Local Loft

Local Loft Episode 178

From headbang inducing horsemyn, to forgotten Pezband frontmen. This episode of Local Loft runs the gamut of different genres and music styles. It's the most smorgasboard we've ever gotten.
If angry punk metal rocks you the most, there is Four Horsemyn. The four man band from Niles sing of dueling band members who come close to fists flying and a nightmare stay in a mental hospital on their debut EP, Fall of Conquest. They will play The Freak Show with Sinister Fate and Luna in Sanguinem at Sugar Skull in Franklin Park on June 25th. I interview singer Mick. Motley Crue reinvented as beer guzzling Southern Rockers. That's Rachel's Bully. And from ten years ago this week. He made a bigger name for himself as founder of Pezband, than co-founder of legendary power pop band, Off Broadway. Mimi Betinis joined me in The Kat 105.5 studio for a significant new music direction on his solo album, All That Glitters.
Along with these, you'll be galloping to the mosh pit by rocking out to:
Four Horsemyn-Fist
Four Horsemyn-Unhinged
Rachel's Bully-Along For The Ride
Frontline-Feed The Fire
Stay Up All Night and Fight-Deadbeat
Cole Hollow-Hide The Bones
The Steepwater Band-In The Dust Behind
M & R Rush-Reach For The Stars
Off Broadway-Fallin' In
Mimi Betinis (interview in the Kat 105.5 studio-6/16/11)
Mimi Betinis- Walk With Me
Mimi Betinis-Love Is Just A Thin Veneer
Mimi Betinis-Say The Word

Local Loft Episode 177

Here we go again. Something we couldn't say all throughout last year. 2021 sees more opportunities for local live shows, and both the familiar and undiscovered bands and solo acts throughout Chicagoland  and Illinois are hitting the road.
The Gavel from Antioch in the far Northwest section, almost 90 minutes from downtown Chicago, offers a hard hitting, very fast hardcore metal sound. It's not totally old school eighties speed metal, although the music foundation is well rooted in it. I talk to singer Alex Jarvi and guitarist Jim Mohaupt before they join Joliet's Whut for a gig at Cobra Lounge in the shadow of the United Center in mid July.
Dissona is redfining Rock Opera. It's more traditional opera with modern hardcore metal elements mixed in, including the screaming vocals of Matt Motto. He branches out from the progressive operatic sound of the band for a new industrial electronica project, C3D3.
Genotype has always been the unique mixture of futuristic electronic synthesizers, crunchy distorted guitars and the dual singing personality of Kadie Kirby( half fierce, half intimate and melodic). Back five years ago this week, for my only interview with the full band at Reggie's Music Joint. 
Along with these, you're first pumping every bit of pulsating brain adrenaline throughout your central nervous system with:
The Gavel-Trial By Fire
The Gavel-Doomsday
Whut-God Damn Waste
C3N3-Into Red
Dissona-Totality
Orinoco-Mimic
Sleeptight-Conspiracy
Battle Royale-Beat Down, Broken & Drunk
Henry Chinaski-Beatdown
Genotype ( Interview from Reggie's Music Joint-6/10/16)
Genotype-Cyberfi
Genotype-The Awakening

Local Loft Episode 176

Burning the noon oil (yes , anticipation won't let us wait till the wee hours of the morning to get a new local original music fix on). Another full platter of original metal, punk, prog rock, alternative and power pop is served up. and there will be plenty of room for seconds, even thirds. 
Creeping out of the far Northwest region of Illinois (Waukegan, near the Wisconsin/Illinois border) Lines Of Loyalty is ready to break through into the national hard rock mainstream. They have the drive (and the driving groove) to penetrate through the restrictive playlist of terrestrial and satellite active rock radio. I talk with Gothic looking singer Glenn Nubz Morrison about their debut, radio friendly single of denial, I'm Not the One, before they rock The Forge in Joliet this Thursday. The show will also contain Eugiene Grey and the Bad Habits, who get slashing-ly innovative with Friday The 13th film style music videos.
Robb Serrano beats it out of Illinois. The Extraction Point and ex Odonrot drummer surprisingly announces his departure. 
Robb was also one third of the coolest support group to the Chicago area Metal scene. His splitting the state means no chance of a Chicago Metal Alliance reformation. We rock back five years ago to when the CMA bid farewell with a local music packed bash in Chicago Ridge.
Along with these, you're doin the June slam dance swoon to the driving grooves of:
Lines Of Loyalty-I'm Not The One
Lines of Loyalty-Natural Beauty (live unplugged)
Eugiene Grey and the Bad Habits-Killer on the Loose
Armored Assault-Blood Queen
Comfort Scarcity-Must Say
Extraction Point-Forced Compliance
Odonrot-Colors of War
CMA Final Bash (5/21/16-Star Bar Chicago Ridge Local Loft Episode 26)
Sinister Fate-The Hunger (with David Bates interview)
Proudest Angel-Whole Again
Wicked Deception-10 of 1 ( with Lance Hugelet interview)
Consume The Divide-The Cause (with Dan Hardman interview)
Impale-Breakfast Of Champions
Hot Dang-Lifter 

Local Loft Episode 175

We'll call it a comeback. Venues across Chicagoland and Illinois are reopening. The always active and constantly fresh, but changing local music scene gets the chance to blossom and  expand as COVID restrictions are being lifted.
On another expansive edition of Local Loft, Joliet Horror Metal/Punk band Gnarcotix cuts a hard hitting and rocking path through its slasher film style music videos. They will translate the bloody images to the live stage, co-headlining a gig at Sugar Skull in Franklin Park.
More so then the beloved Cubs, Metro has made Wrigleyville rock since the mid 80's. The legendary music venue reopens its door this week for the first time since the horrific COVID pandemic began in March 2020. Many Industrial rock bands will headline a three day fest in September there. I got the scoop on it.
Chicago's Romantic Rebel spread the love for its melodic hard rock across the country. They never really got the recognition in their hometown or surrounding areas. A rock back seven years ago this week to when I welcomed singer K. T. Paige , and guitarist Alex Vincent to The Kat 105.5.
Along with these, you're feeling the slasher knife slicing blood coursing through your veins as you rock out to:
Gnarcotix-Lunaticus
Gnarcotix-From Blood To Blacklist
Cunning Like Cobras-Contagion War
Khaos Ordinance-Plagued
Marks Of Gray-Caretaker
Pixel Grip-Dancing On Your Grave
4Without-Life
DeadMan's Hand-Drag Me Down
The Last Generation-Angel Of Darkness
Romantic Rebel (K.T. Paige and Alex Vincent interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-5/29/14)
Romantic Rebel-Nothing Left To Say
Romantic Rebel-Believe

Local Loft Episode 174

Post mortality Punk, present day metal body devouring witches. Local Loft pod-casts a spell, and you'll be entranced to cranl it up and beg for more original  Chicagoland and Illinois metal, punk, prog rock, power pop and alternative rock.
The Ugly Lovers tell a not very pretty story of a fatal love relationship, and hearing them will save you a trip to the emergency room, if your love life suffers a fatal blow. I talk to Ugly Lovers singer, Joe Bates about the intense, nature of their aggressive Punk rock and how hey will lay it on audiences at Sugar Skull in Franklin Park for a mid May Thursday show.
Vicious Attack hope to rock away a witch hunt with the new music video to a wicked new single from their new full length debut album, Declaration of War.
Veteran guitar shredder T.D. Clark never got accolades for his versatile mastering of the six string guitar. Ten years ago this week, he wailed his way into The Kat 105.5 studio. We'll relive every distinct, not perfect drop tuned moment again.
Along with these, you'll be feeling the pogo in your feet, and the Les Paul in your face with:
The Ugly Lovers-Emily 
The Ugly Lovers-Don't Come Back
Misunderstood-Tank Girl
Gravetones-Take My Hand
The Steepwater Band-All The Way To Nowhere
Yellowtooth-Scattered To The Wind
Vicious Attack-Nightwitch
Dead Original-Blasted
M & R Rush-Grand Slammer Prelude/Hour Of The Wolf
T.D. Clark (Interview In The Kat 105.5 studio-5/22/11)
T.D. Clark-Drop D Symphony
T.D. Clark-Moroccan Bedtime Story
T.D. Clark-When The Lights Dim

Local Loft Episode 173

That's right, two podcasts in two days. This one a timely edition. Chicago area death metal rocks only inches away from two cemeteries. Luna In Sanguinem journey a long way south from their native Spring Grove to make Davern's Tavern in Justice come alive on the weekend of May 15th. i talk with LIS guitarist Mike Eisenauer about the metal fury they will unleash on the crowd, including new music from a forthcoming follow up to their debut EP, Global Bloodbath.
Death Pop Radio kill off their own mortality in a pulse raising new music video and single from their just released self titled debut album.
Five years ago this week, it was the buckshot heard around the world. African American ghetto metal punk band Blackmarket Democracy unleashed a sonic blast on the former Nite Cap in Chicago's Irving Park neighborhood. A rock back to when I first introduced them to Local Loft listeners.
Along with these, you're getting constant sonic recoil from the loud local Chicagoland and Illinois Punk and Metal bangs of:
Luna In Sanguinem-Killed By The Dead Hand
Luna In Sanguinem-Angel Wings
Four Horsemyn-Painted Wall
Smear Campaign-My Own Revolution
Death Pop Radio-Flatliners
Brothers Giant-Billy The Kid
Hellgrind-Ancient Terror
Blackmarket Democracy (interview from Nite  Cap Chicago-5/14/16 Local Loft Episode 25)
Blackmarket Democracy-Buckshot Republic
Blackmarket Democracy-Fragile

Local Loft Episode 172

From Middle Earth to the mid section of the Land of Lincoln, original Chicago area and Illinois local metal, punk ,alternative rock, prog rock and power pop cuts a big path across cyberspace. a path that many music lovers will listen to again and again.
After his 13 year long journey as front man and singer of Veilside was done, Tony Engel joined forces with master guitar shredder David Shankle to create GraveReign.  Combining old school progressive metal of the mid 80s with images of modern day riots and politics in releasing Destination Aftermath. I talk to Tony about how this ambitious, extremely hard rocking four piece project came together, along with two explosive tracks from the upcoming debut album, released in July.
Death Metal rocks near a pair of cemeteries.  The live music is inside of Danvern's tavern in the Chicago Southwestern suburb of Justice. Chicago Death Metal band Dead and Buried comes alive there this upcoming weekend.
Joliet's The Allegiance fell in and all were present for roll call in the Kat 105.5 on air studio for the first time, ten years ago this week. 
Along with these, you're air guitar shredding and fist pumping in thin air to the hard sludge grooves of:
GraveReign-On The Wings Of Fafnir
GraveReign-Destination Aftermath
Feanor (featuring David Shankle)-Rise Of The Dragon
Veilside-Hypocrisy
Dead And Buried-Hunting Ground
Ignescent-Exodus
Sin MG-Fear (Intro)/Octane
The Allegiance (Interview In The Kat 105.5 studio-5/12/11)
The Allegiance-Marked For The Grave
The Allegiance-March
The Allegiance-Take It Back
 
 

Local Loft Episode 171

Death Metal minus the death, with the addition of a death prevention benefit. It's another hour of blistering, scathing and earth shaking local metal, punk, alt-rock, prog rock and power pop that comes alive all over the Chicagoland area and state of Illinois. And we lay it you in big hard pile driving doses.
Scarsin from the across the Illinois, Indiana border offers a different approach to Death Metal both lyrically and musically. I talk to singer Felipe Alvarez before they unleash their not so bloody, but scorching thrash groove on concertgoers in the Southwest Chicago suburb of Justice.
Metal bands have often been wrongly accused of their music influencing young people to take their lives. Hard melodic rock band Dark Sun from Rockford is throwing a benefit show to greatly persuade folks to prevent suicide. New tuneage from them, and the scoop on how you can support local metal and prevent a tragedy.
After they surprisingly were introduced to the world on the airwaves of Chicago rock radio giant The Loop 41 years ago, M & R Rush rocked the airwaves of The Kat 105.5, and clawed their way back into the rock mainstream. Back ten years ago this week, when two members first visited our air studios.
Along with these, you're reaching for the stars with a long pogoing leap to the sounds of:
Scarsin- Uprise
Scarsin-The Lie!!!
Luna In Sanguinem-Killed By The Dead Hand
Dark Sun-Losing It
Monroe-Bury Me Alive
On The Morrow-Fragile
M & R Rush-Give Me Strength
M & R Rush ( John McFarland and Jeff Luif interview in The Kat 105.5 studios-5/5/11)
M & R Rush-Different Breed Of Kat
M & R Rush-Million Seller
M & R Rush-Rock N Roll Chicago (2004 remake)

Local Loft Episode 170

With no help from Mother Nature's pissing rain, something musical and explosive is blooming in April. New fresh, thunderous original metal, punk, power pop, alt-rock and prog rock from all over Chicagoland and Illinois is about to pour all over you through the podcast that spans the vast area.
Death Pop Radio is a Tour De Force of nineties old school grunge, eighties progressive metal and modern day industrial nu metal. Singer Eric Liljehorn adds to the fiery hard rocking nature of the band's sound with his distinctive vocals. I talk to Eric, as DPR gets ready to release it's self titled debut album on May 7th.
All girl punk band Bloody Mary was one of a kind. The once all teenage band based out of Downers Grove suffers a tragic loss to one of its original members.
Tony Engel is a journeyman singer. From the raw, bluesy, adrenaline rush hard rock of Veilside to the explosive power metal of Gravereign, to continues to unleash his awesome vocal delivery. News on the release on GraveReign's long awaited debut and another scorching cut from it, plus, back ten year's ago this week, when Tony and Veilside were first let loose on Kat 105.5 radio listeners in the Chicago Southlands.
Along with these, you'll kicking April's balls goodbye with the gut punching rock of:
Death Pop Radio-Ravens
Death Pop Radio-Rock EM' Sock EM'
Bloody Mary-Alexa
Misfire-Red Flag
Diamond Plate-Casualty Of War
Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club-Tremor Control
GraveReign-Sanctuary
Veilside (Interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-4/28/11)
Veilside-Along The Way
Veilside-My Turn
Veilside-Hypocrisy

Local Loft Episode 169

Metal war has been declared and battle will come down. In this combative edition of Local Loft, more than one metal millitia will go into to active rocking duty. Lace up your combat boots as we kick out the original jams of metal. punk, alt rock, prog rock and power pop from all over Chicagoland and Illinois.
Vicious Attack has exploded across stages since 2007. The five man hardcore thrash metal band from Chicago just released their first full length album, Declaration of War, on April 10th. We deploy two new tracks from it, as I get the dirt on the making of it from singer Alex Rodriguez and guitarist Michael Maskus in an exclusive interview.
The Empire of Fire features three days of blazing local metal and punk in Bradley. Upstate Illinois band Four Horsemyn will be featured on the  second of three days April 23rd to the 25th. 
Rockford's Oppressed Affliction brings a state of un worship amongst the band's followers to an upcoming May gig at The Forge in Joliet.
Convoy trucked their way on through the Joliet/Kankakee area on tour, with one of the founding members once serving a tour of duty in the Marine Corps. Nine years ago this week, they first fell in to the Kat 105.5 studios to play and talk about songs from their second album, Blue Collar America.
Along with these, you're rocking through an explosion of Chicagoland and Illinois music power with:
Vicious Attack-Endgame
Vicious Attack-Declaration Of War
Vicious Attack 2012 (featuring Cecilia Marie Negron)-Voices In My Head
Celestial Serpent-From Shadows Above
Oppressed Affliction-Godless
Four Horsemyn-Unhinged
Skipping Stone-Wither
Convoy (interview in the Kat 105.5 studio-4/19/12)
Convoy-U.S.M.C.
Convoy-Paralyze
Convoy-Knocked Down