Local Loft

Local Loft Episode 156

Capitol riots, lives rendered un normal by a sinister virus. Life is slowly beginning to return to pre-COVID conditions. Music soothes our minds and gets us in a more positive frame of mind. So relax your brain tissue and let your body groove to the totally original sounds of metal ,punk. prog rock alt-rock and power pop from around Chicagoland and Illinois with the podcast that always delivers the goods-via wi fi side pickup.
Given all the violent and sometimes deadly protesting that went on in Washington and last summer in Detroit and downtown Chicago, Wrong War, a punk quartet from the city's west side unleashes a verbal venom on their full length debut album, Fixed Against Forever. Two lightning fast, adrenaline powered cuts from it.
Vicious Attack is the latest local metal act to give the live stream concert experience a shot. I've got the scoop on where and when you can link up and safely rock with them online.
Hair Metal never completely died after bands like Motley Crue and Poison made it a mania in the mid to late eighties. New Lenox band Headwall surprisingly resurrected it with their own unique blend of power chords and the high pitched but detailed signing of Brent Rowader. A rock back eleven years ago this week, when the band crashed the radio airwaves of 105.5 The Kat.
Along with these, the sheer power of you headbanging to the tunage here crushes any virus mutations in it's path with:
Wrong War-Words Were Mere Words
Wrong War-We're Through
Sex Dream- Aren't You Happy You Are Mine?
Vicious Attack-Right To Remain Violent
Architects Of Ruin-We Bury Our Own
Macabre-Tea Cakes
Immortum-Open Wide
Headwall ( Brent Rowader interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-1/21/10)
Headwall-Take Me Back
Headwall-Don't Fly Away
Headwall-Falling Faster Than The Rain
Fist To The Sky (Mickey Murder interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-1/24/13)
Fist To The Sky-Another Lesson Learned
Fist To The Sky-Bad Karma

Local Loft Episode 155

Jazz Metal, Progressive Punk, Hippie Hip Hop. It's time to discover (once again) what's new and rockin' in the Chicagoland area and Illinois original local music scene. This podcast gives you a complete and detailed crash course.
Quantum is unique mix of hip hop, melodic seventies soul and arena rock. I turn you on to their new second full length album, Electric Lucifuge with two funky, politically charged cuts.
Things will get very punky (and not too punky) on Super Bowl Weekend in KankaBourBoley the Kankakee/Bradley/Bourbonnais region Southwest of Chicago. Prison City Brigade will have you spiking your hair (not a football in the end zone) at Punk The Bin. I'll give you the details on it.
Female singers don't get any better than Jeni Imparato. We rock back four years ago this week, when I talked to her again, with a look ahead to a bright Phosphene future.
In addition to these, your ears get vaccinated with the sonic power of:
Quantum-Hell
Quantum-Taxation Is Theft (Don't Get Funny With My Money)
Wrong War-First Shot
Prison City Brigade-Call Out!
Solution Unsatisfactory-Punk Rock Girls
Matianak-Voodoo Possession
Racing The Sun-Sounds Like Traffic
Depriving The Masses (Interview In The Kat 105.5 studio-1/12/12)
Depriving The Masses-Rise
Depriving The Masses-Truth
Depriving The Masses-Indulge
Jeni Imparato (Interview from Sullivan's Pub in Midlothian Local Loft-Episode 47-1/7/17)
Phosphene-Break The Silence (Unplugged in The Kat 105.5 studio-1/23/14)
Phosphene-Damaged

Local Loft Episode 154

New year, new opportunities to discover new original music from all over Chicagoland and Illinois, This ain't no Country. This ain't no Disco! It's only the best in metal, punk ,alt-rock, prog, and power pop.
Pete Berwick walks a fine line between the classic outlaw country of Johnny Cash and Steve Earle, and legendary punk of Ramones, Clash and Social Distortion. Since 1976, he has made music that never stays the same and does not follow and distinct music formula, on his new career spanning box set, Too Cow To Punk. I hit you with two cuts off it, including one which features Steve Earle's drummer. This hasn't been released since being recorded in 1989.
Live local Punk will rock, and the audience might pogo along, in Bradley near Kankakee to kick off February 2021. Chicago's Ugly Lovers hope to hit the stage with rock and rage.
Joliet hardcore metal band Whut brought their brash, brain crushing hardcore metal to The Kat 105.5 studio for the first time, nine years ago this week. We relieve the mass musical assault.
Along with these, your toasting the new year with a fist in the air to:
Pete Berwick-Preacher's Kid
Pete Berwick-Is That What You're Telling Me?
Blood People-Phantasmagoria
GraveReign-Sanctuary
Veilside-The Loss Forgotten
The Ugly Lovers-Emily
My Sedatious Sister-I Don't Wanna Go
Whut (Interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-1/5/12)
Whut-Stone Trophies
Whut-Skeletons Revisited
Whut-Don't Judge Me
Sparkplug Assassins (Dave McCormick interview In The Kat 105.5 studio-1/2/14)
Sparkplug Assassins-Black Box
Sparkplug Assassins-One Last Breath

Local Loft Episode 153

 It was a very bad year! But you take the good with the bad for any period of twelve months. 2020 was still an active year musically in the local Chicagoland and Illinois scene. best of lists and countdowns are opinionated. So look on the upcoming best of 2020 as one man's enjoyment of a local scene that always has much to offer.
And the Local Loft 2020 year in review goes something like this:
Hot Dang-Pacific Coast Highway (Best Comeback Artist)
Of Wolves-Balance (Best Punk Album)
Ephinepic-Mr. Sinator (Best Metal Album)
Extraction Point-Forced Compliance (Best Music Video)
Central Disorder-Into the Night (12-26-20: A Socially Distanced COVID Christmas Spectacular) (Best Live Show)
Alex Uridel-This Thing Of Ours (Best Solo Performance)
Real Bad Real Fast (Interview at The Outtaspace in Berwyn 3-14-20) (Best Alternative Rock Act)
Real Bad Real Fast-Comin' In Hot
Real Bad Real Fast-Ronan Farrow
Prison City Brigade-Nola (Best Local Rock Album)
 

Local Loft Episode 152

It's that time,(again) Xmas time is here. Has quarantine isolation affected your brain to the point where you can't make up your mind as to what musical gift to give? We'll make the list ( and check it a shitload of times. Just be nice enough ( not naughty enough) to listen for a hour and 15.
Shitizen is a fierce Chicago female fronted Punk band who is winning over new fans via live streams of their shows. I spin two cuts from their newest Cuntry Music EP.
 Streamwood thrash metal duo, Immortum is as close to early Metallica revisited without checking out the original band. We check out new works in progress that would have fit right in with anything off Kill Em' All or even Reign In Blood. 
Veteran Hair Metal turned power pop legends Enuff Z'nuff put Blue Island on the worldwide rock map. They're hoping to hit the concert stage at Reggies in the South Loop as the new year 2021 kicks off.
Along with these, you're slam dancing around the fiery chimney as we stuff your stocking with the mostly non seasonal sounds of:
Shitizen-Black Hole
Shitizen-Make It Smell
Central Disorder-The Descent/Insurrection
Immortum-Mortal Fear
Quantum-Made Up Your Mind
Randy Raatz-Christmas In My Mind
Enuff Z'Nuff-Happy Holiday
Approaching Dawn (Interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-12/22/11)
Approaching Dawn-The Violable
Approaching Dawn-In Search Of An Exit
Approaching Dawn-Spit
Of Wolves( Interview from Reggie's Music Joint, Local loft Episode 16-12/27/15)
Of Wolves-The Man/Red Skins/Buffalo Nickels
Of Wolves-Legal Lies
Of Wolves-Mens Rea (Izaguf) 
 

Local Loft Episode 151

We've been doing it since day one (March 11th,2015) giving the gift of Chicagoland and Illinois metal, punk .alt-rock, power pop, and prog virtually. And once again, we avoid cleaning up big strands of wrapping paper as you rip open brand new original tunage.
With hardly anywhere to experience live bands due to COVID-19 closures and restrictions, music is best discovered through giving physical CDs or streaming. The Angry Peasants compilation gives you many chances to enjoy the Chicago music scene, if you're a metal, doom, or stoner rock lover. I give you a few samples of the newly released Volume 10, including Vronk!. and Our Earth Is A Tomb, who combines screamo metal with spacey intimate female vocal driven 70s prog rock.
Chicago power pop four piece, Lucky Boys Confusion, looked forward to becoming the first band to open up a less frightening new year on a live stage, but that psychotic COVID virus put a stop to it. I have news on when they will hit the road again.
Soundwalls from Itasca would not let the 90s grunge period die. A rock back to when they were first unleashed on Kat 105.5 listeners in the Joliet/Kankakee Southlands.
Along with these, you're unmasking the living,breathing, xmas tree pine needle shedding  sounds of:
Vronk!-Big 96
Vronk!-Doubler
Our Earth Is A Tomb-Tempest
Lucky Boys Confusion-Name In Lights
The Mound Builders-Hair Of The Dogma
M & R Rush-Heavy Metal Xmas
Shoes-This Christmas
Soundwalls (Interview In The Kat 105.5 Studio-12/16/10)
Soundwalls-D.A,A.
Soundwalls-Canary Ate The Cat
Soundwalls-Forget
Road's End (Interview from Wire in Berwyn-12/14/16)
Road's End-The Descent
Road's End-S-21
 
 
 

Local Loft Episode 150

The rush is on. Even with music, you don't want to wait in giving a new or classic release from someone's favorite band or artist as a perfect Christmas gift. Listen closely to another edition of the podcast that offers many ideal suggestions for giving the gift of original local Chicagoland and Illinois metal, punk, power pop, prog and alt-rock.
Scarsin is a bit old school thrash and a bit modern day screamo metal. They hope to safely rock a socially distant gathering in Lansing two weeks before Xmas arrives. We offer two octane fueled cuts from their debut full length album, Shadowbeast.
Kreutzer Sonata turn Xmas into a Punky Green St. Patrick's Day with their latest holiday offering.
Redneck Remedy was the heavy spundtrack to many alcohol drenched parties around their native Kankakee. They stopped by The Kat 1055 air studio, nine years ago this week, with two ear exploding, and skeleton rattling new cuts. A rock back to that in studio jam.
Along with these, you're rockin' around a socially distanced Christmas tree with:
Scarsin-Crisis
Scarsin-Uprise
Hypervolume-Orbit
The Kreutzer Sonata-Christmas In Barland
Macabre-Warte Warte
Material Issue-Merry Christmas Will Do
Cliff Johnson/ Mimi Betinis-Christmas Everyday
Redneck Remedy (Kat 105.5 in studio interview-12/11/11)
Redneck Remedy-When It Rains, It Pours
Redneck Remedy-Bid U Farewell
Redneck Remedy-Dead And Still Boozin'
Sixty Three( Interview at Star Bar Chicago Ridge-12/12/15)
Sixty Three-How I Roll
Sixty Three-Outta Here

Local Loft Episode 149

When will it end? Pandemics don't last forever. Music that has a distinctive hook and sound, does (when it leaves a lasting impression and memory in your brain.
Apart from all COVID chaos, tis still the season for gift giving. The gift of music is the reward for helping needy children have a great Christmas. Two Toys For Tots local music shows will go on despite the scary situations. Chicago Grunge trio Dead Original,who was to be a part of the second of two shows, have cancelled. Discover this unique resurrection of the genre that rocked the nineties The band ,led by Paul Wandtke, was once in one of the biggest national melodic hard rock bands, Trivium. Their music is a surprising throwback to the Grunge period of the early nineties, when bands like Nirvana Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden ruled the roost.
Angelina Van Arden was a tough as nails, yet very lovely and vocally talented singer for the obscure Rockford based hard rock band, Devils In Angels. Seven years ago this week, I introduced her to listeners of the Kat 105.5.
Forgotten guitar hero, Pat Catalano was actively involved in giving the gift of live local music, while music fans gave the gift of toys for needy kids. He was involved in organizing Toys For Tots local concerts in Chicago Ridge. A rock back ten years ago this week, when Pat and singer Dean Pressly, visited The Kat 105.5 studio to share their old school new wave of eighties style metal.
Along with these, you're socially distantly head banging underneath the mistletoe with:
Dead Original-Let It Burn
Dead Original-Restrained
Dark Sun-Devil's Back
Eyes Of Anguish-All Consuming Fire (live at Terminus Theatre, Lake Villa)
Shitizen-Hel
Endgame-One Last Time
Darker Than Fiction-House Of Glass
Angelina Van Arden(interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-11/28/13)
Devils in Angels-Hot Summer Days
Devils In Angels-Save Me
Broken-Darkness Falls
Pat Catalano(Interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-12/2/10)
Catalano-Changes
Catalano-Sicilian Kiss
Catalano-Running With The Wind
 

Local Loft Episode 148

Nothing lasts forever, even nightmarish years like 2020. We will all be thankful when this horrific last twelve months gives way to 2021. If there's anything good about it, it's the always exciting and compelling Chicagoland and Ilinois music scene. A scene you can discover and follow with Local Loft.
Braidwood metal act Broadcast The Signal extensively covers at least two big headline making events of 2020 (police violence protest and Jeffery Epstein's killing) in the lyrics of thier debut album, World On Fire Check out two new tracks from it.
Black Wednesday will not consist of big crowds looking for a turkey free good time. Chicago grunge band Death Pop Radio hopes to rock on despite COVID pandemic limitations in Chicago's Northwest burbs.
Veteran rockers Lynch make a surprise Rose-y comeback, as we rock back ten thanksgivings ago when they plugged in and rocked live in the Kat 105.5 studios in Kankakee. And power pop legend Cliff Johnson relives his Off Broadway glory days with his one and only visit to The Kat studio in November 2010. 
Along with these, you're stuffing all ear canals full of original local metal, punk, power pop, prog and alt-rock with:
Broadcast The Signal-World On Fire
Broadcast The Signal-Propaganda
Death Pop Radio-Like A Bomb
Sinister Coalition-Big Blue Ball
Foundre-Peace And Tranquility
Prison City Brigade-Shitty Presents
Lynch-Rose
Lynch(In studio interview/jam in The Kat 105.5 studio-11/25/10)
Lynch-MAD (live in Kat studio)
Lynch-Anymore(Live in Kat studio)
Lynch-Sister Mary(Live in Kat studio)
Cliff Johnson(In studio interview-Kat 105.5 studio-11/10/10)
Cliff Johnson-1-2-3
Cliff Johnson-Kickin' You Out
Off Broadway-Just In Time (alternate version-1996)
Off Broadway-Bully Bully
 

Local Loft Episode 147

Merry Halloween! I've scared up a bloody good soundtrack of Chicagoland area & Illinois metal,punk,prog rock,alt-rock, & power pop, to headbang under the mistletoe...as long as you're by yourself, or six feet away, not six feet under, from another person.
Chicago horror metal trio Macabre rocks up a gory,bloody,heart ripping. good time on any of their albums. They once again get away with murder (through the graphic memories they conjure up) on Carnival Of Killers,their first full length release since GrIm Scary Tales in 2011. I spin two bizarre new offerings from the new disc.
 Chicago melodic metal trio Let Them Fight declares war against state COVID venue restrictions to co headline a socially distant show with former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson in West Chicago.
Sons of Serenity could have easily blended in with the Grunge movement of the mid 90s. The Mokena/Frankfort based five man band was first introduced to Kat 105.5 listeners nine years ago this week, we rock back to that all unplugged debut
Veteran pub/power pop rocker Kevin Lee got his first break in Nashville, but did not become the next big thing in the national country music scene. Back ten years ago this week, when I first introduced him to Kat 105.5 listeners with a brilliant unplugged set.
Along with these,you're rockin' around the leafless cemetary oak tree to:
Macabre-The Wheels On The Bug
Macabre-The Murder Mac
Let Them Fight-Cage Fight
Machina-Cryoshock
Genotype-Cyberfi
Winnie Page-Blasphemy
The Estrangers-The Lafayette Undead
Sons Of Serenity(Interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-11/17/11)
Sons Of Serenity-One More Time (unplugged in Kat 105.5 studio)
Sons Of Serenity-Heaven(unplugged in Kat 105.5 studio)
Sons of Serenity-I Don't Know(unplugged in Kat 105.5 studio)
Kevin Lee (Interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-11/18/10)
Kevin Lee-Trying To Find My Way Back Home(unplugged in Kat 105.5 studio)
Kevin Lee-The Other Side(unplugged in The Kat 105.5 studio)
Kevin Lee & The Kings-Invisible