Local Loft Episode 303

"Do you remember...the 5th of November?" (John Lennon 1970)

 

If not, how about the 18th of November 2010? It was one of the highlights of my slightly over thirty-year career in radio. I interview in person the legendary Cliff Johnson, who surprisingly made the trip down to our Kat 105.5 studio in Kankakee. I knew he would have a lot of Off Broadway history to share with a an ever expanding legion of listeners. But he wanted to move on from the famous Oak Park based power pop band he had fronted for 32 years. Since the in-studio interview first aired on 11-18-2010, I've gotten thousands of requests to play it again to those who wanted to resurrect Cliff's long and remarkable career. It will feel like the first time all over again, when you saw Off Broadway at Chicagofest, Sumer of 1980. But this new episode of Local Loft is not all about history.

Torch The Hive makes their second appearance with third EP, Chemical Thoughts just released in October. Thier new single off it, Deku, has a killer family instinct about it. Singer Mike Freul joins me again to preview the song's storytelling music video, whose release show is December 2nd at Cobra Lounge.

Off Broadway made a huge original On lineup comeback, eight years after Cliff made the journey to our Kat studios. Fist To The Sky punch their way out of a five-year retirement with a new single. Its title may have think the Plainfield based power metal band has returned as a Foo Fighters tribute band, NO! Listen and raise a clenched five knuckles toward the heavens all over again.

Don't bug out too soon or too late, because you'll really like the diverse mix of original Chicago area metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop of:

Torch The Hive-Deku

Torch the Hive-Chemical Thoughts

Nightfreak-Surprise!

Fist To The Sky-These Days

Sushi-Beautiful Day In The System

Maid Of Mettle -(Deanna Whalen)-The River (acoustic performance in The Kat 105.5 stuidio-11/10/10)

Maid Of Mettle - (Deanna Whalen)-Even Though

Kevin Lee- (Acoustic performance in The Kat 105.5 studio-10/13/10) Trying To Find My Way Back Home

Ravensthorn-Lust For A Vampire

Cliff Johnson (Interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-10/13/10

Cliff Johnson-1-2-3 (1986 produced by Rick Neilsen)

Cliff Johnson-Kickin' You Out (from his 2010 album, Redemption)

Off Broadway-Just in Time (from the album Fallin In-1997)

Off Broadway-Bully Bully (from the album ON-1979)