BLAIR
PJ guitar/keys/vocals
Matt drums/synth/guitar
Graham bass/sequencer
JOVIAN MOON
BLOOD NYMPH
Formed in Chicago in January of 2023, BLOOD NYMPH explores the expanded field of doom, metal, punk, grunge, and dirge, never quite fitting into a static form. BLOOD NYMPH turns a truly heavy yet stripped-down sound into pure hunger, anguish, and wrath, born from the wilderness and released into a feral thing.
TAYYLOR MADE
TAYYLOR MADE, is an American Artist & Music Producer from Washington, D.C. Now based in London, she has established herself as an in-demand artist attracting major bookings & brand collaborations such as Boiler Room, Wireless Festival, Lovebox Festival, Nike and Fabric. Protégé of Fred Again, TAYYLOR MADE has also worked closely with the likes of IAMDDB, RAYE, Digga D, Kano & more. In 2023, she continues to extend her reach with performances across cities from New York to Berlin to Japan. Also, the Co-Founder and at popular East London club night, VIBRATE, TAYYLOR MADE specialises in Rap and emerging club sounds including Drill, Jersey Club, Baile Funk, and Miami Bass. Protégé to Fred Again, TAYYLOR MADE has also worked closely with major artists including Digga D, IAMDDB, RAYE, Kano, Toddla T, The Fanatix, Yxng Bane, Kamille and MNEK among others. As she reveals her new projects as a Recording Artist, and given the enthusiastic reception of her debut release supported by Spotify & Dummy Mag – “WET” (180k+ streams) and latest single “FLEXXX” (15k+ views), very exciting things are expected from her in the near future.
BRIGHTER DEATH NOW
THE IRON SPIDERS
Punk’s past meets its future. Currently serving 80s/90s covers. More to come.
HARU NEMURI
Haru has always made music for herself first, but now the world is listening — even if they can’t understand a word of the Japanese language in which she sings, raps and frequently screams. Haru has built a dedicated following thanks to extensive touring in Japan and other parts of Asia, and sold out numerous shows in Europe on her first trip there in 2019, which included a performance at the legendary Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona. Haru Nemuri was named one of The New York Times’ Best Acts of SXSW 2021 and Haru’s debut album, “Haru to Shura,” which crafts songs with elements of “modern urban innocence, constraints and homogeneity, which therefore created a feel of tension and compactness had been highly acclaimed from all over the globe. Now, on the heels of five wildly different singles released in 2021, (“Bang,” “Inori Dake Ga Aru,” “Seventh Heaven”, “Old Fashioned” and “Déconstruction”) and a recent live session on KEXP, Haru is about to begin her first tour of North America in March 2022, where interest in her music has reached new heights in the past two years.
MOTHÉ
BEARS IN TREES
DIRTBAG BOYBAND / HOW TO BUILD AN OCEAN: INSTRUCTIONS OUT NOW
LUH MONTI
BFB DA PACKMAN
BFB Da Packman is a Houston-based recording artist born on the North Side of Flint, Michigan, in an area known to some as Selby Hood. Now a household name thanks to his comedic lyricism, Packman attributes his charismatic personality, yet humble lifestyle to growing up in Flint. BfB Da Packman moved to Houston in 2015 to live with his family, and got a job at the post office to keep himself out of trouble, while making rap his new side hustle. In June 2018, Packman released the official visual for “Snack Time,” and by that Fall, Kanye West, Kodak Black, and YBN Almighty Jay all reshared the music video on social media.
Following the release of his well-received, 2019 mixtape “STD”, BfB Da Packman dropped a couple of loosies to start of 2020, leading up to his Sada Baby-assisted, breakout single “Free Joe Exotic.” The video went viral on Twitter, garnering over 18 million YouTube views to date.
BfB Da Packman just released his new Wiz Khalifa collaboration titled “Fun Time,” which dropped Friday, September 25th. Follow his Instagram for more updates.
THE STALEYS
SOUND BATH W/ STEPHANIE WEBER
SPACEMAN BOB
Intergalactic being on a journey to understand humans.
LAWRENCE TOME
When startled, Lawrence Tome dissolves into a puddle of tears.
Lawrence Tome rests at the bottom of hollowtop lake in the tobacco root mountains outside of Pony Montana. Many fishermen have felt the water stir as somber melodies float up from the depths breaking the surface, reaching toward the stars.
A man known by most as Flint Michigan claimed to have Lawrence Tome on his line for 17 hours, 46 minutes, and 22 seconds. Repeatedly pulled into the water, Flint nearly drowned keeping hold of his rod. When he finally pulled in the line, there was a treasure map at the end of his hook.
Lawrence Tome was born and raised in a Norman Rockwell painting.
Lawrence Tome is the King of the River.
MYCOTA
Formed in early 2023 in Bloomington, IN. Mycota is a funk fusion jam band with a broad variety of influences in jazz, prog, and funk. With an emphasis on instrumental jamming, each show is different.
The band has two releases out on all streaming services, and is recording their third release “Bus Stop.
RAY GRAHAM LIVE BAND KARAOKE
FABIO FRIZZI
Composer Fabio Frizzi is best known for his eerie scores for European horror movies. A frequent collaborator with Italian horror icon Lucio Fulci from the ’70s into the ’90s on films such as Contraband, The Beyond, and A Cat in the Brain, his music often used analog synthesizers, with their fuzzy sound adding a layer of creepiness to his downbeat melodies. Still incorporating elements of electronic, classical, and rock music into his scores with help from vintage instruments, Frizzi went on to compose music for projects including TV’s Il Capitano (2005), House of Forbidden Secrets (2013), and Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018).
Fabio Frizzi was born in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy on July 2, 1951. As a teenager, he was passionate about both movies and music, and he formed a trio with fellow musicians Franco Bixio and Vince Tempera to write and perform music for movies and TV. In 1968, Frizzi and his partners scored a spaghetti Western, Ed ora… raccomanda l’anima a Dio! (aka And Now, Make Your Peace with God), and by the mid-’70s he was scoring several pictures a year. In 1975, Frizzi was hired to write music for I quattro dell’apocalisse (aka Four of the Apocalypse), a Western directed by journeyman director Lucio Fulci. Four years later, when Fulci was asked to direct a horror film inspired by George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead, he brought Frizzi in to score the picture.
The movie, Zombie (aka Zombi 2), was an international success, and as Fulci’s name became synonymous with gory Italian horror, Frizzi developed an underground following. Frizzi’s scores for City of the Living Dead (aka Paura nella città dei morti viventi), The Beyond (aka …E tu vivrai nel terrore! L’aldilà), Manhattan Baby, and many others made him a cult hero among horror fans. In 2003, Quentin Tarantino paid homage to Frizzi’s work for Fulci, including an excerpt from the score for 1977’s The Psychic (aka Sette note in nero) in the soundtrack to Kill Bill, Vol. 1. Also in the 2000s, Death Waltz Recording Company, an independent label devoted to releasing horror film scores in high-quality editions, began issuing several of Frizzi’s scores, raising his profile even higher among horror fans and collectors of musical esoterica.
His scores for the 2010 short film Beware of the Darkness and the 2013 feature House of Forbidden Secrets were among those issued by Beat Records Company in the 2010s, and in October 2015, Frizzi performed in the United States for the first time when the composer and an eight-piece ensemble staged five North American concerts focusing on his work for Fulci. Featuring Frizzi’s music, the ’70s film Febbre da Cavallo was adapted into a stage musical in the mid-2010s, with a cast recording arriving on Beat Records in 2017, and a year later, his soundtrack for the 2018 horror-comedy Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich saw release on Lakeshore Records. Underscoring his collectability with fans, in 2019, Cadabra Records issued a limited 7″ vinyl collection of “composer’s cut alternative mixes” of tracks from The Beyond. ~ Mark Deming & Marcy Donelson, Rovi
PRIMEVAL WELL
Southern Gothic Black Metal
EXULANSIS
Exulansis forms a nuanced variation of antifascist black metal, anarcho doom, post crust, folk and chamber music by presenting acoustic elements with rapid blast beats, soaring melodies and dark harmonies.
PANOPTICON
Taking inspiration from some of the founding voices of black metal, Louisville, Kentucky-based musician Austin Lunn formed the one-man project Panopticon in 2007. Early albums followed in the footsteps of bands like Darkthrone and Emperor, offering lo-fi production and blistering black metal guitars, with lyrics and liner notes that brimmed over with anarchist politics and extreme leftist ideology. After releasing a self-titled CD in 2008, Panopticon embarked on a series of split releases with like-minded metal acts such as Lake of Blood, Skagos, Wheels Within Wheels, and others. The 2009 full-length Collapse tended toward moodier, more atmospheric sounds laced with political commentary, and it was followed by 2011’s Social Disservices. The 2012 album Kentucky served as a tribute to Lunn’s home state and explored the unlikely marriage of traditional Appalachian tunes and instrumentation like fiddle, banjos, and string bass with the abrasive sounds of black metal. The 2014 full-length Roads to the North further investigated the unlikely union of American folk and cold-hearted black metal.
Autumn Eternal, issued in the fall of 2015, moved away from the folk music variations while blurring the distinctions between black and death metal and hard rock. The only exception was the opening track “Tamarack’s Gold Returns,” which featured Lunn’s acoustic fingerpicking and Johan Becker’s violin. Guests on the Colin Marston-produced set included Petri Eskelinen from Finnish band Rapture and cellist Nostarion from Dämmerfarben. A split album with Germany’s Waldgeflüster appeared on Nordvis in 2016. Also that year, Lunn delivered the compilation Revisions of the Past, which featured significantly remastered versions of On the Subject of Mortality and Social Disservices.
In the spring of 2018, Lunn issued the two-part double album Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness. Physical copies were released separately as part one and two, while the digital version was issued as a continuous album — the way it was designed to be heard. The first half was an intense exercise in atmospheric metal, while the second was more focused on Americana. Lunn, assisted by a considerable cast of musicians, played close to a dozen instruments himself. In 2019, Scars II (The Basics) offered stripped-down demos and alternates of tunes from the Americana half of Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness. Given the mandatory quarantines dictated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lunn released Live Migration as a stopgap.
Lunn released the sprawling, uncharacteristically optimistic …and Again Into the Light in May 2021, weaving together, often seamlessly, Americana, country, and folk with hybridized doom and black metal — often during the same song. While plenty of powerful, black metal atmospherics haunted the arrangements, Lunn’s reliance on melody and lyric harmony were as important as the hope and personal redemption in the lyrics. Following its release, many critics claimed it was the best record in Panopticon’s catalog. 2023’s The Rime of Memory appeared as its mirror image: Lunn played a slew of instruments in sometimes funereal arrangements that rely as much on texture and ambience as buzzing guitars and incendiary blastbeats. The six songs total more than 75 minutes in duration. ~ Fred Thomas, Rovi
DANNY SEVERANCE & THE DINOSAURS
Danny Severance & the Dinosaurs present The Purple EP Featuring singles “Move Me” and “Nice” Also performing: The Easy Riders (Peoria, IL) King Crybaby JJ Smith Singer, violinist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Danny Severance played violin classically from a young age until the long time Beatles and oldies fan started to channel soul in his late teens. After fronting bands in Illinois, NYC, Los Angeles, Orlando, Danny is back to Chicago, recording a new EP now slated for release in summer 2024. In January, Danny put out a new blues indie rock single “Make Believe” on all streaming platforms and plans to release new pop/soul single “Nice” in June 2024.
THE EASY RIDERS
Easy Riders are based out of Peoria IL, but the sounds from their music make you think you are in the blues clubs of Chicago, like you attended free music in Golden Gate Park in the 60’s. Sounds of Jerry Garcia, Duane Allman & Derek Trucks slide guitar ring through the air also, the Master sticks of Buddy Rich & the vintage 70’s bass of John Paul Jones. Commanding Lead & vocal Harmonies make the band sound bigger than they truly are. Music that hits the SOUL!
Lead guitar/singer Mike Miller writes from the point of view of outcasts and beatniks, bringing his own perspective and wit to his traveling experiences throughout the country. With a smoky voice self-trained on blues classics, West coast music, & southern slide guitar. A rhythm section combines a vintage sound with some of the best musicians in the Midwest region.
JJ SMITH
From Chicago. JJ Smith combines a dynamic vocal range with unique song structures to create his own spin on modern songwriting.
Bearing influence from artists such as; Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake, The Decemberists, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, Hozier & Madison Cunningham… Smith’s songs are about the inevitable troubles we face in this world, and how we decide to let them shape us.
In 2024 he and his band are busy recording a plethora of new songs. Find him on Instagram at @jjsmithmusic to stay in the loop!
KING CRYBABY
King Crybaby is a Chicago visionary artist crafting sultry melodic tunes and heartfelt lyrics. With a passion for storytelling, King Crybaby weaves narratives that resonate on a personal level, offering solace and connection on life’s journey. In her diverse repertoire, she effortlessly transitions between playful raps, soulful songs, and insightful writing, inviting listeners to embrace the shared experience of being human for the first time. Through the highs and lows, King Crybaby’s music seeks to bring joy and comfort, bridging the gap between the light and shadow of our emotions.
THE NIKHIL KORULA BAND
Singer-songwriter-instrumentalist Nikhil Korula has weathered many highs and lows during a 20-plus year career. Many of the tracks on this full length release spotlight an unbridled verve and spirit that’s refreshingly transparent. Korula writes from the heart and draws from an eclectic pool of musical delights. “Survive—Just Let Love” is a multi-dimensional piece that targets overcoming hardship. The timely title track addresses socio-political issues that are emerging as we speak. “All Night” shifts gears, with a sexy and soulful Ray Charles meets Dr. John inspired ballad. Fans of Dave Matthews, Little Feat and world beat will find joy as well. – Eric Harabadian
SCHOOL OF ROCK GENEVA
School of Rock in Geneva is proud to offer music classes to help teach our community and surrounding areas such as Batavia, St. Charles (called the Tri-Cities), West Chicago, Elburn, Aurora, and South Elginhow to play instruments with skill and confidence. We teach everything from keyboard to bass guitar, songwriting, and vocals for all levels. At School of Rock, students can perform live shows and develop their musical ability in a supportive and encouraging learning environment. For budding musicians, they can study at School of Rock and rise to the skills of playing at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles or onto the large music hub of Chicago, a great spot for emerging artists.
SCHOOL OF ROCK PLAINFIELD
Every day, we watch our students grow from beginner musicians to confident and inspiring rock stars in their community. Browse photos, videos, posts and more to find out why School of Rock Plainfield is more than just your local music school.
SCHOOL OF ROCK SCHAUMBURG
Every day, we watch our students grow from beginner musicians to confident and inspiring rock stars in their community. Browse photos, videos, posts and more to find out why School of Rock Schaumburg is more than just your local music school.
SCHOOL OF ROCK HIGHWOOD
Every day, we watch our students grow from beginner musicians to confident and inspiring rock stars in their community. Browse photos, videos, posts and more to find out why School of Rock Highwood is more than just your local music school.
SCHOOL OF ROCK EVANSTON
With over 325 schools and 62,000 students worldwide, School of Rock knows how to make incredible musicians. Whether an absolute beginner or a budding rockstar, School of Rock students will achieve the next level of musical proficiency. How? Our patented performance-based education system, the School of Rock Method™ includes individual lessons, group rehearsals and live performances, all with the goal of getting our students on stage performing at a real rock show at a real music venue.
WARFILTH
A bunch of old koonts and a young un making some filthy noise.
HELLFROST
Hellhammer / Celtic Frost worship
Apocalyptic Tales
MORS VITAQUE
Dungeon synth merging the old and new worlds in a celebration of life and death.
SOMBRE ARCANE
Sombre Arcane weave illusionary spells to recount events and places from different worlds and planes of existence.
Phranick: Spells
Naginah: Strings
SAVE FERRIS
Save Ferris is a ska-punk band formed in Orange County, California circa 1995. Their name is a reference to the 1986 film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Lead by the inimitable front-woman Monique Powell, the band enjoyed mainstream success in the late 1990s with radio hits, constant touring and appearances on a variety of television shows and movies.
The band released their debut EP “Introducing Save Ferris” on Powell’s own Starpool Records, in 1996. They ended up selling close to 20,000 copies of their EP out of the trunks of their cars, thanks to loyal fans and huge support from Orange County independent record shops. That same year, Powell provided vocals on the Reel Big Fish song “She Has A Girlfriend Now” on their album “Turn the Radio Off” (Mojo).
ALAIN JOHANNES
The list of musicians that Alain Johannes has worked with reads like an encyclopedia of California rock history. In high school he was in bands with Flea, Hillel Slovak, Jack Irons and Anthony Kiedis, all of whom would form the Red Hot Chili Peppers.Later Alain formed Elevenwith Natasha Shneider and Jack Irons. They toured with Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, and for several years recorded and toured with Queens of the Stone Age. As a writer, producer and engineer, Alain has worked with Chris Cornell, No Doubt, Mark Lanegan, Jimmy Eat World, Queens of the Stone Age, Brody Dalle and Arctic Monkeys. Alain has been a touring member of PJ Harvey’s band, as well as Them Crooked Vultures which featured Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, and John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin. As a composer, Alain has written music for films such as “Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis” and for video games such as Tom Clancy’s “Ghost Recon Wildlands.” Alain was part of the Sound City Players which performed in connection with the documentary, “Sound City.” Alain co-wrote and performed “A Trick With No Sleeve” with Dave Grohl and Josh Homme for the movie and the soundtrack. Alain recently finished his third solo album, ‘Hum,’ while also teaming up for the Alain Johannes Trio with brothers Felo and Cote Foncea, accomplished musicians in their home country of Chile. The first release is “Luna A Sol” featuring guest vocalist Mike Patton.
MUTILATION BARBECUE
From the fertile death beds of Ohio rises Mutilation Barbecue. Spawned in 2019 from the ashes of death-thrash rippers Subtype Zero (who also gave birth to 200 Stab Wounds), the band featured Nick Mcgroder and Peter Blanchet on guitar, Dylan Andras on bass, Chris Frederick on vocals and Harrison Good on drums. Upon the release of their self-titled EP (2021) the band stormed onto the local Ohio scene with devestating riffs, horrific lyrics and an explosive live show. Their unique style of catchy, groovy death metal landed them under the Maggot Stomp umbrella. 2022 saw the release of their “Abortion Ambulance” single followed by extensive local shows opening for everyone from Frozen Soul to Sanguisugabogg to tours with Gates to Hell and Hanging Fortress and an appearance at Full Terror Assault Open Air Festival. With a year of shows under their belt, Mutilation Barbecue entered the studio in the summer of 2023 to work on their debut LP, “Amalgamations of Gore.” Mixed and mastered by Will Killingsworth at Dear Air Studios with cover art by Colter Masson the album is set to release on March 29th via Maggot Stomp.
TWOCELL
Lauren Kenyon (Twocell) began her minimalist indie-rock mischief in her childhood bedroom while being trapped by the suffocation that only living in a small town in Colorado can bring. Starting with her phone and the garageband app, she slowly developed her sore-throat style that only the D.I.Y approach can elevate. The Twocell sound has been likened to that of simplistic folk rock following artists like Alex G, Angel Olsen, and Jackie Cohen. With poetic yet bare lyrics that capture the feeling of loneliness along with distorted guitar, she is able to create a reminiscent sound landscape.
ZHUZH GIRLS
Zhuzh Girls is a songwriting duo with Asher Sizemore on the cello and Jennifer Femme on vocals/guitar. Zhuzh Girls love to walk the lines between dramatic and camp, silly and sincere, passionate and playful. These small town divas started performing together after winning the Chicago Music Scene’s 2023 Pride Show competition, and have been performing regularly as a duo ever since. Stay in touch on Instagram @zhuzhgirls for updates about shows and their upcoming debut EP.
DOGS WITH HATS
LIFE LOOKS GOOD
Chicago Pop Punk Band
MARC ALAN PRINCE
Marc-Alan Prince is a punk rock singer/songwriter who has toured the globe playing his acoustic guitar. This nomad sings with his heart and encourages everyone to sing along! His high energy and catchy tunes make it easy for everyone to become part of his show.
RED AT NIGHT
After more than 10 years on the road with his punk rock band “Rebels’ Bay”, Al decided to unplug his electric guitar and dive into his acoustic.
With a touch of Americana, never giving up the punk rock roots, and an hopeless romantic soul, his new singer/songwriter project “Red At Night” tells stories about love and life.
Red At Night’s first album “Empty Seats” was recorded, produced and mixed during the summer of 2022 by Davide Rosati at ACME recording studio in Raiano, Italy, and then released through the Italian label Indelirium Records on February 24th 2023.
Red At Night released a brand new single, “Long Road Ahead” on October 6th 2023
CULTURA POP
Experience the magic of Soda Stereo like never before with Cultura Pop, the ultimate tribute band dedicated to honoring Argentina’s legendary musical icons. Get ready to be transported back in time as Cultura Pop faithfully recreates the electrifying energy and timeless music that made Soda Stereo a cultural phenomenon. Join us for an unforgettable celebration of latinamerican musical heritage with Cultura Pop, the definitive Soda Stereo tribute.
Z.A.T.O
Jeremy Sorenson – guitar/vocal
Kareem Rabie – guitar
Arman Mabry – bass/vocal
Jeff Rice- drums
Recorded and mixed by David Wolf
March/April 2024
SOFTSPOKEN
New song “I Against Me” out now!
Founded as a solo passion project by guitarist Chris Wethington while living abroad in Japan, Softspoken transformed into a fully-fledged band in 2016 shortly after his return to the US. They released their first EP “Pathways” – produced by Cameron Mizell (see: Sleeping With Sirens, Memphis May Fire) – in 2017, and have continued to blur the lines between post-hardcore, metalcore, and alternative rock since.
The band’s sophomore release, 2019’s “Deaf Perception” – produced by Matt Goldman (see: Underoath, As Cities Burn, etc.) – landed within the Top 20 on two different Billboard charts; but it was their third release in 2021’s “Where the Heart Belongs” with hit tracks “Sleight of Hand” and “Bones” that fully established Softspoken within the greater core scene.
Over the past seven years, Softspoken has toured across the US and supported acts such as Eyes Set To Kill, Makari, Nonpoint, Picturesque, A Skylit Drive, Until I Wake; has collaborated with artists such as Rory Rodriguez of Dayseeker (“I Feel Fire”), and ALESTI (“Closer”); and made festival appearances at Welcome to Rockville (2021), Rock Fest (2024), and Havoc Fest (2024).
Dedicated to writing impassioned music that reinforces the idea of being true to yourself, and not letting others determine your self-worth, Softspoken show no sign of slowing down any time soon.
Learn more about the band, and join their free music community @ www.softspokenmusic.com.
CLEMENTINE
“Clementine is a grunge/emo/punk band originally from Rockford, IL, now relocated to Milwaukee, WI. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Joe Altamore, lead guitarist Bennett Gillies, bassist Mackenzie (Mack) Sima, and drummer Oliver Wink. Probably the most energetic band of the evening, a mosh pit began up front during Clementine’s set, making the floor wobble. ‘Some dude kicked my pedal board, but it stayed on so that was pretty tight,’ Gillies chuckled. Clementine have been a band since the late 2000’s, originally Altamore, Sima, and Gillies with drummer Max Christofferson. They moved to Milwaukee for college, and prefer Milwaukee’s music scene for its opportunities and voluntary support from the scene. Their first show here was in JJ Kaiser’s basement. Altamore gave some backstory. “I think what really spurred it was, I had an ex-girlfriend that I was dating on and off for like eight years and she’d asked me why we didn’t go with the name “Clementine”, and so I’d think about it and flirt with the idea. She died in a car accident and it was horrible… I think that was what solidified us playing as Clementine. When shitty things like that happen to you, you have no choice. You can either implode or you can do something constructive, and this is what made sense to us.” Altamore shares what the band’s working on now. “We have two LPs, and one was originally going to be two EPs. We’re releasing that first one with singles and we’re excited to do that.”
WAR ON WOMEN
Baltimore’s War On Women were born screaming—at the world, at the status quo, in the face of oppression.
Riff-fueled manifestos are nothing new for War On Women. The co-ed feminist punk troupe has been tackling injustice one song at a time since their 2010 inception. Storming out the gate with teeth gnashing and spitting venom, War On Women’s self-titled 2015 debut crossbred riot grrrl ferocity with the nimble aggression of thrash. Hailed for their crystalline jabs at societal ills, War On Women prove that hardcore can incite change that ripples far beyond the parameters of the stage.
With hundreds of shows and years of activism behind them, Capture The Flag finds War On Women more dogged than ever. The band’s sophomore effort delves into injustices at both the macro and micro levels. Religious subjugation, gun violence, armchair activists, gender orgasm gap, female genital mutilation, the fetishization of motherhood, and toxic relationships—no breed of oppression defies War On Women’s purview. Recorded with J Robbins in Magpie Cage Recording Studio, Capture The Flag finds the band in their sonic wheelhouse, wedged somewhere between rebellious and rousing.
War On Women are neither a crew of young bucks nor a contagion of seasoned legends. They don’t fit neatly into metalloid machismo or hulking hardcore tropes. They have nothing to prove, and there’s nothing more delightfully dangerous than that.
PAIGE AND THE KIZERS
Paige and the Kizers are a live band product of the original music written by the band’s creator and lead singer Paige Kizer. The group embraces authenticity and human connection through live performance. Paige and the Kizers have played several Chicago live venues such as Reggies, Cubby Bear, Montrose Saloon, Gallery Cabaret and Epiphany. Every member brings a spark of creativity and bright spirit to every show.
WE WEREN’T INVITED
DIY Punk est. 2021.
We Weren’t Invited is Johnny Wynne (vocals), Isaac Rodriquez (guitar), Walker Wilson (drums), Clinton Coronado (bass) and Michael Locascio
THANKFUL DEAD
Chicago-based Grateful Dead tribute featuring some of the area’s top musicians.
BLK ODYSSY
BLK ODYSSY project is pushed by liberation. On his first album under this new moniker, titled BLK VINTAGE, BLK ODYSSY―born and raised in Plainfield, NJ, based in Austin, TX― dives into his personal history as a Black musician and the world he’s grown up around. It’s an album deeply informed by individual experiences but applied to the plight of Black Americans everywhere. Even when the album chooses smooth vibes and laid back lyrics in favor of overt activism, there’s a philosophical bent that inspires BLK ODYSSY’s work. BLK VINTAGE is inspired by a few key moments and artists. There’s the death of BLK ODYSSY’s brother, who was killed at the hands of police officers while BLK ODYSSY was living in New Jersey. It’s the seminal moment of BLK ODYSSY’s life, the moment he was forced to become an adult and reckon with the harsh reality of being Black in America. It fuels everything he does, especially his activism.
After making a name for himself as an Americana musician, BLK ODYSSY decided to ditch the popularity he gained in favor of creating music that would reflect his own experiences and worldview. The result is BLK ODYSSY, and this first project, BLK VINTAGE, moves with the urgency of an artist finally realizing their true sound. “I want to create something that will be culturally impactful for my people. I want to do something that is impactful on a larger scale, something that is for groups of Black people across the country.” There’s “1980,” which slinks with the rich funk-soul of artists like Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge, but BLK ODYSSY’s half-rapped cadence is wholly unique and utterly intoxicating. The moments of levity hit equally as hard as the work refracted through the trauma BLK ODYSSY has experienced. Still, though, BLK ODYSSY has the rare ability to present multiple sides of himself. “Hang Low” is a sultry love jam, strutting with velvet harmonies and a bass line straight out of the Pino Palladino school of indestructible grooves.
The good times occasionally give way to introspection and remembrance, though. The death of BLK ODYSSY’s brother makes its way into the powerful “Drinking Good,” but he balances it with a desire to inspire the next generation. “My goal is to connect with the black youth, and my goal is to connect with my people and speak to them on a level where we can stop suffering from happening,” he explains. “There’s only so much we can do for the dead. This record asks: ‘How can we stop this from happening again?'” Though the music is deeply tied to BLK ODYSSY’s own identity, he speaks a universal music in his language, one easily relatable for those that want to see a better world.
Neo-soul artists like D’Angelo and socially conscious MCs like Kendrick Lamar are clear touchstones, but BLK ODYSSY also takes cues from the celebratory funk of Parliament who also came from Plainfield, on tracks like “Funketology.” “All the musicians that I grew up with are relatives of Parliament members. We grew up in that culture, it inspires who we are,” explains BLK ODYSSY. This potent combination of politically-charged street anthems, party-ready funk jams, and top-down, head-nodding beats makes BLK VINTAGE a sterling debut and one of the most powerful and timely releases of the year. BLK ODYSSY speaks to his predecessors, but the new concoction is all his own. It’s a triumphant testament to Black power, a message to the kids that look like him that there’s someone in their corner. “The Black youth has been poisoned numb because of the shit we have to deal with,” BLK ODYSSY explains. “I want to speak to our experiences and let people know it’s okay to shed that layer and really, truly feel.”
K-NEIN BAND
K-Nein is a six piece Americana Band playing in the tradition of The Grateful Dead, The Band, and Paul Simon with deep roots in improvisational music as well as composition.
K-Nein’s third and most recent studio album Magic, Myth, and Rhyme is available on all streaming platforms. During quarantine the band also performed a faithful recreation of the legendary Shakedown Street album with videos on Youtube and audio on streaming platforms.
THE CASH BOX KINGS & OSCAR WILSON
With deep feeling and top-shelf talent, houserocking blues masters The Cash Box Kings play tough, real deal classic Chicago blues with boundless energy. They also deliver raw, passionate Delta blues, jumping proto-rock ‘n’ roll, and steamrolling “bluesabilly,” their original mix of Chicago blues and Memphis rockabilly. As anyone who has ever been to one of the band’s raucous performances will testify, The Cash Box Kings know how to throw a party. They’re fueled by the powerhouse harmonica work of Madison, Wisconsin-based songwriter Joe Nosek and the huge, gritty vocals of Chicago bluesman Oscar Wilson. Their original songs range from humorous stories of Internet love to harrowing tales of Chicago’s violent gun epidemic. Every song they perform—be it a striking original or a scorching Chess, Sun or Vee-Jay cover—explodes with contemporary authority and radiates old-school authenticity. According to Grammy Award-winning blues legend Charlie Musselwhite, “The Cash Box Kings play with real taste and feel. Not only is it good blues but it’s a jumping good time, too! I ain’t lyin’!”
MIKAELA BRIELLE
ANI MARI
Singer-songwriter Ani Mari’s debut solo album, girlfriend, explores the ambiguities of coming of age in a beautifully precarious world. Across ten warmly combative tracks, her songs fight for grace and connection amidst the anxieties, desires, heartbreaks, and oftentimes wearying joie de vivre of being young in America’s heartland.
Though just 21-years-old, Ani Mari has been performing solo and with her folk duo, Ani & Kora, around her home state of Michigan for almost a decade, along the way sharing stages with The Accidentals, Lindsay Lou, May Erlewine, and Joshua Davis, among many others. On tracks like “whitefish bay” and “the prettiest things,” listeners will hear echoes of the forests and waters of the Upper Peninsula where she was raised, and the bluegrass and folk musical influences she grew up around. While the title track, “girlfriend,” might triangulate Ani Mari’s current temperature somewhere between Liz Phair, Waxahachee, and Ratboys, comparisons ultimately fall short. Compelling, alive, humming, and hungry, her indie-folk songwriting is 100% original, and definitely not to be missed.
girlfriend was produced, recorded, and mixed by Erik Koskinen, mastered by Tom Garneau, and released by production house Real-Phonic Records, St. Paul, Minnesota. Songs by Ani Mari (guitar, banjo, lead vocals). Backing musicians include long-time collaborator Kora Melia (violin, mandolin, backing vocals), Michael Michaud (bass), Jack Harris (drums), Ruby Howard (cello, backing vocals), and Koskinen (guitar).
When not traveling and performing, Ani Mari lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she attends the University of Michigan.
CHARLIE ADDIS DJ
