Local Loft Episode 388

"Oh, we got both kinds...Crunchy Punk and Steamy Metal!...but NO Country and Western!"

Rich and Meaty. Local Loft's latest excursion into the ever-expanding Chicagoland original Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop scene is at the return of the outdoor live music smorgasbord, Punk Rock Tacos. 

Officially billed as The Totally Punk Anti-Government Celebration of the People, it was most definitely a time to celebrate the arrival of summer. Many pogoed their sweat glands off in the mid ninety-degree intense heat, with nary a blood sucking mosquito to be found, but with lots of sizzling ground beef and tortillas, and blazing Marshall Stack Amps outside Cemitas Poblanas in Villa Park. 

Take The Reins brought a melodic radio friendly blend of Punk Pop and Power Pop to the diverse lineup. The five piece band from the Western Suburbs featuring singer/frontwoman Courtney Boyers rocked on through a sudden power outage with tunes of love from the South Side of Chicago and the soundtrack to a cinematic Hitchcockian music video with a killer instinct. I talk with Courtney and the other four guys in the guys in the group after their superb upbeat set. 

Also rocking the masses were a colorful Father Daughter pairing in Donkey Punch and blazing beginning kickoff to it all from Tyre Fyre.

No laughing matter, The Looney Bin in Bradley is closing for good. The rocking bar and live music establishment, located ten minutes from downtown Kankakee kept the stage inside its door rocking for almost three years following the death of owner/founder Nick Huffman. One last big one two rock punch was delivered by veteran Southern Fried Metal band Redneck Remedy and Swamp Metal act Convoy, back on April 18th. We truck on back to the intersection of Schuyler and Broadway for that sonic boom.

A jam band with a hard rock twist. It was angrier, not so laid-back vocals and an gritter acoustic guitar tone that made Joliet's Mason Avenue unique. Fourteen years ago this week, they motored down to our Kat 105.5 studio, five minutes due West of The Looney Bin.

In another Totally Original Chicagoland music for the masses edition of Local Loft, we serve up, rocking hot!:

Take The Reins-Last Stop Motel (live at Punk Rock Tacos ,Cemitas Poblanas, Villa Park-7/5/25)

Take The Reins-South Side Rules

Donkey Punch-Fudge You All (live at Punk Rock Tacos, Cemitas Poblanas, Villa Park-7/5/25)

Clear Coat-Acid Rain

Anger-Ain't My Crime

Convoy-Nuthin' Left (Live at The Looney Bin, Bradley-4/18/25)

Redneck Remedy-Face Of Madness (Live at The Looney Bin, Bradley-4/18/25)

The Suffering-Thoughts Of The End

Tyre Fyre-Feed Me (Live at Punk Rock Tacos, Cemitas Poblanas, Villa Park-7/5/25)

Mason Avenue (Live in The Kat 105.5 Studio-7/10/11)

Mason Avenue-Jest Is Just (Chicago Bound) Acoustic in The Kat 105.5 Studio-7/10/11

Mason Avenue-Oh Israel Acoustic in The Kat 105.5 Studio-7/10/11

Mason Avenue-Home Away From Home