Local Loft

Local Loft Episode 387

BOOM, BOOM.....POW!!!
You won't just get an ear-splitting sonic blast of colorful fireworks in the next five days, but every time you crank up the podcast that ignites the original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop music scene. It's a decibel jolt that you have the freedom to volume control.
When last we left the eclectic melodic Chicago hard rock band Chains Over Razors, they were hoping to unleash their radio friendly music combo of harmonious and hardcore angry lead vocals from singer Will Mullen and a catchy yet distorted guitar tone and seismic drumming from Andy V. They pushed back a planned May co-headlining gig with Witchhammer and The Midnight Calls at The Forge in Joliet, cancelled by the venue at the last minute. Now, this weekend , they got the opportunity, this time, opening for three throwback tribute bands, Slipknot, Pantera and Lamb Of God. I talk backstage with Will Mullen and Andy V., who proved the local band support could out rock the remembrances of 11th Hour, Sandblasted Skin and  The Subliminal Verses.
The sizzle of ground beef and tortillas, the rocking heat generated by the Marshall stacks and breakneck speed vocals and rhythm of local and national hardcore and punk pop. Only Punk Rock Tacos could make the killer combination permeate the air over Cemitas Poblanas in Villa Park. The first 2025 outdoor PRT is this Saturday, July 5th. Along with the authentic Spanish cuisine is the authentic native Spanish Punk of Nahuales Underground. Even without English translation, you'll dig what this Chicago hardcore Punk 4 piece throws down. I got a preview.
With the lethal combination of intimate and fiery scathing vocals and futuristic electronic, dirty guitar riffs, Genotype was propelled by the dual singing personality of Kadie Kirby. It's a wall paint peeling birthday salute to her.
Sling shooting their way from their native Joliet, Catapult The Propaganda was the perfect blend of scathing hardcore metal vocals and tight musicianship. They are no more as of 2024. Eleven years ago this week, guitarist/singer Robert Bloodworth and drummer Skip Maskeri made the trip to our Kat 105.5 studio to talk about what makes their hard-hitting sound come alive.
 Crank up the volume output, as Local Loft lights the fuse on another explosive round of original Chicagoland music. The rock arsenal blows your speakers with:
Chains Over Razors-Goodbye To Sovereignty
Chains Over Razors-The Narc
Scarsin-Your Kingdom Is On Fire
Nahaules Underground-Asalto
Take The Reins-Last Stop Motel
Sound Of Fire (featuring Kadie Kirby of Genotype)-Fallen Friend
Genotype-Sordid Love
Catapult The Propaganda (Robert Bloodworth & Skip Maskeri in The Kat 105.5 studio-6/26/14)
Catapult The Propaganda-Marked
Catapult The Propaganda-Convenient Crisis

Local Loft Episode 386

Hot enough for Ya!!!
Fire up your device of choice and get in the groove to more original hot rockin' from the Chicagoland's metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop scene.
As another Summer brings many days of excessive sunshine, heat and humidity, it also brings more opportunities to fulfill your hunger for ground beef and live rock. Punk Rock Tacos opens its 2025 outdoor concert extravaganza on Saturday, July 5th. Don't blow out your solid hearing and sensitive ear lobes with too many loud explosions from legal 4th of July fireworks shows (or illegal backyard firework explosions). A sonic blast of live rock features Tyre Fyre. The four-man Chicago sludge rock band has frightening tales of a teen drugstore assistant plotting the murder of her parents, and the inebriated tale of the joy of drinking during job hours. Drummer Chris Walker and bassist John Dolce join me with the behind the music story of Patty Columbo and Day Drinking.
Kankakee's biggest alternative rock band, Carrying Torches fires up another awesome stage show at the biggest Summer festival in the K3 River Valley, while not keeping a closed unraveling of a new single the day they play Merchant Street Music Fest next month.
Rockford has a diverse music scene which is far more than Cheap Trick. On My Six are not just local favorites in the biggest city of the Illinois/Wisconsin state line region. After opening for All That remains, the melodic hard rock band from the Forest City tore it up at Wire in Berwyn, six years ago this week. We rock back to it.
Sizzling through the deepest reaches of cyberspace, this ear watering, set of choice original Chicagoland music cuts. Served up rockin' hot on LL 386 are:
Tyre Fyre-Patty Columbo
Tyre Fyre-Day Drinking
Donkey Punch-Joyful Fear
Disinfect-The Hits Keep Comin'
Eske-Pobresito
M & R Rush-Keep On Rocking (2025 remixed version)
Ides Of March-Keep Rocking
Leigh Evin & The Lowdown-Lost It
Redneck Remedy-Face Of Madness (live at The Looney Bin, Bradley 4/18/25 Local Loft Episode 377)
Slap Bunt-Pasta Thieves
Carrying Torches-Good In Blue
On My Six (interview from Wire in Berwyn Local Loft Episode 105 6/25/19)
On My Six-Bitter Endings Cause Constant Anarchy
On My Six-Fiend
 

Local Loft Episode 385

Remember The Roar!
A slogan for the Chicago Blackhawks last season at historic Chicago Stadium in 1993. It is also one that will be used as you let the growling, heavy distinctive guitar tones and vocal delivery of the original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop scene roar through both ears and into your brain tissue.
On this three hundred eighty fifth edition of Local Loft, Ricky Liontones not only has a chunky, melodic, and psychedelic tones, but a multi ranged singing style that recalls Prince and his high-pitched screaming lead vocal, but also the funky, gruff guitar shredding of Lenny Kravitz and the free form wailing of Jimi Hendrix. Chicago based Ricky and his Liontones Revue recently were discovered rocking a very active crowd of AC/DC fans during an after show for the legendary Australian hard rockers May 24th sold out Soldier Field show. Ricky opens for another iconic band ,Enuff Z'Nuff at The Forge in Joliet. I talked with Ricky about his unique shredding and singing style, and we spin two earth shaking new tunes from third full length album, DejaVolution.
BlockChain Coalition returns with a hard driving new song whose new music video drives one to intimacy. Snuggle up to your device of choice for this one
Merchant Street Music features a familiar burning alternative rock band , who has made their fiery presence known through after shows following daily closing time for the biggest Summer outdoor rock event in the three city Kankakee area. 
As co-founder of one of the biggest power pop bands to emerge from Chicago proper, more like Oak Park, Off Broadway, Mimi Betinis became more popular as singer of Pezband. He put future plans for them on hold, to begin a new solo career with his debut album, All That Glitters, introducing himself to The Kat 105.5 listening audience fourteen years ago this week. We rock back to it.
Local Loft rocks in like a lion (with awesome guitar tones) and out like a sweet eared fan of original Chicagoland music with the Homegrown Tones of:
Ricky Liontones-DejaVolution
Ricky Liontones-Feels Good Tho
The Midnight Calls-Since I've Been Thinking
BlockChain Coalition-Get A Little Closer
Knoxious-Not So Proud
Anger-Listen Up, Man
Convoy-Father
Ur Mom-No Soul
Carrying Torches-Where'd You Go?
Mimi Betinis (interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-6/16/11)
Mimi Betinis-Walk With Me
Mimi Betinis-Love Is Just A Thin Veneer
Mimi Betinis-Say The Word
Pezband-Lovesmith (from Pezband's self-titled album-1977)
 

Local Loft Episode 384

"Oh I just can't wait...do I look up to date" (The Rezillios-1978)
Whether your original Chicagoland area metal, punk, alternative rock or power pop band sounds up to date, or has retro written all over it, you're hoping to fit into an ever-evolving music scene. Local Loft blends the current with the vintage. This is not a total flashback scenario. We keep up with the changes but also spotlight those who made a past impact or impression.
Fist To The Sky officially rocked live one last time in February 2018 at the former Wire in Berwyn.  The venue was permanently closed due to the financial plunge it took during the Covid 19 Lockdown five years ago. The band is punching their way back into many venues around greater Chicagoland. The return began in November 2023 with These Days, the South Chicago hard rock band's first single in ten years. Now, they return to the stage, at Bottom Lounge, Friday, June 27th. I talk with singer and co-founder Mike Sylvester (Mickey Murder) about what's new and what will be resurrected in the band's hard hitting set. They'll co headline with the cinematic goth hard rock four piece band Bullet To The Heart. A newly released single has them stunting with a first-time duet between singer Audrey Queen and drummer Draven DC. 
From Blue Island to the MTV studios in Upper Manhattan. E'nuff Z'Nuff became a power pop powerhouse band. Co-founder Chip unleashes a mostly new lineup, who'll have longtime fans demanding original singer Donnie Vie return them to their Glam Rock glory days, which began with their self titled debut album in the Summer of 1989. They rock The Forge In Joliet this Saturday, June 14th.
Holly Smith has made a hard rock journey from singer of cult alternative band In 2 The Inferno to grease monkey hard rock act Hot Dang! and now to contemporary pop retro cover band Pop Killers. She also was one third of Chicago Metal Alliance, who showcased a plethora of female fronted Chicago area hard rock and metal bands in Legions Massacred By Queens. Holly stopped by The Kat 105.5 air studio to preview the third annual event, eleven years ago this week. We rock back to it.
It's all featured in this up to date, but throwback sprinkled original Chicagoland music playlist:
Fist To The Sky-These Days
Fist To The Sky- Dagger In The Heart Of The World
Bullet ToThe Heart-Echoes
The Untold-Rust
Toxic Freaks-Too Many Fast People
Cartoon Graveyard-Birdman
Flatfoot 56-Sorry
Ricky Liontones-Illusion Of Choice
Enuff Z'Nuff (featuring Jake E.Lee)-Dissonance
Holly Warbrigade (Holly Smith)-LIve interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-6/5/14
Vicious Attack-Engaged In Genocide
False Hope Fades-Clean
Hot Dang-Death's Intentions

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