Arch Echo is about the music. Cliché? Yeah. Idealistic? Absolutely. They are ultimately music nerds as all of this band’s members work in the music industry professionally. Every day, hour and minute sees them writing, practicing, producing, performing, composing, teaching and practicing. Arch Echo is their new baby, a mutual creative product that has the hopes to play live as soon as possible.
This project brings to the table keyboardist, producer and composer Joey Izzo, known for his wall of sound style and melodic production ear. He composes with Joe Calderone at Tangent and runs his own Joey Izzo Productions.
Adam Rafowitz has been making waves in the progressive guitar world having won the first Strandberg Guitars competition 2 years back with his style of blazing legato and fusion laden riffs.
Adam Bentley is an up and coming modern progressive music engineer, guitarist and composer. His mixing tutorials have been widely viewed and have helped to earn him a reputation as a well trained ear in the progressive metal world. His solo project Absently released its debut LP this past year to widespread acclaim within the progressive metal community.
Joe Calderone is co-founder of Tangent Music LLC, a music house that has already had music on such networks as TNT, FOX, E! and the show Celebrity Apprentice in their first year of existence.
Richie Martinez is a frequent face to many drummers on Instagram where he has garnered 30k followers with his flashy, frequent and informative videos. He works full time as a session drummer and educator. He’s also beating 50% with the wonderful Sophia 🙂
Death on Fire is the solo project of Tim Kenefic. Tim is an accomplished musician having played in many regional actslike Sunday in Hostage and Conspiracy of Silence. He studied music at Indian University and performed for 4 years with the IPFW guitar ensemble. Death on Fire blends classical, thrash, death metal, and to a lesser extent jazz into an aggressive sound all their own.
The Pneumatic Transit is a 4-piece progressive Jazz/Rock ensemble from Chicago consisting of former members of Exotic Animal Petting Zoo and Umphrey’s McGee. Their first album, Concerto for Double Moon, features the compositional works of Jeffrey Zampillo as the foundation with each soloist contributing a piece of their own style and personality into the mix.
Tell the guys in Rebel Spies! their music reminds you of 7 Seconds, Dag Nasty or the Misfits and they’ll unabashedly thank you. No one here is trying to “reinvent the wheel”! These guys play hardcore punk, with a sincerity that you can feel in every song. A band member pedigree that includes the Suicide Machines, Hellmouth, Fordirelifesake, Hifi Hand Grenades and Telegraph these guys have already tasted musical success. Now they just want say thank you to the music for all they have got from it. Rebel Spies! is their love letter to hardcore and punk… a loud love letter that at that! “It’s like this is the band we have all wanted to be in since we were teenagers,” says vocalist Jeff Sanguis “this is like getting to be in your favorite band. It’s been more fun writing these songs than I could have hoped for!” The brainchild of bassist Jeff Uberti, who then recruited Sanguis, as well as Matt Wedge and Tony Del Bel on guitars and Ryan Vandeberghe on drums. “I had these songs running around in my head,” remarks Uberti, “it just felt like the perfect time to do this. All of us just seem to be in the same mindset, it’s been awesome!” So what is the Rebel Spies! mission? Create music for new fans of hardcore punk as well as those that remember the glory days of old. And keep it fun. Simple as that.
Direct Hit! is a Midwestern punk band influenced in equal measure by The Ramones, The Thermals, Blink 182, and Andrew WK. Founded in 2007, the group has undergone many lineup shifts in its existence while touring the world and recording music ranging from vein-popping hardcore to fist-pumping electronic-tinged pop punk anthems. Signed to Fat Wreck Chords in 2015, Direct Hit’s newest iteration features long-time singers/guitarists Nick Woods and Devon Kay, along with Maura Weaver, Logan Stang on drums, and Joram Zbichorski on bass.
It’s been a hectic couple of years since Los Angeles punk quartet Bad Cop/Bad Cop dropped their debut full-length, Not Sorry. The band spent a huge chunk of the intervening time on the road, like most bands do—and they wound up discovering some ugly things about themselves, like most bands do. Only for Bad Cop/Bad Cop, it got very serious, very quickly. “We were on the Fat Wreck Chords 25th anniversary tour in 2015, and Stacey was partying really hard,” says co-vocalist Jennie Cotterill. “She ended up bottoming out on the tour, and we had to leave. It was not a good separation. We had to go home and drop off the tour and figure out if we were still a band, what are we going to do about Stacey… Thankfully, Fat helped send her to detox, and she came out of that as a completely new person with a totally different trajectory. Before that, she was demonically possessed. She was destroying everything around her.” Out of that experience came “Amputations,” one of the highlights on Bad Cop/Bad Cop’s explosive second album, Warriors. The song is a slower, bigger sing-along than anything else in the band’s growing catalog, and it’s about the only thing not at a breakneck pace on the record.
Many of the album’s most cathartic, aggressive moments come from the mind of co-vocalist Stacey Dee, who after going through the darkest time of her life has come out stronger than ever. Instead of focusing solely on her own issues, she was able to expand her horizons, writing songs as poignant as “Victoria” (about a friend’s child who committed suicide) and “Womanarchist” (in which Dee namedrops Revolutionary War heroine Nancy Morgan Hart and Joan of Arc while proclaiming she wants “to make the whole world feminist”). Dee explains much of her expanded worldview came in the wake of the 2016 presidential election, making Warriors one of the first punk albums written in the Trump era.
“The election made a real big impact on us,” Dee says. “We were really hurt and really sad. It felt like we needed to take a stand and say something. I had never really dug into anything super-serious about fairness, equality or justice in my songwriting before. When my bandmates and I got a chance to rebuild together following my fall, it was all about honesty, celebrating our differences and letting our power come together naturally.” The foursome began recording immediately following a successful tour with the Interrupters last fall, spending roughly six weeks between Hurley Studios and Maple Sound Studios with their longtime collaborator and producer Davey Warsop between December 2016 and February 2017, with Jason Livermore (Descendents, Lagwagon) responsible for mixing and mastering—and just like on Not Sorry, Fat Wreck Chords founder Fat Mike chimed in with plenty of ideas as well.
“When it comes to songwriting, I’m open to anyone offering ideas—I think that makes it cooler. I’m all about what sounds best. Mike had really great ideas—most of the time, I agreed with him,” Dee says with a laugh. That songwriting invitation extended within the band, too, as bassist Linh Le contributed two of Warriors’ finest moments, “I’m Done” and the title track. The former tackles the topic of gender-related microaggressions (“I felt instead of being passive-aggressive about it, I was just going to be aggressive,” Le says); the latter was written to pay homage to all who have devoted their lives to fight for equality and was inspired by the Trưng sisters, who led Vietnam’s rebellion against China nearly 2,000 years ago. Needless to say, there is more to Bad Cop/Bad Cop than your average punk band—and that’s how the women like it. “It is important to raise awareness,” Le says. “There are so many people we care about who feel stuck or afraid.”
“We tend to stick up for the underdog,” Dee concludes. “It hurts us when anyone is marginalized. I was so negative for most of my life. After changing my life, I have been trying to focus on strength, connectedness and positivity. I think this record is a good start.”
Musicians Joe Pacelli (vocals, guitar), John Quinn (guitar), Mike Fitzgerald (bass), Jose Perez (drums), and Brendan Linnane (pedal steel) met in the parking lot of a Western avenue bar and decided they wanted to write songs like Townes Van Zandt and play shows like Bruce Springsteen. They asked each other “what does Chicago country sound like?”—a question that has shaped the sound and aesthetic of South City Revival since its formation. Combining elements of country, rock, and rhythm and blues, the band writes songs that are powerful and sure to make people dance.
Dr. Unk’s musical concoction blends a classic rock sound with a variety of genres. It features unique vocal harmonies, poetry, and story-telling. They often have fans singing along, either to an original song or to a well-placed cover. Also, their improvised jams can bring concert goers to the dance floor as well as send them on an inward journey.
Since their inception in 2016, this Chicago-based band has focused mainly on expanding their catalog of songs and performing live (visit drunkjams.bandcamp.com for a DIY recording of every show). But, they are now switching gears and focusing on recording their first studio album, to be released in 2020
Dr. Unk is
Brendan: electric guitar, vocals Maxwell: bass, vocals
Stephanie: drums, vocals Tim: electric guitar, vocals
The Singles 1992–2003 is a greatest hits album by American rock band No Doubt, released on November 14, 2003 by Interscope Records. It features thirteen of the band’s singles from three studio albums—Tragic Kingdom (1995), Return of Saturn (2000), and Rock Steady (2001)—and the single “Trapped in a Box” from their 1992 self-titled debut album. The album also included a cover of Talk Talk’s 1984 song “It’s My Life”, the only new song on the album and which was released as a single. It was released alongside the DVD Rock Steady Live, a video of a concert as part of the band’s Rock Steady tour in 2002, and the box set Boom Box, which contained The Singles 1992–2003, Everything in Time, The Videos 1992–2003, and Live in the Tragic Kingdom.
PJ HARVEY “STORIES FROM THE CITY, STORIES FROM THE SEA”
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea is the fifth studio album by English alternative rock musician PJ Harvey, released on 23 October 2000 by Island Records. Recorded during March to April 2000, it contains themes of love that are tied into Harvey’s affection for New York City.
The album became the second major commercial success of her recording career, following her successful breakthrough To Bring You My Love (1995). Upon its release, the album received acclaim from most music critics and earned Harvey several accolades, including the 2001 Mercury Prize. It spent 17 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, and was certified Platinum in the UK and Australia. It is generally regarded as one of her best works. In the updated version of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, it was ranked at number 431.
“Your voices together sound like you came from the same womb” – Brian Johnson (ACDC) after hearing Sons of Daughters for the first time at a private dinner party. This surreal moment of validation proved to be a spark that has lead to a number of other notable milestones for the country duo including, honorable mentions in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) for their infectious, hook-laden track “Hangman” and top marks for their song “Penny” which was enough to make them finalists in the North America wide Unsigned Only Competition.
Sons of Daughters create contagious, catchy, and gritty country songs. They have been compared to such commercially-successful acts as Lady Antebellum & Little Big Town and while the band is honored by the comparison, they liken themselves to a somewhat grittier composite of Brothers Osborne or Eric Church. Although SOD is relatively new to the country scene, Chrystal Leigh was previously signed to 604 Records/Universal fronting the band Jakalope; the Pop/Industrial brainchild of Dave Ogilvie (NIN, Marilyn Manson), while Jimmy Thow has fronted a number of bands and has recently expanded his notoriety as an in-demand songwriter/producer; recently writing songs with Canadian radio chart topper Wes Mack (Big Machine/Universal Music), Shawn Hook (Hollywood Records), Juno award winning pop band Faber Drive (604 Records/Warner) and members of American rock band Daughtry.
In 2016 SOD completed their move to Nashville, Tennessee from Vancouver after the successful recording of their six track debut EP “Pick your Poison”. They were teamed up with legendary Grammy-nominated Mixer/Producer Mike Fraser (AC/DC/ Metallica/Aerosmith) and Juno nominated, CCMA winner Writer/Producer Jeff Johnson (Wes Mack/Dallas Smith). Their move was a product of a one month working visit to Nashville facilitated by SOCAN, where they met with publishing companies and were teamed up with numerous reputable songwriters. As Chrystal Leigh puts it, “We were only supposed to stay a month but we ended up staying 2 months, writing over 40 songs”. Since their move to Nashville they have collaborated with numerous Grammy nominated/#1 song writers and are continuing on expanding their catalogue while learning from some of the best in the business.
It was their brief exposure to Nashville that got them their management deal with RGK Entertainment Group (Corb Lund/ Tim Hicks/Dean Brody) which necessitated their permanent move to Nashville to sustain and create an even bigger wave of momentum. Since this strategic move, SOD has shared the stage with some of Nashville’s finest songwriters. They have showcased at the iconic “Bluebird Cafe”, “The Listening Room” and have been invited to play Nashville’s favorite Monday night party “Whiskey Jam” on a number of occasions.
Sons of Daughters look to carve out their own spot in the modern country scene with their unique brand of infectious music; punctuated by swampy guitar riffs, evocative lyrics and captivating vocal harmonies. No doubt Sons of Daughters have heralded their arrival on country music’s largest scene, a sign of greater things to come.
Timothy “Mozzy” Patterson is an American hip hop artist from Sacramento, California who works with Livewire Entertainment, Empire Distribution, and Blackmarket Records.
Dave Kerzner, of the band “Sound of Contact”, has a variety of Progressive Rock projects including his work as a soloartist. Dave’s “Sonic Elements” project uses sounds from his company Sonic Reality and features iconic guests like Steve Hackett (Genesis), Keith Emerson (ELP), Billy Sherwood (Yes), Francis Dunnery (It Bites), with SR drums from Neil Peart, Nick Mason…
Regionally touring Midwest rock band Barely Losing formed in late 2015. Past shows include appearances at Mid West MusicFest in 2016 and 2017 as well as shows in Minneapolis, Madison, Eau Claire, La Crosse and Dubuque.The band has shared the stage with King Mud, Dead Soldiers, Crankshaft, Midnight Reruns, Dusk, Wood Chickens, and many more.This CD is their debut. Hope you enjoy it! Turn it up!
Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, the original jam infused rock and roll force Conscious Pilot takes audiences aboard a sonic flight filled with evocative solos and eye-opening musicianship. Featuring Ricky Feria (Guitar/Vocals), Jake Gust (Bass/Vocals), Alex Bass (Keys/Synths), and Chris Freeman (Drums), the band has been flying around Ohio and the Midwest, landing at concerts and festivals since 2014.
“WHO ARE THESE GUYS? Original and soul-pounding Blues at its best. I have seldom heard a Blues-Rock band with so much power! This is hard rockin‟ blues at its best…I‟ve been waiting for this…it‟s like getting kicked in the gut and saying thanks…really powerful backup and spin-tingling, terrifying, aggressive guitar playing is the new deal here. I am not going to compare this CD with anybody‟s CD. You just have to hear it. This is ground-breaking Blues.” BLUES SOURCE
Growing up in Florida, Ghostemane (Eric Whitney) was originally a guitar player for hardcore and doom metal bands. Whitney was introduced to rap music when he was the guitarist in the hardcore punk band Nemesis and a bandmate introduced him to Memphis rap.
Whitney graduated from university after studying astrophysics. In 2015, Whitney moved to Los Angeles, California due to struggles in Southern Florida, giving up his employment at the same time.
Meeting up with JGRXXN, Whitney joined his collective Schemaposse which included artists such as the now-deceased Lil Peep and Craig Xen. In April 2016, Schemaposse disbanded. Whitney began to associate with fellow Florida rapper Pouya. Their friendship resulted in “1000 Rounds,” a song that has amassed over 50 million streams across platforms.
In 2018 Whitney released his 10th album, N / O / I / S / E (No One Is Safe from Evil). The album has a very dark and aggressive style and it deals with themes of self-harm, self-mutilation, agoraphobia, and many other issues Ghostemane has dealt with personally. It is a step forward for his genre-bending sound—an energy that started in the underground and has led to hundreds of millions of streams across his catalog.
Ghostemane draws his influences from a vast array of content including psychedelics, Nine Inch Nails, Outkast, medieval magic, occultism, and Ancient Egyptian books.
Raised on a healthy diet of Garage Rock, Power-Pop, Roots, Red-Hot Rockabilly, Honky-Tonk and Soul — John Ford (lead vocals, guitar), Joe Alonzo (drums, vocals) and Tyler Kock (bass guitar, vocals) came together during the early months of 2011, and presented a simple, clear-cut mission statement: Make people feel good. And when presented with such a task, we believe there’s nothing quite like the incredible gift of Rock & Roll music. We also firmly believe that if you’re gonna do this, you better do it right and give the audience MORE than what they paid for. Dynamic playing, tight three-part harmonies, dance floor-friendly energy and lots of love are what you can expect to experience at a Belvederes show. So get in on this rockin’ dance party! Ya won’t be sorry!
Raised in the Swannanoa Valley just outside of Asheville, North Carolina, Reed Turchi grew up playing piano, focusing on boogie woogie and New Orleans styles before becoming infatuated with slide guitar. While learning Hill Country Blues (RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Mississippi Fred McDowell) firsthand in North Mississippi, he founded his blues-rock trio “TURCHI,” which released its debut album Road Ends in Water in 2012. Called “everything a blues fan could want” (LA Examiner), the album featured guest Luther Dickinson on three tracks.
After a series of national tours, TURCHI released Live in Lafayette in early 2013, and exploded on the blues-rock scene, notably earning high praise from Living Blues Magazine (“for all of their communion with the past, TURCHI sounds vital, alive, and essential”), landing on the cover of Buscadero (Italy) and being showcased in a five-page feature in Il Blues Magazine (Italy). At that point, TURCHI’s national touring grew to include Europe, highlighted with a headlining spot at Mojo Festival (Rome) in June 2014 after the release of Can’t Bury Your Past, which expanded the trio with keyboards/organ (Anthony Farrell) and saxophone (Art Edmaiston).
Also in 2014, stemming from his tours in Italy, Reed began collaborating with renowned Italian guitarist Adriano Viterbini, leading to Scrapyard, an intimate, intense, guitar duo album recorded in Memphis and in Rome. Called “a marvelous example of talent and simplicity” (Bluebird Reviews, UK), the album earned a editor’s feature from iTunes (“blues chemistry overflowing with earthy delta slide and dark pulsing electric guitar”), and a spot on Tidal’s “editor’s playlist.”
At around the same time, seeking new inspirations and sounds, Reed moved from Western North Carolina to Memphis, where he began digging into the trademark rhythms and styles that made the music from Stax and Muscle Shoals groove so powerful. It was a time of personal and musical change, leading Reed to disband TURCHI with the release of sendoff EP We Spoke in Song, recorded at an old JC Penney in Richmond VA amidst their final performances in October 2014.
As they toured in support of Scrapyard in Europe and the US, Adriano introduced Reed to Tuareg music (Tinariwen, Bombino, Terakaft). Back in Memphis, Reed wrote songs with a new sound and band in mind, and began recording at Ardent Studios in April 2015. The result, Speaking in Shadows, will be released March 4th 2016 on Devil Down Records.
Revealing musical and songwriting influences ranging from Randy Newman and JJ Cale to Beck, T Rex, and Tinariwen, Reed steps out from behind the gruff fuzz into a multi-faceted sound built on finely crafted songs and ear- & rear-moving grooves. Featuring an all-star group of musicians including drummer/bassist Paul Taylor, saxophonist Art Edmaiston, Andrew Trube and Anthony Farrell (Greyhounds), and Adriano Viterbini, Speaking in Shadows is built on a foundation of Memphis groove and fat-back rhythm. Fresh textures abound, from the carnival of sounds on tongue-in-cheek “Drawn and Quartered” to the heartbreaking vocals of Heather Moulder on the spare, haunting lead track “Pass Me Over.” As a songwriter, Turchi confidently mines the classic blues/rock vein in “Offamymind” (“Well I can barely walk, so I guess I oughta/ Get behind this wheel and drive”), effortlessly shifts gears to the satirical “Everybody’s Waiting (for the end to come),” and turns introspective in “Looking Up Past Midnight.” Reuniting with engineer Adam Hill (Big Star, Dirty Streets, White Stripes), Reed strikes out for new territory with co-production by Billy Bennett (MGMT, Drive-By Truckers, Los Colognes). The album was mastered by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Natural Child, The Whigs) at Bombshelter Studios in East Nashville, with artwork and design from Charles Ritchie.
To implement the new album’s sound live, Reed assembled The Caterwauls: Memphis drummer Andrew McNeill; Murfreesboro, TN-based slide guitarist Joey Fletcher; and Woodsbury, TN singer / piano player Heather Moulder. The Caterwauls combine soul, funk, rock, country, and gospel, creating deep grooving rhythms. Reed and The Caterwauls are preparing for a busy 2016, and the launch of Speaking in Shadows.
Cubanate is a UK band active between 1992-1999. The group fused electronic and rock influences to create a powerful and aggressive sound. Both Marc Heal and Phil Berry now have exciting solo projects
Knowledgeable in multiple genres (Bhangra, Bollywood, Hip-Hop, Top 40, EDM, & more) DJ Twinbeatz brings together a vast skill-set, extensive music knowledge, & creativity to far exceed all expectations.
DJ Twinbeatz are heavily recruited & demanded throughout the world, performing at numerous weddings & sold out shows in different cities coast to coast each month. While performing live, the duo brings forth extreme professionalism, high energy, & a natural chemistry with the crowd. DJ Twinbeatz have proven to showcase an exclusive & innovative style that cannot be matched.
Aside from the game changing remixes/mix-tapes, Twinbeatz have now stepped foot into the world of original production. In late August 2017, Twinbeatz released their highly anticipated original debut album titled “Dream Big” on all major music platforms worldwide.
Get to know your DJ’s
Harinder & Varinder Singh also known as DJ Twinbeatz, are versatile & internationally known DJ’s based out of Chicago, Illinois. Although the twins grew up around a father who had an extensive music library along with being a part-time Bhangra DJ since ’95, they only decided to pursue a career in music at the age of 19. Just in a short span of 5 years, currently at the age of 24, DJ Twinbeatz have managed to put forth a unique style to successfully attract a worldwide fan following.
In their personal lives, Harinder & Varinder graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in Spring 2016 each with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Management. Being full-time students as well as full-time DJ’s became a time consuming task, however with the love & passion they have for music along with the continuous support from their fans, DJ Twinbeatz always remain driven to succeed in all aspects!
With DJ Twinbeatz in action, guests are assured satisfaction, fulfillment & a night they won’t forget!
“These guys are on a different level.”
– Love For Local Bands –
We are just regular people. We are dads, have regular jobs, have families and are pursuing a dream. We are living proof that focus, hard work and surrounding yourself with the right people will take you to heights once thought unreachable. We hope our journey will help inspire you to follow your dreams as well. #whynotus #whynotyou
We are an entertaining progressive-pop rock experience, fusing musical intelligence and pop accessibility. Our musical genre covers a wide spectrum and we understand our job is to promote the business of fun to every audience we are fortunate enough to perform for.
S T A V O are:
Dan Staversky – guitars & vocals
Darren Pilato – bass
Rob Masterman – drums & percussion
Ian Mutch – keys & vocals
Brandon Pafk – sax, flute, synths, vocals & percussion
Canadian born Pat Travers may be best known for his hits “Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights),” Snortin’ Whiskey” and “I La La La Love You” from the “Valley Girls” film soundtrack. But it’s his live show and superior guitar work that earned him legions of loyal fans since he burst onto the international rock scene in the late 1970’s.
His current touring band includes Tommy Craig (drums) and Jaco’s nephew David Pastorius (bass/vocals).
2 kick ass robots, 1 stupid human. Brutal pummeling music. End of story.
But you wanna read more stupid crap? Ok, idiot human. C!BR has been touring the world since 1997, playing thousands of dive bars for millions of drunk humans.
In 1996, Jay Vance made the robots because he was extremely unlikeable, and wanted to play in a band after all his past human bands hated him. He got to work. Shortly after, GTRBOT666 and DRMBOT 0110 were born. After a horrible accident involving many drugs and a chemical spill, the Bots became self aware and captured the human, now renamed JBOT. It was decided that they would travel the country, rocking out while bent on world domination and humiliating the masked and chained idiotic human in front of his human peers.
As well, JBOT’s mask was removed, after 15 years of captivity removal of the mask serves to show how ugly and disgusting the human JBOT really is.
The Bots and JBOT’s relationship has changed, now they are much more united in hating humanity. Stockholm syndrome? Maybe… Or maybe you all just suck really really bad.
C!BR’s newly found united aggression towards humanity has been channeled into fast n loud music, designed to deafen and destroy, to pound and pummel, breaking your bones with brutal tones.
Handsome Dave & the Ravens have been a stalwart presence on Chicagoland’s bar, club, and festival stages. They are dedicated to preserving the integrity of raw rock and blues in the tradition of legendary power trios such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Mountain, ZZ Top, and Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble. With a focus on tight rhythms and muscular guitar riffs, they unleash a visceral assault on the senses. Their music has heart and soul, but no shortage of power and grit. It truly is blues rock at its finest.
Formed in November of 2016 from Live Band Karaoke pals and players and their children’s parents and possibly a brother. Debuted July 24 at a known venue just north of Fullerton on the west side of Western Avenue that wants bands. Ready now to rock Mars!
THE WIZARDS OF WINTER
Wizards of Winter was originally formed in the winter of 2009 as a way to give back to their hometown community. The local town’s food pantry was in severe financial straits and in response, band leader Scott Kelly was looking to hold a holiday concert event to support the cause. Kelly was keenly aware of the success that symphonic-rock monolith Trans-Siberian Orchestra had acquired with their perennial Christmas pageantry. Kelly, multi-talented keyboardist took it upon himself to create a TSO tribute project, one that featured world-class musicians to emphasize his deep love for the arena-level prog-rock avatars that inspired him as a player. He approached his wife Sharon Kelly (Lead Vocal/ Flutist) and Bassist, Steve Ratchen regarding the concept, and both liked the idea. With the three of them as a nucleus, they scoured their personal address books and convened a team of stellar musicians from seasoned professionals to well-respected locals whose capability for excellence filled the projects needs. Under the banner Wizards of Winter, the ensemble was able to give back to the community with several performances of holiday music of The Trans- Siberian Orchestra in late 2010.
As expected, the events were a success and the Wizards were able to help the struggling food bank. But in the process, something else happened. “We did a couple of shows that first year and people wanted to buy our album,” says Kelly. “We didn’t have one.” The seed was planted. In 2011 the band embarked on writing their own holiday rock opera, “Tales Beneath a Northern Star”.
What was once a tribute group created solely to call attention to a charity in need has now turned into a musical force of its own design. “For many, Christmas rock music is associated with TSO or even Mannheim Steamroller” says Founder, Scott Kelly. “There is room for something in between the extravagant production of TSO and more reserved presentation of Mannheim.” Kelly continues. “It is “here” that I see the Wizards fit”.
In 2013, Kelly became friends with original TSO member Tommy Farese (“The face of TSO”), who introduced him to several other former members of that ensemble, Guy LeMonnier, Michael Lanning, and Tony Gaynor. Tommy and the others listened to The Wizards original material and really liked what they heard. The Wizards and former TSO members decided to join forces and tour together that holiday season.
The band’s decibel-laden philanthropic acts gave back to the community, but maintaining a constant, stable lineup proved difficult in the beginning.
Eventually, the Kelly’s and Ratchen were able to put together a lineup, one Scott describes as “musicians with Masters degrees to regular self-taught rock guys that can play at the level that is required.” The WOW lineup is now fortified with vocalist Vinny Jiovino, guitarists Fred Gorhau (formerly of heavy-metal outfit Explorer) and TW Durfy, drummer Tommy Ference, bassist Greg Smith ( Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, Rainbow), pianist/vocalist Mary McIntyre, violinist Ellie Krasmer, as well as former TSO members Guy LeMonnier (vocals), and Tony Gaynor (narration) .
Wizards of Winter’s 2014 self-titled debut was a startling holiday prog-rock throwback that simultaneously conveyed optimism and wonderment (“Just Believe”) and flooring metal crunch (“The Journey”). “It’s a Christmas rock opera,” Kelly enthuses. “You travel on a musical journey aboard the metaphysical Arctic Flyer inside a snow globe in search of the meaning of Christmas. If you’re a science-fiction fan, it’s like Dr. Who, where you board his Tardis and travel anywhere in space and time. Some spaces are happy, some are melancholy; our music encompasses the vast range of feelings people experience during the holidays. We take you on a two-and-a-half-hour emotional roller coaster, from ballads to prog-metal.”
The Wizards released their second album in November 2015, titled ” The Magic of Winter”, to rave reviews globally. One reviewer went so far as to call it a masterpiece. A third album is planned for 2017.
Indeed, the 12-strong Wizards are starting to make heads swivel with their synergy of the symphonic and the serendipitous, touching hearts and raising a psychic goblet to the roots of progressive rock. Co-founder, Lead Vocalist/ Flutist, Sharon Kelly states, “I never anticipated writing and performing our own songs would be so emotional. They are like one of your own children. You create it, nurture it, protect it and then when ready, you let it fly on its own. People in the audience, feeling the same raw emotion that inspired us to write the songs is very moving.”
Sharon adds, “The whole experience of bringing music to people is very rewarding. Especially since we see such a wide range of age in the people that attend our shows.. Our music crosses generational boundaries. “I personally find our young audience so inspiring. Reaching out their hand to me when I am singing in the audience, seeing them smile, it’s very humbling. I have had countless school age children come up to me after the show, excited to share with me that they play the flute too. “It’s not just a concert/marching band instrument” I joke with them. They usually leave saying they hope to get the opportunity to play flute in a “cool” band like the Wizards some day. Those young people are why this is so meaningful and rewarding to me. “
Says Kelly about his group’s creative trajectory, “during a Wizards performance, there are many interesting highlights. We like crowd interaction; members go out into the audience, which really makes for a great performing dynamic. In the early years of TSO when they were playing theaters, there was a very relaxed, touch-the-band atmosphere. When they moved into arenas, they emphasized the light show and the show became so rehearsed and rigid”. He continues “Our audiences love the interaction that we have with them.”
Lead Guitarist, Fred Gorhau explains, “There are moments every night, at every show, where things are really firing on all cylinders. It’s like lightning in a bottle. This show is very much about the fans and the audience and we feed off of their reaction that we get – both during & after the show”. Gorhau adds” For me there is probably no better feeling that I get from the fans as, when they tell me, that we are their “new yearly tradition. That shows me we earned a fan for life.”
Co-Founding Bass player, Steve Ratchen notes, “Having a theater full of people on their feet, knowing the lyrics to songs you’ve written or arranged is quite humbling”. Ratchen adds” We make it a point to stay as long as necessary after every show until we’ve met, chatted with and accommodated every person who’s kind enough to have waited for us. I believe I speak for the entire organization when I say none of us consider it an obligation, but rather a privilege.”
Co-Founder, Composer, and Music Director Scott Kelly, realizes, “To watch the band grow from its humble beginnings to what it has now become today, brings a huge unending smile to my face. WOW has grown beyond our dreams and based upon the audience reaction to our original music, this is only just a start. There is a magical feeling that comes over me when I see and hear the audience sing along to our songs”. Kelly adds “Throughout my musical career, I have never performed with such a collectively talented team of people than the group of musicians that currently comprises the Wizards. I am proud to share the stage which each and every one of them.”
While Team Wizards has helped make a difference through both charitable gestures and passionate performances, there’s also a greater cultural arc at play. Rock music has been through a lot of permutations over five decades: Technological advancements and the internet have allowed fans to interface with all of that musical history. To that end, Wizards Of Winter are simultaneously recalling a heyday of classically tinged rock that’s part and parcel of older listeners’ mythology, while also amping it up in aggressive ways appealing to young rock fans. Kelly hopes that WOW will continue to bridge generations—and their attendant tastes—for something that is both commercially viable and honest. But more importantly, to make some gesture toward how music should be respected than merely “browsed,” a stance Kelly keeps a hard-line on.
“I do feel that way,” he says. “You can feel it in the audiences that come to our shows. They range from eight to 80. We try to create music that has the pageantry of the late-70s, early-’80s rock shows and present ourselves accordingly. You’re not going to find us showing up to play in jeans and a T-shirt. Then again, I don’t want to get on the gratuitous prog side of things where you’re changing time signatures just for the hell of it and making things prog madness. I want things to be accessible without being a mindless pop band.”
If the next year is any indication, Kelly and his team will be putting new meaning to the term “WOW factor.” Sure, the pun is trite, but it’s the best way to describe Wizards of Winter’s determined drive. There’s the new Christmas album coming later this year, as well as several projects that fall outside the realm of holiday commemoration, from a full-blown rock opera to an album of rock songs free from any narrative. Kelly’s primary concern is for WOW to execute good work on terms they can be comfortable with.
“I listen to a lot of things from Metal to Broadway shows to Drum line /Marching music,” says Kelly. “I still have a soft spot in my heart for classic prog-rock, as well. I want our music to reference all those things and reflect both precision and passion.” He starts to laugh. “Now that I’m thinking about it, this is one weird band!
Additional band quotes:
Guy LeMonnier (original TSO member)
“I am so excited for the band’s future. They have gold on their hands, whether they realize it or not and I am thrilled to be a part of the growth. I am in love with the music and really enjoy performing it”
Tony Gaynor (original TSO member)
“Performing with the Wizards has renewed my faith in the spirit of Christmas, and reminded me just how much great music and great musicians, touch the very souls of people…..
Standing on the stage with the Wizards, as the audience erupted in applause, takes me back to my early days with TSO, just before they exploded and became a holiday tradition for family’s everywhere…. I’m glad to be doing it again… Here comes the Wizards of Winter “
The Prizefighters are back in action with a brand-new LP of the heaviest-hitting ska, rocksteady, and reggae in town. With a critical eye on the future and grooves that echo the Kingston dancehalls of the 1960s, Punch Up cements The Prizefighters as top contenders in the worldwide reggae game.
The Prizefighters have honed their reggae bona fides, having teamed up with heavy hitters of ’60s Jamaica, playing as the backing band for artists such as the “King of Ska” Derrick Morgan, legendary duet partners Stranger Cole & Patsy Todd and Roy Panton & Yvonne Harrison, and most notably harmonica player and vocalist Charlie Organaire, whose playing can be heard on hundreds of early Jamaican ska and rocksteady hits. The Prizefighters and Charlie Organaire released a trio of 45rpm singles on Jump Up! Records, and toured Europe together in support of Charlie Organaire Meets the Prizefighters.
Punch Up is The Prizefighters’ third full length LP released on Jump Up! Records, following 2010’s Follow My Sound and 2019’s Firewalk.
High Energy Rock and Roll band from Norman, OK. est. 2007 heavily influenced by The Stooges, MC5, Radio Birdman, 13th Floor Elevators, The Yardbirds, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, early country blues music, H.P. Lovecraft, George Orwell and Lucid Dreams.
Garage Pop Rock N Roll duo Bruiser Queen (St. Louis, MO) blend 21st Century punk stomp with 60’s girl group shimmy. Morgan Nusbaum’s vocals & guitar arrive on stage like a Riot Grrrl but bop to the beat of Jason Potter’s huge, dark drumming.
Fea is the continued ferocity of Girl In A Coma’s Phanie Diaz and Jenn Alva, joined by lead vocalist Letty Martinez and guitarist Aaron Magana. Their melodic brand of riot grrrl chicana punk immediately caught the ear of many iconic collaborators, such as Joan Jett who signed them to Blackheart Records. Producers on their debut LP (self-titled) include Lori Barbero (Babes In Toyland), Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!), and Alice Bag (Bags), all of whom perfectly compliment the band’s fierce exploration of societal, cultural and gender-related issues. Mixing humor with abandon and English with Spanish, Fea empowers listeners and inspires dissidence. Those whose aim to oppress are in FEA’s crosshairs, and resistance has never sounded so infectious!
SiR is an up and coming singer/songwriter out of Inglewood, CA. Known for his soulful sound, lyrical delivery, and technical savvy, Sir has been working among the music industry’s best since his career began. He has written songs with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Jill Scott, Anita Baker, Robert Glasper, Tyrese, and more. Sir recently confirmed his signing to the west coast powerhouse, Top Dawg Entertainment. This solidifies him as someone to watch for in 2017.
Daniel Caesar is a Canadian R&B and Soul singer-songwriter.
Daniel Caesar has received widespread critical acclaim for his debut 2014’s EP “Praise Break”.”Praise Break” was ranked number 19 in the ‘20 Best R&B Albums of 2014’ by Rolling Stone. This body of work discusses religion, which he was heavily influenced by, being as though it played a large role in his upbringing and unrequited love. Some of his most popular songs are “Get You,” “Violet” and “Japanese Denim.”
His breakout single “Get You” amassed over 10 million streams on Apple Music since its October 2016 release; According to his management, the singer’s catalog has garnered over 20 million global streams on Apple Music and 12 million streams on Spotify, with a listener-ship of over 740,000 per month.
