One the first extremely fast bands out of the mid -late 80’s thrash/crossover scene. Wehrmacht musicianship was a notch above most of the bands in the genre; where most crossover/thrash bands were generally playing hardcore punk box chord riffs; Wehrmacht utilized a more metal approach. Particulary M.Zorich’s melodic sensibility and Lehfeldts chaotic drumming.
Conceived in New Jersey from its emerging DIY scene from the late ‘90s, cult hip-hop trio DÄLEK were known as pioneers over the last fifteen years for their intriguing sound which fuses a blend of progressive hip-hop artistry supported by a rhythmic backdrop consisting of sonic experimentation through noise music and dark ambient gaze. Their singularity would be highlighted in five groundbreaking full-length albums: Gutter Tactics (2009), Abandoned Language (2007), Absence (2005), …From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots (2002) – all released on Ipecac Recordings – as well as Negro Necro Nekros (1998) on Gern Blandsten. DÄLEK supported those albums on tour for over a decade and have shared stages with influential artists such as KRS One, Tomahawk, The Melvins, TOOL, Grandmaster Flash, Jesu, Dillinger Escape Plan, Pharcyde, RJD2, DeLa Soul, Prince Paul, Lovage, ZU, Black Heart Procession, Gaslamp Killer, Earth, Flying Lotus, The Bug, Mastodon, Fantomas and more. In 2011, DÄLEK quietly went on hiatus for an undetermined amount of time, as the members needed a break from the rigorous schedule on the road.
Fast forward to Spring 2015, mastermind and producer MC Dälek (a.k.a. Will Brooks, with the blessing of ex-member/co-producer Oktopus) revived DÄLEK with a new lineup which now includes DJ rEk on turntables and co-producer Mike Manteca on samplers and effects. The trio have returned with their signature mind numbing, genre bending blend of beats, noise and lyricism and are preparing to release the highly anticipated first official DÄLEK release since their last full-length, 2009’s Gutter Tactics. Titled Asphalt For Eden, this new album sees a new creative peak for DÄLEK and will bring a new awareness for this cult hip-hop entity now resurrected and ready to show a formidable display of true hip hop artistry and experimentation. Asphalt For Eden also marks DÄLEK’s first collaboration with progressive music label PROFOUND LORE who will release the album on April 22nd.
Following Asphalt For Eden’s release, DÄLEK will hit the road in support of it. Their live performances are known as intense events that often end in a shoved mic stand and sonically assaultive layers of sound. Witnessing DÄLEK live is like coming face to face with the bastard child of Public Enemy and My Bloody Valentine; an amalgamation of the heaviest noise that the Velvet Underground or Merzbow ever unleashed and the knowledge spit by the likes of Rakim. The trio leaves you in a trance, sends shivers down your spine from the haunting beats intertwined with ambient textures and noise scales, and hits you with a powerful raw flow from one of the most charismatic MC’s of his, or any, era.
Chicago-based singer-songwriter Laura Joy has been known to quell dark, angry bars full of ornery old Irishmen with her brand of acoustic pop. Drawing comparisons that range from Joni Mitchell to Jackson Browne, Laura’s percussive finger picking and buoyant voice have graced audiences from as far as the Sun Belt to the streets of Manhattan.
Laura’s latest EP, Between Our Words, was released on March 5, 2015. It was produced by fellow Chicagoan, Will Phalen, at Cold Ghost Studios. The album features Jamie Gallagher on drums (Kapsalis Trio, Weepin’ Willows, Republic of Lights), David Gallagher on guitar (Belleisle, Weepin’ Willows), and Will Phalen on bass (Stereo Addicts, Julie Meckler).
Laura is a frequent performer on the Midwest festival scene. She has played at the Independent Chicago Songwriter Festival, Metamora Folk Festival, Lakeshore Arts Festival, Cain Park Arts Fest, and Ravenswood Remix. In January, 2013, she was awarded as a top finalist in the Broward Folk Club Songwriter Competition in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Laura has also opened for Hammel on Trial, poet Staceyann Chin, Switchback, and Greg Brown.
Perhaps it should be noted that Laura’s recording of the ridiculously embarrassing Call Me Maybe parody, “Call Me Ishmael,” was featured on Huffington Post in September 2012. The music video has 20,000+ views to date. All because Laura and her friends just wanted to have a little fun. Asking Laura to play the song live is not advised. She will inevitably become flustered and possibly break out in hives.
Laura tours the nation strumming her guitar, petting puppies, and making folks smile. Her tales from the road (that includes pictures of the puppies) along with all other additional sights and sounds may be found at www.laurajoymusic.com
Clay Parker and Jodi James are a folk singer/songwriter duo from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
I’ve got boots, guitars and whiskey, that’s all I ever need”
– Girl in Carolina, from the album, “Bourbon Cowboy”
Singer/Songwriter Jeff Givens is a road-seasoned troubadour. As a contemporary musical gypsy, Jeff travels the country, meeting folks from every aspect of life and listening to their stories. He lives this life, documenting it all in his songs. Somehow, writing through the haze of self-destruction like his heroes before him, (Kerouac, Burroughs, Lennon, Hank, Townes and others) he has prevailed and come out the other side, battling his demons by writing about them. Born in Tennessee and raised in Chicago, Mr. Givens is a music veteran of over 30 years and has played in many bands, from Chicago to Boston to London. Working with Jay Bennett from Wilco was one of his numerous experiences. Back in 2001, Jeff went all-in; he left his day gig and everything else to fully embrace this musical journey. Tramping around America, like another prince of skid row, he began writing songs that defined his life. Settling back in Chicago, Jeff reconnected with producer, collaborator and fellow hell-raiser, Jason Botka, to finish writing and record these songs. From the easy rooms of Skye Bleu Studios, “Bourbon Cowboy” was born.
In 2014, Jeff gathered his closest brothers in music for his sophomore album, “Midnight in Muscle Shoals”, which was tracked on the sacred ground of Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. A founding member of The Righteous Hillbillies, Kev Wright added his southern rock flair on guitar and vocals, and Jason Botka brought in keys, organ, guitar and harmonica. All left the Shoals sessions feeling like they had “been to the mountain”. Jeff knew something special had happened next to that Tennessee River, and it needed to continue. Once home, Johnny Gadeikis added his talents on bass and Luke Smith on drums to round out the Mugshot Saints. This diverse band, with many decades of combined writing and touring experience between them, developed both acoustic and plugged in line-ups and started gigging in some of the best rooms in Chicago; the Metro Chicago and Schubas to name just a couple. The Saints draw from outlaw country, southern rock and rock, blues and folk influences to create their multifaceted sound. Part Allman Brothers part Stones, with some Van Morrison and a dash of Father John Misty; The Mugshot Saints put on a show that will rock you to “holler & swaller” one minute, then with some old school folksy blues, you’ll be crying in that same beer the next.
BESTIAL BLACK DEATH METAL.
MILWAUKEE WI.
HORRIBLE PERSON – VOCALS
TRASH – LEADGUITAR
RABID EJACULATER – BASS
ANDERSON NARCOBUTCHER – LEAD GUITARS
DRUG PERVERT DEATH HAMMER – DRUMS.
NEW ON THE WAY.
Occult Death Metal from England.
We are a tribute to 1970s Ozzy era Black Sabbath, playing in the Chicago area since 2006.
With melodic influences from old school 80’s metal in its roots crossing over to the powerful raw and primitive style black metal of the nineties. Using intricate guitar harmonies in place of keyboards and creating the balance of power between high-strung melodies and raw brutal attack riffing. Along with aggressive barbaric drum assaults, screaming vocal blasphemy, and lyrics straight from apocalyptic hell the sound of Bloodthrone cannot be compared too.
Epoch of Unlight is a melodic death metal band from Memphis, Tennessee. The band formed in 1990, playing under a variety of different names including Enraptured and Requiem until 1994, when they officially settled on Epoch of Unlight
Stone Trippin’ Pilots (formerly Birthday Deathbed) is a Stone Temple Pilots tribute band performing in the greater Chicagoland area since 2012. Our shows exclusively feature songs from the entire STP catalog. You may even catch an album performed in its entirety.
Punk Rock/ Rock & Roll Rat Pack tribute from Las Vegas, Nevada!!!
Founding members Amy Sumpter, Kendra Stevens and Maggie Jenkins first met through the Chicago comedy scene, and soon discovered their shared love of the Beastie Boys. For two years, they kicked around the idea of starting an all-female B-Boys tribute, but after the passing of Adam “MCA” Yauch on May 4, 2012, they knew it was time to make it happen. Erica Reid a.k.a. DJ ENRG joined the band in 2014.
A veteran of the U.K. grime scene, MC, producer, and record-label owner Skepta was influential in its shift from the underground to the pop charts, as well as its creative and commercial resurgence during the mid-2010s. Born Joseph Junior Adengua to Nigerian parents, Skepta moved to Tottenham with his family at the age of three. Inspired by both U.S. and U.K. hip-hop, he started his music career appearing on the pirate radio circuit and performing at various MC battles. In 2005, he formed the grime label Boy Better Know with brother J.M.E. and Wiley, and a year later joined East London collective Roll Deep, although he left the following year to concentrate on Boy Better Know and his solo career. He released his first two albums, Greatest Hits and Microphone Champion, through his label before signing with All Around the World Records in 2010. In the same year, he reached the Top 40 with “Bad Boy” (number 26) and “Rescue Me” (number 14), supported Chipmunk on his U.K. tour, and was personally selected by P. Diddy to record a grime remix of “Hello Good Morning” after being recommended by his Twitter followers. His third album, Doin’ It Again, featuring the Top 40-charting single “Cross My Heart,” was released at the beginning of 2011, subsequently peaking at number 19 on the U.K. album chart.
In 2012, Skepta released two singles (“Hold On” and the C+C Music Factory-sampling “Make Peace Not War”) that took his sound in a more commercially minded direction. Both songs hit the Top 30 of the U.K. singles chart, and were intended to be the leadoff singles to an album titled The Honeymoon, but the disappointing reaction from fans led to the album being scrapped, and a mixtape titled Blacklisted was released at the end of the year in its place. After keeping a low profile in 2013, Skepta came back in a big way the following year. He contributed a verse to a remix of “German Whip” by Meridian Dan, which became a Top 20 hit in May 2014. The following month, Skepta’s single “That’s Not Me” (which featured a guest verse by J.M.E.) was released, hitting number 21 on the charts. Both tracks were praised as helping to revitalize grime, and the latter was eventually named track of the year by FACT Magazine. Skepta’s early 2015 single “Shutdown” was another U.K. Top 40 hit, and the MC received attention from Drake and Kanye West, joining the latter on-stage during the BRIT Awards. Skepta made his acting debut with a role in the 2015 crime drama Anti-Social, and worked on his long-delayed album Konnichiwa. The album was finally released by Boy Better Know in May of 2016, and it featured guest appearances from Wiley, Pharrell Williams, and Novelist, in addition to his previous two hit singles. ~ Jon O’Brien, Rovi
A member of the group Cutthroat Boyz, rapper Vince Staples surfaced in the early 2010s with a spate of promising appearances on Odd Future-related recordings — including Earl Sweatshirt’s “epaR,” Mike G’s “Moracular World” and Award Tour EP, the Jet Age of Tomorrow’s “Lunchbox,” and Domo Genesis’ “Elimination Chamber” — as well as the 2011 mixtape Shyne Goldchain. In 2012, the rapper released Winter in Prague, a mixtape issued as a free download with the production work handled entirely by Michael Uzowuru. A darker, more introspective mixtape, Stolen Youth, arrived in 2013 with a co-billing to Larry Fisherman (a Mac Miller alias) and verses from Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, Mac Miller (as Mac Miller), and Cutthroat Boyz partner Joey Fatts. Staples then performed as the opening act on Miller’s Space Migration tour. Among Staples’ assists in 2013 were verses on Earl Sweatshirt’s Doris and Jhené Aiko’s “The Vapors.” The rapper continued his steady ascent in 2014 with a fourth mixtape, Shyne Goldchain, Vol. 2, and contributions to Common’s Nobody’s Smiling — specifically on the key single “Kingdom,” as well as on the deluxe edition bonus track “Out on Bond.” His debut album, Summertime ’06, landed in 2015 with production from Clams Casino and No ID. ~ Andy Kellman
Recording Artist from Tucson Arizona. Member of Murs’ Label 316. New album on www.MarleyB.com. #marleybmondays
The musical journey for Jahni Denver was a natural one. Having experienced the hardships of life at a young age (his best friend and sister were both murdered all before he turned 19), Jahni went through a dark period that eventually led to his arrest for cocaine possession in 2007. Using that rock bottom moment as a catalyst for change, the MC in him began to reveal itself and Jahni began to write the story of his life. Most of the material was depressing and mediocre in engineering but the raw lyrical content stayed at the forefront.
After working on various styles and themes, the third version of his debut album Mountain Lion began to take shape. Working with artists like Bizzy Bone showed Jahni Denver an aspect of rap work ethic that continued to inspire his rhymes and motivation. Mountain Lion pt. 2; The Shaman is the latest inception in the “Mountain Lion” series. For this record Jahni worked with Scarface, Strange Music’s Krizz Kaliko, and Snow Tha Product to continue the telling of his story.
Jahni Denver is a compelling storyteller who uses the trials and tribulations of his life to paint a hip-hop story rich in authentic theatrics. Mountain Lion pt. 2; The Shaman is set for release in the fourth quarter of this year. -Ru Johnson
Lee Gresh, AKA DJ Hoppa, was born April 28th to a musical family. His mother being a Cellist, and father having played the Trumpet, he was literally raised on music. From age 5 and on, he has grasped various instruments from the musical spectrum, starting with Piano, Drums, Bass and Guitar; then moving onto Samplers, MPCs, Technics Turntables, and so forth.
Finding like minded individuals in his hometown, DJ Hoppa developed a growing and prosperous Hip Hop scene in the San Fernando Valley (CA) through his label Broken Complex, a thriving imprint specializing in Indie Hip Hop, DJs, and Roots Reggae. It was through these efforts that Hoppa was noticed by Funk Volume, and since teaming up with Hopsin and SwizZz on their nationwide ‘I AM RAW’ Tour, he has officially joined their roster.
As an artist, DJ Hoppa has produced 8 Full-Length albums and various Digi-Singles (All available on iTunes), a slew of Mixtapes, Mashups, and Remixes, with no sign of slowing down. He has shared the stage with acts ranging from Hardcore Hip Hop (Ghostface Killah, Immortal Technique) to even more mainstream club acts (Kid Sister, Crystal Method), and has been the touring DJ for too many artists to name drop.
As a DJ, Hoppa’s style is universal, blending genres seamlessly while maintaining a high energy and good vibe that keeps the crowd on their feet and wanting more.
Justin Howl is an internationally touring blues and roots singer, songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player based in Chicago, IL, USA. Blues Blast Magazine called him a “strong singer” whose tunes “will strike a chord with you. . . . and are intelligent throughout,” in reviewing his debut album Justin Howl and the Salty Dogs. His second album, a solo acoustic project titled Wanderlust, was released in December 2020 and hailed by Music Connection Magazine as “wonderfully weird. . . . cool and vibey. . . . topped off by Howl’s warm and rangey vocal presence.”
Curio is a hell-raisin’ and soul-shakin’ rock n’ roll band from Chicago, IL. Their music is steeped in southern gothic lore by way of the Midwest. Heavily influenced by the growl of Chicago blues, the low-down and dirty swamp rock of Louisiana and the twang of Tennessee country, Curio conjures a sound that has as many influences as there are miles on I-55 from The Windy City to The Big Easy. Chris Pluska and his band of wayward gamblers have been playing to crowds at juke joints, dives and clubs since 2009. Curio’s live show has the fervent energy of a backwoods revival and the no-holds-barred attitude of a bar brawl. Their records are love letters to the bastards, brawlers, vagabonds, and believers who’ve shaped American folklore for better or for worse. Curio’s tales have been described as ‘Midwest murder ballads’ that depict the timeless narrative of wrong-doing and temptation. Among their supporters from coast to coast can be counted Paducah, Kentucky’s own J.D. Wilkes of Legendary Shack Shakers/Dirt Daubers fame who worked with the band on 2014’s “Twisted Roots” album.
Chicago has historically been home to some of the most notorious cheats as well as tough-as-nails workin’ folk and Curio walks the line between the rogue waltz of Prohibition-era bootleggers and the brute tenacity of the old Union Stock Yards butchers. Like their name implies, Curio is a collection of oddities whose sound has been weathered over the years.
Terrorizer is an American grindcore band formed in 1986 in Los Angeles, California. Founded by Oscar Garcia (Nausea), Jesse Pintado and Pete Sandoval. The band went on to record its inaugural album, World Downfall, in 1989 along with David Vincent (Morbid Angel) on bass. The album is seen as one of the classics of early grindcore. Several of the songs were written by Oscar Garcia for Nausea, but the band was short on time in the studio and used the Nausea songs (“After World Obliteration,” “Corporation Pull-in” among many others) to fill out the album.
In early 2005 it was rumored that Terrorizer were to reform with their original line-up; however, of the original line up, only Jesse Pintado and Pete Sandoval returned, while Oscar Garcia went back to working on Nausea material. Jesse Pintado passed away in 2006, precluding any further Terrorizer shows with the original line-up.
In 2014, Oscar Garcia was invited by Jesse Pintado’s sister to put together a new lineup of Terrorizer (his version known as Terrorizer LA or TLA) for a festival celebrating what would have been Jesse Pintado’s 45th birthday. He asked fellow Nausea member Leon del Muerte (Murder Construct) to play guitar, and shortly afterward Cosmo Reveles, Rick Cortez (Sadistic Intent) and Mike Caffell (Dreaming Dead, Exhausted Prayer) were recruited to fill out the band.
After the highly anticipated and successful performance at Grindcore JP 2014, Terrorizer LA is now planning shows for 2015 and beyond.
Terrorizer LA is:
Oscar Garcia – Vocals
Leon del Muerte – Guitar
Rick Cortez – Guitar
Cosmo Reveles – Bass
Mike Caffell – Drums
Dave East is an emerging artist from Harlem, NY. His music is regularly featured on Hot 97, Power 105, Shade 45, and Sirius’ Hip Hop Nation. With a loyal fan-base ranging from record executives to professional athletes and artists alike, Dave East is quickly becoming a staple within NY’s new-school of hip hop.
Hailing from Chicago, Sex Therapy is a unique, all original American Rock band that delivers. The Juggernaut behind Sex Therapy is main songwriter, rhythm guitarist and vocalist Cassy Baxter whose prose about love conquered, lost or otherwise, blends effortlessly with the bands tight rhythms. The Sex Therapy pulse is Jack McClain whose precision percussion rotations and bombastic movements drive Sex Therapy! To help guide the pulse is Stevens Stokes whose bass playing on “Letters to Frank” (album) and guitar leads demonstrate his years of honing 80’s rock guitar and give Sex Therapy a sound that is unique, but yet time-proven. For more information regarding Sex Therapy please contact us at <sextherapytheband@gmail.com>
Suspended is melodic death thrash band from Albuquerque, NM. We are fans of music and love metal. Come to one of our shows and you can see what we’re all about.
Metal band HIBRIA, formed in 1996 in Porto Alegre/Brazil, has been recognized worldwide, both by the media and the audience, after the release of the stunning debut album “Defying The Rules” in 2004 and a highly successful journey began. With a lot of attention in their home country, the band was able to establish itself as superstars in Asia and especially in Japan, where each of their albums ended up in the Top 100 charts and where they are easily able to fill the largest venues at their live performances for over a decade. Meanwhile HIBRIA is a real international force and a hot contender when it comes to climb the global metal throne.
Nervosa was formed in 2010 in São Paulo (Brazil) and has toured the world alongside big names in the International Metal Scene. In 2020 the band changed the line-up and reached the highest positions in the music charts in several countries with the singles from their renowned album “Perpetual Chaos” released in January 2021. In the same year, the album so acclaimed by the press entered several rankings as the best album of the year among other categories. Nervosa is considered an important reference in the Female Metal Scene as well as in the Thrash Metal Scene worldwide being known for its compositions characterized by its own style.
Nervosa is formed by:
Prika Amaral – Vocals and Guitars
Helena Kotina – Guitars
Hel Pyre – Bass
Michaela Naydenova – Drums
“Young punks playin their Granpappy’s music!”
The Stoned Lonesome is an American music group based out of Chicago, Illinois that focuses primarily on roots country music. David “Lee” Waterman formed the group in July of 2015. He recruited a plethora of neighborhood musicians to play the music he fell in love with, while living in Southern Illinois.
David Lee first delved into the genre of roots country in 2003 when he lived in Carbondale, Illinois. The local music scene in Carbondale was vibrantly different, compared to that of Dave’s hometown Chicago. Here he was turned on to artists such as Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, and Roger Miller to name a few.
The Stoned Lonesome have a growing catalog of original tunes, but live in concert you will be sure to hear them cover the classics. Come on out and enjoy some of the finest Honky Tonk music Illinois has to offer!
rock trio Du Vide, whose gentle, wistful sound harks back to 1990s “slow-core” greats like Codeine, Bedhead, and Duster.
Blaka Watra (pron. BLA-ka VA-tra) is a band from Cleveland, OH. Sludgy, guttural, often pretty, sometimes poppy, always loud.
After years of making mostly-instrumental electronic music as Holm., Thatcher May created the Sports Coach alias in late 2014 as an outlet for his vocal-and-guitar-driven songs. Since then, he has been astonishingly prolific, releasing 10 albums of material and embarking on three national tours. Fans of Panda Bear, Ariel Pink, and Parquet Courts will greatly enjoy Sports Coach‘s music.
“Fall Classic is one of the best unheralded bands in Chicago’s rock scene, though the group’s latest album, “Gospel,” certainly has the power to change that status. A personal album for frontman/guitarist Ryan Jeffrey Smith, “Gospel” addresses his loss of faith via an album that is curious and unpredictable, one that mixes genres and influences seamlessly and tempers odd-angled arrangements with luscious harmonies.”
-Jessica Hopper, CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Brought up on bands like Sonic Youth, The Jesus Lizard or My Bloody Valentine,
Bordeaux-based outfit MARS RED SKY had no idea that they were about to become
French stoner scene cornerstones when they founded the band in 2007. Yet the
heavy psychedelic trio already share many similarities and obvious connections with
the “heavy and slow” community. Free from any musical genre consideration, the
musicians build their very own style on the tracks of the underground pioneers.
Julien Pras’ ethereal and melodic voice emerges from a thick and complex rhythm,
carried by sci-fi literature’s lyricism. Almost cinematic, MARS RED SKY’s sounding
has a peculiar and unique flavor, standing out within the heavy rock scene.
To record their self-titled debut album, they shut themselves up in a remote house
in the wilderness of the Spanish desert. Hypnotic, exhilarating, heavy, the release
conquered the very select heavy family and brought the trio to the biggest
international rock and metal stages (SXSW, Hellfest, Desertfest, Roadburn,
Eurockéennes), as well as opening for major acts such as Sleep, Dinosaur Junior,
Kyuss Lives!, Killing Joke, Detroit or Gojira. On stage, they manage to recreate their
sophisticated studio atmospheres and to deliver the special sonic touch that
characterizes them. Their live shows absorb the listener, lose him into a visual and
vibrant limbo and take him into another dimension. Beyond a simple concert, it is a
real sensorial experience that is proposed.
A series of EP releases follow, including a split with post-metal sextet Year Of No
Light in 2012. In 2014, MARS RED SKY begin a collaboration with French label
Listenable Records and welcome their new drummer Matgaz to replace Benoît
Busser who decides to leave the band. Together they complete the albums
“Stranded In Arcadia” (2014), “Apex III (Praise For The Burning Soul)” (2016) and
“The Task Eternal” (2019). Matgaz’s vision and musicianship create depth in the
trio’s personality, which take a darker and more massive turn throughout these
three productions.
The band’s latest EP (out April 2023 on Mrs Red Sound & Vicious Circle) features
dark folk artist Queen Of The Meadow. The power of psychedelic heavy meets the
depth of dark folk harmonies in a complex and exhilarating flavor.
Julien Pras: vocals, guitars, harmonica, broken piano.
Jimmy Kinast: bass, drones, sound effects, lead vocals on The Final Round.
Mathieu Gazeau: drums, percussions, rhodes.
calm ambient sad girl shit
Oakland, CA quartet Wander, and their full-length debut “Mourning,” in many ways stand in contradiction to what one might expect going in. Despite the “newcomer” label, their sound is confident, with the kind of polish befitting veteran professionals. While we’re judging books by their covers, we may presume an album entitled “Mourning,” featuring a black and white album cover photo of waves crashing on a rocky shore to be filled with lengthy ruminations leaning heavily on a generally somber soundscape. How shocked we would be, then, when we hear the album opener, a tightly-wound, explosive two and a half minutes that serve us notice that we shouldn’t believe everything our previous experience with post-rock iconography would lead us to assume.
Some deeper digging reveals a sufficient explanation for how Wander has been able to come out the gate so boldly. Guitarist Christian Francisco first assembled the skeleton of what would become “Mourning” in 2007 as a fifteen year-old. Three of the four current band members were involved even then – Francisco, his drummer brother Ryan, and bassist Joseph Aguda, so the core of the band has been through every step of the process, honing these seven tracks into what we hear today. A second guitarist, Bernard Barcela, was added in 2012.
They self-released the “Short Story Collection” EP in 2013, but kept working at perfecting “Mourning.” Eventually Ryan Francisco would step into the role of primary composer, and the “Mourning” studio sessions were set into motion later in Fall 2013 with producer Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Whirr). The most stunning revelation here is that this album was tracked live to tape in its entirety over the course of a single day. It was self-released in 2014, before the band eventually signed to Other People Records and gave “Mourning” a proper release earlier this year.
The opener, “Calamity,” sets a tone that is immediately antithetical to most of our post-rock expectations. It clocks in at 2 minutes, 23 seconds, pummeling the listener from the first note, before launching into a melody that echoes a more traditional sound, but is propelled forward by hyperactive drumming, launching the listener without notice into unexpected, and decidedly exciting territory. Two subsequent tracks, the single “Soar,” and “Oblivion” move along at a similar pace, driving forward with striking immediacy, matching dramatic melodies with torrid pacing. They waste no time making their point, clocking in at 2:18 and 3:15, respectively, positively microscopic song lengths by post-rock standards. The sense of urgency and almost pop-oriented structural ideology are refreshing and aid in balancing out the album’s more pensive tracks.
Wander proves capable at more extended running times as well. “Farewell” has a kind of soaring melancholy (as contradictory as that phrase may seem), reminiscent of Mono re-interpreted in a more upbeat capacity. The title track, at nearly fifteen minutes, immediately stands out as the most definitively “post-rock” song of the bunch. It doesn’t disappoint, riding its own ebb and flow of soft moments and stirring crescendos, but also effectively punctuating what has come before. Despite its near-EP length, the track never feels dragged out. Rather, it acts much like the waves that are glimpsed on the album cover – alternating soothing passages and crashing swells until you find yourself hypnotized, drifting unaware of anything surrounding you, becoming enveloped as the final moments arrive to quietly pull you under. Thankfully, life isn’t dictated by extended metaphors such as these, and we can re-emerge back at the beginning and start the process anew.
With one album in the books, Wander appears to be a real contender to join the top ranks of a new generation of post-rock artists. One hopes that it doesn’t take them seven more years to craft their next album, but I suspect that will not be an issue. Both polished and earnest, traditional yet unique, this is a band to keep an eye on during the years to come.
Trade Wind, a band featuring Stick To Your Guns frontman Jesse Barnett and Stray From The Path guitarist Tom Williams.
Grafh, born Philip Bernard, hails from Jamaica, Queens, New York. He made a name for himself on the mixtape circuit, where he garnered early support from influential mix-show DJ’s in New York. His skill, charisma, honesty, and determination were so obvious that he generated a buzz nationwide and attracted the attention of the major labels. Even in the early stages of his career, Grafh was being heralded as the “Black Eminem.” Although he’s remained independent, Grafh has had distribution deals with Sony, Rocafella Records, and E1 Music (formerly Koch). He released a substantial collection of mixtapes and a street album, Autografh, to critical acclaim.
Despite having yet to release a studio album, support for Grafh and his music has been overwhelming – both among fans and within the music industry. His songs have been featured on HBO’s Entourage, Fox’s Meth and Red, BET’s Ultimate Hustler and in a number of video games, including EA Sport’s NFL Streets, Saint’s Row, and 25 to Life.
fuzzed out riffs
You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy
Raging Fyah is an authentic, soul-filled, roots rock reggae band, with a fresh contemporary flare, that will literally set your soul on fire! That’s what makes Raging Fyah one of hottest spreading, most captivating and powerful entertainment packages in a long awaited Jamaican Reggae Renaissance!
The “Fyah” was ignited in 2006 by Anthony Watson (drummer), Demar Gayle (keyboardist) and Delroy Hamilton (bassist); then they were later joined by Courtland White (guitarist) and Kumar Bent (lead singer) as they set out to rekindle a flame of positivity in the music industry. Fueled by passion, purpose and life experiences, their lyrics touch the soul of the listener, uplifting and motivating people from all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Whether the message is love, peace or empowerment, Raging Fyah burns through barriers of time age, race or class and has songs for everyone to love.
In 2011, they released their debut album, “Judgement Day”, and gained popularity and presence locally and internationally, with a few of the songs – such as the title track “Judgement Day” and hit single “Far Away” – receiving rotation on the air waves and even found their way onto a few charts. With conscious roots reggae on the rise, the “Fyah” continued to spread into 2012, and there was a heavy demand for the band’s thrilling live performances at various shows. Their talent and versatility enables them to aptly adjust the intensity of their flame. So whether at an intimate acoustics set or a large stage shows such as Rebel Salute and Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, they steadily captured the hearts of the Jamaican listeners. In that same year the band hit the road to perform on the international stages of South America as well as to headline several major reggae festivals in Europe such as Summerjam, Rototom Sunsplash and Garance.
Since then the band has been doing shows locally and returned for another tour in in Europe in Spring of 2013. They have also released three new singles “Dread” , “Naah Look Back” and “First Love” are they currently in studio working on their second album
All Mod Cons is the third full-length LP by the British band The Jam, released in 1978 by Polydor Records.
While far too many progressive and technical death metal bands are happy to walk the same path and stick to a tried-and-true sound, on their second full-length The Zenith Passage forge new and exhilarating territory. From start to finish, Datalysium is driven by imagination, and played by artists who have full command of their instruments, creating something that stands out of any pack while maintaining what made them such a riveting proposition in the first place.
When asked to describe the record, the band do so vividly: “Imagine if Necrophagist and Meshuggah were married, and Cynic and Extol got married, then years later they went to a swingers party to spice up their relationships, which then became a regular thing. From this, they all had a kid together, no one knows who the biological father is, but that’s cool because they’re co-parenting. That kid then grows up, idolizing David Lynch, Ridley Scott and film noir. He then goes to film school for a couple of years, but drops out because he’d rather play synth music, but ends up broke and homeless. Then Datalysium would be that kid.”
The album was recorded between McKinney’s home studio and Rydquist’s apartment, with some vocals tracked at Flatline Audio with Dave Otero (Cattle Decapitation, WAKE), who also mixed the album. McKinney handled the tracking, while they brought in Ryan Williams (The Black Dahlia Murder, John Frum) to produce some of the bass and vocals. Having been friends with Williams for years, it felt natural to have him be a part of the recording process, while Otero also contributed profoundly. A longtime friend of McKinney, this is the first time they have actually collaborated on a record. “Dave is the kind of dude that just gets it, when going for the sound or idea we have in mind, even bringing an idea to light that we never even thought to do and collaborating and expanding on these ideas further. We were expecting some really epic stuff from Dave, but the end result of that has proved to be way more than those expectations.”
Austin, TX Rock N’ Roll band! Former frontman and main songwriter for Austin’s beloved Zykos, Michael BOOHER is making music again with a new band! New LP produced by Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Heartless Bastards)
We’re an alternative/progressive rock band that recently recorded our second full length album.
Formed in 2014, the Oak Park based band Kid is an amalgam of genre influences spanning from 90’s grunge to contemporary pop. Consisting of quirky singer/songwriter Dominic Frigo (Two Aglets Jazzing, Halls of Extinction, The Red Cartel), and bassist/arranger Daniel Thatcher, Kid’s uniquely crafted sound combines compositional virtuosity with accessibility. Each song maintains a poignant and endemic framework of complexity underneath catchy and unconventional melodies.
Brimstone Coven is a retro-hard rock / heavy blues band from Wheeling WV. They created their personal blend of “Dark Occult Rock” in the early months of 2011.
Corey Roth (Guitar) wrote the first five songs, which would later become the bands self titled album, and hand picked three seasoned musicians from the area’s scene… Andrew D’Cagna (Bass), Justin Wood (Drums), and “Big John” Williams (Vocals) to carry out his plan for sonic domination.
Echoing the eerie reverberations of hard rock heayweights such as Black Sabbath and Pentagram, mixed with the Classic Rock style of Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd, Brimstone Coven has created a Vintage sound and style all their own.
With many shows, a debut album on Metal Blade Records and a new album in the works (Black Magic), the band strives to reach a wider audience and secure a spot among rock’s greatest. Look for Brimstone Coven to make a name for themselves in the near future!
Singer Gemaine may be a newcomer compared to artists like Bryson Tiller and Tory Lanez in the game, but as he says on “Let Me In,” he “ain’t like the other ones.”
The 20-year-old crooner became a viral sensation last year when he shared his singing talents on Vine with a six-second freestyle recorded at Guitar Center. And as the views rapidly grew, Gemaine decided to create not only a full song, “Freaky,” but also to craft an entire EP, Curious, which The Boombox is exclusively premiering.
His endearing, baby-makin’ anthem is no doubt getting some love. Aside from the countless choreography videos made to the tune on YouTube, the full version of “Freaky” has received three million plays on SoundCloud. He was also featured as the New Artist Spotlight on the R&B page over at iTunes for his promising start.
Gemaine, a self-labeled perfectionist, boasts that he doesn’t use Auto-Tune to correct his vocals. Listen to the forget-me-not mid-tempo groove “Break Up” (“We both know we don’t wanna do this, if it’s real save us”) and his ballad “No More,” which finds him detailing his foolish ways over a knocking beat (“Loving you became a tragedy”), to experience his blend of old school and new school R&B. After working on his 10-track EP, the Compton native understands why a project can take quite some time to come to fruition.
“I never understood why it could take a year to make an album, until I started recording. There is so much that goes into it beyond just writing a good song and when you want everything to be the best it takes time,” he tells The Boombox.
He’s just getting started, but Gemaine is still “worried” about what the future may bring. However, the singer is certain he’s in the right place.
“Thousands of songs are released everyday and just knowing that your competing with that kind of noise is intimidating but I believe in God and I believe that I was chosen to do this,” Gemaine shares.
Now that his new EP is available for the masses, Gemaine is also planning to set up a showcase for Vine — the social media site that started it all.
Avehre is a singer-songwriter living in Los Angeles and the protégé of Gladys Knight.
Aycee Lovely is 90’s bred with a soul of renaissance, original and unique with talent that inspires nostalgia. She grew up listening to classic gospel, r and b and soul. Born and raised in Chicago, her music reflects her edgy urban style but can also give you ballads that’ll make you fall in love and music with a message that’ll twist your mind and touch your soul. The simplicity of her approach, with captivating lyrics and savory tone will leave you desiring more. Her music reflects her influences such as Aaliyah, Beyonce, India Arie, Lauryn Hill, Musiq Soulchild, and Rkelly to name a few.
Acracy– n. In political philosophy, the negation of rule or “government.” A society with the absence of coercion; one of voluntary order.
This is the very idea behind the recently formed metal band to hail from the Chicagoland area: one that writes and performs music without boundaries, without the standard rules of order, and without the impetus to follow the stylistic trends of popular music.
Members: Vocals – Logan Detwiler, Guitars – Justin Zych, Guitars – Shaun Cothron, Bass – Ian Bender, Drums – Cody Johns
A wonder of the ancient world, the Colossus was constructed out of a single slab of marble and erected over the harbor in the island of Rhodes. Alas, as all things mighty must tumble, Colossus eventually shattered–after weary centuries standing sentry-into six pieces which sunk into the ocean.
We all know that the floor of the Aegean is violent and temperamental: in its currents, the six fragments took on new forms–the sea washing away old features and granting new ones. Colossus’s head was no longer just a head, but an entire being; the Colossus’s arms appeared to grow bodies and heads of their own.
Then a truly remarkable thing happened. One autumn afternoon, Poseidon was riding in his chariot (the one driven by sea horses) when he saw the six fragments, each now a complete and individual statue. “What a great tragedy,” he said to nobody in particular, “to leave these wondrous statues on the ocean floor to fall into decay.” He raised them out of the water and lay them softly on the shore, giving each of the fragments life and special powers.
Yet the gods do not grant favors lightly.
The six Mini-Colossoi are slaves to the power of the lord Poseidon, and must do his bidding. He commands us to rock unsuspecting youth in your bars and houses, drinking your beer and crushing your skulls with thundering beats, baroque polyphony, galloping basses, and soaring vocals–all of which testify to the awesome power of mighty Poseidon.
Alannah McCready, the new voice in “small town Country with that big city Pop!” Debut tracks produced by award winning Nashville publisher Dan Hodges.
Alannah began singing, appropriately, in cowboy boots and hat. But it wasn’t in Nashville, at the Ryman Auditorium in a Nudie suit. It was north of Minneapolis in the ex-urban flatlands of Blaine, MN where she stood atop the back of a corduroy couch in 1991 as a four year old, in a ninja turtle costume and ice skates and announced the beginning of her singing career.
Formed in 2000, when Doomy G. Blackthrash met Vic. Mike joined in 2002. Sauron plays extreme, blackened thrash in the vein of German thrash bands.
In the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Sauron was Morgoth’s abominable lieutenant during the First Age. He was also the creator of the Rings of Power and the Dark Lord of Mordor, whom the Fellowship of the Ring sought to defeat.
Victor “Lore Lord” Ruiz- guitar
Mike “Skinthrasher” Hudson- drums
Doomy G. Blackthrash- bass/vocals
: Ascaris – Voices / Saxophone / Cello / Other
: Matron Thorn – Guitars / Bass / Drums / Noise / Vocals / Other
Chicago trio Lethal Shöck drinks from the purest well of heavy metal glory and pisses out their own brand – atomik metal. A bastardization of d-beat, speed metal and heavy metal with majestic guitar solos, they definitely don’t re-invent the wheel, they just cover it with spikes, light it on fire, and hurl it down a mountain towards a church picnic while slamming Coors & hailing the goat
Spectral Voice is a Death Metal Band from Colorado.
UNDERGANG was formed in the summer of 2008 in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark, and was the creation of long needs for creating old styled and brutally heavy death metal, something that wasn’t as widespread in the international, and even less national, extreme metal scene at the time. Formed and driven with the passion for the genre and little care for other people’s acceptance and interest, the band wrote and recorded what they intended to be their debut album “Indhentet af døden” during the winter of 2008/2009, supported by having played a variety of local shows in the Danish capital region. The debut album eventually got released in January 2010 by the UK based newly founded label Me Saco Un Ojo Records and a little later the Spanish label Xtreem Music, with whom they signed a contract for the first and second album. 2010 and 2011 was spent playing various shows and festivals around Europe and even their first appearance in the US on a 2011 West Coast tour for three weeks around the Chaos in Tejas festival in Austin, Texas. The sophomore album “Til døden os skiller” was released on LP/CD in February 2012 and supported by a European tour the same month and two months later a support job in Brooklyn in New York opening for death metal legends AUTOPSY. The next three years was spent touring extensively all over bringing the band several times to the US, Japan, Australia and continuously around Europe. In July 2015 the third album and closer of the “Døden” trilogy was released and supported by a three week European tour, the album was also the return to working with Me Saco Un Ojo Records and the first album release working with US based Dark Descent Records, both labels whom UNDERGANG still works with for all major releases to this day. Lots of more shows and tours all across the world took place the next two years leading up to the release of their perhaps most well received album, “Misantropologi”, which was released in July 2017 and supported by a five week full US tour, followed by a smaller leg of European shows in September that year. Over the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018 the band established their current line-up with with Mads Haarløv on lead guitar and backing vocals, Martin Leth Anders on bass and backing vocals joining the founding the members Anders Pedersen on drums and David Mikkelsen on guitar and lead vocals. With the new strong line-up the band wrote and recorded their fifth studio album “Aldrig i livet” which was released in December 2020, in the midst of the pandemic but still with a local show supporting the release live, even if under heavy restrictions for live events in Denmark at the time. 2023 saw the release of the band’s latest EP “De syv stadier af fordærv” and offers more of the by now well expected putrid death metal nauseation, that people love or hate the band for. 2024 was spend touring much around Europe, North America, Japan and Australia and in 2025 the band will play less and more selective shows, after two US tours in the Winter and Spring, and will then focus on writing and recording their 6th studio album.
Walkney is a project designed to allow unlimited creativity and bring new and exciting ways of thinking into the world of alternative music.
Lazy Lester is an American blues musician, who sings, and plays the harmonica and guitar. His career spans the 1950s to the 2010s.
Sitting atop an old wooden ammunition box, Randall Conrad Olinger plays a jambalaya mix of country, blues, carny-rock and metal, or as he likes to call it “hobo honky-tonk!” A brand of music all his own, crafted from old amps, loud guitars, and a homemade foot drum held together by wires, tires, and other household junk. A fearless soul who’s played the street, rail, and river bank, pub, bar and theater, sharing the stage with local legends Munly and The Lupercalians, as well as national acts, such as Scott H. Biram, and William Elliot Whitmore. Randall Conrad Olinger always brings the best with his honest, foot-stompin’ rock music-straight from the heart.
Project N-fidelikah is a new funk punk ghetto underground quartet who’s roster enlists George Lynch on guitar, Chris Moore on drums, Pancho Tomaselli on bass and Angelo Moore on vocals. If a group comprised of musicians whose credentials between them includes Fishbone, Dokken, and WAR sounds like an impossible mashup, Project N-fidelikah will make a believer out of the skeptics. After 14 years on the road with funk royalty WAR and touring the world making two albums with ArtCore masters PHILM, bassist and ESP Signature Artist, Pancho Tomaselli decided it was time to embark on an adventure of his own. Looking for the ideal counterpart to his playing, he called LA veteran and legendary guitarist, ESP signature artist George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB). This dynamic duo understood that the world is in need of real, honest-but-fun music and set out to create a new sound as a framework for expressing their views on global humanity, as well as speaking out about social and political issues. Looking for the right players was now the most important task. On drums what was needed is simple: GROOVE and someone that can hold it. Enter upcoming drum virtuoso Chris Moore, who later suggested they contact monstrous frontman and multi-instrumentalist Angelo Moore (FISHBONE), another veteran of the LA scene.
The quartet was formed and Project N-fidelikah was born. The band then moved their assets into “The Lab” (Angelo’s Studio), where they spent a week writing and arranging the first record. After the writing process ended, The quartet hired Funk Master Sergio Rios (ORGONE) to record the album. The entire rhythm section was recorded at Killion sound (ORGONE’S studios) to a TASCAM DA 388 “8” track tape machine. Overdubs were conducted at the Lynch residency studios. Master engineer Bob Daspit took care of the mixing and mastering. The rest is history………….in the making.
Dominique Marquis Cole, better known by his stage name Domo Genesis, is an American rapper from Los Angeles, currently signed to Odd Future Records. He was a member of the alternative hip hop collective Odd Future and sub-group MellowHigh.
Born and raised in Mississippi, David is an accomplished drummer, having toured the US, Canada and Europe extensively. David has recorded on Alligator and Blind Pig Records. Along with a strong Blues background, he has big influences in Country, Southern Rock and R&B music.
Open to teaching all age groups and all levels of players.
Started at the Old Town School in March of 2008
Age is a foreign concept to Trapo. The 17-year-old creates trans-genre experiments that boom with a confounding sense of maturity, nuance and intimacy, but to the kid that has been recording and mixing his own music since he was in fifth grade, this sudden ascension isn’t surprising. “I didn’t play magic cards or anything like that. I wasn’t all that into sports. I’ve been only interested in music for literally my entire life,” the Madison, Wis. native says. “I believe in certain signs. There’s just no way that I could be doing this so young without having some talent that was just meant to come out.” Trapo was included on Pigeons and Planes’ “20 Under 20” and “Best New Artists” lists, and his arresting blend of dour hip-hop and hypnotic neo soul has been featured in outlets like BBC Radio, Complex, HipHopDX, The FADER and Hot New Hip-Hop. He was raised on gospel music and contemporary R&B, but his favorite artist is Isaiah Rashad and he extracts influence from every corner of the Internet. Motifs of DUIs, desolate nights with Remy bottles, steamy visages of Hispanic women and generational anxieties over social media appear throughout his discography, but each song contains an element of unpredictability that has made Trapo’s fan base a vocal and fiercely loyal one. “The whole, ‘you could be an astronaut’ thing you hear as a kid never got to me. This is what I want to do. My music feels like freedom.”
If Henry Mancini jammed with Cream, it might almost come close to the Gand Band. Joan and Gary Gand, on keyboards and guitar, draw on late 60s and early 70s rock and twist it into a funky, improvisational form that transcends eras and categories. The quartet adds sax and drums to form a tight, funky, jammin band that stamps their style on a curated set of vintage tunes. If you like Ultra Lounge, Motown, Guitar Rock, Bossa Nova, Organ Grooves, 70s Funk, Spy Music, Memphis Soul, 60s Psychedelic, Acid Jazz, you will LOVE the Gand Band!
The Gruesomes are a Canadian garage punk band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, that formed in 1985.
The band gained recognition following the 1986 release of their debut album, Tyrants Of Teen Trash (Og Music), which led to an “underground” following in Europe, the United States (US) and Canada. Subsequent releases increased their fan base and, after periods of touring, the band established itself within the global garage music scene.
In the last four years, Houndmouth have learned what it means to be a band. On their second album, Little Neon Limelight, they wear that wisdom like a badge of honor.
Less than a half-decade ago in the small Indiana city of New Albany, four pals were crafting tunes on their own, with few ambitions of turning those songs into a spectacle. That all changed when these friends crossed paths, and joined forces. Matt Myers, Shane Cody, Katie Toupin, and Zak Appleby became the drums and keys, guitars and harmonies of Houndmouth, and those personal numbers became the irrepressible core of an outfit turned magnetic.
In 2012, the group issued a self-titled EP on Rough Trade Records, the legendary imprint that signed them after seeing a single gig. One of 2013’s most incandescent debuts, their From the Hills Below the City LP affirmed what label owner Geoff Travis had heard: the sounds of Americana, renewed by the youthful glow of songwriters, musicians and pals unafraid to both celebrate and desecrate them.
Others noticed, too. The Guardian noted that, with From the Hills, “reservations fade,” while Rolling Stone’s David Fricke lauded the “earthy melancholy with a rude garage-rock streak.” Treks with the Drive-by Truckers and the Alabama Shakes followed, plus performances at the Newport Folk Festival, Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo. In cramped clubs and big theaters alike, Houndmouth earned a reputation as a must-see act, their hooks, energy and charisma making them feel like a lifelong friend you’d just met.
That success, though, turned what had started as fun into something closer to work. Houndmouth learned that being full-time musicians required much more than the nine-to-five endeavors they had left behind in Indiana. But they grew into the role and grew from it. Experiences accumulated; perspectives expanded. Relationships stalled; others progressed.
“We’re not in party mode all the time anymore,” says Myers. “We’re refining how we write songs, writing about people we love, more important things than just nonsensical stuff.” If that was the charge, then Little Neon Limelight is an unapologetic success. These eleven songs sparkle, fade, and sparkle again, mixing innocence and experience, acceptance and aspiration, horror and hope.
Recorded by Dave Cobb in Nashville, Little Neon Limelight pairs the energy and nerves of raw first takes with the accents and moods of a more contemplative, thoughtful unit. Hearts are broken and friends are exiled, love grows cold and drugs do damage, leaders make mistakes and money turns tricks. On the acoustic “Gasoline,” one of the most poignant moments of Houndmouth’s catalog, Toupin barbs the confessions of a perennial party girl with the specter of mortality. “Maybe I’ll meet my maker on a bedroom floor,” she sings, her voice fighting against its own existential fade as bowed cello traces her words. Haunted by samples of the buoyant opener and single “Sedona” and the noisy filigree of a Moog, the beautifully downcast “For No One” stalks through personal blues with conviction. Its world-weariness has been incubated by the world it surveys.
But all of these feelings aren’t worn on Houndmouth’s collective sleeves: Despite the turmoil embedded within many of these songs, they are equal parts energetic proclamation, built with choruses that can’t be denied, harmonies that can’t be escaped and rhythms that can’t be resisted. With its carousel keyboards and start-and-stop drums, “Say I”” is a combination come-on and kiss-off that might make Keith Richards blush. For “15 Years,” Houndmouth conjures barroom bluster to voice the woes of a prisoner, backing the cries of his soul with howling organ and slashing guitar. When all the action drops into a shout-along, gospel-strong bridge, you might feel the urge to bust the fella out yourself. What’s the point of having the blues, Houndmouth seems to say, if you can’t have fun with them, too?
Nowhere is that balance of tragedy and triumph better than on the romp “My Cousin Greg,” a Band-style saga where each member takes a turn with a verse. Written about Myers’ actual cousin and former cover-band bandmate Greg, these four minutes present the title guy as a mischievous, enlightened and acerbic genius. He leaves Florida with his master’s degree in physics for a brainy job in Los Angeles, raising metaphysical hell and questions along the way. Greg thinks his cousin has it made, touring the country by van while playing the songs he’s written.
But Myers disagrees: “If you wanna live the good life/Well, you better stay away from the limelight,” the quartet sings as one in the chorus, repeating the mantra as though it were their only lifeline to sanity. For those long drives, it’s a reminder of the thrill and toil of what they now get to do. “For the first record, we were floating around after having been thrown into this,” explains Myers. “This time, we were able to write more about experiences than random stories, because that’s where we are in life. There had to be an attachment to what we recorded.”
For Little Neon Limelight, the charged, charming and preternaturally mature Houndmouth did exactly that.
– Grayson Haver Currin
Joan Gand pays homage to the classic blues keyboard players including Memphis Slim, Booker T, Otis Span, Pinetop Perkins, Jimmy Smith and Charles Earland. This event was dedicated to the memory of KoKo Taylor, the greatest Chicago Woman in the Blues! The Gand Band features Gary Gand on guitar, Tony Dale on drums, TK on sax, Blake Wollerman on harmonica. For more info, see www.thegandband.com