience can feel it! They go on the journey with us. It always comes out good!”

“I just want you to get down and have a good time! If you leave the show happy, exhausted, and wanting more…mission accomplished!”

Seven Kingdoms

SEVEN KINGDOMS

Seven Kingdoms is a Power Metal / Heavy Metal band from DeLand, FL. Seven Kingdoms has toured all over the world with bands like Powerwolf, Blind Guardian, Windrose, Stratovarius, Evergrey, Amaranthe, Kamelot, Hammerfall, Rhapsody Of Fire, Queensryche, Doro and many more. The band will be supporting the Juno Award Winning, Unleash The Archers in September of 2021 in the USA after a Sold Out Headlining Performance at the Mad with Power Festival in Madison, WI. Visit the band on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more info!

Line-Up: Sabrina Cruz – Vocals Camden Cruz – Guitars Kevin Byrd – Guitars Keith Byrd – Drums

Discography: 2007: Brothers Of The Night 2009: Seven Kingdoms 2012: The Fire Is Mine 2016: In The Walls (EP) 2017: Decennium 2019: Empty Eyes (EP) 2020: The Great Goat Rodeo (single) 2022: Zenith

Label: Distortion Music Group / Independant

Endorsements: Sennheiser DDrum Caparison Guitars Ernie Ball Bare Knuckle Pickups InTune Guitar Picks

PAUL MCCARTNEY “RAM”

Ram is a studio album by Paul and Linda McCartney, released in May 1971 on Apple Records. The album was recorded amid Paul McCartney’s legal action in the United Kingdom’s High Court to dissolve the Beatles’ partnership, following their break-up the year before. This is the only album credited to the couple. He and Linda recorded it in New York with guitarists David Spinozza and Hugh McCracken, and future Wings drummer Denny Seiwell. Its release coincided with a period of bitter acrimony between McCartney and his former bandmate John Lennon, who perceived verbal slights in the lyrics to songs such as “Too Many People”.

On release, the album was received negatively by the majority of music critics, although opinion has become more favourable in subsequent decades. A commercial success nonetheless, Ram topped the national albums charts in the UK, the Netherlands and Canada. Three singles were issued from Ram: “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”, which became McCartney’s first number 1 hit in America, “The Back Seat of My Car” and “Eat at Home”. The album was reissued in May 2012.

strngr

STRNGR

I’m a visual artist that got ableton 6 years ago so now I’m a music producer too. Loner Club is a science fiction melodrama set to sad conceptual dance music.
perturbator

PERTURBATOR

“The legend says he’s half human, half synthesizer…” I make Dark and Retrofuturistic music inspired by the 80’s.

TURBID NORTH

In 2007 we left North Pole, Alaska, for Fort Worth, Texas—far away from any friends and family—determined to play music exclusively and relentlessly. Now, after a few challenging years, Turbid North has three remaining members, guitarist/singer Nick Forkel from North pole, Chris O’Toole – a bassist from Dunstable, England, and Jono Garrett a punishing drummer from Texas. We write music that’s meaningful to us, musically and lyrically. Our last release “Orogeny” features several chilling stories of human survival in the harsh, arctic land, set to inspired death metal music. The songs also explore our love of other forms of metal, as well as our collective interest in many other styles of music. We’re eager and hungry to stay out on the road and share our unique brand of “Alaskan Mountain Metal” with the rest of the world.

ENTOMBED A.D.

For those about to rot, we salute you!” says Victor Brandt (bass/backing vocals) and welcomes you to “Dead Dawn”, the second full-length by ENTOMBED A.D. “It feels great to be able to release a new album again. It turned out even better than I could hope for. The production is great, the songs are killer, and the band is tight and hungry. And with all the plans we have for 2016, it’s going to be a great year!”

If you don’t know ENTOMBED A.D., the deadly sonic force fronted by former Nihilist/Entombed vocalist L-G Petrov, well, then you’re either no metalhead, slept under a rock since the late 80’s or have already gone the way of all flesh with crawling swarms of maggots deliciously peeling every single bit of meat from your sorry bones.

To save you some precious time for listening to this record rather than wasting it for googling, here’s a quick historical breakdown nonetheless: ENTOMBED A.D.’s legacy goes way back into the year 1987 when the band originally formed under the name Nihilist. In 1989, the group changed its name to Entombed and together with Morbid (for whom singer L-G played drums), Treblinka/Tiamat, Grave, Unleashed, Dismember, they established themselves as masters of Swedish death metal before flavoring the trademark “Stockholm sound” with a more punkish, rocking edge that culminated in the ultimate death ‘n’ roll classic “Wolverine Blues” in 1993, an album still very much present in the band’s current sound.

Just like its 2014 predecessor “Back To The Front”, the commando’s newest strike, “Dead Dawn”, does not rehash the early, pure death metal nor the softer leanings of Entombed in the late 90’s, it proudly sports the filth, the roll, the death, the goddamn dose of heaviness you need, expect, and wish to hear from this pack. And, it has L-G Petrov, whose glorious, whiskey-drenched roar thrones above the musical fundament like a mad, deranged king bellowing his lunatic commands! From the classy death metallic opening riff and irresistible drive of “Midas In Reverse”, the powerful groove of the title track or “Silent Assassin”, the beyond cool Randy-Rhoads-tribute-riff and morbid twist of “The Winner Has Lost”, the full-frontalAutopsy-like assault of “Black Survival”, ENTOMBED A.D. hit harder, more immediate as on the previous opus albeit
implement some smart surprises. Just take the bluesy twang on “As The World Fell”, the captivating guitar melodies garnering “Down To Mars To Ride”, the sickened ballad “Hubris Fall”, which reminds of Entombed’s ingenious Roky Erickson cover, “Night Of The Vampire”, and unbeatable, fast-paced nonchalance of “Total Death”. Nico Elgstrand (guitar/backing vocals) comments the creation of “Dead Dawn” as follows: “I think it is safe to say that all of us in the band feel like we just have given birth to one tank each. Meaning the pregnancy and delivery was everything but pleasant! Still, when watching our newest offspring play with their cannons and bombs, blasting everything around them to bits, we feel, just like any parent, pride and joy and wouldn’t have it undone for all the money in the world!” Rounded off by a striking cover artwork created by Watain-frontman Erik Danielsson, and backed up by a versatile production team consisting of Tom Van Heesch and Jacob Hellner of Big Island Sound, Stockholm as well as Nico Elgstrand himself, who produced a majority of the tracks whereas Svante Forsbäck of Chartmakers mastered this new beast, “Dead Dawn” looks and sounds great, too.

Following a successful live campaign around “Back To The Front” including an European tour with Grave in 2014 as well as tons of festival appearances, ENTOMBED A.D. shall hit the road again shortly before releasing “Dead Dawn”. First up is the Europa Blasphemia tour in January/February 2016 with Behemoth, Abbath, and Inquisition, followed by an extensive US run with Amon Amarth in April/May, Hellfest (FR), Wacken (DE), Summer Breeze (DE), and more. A schedule just fitting nicely to Victor’s promise for 2016: “Now we’re gonna tour, play festivals, tour even more, and already start working on the next album.”

It seems that after returning to the front in 2014, ENTOMBED A.D. are now way more comfortable with the arsenal at hand and the quartet is more eager than ever to live up to the finest line from the track “Total Death” – “It’s only rock ‘n’ roll – DESTRUCTION!”

AVALON STEEL

Heavy metal with influences of thrash, power, and doom. Soaring vocals over thundering riffs that make you want to bang your head and raise the horns.

KNIGHTMARE

American Power Metal. What is that you ask? Well ladies and gents, that’s Knightmare. 4 good ol’ carolina boys, unite to give Raleigh and the REST OF THE WORLD their spin on a classic, time tested and time honored sound. Storming out of the gates from the get go, Knightmare was created to rock your mind, and give you a blast from the past, with a good touch of modern and pioneering sounds. Giving you slamming drums, killer bass, and of course, the two tower axe attack. An act that you will not so easily forget. A live show full of energy and passion for music. Raise the banner and smash down the gates! Lets bring back the days of heavy metal.

CARRIAGE

Carriage was formed in October 2015. Featuring members of various bands including: Robbie Rainey (vocals) and Michael Martin (guitars) from the thrash band Possessor. Randy Ashberry (drums/keys) and River Ashberry (guitars) of Heaven Falls Hard and This Gentle Horror. As well as Tombstone Steve (bass) from Mammoth Black and Von Doom. Bringing together sounds and inspirations from all over the heavy metal genres , Carriage takes them all and forges them in the fires of true heavy metal, and quenched in the oils of old school metal glory.

ICE SWORD

NOBLE BEAST

Noble Beast is a traditional/power-metal band hailing from the frozen tundra of St. Paul, Minnesota. After many years spent paying dues and building a reputation in the Minnesota metal scene, Noble Beast released their debut full-length in 2013 to widespread international acclaim, getting rave reviews from The Metal Observer, Metal Wani, Toilet Ov Hell, Metal Shock Finland, Black Wind Metal, and others. Their sound runs the gamut from soaring Germanic power-metal to roaring American speed metal, with an emphasis on riff-driven melodicism and anthemic choruses.

SUBSTRATUM

DEVIL IN DISGUISE

Michael Podrybau – Vocals

Petey Mendoza – Guitar

Michael Maselbas – Guitar

Alfonso Polo – Bass

Adam Kopecky – Drums

JET JAGUAR

JET JAGUAR born in 2014, when guitarists Sergio and Diego Aragon Guez known, both being former members of Steel Sentinel. Soon, Jimmy Lozano recruited as drummer and bassist Jorge Ramirez / vowel, thus being formed alignment of the band. JET JAGUAR officially debuts on March 8, 2014, with Commando (Thrash Metal) and Wild Demise (Extreme Melodic Metal). Later, in April of the same year, the band released their first demo, “Call of The Fight,” which consists of 3 original songs. With this demo, the band has made some achievements, such as sharing the stage with Skull Fist, in his second tour of Mexico. Similarly, the same demo was re-released in cassette format (along with a bonus track) by Roots Active Records, Thailand, making it reach countries like Malaysia, Italy, Chile, Spain, among others. In 2015 JET JAGUAR starts recording the first EP of the band. Maxx Mendoza joins as vocalist (Jorge would like bear only). The EP “Zero Hour”, has 5 songs and will be released in March 2016 under Sade Records.

PHANTOM (CAN)

Phantom is a heavy metal band from Toronto, Canada. The band was formed in January of 2012 by ex-ash Lee Blade members D.D. Murley (Vocals, Guitars), Necro Hippie (Bass) and J.J. Blade (Drums, vocals).

Emily Anne, skin-basher of fellow Canuck ‘bangers Axxion, joined Phantom in 2016, and has cloned herself so she can play in both bands without anyone noticing…

The band’s music is traditional heavy metal in the vein of Maiden/Priest/Dio, filtered through the sensibilities of the power trio format. Songs are immediate, catchy, and driving; the band having distilled their influences into a caustic solution that is both modern in scope and nostalgic in sound. Live, the band is engaging and dynamic; on record, powerful and nuanced.

Their debut e.p, “The Powers That Be”, was released in 2013.

Phantom has played with fellow Canadian metal acts Cauldron, Skull Fist, Midnite Malice, Axxion and others, as well as opening slots for metal legends such as Accept and Diamond Head. Prior to forming Phantom, DD and Necro also enjoyed a brief stint as Canadian muscle rock legend Thor’s backing band.

On the heels of a successful appearance at England’s Bloodstock Festival, the band has released their sophomore recording, “…Of Gods And Men”.

There second full length album, “…of a fallen world” is due to be released in early 2017.

PHANTOM (NY)

Phantom was an American speed – and power metal band from New York City , New York , which was founded in 1985 and located about 1993 dissolved again.

SYRUS

In the mid-1980’s San Antonio was a hotbed of Texas Metal activity. Local heavyweights Slayer, Juggernaut, Karian, and Wyzard were leaders of a scene seething with talent and enthusiasm. Syrus emerged from this scene with powerful songs, intelligent lyrics, and a commanding dual guitar attack. the band was formed in 1984 by guitarists Al Berlanga and Johnny Castilleja and rounded out by vocalist Mike Vasquez, drummer Ken Ortiz, and bassist Julio Paz. Syrus, fully aware of the immense local talent, took their place in the local metal hierarchy seriously and practiced endlessly to perfect their craft. This dedication paid off as they soon became respected members of the burgeoning local metal scene and were called upon to open for such touring acts as Paul Dianno’s Battlezone, Omen, and Fates Warning. A 6 song self-titled demo was released throughout Texas in 1986. Surprisingly well produced for a self-financed demo, it featured rich, intertwined guitar leads, driving rhythms, and a good dose of technicality.

MORTAR

Mortar was a Power/Thrash Metal band from Chicago.

Mortar was formed by Brian Foster,Dave Dorocke, & Erik Armstrong in June of 1987.

From 1987 to late 1995, Mortar carved a notch for ourselves in the Midwest Metal Underground scene.

Our first 2 demos (Conquering Armies & Hellfire) landed us in many of the top metal magazines of that era, including: Metal Maniacs, RIP, Metal Forces, & F.E.T.U.

Despite minor setbacks, many related to lineup changes, Mortar was a favorite for promoters like Last Rites, Shark Entertainment & Jam Productions and various clubs when a good local band was needed to help promote & increase attendance for touring national acts.

We have shared the stage with bands such as Nuclear Assault, Overkill, M.O.D., Savatage, Wasp, Forbidden, Cyclone Temple, Raw Power, Malevolent Creation, Brutal Truth just to name a few.

Mortar was also privileged to perform at Jack Koshick Milwaukee Metalfest 3, 4, & 5 in the late 80’s early 90’s.

Mortar also had a strong regional following due to the metal underground tape trade, with loyal fans in Cities like Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis & St. Louis.

While our music & stage presence were similar to high energy west coast & east coast bands like Testament, Overkill, Suicidal Tendencies & Anthrax, we were probably best known for our innovative & dangerous stage shows which included outlandish stage setups, custom pyrotechnics, concussion bombs, and high powered air craft landing lights.

In this wonderful age of the internet, many videos of our live performances are testimonial proof that, Mortar were Chicago’s Dangerous Metal during the late 80’s & early 90’s

EXALTED PILEDRIVER

High Priest Of The Metal Inquisition, King Of All Assholes, The Rotund One, Scribe Of The Metal Manifesto, Unpolisher of Turds. Piley. OlPiley. OlPileyface. The Exalted Piledriver. Always and forever. Caused a rawkin’ ruckus in late 1984 with a turgid slab called Metal Inquisition. Inscribed in dead dinosaurs we found Sex With Satan, Sodomize The Dead, Witch Hunt, Human Sacrifice, Alien Rape, and lootsa fiine fresh thrashafrash. And a stoopid pointy dangerous-crazy-person image to boot! And lotsa radio silence from camp while the tunage did the talkin’. 2yrs later, an emission of dirt and slime produces a byproduct known as Stay Ugly, which hosted a panoply of sicknesses, notably The Executioner, The Fire God, Flowers Of Evil, Metal Death Racer, The Incubus and Lord Of Abominations. The universe ceased to exist for Pile until the internet piqued his interest and he came out of his analog sloughing pod to found out there was an actual fanbase out there. He ran through a very loong line of half-dead miscreants before unearthing a suitable cadre of misfits to assemble Metal Manifesto, which, despite it’s sonic and conceptual placement smack dab between Inquisition and Ugly, deficient efforts on behalf of yet another record weasel dick rendered it’s issuance an unheralded affair that would only be followed by distress in the Pilenation as hundreds of orders went amiss. Pile apologized for allowing such chicanery on his behalf, and set about for his third Phoenix turn with an even olderschool set of maladjusted misfits in search of retribution and forgiveness from his global tribe of fractured followers. Witness as progress in this regard his latest expulsion of audio, Night Of The Unpolished Turd. A brutally honest recording of all the PileyClassicks from live in Nowheresville, Northern Ontario, where real myoozishnin’s play and play and play. Occasionally, they’ve been spotted soiling eurofestival stages, and walking away with their audiences, but such sightings are increasingly rare. www.sickfuckrecords.com/#5 is where to go to get your own dose of aural excrement excitement from Ol’Piley, btw… hint.. hint…

BATTLEAXE

Since reforming in 2010, Battleaxe have been busy picking up from where we left off in the 1980’s. With some cracking live gigs under our belts we headed off into the studio to record the latest album. The completion of this album has been frought with unexpected problems and delays both personal and technical. Sometimes, life, has a nasty habit of gettin’ in the way of our goals. This has been very frustrating for the band and most importantly, you! the Battleaxe fans that have helped us reform and kept the “legend” alive !

the-radiomen

THE RADIOMEN

Known as the baddest rock show in Chicago, The Radiomen have left their mark on stages large and small…literally. Lead singer and guitarist Ryan Fitzgerald can be seen throwing his guitar across the stage, as bass aficionado David Buschauer smashes the neck of his bass guitar on a crash cymbal. Drummer Dean Lazzara is the back beat of the band, making sure everything is in check. The courageous frontman will flaunt tasty licks with a soulful touch of magic, but don’t let the malicious solo face fool you, it’s all for the love of Rock N’ Roll. If you’re having trouble spotting Buschauer on stage, he is the one with the permanent smile glued to his face. Don’t expect to get a decent picture of Lazzara, because he is always in a blur.

The lively psychedelic stage show adds to the allure of the band. Their effervescent attitude towards their followers is one of love and admiration, as the ambitious trio shoots for their dreams. From empty bars to roaring venues, the group has never …

charles-walker-band

CHARLES WALKER BAND

“Tight, classy kick ass…Deep grooving, high energy music…Music to
season your soul with.”
-Maximum Ink“…the Charles Walker Band, a quintet whose chops are strong,
whose command of the genre is certifiable, and who generate excitement at
every turn.”
-Jeff Tamarkin, All Music Guide

Deliciously Stanky, Dynamically Funky, Recklessly Hopeful. Grounded in soul, the Charles Walker Band has been compared to Prince, Bruno Mars, The Brand New Heavys, James Brown and Sharon Jones. The Milwaukee based band has refined their sound into Neo-Funk, a fusion of funk and soul infused rhythms with pop melodies. The seven piece band rehearses relentlessly in Charles’ basement, amidst couches and low ceilings, the trombonist having to stoop the entire time, continually evolving their performance. These questions are continually posed: How can we make this sound tighter? How can we arrange this to make it more stimulating? How can we make this song look visually different? They combine this quest for musical excellence with deep gospel influences and positive lyrical messages. The Charles Walker Band is Deliciously Stanky, Dynamically Funky, Recklessly Hopeful.

Charles grew up literally in the middle of nowhere. Surroundedby dairy farms and apple orchards, the closest towns miles away, he turned to music in sixth grade. After being presented with various instruments, he desperately wanted to play trombone. However, his music teacher said, despite his protests, he had the perfect mouth for saxophone, and his career was started. Walker started the Charles Walker Band 14 years ago, initially as a blues band but when Porsche Carmon, a Columbus, OH native and female vocalist in the band, joined, the sound began to evolve towards soul and funk. Eventually, Charles and Porsche became a couple, and together laugh, cry, argue and plan shows to mesmerize in an age when performers compete against cell phones and tablets. As a testament to their ability to create an engaging show, one fan said after their performance at Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI, “I had to go to the bathroom for two hours but held it because I didn’t want to miss a minute!”

In the past year, the instrumentation of the band has grown from a five piece band to seven piece. Brett Westfahl blows the trumpet, Steven Trenier wails on trombone, Aaron Roman lays rhythms on guitar, Brian Kennedy backs the band on bass, while Victor Campbell nails down drums.

As a testament to their live magic, the group has opened for national acts including Earth Wind & Fire, Aaron Neville, Robert Cray, BB King, Richard Marx, Eddie Shaw (Howlin Wolf’s Sax Player), Booker T, Cameo and Bernard Allison. The ensemble has been featured on Fox News, NBC “Live in the Morning,” nationally syndicated “Discover Wisconsin,” and was the featured artist on the Blues Revue (2010) and Soul Bag (2007) sampler CDs and has been nominated four years in a row for best soul/r&b act in Wisconsin by WAMI, winning the award in 2013.

Counting Ghetto Prophet, the band has released eight albums, each album an evolution in sound while retaining their roots in positivity. Walker says of Ghetto Prophet, released on Ehlona Records: “One in a Million, where the album’s title comes from, tells the story of an impoverished child becoming something great. This child ignores his circumstance because he has a strong enough vision to see something better. He keeps holding onto the belief that it’s possible. That he could be that one in a million. Ultimately, he represents the greatness in all of us.”

blake-rue

BLAKE RUE

A lot of things we work for in life turn out to be fluff. Substance is rare, and so is a fresh perspective. Live for yourself with purpose and conviction.