LAST FANTASTIC NASTY
Your favorite Regressive Rock band
XMARSX
A side projects of Liquid Soul’s Mars Williams. It’s a free jazz project that sounds like something fans of modern jazz will want to try out.
“XMARSX runs the absolute gamut with their rock-noise-improv-electric-funky-no-wave-jazz-punk, there’s a unified focus to their sensibility. Along with Williams, guitarist Greg Suran (Goo Goo Dolls, Blue Man Group, Slam), drummer Dave Suycott (Machines Of Loving Grace, Stabbing Westward, Slam), and Kent Kessler (Vandermark 5, NRG Ensemble, Brotzmann Tentet) comprise the potent nucleus of XMARSX. Additional contributions from Williams’ longtime associate, cellist Frederick Longberg-Holm (Terminal 4, Witches & Devils, NRG, Brotzmann) adds both color and nuance to this capable ensemble.
Mars Williams is an open-minded musician, composer and educator who commutes easily between free jazz, funk, hip-hop and rock, Mars has played and recorded with The Psychedelic Furs, Billy Idol, Massacre, Fred Frith, Bill Laswell, Ministry, Power Station, Die Warzau, The Waitresses, Kiki Dee, Pete Cosey, Billy Squier, DJ Logic, Wayne Kramer, John Scoffield, Charlie Hunter, Kurt Elling, Swollen Monkeys, Mike Clark, Jerry Garcia, Naked Raygun, Friendly Fires, The Untouchables, Blow Monkeys and virtually every leading figure of Chicago’s and New York City’s “downtown” scene.
FIREWORKS FOR BUDDAH
Fireworks for Buddha is the first collection
FLEW THE COOP
After the stars aligned in the friendly confines of the Old Town School of Folk Music, Flew the Coop is now proudly in its 2nd year as a Chicagoland blues/rock cover band. Flew the Coop brings you good times and good tunes with a wide variety of musical influences covering Led Zeppelin, Freddie King, Gov’t Mule, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Ray Charles, Chris Stapleton, Koko Taylor, and many more. With sweet guitar licks from Mike, Rob tickling the ivories, Zack slappin’ the bass, Hauk dominating the drums, and the unique, gritty, and soulful vocals from Emily, Flew the Coop will get you movin’ and keep the party groovin’. They’d love to make YOU a part of the #CoopTroop, their growing fan club!
THE VEGABONDS
A brand of Rock N’ Roll heavily influenced by Southern Rock and modern rock for a sound that is both parts familiar and fresh; a mix that always satisfies fans and listeners.
THE MIGHTS
The Mights arose in 2016 from the ashes of the great Chicago ones that came before them – who paved the way for What Might Be. But alas, Brothers and Sisters, most failed to listen. Warnings fell upon deaf ears. Now the time has come for the message to be heard. Andrew lays the foundation, Sean and Erik shine the light, and Dave carries the message. The message is an invitation. All are invited, but only those who are Wide Awake will see the door. As a laser pierces the fog, so too will the message travel – farther and farther – never losing focus, never losing intensity – until it has traveled around this earth, and then again and again and again. And like the laser beam, free from the grasp of earthly gravity, but bent by space and time, the message will travel far, Brothers and Sisters – it will travel as far as the farthest reaches of our universe, and then farther still into what lies beyond. It takes five seconds, five seconds of decision, five seconds to realize your purpose here on the planet. It takes five seconds to realize that it’s time to move, it’s time to get down with it. Time is a slippery thing, Brothers and Sisters: Lose hold of it once, and its string might sail out of your hands forever. You must decide. Only then, Brothers and and Sisters, only then, will you see, will you hear, will you feel: All That Might Be.
ASTRONOID
Astronoid is a five-piece band from Boston, MA with influences ranging from Devin Townsend and Mew to Alcest and Cynic. Their first full length album, being released by Blood Music in 2016, is part of an evolving experience that complements their two acclaimed EP’s from 2012-13, “Stargazer” and “November”. The driving rhythms, subtle time signatures and soaring vocal harmonies combine to create an auditory cloud to lift you into the ether. There’s always something new to discover hidden within the dense layers of thrashy guitar riffs and euphoric vocals. Lyrically, the record conveys a disillusioned and hopeful view of the world as a whole.
THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN
Arthur Brown first came to prominence
Arthur is best thought of for his 1968 Number one single Fire that still gets regular airplay all over the world and has been covered by the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Die Krupps, The Prodigy and The Who.
Arthur’s next band Kingdom Come performed as the main act at the first filmed Glastonbur
Artists such as Peter Gabriel, Alice Cooper and Bruce Dickenson site Arthur Brown as a major influence on them and in this Arthur’s fifth decade in music the fire is far from out.
Arthur’s most recent album Voices Of Love had major critical acclaim and Arthur received the Classic Rock magazine showman of the year award.
Arthur Brown Time lines
# 1965 – Released the ‘You Don’t Know’ single as a flexi for Reading university
# 1966 – Arthur was a musician in Paris formed the Arthur Brown Set and scored some of the soundtrack
# 1967 – the Crazy World Of Arthur Brown is formed Arthur released the single Devils grip, was a resident at the UFO and Middle Earth clubs sharing the bill with Pink Floyd, Soft Machine and Fairport Convention
# 1968 – Released Debut album and No1 single Fire Arthur was a world wide superstar.
# 1969 – The Crazy World split, Arthur turns down the offer of being the lead singer for a new band being put together by Jimi Hendrix
# 1970 – Kingdome Come form in the Dorset town of Puddletown
# 1971 – Kingdome Come release debut album Galactic Zoo Dossier and headline Glastonbur
# 1972 – Second Kingdome Come album released
# 1973 – Kingdome Come makes history with the album Journey first rock album to use a drum machine.
# 1976 – Chisholm in my Bosom Arthur’s first solo album with Andy Dalby, Phil Curtis and Vincent Crane all performing
# 1977 – Dance Arthur’s second album with a different band on every track, the album was launched at Ronnie Scotts Jazz club, that night Simon Drake then a rep for Decca also started his career as a magician.
# 1978 – Arthur tours with Klaus Schulz and records the Dune and Klaus Schulz Live album.
# 1979 – Arthur re united with Vincent Crane record the Faster than the Speed of Light album. Arthur re locates to Texas.
# 1981 – Arthur goes electronic
# 1989 – Brown Black and Blue Arthur makes a rock and roll album with his good friend Jimmy Carl Black of the Mothers of Invention.
# 1993 – Arthur tours the UK for the first time in years to a fantastic response releases the album Order From Chaos recorded live at the Marquee.
# 1998/99 – Arthur starts touring with an acoustic band for the first time inc a major UK tour with Tim Rose. http://
# 2000 – Arthur records the Tantric Lover album regarded by many as his best work in years, Arthur also returned to the Glastonbur
# 2002 – Arthur tours with Robert Plant to great reaction, Arthur also becomes the lead singer for Hawkwind for 2 tours.
# 2005 – Arthur was recognized
# 2006 – Arthur tours the USA and Canada
# 2008 – Arthur Brown and Nick Pynn release the Voices of Love album
# 2009 – Arthur plays shows with Mark Jackson of White Noise and tours the UK with a new band opening for Hawkwind at many large venues.
PEARLS MAHONE
Born to sing and bound to roam, Pearls Mahone is part hard luck crooner and part gospel firebrand. With a firm foundation in traditional church music, she truly sings with spirit. From deep roots she built her repertoire from an early age into a seamless marriage of Soul, Rock & Roll, Rockabilly, Country and Bluegrass.
STRANGE WORLD
We’re a devilish rock n roll band from joliet.
KHALID
18-year-old El Paso artist Khalid has the kind of voice perfectly suited for retro soul, but let’s be honest—we don’t need more of that in 2016. Instead, he brings that soulful spirit into a modern context with some bass-heavy, spacious production provided by Syk Sense, Tunji Ige, and Smash David. “Location” is down to earth and youthful in the way that music by a teenager should be, and that chorus is gold.
SIMA CUNNINGHAM
Sima Cunningham
2015 brought a number of new, exciting collaborat
Cunningham
YOWIE
Yowie plays a dense foreign language through two guitars which communicate in an angry six string banter over strictly scattered drums. This power trio speaks in alien code with founding member Defenestrator playing the part of percussive conductor. Each song comes densely packed with rare repetitions: a series of guitar riffs pass like clever one-liners with unbridled speed.
LAUREL & THE LOVE-IN
Dear Mother,
I meant to write to you before this, and I hope you haven’t been worried. I am in Nashville and it is really beautiful here. A beautiful scene. We’ve been here a week, me and this rock and roll band that calls itself the Love-In. We’re making this movie. Well it’s not really a movie, but a short film. Well it’s not visual or anything, more like an album. Only while we’re making it, I’m in it.
I won’t bore you with the whole thing, how it happened, but I really tried, because I knew you wanted me to. It just didn’t work out with me and Danny, and so I have come here and it is a really beautiful scene. I don’t want you to worry about me. I’m with the Love-In now.
There’s a boy named Ian Kendall who plays guitar. He’s shown me around a bit. He’s always in such a hurry, yet somehow always late. And there’s a girl named Veronica Selby with eyes like a doe and a voice like a little birdie. She hangs around with a boy named Michael Rasile, who hits his drums so hard you wouldn’t believe! It’s powerful stuff the way he plays, but my new friend John Lattimer warned me about listening to him. John plays the bass like thunder and walks around followed by a cloud of smoke.
We’re all getting a van together and we’re just gonna go. We’re piling in together, traveling all over the Heartland,
Completely
Laurel & the Love-In
MISS JACKIE & THE SASS
We’ve been called everything from “candid blues” to “the girls who sing the Pussy Song”. Both are true. 🙂
RIO & THE ROCKABILLY REVIVAL
Award-winn
BAD JOKES
We are a punk band. Our music is free and we want all of you to have it.
GILLIAN ROSE
Born in England, and most recently living in Dubai, Gillian Rose is a singer-son
Gillian’s first musical endeavor was at the age of 15, when she picked up her mom’s unused Gibson guitar. As a birthday gift to her supportive
Through all of her travels, music has been a calming constant in Gillian’s life. It has remained a way for her to express herself freely, as all of her songs truly come from the heart. However, it wasn’t until her mom and dad encouraged
After the YouTube postings, she quickly acquired a large, diverse group of fans from all over the world. Her videos were flooded with comments, including some odd proposals of marriage, from all over the world including countries as far as Venezuela,
One of her favorite fan encounters
Between her music, studying at Purdue University
MASON “BULLET” TINSLEY
Mason is a storytelling veteran with a heart that wants to sing song. Wants you to know about his struggles his past and is willing to bet you can relate. Don’t believe it check him out!
GARY MOORE II
Born and raised to a working-class family, singer/songwriter Gary Moore II blends his blue-collar mentality with songs about heartbreak, hard work, and hard living. With influences from Hank to R.A.T.M., TVZ to the DBTs, and everywhere in between, GMII’s songs find a place in the ever-evolving Americana genre. As a founding member of the Miles Burning Band, he co-fronted the band, releasing one EP and opening shows for regional/national touring acts and taking part in festivals like the Honky-Tonk Throwdown and Nippersink Fest. While recording the bands second release, vocal issues and the subsequent surgery forced him to take over a year off, and ultimately leave the band.
With a successful surgery under his belt, and a newfound respect for music and singing, GMII began pushing forward as the working-man’s troubadour. Working closely with long-time collaborator, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Michael Pentz, they’ve carved out an original roots-rock sound with a familiar feel.
2016 looks to be the culmination of Gary Moore II’s uphill climb from silence to stage, with festival appearances such as Moonrunners 2016 scheduled as well as solo and supporting gigs throughout Illinois and the Midwest being booked. More importantly, GMII’s debut solo album, Tin Man’s Blues, is projected for a late-spring/early-summer release by Hole In The Wall Records.
JIMMY SWOPE
. ..Hello friends, I am a singer/songwriter/guitarist currently living in the wilds of western Maryland. I was raised on country & gospel music and I began playing guitar at at age 7. By age 9, I was playing to an audience. My father and I played churches, old folks homes and the like. For a couple of years we had a regular gig playing for the bums at the rescue mission soup kitchen, which was broadcast live on Hagerstown’s A.M. station, WJEJ. Soon enough I discovered The Beatles and The Stones and I’ve been in a general state of moral decline ever since. I formed my first band in high school and have never looked back. Since then, I’ve played in dozens of bands with many wonderful friends and amazing musicians. I made records in the original days of vinyl. I’ve opened for everyone from Hasil Adkins to Danny Gatton, Foghat to The Ramones. I’ve played a thousand shows in a hundred towns and slept on more floors and sofas than I can count. Here are some of the bands I’ve played in: The Left (formed in 81′, we recorded 2 critically acclaimed records on the Bona Fide label), The Dusters, Black Market Baby, Shatterbox, The Hell County Regulars, The Voodoo Love Gods, The Hellbenders, The Casualties W/ Kim Carson (New Orleans), Blue Balls Deluxe, Iron Cross, 9353, The Glenmont Popes/Honky Slim, The Twin Six, Luckyman, The Nightlifers, and J.B.Beverly & The Wayward Drifters.
In 2014, I released my first full length solo record, The Wages of Sin, on the Farmageddon record label. Since that time, I have been hitting the road and promoting my music the old fashion way – one town and one stage at a time. Hope to see you in your town soon.
BRITTANY AVERY
The Brittany Avery Band is a country/southern rock band from Columbus Ga.
THAT OL’ COONDOG
TED RUSSELL KAMP
Ted Russell Kamp is an LA-based bass player, singer/songwriter and producer.
Ted writes, records and travels the world performing his own country / roots / Americana music from his seven critically-acclaimed albums. Ted also plays live, records sessions, and collaborates on songs with A-list songwriters and musicians in Nashville, Austin and around the world. Ted recently built a new studio — The Den — and has already produced several well-received albums for fellow artists.
Ted is well known for his ability to step into bands and rock all genres of music — the decades he spent holding down the bottom end for bands as diverse as Shooter Jennings and Wilson Phillips made sure Ted had the chops for anything from major festivals to David Letterman appearances.
The last few years have found Kamp focusing on his own career. He tours continuously in the US and Europe, and has releasing his solo albums to critical acclaim. His records have debuted at #1 on the Euroamericana Chart and made the US Americana Chart’s Top 100 Records of the Year. The Big Takeover wrote, “Kamp simply knocks one ball after another out of the park…Saturated in talent and sincerity … good music done right.”
This Jack of all trades points to Dave Stewart and Buddy Miller as role models, in the sense that they move so seamlessly between the roles of sideman and frontman while supplying both substance and glue to every project they take on.
“The biggest challenge,” Ted says, “is always to be myself and express myself while still supporting others. Bringing in traditional elements is a way to make the music classier and more timeless, in my opinion, whether it’s to enrich my own music or to make anything I’m part of as great as it can be.”
“I’m a New Yorker who’s thoroughly fascinated with Southern music,” Ted points out. “Most of my favorite records were made within a few-hundred-mile radius that circles Memphis, Nashville, Muscle Shoals, New Orleans and up the Mississippi River, Dallas and Austin. It’s incredible — the passion, the storytelling and the soul that came out of that part of the country. It’s a huge part of the American voice.”
Ted dove into music after college. He spent several years woodshedding in Seattle, and recorded four LPs with his trio Ponticello before moving to LA in 2001. Once in LA, Ted formed the group Union Pacific, played with numerous bands, did extensive session work. That led in 2003 to Shooter Jennings pulling him into his band. And Ted’s never looked back. Whether he’s headlining a major show in the Netherlands with European superstars, playing Gruene Hall in mid Texas in the dead of summer, rocking an LA honky tonk with some of the best players in town, or working in his new studio to pull the soul from each song, Ted pours his drive and musical talent into every note.
ESCAPE FROM THE ZOO
We’re a ska punk band!!
Members:
Jesse Sendejas – Guitar, Vocals
Veronica Sendejas – Mandolin, Vocals
Corey Page – Bass, Vocals
Jessamyn Cobb – Drums
Elliot Lozier – Bass, Drums, Vocals
Justin Paxton – Drums, Vocals
DJ ELLIVEN
Neville Allen aka DJ Elliven (Dee-Jay 11) bringing quality Sounds para la Cabeza Hip Hop, Soul, Funk, Top 40, House, Electronic..etc… Chicago. Follow me @DJelliven or Email me at neville.allen1@gmail.com
THE UNFORGIVEN
Born out of a desire to be the most exciting Metallica tribute band ever… Four veteran members of the Chicago metal scene, 3 of whom have collectively put in over 15 years in area Metallica tribute bands, are looking to have a little fun…. Metallica is what we were born to do. Metallica is the reason we play. Metallica is what we sound like when we write originals.. So that is what we are going to do. Play a bunch of Metallica songs and have a ton of fun doing it.
There is also a desire to be creative in this band as all of us come from original projects in one form or another. There will be some songs done in a slightly different manner and a bunch of other non-Metallica songs being done in a Metallica Style.. Or Metallica-ized if you will. Think of it more as a tribute to the Metallica style… Every show should be something unique.
I guarantee, you will be entertained…
R.O.E.
With his hometown of Chicago on his back and the sounds of soul in his roots, Brooklyn-based emcee R.O.E. blends an urban vibe with poetic lyricism and music that hits straight to the heart that will attract anyone with an affection for alternative hip hop.
RYAN BROWN & THE CLERGY
The Clergy was est. on June 2016, it started with one man Ryan Mids Brown who had a vision to start a band/movement to uphold the great responsibility to create great music. The Following of The Clergy has said that their music has put them in scenes of movies, or hearing colors and seeing sounds. The clergy’s style is a variation of electronical-jazz/hip-hop/soul/fusion. On July 16The Clergy released their freshman record called “The Passage” which brings a musical way to journey through problems situations and trials. With the help of great inspiring musicians who has featured on the project such as, Shon Hinton, Quintin Gulledge, Lawrence “Blacksurfer” Farmer, Maison Guidry, Just to name a few. The Clergy will be touring in the summer of 2017 called the “Revolution Tour” changing each city and the aspect of music one city at a time
EARTHIKA
Featuring members of chachuba.
DJ LEVIN
HUNTSMEN
Whilst storytelling has been – and remains – at the core of all that HUNTSMEN is, they continue to dissolve the boundaries between metal and the more traditional modes of folk and country. Released March 13, 2020 to critical acclaim, their latest album ‘Mandala of Fear’ marries melody and progressive elements to create an undulating foundation to layer its dystopian missive on atop.
SLAPSHOT
Slapshot was formed in 1985 by Steve Risteen (currently
Diverging from their counterpar
The band’s lineup underwent a number of changes in its first few years, although its sound remained consistent
As the band got ready to record the next record there was a significan
Their 1993 album Blast Furnace (We Bite Records) was a move into sample-bas
The following year there was another line-up change that resulted in Darryl leaving the band to be replaced by Mike Bowser. They recorded the Unconsciou
In August 1994 Slapshot went off to Europe for a two-month tour with Ignite and a split 7″ single record was released to promote it. The tour kicked off at the Hultsfred Festival in Sweden on August 11 and ended on October 4 in Germany. Slapshot played 50 shows in 7 countries in 54 days.
Around the time Unconsciou
With its most solid line-up in years Slapshot returned to the studio to record their heaviest album to date, “16 Valve Hate” (Lost & Found Records/
In July 1997, Slapshot played what was to be their last concert in the United States for five years, in Plymouth, Massachuse
In 2001, Slapshot issued a new album entitled Greatest Hits, Slashes and Crosscheck
In 2002 Slapshot played a 15 minute surprise set at The Hideaway in Cambridge,
Around this time Mike Bowser decided to move to New York for a new job and after a guitar search that ended with Ed Lalli (currently
In 2006, Slapshot released a statement on their website announcing
Slapshot played a show at Anchors Up in Haverhill,
Upon returning from the tour Slapshot played as part of the “2008 Hometown Throwdown”
April 24, 2009 finally brought the world premiere of the long awaited Slapshot documentar
After another line-up change (including
The next line up of Slapshot included founding member Jack ‘Choke’ Kelly, longtime member Chris Laura (back on bass guitar), John Bean on drums and Craig Silverman (formerly of Only Living Witness & currently of The Enemy Within and the touring guitar player for Blood for Blood) on guitar. The band spent the first 1/2 of 2010 working on new material and hopes to have some new songs recorded before the end of the year. This line-up played the “Gallery East” reunion show in August 2010 after several warm-up shows in Europe.
In 2012, another lineup change brought Nick Charrette in to play bass.
June 6, 2012 The New 3 song EP “I Believe” will be released on TAANG! RECORDS it will be the 208th release for the label & the 11th release by the band SLAPSHOT on TAANG!
Ryan Packer joined on bass in late 2012.
Diverging from their counterpar
The band’s lineup underwent a number of changes in its first few years, although its sound remained consistent
As the band got ready to record the next record there was a significan
Their 1993 album Blast Furnace (We Bite Records) was a move into sample-bas
The following year there was another line-up change that resulted in Darryl leaving the band to be replaced by Mike Bowser. They recorded the Unconsciou
In August 1994 Slapshot went off to Europe for a two-month tour with Ignite and a split 7″ single record was released to promote it. The tour kicked off at the Hultsfred Festival in Sweden on August 11 and ended on October 4 in Germany. Slapshot played 50 shows in 7 countries in 54 days.
Around the time Unconsciou
With its most solid line-up in years Slapshot returned to the studio to record their heaviest album to date, “16 Valve Hate” (Lost & Found Records/
In July 1997, Slapshot played what was to be their last concert in the United States for five years, in Plymouth, Massachuse
In 2001, Slapshot issued a new album entitled Greatest Hits, Slashes and Crosscheck
In 2002 Slapshot played a 15 minute surprise set at The Hideaway in Cambridge,
Around this time Mike Bowser decided to move to New York for a new job and after a guitar search that ended with Ed Lalli (currently
In 2006, Slapshot released a statement on their website announcing
Slapshot played a show at Anchors Up in Haverhill,
Upon returning from the tour Slapshot played as part of the “2008 Hometown Throwdown”
April 24, 2009 finally brought the world premiere of the long awaited Slapshot documentar
After another line-up change (including
The next line up of Slapshot included founding member Jack ‘Choke’ Kelly, longtime member Chris Laura (back on bass guitar), John Bean on drums and Craig Silverman (formerly of Only Living Witness & currently of The Enemy Within and the touring guitar player for Blood for Blood) on guitar. The band spent the first 1/2 of 2010 working on new material and hopes to have some new songs recorded before the end of the year. This line-up played the “Gallery East” reunion show in August 2010 after several warm-up shows in Europe.
In 2012, another lineup change brought Nick Charrette in to play bass.
June 6, 2012 The New 3 song EP “I Believe” will be released on TAANG! RECORDS it will be the 208th release for the label & the 11th release by the band SLAPSHOT on TAANG!
Ryan Packer joined on bass in late 2012.
THE GREEN WAVES
We are The Green Waves a local band from Chicago who plays a mixture of rock and roll, grunge, and blues.
GRAVESHADOW
Graveshadow was originally conceived in the winter of 2012 by rhythm guitarist, William Lloyd Walker. The current line-up features Walker along with vocalist Rachl Raxx Quinn, lead guitarist Aaron Robitsch, and bassist Luci Rae. The band wrote and produced ‘The Uncertain Hour’ (M-Theory Audio), writing and recording over the course of 2020 and 2021, and releasing the new album in the Summer of 2022. With praise from the press and fans alike, the band prepared to step onto the stage again in support of the new record. Touring picked up in the Summer of 2022 with labelmates VINTERSEA,
seeing the band perform to new audiences up and down the US West Coast.
Since 2023, the band has toured across North America with acts such as Exmortus, Paladin, and Burning Witches, appearing at festivals such as Hyperspace Metal Festival (BC), Mad With Power Festival (WI), and Mile High Power Festival (CO). The band has connected with audiences of fans new and old alike.
Sonically, Graveshadow strives to immerse the listener, telling a story that stays with you. Harmonized guitars create a sense of grandeur and aggression as sweeping orchestration accentuate the drama. Held down by the earthly rumble of the rhythm section, drums and bass add depth and resonance, setting the tone. Soaring vocals give life, delivering the emotion and meaning of the tale, leaving the listener free to wander within the sonic tapestry.
THE TIMMYS
The Timmys Midwest punk band that’s cool enough for school, if not TOO cool for it!
EX OKAYS
Basement goons inspired by fast food and feelings
ALTERNATE FLOW
We’re Alternate Flow, from Chicago. All Original. We like to focus on the raw aspects of sound. We believe the best music is the kind that happens spontaneously in a garage banging your instruments. that feel.
FREAK ON A LEASH
Freak On A Leash was never intended to be more than a one time performance. A group of musicians ranging from Illinois and Indiana, came together to form Freak On A Leash for a one time gig on Saturday, December 8th at Another Hole In the Wall in Steger, Illinois. The event was a showcase for local musicians to perform an entire set as one of their favorite bands.
That entire set was well documented through a High Definition video and with the help of You Tube and Trashmouth Films, Freak On A Leash started to gain some major positive feedback. With a fresh tribute scene brewing in the Chicagoland area, Freak On A Leash decided to become a full-time project, in hopes of accomplishing something new and different.
It didn’t take the act more than a year to pick up steam and land themselves in some reputable clubs. Within three years of hard work, the band has managed to land the privilege to take the stage at such key spots as The Abbey Pub, Durty Nellies, The Cubby Bear, Mojoes and The Loft. In 2014, the band was given the opportunity to play House Of Blues in Chicago, leading to a headliner later in 2015 on the same stage.
With a few member adjustments and some fine tuning, the tribute band is preparing to take things to the next level. Expect things to get interesting very soon.
MISERY MACHINE
Misery Machine is a Chicago based tribute to Marilyn Manson (and The Spooky Kids).
FIRGUN
Firgun is an American indie-alte
SHROOM FACTORY
Reggae inspired musicians based out of Chicago, IL
THE LAND BEFORE TIM
Face melting skacore from Chicago! Establishe
THE BOMBATS
All Rocket Boosters and Astro Dudes beware, The Bombats are here to save your souls with rock and roll.
SWELLSHARK
Swellshark is a Chicago-based duo incorporating smart lyrics, textural drumming, electric uke, loop pedals, beatboxing, and the occasional mouth trumpet. At times big and intricate, and at others quiet and intimate, the resultant sound crackles with both joy and intensity. Each member hails from a strong musical background. Henry Kellam (drums, bass, & beatboxing) gained experience in punk, classical, and jazz performance, and is the drummer of metal band Save the Son, who have performed at venues such as Bottom Lounge and Pub Yahoo. Shélan O’Keefe (vocals, guitar, & electric ukulele) began as a singer/songwriter and is an alumni of Girls Rock! Chicago, having played at Metro, Schuba’s, and The Vic. Together, they form Swellshark.
The pair’s live debut, in October 2014, was opening for antifolk legend (and long-time Swellshark hero) Jeffrey Lewis, at Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago. Since then, Swellshark has played with the Australian duo Oxford & Co. at Township, poet Harold Green at The Promontory, and with local support at Martyrs’ and Debonair Social Club. In the summer of 2015, the band traveled to Iceland, spending over a month traveling the country to work on new material, film take-away style music videos, and busk throughout the various tiny towns they visited. “Songs From the Island,” Swellshark’s first official EP, was born out of these experiences and independently released a few months after their return. 2016 marks a new direction for the duo, who have begun to work on their first full-length album. With topics both playful and serious, covering betrayal, self-destruction, and PBS painter Bob Ross, Swellshark has many musical surprises in store as they continue to hone their live set and signature, off-the-cuff music videos.
BOB ROK
Bob Rok used to be an angel in the paradise of God. One day after working a double at this small Bar in Heaven, Bob got drunk and thought about going back to angel school. During a trip to the bathroom Bob bumped to a rather large man causing him to spill his beer. Bob demanded he and the guy step outside. When they got into the alley Bob realized it was God. Bob Fought him anyway figuring he could defeat aging deity with sheer will. Bob lost(badly
HIGH PRIEST
High Priest is a 4 piece stoner doom band from Chicago, IL.
ROOBY MAN
Recording Artist Entrepreneur Investor Stock Market CEO New single “Wa gentan konnen
DJ KAMIL F. LUKASZ JAROSINSKI
MIKE “MCBEARDO” MCPADDEN
Mike “McBeardo” McPadden is the author of Heavy Metal Movies: Guitar Barbarians, Mutant Bimbos, and Cult Zombies Amok in the 666 Most Ear- and Eye-Ripping Big Scream Films Ever! (Bazillion Points). He also covers true crime for Investigation Discovery’s CrimeFeed; punk, metal, and classic rock for VH1; and stoner culture for The Kindland.com
SUPER SONIC SPACE REBELS
“This sound is just what the doctor ordered. Totally different flow than anything out there. When I first started on it I thought…damn, they went Rockabilly. By the time it ended I was pissing on the stall in CBGB”. -Charles Browning (Club Owner, Concert Promoter).
WILEM “HURRICANE” SIMMONS
Born & bred in sunny Chicago, Wilem Hurricane Simmons & his band The Severe Weather Warning have been making goofy, heartfelt garage folk music in the city for a few years now. They’ve just recorded their first fully mastered EP “Enjoy Your Day” available on Spotify & Bandcamp, and are excited to play for you & have a few drinks. Oh, yep!
LOUDA
LOUDA is a Chicago area recording and performing artist. Changing gears from the classical realm, LOUDA elevates her sound through scat and soul in her own songwriting and eclectic song cover choice.
VISION IN THE RHYTHM
Vision in the Rhythm Band from Chicago with an Alternative, Reggae, and World sound.
SAMMY K
Samuel Jacob Kalnitz, born in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American rapper representi
ARTIFICIAL BRAIN
Artificial Brain are a technical death metal quintet from Long Island, New York. Their core sound weds pummeling tech and death metal to the buzzing edges and Phrygian mode scales of black metal with an angular, dissonant edge and nearly subliminal growling vocals using science fiction themes as lyric inspiration. The self-released, three-track Demo 2011 presented the band with opportunities for regional touring while 2013’s Butchering Cosmic Giants EP won notice globally, netting them a record deal with Profound Lore. 2014’s long-playing debut, Labyrinth Constellation, was produced, mixed, and mastered by Colin Marston; it scored dozens of positive reviews for its bracing modern approach to death metal. 2017’s Infrared Horizon proved more experimental and wide-ranging, resulting in a prime slot on Cattle Decapitation’s tour. Founding vocalist Will Smith left the band in September 2021. He was replaced by vocalist Paulo Paguntalan for immediate touring, though Smith’s voice had already been recorded for material on 2022’s Artificial Brain. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi
COGNITIVE
Technical death metal troupe Cognitive are back with Abhorrence, their fifth full length album and a tremendously worthy successor to 2021’s Malevolent Thoughts of a Hastened Extinction. This is the New Jersey powerhouse quintet at its brutal best – unrelenting riffs leave the listener stunned, while a wave of thoughtful, devastating lyrics washes over. The album is a turbulent, draining but ultimately fulfilling experience.
Cognitive started work on Abhorrence while touring Malevolent Thoughts of a Hastened Extinction, sending tracks back and forth to each other while trekking from one intense gig to another.
2024 promises to be a big year for Cognitive, as they take Abhorrence on the road and bring more people into their vile new world. 13 years after the release of their debut EP, the band’s fifth full-lengther sees them continue to make giant strides forward while retaining the elements of their past efforts that got them this far.
Abhorrence may provide therapeutic commentary about how messed up the world currently is, but also, ironically, provides a breath of fresh air. We’re all in this together, so catch Cognitive on the road this year.
DONE-IN
Illinois Hardcore
LATE.
Psychedeli
TANJIIR
Post-Rock/
For fans of: This Will Destroy You, Explosions
PAPER HERO
Progressiv
FLIGHT PLAN
Flight Plan is a 4 piece pop punk band from Chicago, IL. The band was formed in 2014 and consists of Vocals and Guitar Mike Morrissey,
SCHOOL OF ROCK (GLEN ELLYN)
Through our performance-based approach to music lessons, School of Rock students are more inspired to learn, more motivated to excel and more confident as a result. We teach guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums and vocals in an interactive environment.
BURNS TWINS X KAINA
Born and raised in Chicago, Kaina & Burns Twins were destined to work together. As a group, Kaina, Eddie, & Iz blend their distinct talents into ear candy you just can’t put down; each song is sweet and smooth as the last. Serving as a proper debut from Kaina & Burns Twins, sweet asl shows the group’s ability to construct dynamic, soulful music. This authenticity in sound may be attributed to just how organically the project came to be. In the span of only 3 months, what started as friends having fun by jamming out turned into a cohesive 6-track project and defined artistic direction.
NAMS HOMELESS
Here is Nams Homeless first solo release since his previous EP “Chingaso” released Aug 30th 2015. This project is a Demo for a new sound that he has been working on for the past year. The demo represents a cluster fuck of emotions surrounded by static, depression, loneliness, anger, and tranquility. Here he is expressing the harmonic sounds of his own suffering (we all get lost along our way to wherever we’re going). This demo is also one half of another project Nams has instored for us in the distant future so please enjoy.
THE FREEDOM PARADOX
Hello world, We are The Freedom Paradox formed out of Downers Grove Illinois. We have three members Ryan Drobnik (lead vocals/guitar), Megan Gilley (Vocals/Bass) and Nate Kay(Vocals/Drums). Our sound can be described as punk but we take other influences from general rock, metal, hardcore, and many other sub genres. We have a Single titled “Dead End” that can be found on SounCloud, band camp, YouTube, and our Facebook page. Since May of 2015 we have been playing in venues around Illinois. Get in contact with us, as we grow our fan base around The Untied States.
WAYSIDE STORY
Wayside Story is a Chicago-based pop-punk band formed in the spring of 2015. With the members desperately in search of like-minded people to play music with, each turned to Craigslist hoping to fill the void (basically online dating for musicians). As soon as Brian (vocals, bass) and Casey (lead guitar) met in 2013, their shared musical interests and edgy style of play quickly clicked and led them looking for others to create a full act. Once Casey found an experienced drummer in Corbin shortly after, the three would meet in the west loop on a regular basis to jam out to their favorites and begin writing their own songs. After a long search for right person, they finally brought on Kevin’s (vocals, rhythm guitar) skill and creativity to round out the four-piece.
Wayside Story began playing in a number of different venues around the Chicagoland area, quickly gaining interest and notoriety within the local music scene. In the fall of 2015, the band teamed up with producer Roye Robley to begin recording their first official EP in Hammond, IN. After dozens of trips to and from Hammond, as well as countless hours spent by Roye perfecting the mixes, Wayside finally released “Young Adult Fiction” on August 5th, 2016. The six-song EP, which instantly drew high praise from fans, helped the band to secure an opening gig at the House of Blues shortly after on August 14th, Wayside’s biggest show to date.
Wayside Story will be featured on a number of shows around Chicago throughout the fall to promote “Young Adult Fiction”, which is available on iTunes, Spotify, and Bandcamp.
MEST
Cousins Tony and Matt Lovato grew up across the street from each other in the Blue Island section of the south side of Chicago and began playing together at seven, borrowing instruments from Tony’s father, with Tony picking up guitar and singing and Matt playing bass. In high school, they hooked up with guitarist Jeremiah Rangel and drummer Nick Gigler. Tony came up with the band name Mest while looking at a case of Milwaukee’s Best beer.
Playing in local Chicago punk clubs, the group self-released their debut album, Mo’ Money, Mo’ 40’z. They got their first real break when Tony wrote to Goldfinger lead singer John Feldmann and got a response. After listening to a demo tape, Feldmann agreed to let Mest open for Goldfinger, got them a record deal with Maverick, and produced their major-label debut, Wasting Time, which was released in July 2000. A year later, Mest returned with a cameo-filled (Young MC, Save Ferris’ Monique Powell) spiky-punk second album entitled Destination Unknown. A self-titled third album, which included a cameo from Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden, appeared in June 2003.
A lengthy stretch of Warped Tour dates followed, which led to exhaustion for Mest and back surgery for Tony Lovato in particular. But the band soldiered on, and in autumn 2005 they released their fourth effort for Maverick, Photographs. After ten years together, Mest called it quits in early 2006. They went out on an appropriately titled final tour, So Long and Thanx for the Booze, that February alongside Allisterand Scary Kids Scaring Kids. A brief reunion a few years later set the stage for the band to get back together, and they toured as well as releasing the 2013 album Not What You Expected. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi
RECREATIONAL DRUGS
Recreation
JOHN TUDELA
Been in many bands over the years, written hundreds of songs, and never really ventured off on his own. With former bands, John focused on vocals, guitar and writing but dabbled in many other areas of music such recording,
FIRER
Top Choice Unadulterated No Coast Metal
LET ‘EM HANG
Four dudes from from the burbs of Chicago playing for the love of punk rock, drinking, and having a good time!!! Check us out and LET ‘EM HANG!!!
ARCADIA
ARCADIA- Chicago base Metal band that has taken the hard road to success ,With the typical lifespan of Metal bands predictabl
ARCADIA is eager to showcase their powerful new material to fans locally and across U.S. The band’s goal and focus on live shows and the determinat
CALDERA
Members
Ray Nelson ( Vocals )
VooDoo ( Guitars )
Wookie ( Bass )
Rob Saviano ( Drums )
VooDoo ( Guitars )
Wookie ( Bass )
Rob Saviano ( Drums )
CITY OF CATERPILLAR
One of the first bands to successfully merge post-rock and hardcore together, with complex and intense build-ups that led into bursts of rage and chaos, City Of Caterpillar’s short lived existence from 2000 – 2003 has had a major influence on the hardcore/punk scenes since the original release of this LP back in 2002.
BLEND ACOUSTIC
Are you ready to take your party to the next level? Blend plays songs you know by heart with breathtaking harmonies and a passion for engaging the audience.
THE BODY
On No One Deserves Happiness, The Body’s Chip King and Lee Buford set out to make “the grossest pop album of all time.” The album themes of despair and isolation are delivered by the unlikely pairing of the Body’s signature heaviness and 80s dance tracks. The Body can emote pain like no other band, and their ability to move between the often strict confines of the metal world and the electronic music sphere is on full display throughout No One Deserves Happiness, an album that eludes categorization. More then any of their genre-defying peers, The Body does it without softening their disparate influences towards a middle ground, but instead through a beautiful combining of extremes. No One Deserves Happiness is an album that defies definition and expectations, standing utterly alone.
Buford and King are outliers at their core, observing the world as if apart from it. They strive for music without a category. They embody many contrasts. They are open and playful as well as thoughtful and disciplined. Live, they deliver punishing volume and scale with their spare duo set up, expanding their sound through a complex set of effects on both guitar and drums. For records, they approach things entirely differently and expand their group in the studio to include Seth Manchester and Keith Souza from Machines with Magnets (their long-time studio), as well as Chrissy Wolpert of The Assembly of Light Choir. The list of instruments used on No One Deserves Happiness is an unexpected collection that includes 808 drum machine, a cello and a trombone. The band employs instruments in their unprocessed state for the simple beauty of the sound, and then in equal measure push them to their most extreme (for example, the sounds at the end of “The Fall and the Guilt” are created by a guitar and a cello). Because they create an entirely singular sound, The Body is in high demand for collaborations with artists across the musical spectrum, from The Bug to Full of Hell to The Haxan Cloak and beyond. They build albums that are as lush and dense as a rainforest and as unforgiving.
CREEPERS
Creepers is a band from the San Francisco Bay Area that formed in 2010. Originally consisting of Shiv Mehra (Deafheaven) on guitar and vocals and Daniel Tracy (Deafheaven) on drums, the duo performed around the Bay playing their own brand of surreal psychedelic rock. Eventually, they recruited guitarist Chris Natividad (Golden Drugs, Useless Eaters) and bassist Varun Mehra to complete the lineup. Their first LP “Lush” was released on All Black Recording Company in 2014.
In 2016, Andrew Oswald (Recorded Fell Voices, Ash Borer, Black Spiritual, +more) replaced Varun Mehra on bass and Ross Peacock (Mwahaha, Clipd Beaks) was added on synths and electronics. They are currently working on a release slated for 2017.
ASTRAL BLOOD
Astral Blood is a North American black metal band located in Minneapoli