Monday Apr 03, 2023

Local Loft Episode 271

Puttin' the Rock in Rockford. Sounds like a radio station slogan. One listen to the power rock four-piece band Solar, and there's no denying you'll be hooked. Headbanging & body shaking a plenty. Their history comes very close to equaling that of another legendary four-piece, Cheap Trick, who's been at it a year shy of fifty. Solar still has three more decades to catch up.. Still, twenty years of a hard-hitting bass & drum combo rhythm, scorching guitar shredding hypnotic power chords of Brad Jennings, & the seductive, high pitched vocal fire of frontwoman Stephanie Jennings is a huge accomplishment. Solar kicks off their twentieth anniversary tour this Friday, April 7th in the hometown of Rockford. The month long tour will rock through Brauerhouse in Lombard on the 20th, & Big Basin Saloon on the Des Plaines River below the big I-55 steel bridge in Channahon, where Westmont Swamp rockers Convoy will co- headline. Stephanie joins me to preview the tour, which Solar will illuminate fans with a not yet discovered debut album, First Light. It was first released for a short time in 2006. The reissue features a rarity for the band, a slower power ballad.

As frontman for the power rock combo Veilside, & the progressive metal duo, GraveReign, Tony Engel displayed his explosive vocal delivery against an earthquake shaking wall of searing chunky guitar chords, shredding & Ron Thomas wall crumbling drum licks. The two are back with the radically different sounding Block Chain Coalition. Their full length debut album, The New Normal, was released on April 1st, & offers a few surprising throwbacks to a time when fancy hairdos were as big as the beefy sound from pop metal bands in the MTV dominated 80's.

Beginning as a Country Rocker signed to a major Nashville record label, Veteran Chicago rocker Kevin Lee changed tunes dramatically. He rocks on as founder of Kevin Lee & The Kings. They got the royal stage treatment at Wire in Berwyn six years ago this week. I gave Local Loft listeners the introduction to a long-time artist & band at the top of their rocking game.

Along with these, you're rocketed into your own big rocking world of sonic blasts from the newest & freshest original Chicago area metal, punk, alternative rock & power pop, as you jet propel yourself to the mosh pit by grooving to:

Solar-Deep Within

Solar-Leaving

Convoy-Hero

Block Chain Coalition-Hold On

GraveReign-Light The Fuse

The Dynamic Duo (featuring David (The Demon) Shankle- Raise The Battle Flag (2002 demo)

As King-Brutal

Shoes-She Satisfies

Paradoxx-Plan Of Attack

Kevin Lee & The Kings (interview from Wire In Berwyn 4/8/17 Local Loft Episode 55)

Local Loft Episode 271

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