When you come from the middle of nowhere, it can sometimes seem like it’s going to be impossible to make it out alive. It was this feeling of helplessness that created the environment necessary for songwriter David Costa to craft his artform. Hailing from the Chicago suburbs of Northwest Indiana, Costa has built a reputation for delivering thoughtful hip-hop lyrics over a dynamic “genre free” soundtrack. In the process, creating an exciting live show unlike anything in music today and winning over diverse audiences every step of the way.
With inspirations ranging from Kanye West to Faith No More–from Eminem to The Used–from Michael Jackson to OutKast…the result is an aggressive verbal assault on modern day hip-hop. The lyrics are honest, the vocals have an original flow and delivery, and the music is a perfect blend of traditional hip-hop beats mixed with stylistic rock-n-roll melodies.
On His debut full length album ‘The Starving Artist’, Costa touches on a number of social, spirtual, and philosophical topics over the sound of 808 drums and an eclectic blend of live instrumentation. The result is a full-blown hip-hop concept album that tells the tale of an aspiring young songwriter, struggling to find his purpose in life and make a name for himself in the music industry. Complete with character development and plot twists, the songs read like a novel; and are in chronological chapter form. Additionally, ‘The Starving Artist’ is “Part II” of a trilogy of albums, leaving the listener anticipating the beginning of the story and also wondering how the story will end.
With a resume that includes the annual Bamboozle Festival in New Jersey, South by Southwest, Chicagos’ Q101 Jamboree, and The Vans Warped Tour; Costa has shared the stage with Artists ranging from industry favorites My Chemical Romance and Travie McCoy to independent Acts such as Reggie and The Full Effect and Chicago rap legend Twista. 2014 is looking to be a busy year for Costa as He continues to tour in support of His self-released debut, as well as write and record the follow up “prequel” to ‘The Starving Artist’. The future of hip-hop has arrived…and His name is David Costa !
Since bursting on to the midwestern music scene with the band High and Lonesome in 1992, David Zollo has had a busy career. Along with constant touring, in the U.S and Europe, with High and Lonesome (1992-1998;) and his current band, The Body Electric (1998-present) Zollo has recorded 7 releases of his own material, including the most recent, “For Hire.” The current iteration of the band is his longest running, all four members playing together for a decade or more. It consists of Brian Cooper (drums, percussion,) Ryan Bernemann (bass guitar, harmony vocals,) and Randall Davis (electric, acoustic, and pedal steel guitars,” all of whom are some of the most in-demand musicians in the state of Iowa.
In addition, he founded and operated the seminal, Iowa-based, roots music label, Trailer Records (Bo Ramsey; Joe and Vicki Price; Greg Brown; The Pines; Brother Trucker; Kelly Parkeooper; Pieta Brown, as well as his own work, and that of others, from 1994-2006;) played keyboards and sang harmonies on many records by Nashville folk singer Todd Snider; fellow Iowan William Elliot Whitmore, and Greg Brown, amongst many other artists; and worked as a producer (The Pines; Brother Trucker; Kelly Pardekooper.) In 2017, he also formed a new band with Whitmore, guitarists Stephen Howard and Steve Doyle, and Body Electric drummer Brian Cooper, called Middle Western. Their debut release, When Your Demons Are Under Ground And You’ve Got To Dig Them Up. was recorded at Lone Tree, Iowa’s Flat Black Studios, with Luke Tweedy, and was released in 2018. They are currently working on their second record, which should be available in late 2023.
In 2017, David was asked to lead a delegation lobbying Senator Charles Grassley on behalf of the Allocation for Music Producers (AMP) Act. Introduced as House Resolution 881, it required a corresponding bill in the U.S. Senate. Accompanied by Daryl Friedman, from the RIAA, and children’s songwriter Justin Roberts, Zollo invited his friend, and Des Moines-based entertainment attorney, Brandon Clark, and the group met with Senator Grassley at a town hall meeting in Bloomfield, Ia. Since the only way they could get the meeting with the Senator was to have some of his constituents from Iowa there to speak, Zollo and Clark were the main drivers in what turned out to be a very successful visit. Grassley not only supported the bill, but he ended up co-sponsoring the Senate version, and in early 2018, the joint bill was passed as the Music Modernization Act. The meeting was such a success, that David Zollo has been asked to lobby Senator Grassley again, in 2020, and US Representative Ashely Hinson, also in 2020, for consideration of various topics of interest to the RIAA.
Despite the many things Zollo has done during his career, it is as a live performer that many feel he’s at his best. Check him out at a venue near you, or visit www.davezollo.com for a list of upcoming shows.
DEAD STEEL MILL, originally formed in 1986,consisted of original members DOGWOOD SANDALSEN,AND CORNELIO RAMIREZ.sludge played as a temp drummer in ’86,and that is why i’ve created this page(because they did’nt have one).the songs that you’ll hear are from “JUST GOT LAID OFF”,released in 1996,with STEVE SALKA,on bass,and ROMAN on drums.and their 2nd release,”SWEATSHOP”,with roman’s younger brother,ROB,playing drums,and CHRIS on bass.their lyrics are about real-life situations,working a shitty job,getting laid off of a shitty job,health problems,corruption in society,etc.etc.-the pretty much run the whole gamut in the genre “punk rock”we are a band who speaks a voice for the working class!!!!!!! we just reformed with JIM SLUDGE on drums we’ve just recently added STEVE FINK of PONZI SCHEME and CHUM,on bass,and we just recorded a new song “CHICKEN ASSASIN” with scott nozicka,at columbia college’s recording facility,and we are on a mission to pulverize the minds of the chicago punk underground,and beyond!!!!!!!you will hear our wrath and shit yer’ pants!!!!!!,SORRY TO SAY,ON JULY 26TH,AFTER A KILLER SHOW AT PORTER’S TAP,OUR GUITARIST GOT ALL SALTY,AND QUIT THE BAND!!!!!!!!,SO MUCH FOR FIVE MONTHS OF HARD WORK!!!!!!!!.
DEAD TO FALL
Dead to Fall finished their 10 year career on May 24th 2009 at the Metro Chicago with 10 members throughout their history performing. Matt Matera, Justin Jakimiak, Antone Jones, Timothy Java, Logan Kelly, Chad Fjerstad, Phil Merriman, Bryan Lear, Dan Craig and Jonathan Hunt played to a crowd of over 1,000 fans one last time that night. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of.
BACKSTAGE.com says…”Hasta La Muerte” is a cd you can sink your fangs into without worrying about some sappy lil’ boy begging his boyfriend to come back to his pathetic whining ass before he jumps off a bridge!”
Chicago Hip-Hop Props Award-Winner Anthony Di’Angelo Ingram, Jr. or “D2G” as he’s called in the Hip-Hop scene, is a laborer in music all around. Growing up on the southeast side of Chicago, 2G would always relate any life situation to a song that would describe his emotion at the time. Inspired by artists like Rakim, KRS-One, and Slick Rick, he began writing at age 11 and would later transform his writings into songs. Graduating from Hyde Park Academy in 2005, he would find himself enrolled into Columbia College Chicago, where he became fascinated by the artistic environment. This atmosphere would later introduce 2G to various artists and producers.
A focused emcee in his own right, D2G seeks to bring glory back to his hometown of Chicago and earn his rightful place among hip-hop’s elite. Since releasing his first solo project in 2011, The Blood Diamond Tape, and his first album in 2013, July 9th: A Cancer Story, D2G has been performing and promoting his music across the city. After releasing his critically acclaimed sophomore effort, Short Summers Long Winters, in 2015, D2G went on to win the Chicago Props Award for Best Male Emcee. His latest effort, The Next Hot Day, brings the emcee back to his storytelling roots as he produces the sequel to his first “audiofilm”. There seems to be end in sight for this emcee’s emcee.
Who is the Daikaiju??? Premium action heroes deliver most high rocket music! Special reverb skill combo for full impact! Loud sonic boom for earful pleasure! Beautiful radiation of hyper-dimensional springy sound creates divine psychic wind for your special protection. Worship Psycho-surf band Daikaiju daily for good luck and health!
Dance Gavin Dance is a six-member post-hardcore/experimental band from Sacramento, California. They were formed out of the dissolution of several other bands including Farewell Unknown, Ghost Runner on Third and Atherton. Jonny Craig and Sean O’Sullivan joined in 2005 and early 2006 to complete the line-up.They self-released their first EP, “Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean,” during the summer of 2006. Shortly afterwards, they were approached and then signed by Rise Records and the EP was re-released with the Rise and Victory labels on November 14th, 2006. Their full length CD, titled “Downtown Battle Mountain,” came out on May 15th.
Dark Fog was created in 2003 by Ray Donato, former member of Grout Villa and The Unshown to express a musical vision tied to the paradigm of Psychedelic Rock music in the new millennium
Pure fuggin’ godhead hardcore punk rock! No metal, no pop, just straight-up hardcore punk. Four anthems of checking out of society and not giving a fuck who cares. This stuff sounds legit and not some part time pose. Fast, pissed, and catchier than hell. “Shootin Glue” will burrow its way into your mind, and the title track is the sonic bull in a china shop. Instruments are beat to hell. I image a couples nodes are going to develop on the singer’s vocal chords, but what a great record. Looking forward to their split with Raw Nerves
Curio is a hell-raisin’ and soul-shakin’ rock n’ roll band from Chicago, IL. Their music is steeped in southern gothic lore by way of the Midwest. Heavily influenced by the growl of Chicago blues, the low-down and dirty swamp rock of Louisiana and the twang of Tennessee country, Curio conjures a sound that has as many influences as there are miles on I-55 from The Windy City to The Big Easy. Chris Pluska and his band of wayward gamblers have been playing to crowds at juke joints, dives and clubs since 2009. Curio’s live show has the fervent energy of a backwoods revival and the no-holds-barred attitude of a bar brawl. Their records are love letters to the bastards, brawlers, vagabonds, and believers who’ve shaped American folklore for better or for worse. Curio’s tales have been described as ‘Midwest murder ballads’ that depict the timeless narrative of wrong-doing and temptation.
