Simon Phillips is by far one of the world’s most renowned and respected drummers, whose style not only reflects his technical gift but also his distinct musical sensibility. Whether it is Rock, Fusion or Jazz, Simon applies the same precision and intensity to his drumming, which is never lacking in emotion and feel.
Simon’s professional musical career began at the early age of twelve, performing and recording with his father’s – Sid Phillips – Dixiel and band until he turned sixteen. With an offer to play in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, his path was marked and his career in full bloom. Simon soon became one of London’s most celebrated session drummers. In his early twenties he was well on his way to having a musical career nothing short of brilliance. To date he has toured and recorded with many bands and artists, including: Mick Jagger, The Who, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Peter Gabriel, Joe Satriani, Tears for Fears, Judas Priest, Roxy Music, Michael Schenker, Nik Kershaw, Phd., Al DiMeola, 801, Pete Townshend, Russ Ballard, Robert Palmer, Stanley Clarke, The Pretenders, Jon Anderson, Whitesnake and Dave Gilmour… to name but a few.
In 1992 Simon decided to move to the USA, coinciding with being asked to join Toto for their world tour. He has remained a full time member ever since. After recording the Toto album “Tambu” in 1995, another year of touring followed in 1996, covering Europe, Japan, SE Asia and South America.
In 1997 Simon took a break from Toto in order to reach a personal milestone: He took his own band on tour, and for the first time he was the bandleader, and it was his music. This great year included tours of Europe, Japan and The United States, and a performance at The North Sea Jazz Festival.
1998 saw the recording of another Toto studio album entitled” Mindfields”, followed by 2 years of touring around the world of which the live CD “Livefields” captures. The most recent Toto record “Through the Looking Glass” took the band in 2002/03 on extensive concert trips to Europe and Asia.
Expanding his career from drumming to writing solo projects, Simon recorded his first album “Protocol” in 1988, followed by “Force Majeure” in 1992. “Symbiosis”, which he recorded in 1995, was as spirited but more inspired than ever, and showed a change of direction in the compositions. Simon likes to link his growth in songwriting and new artistic depth to his move to the States. The 1997 record “Another Lifetime” shows yet another layer of his tremendously resourceful playing and an even more motivated composing. “Out of the Blue”, a live album, followed in 1998 and in 1999 another complete change of style took place in his latest record “Vantage Point”, which is a pure, straight ahead jazz album.
Yet another expansion to Simon’s musical career is producing and engineering, which he first started back in England with British composer Mike Oldfield, working on three albums with him. Aside from his solo projects, Simon also co-produced Toto’s “Tambu” in 1995,followed by “Mindfields” in 1998. Simon was asked to engineer the latest Toto album, and spent a couple of months during the winter of2001/02 recording “Through the Looking Glass” in his own studio. Simon is currently back in his studio mixing a recently recorded show for the next Toto DVD.
In 2000 Simon took a break from Toto and recorded with Derek Sherinian, formally of Dream Theater, as well as produced and engineered “Inertia”. The following year included the recording of progressive band Planet X, “Moonbabies” and mixing a live CD “Live From Oz”.
Simon’s sympathy to the various styles of music and his interest in sound and arrangements will always drive him to expand his career.
Allegaeon (pronounced: uh-lee-juhn) was formed in 2008 by guitar player Ryan Glisan. Soon thereafter joined the classically trained guitarist Greg Burgess, vocalist Ezra Haynes and bassist Corey Archuleta to round out and form what people have come to know now as the Colorado Kings of Melodic Metal. In 2008, Allegaeon released their 4 song, self-titled EP and quickly gained attention from the local, national and international metal fans as well as Metal Blade records. In 2009, barely a year after releasing their first EP to the world, Allegaeon agreed to a deal with Metal Blade Records and thus began their relationship and Allegaeon’s entry into the ever expanding metal community.
2010 brought Allegaeon’s debut album Fragments of Form and Function (FOFAF). FOFAF was recorded in Denver at Flatline Audio with Dave Otero (Cephalic Carnage, Cattle Decapitation, Vale of Pnath) and was released on July 20th, 2010. Between 2010-2011, Allegaeon had a slew of singles that played in such heavy rotation on the Sirius Liquid Metal Station that they cracked the stations top 20 most played bands list. Metalstorm.net lists Allegaeon’s debut album, FOFAF, as the #4 rated death metal album of all time (by the websites rating standards). FOFAF was critically acclaimed by many and catapulted the band out of obscurity and into the ranks of metals elite new bands.
In January 2012, the band traveled to Southern California and entered Lambesis Studios with Daniel Castleman (As I Lay Dying, Impending Doom, Carnifex, Winds of Plague) to begin work on their follow up record titled Formshifter. The latest album brings forward a sound that both plays off the band’s previous releases mixed in with some new flavors that will be sure to enthrall old and new fans alike. Guitarist Greg Burgess had this to say about the new album, “With Formshifter, I think we kept the sound a lot of our fans love about us, but achieved them through certain compositional challenges. Be it style, or genre mixing, I believe that we seamlessly applied certain elements we didn’t have on Fragments, and it added a color and dimension we didn’t have before”. Guitarist Ryan Glisan adds, “This album to me indicates the future of the band but nods to our past as well. It, to me, is more of where I have envisioned our band being since I started the band a couple years back, it relies on similar songwriting structures and musicality but adds more groove and memorable riffing than our previous efforts.”
Lyrics, an oft over-looked facet of death metal is one the more interesting aspects of Allegaeon. The band crafts their prose with a bit of a different mindset – often touching on space, civilization and philosophy. Vocalist Ezra Haynes elaborates: “Lyrically speaking, this record carries more depth to me than the last. The song Twelve is actually a concept I’ve had in mind for roughly five years. It’s about a pairing of serial killers, but instead of going about it in a more typical death metal setting, such as glorifying it; I chose to point out the stupidity and unfairness of the judicial system. I’ve always wanted to write an anthem-esque type song; something that involves the listeners with present day topics. With “controlled media” as the target I feel A Path Disclosed is a perfect example of that. Tartessos: The Hidden Xenocryst is definitely one that sticks out to me. I was raised on Edgar Cayce readings and tales of Atlantis. When Greg [Burgess] and I knew we wanted to touch base on an ancient civilization, Atlantis was the logical choice. Hopefully the meaning in the songs will be “found”, if you will.”
“The new face of ruthless modern death metal.” Metal Hammer Magazine
Jailbreak is the sixth studio album by Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy, released in 1976. It proved to be the band’s commercial breakthrough in the US, and the only Thin Lizzy album with a certification in that country.
Swoony crunchy vampire drunk n roll. Skulkin’ around for a year now. Hard to keep a good vamp blacked-out. Will probably wake up with your blood stained on our teeth.
Tariq Devega, better known by the stage name ASAP Nast, is an American hip hop recording artist and songwriter from Harlem, New York.
Satsang is a Conscious Music Collective blending world conscious lyrics with a unique blend of Folk, Soul, Indie Rock, and Hip-Hop. Satsang seems to have something for every musical palate. The lyrics come from and are rooted in change, growth, awareness, and imperfection, and are used as a mission statement for reflection, growth, and activation. Touching on everything from the bliss of traveling and the growing pains of change: to societal ills and civil rights. The live show is everything that the band name suggests: A gathering of people to assimilate and share their truths. The rhythms and energy put forth by the band keep everyone on their feet, and the lyrics leave them craving active and immediate change. Satsang has toured all over the country and has shared the stage with the likes of Steel Pulse, Nahko and Medicine for the People, Trevor Hall, Wookiefoot, Mike Love, and many more. “It still amazes me how far they have come in such a short period of time. With a very dedicated fan base and a lot of respect in the music community amongst other artists, Satsang is a band to watch closely. ” – GratefulWeb
Them Vibes bleed rock n’ roll.
Formed in East Nashville’s underground rock scene in 2013, the band quickly shook the foundations of Music City with their blitzkrieg live show and soulful songwriting. Influenced by the rhythmic sway of The Faces and T-Rex and infected with the raw energy of the Rolling Stones and the Black Crowes, Them Vibes have injected new life into the anemic arm of what currently passes for mainstream rock n’ roll.
Co-founded by singer-songwriters Brother Love and Alex Haddad, Them Vibes released their debut record, Shine On, independently and began hitting the Nashville and Austin scenes as a five-piece band playing coveted gigs at the High Watt, The Basement, The Mercy Lounge, The Continental Club, the Blue Bird Café, to name a few. Their wild, high- voltage revival of a live show was brought to festival crowds at Austin’s SXSW; they were the headliner at The Tomato Music And Arts Fest; opened for the Flaming Lips at the Sound Harvest festival; and, in front of thousands of onlookers, they have opened for such classic artists as Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet.
Them Vibes’ sophomore release was the heavy hitting EP TV. Grammy award-winning producer and engineer Richard Dodd (Tom Petty, George Harrison, Counting Crows, The Civil Wars, Kings of Leon and Wilco) took the helm as producer. The result was a five song cliff dive of psychedelic, hard driving, slinky grooving, swamp-howling rock n roll.
The single “Mammas Gotta Secret” took radio by storm, with national radio play on over twenty stations nationwide. Network television began to taken notice, as well. Both album’s respective cuts garnered placements on ABC’s Nashville, NBC’s Grimm, Fox’s Cooper Barrett, and CMT’s Redneck Island and Dude Perfect, and the Netflix Original series The Ranch. Their biggest commercial success was led by their raucous song Crying Shame, which was chosen by T-Mobile to lead their spring campaign.
Off the heals of their strides stateside the band turned their attention across the pond embarking on a month long European tour. Playing sold out shows in Germany, France, Belgium, Slovakia, and Spain, gaining critical acclaim, radio play and most importantly throngs of new fans.
When they returned to the U.S the band went right to work writing and recording their new album Electric Fever. Larry Florman (Brother Love), Alex Haddad, lead guitar player Kyle Lewis, and the prodigious, up and coming Nashville producer Bobby Holland wanted to make the most ambitious rock n roll record to come out in the last decade. With the help of the rhythmic fury of drummer Sarah Tomek (Steven Tyler, Maggie Rose, Loving Mary, Raelyn Nelson) and bassist Judd Fuller (Rodney Adkins, Buck Johnson of Aerosmith), Them Vibes did just that. Recording everything full band and live at Addiction Studios in Nashville, Electric Fever is a kaleidoscope of sound and sonic ecstasy. The twelve side LP is colored in Muscle Shoals soul, hip shaking beat break funk, southern rock harmony guitars, tribal heavy rhythms injected with rock n roll ferocity, broke down acoustic delight, and all and above driven by harmony and groove full speed ahead.
The self titled single Electric Fever has already been leaked to the number one independent radio station in the United States Lightning100, and in its inception has caught quite a buzz. The single, due to popular demand, has been officially released on iTunes and every major music streaming platform, and the album Electric Fever is due out late spring.
The band will be hitting the US interstate in support of their new record.
A Death Metal Band from Illinois.
Lil Ray is no stranger to hard work. He has had some experience within the music industry. His father, Big Ray, worked with a number of rap artists that include Chicago’s own, Do Or Die. Although he was exposed to the industry and the politics of it all, Lil Ray didn’t get bite by the rapping bug until he was 14-years-old. But when the desire hit, he saw refuge in it. He looked up to LL Cool J, P. Diddy, Jay-Z, Biggie and his idol, T.I. as inspirations.
Lil Ray writes his own music and loves the creative aspect of it all. Making “party” music is what he’s known for and in a very short time, have garnered a lot of respect for it. Coining himself as “undefinable,” Lil Ray would consider himself musically versatile. Having many career highlights already, he shared a song with a longtime friend and respected colleague, Twista, on their song “Bad Than A Mutha,” was a dream come true. Lil Ray headlined his first tour “Hella of Laughs & Hip Hop Tour” with comedian Kenny Howell and it became a huge success in 10 cities across America in venues seating approximately 4,000 people. All the love across the country feels great but it’s nothing like receiving the love from your hometown. That’s why it’s no surprise that Lil Ray is a mainstay on Chicago’s radio station WPWX Power 92 (92.3FM).
Lil Ray envisioned endorsements, clothing lines, and even owning his own record company to sign other up and coming artist in the future. The sky is truly the limit for Lil Ray who will one day take over the rap charts.
Fastplants are a punk/skate rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Fastplants formed in 2013 and have been actively recording and touring since 2015. To date the band has released two EP’s, two split LP’s, a tribute 7”, and one full length LP. Fastplants have shared the stage with Agent Orange, The Supersuckers, Zeke, Murphy’s Law, Teenage Bottlerocket, The Stitches, McRad, Angry Samoan, Field Day, Urethane, Radkey and were direct support for D.R.I on their 2019 Southwest/US tour. Fastplants have worked with Beercity Records, NotLikeYou Records and Beercan Records.
Fastplants:
Matt Anzelone – guitar/vox.
Marc Harman – drums.
Abe Linders – guitar/vox.
Steve Sackett – bass.
Providing the soundtrack to our dystopian tomorrow, today, Replicant is a Chicago based composite of the analog, the organic, and the digital. A visual and sonic imprint blurring the lines between seduction and punishment. Composed of crooning vocals, sensual synths, and battering bass lines, Replicant draws influence from both the dark and the lustrous sides of our modern dystopia.
The Stereo was a pop rock/rock and roll band started in 1999 by former ska/punk band frontmen Jamie Woolford (of Animal Chin) and Rory Phillips (of The Impossibles). The pair was brought together on recommendation of their former bands’ record label Fuele
A San Francisco Bay Area native, Mario Jose is a seasoned singer-songwriter, powerhouse vocalist, and true entertainer.
Mario attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA and was a part of the award-winning a cappella group Pitch Slapped. After graduating, he moved to Los Angeles to further pursue his career in music.
Mario has had the privilege to share the stage and studio with music icons including Pentatonix (opening for them on tour), Prince, Justin Bieber, Meghan Trainor (New Orleans Jazz Fest 2017), John Legend (NBC’s Duets), Michael McDonald, Philip Bailey (of Earth, Wind & Fire), John Elefante (of Kansas), Jim Peterick (of Survivor), Bill Champlin (of Chicago), Paula Cole, Lalah Hathaway, Ben E. King, Post Modern Jukebox and many more!
Mario is currently the Emcee & featured vocalist on Post Modern Jukebox’s US tour. He will be returning home for a 4-week Artist Residency at the iconic Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles and a multi-city tour with Travis Atreo & The Filharmonic.
Pete Galanis is best known as guitarist for Chicago Blues/Jam Band, Howard and the White Boys, having joined the band in 2004. Galanis’ tight blues chops—coupled with his natural versatility at handling the funk, R & B, and rock styles that have become Howard & the White Boys trademarks—have magnificently slotted right in with the group’s signature sound and have also lent it an exciting, youthful exuberance, readily apparent on the bands new Evidence Records release “Made in Chicago”. The band is now focusing on touring to support the new CD and working on material for their next one.. As of August 2007, Pete Galanis Band featuring Nate Manos, begins a residendency gig at Rosa’s Lounge every Tuesday at 9:30.Galanis has also shared the stage with John Mayer, Buddy Guy, Dave Myer, Jimbo Mathus, R.L Burnside, Junior Kimborough, Model T Ford, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Lurrie Bell, Eddie Clearwater, Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Hubert Sumlin, Lurrie Bell, Jimme Johnson, Billy Branch, Bob Margolin, Kid Ramos, Carlos Johnson, Albert Castiglia, Mississippi Heat, Nigel Mack, Nick Moss and the Flip Tops, and the Joe Moss Band to name a few…
Omar Coleman as a rising star with iron-clad longevity in the national blues scene. Hailing from the West Side of Chicago, Coleman grew up entrenched in soul music and black music that defined the era in the mid-90s. Working as a barber by trade, Coleman recalls being bored at his shop on Michigan & Adams in Downtown Chicago and sauntering to the music shop down the street to pick up an instrument to pass the time. He landed on the harmonica thinking it would be easy to learn quickly and would fiddle around on it between cutting hair and usurping the shoeshine guy’s chair when he went to shine shoes in the back. With many clients being musicians, Coleman would learn about Chicago being heralded as ‘Home of the Blues’ and was tipped off to legends such as Buddy Guy, Howlin’ Wolf, and more. Another world opened up.
Formed in 2013, The Corey Dennison Band has become a favorite attraction at Chicago blues venues, including twice-weekly appearances at Kingston Mines. Led by Corey Dennison’s soulful voice and muscular guitar, the band released its self-titled studio debut for the legendary Delmark Records in 2016 after honing 13 original songs night after night on the bandstand. Corey’s decade-long stint with Carl Weathersby and Gerry Hundt’s tenure with Nick Moss are evident on the disc but blend effortlessly into a dynamic new Chicago sound, anchored by fellow Moss alum Nik Skilnik and drummer Joel Baer. Critics and radio polls responded favorably as the album garnered glowing reviews and constant worldwide airplay, netting chart positions on the Roots Music and Living Blues Radio Reports. Nominations followed suit, with a nod for Best Emerging Artist from the Blues Music Awards, a pair from Blues Blast Magazine, and Grammy balloting. The strength of the band’s repertoire is matched only by the charisma of the stage show; it’s not uncommon to see Corey belting out the blues, unamplified, in the heart of the audience while the band steps in time to the groove. It’s not novelty for these musicians and entertainers, however, it’s exactly where they want to be.
Is This It is the debut studio album by American rock band the Strokes. Recorded at Transporterraum in New York City with producer Gordon Raphael, the album was first released on July 30, 2001, in Australia, with RCA Recordsas the primary label. The record entered the UK Albums Chart at number two and peaked at number 33 on the US Billboard 200, going on to achieve platinum status in several markets. “Hard to Explain”, “Last Nite”, and “Someday” were released as singles.
Origin of Symmetry is the second studio album by English rock band Muse, released on 17 July 2001 by Mushroom Records and Taste Media.
Delta Volta is a three piece band from Chicago. The music is a cocktail of fuzzy guitars, blasting drums, and a splash of spacey, out-of-this-world synthesis. Delta Volta is ready for blast off.
Contemporarily old-fashioned Heavy Metal.
Singer/songwriter from Seattle, WA.
First show since 2017, first time ever as a full band. Dress shirts. Slacks. Stamp collections. The suburbs. Gardening. LaCroix. These are the calling cards of America’s Baddest Band®, Chicago’s own Bad Mechanics. No strangers to shtick, featuring current & former members of The Eradicator, HeWhoCorrupts, and Chicago Thrash Ensemble, the group takes aim at ‘adult life’ in hypnotizing, rapid fire with their debut LP Precious Moments in the USA on Stonewalled Records.
John Moulder
John Moulder is a guitarist and composer whose music has evolved from an assimilation of various musical traditions. His most recent release entitled Earthborn Tales of Soul and Spirit (Origin 2016) features Donny McCaslin, Marquis Hill, Paul Wertico, and many other long time musical companions. Inspired by soulful individuals, it has been described as a contemporary musical narrative. John’s compositions and playing are featured on his CDs entitled Awakening (Mo-Tonal Records 1993), Through the Open Door (Igmod/Mo-Tonal Records 1997), Spirit Talk (NAIM 2003), and Trinity (Origin 2006) and Bifröst (Origin 2009) were both named one of the “Ten Best Jazz CDs” of 2006 and 2009 respectively by the Chicago Tribune. On The Eleventh Hour: Live at the Green Mill (Origin 2012), John collaborated with his long time musical companions, Paul Wertico, Larry Gray, Jim Trompeter, and Geof Bradfield.
Televised feature stories on John and his work have aired on Artbeat (WTTW) and Chicago Tonight (WTTW). He has played nationally and internationally at numerous festivals, clubs and concert halls and has performed with artists such as Eddie Harris, Bob Mintzer, Paul McCandless, Lyle Mays, Paul Wertico, Gary Burton, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Arild Anderson, Bendik Hofseth, and Terry Callier.
John received his Master’s Degree in Music from Northwestern University. As an educator, he is currently a faculty member at Northwestern University, Benedictine University, and Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of the Performing Arts. He has lectured, taught master classes, and conducted clinics at universities, high schools, music institutes, and other settings.
John’s official website is: johnmoulder.com
Larry Gray
Bassist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Larry Gray has enjoyed a career spanning some four decades in which he has collaborated with a long list of many of the world’s most important jazz artists, including Jack DeJohnette, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Williams, McCoy Tyner, Benny Golson, James Moody, Sonny Stitt, Larry Coryell, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, Clark Terry, J.J. Johnson, Steve Turre, George Coleman, Lee Konitz, Benny Green, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, and Gary Bartz, among many others. He has five solo recordings to his credit, beginning with Solo + Quartet and most recently, Three Equals One. Among many projects as a collaborator or sideman, he appeared on five CDs during his twelve years as a member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio. Through the years, he toured with many artists, including Joe Williams, Clark Terry, Frank Wess, James Moody, Marian McPartland, and Ramsey Lewis, appearing at many important festivals and concert venues worldwide.
Most recently he appears on the recording on ECM, Jack DeJohnette-Made in Chicago, with Muhal Richard Abrams, Roscoe Mitchell, and Henry Threadgill. He currently tours with Jack DeJohnette’s group and also played in Larry Coryell’s Trio, alongside drummer Paul Wertico. Another recent project, The Gray Wilkerson Ra Trio, features the internationally acclaimed improvisation musicians Ed Wilkerson and Avreeayl Ra. He also serves as an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Illinois School of Music in Urbana/Champaign.
Larry’s official website is: larrygraymusic.com
Paul Wertico
Hailed in the press as “One of the most versatile and musical drummers in music today,” Paul Wertico was a member of the Pat Metheny Group from 1983 to 2001. During that time, he won seven Grammy Awards (three for “Best Jazz Fusion Performance,” three for “Best Contemporary Jazz Performance,” and one for “Best Rock Instrumental Performance”), won numerous magazine polls, received several gold records, and played drums & percussion on David Bowie’s hit recording (with the Pat Metheny Group), “This Is Not America.”
He has played with countless artists and has performed in all 50 states and in over 60 countries. Paul has also played drums and percussion on hundreds of recordings. As a solo recording artist, Paul’s recordings have received great critical praise. DownBeat magazine listed Paul’s CD, Impressions of a City, as one of its “Best CDs of 2010.” LA Weekly even wrote, “His recent records, such as 2000s Don’t Be Scared Anymore and the new StereoNucleosis, are stunning examples of the electronic, rhythmic and intellectual directions jazz could be going.”
Paul is also extremely active in the field of education. In addition to teaching drums privately for over 45 years, he is an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. For over four decades, he’s conducted drum masterclasses, clinics, and workshops around the world and has written educational articles for numerous magazines. His instructional DVD, Paul Wertico’s Drum Philosophy, was named “One of the best drum videos of the last 25 years” by Modern Drummer magazine, and in July 2017, Alfred Music published his new book, Turn The Beat Around (A Drummer’s Guide to Playing “Backbeats” on 1 & 3), in which Paul even coined a new word for these types of reversed beats: frontbeats.
In 2004, Paul was a Chicago Tribune “Chicagoan of the Year.” In 2010, he was honored with two “Lifetime Achievement Awards”: one from the Cape Breton International Drum Festival for his “Major Contribution to The World of Drumming & Education,” and the other from the Montréal Drum Fest. As Musical Director for the crowdsourced TV video series, Inventing The Future, Paul was nominated for a 2012-2013 Emmy Award in the “Outstanding Achievement In Interactivity” category by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Midwest Chapter. He also hosted his own weekly radio show for two years, Paul Wertico’s Wild World of Jazz.
In the international press, Paul’s drumming has also been compared to that of an “Impressionist painter,” and he has also been called “an inspired madman,” “a restless innovator,” “a true legend of jazz drums,” “a master of drumming insanity,” “a genius of the sticks,” and a recent review stated, “Wertico simply oozes musicality.”
Paul’s official website is: www.paulwertico.com
Opacia is a Melodic Death/Thrash metal band from Chicago IL who strives to achieve fast and blinding riffs, in combination with melody. Pulling influence from Exmortus, Holy Grail, Ensiferum, Amon Amarth, and Death; the band brings in the speed and ferocity of thrash metal along with the heaviness and brutality of Death/Melodic death metal.
Traditional metal. Epic doom metal.
“this Des Moines outfit plays a classy brand of classic thrash a la Testament, Heathen and Pantera with a little Type O Negative in there as well as a singer who can sing and everything,” – DECIBEL Magazine
Green Death’s 2nd album, “Manufacturing Evil”-“ The much-anticipated follow-up to the uber-excellent heavy metal melting pot that was 2013’s The Deathening” – DECIBEL MAGAZINE
A way to describe Green Death: Danzig and Peter Steele (Type O Negative) had a baby, and that baby listens to a lot of Slayer!
So Underground…You’ll Need a Shovel!
Band with rockabilly, 60’s garage and blues elements
DPM has been playing around Chicago since 2004, doing a variety of tunes from the 40’s through 70’s by such as: Webb Pierce, Faron Young, Carl Perkins, Gene Watson, Ray Price, Eddie Cochran, Gram Parsons, Louvin Brothers, Everly Brothers, Bob Dylan, Charlie Pride, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Gene Watson, Cindy Walker, the Flatlanders, Marshall Crenshaw, Hank Williams and others of that ilk.
The band Local Motive sounds like Motown got mixed up with Talking Heads. Like Sam Cooke collaborating with Jimi Hendrix. Since 2012, bandleader Mike Vinopal and company have set out to make authentic and passionate music that will connect with people on a deep emotional level while also “shaking butts for thousands of years.” Bringing the vibes of the Blues Brothers into the present, their music is classic and familiar, yet fiercely original. The Local Motive sound is funk, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll for all. Local Motive released two new singles Memorial Day 2022, “Naive + Supposed To Be,” from the forthcoming follow up to the Grams LP, “Slice of Life.” A 3-song collection just dropped on 9/30/2022, teasing the next 3 tracks of the full-length, out 12/23/2022. Keeping with tradition, the new album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Noam Wallenberg (Alan Parsons, Mac Miller) at Rax Trax Recording (Buddy Guy, George Clinton) and co-produced with the band. The album of all new songs will also be a commemoration of a decade of Local Motive. And they will most assuredly shake butts for a thousand years more. With lyrics like “I need you & you need me too, that’s symbiosis,” this band strives for connection, community, and celebration, keeping it brassy and sassy too. Perfect music to set the tone for a groovy day. Available everywhere. Support the band directly on Bandcamp & Patreon. Follow @localmotiveband on socials for the latest updates.
Rock N Roll from the Burbs to the City.
Let’s start with a quick roll-call on the Old Irving sound. A firm handle on the soft-loud aesthetic? Check. Chicago working class roots? Check. A modern sound with a nod to the glory days of indie and alt-rock? Check.
Singer/guitarist Steven Elfinger and Drummer Joe Marino began Old Irving in 2012 in the heart of the neighborhood the band name represents. With the enlistment of bassist/multi-instrumentalist, Richard Clark, the trio has chiseled their midwestern punk rock to a melodic art.
Whether channeling the earnest sounds of Husker Du and Jawbreaker, emo punk favorites Saves the Day and Jimmy Eat World, or even the Clash, their pop poetry is filtered through a distorted lens.
Old Irving’s new EP is the true blue sound of long Chicago nights spent with your friends. These are the moments you’d never want to end.
-anonymous
Andrew Jurcak
Jeff Mather
James O’Malley
Frank Wallis
“For the past few months I have been documenting the weekend debauchery of Chicago’s very own The Gnar Wave Rangers, so believe me when I say they’re truly the most unique, weird, and kind of scary band on the scene right now. ” – Greg Stephen Reigh
Ben de la Cour has lived a different kind of life. After growing up in Brooklyn, he set out to see the world as an amateur boxer, bartender, janitor and agricultural worker in Havana, London, Los Angeles and New Orleans before settling in Nashville. Influenced as much by giants such as Townes Van Zandt and Warren Zevon as by Nick Cave and The Gun Club, Ben de la Cour has managed to meld all of these influences into a uniquely modern, haunting and sometimes darkly humorous sound that is all his own.
“Ben de la Cour’s songs are brimming with urgent authenticity. There is thematic hardness and vulnerability throughout, but what distinguishes de la Cour’s songs from lesser guitar-and-anguished-vocals hacks is the raw humanity of his delivery and the potency of his way with words.” (No Depression)
In 2016 Ben de la Cour won the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Competition and released ‘Midnight in Havana’, eleven tightly crafted songs of what he refers to as “Americanoir”. Tales of substance abuse, murder and mental illness sit in perfect juxtaposition with occasional moments of playful lightheartedness and the ever-present glimmer of hope. However, upon closer inspection, darkness almost always wins…an unlikely hero, but one that suits de la Cour.
“Ben de la Cour bleeds the songs he sings. Within the understated instrumentation and de la Cour’s baritone voice lie stark, haunting songscapes: moody recollections that recount the journey of a life that is not always pretty, but proves better than one of mundane predictability.” (Turnstyled, Junkpiled)
When New Orleans native and Louisiana National Guardsman Chris Watts was shot in the Super Dome during Hurricane Katrina duty, he thought he’d never return to The Crescent City. Now his own brand of Deep South Americana music has transplanted him from The Big Easy to Music City, USA, drawing comparisons to Jason Isbell and Steve Earle along the way.
Watts has shared his Deep South Americana on some of the most prominent stages across the country including the Key West Songwriter’s Festival, House of Blues New Orleans, The Howlin’ Wolf, Nashville’s historic Exit/In, City Winery, the world-famous listening room Bluebird Cafe, and a residency at Tin Roof on Music City’s illustrious Broadway Ave.
He’s opened for internationally touring acts ranging from Sammy Kershaw to Gin Blossoms, Third Eye Blind, and Snoop Dogg, and was named “Artist of the Month” by Puresouthernrock.com. His music has appeared on radio stations across the country, including the acclaimed WWOZ New Orleans, WSM Nashville (home of the Grand Ole Opry), and internet radio stations worldwide.
The Revue named his debut EP The God’s Own Truth in its “Best of 2016” list. Watts is currently working on his debut solo album and is proud to call East Nashville home. The God’s Own Truth is available everywhere music is sold.
For years, the Chilean band Gondwana has been spreading the word of Jah Love. Emerging from the Latin root in reggae, Gondwana brings forth a fresh blend of Latin and Jamaican rhythms. With pulsating energy and a smooth sound, nine polished musicians are the soul of Chile’s number one reggae band.
Songs of love, social commentary and spiritual praise, Gondwana reveals positive messages that serve as an uplifting vibration for fans of all musical genres. Spirit moving falsetto notes, bubbling bass, hard drums, tight horns and guitars with the ability to move with ease in a sound ranging from calypso to hard rock; are the skillful ingredients found in the highly acclaimed Gondwana.
Without a doubt, Gondwana is one of the most prestigious, solid reggae bands to emerge from South America. With a constant movement across the continent and an endless myriad of vibrant live shows, Gondwana continues to deliver a bullet-proof repertoire of hits and new material. The band is internationally recognized as Chile’s most successful musical act.
Already superstars in their native Chile and throughout South America, Gondwana has been gaining very enthusiastic fans throughout the world one by one. From humble beginnings in La Pincoya, a northern Santiago ghetto, to a leading position in Chilean pop music, Gondwana has remained true to their original posture, standing tall and strong in a peace-loving position of musical and lyrical creation.
Formed in 1987, Gondwana has been awarded several multi-platinum albums throughout its 24 year career. Additionally they’ve performed numerous times in what are known to be some of the most important festivals throughout the continent. Recently, Gondwana has performed at the legendary “Reggae on the River Fest” earlier in 2011 in California, “Rock Al Parque” Colombia, “Vive Latino” Mexico, “Pepsi Music Fest” Argentina, “Cosquin Rock” Argentina, “Quito Fest” Ecuador and on numerous occasions at the prestigious “Vina del Mar Festival” in Chile. Upcoming shows November 17th at The Social (www.thesocial.org) in Orlando Florida followed by “Bayside Rocks Music Fest” (www.baysiderocksfestival.com) in Miami, Florida on November 19th, sharing the stage with the legendary Bunny Wailer, the original Wailers and Cultura Profetica to name a few.
A surprising aspect of Gondwana is their notable digital activity as demonstrated by their ever-growing YouTube fan base that’s currently over 40 million views with an average of 30,000 monthly visitors accessing the band’s official website www.gondwana.cl. This can only be attributed to a rarely witnessed romance between the band and its fans. The fact that the band maintains such incredible web fan base demonstrates what a massive impact the band has in order to reach millions of young hearts across the world, especially considering that the band has lacked the support from prominent producers or the support of any one of the major record labels during recent years.
At the beginning of 2011 the band released their first official best-of, titled “Pincoya Calipso” (Sony Music). The 17 re-mastered tracks are compiled from the band’s catalog along with 2 new songs that are an anticipation of their new studio album scheduled for a 2012 release.
After an extensive 2011 touring schedule that included several dates in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Canada, Mexico and the US, Gondwana began pre-production of their upcoming new studio album (not yet titled).
The new album will be recorded at Gondwana’s own studio and will feature their new lead singer, MC Jona. Additionally Gondwana was invited to participate on 2 tracks “Could You Be Loved” & “Concrete Jungle” for the upcoming 2012 release “Tribute to Bob Marley 2” featuring
GONDWANA is comprised of the following members:
I-Locks Labbe on bass, MC Jona on lead vocals, Yayo Loyola on drums, Leo Dread on percussion and background vocals, Pancho Contreras on trumpet, Keno “Fingaman” Valenzuela on keyboards and background vocals, Hugo Prado on trombone, Gato Ramos on saxophone and Pez López on guitar.
Calling all Denim Clad Sailors! Chicago’s premier Turbonegro tribute band is ready max out the throttle of death punk music. This five piece will take you for a trip through the City of Satan and back. It’s time to get it on !
Protector 101 springs forth from the 80’s, cutting through a maze of neon-laden back-alleys, to re-enchant your stereo systems with melodies and feelings of this gone-but-not-forgotten decade. Armed to the teeth with post-apocalyptic synth, machine-gun drum machines and fueled by an insatiable appetite for pulsating bass lines, Protector 101 stands side by side with other cyborg-musicians such as John McCallum and Brad Fiedel. The sounds of Protector 101 is the 80’s synth soundtrack for your modern day living world.
Uplifting 8-bit synthwave from Montreal.