Local Loft

Local Loft Episode 200

One more century in the books...and on the cyberwaves. The number of episodes isn't important, it's the quantity and quality of music that really counts. There is so much of both from all over the Chicagoland and Illinois metal, punk, alternative, progressive and power pop scenes. A smokin' and rockin' good time is guaranteed for all.
 
On the smokin' end, Chicago bar metal rockers Pipe return, not to generate another bunch of requests for their Southern Fried Metal interpretation of Johnny Cash classic Country songs, but to unleash a new level of addictive rock with drug culture lyrics. I talk to drummer Paul Brodio about the new single the band will release in the coming months, and will unveil it when they open for Texas Hippie Coalition this Sunday at The Forge in Joliet.
You can't judge a band by the hairstyle. Comfort Scarcity moves further away from a classification of 80s hair metal with a blistering, restless, hard hitting new single.
Another Off Broadway reunion show is set for mid December. But something is missing. Something very big. The legendary Power Pop band from Oak Park will be without Cliff Johnson, the veteran rocker and singer who started it all. It's just a temporary absence. But Cliff won't Automatic-ally hit the stage with the band at Fitzgeralds in Berwyn, like he Stayed in Time with his treasured past in the Kat 105.5 studios eleven years ago this week. We'll rock back to that.
Along with these, your ears are getting hot and thumping like a pair of 200 watt subwoofers as you rock to:
Pipe-Burn the Weed
Pipe-Bridgeport Girls
Mudfish-Buffalo
Eyes Of Anguish-Shadows
Sinister Fate-Root Of All Evol
Comfort Scarcity-Restless
Praise The Fallen-Falling
Marks Of Gray-Caretaker
Orinoco-Dissolve
Stay Up All Night And Fight-Lady Of The Night
Death Of Self-Into The Sun
Pezband-Baby, It's Cold Outside
Cliff Johnson-Kickin' You Out
Cliff Johnson ( Interview In The Kat 105.5 studio-11/10/10)
Cliff Johnson-1-2-3
Off Broadway-Just In Time
Off Broadway-Bully Bully

Local Loft Episode 199

A digital domain with an analog twist. The best and newest original Chicagoland and Illinois metal, punk, alternative progressive and power pop bands and solo acts will dominate in state of the art digital sound, with a few high rez analog recordings done up by a forgotten studio wiz.
Racing the Sun acquired the cut and paste editing and analog recording production and engineering of Steve Albini for their sixth and recent EP, Epidemic Of Love. It didnt' exactly feel like the mid 1990s grunge and college alt -rock heyday all over again. Albini recorded Nirvana's 1993 album, In Utero, the return of Led  Zeppelin legends Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, and all girl Chicago grunge rockers Veruca Salt's 94 breakthrough American Thighs. In January, he captured the 70s bluesy, jam band  rock of Racing The Sun at his Electrical Audio Studio in Wrigleyville. Singer Bill Carlson joins me to fill us in on how this  surprise production came together.
Halloween never ended for some, while others are already looking forward to the Christmas shopping rush. The masters of comedic death metal, Macabre, return and scare up a good time on both ends with their Holiday of Horror, the week before Xmas at Reggies. On this year after COVID restrictions made the annual event go on holiday last year. A scoop on that.
Fierce and intimate. Deanna Whalen proved women  could provide the effective mixture of beauty and punch as Maid of Mettle. She graced the surroundings of The Kat 105.5 studios ten year ago this week with a powerful and precocious set of vocal pipes. We rock back to that moment.
In addition to these, you're stringing up the mistletoe and moshing around the Xmas tree  a month way too early as you prance like a reindeer to:
Racing The Sun-Neal Peart's Mustache
Racing The Sun- Set You Free
Veruca Salt-Shimmer Like A Girl
Aweful- No Avail
The Usuals-No Disguise ( featuring Jeff Pezzati of Naked Raygun)
Spamicidal Jelly-I'm In Love With The Dead
Macabre-The Murder Mack
Jim Peterik and World Stage (featuring Kimi Hayes)-Walk Like Royalty
Kimi Hayes-Beautiful As You
Maid Of Mettle (Deanna Whalen in The Kat 105.5 studios-11/10/11)
Maid Of Mettle-The River (acoustic performance in The Kat studio)
Maid Of Mettle-In The Garden
Maid Of Mettle-Sleepless

Local Loft Episode 198

Halloween is done, so before the big overdone and overhyped Christmas shopping rush kicks in...O.K. too late for that. But everyday is music gift giving day, just like Halloween, on this podcast. So I'll go ahead and spoil a few surprises you can unwrap now.
Just give me your complete, undivided attention, and don't focus on any other thing, not even that fly on the wall you're trying to swat. Nobody, not even longtime fans of A.D.D.( Analog, Digital Disorder) saw  or heard this coming. A special reunion show after an almost six year hiatus. This long term melodic hard rock band from Lockport ends their hibernation with a show this Saturday at W.C. Social Club in West Chicago. Guitarist and group co -founder Dave Adams joins me to fill us in on all specifics. Make sure your attention span doesn't wander in this episode. A.D.D. will rock back with us to ten years ago (Spring of 2011) when they first rocked live in The Kat 1055 studio unplugged. Whether you're Hearing Them Now, or did then, the electric and raspy vocal power of Margaret Young leads the way to a rock tour de force with pile driving drums and explosive guitars.
The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame has become a irritating joke. Much more true to the simple definition of the phrase is the Illinois Rock Museum on Rt. 66 in Joliet. This Sunday, it's another stellar lineup of obscure, yet historical bands and solo acts. Including The Boyzz From Illinois and several spinoffs of this once notorious biker band. The guys who put it all together, Singer Dirty Dan Buck, and guitarist Michael Tafoya will recapture the Boyzz short time in the spotlight, and rock with their other respective bands, including the B'zzz, at the Concert for the Museum, at Brauerhouse in Lombard. I've got all the scoops about it.
RNR Hall of Fame inductees Foo Fighters were inspired to start up because of obscure Chicago Punk rockers Naked Raygun. They are back with their first new album in 31 years, Over the Overlords. I have a new cut from it.
Along  with these, your excessive urge to rock off a Halloween hangover continues with:
A.D.D.-Don't Say
A.D.D.-Not My Way
Frontline-The Truth
Naked Raygun-Suicide Bomb
Naked Raygun-Knock Me Down (original 1985 All Rise album version)
Racing The Sun-Evel Knievel
Kevin Lee & The Kings-Hold On To Yourself Tonight
The B'zzz-Get Up Get Angry
The Boyzz-Destined To Die (original 1978 Too Wild To Tame vinyl LP mix)
A.D.D. (interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-4/7/11)
A.D.D.-Nothing Left
A.D.D.-Hear Me Now (acoustic performance in Kat 105.5 studio)
A.D.D.-The Path

Local Loft Episode 197

Gruesome and groovin'. Whether you mosh like a mummy or mash like a monster, I've scared up another sweet assortment of original Chicagoland and Illinois metal, punk. alternative, progressive rock, and power pop. This is guaranteed to rock all your body and ear cavities, and not cause decay, or leave a bitter aftertaste.
Bullet To The Heart is bringing Goth Rock to the masses. Through the passionate and sensual singing of Audrey Queen, and the driving, heavy rhythms and searing guitar and drum work of Draven DC, Tom Monroe, and Brian Banschek, they continue to churn out compelling meoldic hard rock with a horror movie and medieval inspired lyrical approach. I talk to Audrey and Draven about their new music video and single, Heathen.
Local Punk fans are pogoing for joy, with the return of Punk The Burbs 4. This annual gathering of Punks of all kinds from Skate to Skinheads was cancelled due to COVID's horrific spread last year. It's on this year at Tivoli Bowl in Downers Grove. I've got a preview.
Halloween weekend comes alive with a real music filled Death Fest. Featuring Southland's hard rockers Khaos Ordinance, and Prison City Brigade, far West of Joliet, While Evil Engine motors out of an extensive COVID lockdown to return to The Forge in Joliet and Reggies. Singer Kryssie Ridolphi leaves her Cherry Witress costume ( and persona)  for these gigs.
Life often imitates art. Five years ago this week the life of an obscure Chicago metal band did not imitate a popular 80s video game. Only the band's name imitated the game, and it almost was a legal hassle. A rock back to when I discovered Satan's Hallow.
Along with these, you're treating yourself to a not so tricky heap of original Chicgaoland and Illinois ear candy, as you savor the sweet sounds of:
Bullet To The Heart-Heathen
Bullet To The Heart-Tortured Pleasure
When Night Falls-Darkest Days
The Repellants-Propensity
Bumsy And The Moochers-Cathy Ann
Death On Fire-Ghost Songs
Khaos Ordinance-Plagued
Guardrail-Social Meteor
Evil Engine-Upstanding Citizen
Ossilegium-Stellar Era Demise
Fierce Atmospheres-The Words That Enslave
Satan's Hallow (Interview from Reggie's Rock Club-10/30/16- Local Loft Episode 41)
Satan's Hallow-The Horror
Satan's Hallow-Satan's Hallow

Local Loft Episode 196

Banging heads and crowning skulls. We're close to Halloween. The sweet ear candy is given out no matter the season or year. So open up all ear canals and cavities and devour it. No need to worry about sonic decay. It's just the recommended daily original Chicagoland and Illinois metal, punk, alternative, progressive and power pop nutrients. Yum!
Hungry for more face melting metal. Dig into Darker Than Fiction from Peoria. Thus five piece plays it mostly modern metalcore, but there's just the right pinch of operatic 70s style progressive rock sprinkled in. Singer Josh Hall joins me to talk about their unique mix, as they play The Looney Bin in Bradley this weekend.
A couple of familiar hard rock bands with a Katitude make long awaited returns. Consume The Divide is back for the first time in four years with a howling storm drenched comeback which leads them back to Brauerhouse in Lombard this weekend.
Surprisingly coming back for you undivided and unexpected attention is A.D.D. (Analog Digital Disorder ) for what could be a one time reunion, or something much more, in November at W.C. Social Club in West Chicago. I've got the total scoop on it.
Nick DiNardo went from melting faces as singer of Skull King, to warming hearts as a laid back solo blues singer. A rock back ten years ago this week when moshed into The Kat 105.5 studio on his way to rock R-Bar in Kankakee.
Along with these, you're rocking with the rhythm of your chattering skeletal teeth to:
Darker Than Fiction-My Heart The  Liar
Darker Than Fiction-My Brother's Keeper
Consume The Divide-Words of Wolves
Face The Fire-Remember What You're Made Of
Just A Mess-International War Rules
Frontline-Feed The Fire
A.D.D.-Hear Me Now (Core 2015 version)
The Run Around-Bombs Away
This Obsession-My Own Grave
Skull Kin (Nick DiNardo interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-10/20/11)
Skull King-I Am Here
Skull King-Punching Water
Skull King-Whistle Blower

Local Loft Episode 195

Aweful is really awesome. You dismiss the bad and focus on the good. It's all good here. And there's a better than  good chance that you'll find your favorite original local metal, punk, progressive or alternative rock or power pop band or artist among the diverse selections here, and every episode.
If modern metal really rocks you, you'll dig Atlanta Is Burning. The five piece melodic hardcore metal group from Chicago's far southwest side first formed with a purpose to reinterpret and set to music much of the scenes of the 1939 film classic, Gone With The Wind. But have left that fiery pat behind on the new album, Legacy, I talk with founder and drummer Keith Humphrey about the new release.
A Troubled situation can be a fun, rocking good time. It certainly is for Traci Trouble, the singer & frontwoman for Aweful. This punky trio started while Traci was singer for the spacy new wave punk band Hotlips Messiah. She will play her final live show with them this weekend at a special benefit gig. Traci joins me to talk about the instant success of Aweful and a new full length album they're in the process of releasing by this year's end.
Rosie Walker had the passionate and fierce vocal combination, that made her a prominent singer in the Chicago area metal scene, with False Hope Fades. A rock back to six years ago this week when I would witness her singing power at The Tree (soon to be The Forge) in Joliet.
Along with these, the seasons change, but your seasonal headbanging fever lingers, as your groove to:
Atlanta Is Burning-Atlas
Atlanta Is Burning-Lights
Slowburn-Waiting For You
Hotlips Messiah-Time To Drop The Bomb
Aweful-Not Enough
Aweful-Oh, Oh ,Oh
Mystery Actions-Mass Hysteria
Spillage-Electric Exorcist
Fierce Atmospheres- The Stain
False Hope Fades (Rosie Walker & Kham interview from The Tree in Joliet-10/16/16 Local Loft Episode 12)
False Hope Fades-Striven
False Hope Fades-Coward

Local Loft Episode 194

It's the end of Facebook as we know it (maybe)... but the show goes on! It's not the faces, but the voices that carry the unique and diverse sound of metal, punk ,alternative, prog rock and power pop from all over Chicagoland and Illinois. 
No Dead Heroes comes alive this Saturday night at Liar's Club. They have a rapid fire groove (especially bass, drums and angry lead vocals), but a very droning guitar sound much like classic 70s doom metal. I talk to singer/guitarist Ronnie DiCola, drummer Frank Lombardo, and bassist Gabe Lipari.
Not Pantera, but dangerously close, Chicago's Mudfish takes over the town of Joliet, opening for hardcore Southern metal duo, Texas Hippie Coalition Sunday at The Forge. Something face melting and teeth cracking from them. And the old west meets the modern day horror metal of Spamicidal Jelly, where all the band members not only jam, their last names are all the same as a sweet toast spread.
Southern rock gets the chance to pig...not just rock... out, again. Hogtown Packing Co moseyed in from south of the Michigan/Indiana border line. I interviewed founding members Andy Ross & Michael Lubecke in The Kat 105.5 studio about this throwback band of Outlaw Country meets Bluesy Southern Rock ten years ago this week. A rock back to that. 
In addition to these, you' re matching the faces with the voices of the movers and shakers in he Chicagoland & Illinois music scene, and liking what you hear, with a head bang , not a thumbs up emoji, when you rock to:
No Dead Heroes-Pieces Pipe
No Dead Heroes-Good Riddance
Uglybones-Erasure
Mudfish-Afterlife
Pipe-Bridgeport Girls
Spamicidal Jelly-I'm In Love With The Dead
GraveReign-Devil Before Me
InnerSeige-Firewind
Fierce Atmospheres-High And Hellbound
Hogtown Packing Co. (Andy Ross & Micheal Lubecke interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-10/6/11)
Hogtown Packing Co.-Send Me Back
Hogtown Packing Co.-Hogtown
Hogtown Packing Co.-Mexico

Local Loft Episode 193

Where Chicago Rocks. Nowadays, it's anywhere you can discover a totally new original band or solo act. But the first three words of that description used to be the slogan of a legendary radio station, Starting out focusing on the biggest national (and Chicagoland) hard rock and metal bands, then limiting itself to a repetitive Classic Rock format.
The Last Generation evokes the blues based rock style of the Loop FM 98's heyday of the late 70s and early 80s, but it's not all retro. Singer Joey Savino sings of the once heritage Chicago radio powerhouse falling from power and dying in Radio Silence. This combination of Led Zeppelin and Black Crowes bluesy roots rock and 90s melodic alternative and grunge plays at The Forge in Joliet Wednesday night, opening for Southern melodic hard rockers Saving Abel. They join me to talk about their awesome rock style and upcoming gig.
October (Rock Tober as the Loop once deemed it) is right around the corner. So's Halloween. Black Road won't wait to rock and spook an outdoor audience at Panic in The Plaza in downtown Joliet this weekend.  Fierce Atmospheres will have you drowning in meticulously played and sung progressive 80s style metal at Rocktoberfest, Saturday in Oak Forest. Gifted fiery singer Taran De Pablos will wail his way through more new tunes from their just released second full length album, The  Speed of Dreams.
Taran joined the more rootsy  Hellbound Sons, where he continued to showcase his distinctive high pitched vocal presence. A rock back to five years ago this week when I witnessed his debut gig with them.
Along with these, you're keeping the heat ( of your sweaty mosh and headbanging workout at any live local show, not of Summer 2021) alive by rocking out to:
The Last Generation-Radio Silence
The Last Generation-Angel Of Darkness
Seldom Told-Indivisible
Death And Memphis-Torn To Pieces
Black Road-Blood On The Blade
The Evictions-Dodged A Bullet
Aweful-Bleeding Heart
Above The Ashes-BTAC
Fierce Atmospheres-Fear Is A One Way
Hellbound Sons (Taran De Pablos/Rick Morrissey interview from Wire In Berwyn-10/1/16)
Hellbound Sons-Heathen (live from Wire in Berwyn-10/1/16)
Skinwalker-G
 

Local Loft Episode 192

Love ( of original Chicago and Illinois music-not soap operas) in the afternoon. There's a lot more to love, especially if you're a fan of different sub genres of Metal.
The new edition of Local Loft serves up a big portion of Legacy Black. This four piece isn't about in your face grunting modern hardcore metal. There's something 70s progressive, even, dare I say, Classic Rock, about them. Singer Clint joins me by phone to talk about how church choir style vocal harmonies and even medieval organs work into the mix of music  from their self titled 2019 debut album, and the soon to be released follow up. They'll showcase their eclectic metal live at Davern's Tavern in Justice this weekend with Fierce Atmospheres.
From MTV staples in the 80s Hair Metal period to a cult power pop band, E'nuff Z'nuff  returns without incomparable lead singer Donnie Vie. They rock live in the Northwest Suburb of Island Lake, opening for forgotten 80s hair band, Tesla.
Cold Waves IX offers music of the more futuristic electronica kind at the legendary Metro. Chicago industrial trio Pixel Grip joins 80s synth pop band Front 242 and 90s industrial hard rockers Stabbing Westward for it. I've got a preview.
A rock and religion connection in name only, Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club did an unexpected transformation from Jam Band bluesy psychedelic rock  to 80s and 90s grunge and power pop. A rock back to six years ago this week when I dropped in on the change in direction at Reggie's.
Along with these, you're stage diving like a tumbling brown fall tree leaf blown vigorously by a monsoonal wind gust by rockin' to:
Legacy Black-Legacy Black
Legacy Black-While All Along
Acracy-Liberation (Control Denied)
Pixel Grip-Dancing On Your Grave
E'nuff Z'nuff-High
We Killed The Lion-Head
Withering Soul-Carrion Reflection
Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club (interview form Reggie's Music Joint-9/26/15)
Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club-Never Be Big Stars
Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club-Three Stage Rocket

Local Loft Episode 191

The Chicagoland and Illinois local metal, punk, alt rock, progressive ,and power pop scene is at hand. You can confess your favorites to family and friends, or keep it to yourself. It's your salvation form the stressful, difficult life situations of the big bad world. A huge, good deal of original music is administered with every Local Loft episode.
Chicago metal guitarist Shaun Glass once spent time in Soil, getting notice by nationwide radio listeners. But he wanted to rock on with a darker, less radio friendly sound by forming Dirge Within in 2009. After seven years, they split, but reunited shortly in 2017. Shaun then put together Repentance, a semi spiritual, mostly dark and aggressive metal act. They have just released the first single of upcoming follow up to their very successful debut, God For A Day. Getting help from Trivium guitarist Corey Beaulieu. Shaun talks to me about how Corey's cameo appearance toughens up the sound of Repentance even more , and of more new music they'll reveal at the Forever Death Fest, in December at Beat Kitchen.
Not willing to brave the scary, violent threatening conditions at Riot Fest, Liar's Club has a Lollapalooza alternative (well not completely) Several punk, alt rock and punk bands from around Chicago and Western and Northern burbs will be rocking live, including Crystal Lake Grunge Revival band ,Lever.
Punk pop, tween wave, and top 40 hip hop dance pop come together in the unique music of Ottawa's Fickles Lot. They slam danced into The Kat 105.5 studios, ten years ago this month. A rock back to their only unplugged appearance had video cameras of the band capture the moments for later You Tube viral viewings.
Along with these, the furious aggression of your fist raised in the air, as you groove to original Chicago and Illinois music, keeps the Summer 2021 heat blazing with the sounds of:
Repentance-God For A Day
Repentance-Reborn
Dirge Within-Memories (2017 version)
Boneshaker-Pitch Black Love
Fool's Brew-Echoes
Lever-Story Untold
Racing The Sun-Eternal Summer
Fickles Lot (interview/acoustic performance in The Kat 10.5 studio-9/24/11)
Fickles Lot-S.P.S.U.F.F.T.L.C.I.H.W.A.P.
Fickles Lot-Ready, Fire, Aim (acoustic in The Kat 105.5 studio)
Fickles Lot-Silver Scream