Local Loft

Local Loft Episode 232

Grunting, jangling, and rocking their way across the wild cyberwaves, another explosive invasion of Chicagoland and Iliinois original punk, metal, alt-rock, progressive rock and power pop. You'll have no choice but to surrender to the seductive grooves and catchy guitar chords, solos and extremely harmonious vocal deliveries. Being held captive is a good thing, and you'll be back for a return trip after you're free of the musical spell.
Inspired by jangling guitar chords and distinctive vocal harmonies made very prevalent by The Beatles, The Who, Big Star and many other legendary power pop acts, The Unswept is a trio of British cousin who follow the same melodic path. I talk with singer/ drummer Ryan O'Brien, as they co headline with The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club as that converted Frankfort based Power Pop from Psychedelic Jam band prepares to rock fans at the release show for their upcoming fifth album, Please Stand By, at Reggie's Music Joint this Friday.
Move over Christina Scabbia and Maria Brink, a new hard rock female powerhouse is making her passionate vocal presence known. Lindsay Miller of the Chicago melodic hard rock trio Seeker Pearl will rock a Tuesday night crowd as local support for Icon For hire at The Forge In Joliet. I have a pulsating preview.
M & R Rush get one health scare after another, but it won't stop the veteran Roseland rockers from hitting the road for the long-delayed opening of their 22 For You tour. The recent setback was a near fatal one for drummer Marty Mardirosian, but he'll rock on and keep on ticking. I've got more info.
Ockham's Razor of New Lenox slashed their way back to the grunge dominated mid 90s while staying true to a new hard edged rock sound. I welcomed guitarist/singer Nick Woodman into The Kat 105.5 studio ten years ago this week. We rock back to it.
Along with these, you're pogoing like a vicious bucking horse, and throwing off all vented frustrations like a cowboy with a loose hold on a stallion's saddle, to the rocking sounds of:
The Upswept-We're Gonna Split
The Unswept-Got Lucky
Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club- Fifty Foot Woman
Bad Planning-Dead Ends And Amends
Guardrail-Somewhere Down On Fullerton
Seeker Pearl-New Tide
A.D.D.-Open Your Eyes
M & R Rush-Keep On Rockin'
Convoy-U.S.M.C.
We Killed The Lion-Final Stand
Releaser-Vicious Cycles
Ockham's Razor (Nick Woodman interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-7/5/12)
Ockham's Razor-Inner Visions
Ockham's Razor-Let It Go

Local Loft Episode 231

Feel the heat! Not of another Summer's start, but of the hot rocking of original Chicago area & Illinois metal, punk, alternative, progressive and power pop. Listen closely, and you'll hear its sizzle.
Packing the metal heat is Plainfield's  Endgame.  It's been seven years since they last delivered their debut EP, The Skies They Fall, & two since they let loose with the intense single Hold It Back. They have just completed their second long awaited EP, with a new darker and more deeper, low throated screaming, angry vocal by powerful lead singer Dean Leo. Guitarist Tom Theres joins me to talk about the upcoming new release.
The sudden death of Nick Huffman, who owned the premier local Chicagoland hard rock venue of the Southlands, Looney Bin in Bradley, hit so many he welcomed to play there, hard. A two day tribute show will happen there this weekend. Kankakee punk pop band Full Of Moxie, and diverse Joliet punk turned alt rockers Prison City Brigade are among the acts that will come together to remember Nick and his impact on the fledging local rock scene. I have all the details.
 Cinematic hard rock of the slasher film variety doesn't get any more potent than The hallow. Singer Bobby McLean joins me to talk about their bloody and blade shiny inspirations of horror film's greatest killers. Aeraco brought their own seismic metal thunder to override Mother Nature's on an intensely stormy pre summer night at Reggie's five years ago this week. We rock back to the day I introduced them to Local Loft audiences.
Along with all this, you're pogoing to a skies no limit ceiling of rafter headbanging by pumping up the  volume to:
Endgame-The Palace Is Burning (Live from The Forge in Joliet-5/18)
Endgame-Hold It Back
As It Festers-Anger
The Unswept- Cheugy Choo Choo
Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club-Fifty Foot Woman
Full Of Moxie-To You
Prison City Brigade-Truth Hurts
The Neverafter-The Neverafter/Distress Call
Phosphene-Michael
The Hallow-Between You, Me and The Holy Ghost
The Hallow-Smith's Grove
Aeraco-True North
Aeraco (interview from Reggie's Music Joint 6/17/17)
Aeraco-Baptized By Fier
Aeraco-This Life

Local Loft Episode 230

Folks, computer technology is pissing me off, acting very faulty in trying to publish this episode and its playlist. This two hundred thirtieth edition centers upon how music labels can be faulty like technology. Labeling a band who showcases more than a specific genre a metal band can be very tricky. Such is the case with Joliet's Waydsb (pronounced WAYDS-BEE) They describe themselves as a little bit metal, a tad punk, a smidge jazz. A real Donnie and Marie way of playing music. I talk with singer Tyler Cruz about their upcoming special gig at A Celebration of Life, with Spamicidal Jelly. Saturday at The Forge in Joliet.
Veteran cult Chicago Doom Metal band Trouble could not be classified as anything but Doom. A special tribute for their lead singer Eric Wagner will be held at Brauerhouse in Lombard August 27th. Chicago Progressive Metal band Fierce Atmospheres is one of nine bands rocking live at the benefit. I've got the scoop.
With the fiery precocious vocal of Deb Sonzo, 13-Monsters rocked a fine line between doom metal and heavy alternative rock. They released their second album Whatever, five years ago this week. I motored to Wire in Berwyn to get the lowdown on it in a rock back to June 9th, 2017.
Along with all this, you're slapping the label of awesome on all you hear as you devour the smorgasboard of Chicagoland and Illinois metal, punk, alt-rock, prog rock and power pop that includes:
Waysdb-Dodge City Blitz
Waysdb-Hold (Live From Brauerhouse-4/22)
Spamicidal Jelly-Falcon
Cannibal Apocalypse-Leviathan
Advorsa-Utterable Hideousness
Furbaby And The Tight Spaces-Social Distance
Voice Of Adddiciton-Division  Complex
The Failsafe-Burn It To The Ground
Corrupt The Masses-Hate Me ( live-Brauerhouse Lombard 5/12/22)
Spillage-Real
Fierce Atmospheres-One More For The Dying
13-Monsters (Interview from Wire in Berwyn-6/9/17 Local Loft Episode 60)
13-Monsters-Overlook
13-Monsters-Water's Edge
 

Local Loft Episode 229

You can hear it in the streets, and alleys, backroads the penetrating sound of original Chicago area and Illinois metal, punk, alternative, progressive rock and power pop. Music always takes you on a journey. It will control your destination. Next stop, Chicago North, South, East and West.
From the Southwest side of Chi-town comes Alleys and Gangways. Their note perfect vocal harmonies had people cruising around the mosh floor at Punk Rock Tacos 12 last weekend in Villa Park. Drummer Nick Thomas joins me to talk about the party time, excellent (hint, hint) feel of their new single and music video for Catch Your Summer.
Chicago west side industrial trio SunVolume will have you hopping in a Time Machine, and tie-dying your favorite dress shirt, with one listen to their futuristic psychedelic electronic rock combination. Bullet To the Heart will pilot the musical mental journey to the land of the rising sun, with their new Gothic Rock song with a Japanese Anime addition. Both bands motor to Reggie's Music Joint this Saturday. I've got a preview.
With various Vehicles to get him all over the world from his native Berwyn, Jim Peterik cruised further into music history with an Illinois Rock Museum on Rt. 66 in Joliet induction this weekend. He will always be one of rock's original Survivors. Back ten years ago this week, when the legendary Rock singer, songwriter and founder of Ides of March reformed his veteran band for their first new album in 37 years, Still 19. Jim joined me in The Kat 105.5 studio for a once in a lifetime interview and recollection.
Along with these, your mind and feet do the cruising through a Midwest rock trip tick with:
Alleys & Gangways-Catch Your Summer
Alleys & Gangways-Howard
Waydsb-Dodge City Blitz
The Kreutzer Sonata-Long Gone
Tanzen-Bottle Kids
SunVolume-Fever In The Funkhouse
Bullet To The Heart-The Rumbling (TV Size)
Flagass-Go For It
Sawbuck-Natural Selection
Gal Gun-The National Girlfriend
Jim Peterik's World Stage -(featuring Cathy Richardson & Kimi Hayes) The Best In Us
Jim Peterik (interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-6/10/10)
Ides of March-Still 19
Ides of March-Come Dancing (featuring Lisa McClowry)
Ides of March-Vehicle (2010 vintage mix)

Local Loft Episode 228

Almost summertime...and the live rockin's easier. 
So many more venues and live shows are going on as scheduled. Some come with scrumptious bonus, with the others' the music's appetizing enough. In this full menu of original Chicago area and Illinois punk, metal, alternative, progressive and power pop, you get a full hour and 17-minute portion. If it doesn't nourish you, there's plenty more to digest net episode.
With a crunchy fast punk sound, and delicious vocal harmonies, Chicago's Second City Seance looks to scare up a huge fan following at the twelfth Punk Rock Tacos, Friday at Cemitas Poblanas (an actual Mexican restaurant) in Villa Park. I talk with singer and bassist Brittany Hanks about their upcoming show.
With the passionate, but angry vocals of Margaret Young, Analog Digital Disorder (A.D.D.) keeps longtime fans coming back for more with their real eye opening first new single in seven years. I give it a first anywhere exclusive spin.
You can have a piece of his cake, and  rock into a shoulder butting frenzy too. Chicago hardcore metal masters Whut? throw an intense birthday bash for drummer Philly D Friday at Cobra Lounge. I 've got the details and soundtrack.
Along with all this, you're pogoing like an severely drunk Junebug to:
Second City Seance-One Day
Second City Seance-The Vampire Song
Alleys And Gangways-Catch Your Summer
A.D.D.-Open Your Eyes
Embryonic Autopsy (Featuring Tim King of Soil)-Regurgitated and Reprocessed
Speedpussy-Skeleton Chick
Her Worst Nightmare-Addictions
Set The Bar-No Love For The Loveless
Whut?-Skeletons Revisited
Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club-Fifty Foot Woman
Shoes-Tragedy
Redneck Son ( Interview from City Tavern, Kankakee-6/1/17-Local Loft Episode 59)
John Daily/Redneck Son-The Path
John Daily/Redneck Son-If I Could
Redneck Remedy- I Want It All

Local Loft Episode 227

They're going into battle, not in a war for freedom, but a war to win over new audiences, new fanbases. Many of these Chicago area and Illinois bands won't have memorials or tributes in their honor but keep on rockin' for the reward of fans to keep coming back for more. We've got more original local metal, punk, alternative and progressive rock and power pop from the land of the Hancock building to the land of Lincoln.
Rock has many messages in its lyrics. Sometimes those messages can heal a severely depressed state of mind. Chicago metal band Let Them Fight will use the healing power of music and lyrics to help those contemplating suicide. They, along with Spamicidal Jelly, Khaos Ordinance and The Lunatic's Fringe play a special suicide prevention benefit show, June 18th at The Forge in Joliet. I talk to bassist Cliff Hunt and the others in Let Them Fight about it.
Veteran rockers M & R Rush were hoping not to do battle with a stubborn worldwide illness, as they prepare to open their 22 For You tour at 115 Bourbon Street. Looks like their plans unfortunately fell through. But good music, like bad news, will travel fast with their new EP, Goodbye City Lights. ill have another new track, and when and where to make tracks to check out the first gig.
When We Was Kids were just out of their teens at they rocked live for the first and only time at the young venue Wire In Berwyn, which died young due to continuous COVID cancellations. We rock back four years ago this week when I interviewed them for the first and only time.
Along with these, you don't need a Memorial Day Weekend Bar B Q cookout to suck in the sizzling sounds of:
Let Them Fight-Cage Fight
Let Them Fight-Stuck (live)
Khaos Ordinance-Plagued
The Hallow-Rituals Of The Moon
Mystery Actions-War Beat
M & R Rush-Goodbye City Lights (new 2022 remix)
Fonzie & The Dego Tees-Yous' A Bad Mamba Jamba
Fighting For Scraps-Late Last Night
Squared Off- Agents Of Chaos
Wicked Deception-Heavy Artillery
Dystology-Search
When We Was Kids (interview from Wire in Berwyn-5/24/18-Local Loft Episode 81)
When We Was Kids-CRZR
When We Was Kids-Lobo Del Mar

Local Loft Episode 226

It's crunch-y time. Another musically nourishing hour plus for your ears to digest. There's much more here than a first or second helping can satisfy. So, go on and rock past your fill, as we serve up another delicious plate full of original Chicago area and Illinois metal, punk, alternative and progressive rock and power pop.
Tacos and Punk make for the perfect combo at the eleventh Punk Rock Tacos in Villa Park this Friday. As part of the main course line up, Affluent Bums, whose zany antics in the dead letter section of your local post office may have you throwing up your devil's horn hands in celebration and throwing up your lunch. I talk with singer and guitarist Dirty Jim about their first time at the event.
A long shot obscure Chicago Melodic hard rock band gets a lucky opportunity to headline a show 43 years after the only Rock Radio anthem rocked Chicago album rock stations. I have the story of the mostly forgotten Gambler's return to the stage, Memorial Day Weekend at Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.
Turning a guest keyboard touring gig with Ministry into his own Industrial headlining band, Pound of Flesh, Darrell James got the chance to rock the legendary now extinct Double Door. He visited The Kat 105.5 air studio ten years ago this week. A rock back to that.
Along with that, you, not your stomach, is craving a massive stuffing of original local music morsels served piping rocking hot by:
Affluent Bums-Dead Letter Pile
Affluent Bums-No One Gives A Shit, it's Your Birthday
The Usuals-No Disguise (With Naked Raygun singer Jeff Pezzati)
Poison Boys-Dick In The Dirt
The Amazing Heeby Jeebies-Heeby Jeebies (On A Saturday Night)
Death On Fire-The Dying Light
Deprived Of Construct-Primal Scream Therapy
X Will Mark The Place-I Am Untethered ,And My Rage Knows No Bounds
Green-Beaten Into Submission (1987)
Gambler-Walkin' The Streets
Off Broadway-Excuse Me
Pound Of Flesh (Darrell James interview in The Kat 105.5 Studio-5/20/12)
Pound Of Flesh-Believe
Pond Of Flesh-Ready To Go

Local Loft Episode 225

Nights and days are getting warmer, and another huge season of original Chicago Area and Illinois bands fires up more precision tuneage, and tears up stages across the region.
Chicago Hardcore rockers Whut? rock the house down at Cobra Lounge with a premo birthday bash for drummer Philly D (Denigirs). I'll talk with Greg (Pervert Bastard Scum-PBS) Charles about the June 3rd gig.
The music will be crunchy and faces will melt while delicious tacos melt in your mouth. For the eleventh Punk Rock Tacos in Villa Park on May 20th, Chicago's Affluent Bums and real Bad Real Fast put their unique stamp of a combo of punk pop and 50s style doo woop vocal harmonies on the stage of Cemitas Poblanas.
Veteran Roseland rock quintet M & R Rush get away from the glare of big downtown areas with their new EP, Goodbye City Lights. I have a preview before they play the new record start to finish at the opening show of their 22 For You tour, May 25th at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park.
Monsters and Ghosts can certainly scare up a haunting time. !3-Monsters scared up an intimate acoustic reboot of their hard edged alternative rock as the duo Sky Ghosts. Four years ago this week, I met up with singer Deb Sonzo and Guitarist Jamie Rhiani once again for their debut gig at Outtaspsce in Berwyn. We rock back to that.
Along with all this, you Spring (or rather pogo) forward to rockin good time ahead with the soundtrack of:
Whut?-Stone Trophies
Whut?-Punk Is Dead
Absent Mind-Reap What You Sow
Extraction Point-Best Served Cold (with Holly Smith of Hot Dang)
Consume the Divide-Words Of Wolves
Eve Black-The New Horizon
Mystery Actions-War Beat
Affluent Bums-Dead Letter Pile
Real Bad Real Fast-Drown The Rat
M & R Rush-Don't Stop
M & R Rush-Time Waits For No One
Sky Ghosts (Deb Sonzo and Jamie Rhiani interview from Outtaspace Berwyn-Local loft Episode 80- 5/9/18)
Sky Ghosts/13-Monsters-Heroine
!3-Monsters-The Bessemer Process
 
 

Local Loft Episode 224

We don't need no Spring Garden, to plant a bountiful harvest of original Chicagoland and Illinois metal, punk, alternative and progressive and power pop bands and artists. We just play their songs and watch them sprout up over the cyberwaves. 
Taking a complete not so Quick Turn away from being bassist of power pop legends Off Broadway, where he first played on their second major label album in 1980, Mike Gorman now rocks with The Outfit. Thier modern melodic hard rock is a huge difference from the jangling guitar, and vocal harmony driven sound of Stay In Time, Full Moon Turn My Head Around, Automatic and so many other tunes of the first two albums (On and Quik Turns). I talk with Mike, as he and The Outfit headline a live local music showcase show at Rochaus in Dundee this Friday. This also features Dirty Dan Buck of forgotten Biker Rockers The Boyzz From Illinois and Roots rock turned Power Rock four piece Kevin Lee And The Kings.
Live rock returns to the make waves by , if not on, The Kankakee River. Joliet Power Rock quartet Vaudeviliens headline a show at On The Roxx Saturday, I have a preview.
From Hair Metal to Nu Metal, Dean Leo brought his vocal excellence and began as prominent and permanent lead singer of Plainfield's Endgame, five years ago this week. I was there at the now not so never ending Star Bar in Chicago Ridge. We rock back to that.
In addition, your devil's horn hand signed fingers are glowing in the ample Spring sun to the blazing melodies of:
The Outfit-Monster
The Outfit-Viking
Kevin Lee And The Kings-Ruby Red Lips
Tafoya-Shadows
The Boyzz-Lean And Mean (original 1978 Too Wild To Tame vinyl pressing)
Sawbuck-Russian Soda Bomb
Crystal Killers-Para Manana
Billy (featuring Mike Gorman)-Don't Shoot Me
Off Broadway-The Other Side
The Basic Shaper-Robot Pirate Ninja
Vaudevilens-SWP #1
Endgame (Interview from Star Bar, Chicago Ridge 5/6/17 -Local Loft Episode 58)
Endgame-Withered
Endgame-Haunted
 

Local Loft Episode 223

"Even children get older, and I'm getting older too". (Fleetwood Mac Landslide, 1975). Young and old rock together in this new episode of Local Loft. From the teenage thrash metal of Deprived of Construct, the garage punk of the thirtysomething mostly female band Boybrain, to the eighties power pop of The Kind, we'll span the years to find the constant variety of original Chicago area and Illinois metal, punk, alternative and progressive rock, and power pop.
From the smart college town of Dekalb, the three teenage guys in Deprived Of Construct write and sing of political protests, Jungian primal scram therapy and corporate expansion, and they've not yet chosen a university to get a degree at. I talk to Matthew Trunk and Greg Reed as they get ready to rock Village Spirit Pub in Round Lake Beach this Saturday.
Boybrain has more girls than boys in the band, and rocks with a punk Veruca Salt-ish swagger. They're headlining day number three of Save The Rock Fest, Sunday at Liar's Club.
Beginning in 1975, The Kind would gain local, if not national radio recognition, with their self-titled debut album, from the second lineup of the Oak Park based power pop band. A special 40th anniversary salute to that first album.
Corey James screamed his way back on local Chicago Southlands stages five years ago this week, fronting his third metal band, the melodic hardcore Vent To Atmosphere. A rick back to when I first introduced them to Local Loft listeners from their first live gig at Cheers Pub in Midlothian.
Along with these, you're rocking away the bitter taste of way too many of Mother Nature's excessive April rainy spells with:
Deprived Of Construct-Protest
Deprived Of Construct-Dehumanization Transformation (2022 remaster)
Misfire-Sympathy For The Ignorant
Boybrain-Blood Wolf Moon
The Rumours-Electric Blues
Three Left-Rise
Face The Fire-Summer Song
The Kind-She'll Make Everything Right
The Kind-Loved By You (original 360 records Kind self-titled album vinyl pressing 1982)
Vent To Atmosphere (interview from Cheers Pub, Midlothian-4/25/17 Local Loft Episode 57)
Vent To Atmosphere-Devil's Advocate
Vent To Atmosphere-Facelift