JOHLEEE
Johleee, is an eclectic multifaceted singer, songwriter, rapper, & producer from the small yet thriving city of El Paso, Texas.
Currently based out of Atlanta, Georgia, Johleee has embarked on an independent journey to deliver sultry, trap inspired, yet soul captivating sounds for her audience. With many projects in the stash, Johleee is prepping a satiating catalog with a melting pot of genres for a soon to come debut. I encourage you to get on board and stay tuned for what’s to come from this up and coming Texas artist.
YOUNG XAV
Xavier Robert, known professionally as YOUNG XAV, is an American recording artist and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. Aiming to be the Great Gatsby of this century’s twenties, he’s a representative of the modern musical era by date but not by sound. Although he’s only been making music for a year, the sound is colossal, the approach – timeless. Having lived in a household with a DJ for a father, musical aptitude is embedded in his DNA. Most people plan their music career but XAV’s reeks with serendipity, after one day randomly deciding to reach out to some producer friends, booking a session in Milwaukee, and recording his first song “Summer Love” which would amass thousands of streams upon its first day of release.
The release of his debut album After Dark in February 2019 marked the genesis of what will be one long and fabled career. In the process of creating the album, he released “On The Low” and “Still Alive” as singles. Both records garnered unanticipated traffic in the thousands, a healthy foreshadow of the full-length projects approaching success. With a growing fan base hailing from SoHo to SoCal, it’s evident that his sound transcends through cultures, area codes and time zones.
YOUNG XAV’s innate ability to cultivate sound and bend frequencies rest perfectly next to his ardent desire to tell his narrative to the world. His music bleeds with intensity, diary-like reflections, wicked lyrical capabilities and fitting production. More than an MC, XAV represents musical creation, inception, diversity, versatility and expansion.
HELL PATROL
Chicagoland’s NEWEST and BEST tribute to the British legends of Heavy Metal : Judas Priest !
Formed in 2019 by Chicago-area musicians with decades of stage expertise, HELL PATROL “Delivers the Goods” every performance, both sonically and visually, to recreate the unforgettable Judas Priest concert experience, note for note & scream for scream!
HELL PATROL rocks all corners of the extensive Judas Priest catalog, playing selections sure to please both the casual and hardcore fan alike including:
– favorites like “Metal Gods”, “Electric Eye”, and “Hell Bent for Leather”
– stadium rockers such as “Breaking the Law”, “Living After Midnight”, and “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’”
– the deep cuts: “Running Wild”, “Devil’s Child”, and “Dissident Aggressor”
– and More!
REFLEXICON
REFLEXICON is a hard rock / progressive melodic metal band from Chicago, formed by Paul Kratky -of the respected underground 80’s progressive metal band SLAUTER XSTROYES. Other members: Jerry Buczko- Guitar; Bill Dixon- Bass; John Ashe- Drums; and Fred Morg- Lead Vocals. Angular melody, sharp, jagged rhythms, and a tenacious forward drive.
SANHEDRIN
Sanhedrin’s sound is familiar but not derivative. While their songwriting is clearly rooted in the classics, their take on rock and metal comes across as fresh and honest. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Sanhedrin’s sound is a combination of the toughness and beauty that their home borough embodies.
CHURCH OF MISERY
Church of Misery is a doom metal band from Tokyo, Japan, formed in 1995. Church of Misery’s musical style melds early Black Sabbath-style doom with psychedelic rock
KING KONTRAVERSE
Hip hop artist on the rise in chicago check out “BIRTH OF A KING” out now
THE ANGEL COLON BAND
The Angel Colòn Band is a Chicago-based group performing original music that is a soulful, groove oriented gumbo of rock, blues, r&b, funk and jazz.
ANIMA SPIRIT
NOOSE
Noose is a 3 piece Death/Black Metal band decomposed by 3 south side Chicago scumbags. Started in 2016 by The Judge and The Executioner the duo began drinking and working on songs to praise filth and mayhem.
Joined in mid 2017 by The Jury the Noose began to tighten its grip. The filth hounds entered and desecrated Audio Vomit studio in mid October to shit out it’s first release simply tittled Demo 2017.
THE BLACK MORIAH
Thrashed, Burnt & Branded Seditious, malicious, fiends, the horde of highwaymen ride on! The Black Moriah is influenced by hymns buried deep beneath dried earth, T.B.M. drinks the spirits of past greats Bathory, Kreator, Motorhead, Slayer, Venom, and other Kings as they frequent dens of iniquity, homes of misfortune and girls of ill-repute. T.B.M. was founded by The Mad Arab (Bleed the Son) and Zawicizuz (Absu, Bleed the Son, Infernal Oak, Rape Pillage and Burn) In the Fall of 2011, The Black Moriah entered the studio to record their first effort “Casket Prospects”. Upon completion of the album, these outlaws on the outskirts spread their gallows medicine from Mexico to Canada. With The Black Moriah’s second full-length release, they gear up for a journey of carnage across barren landscapes. “Road Agents of the Blast Furnace” is a never-yielding, all-consuming raid, hell-bent on tormenting every town in its path. For the release of their sophomore effort, T.B.M. has made an alliance with Folter Records. With this mighty underground force, the audio plague known as The Black Moriah will relentlessly spread Vulture Culture throughout the land. Look to the horizon for the demented highwaymen this year. They come to pillage your village and soil your doves. Bring your gold and pay tribute or face the wrath of this desert funeral party.
POSSESSED
American death metal pioneers Possessed are often referred to as the godfathers of the genre, having established themselves as such in 1983 with the creation of a three-song demo simply called Death Metal. Distancing themselves from the crowded Bay Area thrash scene with sheer savagery and the distinct, guttural howl of frontman Jeff Becerra, the band blazed a fiery trail for future death metal enthusiasts with the influential LPs Seven Churches (1985) and Beyond the Gates (1986) before disbanding in 1987. They re-formed in the 2010s and eventually returned to the studio and released their long-awaited third full-length effort, Revelations of Oblivion, in 2019.
True to their name, San Francisco’s Possessed seemed cursed by dark and evil forces throughout their troubled career. Formed by guitarist Mike Torrao and drummer Mike Sus in 1983, the group would lose first singer Barry Fisk to suicide before even graduating from garage band status. They persisted, though, and after recruiting vocalist/bassist Jeff Becerra and guitarist Brian Montana, the band was offered a slot on Brian Slagel’s Metal Massacre, Vol. 6 compilation. Possessed’s savage sound immediately stood out from the competition and drew the attention of Combat Records, with which they signed in 1985 after replacing Montana with guitarist Larry LaLonde. Issued later that year, the unwaveringly brutal Seven Churches was arguably the first true death metal album and set the stage for the genre’s breakaway from thrash. Their second effort, Beyond the Gates, was released, fittingly enough, on Halloween 1986. After recording the five-track EP The Eyes of Horror the following year (produced by LaLonde’s guitar teacher Joe Satriani), the band decided to call it quits. Two years later, frontman Becerra was shot during a mugging and left paralyzed from the waist down. He re-formed Possessed in 2007 and played that year’s Wacken Open Air festival backed by members of Sadistic Intent. LaLonde would go on to a long career with bassist Les Claypool’s bizarro funk-metal trio Primus.
In 2017 Becerra put together a new Possessed lineup and inked a three-album deal with Nuclear Blast. Revelations of Oblivion, the legendary group’s first collection of new music in decades, arrived in 2019. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi
SLEEPY GAUCHO
Sleepy Gaucho’s discerning brand of Panamerican influenced folk music floats somewhat aimlessly in a realm of it’s own. Born in Wisconsin while also growing up some time in Argentina, the young multi-instrumentalist’s music can at times be melancholic, at others ethereal, but always agreeable. The seven track debut record “Another Time”, while initially recorded in Madison, WI, was eventually finished after the songwriter happened to find himself drifting around an East London neighborhood for a few months. Spring of 2019 brought the release of “Another Time” on vinyl via Hear Here Records, with the songs being brought to life by trusted musicians in the Midwest scene. Since returning to his hometown of Milwaukee, he began the creative process for his next project. Straying away from his usual approach, he recruited the likes of veterans such as Patrick Sansone of Wilco and fellow talent ranging from local friends and Nashville session musicians for his upcoming sophomore album, “Morning Light”.
GASOLINE LOLLIPOPS
Gasoline Lollipops stitch scraps of American roots music to patches of their own tattered hearts to form an all-new tapestry of bleeding rock n’ roll. Front man, Clay Rose was raised between an outlaw, truck-driving father in the mountains of Colorado and a country song-writing mama in the sticks outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Clay’s penchant for open roads and trouble making are the foundation of the Gas Pops’ unique sound. The rest of the band’s signature is constructed by Don Ambory, Scott Coulter, “Bad” Brad Morse, and Kevin Matthews who all come equipped with music degrees from Chicago, Boston, Jacksonville, and Denver, respectively. They each add flavors of their own background and heritage, further diversifying the band’s creations.
From bar band to Red Rocks, Gasoline Lollipops now have a devoted flock of fans that follow them from Belize to Belgium. They have played acclaimed festivals all over the country such as, Grandoozy, Salmon Fest , and Rocky Mountain Folks Fest to name a few.
DJ WILL POWAZ
311 “MUSIC”
Music is the debut studio album by Omaha alternative rock band 311. It was released on February 9, 1993. “Do You Right” was released as a single. The album was certified Gold in 1999 by the RIAA, having sold over 500,000 copies.
EBONIVORY
Hailing from Ballarat in rural Victoria, Australia, Ebonivory creates an engaging mosaic of raw emotion, complex rhythmic devices, and prismatic melody. Formed in 2014 by prodigious composer, multi-instrumentalist and lead vocalist Charlie Powlett, this world class 5-piece ensemble employs a unique distillation of alternative rock, progressive metal, post-hardcore and modern punk, delivering a breathtaking performance that unifies musicians, melomaniacs, and casual listeners alike.
From the first EP “Ebonivory I” (2014), to the full length progressive Australian cult-classic “The Only Constant” (2015), to their most recent EP “Ebonivory II” (2016), Ebonivory has built a reputation in the Australian progressive music scene as an act that consistently delivers music that grows in ambition and scale with each release.
Previously sharing the stage during their high-school years, Powlett is joined by long-time musical collaborators and childhood friends Jake Ewings (guitar), Louis Edwards (guitar, backing vocals), Connor McMillan (bass, backing vocals), and David Parkes (drums, percussion) to deliver a powerhouse of musicianship. Together, the band has embarked on a journey exploring the lyrical concepts of struggle via phenomenal musical grandeur and breadth, interspersed with unforgettable musical moments.
Ebonivory kicked off 2019 with a whirlwind performance at Australia’s acclaimed PROGFEST festival, alongside international heavyweights The Ocean, Monuments, and Skyharbor. Soon after, they signed a management deal with Wild Thing Presents (Caligula’s Horse), and record deal with Wild Thing Records (Circles). Early-mid 2019 saw the Persistence Australian Tour, which included supporting alt-rock powerhouse Dead Letter Circus. Throughout July & August 2019, Ebonivory traversed Australia with progressive rock juggernaut Circles for The Winter Tour, in support of their single “Patting the Black Dog” which landed coverage with PROG Magazine (UK), Triple J’s “The Racket”, Spotify’s “Homegrown + Heavy” & “Prog Metal Essentials” Playlists, and Rage (ABC TV). Going from strength to strength, Ebonivory headed out on their first ever Australian headline tour in October 2019, in support of their single “Tales of Termina”, which similarly garnered an overwhelmingly positive response worldwide.
CALIGULA’S HORSE
Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, Caligula’s Horse is a progressive alternative rock powerhouse. Their unique tapestry of progressive metal laced with raw rock power is at once fluid, monumental, and striking, offering a wide audience a broad palate of unforgettable moments and timeless music.
Now established as one of Australia’s finest live acts and at the forefront of its progressive rock scene, with four well-loved albums under their belt, and a passionate and ever-growing worldwide fanbase, Caligula’s Horse are broadening their horizons to the rest of the globe. 2019 will see the band reach the USA for the very first time for the prestigious ProgPower USA Festival, after headlining its European counterpart in 2018 to rave reviews. In the meantime, writing has begun for the fifth album for Caligula’s Horse, which will become yet another enormous leap forward in their colourful signature style.
Formed in 2011 by Sam Vallen and Jim Grey, Caligula’s Horse unleashed their vivid debut Moments from Ephemeral City in the same year. An evocative and powerful unveiling of the dynamic and cohesive songwriting partnership, “Moments” was a commanding charge into modern progressive music: energetic, eclectic, and poignant. Going from strength to strength, The Tide, The Thief & River’s End was released in 2013, and was received with international acclaim. A dark, eloquently woven concept album, the narrative explores isolation, exodus, and the power of the human spirit. The release of “Rivers End” piloted the group to perform with such luminaries of the international progressive heavy landscape as Opeth, Mastodon, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Protest The Hero, The Ocean, Twelve Foot Ninja, and Ne Obliviscaris.
In 2015, after signing with the prestigious German record label Inside Out Music, and joining the roster of AMF Publishing in the UK, Caligula’s Horse released their vibrant and emotional third album Bloom. Bloom reached the heights of #16 on the Australian Albums ARIA Chart, and #2 and #7 on the Australian iTunes Metal and Rock Charts respectively. Metal Injection (USA) proclaimed they “evoke a striking amount of greatness”, while PROG Magazine (UK) stated “they are sounding ever more like they just need an arena to fill”. Bloom saw the group embark on an extensive first tour of Europe alongside Shining (Norway), win the 2016 Queensland Music Heavy Award for their track ‘Marigold’, and complete five Australian tours; including national dates with Opeth, TesseracT, and sleepmakewaves, as well as headlining Melbourne’s iconic Progfest Festival.
In June 2017, Caligula’s Horse advanced to Europe for a second time; including support slots with Opeth, Anathema and Pain Of Salvation, UK headline shows and festival appearances at Midsummer Prog
Festival (Netherlands) and Be Prog! My Friend Festival (Spain). 2017 also saw the release of the band’s most addictive and emotion work to date, In Contact, an album of deeply personal stories told over four chapters. In Contact is an incredible and ambitious work that has left audiences breathless across the globe. In Contact debuted at #50 on the ARIA Chart, bringing Caligula’s Horse into the ARIA Top 50 for the first time. Caligula’s Horse have toured solidly on the back of the success of In Contact, most notably their All Aussie Invasion headline tour of Europe in 2018 with Australia’s Circles and ibuiltthesky.
SONIC CURRENCY
Sonic Currency is performing the hit songs and deep cuts of Pink Floyd. They are a Chicago based band.
RAMIREZ
Northern California rapper RAMIREZ unveils his new album Son Of Serpentine, out now via G59 Records.
Recorded in the small town of Lavello, Italy, the 14-track project is an impressive display of RAMIREZ’s sharp lyricism over Mikey The Magician’s track-laden beats. With the ominous opening of the ZillaKami-assisted “Mosh Pit Killa”, RAMIREZ alternates between hard-hitting flows on “Nine Shots”and “Cerberus” and catchy, melodic hooks on “Horns And Halos” and “Liquid Sunshine” with frequent collaborator Pouya.
Son Of Serpentine follows the recent release of the music video for the album’s lead single “Does It Real Good”. Animated by William Child Pictures, the innovative visuals feature Bonnie and Clyde-style claymation that pairs seamlessly with the track’s sampling of Three 6 Mafia.
With a penchant for ‘90s hip hop including OutKast, RBL Posse, and Andre Nickatina, RAMIREZ puts his own modern twist on the Bay Area classics as heard on “P.O.P.” and “2 Step Stevie”. Son Of Serpentine features an eclectic mix of all the flavors from the era that heavily influenced the talented MC’s sound.
Having collaborated with the likes of $UICIDEBOY$, Fat Nick, Shakewell, and more, the self-proclaimed “Silverback Gorilla” has established himself as a force in the SoundCloud underground scene with a rapidly growing fanbase eagerly anticipating this release.
Son Of Serpentine is available worldwide on all streaming platforms via G59 Records.
AVERSIONS CROWN
KICKIES!
(of U.S. Maple)
PAULA
(of Brass from the Past)
SUMO CYCO
WELCOME to Cyco City!
You’re in the right place for everything Sumo Cyco! This site is run by me, Skye aka Sever Sweetnam including our official merch store!
We are about to transcend into an explosive new era with our upcoming full-length, Initiation, scheduled for release on May 7, 2021 via Napalm Records!
SUMO CYCO is Matt “MD13” Drake, Matt “Trozzi”, Oscar Anesetti & me, Skye “Sever” Sweetnam.
You may have seen us on tour with bands such as Jinjer, The Birthday Massacre, Nonpoint, The Butcher Babies, Fozzy, Alien Ant Farm, The 69 Eyes, Devilskin & more!
We have released “Lost in Cyco City” in 2014 and “Opus Mar” in 2017, NOW we are excited to announce “INITIATION” in 2021!
The album’s title, Initiation, stems from wanting to invite the audience to be “initiated” into our world. There are usually two congruent themes to each of our albums – one is real-world inspiration, and the other is “Cyco City”, a comic book-esque alternate universe where all our music videos take place. With Initiation, we introduce four gangs or clubs. Our music videos for Initiation all include a theme of these clubs – whether it’s gang vs. gang, a forbidden love between opposing sides, or the idea of having to choose where you belong.
Outside of the story, the lyrics relate to the polarization of the world we live in now. We all have a longing to belong, but what makes one feel accepted or ostracized from a group? To be INITIATED, would you be willing to try to understand another point of view? I have always written lyrics about internal struggle, the war within oneself. Throughout the album, we bounce back and forth between struggle and overcoming. It reflects the times, and there are moments that seem a bit dark.”
SLURRING BEE
If you love fun, words, jokes, friends, learning, and DRANKS, then The Slurring Bee Chicago is the smartypants bar game for you!!! Join adorable, hilarious, exceptionally intelligent and modest hosts Billy Parker and Mandy Levy for the most exciting spelling competition since the 7th grade! We’ve taken this party from Brooklyn to Los Angeles and many places in between, but our favorite buzzy hive is CHICAGO! So we’re BACK FOR MORE! Come on down to Reggies and take a shot at being a boozy spelling hero!!!!
Here’s how it works:
Pay 5 bucks to compete. Receive your first Slurring Bee Shot. (Don’t worry; it’s like, a sugary delicious shot.) Shoot it. Spell something. For every round you stay standing, you’ll receive another free specialty Slurring Bee nectar. Keep spelling till we crown a queen (or king) bee! Winner receives half the pot, fabulous bee-themed prizes and their picture immortalized on our Wall of Fame, plus automatic placement in our Tournament of Champions!
BOARDINGHOUSE REACH
Chicago Punk Rock!
Vocals: Jackson
Guitar: John
Drums: Russ
Bass: Zachary
PHIL YATES & THE AFFILIATES
Phil Yates & The Affiliates are a rock band based out of Chicago (formerly based out of Burlington, Vermont.) With his hooky sound that’s “too folky for the rockers and too rocky for the folkers,” Phil has played with The Mountain Goats, The Babies, Cave Singers, Holly Golightly, The Dead Milkmen’s Joe Jack Talcum, Franklin Bruno, Wckr Spgt, and Mary Prankster
BOB MOULD “WORKBOOK”
Workbook is the 1989 debut solo album by American guitarist and singer Bob Mould, following the breakup of the influential rock band Hüsker Dü. The album has a strong folk influence and lighter overall sound than he had been known for, although heavy guitar features occasionally. Drummer Anton Fier and bassist Tony Maimone, both of Pere Ubu fame, served as Mould’s rhythm section on the album and on the subsequent live shows. The single “See a Little Light” was a hit on the US Modern Rock chart.
WILCO “BEING THERE”
Being There is the second studio album by the American alternative rock band Wilco, released on October 29, 1996 by Reprise Records. Despite its release as a double album, Being There was sold at a single album price as a result of a deal between lead singer Jeff Tweedy and the band’s label Reprise Records. The album was an improvement for the band in both sales and critical reception, in contrast to their debut album A.M. (1995). Taking its name from the 1979 film of the same name,[2] the self-produced album featured more surrealistic and introspective writing than on A.M.. This was due in part to several significant changes in Tweedy’s life, including the birth of his first child. Musically, it juxtaposed the alternative country styles songs reminiscent of Uncle Tupelo with psychedelic, surreal songs. It was the only Wilco album with steel guitarist Bob Egan, their first with multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett and their last with multi-instrumentalist Max Johnston.
BEGGARS BANQUET
Together for over 25 years, performing with all five member in authentic costume. The boys visually and aurally recreate the look and sound of “The Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World”. Add some real excitement to your club, festival, concert or private function with Beggars Banquet.
TAROT WOMAN
A female fronted DIO tribute band from Chicago performing the music of one of the greatest heavy metal vocalists of our time.
LOST PYRAMIDS
Lost Pyramids Band is an improvisational, psychedelic jam band that keeps it fresh on stage with dynamic grooves and spacey jams.
With an eclectic mix of originals heavily influenced by the music of Phish and the Grateful Dead with a hint of jazz fusion, you never know what you’re gonna get.
Our debut album, “Monsters Under My Bed”, is OUT NOW!
Current Members:
Chuck Wilson- guitar & vocals
Larry Sheridan- bass & vocals
Andrew Stump- keys & vocals
Nate Hockenberry- drums & vocals
LONR
Work in silence let success be your noise
THE EVERLY BROTHERS “THE EVERLY BROTHERS”
The Everly Brothers is the 1958 eponymous debut album of close harmony rock and roll duo the Everly Brothers.
Performed by Everly Brother and Sister.
LUNA IN SANGUINEM
4 Musicians with a resume worthy of calling this a Super Group Death Thrash Line up.
Luna In Sanguinem formed in 2018 with founding members Patt Maxwell (MINERS) Behind the drums and Michael Eisenhauer on Guitar ( Evil Incarnate). It wasn’t long until Rod Valdez Joined on Bass( Ex-Dementox) Micheal Handling Vocals til better came along.
Enter Luna’s current Vocalist Skip Mcgullam (Ex-Num Skull}
BILLY LIAR
Scottish punk band of one, signed to Red Scare Industries.
THE BOMBPOPS
Members:
Neil Wayne – Bass
Poli van Dam – Guitar & Vocals
Jen Razavi – Guitar & Vocals
Josh Lewis – Drums
We put a lot of thought into being able to tell stories with these songs,” says Jen Razavi who, along with Poli van Dam, founded The Bombpops in 2007. Together, Razavi and van Dam became the band’s backbone, writing songs that highlighted their dual guitar attack and were carried by their pitch-perfect vocal harmonies. It’d take the band a decade to release their first full-length album, but 2017’s Fear of Missing Out was a perfect distillation of everything they’d been working toward. And now, with the Dear Beer EP, they’re proving that there’s plenty more where that came from.
The four new tracks that make up Dear Beer are as distinct as they are powerful. “The song ‘Dear Beer’ was collectively everyone in the band’s favorite song,” says Razavi, and it’s easy to see why. Where Fear of Missing Out saw Razavi and van Dam throwing out pointed lyrical jabs, Dear Beer ups the introspection. Make no mistake, there’s still a bit of bile getting spit up, but there’s just the right amount of levity mixed in. It’s what allows these songs to work as stories, ones that are resonant for the band members, and will surely hit home for anyone who plays Dear Beer all the way through.
“I love a song where the lyrics tell a story, and although I may have never experienced anything like what is happening in that story, the song allows me put myself in that person’s place,” says Razavi. The Dear Beer EP finds unity in the thematic elements of each song, as each one sees The Bombpops offering up personal anecdotes and crafting songs that have, as Razavi and van Dam intended, a narrative arc. It’s seen in “Dear Beer,” where they swear off drinking alone and vow to stop being “a fucking downer,” a mantra that enables them to cut out the source of the toxicity without a second thought. But even when it gets a little heavy, The Bombpops find ways to make it all feel uplifting.
“‘Dear Beer’ and ‘Turn up the Thermostat’ are particularly dark,” says Razavi, “They’re a bit self-loathing and reflect on negative experiences.” While the lyrics on Dear Beer are culled from difficult experiences, The Bombpops use their buoyant music to push back against the things weighing them down. And of course, it doesn’t hurt that they throw in just the right amount of self-deprecation to keep themselves from ever making it too much of a bummer. “We intentionally put those lyrics to playful, poppy melodies. It weirdly has a therapeutic effect in the long run,” says Razavi. “Making them light and playful makes the thing that seemed so dramatic to us at the time something to laugh about now.”
That balance between the series and the lighthearted is what makes Dear Beer not just the logical evolution of The Bombpops sound, but also the start of a new chapter for the band. It may have taken them a decade to release their first album, but as Dear Beer proves, the wind is at their back, and nothing is going to keep them down.
TORCH THE HIVE
Lyrically biting, politically raucous, and raw undefined energy, Torch the Hive is Mike Fruel, Tyler Sanders, and Sergio Apanco. Their first two releases touch on the struggles of growing pains, financial hardship and navigating through a politically divided world. After several self-funded national tours, group members were served with an unhealthy dose of reality when presented with issues of addiction and financial losses as a direct repercussion from the pandemic. As a witness to racial and systematic injustice, Torch the Hive gained a new perspective on which direction their music should take. ‘Flamingo’ serves as a proponent to challenge these opposing viewpoints and aims to allow the listener to form their own view.
NASCAR ALOE
Enigmatic North Carolina native Nascar Aloe has placed himself firmly at the forefront of the underground rap scene with his unique and captivating blend of punk energy, raw 808s and terrifying visuals. Originally from Lexington, North Carolina, Nascar began cultivating a die-hard fan base in 2018 by self-releasing music on SoundCloud and consistently playing shows in LA’s underground circuit. In early 2019, his groundbreaking EP and subsequent music video, “FED UP!”, along with an appearance in his close friend Jasiah’s music video, “Crisis” (directed by Cole Bennett) drove the hype around him into a fever pitch and attracted the attention of Travis Barker, Lil Tecca and other trendsetters online.
This summer, Nascar’s momentum has continued to build thanks to a standout performance at Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash Festival, his recent single “AMERICAN WASTELAND” and a sold-out merch collaboration with Section8. His debut full-length project, SH!THEAD will undoubtedly win over new fans and solidify his role as as a leading voice in the underground.
BORKNAGAR
Intrepid black metallers Borknagar, in partnership with Century Media, mark their return with resplendent new album, True North. The Norwegians spent the better part of three years writing and rebuilding the lineup—Borknagar are now Øystein G. Brun (guitars), Simen “I.C.S. Vortex” Hestnæs (bass/vocals), Lars A. Nedland (keyboards/vocals), Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow (drums), and Jostein Thomassen (guitars)—to make their 11th studio album a reality. The reasons are plenty but the main driver for space between and change within Borknagar’s repertoire and membership was calibration. Chief songman Brun needed to refocus his labor of love after the assiduous Winter Thrice album cycle. Indeed, that’s exactly what he’s done on True North. While Winter Thrice was a celebration of time spent and bonds made, True North is the vanguard forward, clear-sighted, refined, and full of power. Truly, there’s no holding back now, but with year 25—the band’s silver anniversary—approaching next year, small wonder that Brun and Borknagar are still with us. Fortuitous, or part of the plan all along…
“Absolutely not,” Øystein G. Brun says [of the plan]. “Back in the day when I starting to play around with the ideas about the band I had no goal aside from making music I love myself. At that time, the whole concept of making money, doing big festivals and traveling around the world was so far off that I wasn’t even thinking along those lines. But that said, I have always had the belief that genuinely good music can move mountains.”
VARGBYTE
VARGBYTE is the youngest and hottest new metal band in Chicagoland! Founded in 2017, the four piece has been melting faces with it’s thrash melodic death metal inspired by the likes of Death Angel, Children of Bodom, Gojira, Metallica, Exmortus, The Black Dahlia Murder and Amon Amarth. Featuring Oscar Carlson (guitar/vocals), Brendan Bahan (drums), Nick Mastrapa (vocals), and Bennett Blake (bass), the group is on the verge of releasing its first release EP “Northbound.”
MONOTHEIST
Forming in 2004, Monotheist is a progressive extreme metal band from Orlando, Florida who play a mix of brutal technical death metal reminiscent of bands like Suffocation, Death and Immolation, with progressive influences ala Cynic, Extol and Opeth. However, Monotheist manages to create a sound all their own. With their unique riffing and composition, Monotheist is a force to be reckoned with.
REPLACIRE
REPLACIRE is the brainchild of guitarist Eric Alper, who founded the band in 2010. The American tech metal prodigies hailing from Boston, Massachusetts self-released their debut full-length ‘The Human Burden’ in 2012. The album’s unique and wide-ranging material was an ambitious statement of intent that quickly established the New Englanders as a must-follow heavy act in their corner of the US.
IN COLD BLOOD
With a violent attack on the human condition, Cleveland legends In Cold Blood let you know they have returned to settle unfinished business.
128BLEACH
special guest appearance
KCL (Krantz Carlock Lefebvre)
KCL, the iconic, genre-bending powerhouse trio led by visionary guitarist Wayne Krantz and featuring drummer Keith Carlock (Steely Dan, Sting, John Mayer) and bassist Tim Lefebvre (Tedeschi Trucks Band, David Bowie), held a Thursday-night residency at NYC’s 55 Bar throughout the first decade of the new millenium. Cutting live recordings from the club and posting them online in the early days of the internet and touring only sporadically, KCL developed a thoroughly original style of interactive group improvisation inspired in part by the great Miles Davis Quintet of the 60s, but played out in spontaneously generated contexts of heavy funk, rock and electronica instead of straight-ahead swing.
As other instrumental bands of the day dabbled in derivative fusion and retro-jazz, KCL became an underground phenomenon, cultivating an international following of devoted fans of every stripe looking for an alternative creative music that served the mind, body and spirit. Relentlessly grooving, always innovative, never complacent – KCL made contemporary music that resonated beyond category.
Other sideman obligations sidelined the band soon after their Abstract Logix release, “Krantz Carlock Lefebvre,” in 2010, but their reputation continued to expand globally through fan circulation of the band’s many live videos and recordings. Now, in 2020, KCL re-ignites to tour with incendiary shows throughout the USA, Europe and Asia.
http://www.waynekrantz.com/
https://keithcarlock.com/
https://www.timlefebvremusic.com/
BETTY DAVIS “THEY SAY I’M DIFFERENT”
Her 1974 sophomore album They Say I’m Different features a worthy-of-framing futuristic cover challenging David Bowie’s science fiction funk with real rocking soul-fire, kicked off with the savagely sexual ‘Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him’ (later sampled by Ice Cube). Light in the Attic.
Performed by Get Up With The Get Downs
MARKIT 8
Started in the Spring of 2009, Markit 8 is a Chicago rock band built around strong rhythms and an ability to incorporate a number of influences. Markit 8 has the ability to sound like many of your favorite bands, while creating their own musical identity. Having spent 5 years hanging out and playing live shows, the band sounds crisper and tighter than ever…
Centered around the voice of Adam Boor, the band has the ability to reach a large variety of audiences. On any given night, you might here Boor sing blues, rock, rap or folk, flowing seamlessly between varieties. Adam adds a nice rhythmic layer to the music with his acoustic guitar and harmonica riffs.
The band’s foundation comes from rhythm guitarist Josh Kotowski and bassist Rick Davis. Josh has been playing piano and guitar for two decades and is the driving force behind many of Markit 8’s rhythms and melodies. Rick has the confident ability to stay in the pocket and hold it all together, while adding his own personal touch to each melody. Davis has a great ability to adapt to new styles and genres, giving him the proper goods to be a solid backbone for the band.
Lead guitarist Mike Gedraitis is the glue that keeps the band sounding great. His tone and originality are unmatched. Mikey can solo seamlessly between styles, genres, and melodies and never miss a beat. Gedraitis has been playing for over two decades with much dedication, the man can jam!
With the recent departure of founding members Tony Wei (Keys/Guitar) & Billy Burke (Drums), Markit 8 has a new look and a very fresh new sound. You can see Markit 8 playing as quartet all across the city.
The future looks bright for Markit 8 as we are writing great new tunes and playing with some really talented new musicians! Stay tuned!
THE WAR INSIDE
Chicago-based rock band in search of stages to melt and crowds to blow away.
Listen to The War Inside
https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/TheWarInside
INFOWARS
ALxJONES – Vocals
Owen Deshroyer – Guitar
Robot Jones – Drums
DEMOCIDE
Melodic death metal brimming with speed and aggression.
THE VOICE OF GOD
Hardcore Punk Rock from SW Ohio
INSINNERATOR
Making fast, evil, and aggressive thrash metal the way it should be.
NEMESIS
Nemesis is a 3 piece Thrash band, hailing from Charlotte, NC. formed in 2008, Nemesis brings you fast, raw, and loud, relentless Thrash Metal!
DETERIORATION
Irreverent Grindcore
Jim Kahmann
Guitar/Bass/Vocals
Joe Kahmann
Drums
PARALYSIS
The band “Paralysis” started out in the year 2010. They went through multiple line up changes over the years. They released their first EP “No Turning Back” on September 4th of 2015. A year later their second EP was released on May 20th of 2016 titled “You Can’t Win”. Over the course of 2016, the band traveled the U.S. supporting that EP. The “U.S. Can’t Win Tour” consisted of 9 dates going down the east coast and the “Systematic Apostatic Transgressions On The Midwest Tour” consisted of 7 dates going from New York City to Chicago. The band then released their first full length album titled “Life Sentence” on June 30th of 2017. In support of that album they concluded the “Life Sentence Tour” which was their first coast to coast U.S. tour consisting of 22 dates. The “Civil Execution Tour” consisted of 7 dates going from New Jersey to Chicago and ending in Cleveland, Ohio. They started 2018 with a two week east coast tour. They are planning to consistently tour and release new music in the near future.
SLUTBOMB
Punk / Hardcore from Cincinnati, OH
TOXIC RUIN
TOXIC RUIN was formed in 2014 with a mission of blending classic thrash metal, old-school death metal, and modern technicality into a wicked headbanging brew. Operating out of their collective hometown of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the band released their debut album, “Subterranean Terror,” in 2016. The group followed up that debut record with the release of their 2018 EP, “Mortal Insolence.” The effort saw the current lineup of TOXIC RUIN take shape with Behrendt stepping into the vocalist position and the debut of rhythm guitarist Blake Toltzmann alongside lead guitarist Jacob Baneck and drummer David Miller. The effort saw the group further evolve their sound, leading to praise from Dead Rhetoric.com for showcasing “a stronger level of confidence and insight into dynamic songwriting for a thrash band not content to rest on recycling the past, but rather creating a bright future.” The new lineup began writing and recording songs for their second full-length album while relentlessly touring the United States in 2019 alongside bands such as LichKing, Micawber and Stonecutters and playing multiple festivals including FULL TERROR ASSAULT and Slam Dakota, plus winning 2nd Place in the 2019 Wacken Metal Battle USA. The result is TOXIC RUIN’s most mature and complex record to date, while also being their heaviest display of metallic force so far. “Nightmare Eclipse” is the next evolution in blending the heavier sounds of metal’s past with the modern musicianship of metal’s present.
SANGUISUGABOGG
DOWN-TUNED DRUG DEATH
Cameron Boggs – Axe
Cody Davidson – Drums
Steph Barnes – Bass
Devin Swank – Barfs
FEED THE DOG
Feed the Dog is an eclectic and action-packed, high-energy, jam-rock-grass band. The Appleton based group features masterfully crafted fiddle, Kottke like finger pickin’ acoustic six and twelve string guitar, funky bass lines, and percussive soul.
J.I.
LEAH JEAN
I am starting to encounter more situations in which I am asked by industry professionals how to “describe my sound”. I realize the importance of doing this; not solely from a professional standpoint, but for my own self-understanding, so that I might have a firmer grasp on what kind of music makes me come alive.
When creating music, I am honest, emotional, intimate, and sensory focused. Every instrument is saying something and every sound is clear and pointed. I am simply relieving the weight in my chest and it can come out as a complicated as a cryptic metaphor or as simple as a 3 word repeated hook. Sometimes my words can be laced with satire like Vonnegut’s “so it goes” and sometimes they can be as fiery and desperate as a captured dragon. And if the work doesn’t have a point or purpose, scrap it. I cannot create without intention. If I am angry because someone seemed to understand what it means to love deeply and then fled the responsibility, I’ll write about that very thing. If I am happy because Mom told me something beautiful about living, I will write about that very thing. It’s really a simple task and yet sometimes I am afraid of it because I don’t want to create something silly that listeners can’t relate to. But I think I am actually pretty relatable, just as you are, just as everyone on this planet is, no?
“Ooh, there’s a little bit of me inside you, gathering what you lost. Ooh, there’s a little bit of you in everyone, can never keep a secret.” – Me In You by Kings of Convenience
Originally from Dayton, Ohio Leah Jean brings a fresh perspective onto the Chicago music scene. Her classical and jazz guitar training is an essential tool to her songwriting as her songs are decorated with unique riffs, solos and chords. Her jazzy, warm vocal style is reminiscent of singers like Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Gretchen Parlato. She incorporates elements of soul, pop, jazz, and rock in her music. Lyrically honest, dense, and heartfelt, Leah’s haunting melodies and emotion-packed sound will leave the listener wanting more.
Leah has played at many venues in Chicago including The Metro, PRYSM Nightclub, TEDx Columbia College, Beat Kitchen, Martyrs, The Gala, Emporium, The Foxhole, Playground Theatre, Elbo Room, The Gwen Hotel, The Intercontinental Hotel, The Renaissance Hotel, and Lacuna Lofts. She is currently working on her second studio EP…
LANGDON KENNEDY WITH KENNEDY COMPOUND
Local rock band from Chicago’s South Side.
DECLAN KENNEDY
listen and think
BRAND OF SACRIFICE
MAKING SLAM GREAT AGAIN
SIGNS OF THE SWARM
Signs of the Swarm is a five-piece death metal horde hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “With the release of their debut album Senseless Order earlier this year, they’ve already begun to gain national attention. The mood and ambience are consistent and the breakdowns and build up to them are flawless. Vocals are absolutely incredible.” – Sputnik Music
SHADOW OF INTENT
Shadow of Intent was formed in 2014 as an internet-based project between vocalist Ben Duerr and instrumentalist Chris Wiseman. The band released their first EP called “Inferi Sententia” on July 18, 2014 and continued writing more music for the album that would be called “Primordial”.
In 2015 the band started releasing more songs and followed up with full length album “Primordial” on January 10, 2016 which rapidly started gaining traction on the internet. Over the next year the album “Reclaimer” was written and the lineup changed gears adding live members to perform in the music videos and eventually live shows.
The second studio album “Reclaimer” was released independently in 2017, selling 1,300 copies in its first week, and to this day has amassed over a million streams. In October the band announced its debut performance in December which would sell out the Webster Underground in Hartford, CT. Shortly after, the band was recruited by JJ Cassiere of the booking agency 33 and West. He started putting the band on national tours with metal acts such as The Black Dahlia Murder, Whitechapel, Carnifex, Oceano and Fleshgod Apocalypse.
THEDRAGONYOUCHASE
GIRLDUST
Up and coming rapper Adam Renetzky, stage name girldust, draws lyrical inspiration from sad alt rock and combines it with gothic style rap to express the raw human emotions and to create his own art.
ELGIE
An up and coming rapper by the name of Lance “Elgie” Gasher. Music is heavily focused on lyricism, flow, and wordplay. Pushing boundaries until there are none left.
I PASSED AWAY
TRIGUNA
Triguna is a 5-piece Technical Death Metal band from the suburbs of Chicago.
ETHER COVEN
That place you go to where you realize you don’t belong in your own skin.
FRINGE FIELD
Madison-based cover band
90’s Grunge/Alternative and more
FAILURE “FANTASTIC PLANET”
Fantastic Planet is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band Failure. It was the last album released on Slash Records as distributed by Warner Bros. Records. The album failed to chart on Billboard’s Top 200 albums, but did produce a charting single with “Stuck on You”, which reached #23 on Billboard’s Alternative Songs Chart. The album was produced by Failure themselves in a process that took longer than their previous two albums, with one song being recorded and produced soon after being written, and repeating this process. Space-rock themes course through the album’s lyrics, as well as various indirect references to drug addiction, drug-related experiences, and prostitution. Seven of the album’s songs were also included on Failure’s Essentials, a best-of collection from 2006.
In 2009, JustPressPlay named Fantastic Planet the third best album of the 1990s. They also ranked the song “The Nurse Who Loved Me” at #10 in its list of the Top 100 Songs of the 1990s.
ZACH AVERY & THE SMOKIN’ TONES
The Smokin’ Tones was formed in September 2016 as the official band of Columbia College Chicago’s late night show, Columbia Tonight. In preparation for the show’s premier, the show’s musical director, Zach Avery, posted flyers around campus with the hope of finding a band that could write and perform music tailored for the show. Shortly after, six other classmates came together and became The Columbia Tonight House Band. When Columbia Tonight was canceled in May 2017, the band decided to stick together and ventured out under a new name, The Smokin’ Tones. This began their quest for zesty, transcendental music with a huge sound. The Smokin’ Tones have continued to perform unique twists on Rock, Funk, Soul, and Blues songs as well as original songs that appeal to a wide variety of listeners.
The band has played at a variety of Chicagoland venues including Elbo Room, Reggie’s Music Joint, HVAC Pub, and Buddy Guy’s Legends.
CITY MORGUE
The melding of Rock and Rap is a concept that’s existed within the underbelly of music for decades, yet few have done what City Morgue is about to do. When upstarts SosMula and ZillaKami come together, their fusion is seamless—oozing true skill with a reckless lack of fucks left to give. As the supergroup readies their collective debut mixtape City Morgue Vol. 1: Hell or High Water, the dynamic duo delivers a new and exciting vibe for any fan of true music—from hip-hop to metal. It’s City Morgue season. Get ready.
Their collective story begins in 2016, though their respective paths in music happened long before that. Growing up in Harlem, SosMula lived at the intersection of hip-hop and ink culture, as his mother owned a tattoo shop that became his second home. Listening to artists like Eminem early on, Sos quickly found his way to music. “I’ve been rapping since I was kid. I never really took it seriously,” the 24-year-old says. “I had the talent, I just didn’t know what to do with it.”
Eventually the streets came calling and budding Trap stars like Jeezy would provide the soundtrack to his real life. “The numbers, the details…everything Jeezy was talking about? I was doing that shit,” Sos recalls. “I’m baggin’ up, listening to Jeezy while I’m cookin’ crack.” After a few bids, he landed a 15-month one in 2015 over a house raid, and during that time would correspond daily with Hikari-Ultra co-founder Peter “P” Rogers, who was working at his mother’s shop at the time. When Sos was released, he learned that not only was P building a new movement, but his little brother ZillaKami was now a part of it.
Raised in Bay Shore, Long Island, ZillaKami was a product of the flourishing Hardcore movement specific to the region—as clubs like Revolution Bar in Amityville were backbones of that niche culture. “I was in a Punk band called Scud Got Quayle,” Zilla adds, starting with playing bass and moving over to vocals. “I wasn’t into hip-hop too much,” the 19-year-old admits, though once he was put onto the gruff vocals of DMX and the Hardcore-adjacent styles of Onyx and the Beastie Boys, his perspective changed. Self-taught in music theory, Zilla would piece sounds together by the familiar work of his idols like Henry Rollins and his work with Black Flag. Having his own take with a skewed rap spin, the product became not only a successful blend of the two art forms, but so unique that when his older brother P took his label to the next level with business partner Mel Carter, they would make ZillaKami a flagship artist.
As soon as SosMula left prison, he hit the ground running as well. “I met Zilla my first day home and we were in the studio every day,” says Sos. Together they became City Morgue, and from the end of 2017, the two erupted Soundcloud with millions of listens. Working with producer THRAXX, the two dropped off “Shinners13,” a menacing cut that’s now clocking in well over three millions streams. Then there was “SK8 HEAD,” which idyllically identifies why this pair works, combining Zilla’s Hardcore upbringing mixed with Sos’s true Trap sensibilities. The visuals are equally intense, as City Morgue is an experience felt with all senses.
Countless cuts on Soundcloud, a successful run at SXSW, plus an aesthetic that unifies the early days of Punk with extensive Ink (the two have anecdotes for every tattoo on their bodies), the time is now to bring City Morgue’s first collective project to the streets. City Morgue Vol. 1: Hell or High Water will continue the movement that two have forged, with more tracks that reach a wider audience. “Downer,” is rooted in melody, with an ambiguous title as Zilla is straight edge, while Sos is the exact opposite. “It’s more mellow than the other songs,” Sos says, “Zilla’s even harmonizing.” Things kick up on tracks like “Black Matter,” which is designed for damage. “I walked into the studio and said I’m making a mosh pit song,” Zilla says with a laugh. Songs like “Grave Hop” and “P.T.S.D.” continue along that similar vein, while “Lamborghini Getaway” and “Snow On The Bluff” turn a corner into mainstream. It’s an experience anyone can appreciate and shows what happens when two worlds meet to form an entirely new planet.
The Hikari-Ultra/Republic Records signees have already shown a significant track record of hits in a relatively short amount of time, and it won’t stop there. Vol. 1 is the first of many City Morgue collaborations, but both SosMula and ZillaKami will be bringing their solo flavors to the forefront in the very near future. “We’re just here to do something different,” Sos says with confidence as Zilla adds, “We didn’t hear what we wanted to in music, so we decided to make it ourselves.”
INTRUDER
The band was originally formed in 1984 under the name “Transgresser”. They released demos in 1984 and 1986 (which would later appear on a re-release of their debut album). After going through several name changes they became known as “Intruder”. They released their debut album “Live To Die” on Ironworks and Azra records (a small independent label). Released in 1987, Live To Die was released as a four-piece band in the speed metal vein.
The band signed with Metal Blade Records in 1989. The Metal Blade years saw the entry of rhythm guitarist Greg Messick. Intruder released their second album, “A Higher Form Of Killing”, in 1989 as a five-piece band. It presented a move away from Speed Metal to the Thrash Metal scene. Intruder released the very rare “Escape From Pain” EP in 1990. Admittedly released as “an excuse to tour”, it featured songs recorded on previous releases as well as a cover of “25 or 6 to 4” by Chicago. It featured just one new song, the title track. Escape From Pain was the only one of their Metal Blade releases not to be issued on all three formats of cd, cassette and vinyl.
In 1991 Intruder released their final full-length album, “Psycho Savant”. It was their only Metal Blade release to feature all original songs and had leanings more toward Progressive Thrash Metal. After 8 years, the group disbanded in 1992. In a 2006 interview, Guitarist Greg Messick claimed that the band tried to stay together after being dropped from Metal Blade, but were ultimately unwilling due to inevitable lineup changes. Vocalist Jimmy Hamilton responded to the question of the band’s split up in the same interview:
We got dropped from Metal Blade in the middle of our tour when we just hit the top of the CMJ charts. Besides, although we had been together for so long, just like many marriage relationships, there was no more ‘love’ and we said ‘this marriage needs to end for a while, We need counseling.’
—Jimmy Hamilton
—Jimmy Hamilton