Local Loft Episode 399

ROCKIN' UP A RIOT!!!!!

In the down-home surroundings of Kankakee's Bird Park, the peaceful masses gathered, feeling right at home. There was no need to brave the scary location of Douglass Park.  The Chicagoland original metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop scene put on another history making Estival Festival. If you were there, you were rocked to the max. If you missed it, consider this new episode your official syllabus.

Rocking in with a howl and out with a sonic fire, Wolfdozer redefined a modern metal band with a growling, wailing lead harmonica, masterfully played by singer Lucas Theroux. No virtuoso guitar solos here. The combination of gritty rhythm guitar and mean blues harp is a unique blend. Lucas and the band join me after they made the Esty Festy stage and sky above it pulsate, playing their debut album, Volume 001, live before its official release date, Friday October 3rd.

Heavy to the core rockers Ephinepic has the skies thundering and stage earthquake tremoring was a blistering set of originals, featuring the growling, grunting vocal of Cody Zupan, the seismic jet fueled drumming of his brother Travis, and the ultra-fast guitar riffs of Drew Bittner, and the bone rattling bass work of Dave Lorbach.

From Harmonica Hardcore Metal to upbeat Punk Pop, Full Of Moxie got a big pogo dance generating in the dark, rain filled skies of Bird Park. Lead by the quick, quirky lead vocal of singer Marissa Fryfogle, the fast, distinctive rhythm guitar of Mike Bass, the four-piece group staged a rock n roll circus with their latest single, Sideshow. I talk with Marissa, Mike, bassist Nick and drummer Dan before they had the Estival Festival stage quaking and vibrating to beat of their pounding drum kit.

Kankakee free form rock quartet Shaper psychedelicized an slightly rain-soaked crowd, with less explosive results after last summer's fuse blowing glitch. All in all, Estival Festival was a a sonic punchy, fun filled, music drenched great time.

As fierce as the music atmosphere was at the fifth annual end of summer music bash at the mouth of the Kankakee River, six years ago this week, things rocked with more ferocity at The Forge in Joliet.  Lead by the multi octave high pitch incomparable singing of Taran De Pablos, Fierce Atmospheres put a modern spin on melodic progressive 80s style metal. I talked with Taran, guitarist/founder Eric Gosselin and the rest of the band, before they mesmerized a packed Forge crowd.

It's always a festival of diverse, distinctive, riffs, hooks and grooves from the original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop scene.  Raise the volume and pump your fist to the sonic blast of:

Wolfdozer-Burn

Wolfdozer-Stop, Drop & Die

Full Of Moxie-Sideshow

Full Of Moxie-Take Me Home

 Halo Moon-Brighter Than The Light Of A Thousand Suns

Shaper-Memory

The Suffering-Anneliese

Ephenepic-Hot Monster (excerpt from Kankakee Estival Festival-9/20/25)

Fierce Atmospheres (interview from The Forge In Joliet-9/13/19 Local Loft Episode 111)

Fierce Atmospheres-Forsaken

Fierce Atmospheres-Easy To Fall