Double Feature

DOUBLE FEATURE

As Kyle and Dominick caught eyes at an all-male hot dog eating contest, their beef-riddled mood brought the first two band members together like a pair of famished dogs to a piece of thick-cut bologna. Kyle’s ability to ferociously down a dozen dogs caught Justin’s eye as a contest judge, and he was brought into the band strictly as a pre-show masseuse. At the time, Marty was living behind the Music Garage inside an abandoned refrigerator and hopelessly surviving on warm tonic water. The boys found him after practice one day and told Marty if he could touch his toes, he was in.

And boy, did he touch them.

At the Music Garage emulating questionable acts like NOFX, The Vandals and other bands your girlfriend pretends to like under the name Double Feature, the band was formed.

Today, Dominick and Justin live quiet lives managing an erotic rollerblading forum, Kyle works at a prosthetic leg factory, and Marty is a handsy canine physical therapist. They’ve truly made it.

Amy Hart

AMY HART

Amy Hart was born and raised in Chicago. She began her musical career at the family piano at age 2.  When she was in high school she began playing guitar and writing songs. Her first professional gig was in 1979 with Flash Point, a west side Chicago Blues Band. Her first appearance was at Mayor Jane Byrne’s Summertime Chicago Concert Series on Broadway at the Armory in Chicago. She was soon a regular on the Blues stages, playing at Kingston Mines on Lincoln Avenue and at B.L.U.E.S. with Junior Wells. She has also opened for Koko Taylor and James Cotton. She entered and won the WLUP sponsored Chicago Rocks Contest twice and released two compilation records with the radio station. She took her music to California to work with producer John Ryan (Doobie Brothers, Santana) and released a song on the Mercury Records Soundtrack “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” in 1985. ​The song “Too Cruel” was co written by Tim Tobias and Amy and Tim were a duo for some time performing in L.A. In the early nineties Amy moved to Lake Tahoe and played the ski resorts and casinos for a season before heading to Nashville to develop and record her own sound.

Who's Who

WHO’S WHO

Who’s Who is the ultimate tribute to The Who, and consists of talented musicians and vocalists who recreate the sound, energy and excitement of The Who. From The Who’s first hit single, “Can’t Explain” through the Live at Leeds, Tommy, Who’s Next and Quadrophenia albums, Who’s Who covers The Who’s greatest hits and best-known classics! Who’s Who has had the privilege of playing at all of the best clubs and venues in Chicagoland including the Arcada Theater, Viper Alley, The House of Blues, Navy Pier, Live Chicago Music Fest, and many others.

THE SUN PARADE

The Sun Parade is “crafting the kinds of traditional guitar-pop songs that people might still be singing 50 years down the road (National Public Radio Songs We Love ).” The band’s latest EP Heart’s Out (2014) is a catalog of love collisions, casual sandwich obsession, load-bearing grooves, and Northern psychedelic guitar licks. It’s grunge-soaked power-pop. Influenced by Big Pink, the Black Ark, the White Album. and Meth Beach. Based in the great DIY scene of Western Massachusetts, The Sun Parade has opened recently for Lake Street Dive, Dr. Dog, and And The Kids. Their third release is due out this summer.

DEREK LUH

At a time when Los Angeles is commanding the Hip-Hop spotlight once more, the city’s Derek Luh is poised to play a critical role in the musical landscape. Previously Signed to Fly America label, 21 year-old Derek embodies a generation that knows what it wants out of life. Derek has been featured on multiple collaborations with artists such as Skate Maloley, Dizzy Wright, Wale, and French Montana. With his videos reaching six figures on YouTube and year-round touring, Derek aims to be Rap’s next household name.

SKATE MALOLEY

Skate (Nate Maloley) has always had a passion for sports and hip hop music. He grew up loving all sports and kept himself busy participating in any sporting activity he could, while still exploring hip hop music. Legit on the court, Skate went on to play basketball in college for a year, but as the year went on his focus and passion began to turn towards his music. Born in Omaha Nebraska, family has always been a big part of his Lebanese heritage. Skate’s siblings (Kaylan & Stewart), along with his mother and father (Kami & Monte) have all been big supporters of his goals and efforts. During the summer of 2014 Skate had the opportunity to create some great music for a rapidly growing fan base. He then began working and creating songs with Sammy Wilk, a close high school friend. In August of 2014 Skate was asked to travel with the “Jack & Jack Digitour” to perform several of his and Sammy’s new songs. From there, his fans began to write the rest of his beginning. As Skate’s movement continues forward the more music he writes and publishes the stronger his passion for making music becomes. Music is now Skate’s life and he is pouring his heart and soul into it. Skate has released 4 songs on iTunes; “Nothin to a King,” “Signs” featuring a close friend Ty Alaxandar, “Party People” and the Jack & Jack track “Like That,” featuring Skate.

NUKE

Bonehead Heavy Metal

BARBATOS

Side-project of Yasuyuki Suzuki.

BARBATOS
“War ! speed and power” CD on ISO666 releases 01
“Rocking metal motherfucker” CD on From beyond prod 03
“Fury and fear, Flesh and bone” CD on Agonia rec 05
“Let’s fucking die !” CD on From beyond prod 06

ANGELCORPSE

Angelcorpse was a blackened death metal band.They formed in 1995, with a line-up of bassist/vocalist Pete Helmkamp, guitarist Gene Palubicki, and drummer John Longstreth, and recorded a demo, Goats to Azazael, which led to a contract with Osmose Productions. The band’s debut album, Hammer of Gods, was released in 1996, after which rhythm guitarist Bill Taylor joined, playing on second album Exterminate (1998). Drummer Tony Laureano joined shortly after its release but Taylor left. The band’s third album, The Inexorable, was released in the fall of 1999, after which Taylor rejoined. Between 1997 and 2000 the band had done extensive live shows and touring with bands such as IMMORTAL, IMPALED NAZARENE, KRISIUN, CANNIBAL CORPSE, INCANTATION, MARDUK, and SATYRICON… as well as several festival type events with other contemporaries of the time…

In early 2000, due to various circumstances, ANGELCORPSE disbanded…

In 2006, the band reformed(HELMKAMP/PALUBICKI/LONGSTRETH) and recorded a new album, “Of Lucifer and Lightning”. Longstreth, however, was not to continue for any live activity after the recordings…

The band then proceeded to do headlining tours with a few session drummers throughout 2007 and 2008 in the USA and Europe with prominent bands such as REVENGE, ARKHON INFAUSTUS, WATAIN, CEMETARY URN, GOSPEL OF THE HORNS, ARES KINGDOM and others…

In April 2009 the members announced disbandment, citing “musical differences” as the reason.

HELEN MONEY

Who is the singular figure that definitively transforms the cello into a thrilling, cathartic rock instrument? Alison Chesley, that’s who. That is, if you can even call the acclaimed music Chesley makes under the moniker Helen Money “rock”; that’s a little too pigeonholing for the relentless, maverick sounds she creates. As such, on Arriving Angels – the third Helen Money album, to be released February 5th, 2013 on landmark heavy-music label Profound Lore – she shatters genre limitations with groundbreaking fervor anew.

Recorded by iconoclastic recording engineer Steve Albini with brutal precision, Arriving Angels embraces any number of sounds and references – organic, ambient doom à la SunnO))), prismatic noise/post-rock evoking Sonic Youth and Rachel’s, new-music minimalism spanning Górecki to Branca, sinister orchestral trills that would give Bernard Herrman pause – all the while becoming none of them, creating a new whole out of Chesley’s distinct point of view. And while Helen Money has up to this point consisted of Chesley performing primarily solo, on Arriving Angels she’s joined on various tracks by Jason Roeder, the thundering drummer/percussionist for legendary Bay Area post-metal ensemble Neurosis. Roeder’s spiraling rhythms and relentless attack give Helen Money’s already ominous, intense compositions new drive and dimension like never before.

Of course, going to uncharted sonic waters is to be expected for Chesley, for whom Arriving Angels tops an incredibly diverse, surprising career in music. She first came to national consciousness via the ‘90s alt-rock revolution as a member of beloved Chicago band Verbow, which she co-founded with guitarist Jason Narducy (who would go on to play with Bob Mould, Guided By Voices, and Telekinesis). Verbow would play with the likes of Frank Black, Liz Phair, and Morrissey, and put out two albums on Epic Records, one of which was produced by Amerindie icon Bob Mould. Chesley would go on to play on Mould’s own solo efforts, launching her career as a studio musician/arranger for a startlingly varied collection of the most influential, vanguard artists working today. As such Chesley’s cello has appeared on recordings by Broken Social Scene (the Canadian collective’s great Forgiveness Rock Record), Japanese post-rockers Mono, pioneering metallicists spanning Anthrax to Russian Circles, and the solo recordings of The Sea and Cake’s Archer Prewitt. Fugazi bassist Joe Lally has also taken Chesley on tour for his solo shows, with her playing in Lally’s band and opening the shows as Helen Money. Indeed, support for Helen Money among her peers proves noteworthy. Ferociously independent indie-noise trio Shellac had Helen Money open a series of West Coast dates with her volcanic, sonorous live show. As well, Shellac included Helen Money in the prestigious All Tomorrow’s Parties festival the band curated in England for winter 2012, as did Portishead when they put together their version of ATP in July 2011. Helen Money has also shared stages with Earth, Meshell Ndegecello, and Nina Nastasia, indicating the broad stylistic range of her appeal.

That unconventional aspect is clear on the prismatic, challenging, affecting sounds captured on Helen Money’s latest effort, Arriving Angels, arriving highly anticipated after the renown of previous album, 2009’s In Tune, which Greg Kot of The Chicago Tribune called one of the “Best Independent Releases of the Year By A Chicago Artist.” Arriving Angels showcases Chesley’s willfully irreverent approach to the cello, which she aggressively amplifies, loops, and distorts with an array of pedals and audio equipment like none other. Opener “Rift” commences with a series of Eno-esque undulating hums before the calm is disrupted by slashes of mid-range violence and abrupt dynamic shifts. The title track, meanwhile, hums like an onslaught of locusts looming in the distance until it devolves into a kind of twisted boogie; likewise, “Upsetter” builds tension unspeakably with torturous repetition until exploding into orchestral release. Arriving Angels also continues Helen Money’s tradition of unexpected covers. On In Tune, Chesley performed a raucous, symphonic version of The Minutemen’s art-punk classic “Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing”; on Arriving Angels, meanwhile, she essays a disarmingly minimal, human take on Pat Metheny’s “Midwestern Nights Dream,” reducing the famous jazz guitarist’s original to its stark compositional essence, its plucked notes resonating into unexpected open spaces.

The addition of Jason Roeder on drums on four of Arriving Angels’ tracks, however, provides the album’s revelation, taking Helen Money’s sound into unheard dimensions of power. On “Schrapnel,” Roeder’s loping beat stalks Chesley’s deliberate scrapes of the bow like a vulture circling a carcass, adding untold dread and propulsion. Elsewhere, Roeder infects moody Chesley compositions like “Radio Recorders” with tribal, jazzy deconstructions of blast beats, creating a hybrid groove that proves pointedly individual. Is it metal? Ambient? Post-rock? Classical? Avant-garde? No, none of these labels apply. This music remains just Helen Money: intense, brutal, emotional, virtuoso yet playing by its own rulebook – as such, Arriving Angels just may be unlike anything else you’ll hear this year.

The Capones

THE CAPONES

The Capones are an upbeat street rock ‘n roll band from Chicago’s suburbs. With more than 5 years together as a band, they’ve really nailed down their own hard-hitting but catchy style of music. Singer Chris Russo was in the Marine Corps from 2006-2014, but the band stayed together and continued to write new music the entire time. Since the 2006 release of their first full-length album (The Birth of Rock-n-Roll), The Capones have been pushing forward constantly, and recorded the 3-track So Long Chicago EP in early 2009. This recording sealed the deal and gained the band a fanbase that has been steadily growing ever since. The band took a 3-year break to take care of some things, but now they’re back at it with new lead guitarist Jerry (Guitarist for Jetbirds), writing a new record and playing some gigs. 

The Defects

THE DEFECTS

It was back in 1978 in their native Belfast that The Defects first started. Playing covers of classic punk songs to a few friends at legendary clubs like The Harp Bar and The Pound led to a healthy local following and the band’s name proudly sprayed across the backs of numerous studded leather jackets. The original line up was, buck Murdock on vocals – Glenn Kingsmore on drums – Marcus Duke on guitar and Geoff Gilmore on bass, in 1980 Geoff made way for Gary Smith.

The Defects debut 7 inch vinyl single ” Dance until you drop ” was released in 1979 and sold well enough to attract the attention of Melody Maker’s punk journalist Carol Clerk, herself a native of Northern Ireland. Clerk told promoter John Curd about the band and he signed them to his WXYZ label without having even met them!.

A support slot to Chelsea at London’s 100 Club,The Defects first UK gig, convinced Curd he’d signed a hot band and so he secured them the support slot on labelmates The Anti Nowhere League’s legendary ” So What ” UK tour to coincide with the release of their second single ” Survival ” (ABCD 3).

A second UK tour,this time supporting The Meteors, preceded the release of the debut album ” Defective Breakdown ” with favourable press reviews for the LP the band again undertook a UK tour.
The Defects third single was a cover of the old Elvis classic ” Suspicious Minds ” it was a change of direction for the band and spelt the end of an era.
The band did play one more gig with Buck as their frontman, it was a support slot to THE CLASH in their favourite venue The Ulster Hall.
The remaining members played one more gig with 999 as a trio (with Glenn singing and playing drums!) before the short but eventful career of The Defects came to an end in 1984.

Fast forward to 2009. Buck and Glenn were asked to reform the band to play in australia and they agreed. They have been jamming hard with Roy McAllister on guitar and Aidy on bass and have already played a few gigs in Belfast.

Green Denim

GREEN DENIM

Green Denim is an American Punk Rock group from Saint Charles, IL founded by frontman, guitarist, and main songwriter Bad Blair Alexander, with drummer Samantha Granrath. Green Denim also features longtime TV/Radio personality, musician, and actor Jesse Camp on vocals and guitar who offered his songwriting ability on several tracks from their self-titled debut record. Released in October of 2015, the record was produced by legendary bassist and producer Chip Z’Nuff. Green Denim brings back the sound and style of rock the world seems to have forgotten!

GRANNY TWEED

Granny wants to set the record straight, folks, so look here: instrumentation consists of guitar, upright bass, and drums. Granny gets real LOUD on ya and sounds a lot like the music you wanna hear. Granny’s albums are widely available on the intertubes, so you can check ’em out at iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby and anywhere else that sells them high quality musics. There’s lots of other bands that are good, but Granny is flat out real good.

The Black Market Club

THE BLACK MARKET CLUB

Hailing from San Antonio, The Black Market Club is an indie-rock quintet specializing in catchy lyrics, moving melodies, and driving riffs. The band has been described as “a taste of hardcore, a pinch of progressive rock, and a dash of upbeat indie-rock”, and has been compared to the likes of Circa Survive, Manchester Orchestra, and Local Natives.

On April 5th of 2013, the band released their debut EP “Faults & Fractures”, a culmination of experiences and feelings expressed through seven memorable tracks. In the first year, Faults & Fractures has gained a high level of recognition from multiple platforms, including the title of “second best cd” and “second best new song: Pieces” by the San Antonio Current.

At the beginning of 2015, The Black Market Club announced it’s sophomore EP, titled “Bad Habits.” The highly-anticipated album is a far more refined sound and style in comparison to their first CD, but still keeps to the pop-rock roots people love. The CD is set for release in the summer of 2015.

Since it’s formation, The Black Market Club has had the opportunity to share the stage with Hawthorne Heights, Glassjaw, The Kin, Finish Ticket, The Soil & The Sun, Kellen & Me, The Heroine, The Last Place You Look, Adema, and others.

NOMADS

Nomads is a punk band from CA.

NORTH

Slow and low and loud, in many forms.

THE RENALDO DOMINO EXPERIENCE

Renaldo Domino, one of the unsung heroes of Chicago soul, is joined by six Chicago music veterans to unleash a groove explosion.

Renaldo Domino – Vocals.
Jason Larson – Guitar.
Kenn Goodman – Keys.
Ralph Baumel – Bass.
Joe Camarillo – Drums.
David E. Smith – Saxophone.
Justin Amolsch – Trumpet.

DIRTY DARLINGS

Dirty Darlings is a pop/rock band based in Chicago. They play unique and catchy original music and perform it with burning passions from every which way!

INSIGNIA

EYE OF GOD

We are a rock band formed in 2014, our influences vary from the most melodic rock to the heaviest metal…
Stay alert we will be watching

JOSE ANDREA & UROBOROS

José Andrëa: vocalista ( Ex vocalist of MAGO DE OZ )
Sergio Cisneros “Kiski”: teclados
Pedro Díaz “Peri”: bajo
Juan Flores “Chino”: guitarra.
Berni Ballester: batería
José Rubio Jiménez: guitarra

THE ROOMSOUNDS

“Led by singer and guitarist Ryan Michael, this four-piece deliver a masterwork of blues-rock with the most sludgy style DFW has heard in a while. With guitar tones straight from the early-70s Rolling Stones, it’s impossible not to get into this disc right away. But The Roomsounds are no one-trick pony. Their brilliant songwriting, along with versatile vocals, walks the listener though a museum with displays of country, garage rock, gospel, folk, punk and more, all with the tour-guide of catchy accessibility. In all honesty, every damn song on here is burn-worthy with something for everyone. The recording is very good (Birdville Studios in Flower Mound) with a solid mix that lets the individual skills shine through. Fans of Tom Petty, The Kinks, The Stones, Jack Ingram or Counting Crows should find this CD or get to a show ASAP! ” – Mark Beneventi, Lit Monthly

Phantom Pop

PHANTOM POP

Brooklyn-based Phantom Pop has toured the east coast, southern, and Midwest U.S. Often compared stylistically to bands like Snarky Puppy, Kneebody, and Weather Report, Phantom Pop is driven by neo-soul influenced synth lines, horn melodies, and aggressive rhythm section interplay. Their first self-titled album was selected by WNCW Radio as one of the Top 100 Releases of 2015.

DIGEOMETRIC

DIGEOMETRIC

The formation of Digeometric began early in June of 2010 on the south side of Chicago. Their music can be described as a fusion of genres, combining the best of and not limited to Disco, Electronic, Funk, Improvisation, Jazz, Psychedelic, & good old Rock N’ Roll.

Digeometric have been able to greatly impact their audience’s concert experience through emotional influence by way of their instrumental progressive jams. What started out as an open experiment in improvisation, slowly progressed into creating music with a strong foundation, in which the band is able break away from, and capture the essence of the moment by creating jams through spontaneity.

Digeo’s unified goal is to communicate love and happiness through music.

The Danner Party

THE DANNER PARTY

A progressive blues rock band from Oklahoma bringing counter-culture tunes to the masses! Check out our new self titled album!

The Saltflowers

THE SALTFLOWERS

“Based in Chicago, The Saltflowers have thier own brand of rock music that can be psychedelic, bluesy, funny and fierce.”

VAN HALEN “LIVE BOOTLEG FROM THEIR SECOND WORLD TOUR”

BONGZILLA

Bongzilla is a stoner metal band from Madison, Wisconsin.

DAVID BOWIE “THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS”

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (often shortened to Ziggy Stardust) is the fifth studio album by English musician David Bowie, which is loosely based on a story of a fictional rock star named Ziggy Stardust.

Performed by Mars Attrax https://www.facebook.com/marsattrax

 

BLACK SABBATH “PARIS 70 BOOTLEG LIVE”

Black Sabbath were filmed live in Paris performing songs from their first album and Paranoid in December of 1970 for regional Yorkshire Television. It’s the best footage, bar none, that you will ever see of the band in their evil prime.

A scorching, killer set of the devil’s music. Play it LOUD.

Set list:
Paranoid
Hand Of Doom
Rat Salad
Iron Man
Black Sabbath
N.I.B.
Wasp
Behind The Wall Of Sleep
War Pigs
Fairies Wear Boots

Elvis-Costello-This-Years-Model

ELVIS COSTELLO “THIS YEARS MODEL”

This Year’s Model is Elvis Costello’s second album and his first with the Attractions, released in 1978. It was mainly recorded at Eden Studios in West London.

CALL OF THE VOID

Colorado’s CALL OF THE VOID produces the aural equivalent of getting repeatedly kicked in the teeth by a ten­-ton, steelforged beast. Originally formed in Boulder as Ironhorse in late 2011, the band plays a furious mix of punk, hardcore and grind. CALL OF THE VOID’s uniquely challenging alloy got the band started off strong ­ the quintet began playing local shows beside heavy­hitters like Gaza and Cattle Decapitation almost immediately, and signed to Relapse in late 2012 before even releasing a single record.

CALL OF THE VOID released its debut album Dragged Down a Dead End Path in early 2013 and quickly received copious praise from publications such as Pitchfork, Metal Hammer, and Invisible Oranges. Upholding its reputation for devastating live performances, the band appeared at Denver Black Sky in 2013 and is scheduled to play Southwest Terror Fest in October 2015 in support of Sleep, Thou, The Body, Bongripper, Graves at Sea, and many others. CALL OF THE VOID has also toured the continental US, appearing alongside Today Is The Day, Eyehategod, The Acacia Strain and Relapse colleagues Weekend Nachos and Primitive Man.

The band dropped its second full­length Ageless in February 2015, raising its already­high profile even further and earning praise from the likes of Metal Hammer, Decibel, New Noise, and MetalSucks. 2015 also saw a lineup change for the band: vocalist Steve Vanica announced his departure from CALL OF THE VOID in July 2015. Said the band, “touring and being in a band is not for everyone and priorities change. We’re saddened to not have Steve behind the mic anymore, but we are excited to still continue on with the same core, making great music.” Yet this change won’t hold CALL OF THE VOID back; the band is retaining all its other members, with guitarist Patrick Alberts set to assume vocal duties. Despite the aggressive negativity of CALL OF THE VOID’s music, the future looks promising for the Colorado quartet: nothingness may beckon, but CALL OF THE VOID has found the perfect balance of temptation and restraint, its nihility teetering on the edges of triumph and despair.

BRYAN STARS

BryanStars is a 23 year old YouTuber best known for interviewing rock bands.

With over 80 million views and 500,000 subscribers, BryanStars Interviews is the #1 Music Interview Channel on YouTube and features interviews with bands like Black Veil Brides, Pierce The Veil, Sleeping With Sirens and Of Mice & Men.

Bryan also runs popular music blogs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and was voted by music fans as the Best Music Blog in the Alternative Press Reader’s Choice Poll 2013.

In recognition of it’s success, The BryanStars YouTube Channel was recently awarded the title of “YouTube NextUp” winning a $35,000 grant from YouTube and exposure in both USA Today and The New York Times.

The show was also nominated for a Shorty Award for “Best Web Show” in 2014 along with Jerry Seinfeld.

Moving forward, BryanStars looks to continue engaging fans, delivering some of the funniest band interviews on the internet and giving fans a place to discover new music on the web.

DAYE JACK

There is no longer such a thing as a “typical” rapper. From Drake to RiFF RAFF to Childish Gambino, we’ve seen and heard it all. Still, Daye Jack is a unique case. He was born in Nigeria, grew up in Atlanta, and now he studies computer science at NYU. He’s 18-years-old. He listens to James Blake and the title of his first mixtape, Hello World, was inspired by a computer program.

Being different can be a good thing, though. While ATL continues to spawn trap rappers who hop on the latest trends, Daye Jack has no trouble standing out. His ability to combine complex song structures, vocal melodies, and soulful production gives his music a weight that so many of the artists making the club bangers of the month will never achieve. Will it ever catch on in a major way? That’s still to be determined, but weirder shit has happened.—Jacob Moore

PELL

“PELL — born and raised in New Orleans but forced, at 13, to relocate with his family to Jackson, Mississippi when Hurricane Katrina hit and destroyed their home—has been praised for fusing precise lyricism and soulful singing into an eclectic sound, entirely his own. Turning to music both as an emotional outlet and a way to make friends in a new city, he pursued it through high school, college, and while working day jobs; including his first, at the local Dollar Store—a place he eventually paid homage to in the first track on his debut album. Pell rose to prominence following the release and subsequent critical acclaim of that very album: Floating While Dreaming.
FWD has, to date, amassed more than 19 million streams on Spotify, and more than 7 million on SoundCloud, as well as garnering him spots on Complex’s “Top 25 Rappers to Know” and Pigeons & Planes’ “Top 10 Rappers To Know Before They Blow.” In May, he was named Spotify’s 2015 “Emerge” Artist.
Pell’s also been active on the live front: he performed at this year’s Lollapalooza, Buku, and SXSW festivals; along with appearances at the U.K.’s Reading & Leeds, and recently wrapped up a completely sold-out, nationwide tour opening for R&B/pop sensation Kehlani.”

YOUNG AND IN THE WAY

YAITW (Young and in the Way) are a blackened metal/crust hybrid from the shadows of North Carolina. Over the last four years YAITW have evolved through multiple releases from vicious monster to multi-headed beast. With each offering melding a vicious metal speed and hypnotic atmospherics with a bleak hardcore/punk spirit.

“When Life Comes To Death” is the newest album from YAITW. It is their eleven song war between the pain of living and the magnetic pull of death. Each song is as dispirited and vitriolic as the next. Embattled opener “Betrayed By Light” emerges from darkness first, setting an ominous tone with haunting buzz-saw guitars, vicious vocals, and crushing d-beat drumming. While YAITW embrace demon speed and emotional dynamics in nihilistic hymns “Be My Blood”, “Take My Hand”, “We Are Nothing”, and more. All leading to closers “Shadow of Murder” and “Embrace Extinction”, that together play as an aural eclipse of truly epic proportions.

TAAKE

Taake is a Norwegian black metal band, formed in 1993 in Bergen by Hoest (then-known as Ulvhedin) under the name Thule. “Taake” is the old spelling of the Norwegian word “tåke”, meaning “fog”.

Flamingo

FLAMINGO

Flamingo is a 5 piece genre-blending rock outfit from the midwest. We welcome any opportunity to share our music with people. We are in the process of producing multiple studio albums will have an official ep release soon. Flamingo loves you.

ZANDER SCHLOSS

Zander Schloss is an American musician, actor and composer. He is known as bass player for The Circle Jerks and The Weirdos and for his contributions to independent feature films.

Hunter Valentine

HUNTER VALENTINE

Cutting edge rock band, Hunter Valentine, have been commanding attention for over a decade with their memorable, hard-hitting tunes. The all-girl outfit has captivated audiences with four successful releases, unparalleled energetic live performances across the world, and their unforgettable personalities on VH1’s Make Or Break: The Linda Perry Project and Showtime Network’s The Real L Word reality shows. They have cultivated a loyal legion of fans over the years, and it’s to those fans that the ladies of Hunter Valentine are announcing their indefinite hiatus. In early 2016 the band will be launching their EP, The Pledge, and embarking on the So Long For Now Tour for a last hoorah with their unwavering supporters. They’ll be releasing new music and videos in the coming weeks alongside exclusive tour experiences and must have merch bundles

Pocket Candies

POCKET CANDIES

Pocket Candies is an indie rock band with electronic, industrial and jazz influences, based out of Ann Arbor, MI–where they like to get funky

ANDY TIMMONS BAND

As guitarist for pop-metal band Danger Danger, he toured the world opening for Kiss and Alice Cooper, sold over a million records worldwide, and had two #1 videos on MTV, plus amassing a discography that includes 7 solo releases that range from blazing guitar instrumentals, to blues, and even a Beatles/Elvis Costello-inspired collection of pop tunes.

As a session player, he’s been highly featured on CDs by drumming legend Simon Phillips, a live CD with Olivia Newton-John (Andy has been her music director/guitarist for several U.S. tours), two internationally acclaimed CDs by Kip Winger, recording sessions for Paula Abdul, Paul Stanley, and countless radio and television jingles. He has also played alongside many of his heroes such as Steve Vai and Joe Satriani (as a regular guest on their G3 tours in Dallas), Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Mike Stern, Ace Frehley, Ted Nugent, and Pierre Bensusan, as well as some of his fave ’60’s singing stars such as the Beach Boys, Lesley Gore, and Gordon Waller (of Peter and Gordon fame!)

Andy’s musical career began in his hometown of Evansville, Indiana at the age of 13 with his first band, Taylor Bay. “Early on, I realized that making it in a rock band was such a long-shot, that I better figure out other ways of making a living playing guitar. I began reading about players like Steve Lukather and Larry Carlton who made their living as session musicians. This really appealed to me, since I really loved a wide variety of musical styles.”

The decision to pursue the studio scene led him to more serious music studies. He studied classical guitar for two years before moving to Miami to study jazz guitar at the University of Miami (largely because the Dixie Dregs, Pat Metheny, and Jaco Pastorius had all gone there). He eventually ended up in Dallas where he was very fortunate to get a foot in the door of a very good studio scene. In 1988, the Andy Timmons band was formed and he quickly gained a following in Texas. Around that time, Epic recording artists Danger Danger recruited him to finish their debut record, film several videos, and begin touring.

After 4 years in New York with Danger Danger, Andy returned to Dallas in 1993 to resume his studio career and the Andy Timmons Band. His first solo release, ear X-tacy, was released in 1994 to critical acclaim followed 1997’s ear X-tacy 2. He then released Pawn Kings (1997), Orange Swirl (1998), The Spoken and the Unspoken (1999), and And-thology 1 & 2 (2000). In 2001 Andy signed with Favored Nations and released his first international record, That Was Then, This is Now, a compliation of the first two ear X-tacy records and and five new tracks. Resolution (2006) marks Andy’s first full-length new release for Favored Nations.

Andy has been consistently voted a “Top 20 Favorite Guitarist” in most of Japan’s rock music magazine’s reader polls, as well as being voted “Musician of the Year” four years in a row in the acclaimed Dallas Observer Music Awards. He also has become one of the most respected and sought after clinicians representing Ibanez Guitars, touring the world on their behalf.

JENNIFER BATTEN

The buzz on Jennifer Batten rose from the guitar underground, and the guitar magazines promptly began chronicling her savvy musicianship and highly original approach to the electric guitar in print.

At one point Batten was in 6 different bands, playing everything from straight ahead rock, to metal,fusion, and funk. A major turning point came when she was selected from over one hundred guitarists to play in Michael Jackson’s highly skilled band which toured the world for one and a half years playing for over four and a half million people. Jennifer wasted no time after the” Bad” Tour’s grand finale, diving into work on her own album with renown producer (and Stevie Wonder guitarist) Michael Sembello. The stunning results can be heard on “Above, Below, and Beyond”, the title appropriately describing the interesting diversity within. With this debut release, the world at large learned what all the excitement was about.

Shortly after the record’s release in the spring of ’92, she was asked again to join Michael Jackson for his upcoming “Dangerous Tour”. In January ’93, she joined Jackson to partake in Superbowl XXVII’s half time entertainment which aired to one and half billion people in 80 nations. It was the largest audience in television history.

She completed her second solo record “Jennifer Batten’s Tribal Rage~Momentum,” just before she was again asked to join Michael Jackson for his 2 year world tour supporting his double album “HIStory” in 1997.

Jennifer’s Tribal Rage project took a much different direction than her first record and is heavily influenced by world music. It is a hybrid of rock and very exotic sounds, including African percussion, Australian didgeridoo, Caribbean steel drums and Scottish bag pipes.

In the spring of 98 Jeff Beck asked Jennifer to join his band. They joined forces for 3 years on the CD’s “Who Else”, and “You Had It Coming” which were both supported by world tours.

Other guest appearances include CD’s with Carmine Appice, Michael Sembello, Carl Anderson, Carina Alfie and several rock tributes.

Jennifer has authored two music books and has just released her third solo CD/DVD entitled “Whatever”. With this 3rd effort, she’s ventured into electronica, vocal samples, and film. She’s supporting this release with a multimedia one woman show, playing guitar in synch with films projected onto a giant screen. The companion DVD includes over 90 min of art films, previously unreleased music videos, interviews, commentary, and an innovative guitar lesson.

Carl Verheyen

CARL VERHEYEN

In his 40-plus years of playing the instrument, Carl has created a wildly successful, multi-faceted career. He is a critically-acclaimed musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, producer and educator with 11 CDs and two DVDs released worldwide and is commonly regarded as a guitar virtuoso capable of playing any style of music with remarkable mastery and conviction. He has been one of LA’s elite “first call” session players for the past 25 years, playing on hundreds of records, movie soundtracks and television shows. Carl has graced the pages of countless industry publications and been the subject of numerous articles chronicling his rise to the forefront of the modern day guitar scene. Carl has won numerous polls and musical honors in the US, Germany, France, Italy and the UK.

A member of the smash hit British rock group Supertramp since 1985, Carl has played to millions of enthusiastic fans in sold out arenas worldwide. As the creative force behind The Carl Verheyen Band, he has released an impressive and eclectic discography that showcases his endless talents across a wide array of musical genres.

A much sought after studio musician, Carl plays on other artists’ CDs whenever his busy schedule permits. He has recorded and played with a virtual who’s who of the music industry. His vast collection of movie soundtrack and television credits are enviable. Carl was heard by 67,000,000 people as a featured soloist at the 2009 Academy Awards. He will also be heavily featured in the forthcoming film documentary about the electric guitar, Turn It Up!

On the educational front, Carl has produced two instructional videos called Intervallic Rock Guitar and Forward Motion as well as various on-line lessons. He also has a book/CD detailing his unique “intervallic” style called Improvising without Scales. Another book entitled Studio City is a compilation of all the columns Carl wrote for Guitar Magazine between 1996 and 1999. He has written a monthly column for Chitarre, Italy’s #1 guitar publication as well as Guitar World and Guitar Jam Daily, a website devoted to serious guitarists. He currently writes a monthly column for Guitar Player magazine, contributes to other guitar publications and blogs regularly for GuitarPlayer.com and his own site. Carl also lectures and teaches at clinics regularly when not on the road.

As if that weren’t enough, working closely with Dean Markley Carl developed a line of signature strings for the electric guitar that perfectly balance the tremolo bridge of the Fender Stratocaster, the Carl Verheyen “Balanced Bridge” Helix electric string set. He also helped design the LsL Instruments “CV Special” and “CV Studio” signature guitars, in addition to his numerous existing endorsements.

“Best Guitarist 1998” LA Music Awards
Chosen as one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time Classic Rock Magazine 9/09

“ Best Studio Guitarist” Guitar Player Readers’ Choice Awards

2005 release Rumor Mill nominated for four DVD Entertainment Awards (“Best Musical Performance,” “Best Audio Presentation,” “Best Dual Disc,” “Best Authoring Design”). Win for “Best Dual Disc.”

“Best Additional Features” Surround Sound Award for Rumor Mill

Featured in dozens of magazines: Guitar Player, Guitar World, Rhythm, Vintage Guitar, Gig, Guitar Shop, Musician, Premier Guitar, 20th Century Guitar, Jazztimes, Chitarre, Jazziz. Cover of 1998 Guitar Techniques with his long time idol B.B. King. Cover of Axe Magazine twice.

Motion Pictures : Star Trek, UP, Land of the Lost, The Crow, The Negotiator, Strange Days, LA Story, Gladiator, Blow, Walking Tall, Titan AD, True Lies, The Usual Suspects, Collateral Damage, Scrooged, The Big Hit, Forces of Nature, Mad Love, Idle Hands, Race the Sun, Ratatouille, Speed Racer, Cars 2, Mission: Impossible IV and numerous more.

Television Shows : Cheers, Scrubs, Samantha Who, Frasier, Married…with Children, Larry Sanders Show, Seinfeld, Happy Days, Murphy Brown, The Tonight Show, The Gary Shandling Show, The Martin Short Show and many more.

Performed/Recorded with: Robben Ford, Albert Lee, Joe Bonamassa, Rick Vito, Scott Henderson, Guthrie Govan, Glenn Frey, John Fogerty, B.B. King and countless more.

dethbeds

DETHBEDS

From 2006-2007 we went under the name, ‘Murder Party.’ From 2007-2008 it was ‘Dethamphetamines.’ Now we’re back after 6 long years to bang some fucking heads..

CUP CHECK

Cup Check is a female fronted Pop Punk band from the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. Thank you for your continued support!

BRIAN MORONEY

Drums/keys/vocals for Airways. Raised in Chicago.

Dogs At Large

DOGS AT LARGE

Shit kickers from Chicago, purchasing lightbulbs and eating them since the late 1980s

“A nameless, soundless exploration” – Will Leemkuil

JOHNNY HALFTON

CROSSTOWN

ADOT

NATURAL STATE

TWIN HITS

Twin Peaks + Todays Hits

Dustin Prinz

DUSTIN PRINZ

Dustin Prinz was born and raised in the small town of West Point, Nebraska. Dustin’s take on life and love push the boundaries of current indie pop and produce an intriguing view of his world.

The Golden Rule

THE GOLDEN RULE

After putting out an acclaimed debut EP and putting a year’s worth of club dates behind them last year, Chicago Modern Indie/Surf-Punkers The Golden Rule are of the city’s busiest bands to date with a brand new EP in tow.

“The first time Malcolm, Rob and I got in a room, it was just f*cking magic. The energy just sparked like a match and the ambiance that came from the music we made together was like fireworks,” says frontman and guitarist, Mohit Mehta. “It’s just something you have to experience live. There is no substitute. The first time we heard the term ‘surf-punk’, we were kind of surprised. Personally, I had never heard the term, and it seemed to pigeon-hole us into a weird subgenre. Pretty much not more than five minutes later I realized ‘surf-punk’ is the most fun music I’ve ever played.”

The Golden Rule started out as a solo project for Mehta in late 2012. After a few one-off gigs and some finely-written tunes, TGR entered Backhouse Productions to churn out a debut EP, “These Shoes” in May 2014. Well-received by critics, the EP was featured on WXRT, WZRD, WLUW, WGN and Fearless Radio among local stations, and was well-reviewed by local press.

Soon after, Mehta recruited Rob Miller on bass and Malcolm Rutter on drums to help him slug it out in the underground rock and roll club scene in Chicago. “We met at a record store north of Lakeview,” Mehta explains about teaming up with Miller. “Yeah they have cool weird shit, like records and art and stuff,” interjects Miller. “I was playing with another group and we had brought all our stuff there, and the owner shut us down for being too loud.”

“Yeah it was lame,” adds Mehta, “but he brought his 70s Ampeg V-4, which was sexy as hell. I thought it was the coolest thing, plus he brought all of his neat pedals.” “Don’t get this kid started on gear,” jokes Miller, “he’s got a borderline obsession of Marshall Amps built between 1978 and 1983.” “My babies,” replies Mehta, with a ridiculously silly smile.

Malcolm “Fancy Hat” Rutter came along by random coincidence alone: “We went to school together, [Mohit] was in business school, I was a liberal arts kid myself,” Rutter explains about both his and Mehta’s time in college together at Loyola University Chicago, in the Rogers Park neighborhood on the north side. “Malcolm and I both had the same circle of friends, probably met once or twice, but never really hung out or anything. It was so random how we got in contact,” responds Mehta. “Craigslist,” explains Rutter, “solves 90% of the world’s problems. It was how we got things started and how I got in the group.”

With the trio intact, The Golden Rule started to make a name for themselves as one of the hardest working original rock bands in the Chicago DIY scene. TGR proceeded to take Chicago’s indie scene by storm in 2014, playing 17 dates in the summer alone to support the release of “These Shoes” as well as numerous radio appearances on Chicago’s major stations. “We ended our run at Double Door,” states Mehta. “The Stones played there!” Rutter has to exclaim. “We know. And when we played, it was one big party,” finishes Mehta.

The music for the second EP came almost instantaneously as the group came together. “I brought these songs to the guys and we wound end up putting these incredible tunes together in like 2 hours. Which was fun but not the brightest idea, because we had an ever changing setlist every night we played,” explains Mehta.

The “Crowes” EP releases on March 10th. This is not one to be missed.

Johnny Lightning and The Thunder

JOHNNY LIGHTNING AND THE THUNDER

Johnny Lightning and The Thunder is the most haunted band in the Midwest.

The Sabres

THE SABRES

An American instrumental rock ‘n’ roll combo recreating the savage guitar sounds that ruled the world in the 50s and 60s.

viva-la-pole-show

VIVA LA POLE SHOW

Viva La Pole Show (Formerly Rock & Roll Pole Show) features all levels & styles of pole dance set to a bad ass soundtrack of your favorite hard rock tunes!

Now I'm Nothing

NOW I’M NOTHING

Now I’m Nothing (NIN) is the Midwest’s ONLY Nine Inch Nails Tribute band replicating the sound and energy of ‘90s Nine Inch Nails while covering the entire catalog of music.
NIN was created in 2009 by Mike Reidy, founder and lead singer of W.O.R.M. (Chicago original industrial band.) Since conception, NIN has played in the Chicagoland area at many venues including the Cubby Bear Wrigleyville, Durty Nellies, and Mojoes.

VICARIOUS

Tool Tribute Band

The Conqueror Worm

THE CONQUEROR WORM

The Conqueror Worm formed in 2014 organically due to the members mutual love of traditional doom metal. Kneeling at the altars of Candlemass, Trouble, Cathedral and early to mid 90s Paradise Lost, TCW doesnt abide by current trends or any sort of fashion. From Wisconsin, the band features current/ex members of Protestant, Choose Your Poison, Half Gorilla, and more. Metal from the heart, not from the patched up vest.

 

Sabbath Assembly

SABBATH ASSEMBLY

Sabbath Assembly formed in 2009 to share the hymns of the Process Church of the Final Judgment. The band currently records original material in an occult vein.

interdependence

INTERDEPENDENCE

THE DAMN TRACKS

The Damn Tracks are a punk rock and roll 3 piece from Chicago, IL. The band formed in 2012 releasing their first EP “On Tap” in November of the same year. They’re a mix of 90’s punk such as Face to Face mixed with more new-school influences such as The Copyrights with a sprinkling of good ole fashioned in your face rock n’ roll. They released a split 7″ record in 2014 and recently release their second self-titled album in October of 2015.

TALK TO YOU NEVER

Talk To You Never is a high energy nostalgic pop punk band from the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. In it’s 3 years of existence Talk To You Never has played countless shows around the Chicago area. Highlights include headlining shows at the House of Blues and Wire, and opening for bands such as The Millennium, Sleep On It, The Run Around and Marina City.

Talk To You Never has toured the east coast and several cities among the Midwest off of the success of their first E.P., “Don’t Mind Me”. With the release of their second album, “What Are You Waiting For?” the band continues to push for better opportunities and expansion of their fan base all across the U.S. and out to the rest of the world.