By IndieMinded:
Stuff We Leave Behind by Wonky Tonk.
Kentucky based singer-songwriter Jasmine “Wonky Tonk” Poole, is an artist who is never afraid to put it all out there and leave a piece of herself behind. As a young girl, she was told that “Cowgirls get up in the morning, decide what to do and do it.” With a sound that touches on folk, Americana, country, and bluegrass, all anchored by a touch of honky tonk and propelled by her punk attitude, Poole clearly took that advice to heart and applied it to her music. Described as falling somewhere between First Aid Kit, Modest Mouse and Tune Yards, and with influences such as Loretta Lynn, Poole paves her own creative path on her LP release, Stuff We Leave Behind, available now.
Epic hard rock and thrash-infused retro metal from Carbondale, IL, with ex-members of Zuul and The Copyrights. Denim suggested.
Seamstress on this recording is:
Jared Mileger – Guitar/Vocals
Josh Stockinger – Bass
Ken Clifford – Vocals/Guitar
Morgan Demling – Drums
CANDIRIA
Carley Coma: Vocals
Michael MacIvor: Bass
John LaMacchia: Rhythm / Lead Guitar
Danny Grossarth: Drums / Percussion
Julio Arias: Rhythm Guitar
Born in Brooklyn, NY, the name Candiria is synonymous with the kind of experimentation and genre-bending more often associated with freeform jazz and progressive rock than hard/metalcore music. Their original fan base, predominantly rooted in the well-knit NYHC second wave (Merauder, Madball, Burn, etc.), took to Candiria’s balanced integration of aggressive unusual time signature’d dissonance with hip-hop, jazz (early bop as well as late period fusion), dub, and abstract psychedelic experimentation straightaway, a testament to the band’s skillful musicianship and intelligent sonic aesthetic.
Releasing four critically acclaimed and fan adored albums over the course of six years, the band would in 2002 face its biggest challenge, as both band and individuals. While driving through Batavia, NY, touring in support of their latest release, their van was subject to an accident whose physical and psychological repercussions deeply informed each of their decisions to follow. Upon recovery, their appropriately titled 2004 release ‘What Doesn’t Kill You…’, retained components of the band’s earlier fractal aesthetic while introducingmelodic choruses and clean singing alongside the guttural and triple-timed vocalizations the band historically employed and perfected.
Candiria would spend the years following ‘What Doesn’t Kill You…’ recovering from their injuries, losing and replacing personnel, tied up in legal disputes, and individually engaging in new musical projects that would serve to enlarge the creative scope of each band member. In retrospect, this period should be regarded as a phase of reconsideration, realignment, and renewal. It is with this perspective in mind that Candiria has written and recorded their latest album, ‘While They Were Sleeping’, a concentrated demonstration of their relentless desire to explore and expand upon an aural palette whose depth and breadth has always challenged the complacency of remaining static in an ever-changing world.
‘While They Were Sleeping’ is a concept album conceived by the band’s lead vocalist Carley Coma. Telling the tale of a failed musician who rises up against a monarchy in New York City, ‘While They Were Sleeping’ aims to encapsulate a vision of the contemporary world, in all of its riotous and tech-driven complexity. Ambitious as such an idea may seem, it is part of Candiria’s natural development, and has given birth to some of the band’s proudest and most challenging moments.
One of those moments comes early on in the album, just prior to the halfway mark of ‘Mereya’, when the band deftly shifts gears from a pummeling assault of well-knit propulsive rhythms into tenor sax-laced jazz percussion patterns heightened by Coma’s introduction of a scat-singing that skillfully combines the styles of world renown vocalists Jon Hendricks and Jimmy Scott. Bassist Mike MacIvor recalls it as an experience wherein the history of the band’s determination to push themselves beyond their known limits crystallized: “At first, I wasn’t a fan of the idea, but as we went through the recording process, I realized that if you’re doing something that makes you uncomfortable, strikes you as weird, or even induces nausea, then you have to do it. That is what Candiria is all about.”
And so much more, as the conception and formation of ‘While They Were Sleeping’ would prove. “I was unafraid to be completely honest, and approach the band as a new entity”, says Coma. It’s with this kind of openness that for the first time he created songs centered on character development, a notion he became interested in and studied with the aid of Robert McKee’s classic book ‘Story: Style, Structure, and the Principles of Screenwriting’. Spending just over a year working on the story, prior to the consideration of its musical accompaniment, Coma states: “I wanted to learn about creating characters. and how one could make that happen.” This thoughtfulness would be fusedto current events, as the song ‘The Whole World Will Burn’ demonstrates. Written both as a response to the Ferguson riots,and as a means of propelling the story’s plotline, it serves as an example of Coma’s extensive aspirations for this project.
“I had some skepticism”, says guitarist John LaMacchia, in reference to the idea of a concept album. A completely new idea for the band, he was unsure of how to approach the writing of music whose main goal is to serve a narrative that had been carefully contemplated and constructed. Encouraged by Coma’s spirit of unguarded writing, LaMacchia notes that the foundation of the recording process was rooted in a feeling of union: “Having faith in one another, giving each other space to present and pursue individual ideas, then uniting them into a whole.” Adding to this already healthy dynamic is the inclusion of new drummer Danny Grossarth, and new rhythm guitarist Julio Arias, both of whom bring a fresh fire and energy to stage and studio alike.
Recorded at Spaceman Sound by Tom Tierney and Alex Mead-Fox, it was of primary importance to Candira that they retain a distance from the compartmentalized, disinfected, and essentially whitewashed production qualities heard throughout much of contemporary music. As a band that has always operated from a working class perspective, capturing an organic aesthetic was essential. The proof of this can be heard on tracks as dissimilar as ‘The Cause’, an experiment in electro-discordancy that lures the listener in with a seemingly innocuous riff whose rhythm coils in on itself until stuttering to an end, and ‘Opaque’, a track of transcendent significance for both this album and the band.
‘Opaque’ was conceptually intended as a sparsely decorated composition. However, its fruition took on auditory dimensions Candira had heretofore never investigated. If the song has a point of reference in the band’s canon, it is an oblique one that MacIvor deftly elucidates “In the same way that our fans weren’t ready for a song like ‘Observing Highways’ (from their debut album ‘Surrealistic Madness’), they won’t be ready for ‘Opaque’. What we’re always trying to do as a band is paint a picture that hasn’t been seen; looking for a sound that hasn’t been heard.” This emphatic ambition, coupled with an unwavering confidence in one another, has allowed them to create a concept album that is completely off the musical grid, will defy expectations, and establish a new standard in Candiria’s willfully driven evolution.
Throughout 2016, Candiria have played several shows in the New York City area with musical compatriots and veterans of the scene such as Sick of It All, Poison the Well, and Killswitch Engage, as well as more recently formed boundary pushing outfits like Death Grips, Shabazz Palaces, Netherlands, and Moon Tooth. ‘While They Were Sleeping’ will be released on October 7th, 2016, with a full U.S. tour to follow.
Members
Axel – Vocals
Charles – Guitar
David – Guitar
Magnus – Bass
Pontus – Drums
May, 2016.
Horisont sign worldwide deal with Century Media Records. On the eve of their 10 year anniversary Swedish hardrock band HORISONT are pleased to announce the next chapter in their illustrious career by putting pen to paper and confirming a worldwide deal with Century Media Records. New album in progress, stay tuned!
BIOGRAHPY, August, 2015.
Big of moustache and tight of trouser, Horistont drink from the bottomless wellspring of inspiration that’s been bubbling up through the layers of time since the birth of the blues – or Blue Oyster Cult at the very least.
Theirs is a sound that harks back to the dawn of the 70s, when a new clutch of heads decided it was time to harsh the 60s hippies’ mellow and paint it black; those years when the twin spirit of hard rock and prog rose to redefine sound.
In their earlier years Horisont looked and sounded like the last guys standing at the world’s wildest and darkest party; these are the tight bro’s who laced the punch, torched the dance-floor and rode off into the night on their roaring hogs in a puff of green smoke. “Put the five soldiers of Horisont in a time machine 50 years ahead of time and we would still rock the silver socks of any future man, woman or robot,” frontman Axel once declared.
This quintet’s rock trip might be retro but their songwriting is timeless; a good melody lives forever and Horisont have songs in abundance. New album Odyssey is exactly as its title suggests: an epic journey into the known. A sonic trip. A mighty voyage of sound. You could even call their fourth full release a concept album – although they themselves prefer “space saga”. Either way it’s a brave band who open their album with a ten minute-long track, yet on the album’s title track Horisont dive straight into the deep end, delivering space-rock with all the dexterity and deftness of the very best prog rock’s finest, such as early Yes or Kansas.
“I think it was Tom, who during a tour, said that it would be fun to write a ten minute song,” says bassist Magnus Delborg.“When that song took shape the idea of a cohesive album was born. Most of the songs are in some way connected to the bigger theme, so – yes – it is a concept album. It concerns a supreme race of mysterious being who experiment with the creation of life and start to populate planets around the universe. And this is the story of one of those planets…”
Formed in 2006, Horisont have spent close to a decade kicking ass, taking names and establishing themselves at the forefront of the Scandinavian retro rock revival (see also Witchcraft, Graveyard etc), injecting their sound with early-Status Quo-styled boogie blues, prog complexities, NWOBHM swagger and fire-spitting choruses set to scorch the eyebrows of the first ten rows. This is music made without irony, unafraid to acknowledge an allegiance to past greats such as Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Cactus, Thin Lizzy, the aforementioned Yes and Judas Priest.
Their first two albums Tva Sidor Av Horisonten (2009) and Second Assault (2012) earned Horisont a special place in the rock underground, while Time Warriors (2013) was a no-holds barred demonstration of classic rock and metal combined with a fearlessly inventive streak, and took them to a wider international audience. And now comes Odyssey, a bold leap into more expansive and ethereal musical territory. It’s the band’s first to feature native Australian and former Church Of Misery guitarist Tom Sutton.
The new line-up change sees a definite gear-shift too. Here Horisont play as if their lives depend upon it: dueling guitars do battle in an endlessly thrilling interplay over a rhythm section that gallops like wild horses across the frozen tundra. And cutting through the middle, Axel Söderberg’s howling heartfelt vocals delivered with a space-age sense of soulfulness.
There are surprises aplenty throughout – witness the melodic Jethro Tull-style breakdown in the middle of ‘Blind Leder Blind’, flamenco/folk flourishes on ‘Flying’, the fist pumping classic metal anthem of ‘Back On The Streets’, the almost Ziggy Stardust-esque ‘Beyond The Sun’ or the elegiac eight minute long album closer ‘Timmarna’, which evokes the awesome beauty of a dying star careering off into darker distant universe. Then there’s the majestic former single ‘Break The Limit’, which was accompanied by a gloriously grainy 1980s VHS-style video, complete with much split screen action. This is expansive, emotive music that’s far more than five hirsute men creating a voluminous ruckus.
Odyssey was recorded in Studio Kust in Gothenburg with producer by Henrik Magnusson. It was, the band explain their most harmonious creative period ever.“No Horisont recording session has ever been this good,” admits Delborg. “We had worked with Henrik on our ‘Break The Limit’ single and knew that he was our guy. All the basics where recorded live in just a couple of days. Then we spent a lot of time on the intricate details.”
The artwork for Odyssey harks back to both classic sci-fi paperbacks and prime prog rock albums of the 70s. “We wanted a slightly disturbed, Asimov-esque science fiction cover that told the story of Odyssey,” says drummer Pontus Jordan. “Tom knew this guy who was really in to old science fiction stuff and he had done the cover for The Order Of Israfel. So we meet the guy and it was the one and only Henrik Jacobsen. And he really nailed it.”
The Cold Hard Cash Show is an original and innovative tribute to the music of Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Three!
Fronted by guitarist and singer Merle Travis Peterson, The Cold Hard Cash Show brings to life classic Cash songs from the Sun & Columbia Records Catalogs to the modern American recordings, performing with the energy of the Live at Folsom and San Quentin albums with a sound so accurate you’d think you’re listening to The Man in Black himself!
The band formed in 2005 and in addition to Merle Travis Peterson fronting the band on vocals and guitar, the line up includes long time member Fel Torres on drums and John Sporman on double bass.
Since the formation, they have performed on hundreds of stages often sharing them with a diverse variety of artists such as as Darryl Worley, John Anderson, Eric Church, Charlie Daniels, Lonestar, Eddie Money, Eli Young Band, Los Lobos, James Hunnicutt, Dale Watson and countless others as well as performing at several high profile private functions with guests such as Katy Perry, Shawn Colvin, John Oates, Justin Timberlake, David Ryan Harris, John Mayer and have at times performed with a few of them!
In 2008 the band made their National Television debut when they performed on The Late Show with David Letterman, gaining a solid world wide fan base and landing them on stages at several nationally known festivals such as Memphis in May Festival (Memphis,TN), Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (Sturgis,SD), Daytona Bike Week (Daytona, FL), Lonestar Rally (Galveston,TX) and Johnny Cash Festival- Roadshow Revival (Ventura,CA).
In 2014 the band recorded a song for long time Eddie Money drummer Glenn Symmonds and were featured on his ‘Friends of Glenn’s’ album along with multiple artists including Eddie Money.
The band continues to tour across the country non-stop spreading the great word and music of The Man in Black, Johnny Cash!
Say what you will about Tribute Bands, The Cold Hard Cash Show is an excellent band, excellent show, excellent experience and hands down the BEST Johnny Cash Tribute around!
The Westerlees are like old-fashioned, country-baked pie. They don’t
make them much like that anymore, but every time you taste one you
wonder why not. Steel Guitar, Fiddle, Clarinet, and the occasional Tap
Dancer all come together to deliver wholesome (and perhaps more often,
daringly tart) tunes from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. Everything from
the Light Crust Doughboys to Bob Wills to Hank Williams is performed
with levity and humor.
They also have many originals in the style which reveal the
satirically comical worldview of singer and songwriter Patrick
Brenner. The band has a rotation of other cast members too, each
bringing their own expertise and personality to the authentically
vintage sound and performance of the Westerlees.
Come see what audiences at county fairs, street festivals and dive
bars have been buzzing about. If you get a taste of their down-home,
old-timey, country flavor, you are guaranteed to be entertained!
Uncle Jesse and the Rippers is a 90s cover band playing the hits from a variety of genres. Featuring members of Honey & the 45s, Smoker, Sea Lords, and, Lynne[a], Uncle Jesse and the Rippers bring to life all the 90s songs you love (and a few you’ve forgotten you love)!
Johnny Chastain and the Heartbeats bring you the music of The Rocky Horror Picture Show but in costume and with a serious kick in the ass! Featuring the incomparable JC Brooks as Dr. Frank-n-Furter, this show has impressed every Halloween for the last four years! You’ve NEVER Seen Rocky like this!
DJ NOAH SIMS
“It feels like when I’m making music, I’m writing and being told a story at the same time.” Welcome to the world of Noah Sims, a Chicago producer whose soundscapes carry the texture, tension and complexity to give those stories intense staying power.”
Daniel “Independent” Weisberg is more than just another rapper from Chicago. He’s an artist whose music paints the journey of his life in Chicago and the happenings in the world. For him, rapping started off as a hobby and quickly transformed into a passion.
Born tö Lose settled on a profound concept long ago: Motörhead covers, no bullshit! Consisting of current and former members of High Spirits, Bones, and The Meatmen, most of the band’s activity has been confined to the practice room on Saturday mornings, although the occasional gig is never out of the question. Regardless of venue, all that matters is the songs. This is not an “ultimate tribute experience” band blown in from the ‘burbs with costumes, merchandise, and albums-in-their-entirety gimmicks. Nope, these guys simply play a wide-ranging, ear-bleeding selection of the greatest rock and roll songs ever written. And it serves you right!
Based out of East Chicago, Indiana, DYSPHORIA toured and performed in many places and festivals and developed quite a rowdy following throughout their short years! DYSPHORIA opened for many major tours and bands across the nation. Having only released one demo, 1993’s “Day Of Atonement”, they quickly rose to the top of the ranks in the Midwest death metal scene. More demo’s were recorded, but never officially released. DYSPHORIA disbanded in 1995 due to differences and members of the band are still active and remain friends to this day!
A more comprehensive biography will come soon as
more information is submitted and organized
Rich Canamar and Rich East now play with VIOLENT WISDOM
James Genenz now plays with JUNGLE ROT and REIGN INFERNO
Barón Rojo are a Spanish Heavy Metal Band who reached international success in the 80s and it is considered one of the most important representatives of Spanish hard rock of all the times.
Barón Rojo es una banda de heavy metal español que alcanzó éxito internacional en los años 80 y es considerado uno de los más importantes representantes del rock duro español de todos los tiempos.
Los inicios del mejor grupo español de heavy-rock de todos los tiempos, nos lleva a la unión de cuatro músicos excelentes; dos hermanos ARMANDO Y CARLOS DE CASTRO a las guitarras y voces, JOSÉ LUIS CAMPUZANO también conocido como “Sherpa” al bajo y voz y HERMES CALABRIA a la batería. No nos olvidamos de CAROLINA CORTÉS, mujer de Sherpa, que intervendría en la composición de muchos de los temas de Barón Rojo. Actualmente Barón Rojo y tras sufrir algunas modificaciones en su formación, siguen descargando su heavy rock por todas partes con la misma intensidad que el primer día. Larga vida al Barón!
Fort Wayne, Indiana appears to be no more than another lonely outcrop of the Midwest. Chain stores and restaurants seem to stretch for miles, suggesting a suburban sameness that could numb and dull anyone. Thanks to a burgeoning commitment to the homegrown ethos of this town’s “do-it-yourself” scene, especially from younger talent, this sleepy sprawl has been given a second chance. Before the age of twenty, Chase Huglin has attempted to join these two separate spheres, intermingling softer melodies reserved for coffee-house backdrops with a steadfast touring schedules rivaling acts with more electric firepower.
The flint sparking Huglin’s latest EP, Glow — his first after signing with Ohio’s InVogue Records at eighteen — spits out the same flames as some of his brasher, louder labelmates. Produced by Mat Kerekes of Citizen, the release shares the whisper of a quiet Midwestern acoustic act with the embattled wail of a conflicted, heartbroken boy on the cusp of adulthood. Perhaps that’s what has caused Huglin to juggle cross-country routes while maintaining his six-string sense of self. 2015 proved to be a wake-up call for Chase, embarking on U.S.-centric stints with bands as diverse as Sundressed and Casteform. The critic’s circle has widened to include this young talent, as well, with New Noise Magazine writing Glow delivered as “a beautiful acoustic EP for those in need of a quick pick me up.” As Huglin continues his embrace of an intersectional and nebulous music scene usually cautious of softer tones with his debut InVogue full-length in 2016, Fort Wayne could go from a map coordinate to a new creative home.
Rivers Monroe, now having just finished a long run on the 2015 Warped Tour, has emerged as one of Philadelphia’s most popular new bands and is supported by an increasingly fervent local and national fan-base, known as the RM aRMy!
Defined by their energetic, driving, mainstream brand of music, flavored with a fresh rock and pop/punk mixture, they have captured the attention of thousands of listeners along the East Coast and beyond.
With their first album, produced by six-time Grammy-winning producer Glenn Barratt of MorningStar Studios, band created and crafted a sound that has had numerous film & TV placements on NBC Sports Network, NASCAR Network, FOX Sports, Speed TV, MLB, NCAA, FSN, NFL Network and was featured in the official video games for NASCAR 2011 and 2014 and the official NFL DVD for Super Bowl XLVIII.
However, with their newly released album Smart Girls the band has raised the bar with a collection of hook-driven and inspiring songs. Anchored by the infectious vocal-driven singles “Satellite” “Hero Inside,” and “Sweat,” which echo the best of Fall Out Boy, All Time Low, All-American Rejects and Maroon 5, Rivers Monroe is stacked from beginning to end with anthems for airplay.
The Philly-based quintet began in 2008 when keyboardist/vocalist Mat Rivers, joined long-time friend and lead-singer Mike Monroe. The two singer/songwriters teamed up with bassist Kirby San, drummer Kevin Sitaras and guitarist Matt “Doc” Varga to fill out their infectious wall of sound.
Armed with catchy hooks, passionate lyrics and energized performances, the band toured the U.S. last summer with MTV buzzband The Nearly Deads and has shared the stage with many Grammy-winning and multi-platinum selling artists, opening for Paramore, All Time Low, Fun., Incubus, Phoenix, The Wonder Years, Passion Pit, New Found Glory, twenty | one | pilots, Jennifer Paige, Silversun Pickups and AllStar Weekend. In turn, these high-profile slots led to prime performance slots at NASCAR and NHRA events and brand alliances with Coca-Cola, Sunoco, Cerwin-Vega, and Motel 6.
Hailing from Chicago, IL, the emerging singer/songwriter Shawnee Dez wants nothing more than to share her god given vocals and consciousness among vast audiences. Only in the early stages of her career, Shawnee intently engages her audience, encouraging energy exchanges – by immersing herself in public meditation translated by way of a dynamic multi-ranged alto melodic sound.
In the works of recording his debut studio album, “Just Another Day”, Larry Anthony is ready to show the world what he has up his sleeve.
Even before diving into the World of Music, Larry began writing songs; trying to say something worth listening to. Something that could make change for the better. After he was gifted a guitar, Larry began develop his abilities by playing with anyone that would let him. Once Larry performed at renowned Hometown venues such as the House of Blues and The Congress Theater with local favorites Gallery 81 and Interchange, he realized that he had to play his own music. He couldn’t wait any longer. Thanks to said decision, Larry is now stepping into a limelight of his own.
It’s easy to hear that Larry Anthony’s influence from the Blues greats of the 20th Century, as well as the pens of songwriting powerhouses such as John Mayer, Dave Matthews, and the Grateful Dead. Musically, Larry has worked to polish and expanded his approach, while still retaining the honest and organic sound of the coming title track, “Just Another Day”, a humble, mid-tempo anthem with a message.
Taking pride in honest lyrics, deep grooves, and unique live performances; Larry looks to carry the audience on a musical journey that is sure to move your heart and your hips.
Larry Anthony is an artist who wants to bring his music to you. Stay tuned, “Just Another Day” is soon to be recorded and released Spring 2017.
Jesse Dayton, unsung hero of American music, has defied categorization in his decades-spanning career. His chart-topping album with Samantha Fish, “Death Wish Blues,”marked a global hit and earned the duo a2024 Grammy nomination. Dayton, who has worked with legends as diverse as Johnny Cash, X,and Rob Zombie, is set to release a new album produced by Grammy winner Shooter Jennings(Brandi Carlisle, TonyaTucker). Balancing sharp songwriting with powerful guitar, the upcoming album reflects influences from ’70s Dylan and old Texas blues.Dayton, road warrior and troubadour,embraces a big, rowdy sound.His journey from a cult hero to a contemporary chart-topper will be on full display live, proving that for Jesse Dayton, there are no victory laps, only resurrections.
Elephants are a dynamic animal, both intelligent and gentle, but when riled up can be thunderous and powerful. The same has been said of Stampy and their unique sound. The Chicago-based quintet fuses together soulful grooves, dense vocal harmonies, and high energy guitar solos that roar through venues. Five long-time friends have come together to create a sound ‘where Steely Dan meets The Allman Brothers meets Wilco…. with a dab of Pet Sounds.’
Each time Stampy comes to the stage, it is “eclectic. Stampy’s original music appears to derive influences from across the musical spectrum.” Five seasoned singers and songwriters, all hailing from different musical backgrounds, have forged a sound that is truly unique and appealing to all fans of music. From the start, Stampy attracted fans in droves from all areas and genres of Chicago’s live music community. In just two months, the cost of their first album was funded entirely thanks to the contributions from their loyal fanbase.
Like a stampede, the band came running full speed out of the gate. Within months of inception the group was in the studio cutting their debut album and playing at some of Chicago’s most prestigious and historic venues. After self-producing their first album, the band brought in legendary sound guru, Fred Breitberg (Aretha Franklin, Neil Young, Curtis Mayfield), to mix and master it. Fred’s expertise put the finishing touches on a record that is making a statement.
Stampy finished out 2017 with a show alongside guitar virtuoso Fareed Haque. Martyrs in Chicago, IL. The quintet has also begun work on their second album, Expectations (2018). You will be able to hear each member being featured as a lead singer and primary songwriter on at least one song, showcasing the band’s immense creativity and vast musical perspective. Because of this, they have dug deeper on their new album. Songs are crafted in a thematic way. Subjects such as friendship, love, greed, inspiration, and faith will be represented. Keep posted for news surrounding the future release of Stampy’s second album.
Come witness the thunderous and powerful sound for yourself. The band’s live show was translated brilliantly to their debut record and will surely be continued on their second release. But to fully experience the dynamic range, the roaring guitar solos, intricate songwriting, and beautiful vocal harmonies, you must see Stampy perform live. They just might become your new favorite artist.
The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League is a string quartet that brings the smoky rhythms and sizzling leads of Prohibition swing into the 21st century.
Acid soaked sludge hailing from Humboldt Park, Chicago
SONS OF RA
Hailing from the underground scene of Chicago, this eclectic ensemble draws inspiration from avant garde music, classic jazz fusion with post-progressive sensibilities, infusing their music with cosmic vibrations and experimental fervor. Drummer Michael Rataj lays an energetic and ever-shifting rhythmic framework for tenor saxophonist/bassist Keith Wakefield and guitarist Erik Oldman to weave angular, contrapuntal melodies with ethereal textures augmented by loops and synthesizer explorations. Sons of Ra are not merely a band; they are sonic sorcerers, weaving spells of experimental brilliance that transcend the boundaries of traditional genres.
They’ve shared the stage with such artists as Stu Hamm, Sonar, Chester Thompson & Alphonso Johnson, and Consider the Source.
Sons of Ra released their EP “Cognitive” in 2020 and are currently in production for a six-part suite “Tropic of Cancer” and their first full-length release “Standard Deviation”, both planned for release in 2024.
Personnel Erik Oldman: Guitar/Bass/Synth Keith Wakefield: Bass Guitar/Tenor Saxophone/Synth
Michael Rataj: Drums
In association with the Chicago Zappa Collective, Chester’s Gorilla is pleased as punch to present Frank’s album “Broadway The Hard Way”. The album is culled from tour tapes of the election year 1988 and conclude with Frank urging the audience to “get yer butt out there and register to vote, please?” He was in full political and social attack mode after spending much time on Capitol Hill and in the press fighting against Tipper Gore’s campaign for Parental Advisory labels on music. The targets for his low esteem on this album include the Reverend Pat Robertson, Jesse Jackson, the Republican Party, Michael Jackson, the Reverend Pat Robertson, Elvis Presley, Presidents G. H. W. Bush and Nixon, and of course Pat Robertson again. As Frank would have done, we will change some lyrics to skewer the current cast of characters in the news.
Chester’s Gorilla is made up of, as Frank would say, some “pretty good musicians” who have worked with local heroes Hood Smoke, the Model Citizens, Steak House Mints, The Unknown New, The Renegades, M13, Kick The Cat, as well as A Prairie Home Companion, Howard Levy, and Dweezil Zappa.
HALF BAKER
MEAN SEAN
mean sean is a duck. Or a bird. Or a band. Or… something.
In short, Hollywood Bitch is the result of 4 everyday gigging musicians who decided to get together to perform what they thought would be a one off Halloween set as Stone Temple Pilots and accidentally had their set go over a little too well with their audience. So well in fact, that they were endlessly pestered to make their alter ego as a Stone Temple Pilots tribute into a permanent thing. You wanted the best STP tribute band in Chicago? You got the best! Current lineup starring J.P. Halloran and Nick Scelsi of Chicago’s raunchy far NW side power trio Downhole as Robert Deleo and Scott Weiland. Guitar sensation Pasquale Maurelli stars as Dean Deleo; and Tom Stukel of Sadie & The Stark stars as Eric Kretz. Hollywood Bitch’s set lists cover all years of the original lineup of STP’s musical catalogue; but the appearance and live performance usually tends to lean a little more in the direction of the band’s infamous 1999-2002 run. Hollywood Bitch is off the rails, out of control, and coming straight at you with all the stomp, sparkle, and crunch that is Stone Temple Pilots.
Mixing four-chord Ramones-inspired rock anthems with an unadulterated pornography fixation, the Nobodys have sprung forth from the fertile grounds of Colorado Springs to become the reigning Ron Jeremys of the punk rock world!
The Mr. T Experience (sometimes abbreviated MTX) is an American punk rock band formed in 1985 in Berkeley, California. They have released ten full-length albums along with numerous EPs and singles and have toured internationally.
The word gharana comes from the Hindu word ‘ghar,’ which means ‘house’ or ‘family.’ In music, the word takes on a deeper meaning, relating to a school or lineage of musicians.
Gharana is a trio consisting of Konrad Kupiec on guitar and sitar, Alex Farro on tabla and percussion, and Matt Ares on bass guitar. The group’s incarnation began when Alex and Konrad met while studying Indian classical music under the same teacher. Blending their studies of Indian music with jazz and rock influences, they’ve formed a young fusion band that will continue to grow and develop; much like the melody of a raga or the mathematical expansion of an Indian rhythm.
Gharana makes their debut performance September 11, 2016 at Reggie’s with the Alex Skolnick Trio.
Have taken the stage with such acts as: Soil, Silent Civilian, Future leaders of the world, Earthen Grave, Piranha, Gemini Syndrome, Dead Horse Trauma, the Browning. Shadows Fall, Straight line stitch, Hed P.E, Saliva
Law Of Keanu is a high energy, Three person, Chicago based band though their FrontMan or FrontWoman if You will, was actually born and raised in Michigan. Their sound comes from very strong Pop, Punk and even Folk influences.
They started playing music as a group in their early 20s. Each of them eager and ready to obtain the lives they envisioned for themselves and the only way they knew how to do that..was to play.
Black Sabbath was the epitome of heavy when I was young….. Led Zepplin…..Deep Purple……Pink Floyd, to me Black Sabbath was all that. Lord of the world is my favorite Sabbath song. It is probably the heaviest and plodding metal song ever written. I love all of their songs, but that one is my favorite. I first heard Sabbath when I was in Junior High. It was the Master of Reality album. As a whole album experience it blew me away!
I’ve always sang. I think I have Tourette Syndrome. Ozzy is so intense. Words would get stuck in my head and I had to scream them.
War Pigs is the first band I sang lead vocals for. In the past I’ve sang in the recording studio and back up vocals on stage. I actually auditioned to be the second guitarist. I was at Jeff Neal’s home recording studio and I listened to the guy who auditioned to be the singer a week earlier. I told Jeff I would like to sing a few songs. Jeff recorded it and said it sounded great. I don’t think I would have sang for them if it wasn’t for the first time we all got together. It went great and the rest is history.
I would never want to do this Black Sabbath Tribute with out Jeff, Dale, and Tom. It would never feel right for me. I am so happy that we can play to so many people to this day. The fans are the best!
Pretenders is the debut studio album by the British-American band the Pretenders, released on 7 January 1980 under Real Records (Sire Records in the United States). A combination of rock, punk and pop music, this album made the band famous. The album features the singles “Stop Your Sobbing”, “Kid” and “Brass in Pocket”.
CHRIS ISAAK “FOREVER BLUE”
Forever Blue is the fifth album by American rock and roll musician Chris Isaak, released in 1995. The album included three singles: the Grammy-nominated “Somebody’s Crying”; “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing,” which was featured in Stanley Kubrick’s final film, Eyes Wide Shut; and “Graduation Day,” featured in the 1996 film Beautiful Girls. In 1996, Forever Blue was also nominated for Best Rock Album.
Dead Larry’s powerful blend of high energy rock, dance and funk shakes the foundation of modern music. From rock driven sea shanties to pulsating dance beats. From Beatle-esque harmonies to spine chilling screams. From shake-yo-booty funk jams to orchestral themes of space and time travel. Dead Larry is one thing: Original. The band was formed in a basement in high school, and after nearly 10 years of writing, touring, and chasing the dream Dead Larry has a grown to be one of the most prominent independent rock bands coming out of the Midwest.
“An all too short set by psychedelic funk pop band, Dead Larry, from Iowa City, Iowa, was all I needed to realize where the great music truly was. Lead singer/rhythm guitarist Mark McGuiness screamed his lyrics with rock ‘n’ roll conviction to the raw and dark simplicity of the musical compromise that is the rest of the band. Each member worked their musical niche to create something greater than themselves that is Dead Larry.” – Travis Beck (The Daily Nebraskan) on Dead Larry’s set during 10,000 Lakes Festival 2008.
“Dead Larry’s music combines psychedelic rock, funk and pop to create a non-stop party.” – Tim Gavin (The Daily Iowan)
“Dead Larry is amazing! They have that rare combination of incredible diversity and substance, while still dropping funky beats that keep your booty moving!” – Mark Murphy, WookieFoot
Founded 1990 in Helsinki, AMORPHIS have worked their way to the apex of the European metal scene and won international renown. The band’s name, derived from “amorphous” (no determinate form or shape), has been programmatic for the pioneers of Finnish metal over the course of their 20-year career. Setting a diverse, intricate and unique style to their musical approach, often being described as “ahead of their time”, the band accrued a large and loyal international fan base. From their independently released demo “Disment of Soul” (1991) through the current releases, Amorphis have always fused elements of traditional heavy, death and doom metal with a great variety of non-metal influences, including folk, progressive and psychedelia, and managed to create an instantly recognizable sound of their own. The band’s break-through came in 1994 with “Tales From The Thousand Lakes”. The album won the band a massive fan base around the world, reaching a multitude of listeners among and beyond the metal community, and remains immensely popular to this day.
In the early stages of their career, Amorphis consisted of Tomi Koivusaari (guitarist and original vocalist), Esa Holopainen (guitars), Olli-Pekka Laine (bass), and Jan Rechberger (drums). Together they greatly affected the metal underground, gained recognition and soon scored a multi-album contract with Relapse Records. Shortly after, Amorphis released their debut album, “The Karelian Isthmus”. Receiving an impressive response, the band chose to venture further into melodic terrain, adding progressive keyboard sounds here and clean guest vocals (performed by Ville Tuomi of Kyyria) there. The result was the classic “Tales From The Thousand Lakes”, which to this day is considered to be one of the most groundbreaking albums in the doom/death genre. For the first time incorporating lyrics from the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, the album also was the first true manifestation of the influential Amorphis sound: a seamless combination of intoxicating melodies and aggressive sounds delivered with both clean and harsh vocals.
The success of “Tales From The Thousand Lakes” provided Amorphis with the opportunity to tour the European continent several times, and followed by their first US tour in late 1994. Shortly thereafter, the band underwent some major musical and line-up changes. Continuing to feature lyrics based on traditional Finnish folk poetry, the third album “Elegy” introduced a new vocalist, Pasi Koskinen. This adjustment proclaimed a significant transformation in Amorphis’ career. Pasi’s unique vocals brought a new setting to the music, which now concentrated more on compelling keyboard atmospheres, psychedelic guitar sounds and a distinctive arrangement of the vocals, delivered by both Tomi and Pasi. Encouraged by popular and critical approval, the band members took three years to prepare their next album, honing the newfound style to perfection. “Tuonela” was liberally sprinkled with 1970s-style psychedelic touches and marked another great leap ahead for Amorphis, and its successor, “Am Universum” delved even further into progressive soundscapes.
In 2003, Amorphis released “Far From The Sun”. While closer to the band’s metal roots than the previous longplayer, the album was again very relaxed and melodic as ever, spiced with Far Eastern touches as well as progressive elements in the vein of Pink Floyd. In the late summer of 2004, long-time singer Pasi Koskinen left the band, and Tomi Joutsen (Sinisthra) joined around the end of the year. With a new singer and new energy, the band recorded “Eclipse”, an acclaimed masterpiece that combined the best-loved elements of Amorphis’ unique sound with fresh vigour. The album went straight to the top of the Finnish charts and was followed by triumphant live appearances all over Europe before the band retreated again to the recording studio.
“Eclipse” was followed by “Silent Waters” in the late summer of 2007. The dynamic and emotional range of the new songs, all of which were based on a single episode from the Kalevala, went beyond any of Amorphis’ earlier albums, yet at the same time hearkened back to the band’s past output in all its diversity. The release of the new album was preceded by a string of festival appearances – including Germany’s famous Wacken Open Air – and immediately followed by a five-week Finnish tour. The remainder of 2007 found Amorphis in Europe, Russia and Japan, whereas in 2008 they played in southeastern Europe, at a multitude of festivals and, during the fall, in the USA and Canada.
The new album “Skyforger” shares the lyrical concept of the two previous albums, its central character being Kalevala blacksmith Ilmarinen. Musically, the band soars to unprecedented heights; not abandoning the cherished ingredients of their sound but rather refining them, augmenting them with fresh elements, and delivering them with breathtaking passion and intensity. Both the album and the single “Silver Bride” went straight to number one in the Finnish charts, and the live qualities of the new songs were immediately tested and proven on the summer’s festival stages. In September, Amorphis went on their first-ever tour of Latin America, followed by the extensive Forging Europe Tour in the fall. In the summer of 2010, the band presented its first-ever live DVD, which includes two full shows recorded in 2009 as well as a career-spanning documentary. The release coincided with the 20th anniversary of Amorphis, which in addition was honored by a compilation of re-recorded classic tracks, released in September 2010.
Nostalgia, however, is not what this band is about. Granted, The Beginning Of Times (2011) showcases their trademark style in perfection, including plenty of reference to the death metal days, yet at the same time it proves that Amorphis have lost none of their progressive edge and experimental spirit. Doing honor to protagonist Väinämöinen, the Kalevala‘s central character whom myth credits for bringing music into the world, the band brought forth its most versatile and nuanced effort to date; in terms of performance and arrangements as well as rythms and sounds. Iikka Kahri, whose flute and saxophone already graced several songs on Skyforger, was back in the fold, Tomi Koivusaari added a few discreet touches of pedal steel guitar and Santeri balanced the 1970s prog and 1990s death elements with a synth vocabulary straight out of the eighties. More noticeable still was the addition of Netta Dahlberg’s backing vocals, which beautifully complement Tomi Joutsen’s lead – most poignantly on “Mermaid” and “Soothsayer” but also, for example, on the single You I Need. Besides another number one in Finland, The Beginning Of Times also earned Amorphis their first-ever Top 20 rating in Germany.
At the outset of the third decade, Amorphis continue their musical journey creative as ever – not confined to any predetermined shape, yet always instantly recognizable, always true to their own vision, and always unique.
On August 21, 2012, Amorphis announced on their website that a new album was in the works. On January 17, 2013, the band announced the title and release date for their next record. Circle was released on April 19 in Europe and April 30th in North America. On September 16, 2013, Circle won Metal Hammer´s “The Album of The Year” award. Esa Holopainen on the award, “For us, Album of the Year award is a great recognition for the work done so far. Especially when we got it from our 11th studioalbum.”
On August 4, 2014, Amorphis announced on their website and through social media that they would be playing a number of special Tales from the Thousand Lakes 20th Anniversary shows where their 1994 album would be performed in its entirety. Tales from the Thousand Lakes 20th Anniversary shows included festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Maryland Deathfest, and 70000 Tons of Metal with many other tour dates and festivals included.
The band began demoing new songs at the start of 2015, and in 4 March of that same year, it was announced that Amorphis will begin to record a new in album in April 2015, at Fascination Street Studio, Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren.
The lyrics will be written once again by Pekka Kainulainen, who says “Like ‘Kalevala’, they are descriptions of natural phenomena, seasons and the human mind. Reoccuring situations where hope and uncertainty alternate. Attempting to gain advice from higher powers. The poems do not form a complete story per se, but they are drawn together by a certain theme. We live under a red cloud and once again, time weighs us.”
The release of the new album will be followed by a world tour, starting with shows in the band’s home country of Finland, then other parts of Europe with Nightwish & Arch Enemy in November 2015.
In 15 June 2015, it was announced that the title for the twelfth studio full-length album is Under The Red Cloud, with the artwork and tracklist revealed and with a worldwide release date of 4 September 2015 by Nuclear Blast Records.
The Dead Hands are an alternative rock band from the Chicago area.
In June 2013 The Dead Hands won WGN’s Breakthrough Band worth a $10,000 recording at I.V. Labs in Chicago! They head off to the studio in November 2013.
The Following is from the August 1st 2013 issue of The Joliet Herald Newspaper.
Denise M. Baran a free lance writer for the paper interviews The Dead Hands.
“They just sounded different and that was pretty obvious during sound check,” said Tom Barnas, segment producer for Midday News. “Their vocals and their playing was tight. Their songs packed a punch. They just had this air about them.”
“It’s the only thing we have a good connection with,” Wilcox said. “We play from our heart and soul. Our name, The Dead Hands, means that we will never stop playing music until our hands die.”
At first, The Dead Hands concentrated on cover songs but after Wilcox shared an original he’d written, everyone wanted to focus their efforts on producing original songs.
“You can make good money playing covers,” Wilcox said, “but if you want to be known for your music, you have to play originals.”
The Dead Hands quickly recorded a music video and submitted it. Amazed, they watched it speed through the online viewer voting process to the Top Ten and then the Top Two.
Submissions came from all over the United States.
In 2012, the contest attracted a million hits on the web site, Barnas said.
“They put some camera onstage and said, ‘Play a couple of songs,’” Wilcox said. “They used clips from those songs through the news and they did some live interviews with us, too. It was pretty fun.”
Barnas could not stress enough the significance of winning this contest and he plans to bring The Dead Hands back on the air once they release their EP!!!!!!
Rebels in Stereo is a Chicago based punk rock band formed in May 2014 when Jimmy Natividad and Kristyne Operzedek from the punk outfit Warhellride decided to continue making music together after the band went hiatus. Witnessing their next project, Dead Scene Revival, being torn apart by egos and attitudes, Jimmy and Kristyne regrouped and aligned with guitarist Johnny Morzy. Through a revolving door of lineup changes, personal tribulations and setbacks from the trio, the band soldiered on and continued to write music. In June 2016, bassist Kevin Villani (Nightfall Radio) and vocalist Hillary (Syntheticism) joined the fold, rounding out a quintet delivering a rambunctious wall of sound mixed with complex pop sensibilities and raw emotion.
We are FACE YOUR MAKER, a 4 piece Deathcore/Slam influenced band based out of Los Angeles California, driven by world issues that the human race turns a blind eye to, hate, revenge, greed and exposing the hypocrisy of today’s society. Our sound blends with fast aggressiveness while keeping it heavy and violent. Our music can be described as lacerating, slamming heaviness, bone-crushing, grinding, and grimy grooves with a combination of chugging.
We strive to bring an intense energy to the stage that keeps the crowd moving, moshing, and head banging from start to finish. We work with likeminded artists to create merchandise that represents our sound.
Oginalii, (meaning “my friend” in Cherokee) was conceived between two friends in Nashville, Tenn. as a fruition of successful songwriting endeavors. Oginalii is now a full band of collaborative and unique musical talents and styles, playing together to create what others call an indie, psychedelic and native rock sound. Powerhouse vocals, tasty tasty guitar, a goddess of a drummer (who wrote this?) and a sound that can’t be compared. Just come to a show, and hang.
