Local Loft

Local Loft Episode 167

This may not taste sweet, but it will certainly sound that way. So hippity hop your way on over to your laptop, phone or tablet and let this hour long gob of ear candy color your mind and ears like a sonic Decoregger. 
In this latest assortment of original punk ,metal, alt-rock, prog rock and power pop treats from Chicagoland's six county region, and throughout Illinois, we head just north of the Illinois/Wisconsin state line for Kenosha's The Hatred Embrace. Grunting unclean singing is at an excessive abundance here on their self -titled debut album. I'll stuff your mental Easter Basker full of two cavity cleaning explosive cuts.
You'll feel the burn of moshing off a few pounds at The Empire Of Fire. This three day weekend bash at The Looney Bin in Bradley will generate flaming metal heat from six different local bands a day, including the provocative shock metal of Sinister Fate.
They always captured your attention, and your were not able to mentally shift your brain cells away from A.D.D. (Analog Digital Disorder). Ten years ago this week, I first invited this powerhouse melodic hard rock band  into The Kat 105.5 air studio. Even totally acoustic, they had you surrendering your full, undivided attention span to the intimate, fiery vocal of Margaret Young and the rest of the band.
Along with these you're blasting out the excess rabbit fur between your earlobes with:
The Hatred Embrace-The Monolith Of Insects
The Hatred Embrace-Corpse Bong
Wunderlich-Reasons
Among The Essence-Pipe Bombs And Broken Dreams
Sinister Fate-The Deepest Kiss
Frontline-Live It Up
Sink-Spiders And Heroin
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 in The Kat 105.5 Studio)
A.D.D.-The Path
Gerhart (Interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-4/5/12)
Gerhart-Bringing Me Down
Gerhart-Living Through Perception
Gerhart-The Outsider

Local Loft Episode 166

Death metal that has a lively radio friendly sound. Another well know Chicago area venue gets anew life after the COVIID pandemic. Circle of Fate goes commercial (at least their singer gets a shot at singing advertising jingles). It's all here on the podcast that always puts plugs in for the Chicagoland area and Illinois music scene.
Architects of Ruin construct two more concrete examples of rollicking rocket fast death metal. The Chicago quintet featuring singer Luco Columbo is set to release their second EP, Black Ash Existence, in May. I've two new lethal cuts from it.
Penny Road Pub will soon have local hard rock fans trucking to its Barrington Hills location to check out live music again. Swamp rockers Convoy will rock the roof off before Memorial Day.
Southwest Chicago melodic hard rock band Circle of Fate had a career in advertising to fall back, at least singer Michelle Caruso did as a singer of jingles for a well known fast food chain. We rock back nine years ago this week when I first introduced the band to commercial FM radio listeners.
Along with these, you're weathering a storm of tremendous Chicago area and Illinois punk, metal, prog rock, alternative, and power pop music talent with:
Architects Of Ruin-Code Dead
Architects Of Ruin-We Bury Our Own
Ciraxis-Terrors
Mudfish-Before The Deserts Turn To Sand
Convoy-1969
Drama Queen-Tequila Shelia
Monroe-Rose For The Wicked
Beyond Threshold (Interview in The Kat 105.5 studio with Erik Virgin and John Sergel-3/28/13)
Beyond Threshold-Downside
Beyond Threshold-Ever Changing
Circle Of Fate (Interview with Danny Charitin, Lynn Parkinson, and Jimi Swanson-3/29/12)
Circle Of Fate-What If
Circle Of Fate-Sanctify
Circle Of Fate-Skeletons
 

Local Loft Episode 165

Springtime's going green, and blooming with opportunities for Chicagoland and Illinois bands to return to live stages for the first time since the silent virus began its horrific trek across the world. All is not yet back to normal, but the news is more good that you soon will be able to witness shows again, maybe you already have.
Bullet To Heart is a four piece Goth Hard Rock band, whose lyrics and music is not all darkest days. There is a positive and optimistic tone to what singer Audrey Queen sings about, drawing on scary real life family situations. They will head to the just reopened Forge In Joliet to kick off April. Hear their new single, Falling Away, and a heart touching track from their debut EP, Trials and Tribulations.
Now metal war is declared, and a mosh battle may come down. Vicious Attack is threatening metal militia action with the title track off their first full length record.
Theatrical metal took on a whole new definition when Lombard group Atlanta Is Burning first scorched small venue stages across southwest Chicago. A rock back eight years ago today, when they first resurrected a 1939 film queen in a modern day metal soundtrack.
In addition to these, you'll be getting old man winter to kiss your ass. as you shake it and twist the rest of your body to the grooves of:
Bullet To The Heart-Falling Away
Bullet To The Heart-Breathe
When Night Falls-Creatures Of The Night
Vicious Attack-Declaration Of War
Reckless Redemption-Children Of The Void(featuring Tom Barber of Chelsea Grin)
Aweful-I Never Knew
Hotlips Messiah-Time To Drop The Bomb (2015 7' vinyl single)
Atlanta Is Burning (Al Kruse and Keith Humphrey interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-3/21/13)
Atlanta Is Burning-A Wicked Thing To Say
Atlanta Is Burning-Atlanta Is Burning
Cheer Up Moon Cat (interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-3/24/11)
Cheer Up Moon Cat-Temptation And Retribution
Cheer Up Moon Cat-Run Run Run (acoustic live in The Kat studio)

Local Loft Episode 164

Rockin' around the blarney stone. Another comprehensive romp to greener pastures ahead for the Chicagoland and Illinois metal, punk, alt-rock, prog ,and power pop scene.
We're shipping up to Joliet, to find Backlash, who have found a fountain of youth in the era of classic eighties thrash metal. The four man band has just released it's debut album, Colossus. Hearing this will have you doing a double take in thinking the quintessential Metallica, Exodus or Armored Saint lineups have been resurrected. But it's not all old school. Two balls out cuts from their new effort.
Chicago punk pop band Sex Dream get catty ( just a little) in an upcoming show with Aweful (who are awesome Runaways inspired garage punk trio) in West Chicago.
Some venues who live and breathe the traditional Irish atmosphere will be reopening just in time for the big green holiday. A trip back to when Celtic Chicago punk rockers Flatfoot 56 were as much a main attraction as multiple Irish car bomb shots.
Joliet's The Allegiance  fought for their country and rock just as heavy as the ammo they deployed as members of the U.S. armed forces. Back nine years ago this week when the band all made roll call for an in-studio debut at The Kat
105.5.
Along with these, you're pogoing with an air shillelagh as you jig dance to:
Backlash-God Of Destruction
Backlash-Last Chance
Cunning Like Cobras-Master Thy Temper/Seven Souls
Sex Dream-Madness Girlfriend
Aweful-Lucid Dream
Southpaw-False Pretenses
Flatfoot 56-Brother Brother
The Allegiance (Interview in the Kat 105.5 studio-3/15/12)
The Allegiance-Off With Their Heads
The Allegiance-Black Little Cloud
The Allegiance-Marked For The Grave(acoustic version in The Kat 105.5 studio)
Punch Cabbie (interview from Brauerhouse, Lombard-3/14/16 Local Loft Episode 20)
Punch Cabbie-Introspection
Punch Cabbie-Vitriol

Local Loft Episode 163

Another Winter chased by Springtime (almost) And a virus's effects are slowly being chased away form several Chicago area venues, who are welcoming back Chicagoland area and Illinois bands and artists and a few of those who support the music. We at the the extensive podcast that always virtually covers the scene always extend a welcome to an always active music scene, no matter the world situation.
W.C. Social Club in West Chicago gives The Ugly Lovers the chance to headline. This Chicago Punk band doesn't focus solely on intense political issues in its lyrics. They focus on life's other excesses, like too much partying, and how it can have serious consequences, on their self titled debut EP.
Extraction Point won't need the luck of the Irish to help them shake the thunder in rocking the roof off a brand new venue, Rt. 66 Bar and Grill in Wilmington. They'll let Ephinepic tag along for christening the mosh pit. I've got the scoop on when and where you can motor to check it out.
The Streets were a very unique combo of melodic hard rock and rap. Back seven years ago this week when I first invited Kat 105.5 listeners to come along for the wild musical ride.
Along with these, you're melting old man winter's ugly face with the fiery sonic heat of.
The Ugly Lovers-Emily
The Ugly Lovers-Never Enough
Mitch McClain-Ritual
Colossus-Lenity
Extraction Point-Forced Compliance
Ephinepic-Tyrant
Toxic Ruin-Ritual Rebirth
Thrudge (Dave Marevka and Luke Engel interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-3/7/13)
Thrudge-This Is Wrong
Thrudge-Hard Charger
The Streets (Alex Uridel interview in the Kat 105.5 studio-3/10/14)
The Streets-Curbside Eulogy
Alex Uridel (featuring Tynumbaone)-Comin' Up

Local Loft Episode 162

Another mind shattering, face melting hour of the screamingest, most diverse mix of original metal, punk, alt-rock, prog rock and power pop from all over Chicagoland and Illinois scorches the cyber waves. No screaming vocal will be left in a quiet void.
Chicago's The Monarch formed from the experience of a former drummer of veteran metalcore act Soulfly. Their debut album, All The World's Pain , blends modern intense, scream filled singing with operatic melodic vocal styles and symphonic progressive metal. I've got two new tracks which could have you both head banging and hitting falsetto high notes.
The melodic metal duo, Gravereign brings together singer Tony Engel (formerly of Veilside) and veteran guitar shredder David Shankle ( ex axe man of Manowar) They have just released the  long awaited title track to their first full length, Destination Aftermath, accompanied by a graphic military music video. I've got the explosive audio.
Sara Aufieri was the powerful combination of passion and aggression with her solid, high energy lead vocals. A rock back nine years ago this week, when she first shared a heartfelt singing talent as front woman of Mindshatter with listeners of The Kat 105.5 in the Joliet/Kankakee area.
Along with these, you're fighting off Old Man Winter's snowy hypnosis with:
The Monarch-All The World's Pain
The Monarch-The Grand Scheme
Dissona-Chrysalis
Sleep Tight-Dread
Gravereign-Destination Aftermath
Veilside (Interview from Brauerhouse In Lombard-Local Loft Episode 52 (3/4/17)
Veilside-Left Town
Veilside-Barrel Of A Gun
Mindshatter(Interview In The Kat 105.5 Studio-3/1/12)
Mindshatter-Changed
Mindshatter-Cause And Effect(Unplugged/Acoustic)

Local Loft Episode 161

Soon, the new normal will be an old memory. We will all get back to rocking at our favorite live local venue. It's already resuming at a few places throughout Chicagoland. So, the podcast with the most access to who's playing where fills you  in on the bands and solo acts rocking stages from downtown Chi Town to the state lines.
Rockford melodic hard rock quartet Monroe got recognized opening for Wayland and Hinder. Now, the music tides are turning, and they are headlining their own shows,  including an early April gig at Brauerhouse in Lombard. We give you their new single, Tides (produced by Sevendust drummer, Morgan Rose) am done other from their debut full length album, Rose For The Wicked.
The Terminus Theater in Lake Villa also begins bringing back local acts, including first time teenage metal band Deprived Of Construct. We get you ready to be rocked up by them as they close out the insanely snowy month of February with their debut show.
Cliff Johnson is still young at heart, as he turns a year away from his seventh decade of life and being power pop king. A belated birthday salute stays in time with his youth. While teenage hardcore metal band When Night Falls howls again before tearing up the joint at Wire In Berwyn, in a rock back five years ago this week.
Along with these, you give an extreme snow squall the sunny finger with:
Monroe-Tides
Monroe-Could've Saved Me
Solar-Resilient
Deprived Of Construct-Patriot
Luna In Sanguinem-Killed By The Dead Hand
Cliff Johnson-On The River
Off Broadway-Quick Turns
When Night Falls (Interview from Wire in Berwyn- Local Loft Episode 19- 2/28/16)
When Night Falls- Creatures Of The Night
When Night Falls-Lost
Black 4 (Interview from Star Bar in Chicago Ridge, Local Loft Episode 51-2/25/17)
Black 4- Cougar Love
Black 4-Breezy Deezy
 

Local Loft Episode 160

Whether you're locked down or snowed in, you won't miss the heavy accumulation of original metal, punk, alt rock, prog rock, and power pop, as we plow our way through another journey around Chicagoland and Illinois. Shovel the excess wax from your ear lobes and get ready call dibs on your favorite local band.
Khaos Ordinance from far Southwest Suburban Streator has been reinventing their brain exploding melodic metal sound several times. Even going in a more electronic, industrial direction on their 2018 full length album, Ellipsis. Their new 2020 single gets them back basic hard driving grindcore metal, as the band, led by longtime frontman Cory Angelico, gets psyched to rock a socially distanced crowd at the grand opening of a new post racing pub in downtown Wilmington.
Punk Bands spread love, not politics, in the air for a post Valentine's Day hangover, from Lafayette, Indiana's Mixelpricks. And in one of two rock backs. Evil Engine rev's up the beer soaked adrenaline at Livewire Lounge in Chicago's Jefferson Park, four years ago this week. I'm there to get the dirt from the band before a electrifying gig with their new guitarist Jamie Booth.
Along with these, you are virtually flipping off old man winter's snow defecation and COVID's outstayed welcome by cranking up:
Khaos Ordinance-Plagued
Khaos Ordinance-Epiquit
Gnarcotix- Lunaticus
Mixelpricks-I Don't Need Anything
The Bishop Of Frankfort-Black Heart
Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club-X-Play
The Kind-When You Rock (1981 original 45 mix)
Red Poet ( Rion Sheehan interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-2/20/14)
Red Poet-Ironside
Red Poet-Coil
Evil Engine (Interview at Livewire Lounge-2/18/17)
Evil Engine-Radio Coup D'Etat
Evil Engine-The Resistance
 

Local Loft Episode 159

Space Punk, Progressive Grunge. From familiar genres to new musical categories, no matter how you label it. it's still the best and newest original metal, punk, alt, grunge, prog rock and power pop from all over Chicagoland and Illinois.
The spotlight this time around is mostly on the female fronted punk, grunge and garage scene of Chicago. Aweful is a very aggressive trio fronted by Traci Trouble, who also is lead singer for veteran Punk band Hotlips Messiah. Aweful played a virtual Halloween gig in Bridgeview last year, and have just released a new single as a follow up to their debut 2019 EP, Me Me Me. I give you a double Troubled blast of their music.
Brauerhouse in Lombard rocks on under new ownership. Spacy progressive rock quartet Whatismu from Chicago's West side will be the first band to play since the new owners took over. A futuristic instrumental jam from them, and a bubbly new year's resolution form Kankakee's Carrying Torches.
We rock back to the debuts of two prominent female singers in the Chicago Hard Rock scene. Holly Smith made her beginning with the alt rock four piece In 2 The Inferno. Back nine years ago this week when her awesome vocal power was first introduced to Kat 105.5 air studio in the Joliet/Kankakee areas.
Crossing borderlines while perfecting English speaking and singing, Jana Vox became one of the Chicago area's biggest rock singers with the Euro hard rock band 4 Without. Back five years ago this week as I interviewed her and the full band at the legendary Metro, 5 minutes from Wrigley Field.
Along with these, you're rocking away a biting case of February frostbite with:
Aweful-Oh Oh
Aweful-Why?
Mystery Actions-Drive
The Decayed-The Dream Is Dead/A Better Way
Mustard Men-8 A.M.
Whatismu-Into Frenzy
Carrying Torches-Champagne
In 2 The Inferno (Interview in the Kat 105.5 studio-2/12/12)
In 2 The Inferno-Further From The Sun
In 2 The Inferno-Follow
In 2 The Inferno-To The City
4 Without (Interview from Metro-2/4/16)
4 Without-Kill Him 1st
4 Without-Tonight

Local Loft Episode 158

Six more weeks of winter or an early spring. The forecast for plenty of original new local metal, punk, prog, alt-rock, grunge and power pop is bright and sunny. We don't need no stinking groundhog to tell us that. So shadow dance to the tunes if you must, because there's certainly a lot to groove and rock to.
Alex Uridel has been active in the Joliet /Aurora music scene since 1998. His biggest project was the rap/alt-rock quartet The Streets. On his new third solo EP, Friction, he blends the high energy screaming vocal filled  style of post alternative rock with gangsta rap.
There will be a lot of tackling and goofy dances ,but not in the end zone of Tampa Bay on Super Bowl Weekend. The first annual Punk In The Bin at The Looney Bin in Bradley will feature hard hitting aggressive local punk, including Joliet's Prison City Brigade.
Cory James became one of the most distinctive screaming singers in the Chicagoland hard rock and metal scene, starting with Dark Passenger. While Dead Man's Hand welcomed new fiery singer Laurence Dutch Devries, to mark their 10th anniversary as one of Joliet's biggest old school thrash metal bands. We rock back nine and four years ago this week when both rocked the airwaves.
Along with these, you're shadow slam dancing the groundhog back into his hole in the earth with:
Alex Uridel-Dead Weight ( featuring Tynumbaone)
Alex Uridel-Lookin' At Me (featuring Tynumbaone and Brandon Marquez)
The Streets-Joyride
The Ugly Lovers-Ergo
Prison City Brigade-Gallows
Convoy-Masquerade
Flatfoot 56-Winter In Chicago
Dark Passenger (Interview In The Kat 105.5 studio-2/2/12)
Dark Passenger-Shattered
Dark Passenger-War Inside
Dark Passenger-The Horror
Dead Man's Hand (Interview at Bada Brew, Crest Hill-2/4/17 Local Loft Episode 49)
Dead Man's Hand-Deep
Dead Man's Hand-Call Me A Saint