Local Loft

Local Loft Episode 189

This one's a real screamer, no not totally. It's actually a real thrasher. It's also worthy of induction into an Illinois Rock Hall of Fame. It's all of that., as we mosh and pogo around the Chicagoland area and Illinois original metal, punk, alternative, progressive rock and power pop scene.
Sometimes you can understand what a raspy, hoarse metal vocalist is singing about. You certainly won't have any problem understanding Andy Pindy Pindelski of Armored Assault. Andy at times even gets sophisticated with his singing style. Operatic and Circus at times on Blood Queen, AA's second full length album. Andy joins me as they rocked an almost packed house, opening for Jungle Rot at The Forge in Joliet this weekend.
We pay tribute to veteran Doom Metal singer Eric Wagner who lost his life due to getting COVID this past week.
More authentic than the totally confused Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Illinois Rock Hall of Fame and Museum pays tribute to many familiar and forgotten Chicago area legends of music and radio. Two highly forgotten bands, one a veteran power pop act, Pezband, whose original drummer Mick Rain made the journey to Rock and Roll Heaven this week should get the induction nod very soon.
Cicero is where One Steel Wound unpainfully rocked with a vengeance until singer Brandon Castillo split from the band last year. Five years ago this week, they hit Wire in Berwyn for the first time. We relive when I interviewed them before they tore up the stage.
Along with these, your feeling the last abundance of Summer 2021 sweat pour out every pore as your rock to:
Armored Assault- Call The Beast (2021 Blood Queen album re recording)
Armored Assault-Blood Queen
Hatemonger-Death Age
Starless-Pendulum
The Skull-The Endless Road Turns Dark
Shoes-Cruel You
Pezband-Stop, Wait A Minute
One Steel Wound (Interview from Wire in Berwyn-9/3/16-Local Loft Episode 34)
One Steel Wound-Prevail
One Steel Wound-Sleep Eternal

Local Loft Episode 188

If they're dead, we'll sign them. I once read that ad  line in a print ad for U.K. Indie label Stiff Records in 1977. If d is named Dead And Buried, we at Local Loft will play them. We'll make them come alive. Actually D & B's grunting singer Cody Zupan will liven up a mass crowd walking into McGoo's Bar only a minute from Midway Airport for their first EP release show this Saturday Cody joins me to talk about the new EP and the show that makes it official. 
Fierce Atmosphere's will make it perfectly deadly clear, all death metal bands don't liven up their music the same way. Singer Taran De Pablos breathes plenty of life into new progressive metal from the veteran melodic hard rock quartet on their new full length album, Speed Of Dreams.
Taran started life as a metal singer by being frontman of Skinwalker. A much different more high energy ball crushing band whose influence isn't meloidc Dio-ish mainstream metal. I introduced Taran and his awesome vocal range to Kat 105.5 listeners ten years ago this week. A rock back to the unraveling.
In addition, you're headbang summer leves off trees way before fall chases them away with the skull crunching sounds of:
Dead and Buried-Violent Pandemic
Dead and Buried-Perpetual Suffering
Extraction Point-Trenches
Everything Must Die-Smoke Weed Eat People
Skeletal Prison-Insomnia
Fierce Atmospheres-From Ashes
GraveReign-Sanctuary
Black Road-Hash King
Loveblast-Wild Forever
Skinwalker (Taran De Pablos/ Marcos Higareda interview/acoustic set in The Kat 105.5 studio-8/25/11)
Skinwalker-Swine 
Taran De Pablos/ Marcos Higareda- G (acoustic)
Taran De Pablos/Marcos Higareda-Big Machine(acoustic)

Local Loft Episode 187

Gaga for Grunge, passionate for Punk, manic  for Metal. Whatever genre you're crazy about, we alleviate the insanity by giving you big doses of original Chicagoland and Illinois metal, punk, alternative. progressive and power pop.
Hailing from Northwest Indiana, but unofficially from outer space, The Lunatic's Fringe tells the story of how the band began, and keeps on rockin' not just through their extra terrestrial tunes, but in their own comic book. They will present their out of this world music experience on stage at Top Fuel saloon in Braidwood this Saturday as part of a special benefit show for American Veterans. I talk with Mister Fringe, the half human, part mutant singer about their forthcoming second album Resurgence, the follow up to their 2017 debut, Lost in The Horse Latitude.
Racing The Sun cruises back into venues, including West Chicago with their third  record, Pandemic of Love. Along with a cinematic 90s influence for one track, there's one motorcycle daredevil fans can groove to. While GraveReign ignites a war of post 4th of July fireworks.
Hopstring Fest was a folky, bluesy alternative to the biggest alternative fest of them all. It happened at the ball park of Joliet's biggest minor league team. Hard hitting rock of Vaudevilens and gritty hard southern rock of Righteous Hillbillies were among the headliners. I went to the last one to be held, five years ago this week. A rock back to it.
Along with these, you're kicking out a party of No, as you say yes to excessive headbanging and rock out to:
The Lunatics Fringe-5X More
The Lunatics Fringe-Stop...Before It Kills You
Prison City Brigade-Nola
The Outfit-Viking
Racing The Sun-Show Me The Money
The Kosmic Kicks-Love
The Human Trails-World War Me
Deadman's Hand-World War Me
GraveReign-Light The Fuse
Righteous Hillbillies (Interview from Hopstring Fest. Silver Cross Field, Joliet 8/16/16)
Righteous Hillbillies- Call Me A Doctor
Righteous Hillbillies-Throwing Stones
Vaudevilens (Interview from Hopstring Fest, Silver Cross Field, Joliet 8/16/16)
Vaudevilens-Transmission
Vaudevilens-Legends

Local Loft Episode 186

Angry young punk, old school progressive metal. Whatever the genre or music attitude, if it makes you happy, it's here for the enjoying. The sheer enjoying of local original metal, punk, progresive rock, alternative and power pop from all over Chicagoland and Illinois.
Shitizen delivers the opening one two gut punch of hardcore punk. The Chicago four piece is led by Claudia Guajardo, whose totally angry attitude is dominant through their recent 2020 Cuntry Music EP. Claudia joins me to psych people up to check put the band, along with Aweful at a Friday The 13th show in Villa Park 
Metro is one of many Chicago venues that has reopened as the COVID pandemic rages on. Chicago grunge/power pop band Lurk will rock a mostly vaxxed crowd with a new full length debut album out just two weeks after playing a co headlining gig.
Aurora's Red Poet is a small throwback to the mid 90s, when grunge was climbing the top 20. We rock back five years ago this week when I witnessed their resurgence at Star Bar in Chicago Ridge.
Along with these, you're pumping a fist to the sky and a middle bird finger toward the land of the fiery furnace to:
Shiitzen-Junkie
Shitizen-Black Hole
Umbra & The Volcan Siege-Nosheki
Burdens Within-The Devil's Due
Monroe-Tides
GraveReign-No More Yesterdays
Death Pop Radio-Ravens
Lurk-See Through
M & R Rush-#1
Red Poet (Interview from Star Bar, Chicago Ridge-8/12/16,Local Loft Episode 34)
Red Poet-Sideways
Red Poet-Coil

Local Loft Episode 185

Out of Khaos comes music. Original local music which encompasses the six county Chicago region and all over Illinois. No genre is left unrocked, on the podcast that extensively covers the scene.
Streator's Khaos Ordinance mostly lays down a fierce brash, gut punching brand of metal, but on their 2018 EP Ellipsis, they mixed in electronic 80's style video game music and new age electronic synthesizers. On their new single, recorded and produced while all band members were on COVID lockdown, they're back to intense, hard driving metal fury. Singer and founder Cory Angelico talks to me about the new long string of shows they are embarking on, including another chance to get more national fan discovery, opening for Hed PE in Belvidere near Rockford.
The progressive metal duo GraveReign (featuring ex Veilside singer Tony Engel and former Manowar shredder David Shankle) cuts an extensive melodic groove on an eleven minute powerhouse track off their long awaited debut full length album, Destination Aftermath. I'll spin this tale of humanity's demise.
Always getting the center of attention as the founder and singer of Sinister Fate, David Bates showed a far less gothic and erotic side of his music talents, drumming for Proudest Angel. I interviewed this ragged bluesy four man hard rock band at the former Nite Cap in Chicago's Portage Park Neighborhood five years ago this week. A rock back to this unique band's only CD release show.
Along with these, you're khoatically banging and rolling heads in a virtual mosh overload with:
Khaos Ordinance-Plagued
Khaos Ordinance-Skank Bait
Extraction Point-Forced Compliance
The Lunatics Fringe-An Ear For Chaos 
GraveReign-The Reckoning
Salvation-Dark And Stormy
Aweful-Not Enough
Proudest Angel (Interview from Nite Cap-8/3/16-Local Loft Episode 33)
Proudest Angel-Starlight
Proudest Angel-Canto Dolar

Local Loft Episode 184

So it's BACK! but you don't want to take a shot, even with both doses of COVID shots, in enduring packed crowds in an overcrowded Grant Park. There are alternative to the biggest overhyped Alternative Summer music fest. 
Doom Stoner metal has drawn substantially big crowds since Black Sabbath was in its 70s heyday. Black Road has redefined the genre, through powerful compelling storytelling in their lyrics and captivatingly intense distorted guitar riffs and solos. I talk to charismatic frontwoman and singer Suzi Uzi and her husband, guitar shredder Tim Moreno, as they introduce two new members and head to Cobra Lounge for their second gig since pandemic lockdowns were lifted.
Chicago hardcore metal/punk act Whut? will also rock the roof off Cobra Lounge, a walk away form the United Center this weekend. Swamp Metal band Convoy trucks north of the Illinois/Wisconsin state line with a new abundance of zero in a new song ,but plenty on the set list to rock in Janesville this weekend.
Kankakee's version of Lollapalooza is much more diverse.
Merchant Street Music Fest returns after being cancelled last summer. Vaudevileins hit the hill stage there for their fourth time since 2012. We rock back almost ten years ago when I invited founder/ singer Jeff Julian and bassist Andy Payne to The Kat 105.5 studio for a first unplugged gig.
Along with these, you're floating on the fresh wind gust of a body surfing mosh pit to:
Black Road-Radiation
Black Road-Torches
The Skull-The Longing
Sarin-Depression
Armored Assault-Dead Man's Stare
Whut?-Swarm Of Souls (live in Lowell,Massachusetts-4/9/09)
Convoy-Nothin' Left
Vaudevileins (Jeff Julian/Andy Payne interview and acoustic set in Kat 105.5 studio-9/2/11)
Jeff Julian & Andy Payne-Knife Fight
Jeff Julian & Andy Payne-Legends
Vaudevileins-Small Price To Pay For Beauty

Local Loft Episode 183

Music soothes the savage beast, and even the paranoid innocent bystander. The next hour and eight minutes will kill all viral thoughts and you will test positive for the need to rock extreme. Get set to be sonically injected with an extreme dose of original punk, metal, prog rock, alternative and power pop from all over Chicagoland and Illinois.
Berwyn old school punk band Acton's Dictum has used their covid lockdown times wisely. They recorded a pair of 7 inch vinyl EPs. The lyrics range from heavy attacks of the mass media to an actual time in a nut house. I talk to singer Matt Durica and guitarist Paul Crowe, as they get ready for an August 14th gig at Liar's Club.
Bullet to the Heart is shooting for nationwide terrestrial radio airplay, and to be the next big Goth Rock band. I have their new single and bloody music  video preview.
Joliet trio Habit of Force always got into an intense habit of laying down a pile driving sludge metal groove. But three years after they released their self titled debut, the introduced fans to an unexpected Southern Boogie hard rock surprise on their second and last record, Cleansing of Hands. Rich Truck Collins dropped by The Kat 105.5 studio in Kankakee, eight years ago this week, to talk about (and share tunes from ) the band's semi new direction.
Along with these, you're able to slam dance through paper thin walls in a single bound to the music tones of:
Acton's Dictum-Back To Rehab
Acton's Dictum-Propaganda
Dead Living-How Do You Get To Neverland?
Aweful-Never Enough
Mystery Actions-Line In The Sand
Bullet To The Heart-Tortured Pleasure
When Night Falls-Wylde
Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club- Never Be Big Stars
The Time Beings-Digging Into My Brain
Habit Of Force (Rich "Truck" Collins interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-7/25/13)
Habit Of Force-Cleansing Of Hands
Habit Of Force-Death Threat 

Local Loft Episode 182

There's gonna be a throwdown!. Another shot at checking out live local Chicago area metal, punk, alternative, prog rock and power pop. Metal takes precedence here. Joliet's Orinoco has not played in front of fierce moshing hometown fans since the COVID pandemic shut half the world down. They finally get the chance this Friday at The Forge. I talk to singer Anthony Guardiola about the upcoming gig, and about how the band is getting heavier on the follow up to their 2020 EP, What A Relief.
Ten Years ago, multi talented singer, producer, musician and songwriter Brian Eaton proved he could perform any music genre with his debut solo album, Graphic nature. Brian returns with a futuristic, spacy, rock fusion instrumental record.
Chicago punk/doom metal trio Of Wolves rocked a video game loving crowd with a all out barnstorming show at Game Pazzo in Downers Grove, eight years ago this week. We rock back to when I interviewed singer and founder Steve (Wolves) Sherwood for the first time.
Along with these, you'll be headbanging through the moon's green cheesy surface as you hear the howling power chords of:
Orinoco-Waste
Orinoco-Sheets
Hellgrind-Dark Times (Godless Reign Of Terror)
Brian Eaton-Superheavy Metals of Ceres
Brian Eaton-You're A Hurricane
Speedfreak-Full Throttle
Of Wolves-Balance
Of Wolves (Steve Sherwood interview in the Kat 105.5 studio-7/11/13)
Of Wolves-Red Skins/Buffalo Nickles
Of Wolves -Seal The Deal 

Local Loft Episode 181

Once a nightmare, now it's a sweet dream reality come true. More and more Chicagoland and Illinois bands are getting out to venues and safely playing for medium to large crowds again. So gather around your device of choice and make the choice. There are plenty metal, punk, alternative, progressive and power pop groups and solo artists to rock anyone.
If it's intense hardcore metal that grooves you, Sleeptight will keep you wide awake with their in your melting face sludge thrash. The five man Portage, Indiana band plays on July 17th, along with Joliet's Orinoco at The Forge. I talk with bassist Sean McMullen, and we spin two brain crushing tracks from their debut EP, Paralysis.
Rockford continues to rock in more ways, styles and bands than just one. Let Fate Decide looks to have a far from fateful future because of the powerful intimate vocal style of singer Tasha Duncan. You can see and hear them just north of the Rockford city limits in Janesville, Wisconsin this weekend.
Anytime is a F-U-N time when power pop singing legend Cliff Johnson is on stage. The iconic Off Broadway founder took on more step toward a surprising reunion of his classic band, five years ago this week at Fitzgeralds in Berwyn. That moment turned fans heads around way more than Mr. Moon. We rock back to join Cliff and his new band The Raine, who kept the Off Broadway memories coming. Get well, Cliff! 
Along with these, you're automatically doing a quick turn toward the mosh pit while your rock to:
SleepTight-In The Flesh
SleepTight-Conspiracy
Orinoco-Waste
Let Fate Decide-Opportunity Is Dead
Monroe-Hate The Way
Deadman's Hand-Unlucky Seven
Convoy-Rectify
Cliff Johnson (Interview with The Raine from Fitzgeralds in Berwyn-7/9/16) (Local Loft Episode 30)
Cliff Johnson-!,2,3 (1986 Produced by Rick Neilsen of Cheap Trick in Evanston)
Off Broadway-U.S. Girls (from original Atlantic 1980 LP pressing of Quick Turns)
D'Thumbs-Battle of the Bands (1978 demo)

Local Loft Episode 180

Crank it up... and feel the recoil. Another explosive hour plus set of the the most sizzling, crackling and brain blasting original metal, punk, prog ,alternative and power pop from all over Chicagoland and Illinois. 
In this set of local rockers red glare and rock bombs bursting on the air, Progressive hard rockers from Lockport, Frontline return for the first time in four years with their new EP, The Aftermath. I talk to founder/singer Jason Delismon,  who has brought a familiar face and voice from his days as drummer for Analog Digital Disorder (A.D.D.). Jeremy Sparta brings a more intense edge to Frontline's high energy melodic hard rock.
Unlike last summer, you can rock out and feel the thunder of a few local bands live onstage. Real Bad Real Fast motors into Elmhurst for a 4th of July house party gig, but only those who have been  given the COVID vaccine can attend. I've got the details.
Power Pop legend Cliff Johnson went M.I.A. at a recent reunion show for the original Off Broadway line up in Palatine. All systems are go  ( or so it seems) for him to rejoin the band at a historical 4th gig , opening for Cheap Trick near their hometown of Rockford. I got the scoop of that.
The alternative to the biggest alternative Summer rock fest just might be wrapping up the Summer of 21. Frank Horvath who started it all, joined me five years ago this week with his futuristic hardcore metal band, Orion Nine. A rock back to that Brauerhouse Lombard gig.
Along with these, you're feeling the fiery sizzle from the sonic blast of:
Frontline-So Long
Frontline-Feed The Fire
A.D.D.-So Much (So Little)
Acton's Dictum-Dollar Beers
Real Bad Real Fast-Magic Mountain Disaster Party
Modern Advances-Fear, Hate, No Mercy
Dead and Buried-Violent Pandemic
Dead Freddie-Cliche
Off Broadway-U.S. Girls
Orion Nine (Frank Horvath interview from Brauerhouse in Lombard-7/1/16) (Local Loft Episode 29)
Orion Nine-Kiss The Sun
Orion Nine-Rick & Burt-The Muscatine Incident
Horvath-Magnus Prime