Local Loft Episode 273

From Rockford to Rockdale, Berwyn to Blue Island, the music map is always expanding, 

Just push play, and you're rocking through a Solar powered glam slam double decade of metalcore, & power pop, where every day is Halloween to a Lad Insane. 

The area at the Illinois/Wisconsin state line has always stayed active in producing prominent rock bands. Not only the legendary Cheap Trick for almost 50 years, but Solar, with the intimate, yet fierce vocal style of Stepanie Jennings. The forest City also is home to one of the most ferocious metal bands today. Marks Of Gray joins Solar for the next stop on the Solar 20 tour, Thursday at Brauerhouse in Lombard. Singer Kevin James joins me to talk about how his angry screeching vocals blended very well with Stephanie's emotional fiery singing range, & will again, as the two join forces on stage.

Material Issue, whose 1991 debut album provided the massive power pop live showcase with its title, was one of many veteran Chicago acts to play International Pop Overthrow, which return for the first time since the COVID pandemic closed it down for three years. I have a jangling, strumming preview as it opens Friday at Montrose Saloon.

A frequent headlining band of Glam Slam Metal Jam in 96-97, one time was not Enuff. Veteran Blue Island hair rockers Enuff Z'Nuff have reinvented the event as a new 2023 major city one month tour, starting in Aurora this July. I've got the scoop.

Along with these, your pulse is thumping like a hyperactive speaker woofer, as your feet pulsate to the backbeat of the rhythms from the original Chicagoland area metal, punk, alternative rock & power pop soundtrack of.

Solar (featuring Marks of Gray singer Kevin James) Depths Of Division

Marks Of Gray-Illusions Of Eminence

Let Them Fight-Down Inside 

Convoy-The Warning

Block Chain Coalition-The Road

The Spindles-Annette

The Larvettes-Not Diggin' You

John Condron & The Old Gang Orchestra- Dragons

John Condron & The Benefit-Minutes To Hours

Acton's Dictum-Dollar Beers

Enuff Z'Nuff-Clown On The Town

Purge (Bernardo Burns Mendia interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-4/17/14)

Purge-Beyond The Unkown