Local Loft

Local Loft Episode 383

Rockin' The Southlands!
That slogan was forever implanted in my brain when I first became Afternoon radio DJ at The Kat 105.5, in November 1996. I returned to close to where it all began the last weekend of May 2025. five minutes from the site of our 500-foot transmitter tower in Braidwood, Illinois, the Chicago Southlands rocked live at Top Fuel Saloon. Indeed, it felt like The Graveyard Shift & Local Limelight all over again. uniting the metal masses was Oblivion Zero, this fierce progressive hardcore four-man metal band, led by singer Kyle Ripley has just released their fourth EP, Flaws In Sunlight.  Unlike their previous third one, Revenant, this is not a concept album which told the haunting tale of a psycho pirate, who meets his shipwrecked demise. Oblivion Zero served up the entire five track EP to moshing masses onstage. I talk with singer Kyle Ripley, after their foundation shaking release show set. When last we heard from former A.D.D. drummer rock drummer Jason Delismon, he fronted the melodic, progressive hard rock band, Frontline. Now he goes it alone with his second solo single. A treat for any Puddle Of Mudd fan.
Lady Strange, from the far southwest of Joliet suburb LaSallle, evokes music of the long since forgotten glam metal and hair metal era of the mid to late 80s. They will soon open for long since forgotten hair metal band, Trixter. Their new Ep wouldn't sound too out of place in a club where strange and intimate ladies dance from pole to pole. I'll give their tunes a whirl.
We'll rock back to when futuristic space age industrial metal band Genotype rocked live light years ahead with tales of cyber-Wi-Fi gone amok. Six years ago this week, the Rockford band screamed their way into Reggie's in the South Loop. actually, dual personality singer Kadie Kirby took care of the screaming end. 
Forward we go, with the slightest touch of throwback, into the ever-evolving Chicagoland original Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop scene:
Oblivion Zero-New Year New Fear 
Oblivion Zero-Invasion
Next To Eternity-The Entity
Lady Strange-Psycho Love
Enuff Z'Nuff-Freak (with Rick Neilsen of Cheap Trick)
Jason Delismon-This Time
Fierce Atmospheres-Fear Is A One Way
Space Age Zeros-My Brooding Friend
Flatfoot 56-Mud
Genotype (interview from Reggie's Music Joint-6/2/16 Local Loft Episode 27)
Genotype-Cyberfi
Genotype-The Awakening

Local Loft Episode 382

 "I don't want a Holiday In The Sun. I want to go to the new Belsen." (Sex Pistols-1977 )
The original Chicago area's metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop scene never takes a holiday...not on every music intensive episode of Local Loft.
There's always something new to discover, even in music with an old school, retro twist.
Metal has so many different music styles nowadays. Not just the unclean hardcore grunting vocal. Melodic and progressive metal is just as dominant in the scene. Chicago band WitchHammer combines a sophisticated melodic operatic singing style with just a pinch of angry and aggressive vocal. They continue to work on an almost seven year follow up album to their 2018 debut, Blood Of The Fallen. I talk with the Band's Drummer Tyler Mustard and lead singer Paul. They were hoping to give a long-awaited sneak preview of the new album, We Are Coven, this Memorial Day Weekend at The Forge in Joliet, but the show was unexpectantly cancelled.
Seven years ago, the gruesome tale of a shipwrecked pirate's ghost haunting the vessel he once captained became an illustrious cinematic full length debut album by Oblivion Zero. The Central Illinois based metal act returns with Flaws In Daylight, which is not a sequel to The Revenant. They will present the new album in its entirety Saturday night at Top Fuel Saloon in Braidwood. The correct music video soundtrack for the first single gets a spin here. The Outfit takes a few Quick Turns through The Big Apple in a new music video featuring Mike Gorman, once bassist of the legendary Chicago power pop giants off Broadway.
Evil Engine motored their way onto the set of WGN TV Morning News, and rocked live a week after their guest spot at Reggie's Music Joint the thrash Punk band lead by the colorful female singer Kryssie Ridolphi took a swipe at a former billionaire turned two-time president. We rock back to it, six years ago this week.
Take some more time on, not off, rocking out big time to this prime original Chicagoland music soundtrack:
WitchHammer-Watch The World Burn
WitchHammer-Blood In The Water
Chains Over Razors-Purge The Suffering
Beneath The Hollow-Four-Dimensional Regret
Oblivion Zero-Corrector
The Outfit-Hard On Me
Off Broadway-Stay In Time (original 1979 Atlantic 45 rpm vinyl single)
Pezband-Stella Blue (2025 remix)
The Ugly Lovers-Nowhere To Go
Evil Engine (interview from Reggie's Music Joint-5/26/19 Local Loft Episode 103)
Evil Engine-Upstanding Citizen
Evil Engine-Egression

Local Loft Episode 381

Persistent May showers won't bring this or cause it to bloom....A growing harvest of original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock & Power Pop. Plant your ears into a detailed set of headphones, earbuds or speakers with maximum wattage.
In this sonic garden of melodies and song hooks, Chicago Metal trio Chains Over Razors looks to rewrite the very definition of Modern Metal. They look extreme hardcore, the sound is altogether different. I talk with drummer Andy V. as they will have a big moshing and headbanging audience linked to the chunky power chord and melodic vocal groove, Saturday night at The Forge in Joliet, with Witch Hammer and The Midnight Calls.
Leah Colette certainly dressed and looked the part of a Hardcore Metal musician. But, laid down a set of funky, even jazzy bass riffs as one third of Catapult The Propaganda. She has slingshot her way out of the sludge rocking Joliet trio to form All Outta Gum, an intense four-piece metal band which is a showcase for her raspy, screaming vocal. I have their first single, and news on a new beginning for CTP's two other members, guitarist/singer Robert Bloodworth and drummer Skip Maskeri.
There was a scarcity of obvious similarities, but certainly not appearance wise for Darien based goth rock band Comfort Scarcity. The distinctive high pitched vocal style was there, but no flash guitar shredding or bashing snare drum hits. I dropped in on them convincing a packed crowd that they were not your average face melting rock group, six years ago this week, at Q Bar in their native city.
Reap the bountiful blossom of perennial original Chicagoland music, sprouting up from farthest reaches of cyberspace:
Chains Over Razors-Broken Home
Chains Over Razors-Megalomaniac
Witch Hammer-Darkness Before The Dawn
The Midnight Calls-A Long Time Comin' (live from Tony D's, Elmwood Park-5/3/25
Catapult The Propaganda-Hollowed
All Outta Gum-Deceit
Point A Pistol At The Sun-Next Dude (Live from the Drunken Donut, Joliet-10/28/23
Sons Of Ra-Intrepridation
Poundcake-Botanist
Comfort Scarcity (interview from Q Bar, Darien-5/13/19 Local Loft Episode 102)
Comfort Scarcity-Target Acquired
Comfort Scarcity-Dark Repertoire

Local Loft Episode 380

Don't be a jagoff....support local music!
You support local music by supporting and continuously following this podcast. And that directive did not personally come from me. It was printed on a sticker at the merch table of the first annual Goat Stock at Goat Village in Norridge. on the original Chicagoland music menu, everything from Hip Hop Jazz Fusion (Afrofuturistics), Hardcore Punk (Acton's Dictum) Stoner Funk Rock (Ur Mom) and Blues Rock (Superhype and The Valiant 72's)
Tractor Boy is a thrilling combination of 90s Grunge , Southern Fried Metal and Punk. They plowed through the video screen ridden stage with tunes about re patriotising America, how possessing gold gets you out of a life jam and how your relatives spoke the truth about fake politicians. I talk with bassist Steve Bradshaw after their rip-roaring Goat Stock set. The whole event was organized and produced by the rampaging yet intimate veteran alternative rock four-piece band 13- Monsters. No clowning around at yet another Local music showcase organized by the Rock N Roll Circus Side Show. I talk with longtime co 13 Monsters co-founders, singer Deb Sonzo, and guitarist Jamie Riani, along with new bassist John Stempien and drummer Stephan Krupiarz, who let you all know that Goat Stock is just the beginning of a sizzling future at Goat Village, live music and food wise.
Legions of Raum will make the walls and foundations of Tony D's in Elmwood Park decay at the end of July. I've got all the gaping details of the release show of the Chicago Hardcore Metal band's third album, The Decay
Pre programmed synthesizers and drum machines are not as dominant in the angry aggressive industrial metal sound of Programmable Animal today, as they were 11 years ago this week. The band, fronted By Anthony Drepsea Wonaitis has undergone drastic changes in sound. We rock back to their first and only Kat 105.5 studio appearance.
Thank you as always for your loyal support of Local Loft. You're once again rewarded for that allegiance with this worthy original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop smorgasbord:
Tractor Boy-Make America America Again
Tractor Boy-Gold (live from Goat Stock, Goat Village, Norridge-5/10/25)
13-Monsters-Maybe Tomorrow (Live from Goat Stock, Goat Village, Norridge-5/10/25)
13-Monsters-Drive (Live from Goat Stock, Goat Village, Norridge-5/10/25)
Ur Mom-Lava Lamp
Divine Riot-Does It Hurt To Be Dead?
Legions Of Raum-Nemesis
Programmable Animal (Live in The Kat 105.5 studio-5/8/14)
Programmable Animal-Dark
Programmable Animal-Drown In Elation
 

Local Loft Episode 379

Just as rockin the fifth, fifty fifth, or five gazillion fifty fifth time you hear it.
As another Cinco De Mayo hangover kicks in, you'll be satisfying your craving for more crunchy, delectable original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop music nourishment. Here's the three hundreth  seventy ninth main course.
Taran De Pablos has put together an almost twenty year rich music history. Starting out in the melodic Metal band Skinwalker, than on to the mostly blues rock covers act Hellbound Sons, the progressive Metal band Fierce Atmospheres, and now the raw, ragged bluesy rock five-piece band The Midnight Calls. Their mix of Led Zeppelin-ish power hard rock and Rolling Stones blues swagger is totally fresh, with Taran's raspy, high pitched fiery energy vocal setting the stage. The Chicago quintet rocked a Saturday Night packed crowd at Tony D's in Elmwood Park, co-headlining with the melodic hard rock band BlockChain Coalition, whose distinctive voice Tony Engel has a nearly three-decade history of his own, from the power rock band Veilside, to collaborating with master guitar shredder David Shankle in GraveReign. I talk with Taran and Midnight Calls bassist Sean Barnes.
They'd rather warn you of a Trumped up way of life than one that involves harvesting crops. Despite their name, Tractor Boy had a big soapbox to jump on, as they plow their way into Punk Rock Tacos 65, Friday Night at Cemitas Poblanas in Villa Park, then motor on to the first annual Goat Fest, Saturday at Goat Village in Norridge.
A Troublesome situation was a very good thing, as Traci Trouble played one last time with Aweful, a grunge rock trio who said goodbye one year ago this week at Beer Can'd Festival, Blue Island Beer Company , five minutes from downtown and the Lyric Theater. We rock back to it.
Taco ground beef ain't the only served piping hot. The sizzling original Chicagoland simmers across the cyberwaves. On the LL 379 menu:
The Midnight Calls-Lover Of Mine (Live from Tony D's in Elmwood Park-5/3/25)
The Midnight Calls-Whaddya
Skinwalker-For The Kill
Tractor Boy-Purge
MYLPH-Bio Jesus
Witchhammer-Hand Of God
Shitizen-Nada
Claw Toe-Vampire
AWEFUL (interview from Blue Island Beer Company.-Blue Island-5/4/24 Local Loft Episode 327)
AWEFUL-Open Heart
AWEFUL-Whores (excerpt from their last show-5/4/24 at Beer Can'd Festival-Blue Island Beer Company)
AWEFUL-New Moon

Local Loft Episode 378

"Here we go again, it's Tuesday at last"
Not exactly calendar correct, where that quote from a Jam B-side is concerned (actually it's Monday in their song Smithers-Jones). But as sure as Wednesday was Prince Spaghetti Day, . Also rocking Tuesday is new Local Loft Day (and of course the day to munch on tacos.).
Consuming foamy beer and meaty tacos this past Saturday, April 26th, the stellar four-piece doom metal band Black Road had guitar amps sizzling more than fresh taco ground beef, as they continue to present tasty new tunes from an upcoming long awaited third album. I once again talk with bewitching lead singer Suzi Uzi, virtuoso guitarist Tim Moreno, bassist Trey Wedgeworth and drummer Danny Garcia, who had a packed crowd at Soundgrowler Brewing in Tinley Park spellbound with another captivating set. Also, whipping audiences into a mosh fille frenzy during their 100th show, Chicago Doom Metal veteran bands Pale Horseman (whom Suzi joined for a fiery vocal duet featured on their recent split 7 inch vinyl EP with Cleveland based doom metal act Buzzherd), and Boatman's Toll, who gives CEOs and the mass TV new media and equal ripping on their third full length record, Apocalyptic Coloring Book.
International Pop Overthrow, the annual power pop live showcase ends with a North Side Chicago band, who won't be phoning in a Straight Up resemblance to one of the legendary bands who stood in The Beatles shadow, Badfinger, as they rock area code to area code on the final night of this year's IPO, Saturday at Montrose Saloon.
Manteno melodic hard rockers NoneWillfall, tripped their way into The Kat 105.5 studio with a preview of their soon to be released third album, thirteen years ago this week.
Unfortunately, they fell from grace and split up before the record was halfway finished and mixed. We rock back to their only radio appearance.
Motor down the cyberspace road frequently traveled with this original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop soundtrack. The trip tick's start and end points are:
Black Road-Temple (new from the soon to be released yet untitled third album, Live from Soundgrowler Brewing in Tinley Park-4/26/25)
Pale Horseman (featuring Suzi Uzi of Black Road-Live at Soundgrowler Brewing in Tinley Park-4/26/25)-Vimanas
Boatman's Toll-(Sneak Preview) Metalman: Escape From Uncanny Valley
The 321's-Passing By
Satellite Union-Mix Tape
Sons Of Ra-Disintegration: Alabama Revisited
Faces Of The Bog-The Hanged Man
Veilside-Along The Way (interview on The Kat 105.5 Homegrown Tones-4/28/11)
The Midnight Calls-So Cold
NoneWillFall (interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-5/3/12)
NoneWillFall-Here We Go
NoneWillFall-Your Masterpiece
NonwWillFall-Hush

Local Loft Episode 377

Support Local Music!!!!
It's the premise of this podcast. Use what you hear in this, and every episode as a guide, a sort of how to support original Chicagoland area music for dummies. But you are smart enough to know which music, metal, punk, alternative rock or power pop, moves you and keeps you coming back for more.
Kankakee veteran Southern Fried Metal band Redneck Remedy assured longtime and new fans that after their surprise reunion show at Estival Festival on September 22nd ,2024, there would be more. More shows, and more new music. Another surprise homecoming show for Easter Weekend at The Looney Bin in Bradley, five minutes away from their native Kankakee had never before heard tunes, (Face Of Madness, Bid U Farewell) and familiar favorites (Going Back To Whiskey, War Or Silence). For this special return to the live stage, singer & guitarist John David Daily, Lead guitarist Chris Pancho Cirrullo, Bassist John Tiny Mullikin & Drummer Nick Steele (helped by Big John's son John David Daily Jr.) brought along swamp rockers Convoy, whose longtime singer & guitarist Brian Corbin celebrated his birthday. All five Redeck Remedy members, Brian and convoy drummer Mike (Animal) Getz join me outside Looney Bin after they rocked the roof off the joint at the corner of Schuyler & Broadway.
Not only a Redneck Remedy homecoming, but one later this coming Friday for veteran glam rockers E'nuff Z'Nuff in their native Blue Island, along with a future Illinois Rock Museum induction in Joliet this September.
For Channahon punk pop act Space Age Zeros, the opportunity to join many legendary bands at the annual International Pop Overthrow next Tuesday at Montrose Saloon in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood is a well-deserved honor.
From the Illinois Rock Museum Hall Of Fame host city, Joliet's Wicked Deception was anything but deceiving as they packed a seismic punch with a brash hardcore metal sound, in their only Kat 105.5 on air studio visit thirteen years ago this week.
Crank up the post Easter, post 4-20 intoxicating original Chicago Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock & Power Pop buzz, and hop or mosh down the cyberspace trail to:
Redneck Remedy-Face Of Madness (live from The Looney Bin, Bradley 4-18-25)
Redneck Remedy-Bid U Farewell
Brain Corbin & Mike Getz of Convoy-Flood Of The River (acoustic in The Kat 10.5.5 studio-11/10/10)
Convoy-Nuthin' Left (Live at The Looney Bin, Bradley-4/18/25)
Suckerpunch (Featuring Micheal Rockert)-You Promised
Misfire-Living The Dream
Black Road-Witch Of The Future (album version)
The Steepwater Band-Flood Gates
The Handcuffs-I'm Happy Just To Dream With You
Space Age Zeros-Merry Go Round
E'nuff Z'nuff-High
Wicked Deception (live in The Kat 105.5 studio-4/26/12)
Wicked Deception-Scorched Earth
Wicked Deception-Retribution
Wicked Deception-Betrayal

Local Loft Episode 376

We'll just have to METAL through
 
Yes, this edition of the podcast that showcases the original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop scene devotes another one hour and ten minute block to the most extreme headbangingest of headbanging soundtrack, starting off with spaced out CEO's and ending with a Titanic style crash out. From operatic prog metal to sci fi fantasy hardcore, there's plenty to throw up a two-handed Devil's horn sign of approval.
It begins with Boatman's Toll, who set sails due Southwest to Soundgrowler Brewing in Tinley Park, Saturday, April 26th.  This five-man doom metal act from Chicago's Southwest ide is not completely rooted in an old school death metal style. Lyrics of their second album, Apocalyptic Coloring Book cover how life gets constantly updated (Another Shitty Reboot) to how corporate head honcho's launch to the top of the ladder ( Corporate Indentured Servitude 2:CEO's In Space). Guitarist Dave Kallas joins me.
Trucking their way Southwest of Chi Town Redneck Remedy and Convoy put the headbanging hammer down on the Looney Bin in Bradley this Friday Night. Chicago Hardcore Metal band Legions of Raum comes to total fruition, rotting many eardrums with its third full length album The Decay. Nine years have passed since they last grunted their way across many a mosh pit. We rock ahead with the new release's title track and back to when they last tore it up, this week at Reggie's Rock Club.
Get hopping fiercer than any candy carrying furry rabbit down a mosh pit trail of original Chicagoland music by cranking up this soundtrack:
Boatman's Toll-Corporate Indentured Servitude 2 CEOs in Space
Boatman's Toll-Be Kind, Rewind
Pale Horseman (featuring Suzi Uzi of Black Road)-Vimanas 
Redneck Remedy-War Or Silence (live at Kankakee Estival Festival September 8th 2024)
Convoy-Outlaw
Wolfdozer-Down Home
Legions of Raum-The Decay
Legions Of Raum (interview at Reggie's Rock Club 4/17/16 Local Loft Episode 23)
Legions Of Raum-Doom And Gloom
Legions Of Raum-Shipwrecked

Local Loft Episode 375

Rock N Roll....now that we've got your attention.
 
Used to be a time, not too long ago, when radio was very radio friendly to up and coming and well known local bands and artists. Then came the dreaded corporate ownership monopoly, and too many big and small city stations only paid attention to paying clients.  Tap into to every episode of Local loft and bands and artists get top billing.
Over a 22-year run, A.D.D. (Analog Digital Disorder) always has commanded the full attention spans of everyone who gets an earful of their hard driving melodic rock. The Lockport based five-piece band releases their first new single in ten years, Blame, this Friday, April 11th. They introduced the new tune on stage, a week before its premiere, in a roof ripping blazing set at The Forge in Joliet. I talk with guitarists and co-founders Dave Adams and Jeremy Sparta, drummer Ron Bailey and new bassist George. We also catch up with fiery singer Margaret Young (Matilda Moon). They first captured the complete attention of The Kat 105.5 listener nation 14 years ago this week with an unplugged aet in our on-air studio. We rock back and re capture it again.
One time drummer of A.D.D., Jason Delismon found greater attention with his own melodic hard rock band Frontline, and in recent individual music projects. He's getting ready to release a fourth new timely solo single. I have the scoop on it.  Plus, a four of a Kind current and vintage crackling set of vinyl LP cuts to honor Record Store Day this Saturday, April 12th.
Not an attention deficit, but a complete and full attention grabber is likely as you focus in on and mosh along with the original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop soundtrack of:
A.D.D.-Blame (exclusive premiere of new single, released Friday, April 11th)
A.D.D.-Open Your Eyes
The Rising Fall-Artificial (de) Generation
Jason Delismon-Hard To Breathe
Frontline-Feed The Fire
Lovehammers-Set Fire (2012 Reep Records vinyl LP)
Vortis-Crisis (The Mismiamic Years Cavetone Records white vinyl LP)
The Kind-When You Rock (1981 360 records green vinyl 45 rpm single B-Side)
Enuff Z'Nuff-Baby Loves You (1989 Atco Records U.K. 10inch vinyl single)
A.D.D.-Interview & Acoustic set in The Kat 105.5 studio-4/7/11
A.D.D.-Nothing Left
A.D.D.-Hear Me Now (acoustic in The Kat 105.5 studio)
A.D.D.-The Path
 

Local Loft Episode 374

"I've got Pices of April, but it's a morning in May" (Three Dog Night-1972)
There's more than just a piece, just a snippet of the Chicago area's original Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop scene. It's a full helping.
If there can be rock opera, why not Metal Opera. What Nomadic Structures, a five-piece Chicago metal band does musically is the closest thing. They're hoping the sophisticated arrangement of their music, complete with backing operatic female singers plays well enough to earn them a main stage spot on the 2025 return of Vans Warped Tour. The'll try out the mixture of Puccini and Pantera on a packed crowd at Cobra Lounge, right near the United Center, this Wednesday night, Co-headlining the show is The Human Trials, Darkhorse Collective and Lever. Singer and Guitarist James Landon Parker joins me to preview the Cobra gig and music video for the soon to be released track that is going up votes on the Ernie Ball Vans Warped Tour Battle Of The Bands website.
A.D.D. will command attention with their first new single in four years. The Lockport melodic hard rock band will premiere Blame on stage at The Forge in Joliet this Friday in a co-headlining gig with Chicago melodic hard Rock band Yet Again. Their new music video and single presents a dark state of human depression. I have the soundtrack.
From across the Illinois/Indiana state late came Gerhart. Not following the example of Mel Gibson, the five-man band exercised their freedom to rock into our Kat 105.5 studio, thirteen years ago this week. We rock back to it.
Assemble the musicians, singers and original Chicagoland music soundtrack we shall.  It's conducted as follows:
Nomadic Structures-Odium
Nomadic Structures-Another Life
The Human Trials-World War Me
The Darkhorse Collective-Polyanthroponomia
Lever-Story Untold
Yet Again-Shadows
A.D.D.-So The Pain
Gerhart (interview in the Kat 105.5 studio-4/5/12)
Gerhart-Bringing Me Down
Gerhart-Living Through Perception
Gerhart-The Outsider