Long regarded as a haven for electric blues, power pop, and even metal, Chicago served as surprisingly fertile soil for the speedy growth of Lucky Boys Confusion. The five-piece ska-punk outfit — Kaustubh Pandav (vocals), Adam Krier (co-vocalist, guitar), Ryan Fergus (drums), Jason Shultejann (bass), and Joe Sell (guitar) — formed in 1997 when Pandav and Krier began writing songs together. The pair drew from punk, rap, and reggae to create an infectious ska-punk sound that combines Pandav’s Latin melodies with Krier’s Beastie Boys-influenced rap.

Recruiting members from their previous bands, Pandav and Krier formed Lucky Boys Confusion and began to perform at house parties and YMCAs in Chicago’s western suburbs. The band’s first recorded effort was a four-song EP, What Gets Me High, released on their own Townstyle label in 1997. The Lucky Boys’ tales of suburban teen life proved popular and the band followed in 1998 with the full-length Growing Out of It, again released on Townstyle. The 17-track Growing Out of It included the four songs from What Gets Me High, along with new material written almost exclusively by the team of Pandav and Krier.

As the Lucky Boys’ following grew in Chicago, “Dumb Pop Song,” a single from Growing Out of It, found its way into regular rotation on Q101, Chicago’s influential alternative rock station. With regular radio play, the band’s fan base exploded and suburban house parties gave way to headlining gigs at the House of Blues and the legendary Metro. Fueled by the popularity of “Dumb Pop Song,” Growing Out of It went on to sell over 6,000 copies. An EP, The Soapbox Spectacle, was released on Townstyle in March 2000 and the band eventually signed with Elektra Records. Lucky Boys Confusion’s major-label debut, Throwing the Game, was released in May 2001, featuring the college radio favorite, “Fred Astaire.” Commitment followed three years later. Some of their hookiest material to date, the guys made minor waves on national radio and television with “Hey Driver,” but with Elektra’s subsequent demise, the band soon found itself labeless.

Undeterred, the Lucky Boys embraced the DIY aesthetic and spent the next few years opening and headlining tours relentlessly across the country. As a result, the band’s underground following stayed loyal. Working on various songs on the road, they next released the EP How to Get Out Alive in June 2006 on their own Townstyle Records, an imprint of Reincarnate (Sony/BMG). To celebrate the EP’s release, the band played a five-night stand at Chicago’s Beat Kitchen before heading out on nationwide dates with Bowling for Soup, Punchline, and the Army of Freshmen.

Swizzle Tree definitely has an interesting name, which in a strange way defines the style of the band…Interesting. Soaring melodies, crunchy guitars, magnetic harmonies, a solid rhythm section and strange personalities make up the unique sound of this infectious rock band. Born and bred in Chicago/Downers Grove, Il – Swizzle Tree’s members are no strangers to music. With influences ranging from the Beatles to Weezer and Alkaline Trio to Material Issue, the band shows no signs of weakness. Steve, Saarang, Todish, and Jiggles all went to high school together at Downers Grove South in Downers Grove, Illinois. Working together at a retirement home, Saarang, Steve and Todish became quick friends – getting high and serving ‘old’ people food is a good form of bonding…and getting high is too. Sooner than later, they did what every clan of tight-knit teenager’s did…started a band!!! After luring Jiggles in, and releasing their self-titled album, Swizzle Tree(2001), featuring the song Green Eyed Fool mixed by Grammy-nominated producer Johnny K (Disturbed, Plain White T’s, Avenged Sevenfold), and selling a few thousand copies, the Tree started playing bigger and better shows in Chicago. With the release of Play On(2003), a new-improved music machine started branching out through the Midwest, building up markets and making new friends. After a lot of hard work, a lot of agonizing van trips with no A/C, and a radio add in Council Bluffs, IA/Omaha, NE ~ the Tree saw a steadily growing fan-base and surge in record sales. With the track Marc’s Car becoming a hit on Council Bluffs, IA based KIWR (89.7 The River), the band sold close to 10,000 copies of Play On throughout the Midwest. Which spawned the release of Here We Are(2006) on Areena Records, and the independent release of No Really I’m Happy(2008). Swizzle Tree knows what they want to do in life: Play music!!!

Once hailing from East Lansing, MI, Mason’s Case now based out of Chicago, IL has an eclectic sound and a live energetic stage show that has won over audiences wherever they happen to take the stage.

Blending elements of hard rock, acoustic folk, punk, and blues, Mason’s Case has broken out of the typical college-rock mold where they first began to transforming themselves into a band that has been lucky and grateful enough to play the House of Blues in Chicago as part of I AM FEST headlining that event two times in a row as well as countless shows, tours, and three studio releases. What is Greatest in Life, The Gloom, and their most recent release Trust Me.

Armed with her hand-me-down ’78 Gibson Les Paul and powerhouse vocals that could shake walls, Chicago singer/songwriter Aly Jados performs with everything she’s got — her heart and soul and sweat and tears. Her voice is raw, soulful and bluesy with a rough edge, while her lyrics weave a story that almost everyone can relate to. Since the tender age of 13, Aly has been forging her way as a musician, playing screeching guitar solos in punk and metal bands, while dreaming of rock and roll stardom. But her impressive pipes were the reason she was hand-selected to compete in front of a national audience on Fox’s popular talent search “American Idol” in 2011, and NBC’s hit vocal competition “The Voice” in 2012. Still, Aly has kept her eye on the prize and her home-town roots strong, playing monthly residencies to her loyal fans all throughout the city while continuing to write and record. She recently even enlisted a few of her biggest fans to act as extra’s in the music video for her gritty rock single “Waiting,” which has caused an online buzz with its dark imagery and hauntingly catchy hooks. Aly’s debut EP Don’t Come Easy was recorded and released by Cassette Company Records in February 2012, and most nights you still can catch her, with her trusty Les Paul slung over her shoulder by a Kiss guitar strap, rocking rooms all throughout Chicago.