88 Fingers Louie is a band from Chicago, Illinois which was formed in 1993. They play a style of hardcore punk, melodic hardcore, and punk rock. In 1993 they released their debut 7”, Go Away. They released several albums, their last effort being a split album with Kid Dynamite. After disbanding in 1999, members Joe Principe and Dan Wleklinski went on to form punk rock band Rise Against.
88 Fingers Louie reformed in 2009 and have been playing shows from Groezrock in Belgium, to Rockfest in Canada, and a few shows back home in Chicago.

Hailing from Chicago and the UK, CRUSADER is relatively new to the metal scene in Chicago, although they are all veterans of playing live music, having only been officially a band since spring of 2010. Tired of hearing run-of-the-mill corporate produced ‘metal’, CRUSADER decided to raise the flag and rally the troops to their banner.
Raised on classic rock, speed metal and thrash through to doom, and everything in between and beyond, CRUSADER proudly and unashamedly wear their influences on their sleeves.
Early 2011 saw the release of CRUSADER’s self released EP ‘Rise of the Templars’ which has received rave reviews:
‘If you close your eyes, you can picture hundreds of spiked gauntlets, punching the sky, lock step, united in war against poseurs. When the song takes off, it’s a groove thrasher with crooning vocals that reminds me a lot Death Angel’ – American Aftermath Webzine
‘Rise of the Templars’ is one great epic metal release, I do love the bass sound, this is indeed everything I want from a metal release in all fairness right down to the Grave Digger inspired EP cover artwork. The gauntlet is laid down and the challenge is accepted. Setting their stall out to emulate the metal giants (credit vidovic at dhead tech), Crusader makes a good account of themselves and I for one simply love this EP’ – Brutalism Webzine
‘This is prime NWOBHM inspired heavy metal taking you back to the days of Black Axe and Angel Witch…’ – Powerplay UK Magazine
‘Their NWOBHM sound, the epic-driven song titles and the cool performance are enough to guarantee you that you are gonna have great time when these guys are onstage. During their 30 minutes’ performance, I enjoyed “Templar” and “Asgard’s Fire” and the sure thing is that I’m going to dig their EP asap. Just a perfect way to warm up for ANVIL’s invasion, don’t ya think? – Metal Kaoz review – show with ANVIL
2012 will see the band recording their full length album and taking their sound all over the country. Think of a Crusader tank driving over a minefield littered with the skulls of the enemy dead…they’re taking it back to the roots: Drinking beers, throwing the horns and playing metal…

4 sweaty dads playing punk rock with constant pummeling banter mostly pertaining to collective soul and hatebreed.

Start with a boil, add 4 cups punk rock, 2 cups of speed, a teaspoon of ska, two pounds of melody and you’ve got a tall glass of Get Up & Go. Four over-caffeinated dudes from Chicago with bad jokes and some tunes that’ll put some bear on your chest and the criminal back in your life.