Local Loft

" You're on your own. It's best that way. Look out for number one. Don't take no shit from no one, just keep on having fun!"
Ignore Them (Always Crashing The Same Bar)-Eddie And The Hot Rods. B Side Of their third single, I Might Be Lying. Released 3-31-77. Island Records U.K.
You can't ignore the wide variety of genres and diversity of original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop. There's something for every music taste.
With a raunchy, Southern Hard Rock and Metal mixture, Tractor Boy combines aggressive heavy guitar power chords with a politically pissed off attitude. The four-man heartland punk band has just released Midwest Loud, their second studio album. Revealing the entire track album to a packed Saturday night crowd at Stadium Club At The Max in Southwest Suburban McCook, 25 minutes South of Downtown Chicago. I talk with singer and drummer Steve Bradshaw on how political U.S. Government and Corporate America conspiracies work into scary tales of military medical procedures and band members being attacked by a cult group in a downstate concert appearance.
It's a post-Christmas hibernation gone bad for Chicago Power Pop trio Who's This Mary?, which they'll share to close out the annual International Pop Overthrow. Plus, a surprise two-decade celebration reunion for Joliet Hardcore Metal act Wicked Deception in their hometown this weekend.
Plowing through the bountiful beanfields of cyberspace. This homegrown original Chicagoland music soundtrack revvs up:
Tractor Boy-Bro-Ken-G-Wotter
Tractor Boy-Now It Can Be Told
MYLPH-Hell
The Simsons-Breakfast At Witchmores
Ricky Liontones-224U
Einstein's Sister-Too Late For The Truth
Who's This Mary?-Vibro
Manpon-Counterfeit
Wicked Deception-Spitting Venom (Live at The Drunken Donut, Joliet-7/26/25)
Wicked Deception (live in The Kat 105.5 studio-4/19/12)
Wicked Deception-Scorched Earth
Wicked Deception-Retribution
Wicked Deception-Betrayal

"Yes, no you can't, but you can if you know why"
But only a friend can know the you that is you"
"It's your life, so go your own way."  (Questions And Answers-Sham 69 Released as their seventh single-3/16/79 on Polydor Records U.K.)
It's your music, so you as an original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock band or artist know which way, which direction you must take that music in to reach a maximum amount of listeners and fans. No one else can question if you're going the right way to reach and touch so many other people's lives.
Ten years ago, The Evictions set out on the right direction towards winning over an ever growing fan base. With a fast, heavily distorted fuzz guitar laced sound, the Chicago garage rock trio was discovered opening for Cheetah Chrome, guitarist for the legendary Cleveland punk band ,The Dead Boys. They also have co-headlined with Handsome Dick Manitoba, singer of The Dictators, who released their debut album The Dictators Go Girl Crazy in 1975. The Evictors played loud enough to crack the foundations of Cemitas Poblanas Mexican Restaurant in Villa Park, but not enough to get them thrown out for good, during the 75th Punk Rock Tacos, the first show of 2026. I talk with singer/guitarist Johnny Wator after a seismic set at PRT 75. Another chance to open for Manitoba at Liar's Club comes this Friday night, March 27th.
The attention span at Cemitas will not shift from the hard rock assault of Analog Digital Disorder come Friday, April 17th, while grange punk band Claw Toe goes battles the ever-changing Chicago Spring Weather for a Thursday night new single release show at Empty Bottle.
Veteran guitar shredder extraordinaire David Shankle teams up with power rock singer Tony Engel on the long awaited (five years in the making) second full length album from GraveReign, dropping as flowers Spring up. I've got the blooming scoop.
Pogo dancing till they dropped, a packed crowd was hanging around (not from the ceiling) for every last note of Cliffhanger. The four piece Chicago Punk Pop band kept their footing on the not so steep stage of Wire In Berwyn, seven years ago this week.
Crank up this original Chicagoland music soundtrack, and raise your spirits, not your rent, with the annoyed, pissed off landlord:
The Evictions-We Will
The Evictions-Easy On The Outside
AWEFUL-Time
Wolfram-Sin City
A.D.D.-Blame
GraveReign-Sanctuary
Claw Toe-Chicago Punk Rock Warrior
We The Cats-Kennedy
Tractor Boy-Carnage In Rantoul
Cliffhanger (interview from Wire In Berwyn-3/23/19 Local Loft Episode 98)
Cliffhanger-Barbed Wire Bat
Cliffhanger-Lost Cards 

"Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy. Though you never enjoy, such a pleasure to employ. On The Beat, on the upbeat." (The Beat-Elvis Costello, from his second studio album, This Year's Model, released on Radar Records in the U.K., Columbia Records, U.S. on 3/17/78).
 
It's not all upbeat original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative and power pop. But all of it has a beat, and you can groove to it.
There's a lightning-fast beat and rhythm in Hardcore Punk. And when you're pogo dancing or moshing to that rapid rhythm, you don't get the message which spreads like wildfire right away. I'm sure I hear a message of optimism in Sunshine On My Face from veteran Chicago Hardcore Punk Trio I Hate People. It's only one positive message in this very upbeat three man band's full length debut album, Pound It Out. They will put you in a optimistic good time mood, as they co headline with Real Bad Real Fast at the 75th edition of Punk Rock Tacos, Friday Night at Cemitas Poblanas in Villa Park. I talk with drummer No Rhythm Jim, guitarist Larry and Bassist Ken.
Ephenepic from just north of Kankakee always rocks withe hurricane force grooves. The four members, including brothers Travis (Drums) and Cody (vocals) Zupan survived hurricane force winds as an EF-3 tornado hit South of their homes. They have just released a morbid metal themed full-length album, You Will Die. They first played  a lot of it's tunes at Kankakee Estival Festival last September in Bird Park. I've a cranial melting track off it. And, the Chicago doom punk band Claw Toe, goes into battle with familiar city music venues in a new Trouble-some scenic music video (which features new bassist Traci Trouble, of veteran space punk band Hotlips Messiah)
Served up rocking hot with a side of punchy, celling quaking rhythms, Punch Cabbie rocked a full of Guiness and corned beef crowd at a St. Patrick's Day Massacre night gig at Brauerhouse In Lombard ten years ago this week.
Play your air clover as you jig to this banger soundtrack of original Chicagoland music:
I Hate People-Sunshine On My Face
I Hate People-Untreatable
The Evictions-Teenage On The TV
Ephenepic-Brain Spew
Claw Toe-Chicago Punk Rock Warrior
The Spindles-Prisoner Of War
Alpine Subs-Give It Love, Give It Time
Flatfoot 56-Way Of The Sun
Cutlass-Out In The Cold
The Waterfall King-Filth
The Fiction We Create-The Void's Calling
Punch Cabbie (interview from Brauerhouse in Lombard-3/17/16 Local Loft Episode 20)
Punch Cabbie-Introspection
Punch Cabbie-Vitriol
 

"But when you ask in a strange town, they say I don't know, I don't care and I've got to go, mate." (Strange Town -The Jam. Released as a single-3/9/1979 0n Polydor Records. U.K.)
All the towns, cities and even the state of Illinois where these original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop bands and artists hail from might seem strange to you at first, but you'll easily recognize the locations as you become more familiar with the acts through catchy lyrics and music.
Helping many immigrants to become familiar with the surroundings of the Oak Park area, west of downtown Chicago, hardcore punk trio Real Bad Real Fast has teamed up with eclectic Jazz Rock Fusion trio Sons Of Ra, and hybrid rock/hip hop/ jazz band Afrofuturistics for a special fundraiser show for the Illinois Coalition For Immigrant And Refugee Rights. All three bands rocked the foundations of Val's Halla, the legendary record emporium in Oak Park during a Saturday Night show. I catch up with Matt Stanton, Ben Brundige and Ed Dudzinky after Real Bad Real Fast cruised through a scorching 30 plus minute set. It's the first time in six years I caught their fast and furious set, with gruesome tales of a 50 years ago horrifying story of a killer car. Six years ago this week, they took their time to rock a big pre-COVID 19 shutdown crowd at The Outtaspace in Berwyn, which we rock back to end this four hundred and twentieth excursion into the original Chicago and surrounding area's music scene.
The Midnight Calls rock back the calendar clock almost a golden year's span with a new psychedelic metal single. It's a spiritually uplifting turbo charged power rock gem, showcasing the high pitched, ultra raspy vocal style of journeyman hard rocker Taran DePablos. The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club will make another pilgrimage to the première Chicago Power Pop Festival, International Pop Overthrow, at Montrose Saloon, April 17-25th. The veteran power pop quartet leaves no confession unturned in their new single. 
Migrate to your device of choice and get an earful of the podcast that never gives the original Chicagoland music scene an ICE-Y reception:
Real Bad Real Fast-Strike 3
Real Bad Real Fast-Maverick
Sons Of Ra-Replacement Souls (Live)
The Midnight Calls-Objectophilia
The Handcuffs-Pretty Pretty
The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club-Heavy Conclusions
Satellite Union-Mix Tape
Shitizen-Make It Smell
GraveReign-With Apologies/Romanza
Real Bad Real Fast (interview from The Outtaspace in Berwyn-3/14/2020 Local Loft Episode 121)
Real Bad Real Fast-Comin' In Hot
Real Bad Real Fast-Ronan Farrow
 
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"His mission is simple, to add to the score. Look through his reflection. AH, what could be more"
"Calling calling crazy tunes. Look all around you, your life is in ruins".  (Calling The Tune-Skids. From their debut album Scared To Dance.. Released 2-23-79. Virgin Records U.K.)
Listen, the tunes are calling to you!
The original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop tunes will lift you up. Get you out of a ruined life and rejuvenate.  A life that rocks can never be ruined.
With music tales of a ruined relationship, and a loving father lost to his children by fighting in a destructive war. Beneath The Hollow invited fans new and old to mosh away any grief or depression in a Saturday night Chicago area live local metal showcase show at The Forge in Joliet. Joining forces on stage with Next To Eternity, Reckless Redemption, Beheading the Icon, and Subcyst. The personal troubles pogoed away. Fourteen years ago, Beneath The Hollow unleashed their awesome metalcore groove on Kat 105.5 listeners. Drummer Matt DeGroot supplied the pyle driving drum sound. I talk with him and new singer Justin Osbourne backstage.
We Stay In Time, not completely, with a belated birthday salute to Power Pop legend Cliff Johnson, including a recently posthumous release of how taking Quick Turns through cyberspace isn't always a smooth ride.
Almost permanently punching their way out of the scene eight years ago this week, Fist To The Sky, with singer/frontman Mickey Murder, was not dead yet. The Chicago power rock 4 piece made a surprise comeback last Summer at Q Bar in Darien. They had no more rock fight in them after a punchy finale at Wire In Berwyn. We rock back to it.
A non-Olympic gold metal and silver skate blade, winning combination of original Chicagoland music comes with this gala soundtrack:
Beneath The Hollow-Butter
Beneath The Hollow-Godless Endeavors
Reckless Redemption-S.O.L.
All Outta Gum-Deceit
Catapult The Propaganda-F-Bomb
Cliff Johnson-Cyberspace Stalker
Off Broadway-U.S. Girls
Foxdie-Rapid Eye Movements
Escape The Paradigm-Tired Eyes
Fist To The Sky (live from Wire In Berwyn 2-24-18 Local Loft Episode Local Loft Episode 75)
Fist To The Sky-Count Your Blessings
Fist To The Sky-Another Lesson Learned

"I wonder what we'll do when things go wrong. When we're halfway through our favourite song. We look up and the audience is gone."
"Will we feel a little bit obscure?" (One Chord Wonders-The Adverts, from the debut album, Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts. Released 2-17-78. Stiff Records-U.K.)
You, as part of an original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock, or Power Pop must never accentuate the negative. how about what will we do when things go right! There will be bad nights on stage or in the studio. Rock on, when they happen and know that there is an audience who will be coming back for more, of their favorite songs from you as a solo artist or band. This podcast focuses on only the music product that goes right.
Chicago Deathcore Metal band Subcyst, will lay down the right pile driving, grinding groove to make a moshing audience, Saturday night stick around at The Forge In Joliet, and never be gone. The lyrical images may be depressing, but the coarse grunt vocal of singer Javier Guana has the fiery power to keep the crowd mesmerized. This band is very mainstream and impossible to fade into obscurity.  Javier and guitarist Rich Boersma join me. They're one of five Chicago area metal bands playing a local metal showcase gig, also featuring Next To Eternity, Reckless Redemption, Beheading The Icon, and Beneath The Hollow.
Tractor Boy whips up a punk hoedown at the record release show for their second full length album, Midwest Loud, the second weekend of Spring in Southwest Suburban McCook. Leftover Ice And Snow from a barbaric winter will be eradicated. Three prominent bands want to get rid of the painful memories of another familiar ICE at an Immigrant Support Benefit show, the first weekend of March at the legendary Oak Park record store, Val's Halla, including hardcore punk trio, Real Bad Real Fast . I have the scoop on both shows.
Rocking out of the ashes of the obscure progressive Joliet metal band Axis Of Time, the future was much brighter and heavier for Orinoco. Their second trip to The Kat 105.5 studio included new fierce screaming singer Anthony Guardiola, 14 years ago this week.
Whether just one, or a zillion distinctive chords reel in your audience, this original Chicagoland music soundtrack will strike an hour an fifteen-minute catchy chord:
Subcyst-A Malignant Gift
Subcyst-Death Wage
Reckless Redemption-State Of Decay
Real Bad Real Fast-Mouthpiece (Live at Livewire Lounge-1/16/26)
Convoy-Almost Lost My Mind
Bad Break-Retired Double Agent
MYLPH-Bio Jesus
Black Cat Heart Attack-A.D.D.
James The Boneless-Frozen Brain
Orinoco (2/18/12 Live in The Kat 105.5 studio)
Orinoco-The Antagonist
Orinoco-Seize The Night
Axis Of Time-The Walking Dead

"This is the new song out with the old. This is the new way, New truth be told." (Cockney Rejects-New Song. B-side of the Bad Man 45 single. Released 2-12-80. EMI Records UK)
There's plenty of new original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop songs at your access from up and coming and aging veteran artists and bands. While we totally don't abandon the old, new and fresh take precedent.
Voted best original Chicagoland Metal Album of 2025, last December on Local Loft's Year In Review (Episode 412) Wolfdozer is not your typical hardcore, unclean metal act. With a distinctive harmonica played incomparably by Lucas Theroux, the Kankakee region 4 man band has a down-home country meets hard rock feel. They will rock the foundation of Top Fuel Saloon in Braidwood, Saturday, March 7th, with Convoy and Beyond The Wrath, featuring Ronny Monroe, former guitarist of cult 80s metal band Metal Church. Wofdozer bassist Justin Schroeder joins me to preview the thunderous triple bill.
You don't need many musicians and solo artists to make a noisy lasting impression. Only as a duo has The Human Trials generated a sludgy, tight bloody rock symphony at that, They will make a noisy, static ridden music statement over the terrestrial; radio airwaves of  WZRD 88.3 FM on the campus of Northeastern University on the North Side of Chicago, thus Thursday night, February 12th. I have a front row seat preview.
Firing up a hard rocking good time for the last time before a permanent financial pandemic shutdown, Burned In Effigy tears it up one last time at Wire In Berwyn six years ago this week, we rock back to it.
It's their time to howl and rock supreme. More original Chicagoland music consisting of:
Wolfdozer-Sutures
Wolfdozer-Rattle My Bones
The Human Trails-Derelict (Live At The Bunker September 4th 2025)
Heet Deth-Destroyer
The Lunatic's Fringe-They're Here
Clear Coat-Acid Rain
Thorns Like Us-Never Again
Kevin M. Buck Band- D-Pop
Burned In Effigy (live from Wire in Berwyn 2-15-20 Local Loft Episode 119)
Burned In Effigy-Jupiter
Burned In Effigy-Hades

"He talked of hits and tours and lots of cash. And all the time it wasn't on. We were betrayed by Rough Trade Lies." (Rough Trade-Stiff Little Fingers. From thier debut album, Inflammable Material. Released 2-2-79 on Rough Trade records. U.K.)
 
The music business is indeed rough at times. We'll keep the rough nature confined to the groove an of the original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop music.  It's not all rough
Mixed in with the hard hitting, intense quality of Joliet Metalcore band Next To Eternity's music is an operatic second set of clean harmony vocals. A Classical Music chord structure is distinctive, along with cinematic, graphic nature of lyrics, and especially music videos. The world of slasher horror films and video games works its way into the images of Book Of The Dead, their third album, dropping on Friday, February 20th . The day after, they will premiere the complete album live, at a local Metal Showcase show, Saturday, the 21st at the Forge in Joliet. I talk with longtime singer/co-founder Sam Rodriguez and guitarist Mike Spillman.
Making his awesome virtuosos guitar shredding presence known in many bands, The Demon, David Shankle, flies away from ethnic power metal band Wings Of Destiny to help cult Chicago Doom Metal act. The Skull, remake a deadly fine feathered signature tune.
Crossing over language barriers and rocking all nationalities equally, the Czech/American rock act 4 Without had a packed house at the legendary Metro grooving on a wintry Saturday night, 10 years ago this week. Led by effervescent petite singer Jana Vox, I got the only full band interview with them, debuting their only English album, Line Of Love.
A persistent plume of original Chicagoland music will hug the cyberwaves and will make you wiggle and pogo back and forth to the sounds of:
Next To Eternity-The Entity
Next To Eternity-Traumatophobia
Beheading The Icon-Criminal Eradication Order
The Skull (featuring David Shankle & Anton Darusso of Wings Of Destiny)-Who Killed The Rooster? (2026 remake)
Wings of Destiny (featuring David Shankle)-Masters Of War
The Rip Ups-Ground Floor
Vortis-Going My Way
Hangry Ghost-No Good
Horace Pinker-Three Against Me
Megan Hosick-That And You
Voodoo Monkey Child (Featurign Jana Vox)-Deep Water Flash
4Without (Live at Metro 2-6-16 Local Loft Episode 18)
4Without-Kill Him First
4Without-Tonight

"I wish they could all have their say, and world would change from day to day. No more worries nothing but laughs. Cause the kids on the street are the kids that you meet." (Kids On The Street-Angelic Upstarts Single released 1-26-81. Zonophone/EMI Records U.K.)
 
Whether they start young, in their teens or early 20's, or get a late start in their 40s, 50s or 60s. You'll meet the artists and bands whose original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop music is heard from street to street, city to city all around the world. The bands will have their say, lyrically and musically.
Beginning an eclectic form of symphonic metal in their 20s, 34 years ago, Chicago Doom Metal band Avernus combine modern hardcore screamo, with progressive 70s hard rock. they once co headlined shows with Trouble at the legendary Thirsty Whale in 1996. Their second full length album, Grievances showcases the modern day grunting unclean vocal style of singer Rick McCoy with a sophisticated progressive and lengthy instrumental guitar and bass blend. I talk with guitarist and co-founder Erik Kikke.
Kankakee alternative rockers Carrying Torches give drummer Jon Paul Gray a chance to keep time through his vocal range. A debut as lead singer in a new single about departure. Certainly, a unique one for the four-piece Heartland Garage Rock band.
Tractor Boy plows their way into one of the only remaining underground Chicago rock radio stations for a live concert broadcast.
Before COVID stole the live music spotlight away from Wire In Berwyn, who couldn't stay open after being financially stricken during the pandemic, Skylight Cinema show brightly with a unique mix of old school progressive rock and modern pop punk. We rock back to their only appearance, and the last live show I would experience at the hip music venue south of the incomparable Fitzgeralds, six years ago this week.
Melt Mother Nature's dementia fueled ice and snow grip by getting a rocking hold of this hot mix of original Chicagoland music:
Avernus-Nemesis
Avernus-Return To Dust
Subcyst-A Broken Will Makes The Best Slaves
Carrying Torches-Gone
BlockChain Coalition-Get A Little Closer
John David Daily-Somewhere On The Other Side
Redneck Remedy-Face Of Madness (4-15-25 Local Loft Episode 376)
Tractor Boy-Carnage In Rantoul
Paperboy Riot-Joke
Skylight Cinema 9 from Wire In Berwyn 1-26-20 Local Loft Episode 118
Skylight Cinema-Don't Phase Me
Skylight Cinema-Turn Me Golden
 

"No chance of a rebirth, for the last rockers honors" (Last Rockers-Vice Squad first single. Released 1/20/81 Riot City Records U.K.)
Whether resurrected or just beginning, there's always a great chance of established and young original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock, and Power Pop bands and artists being discovered worldwide with every listen to every episode of Local Loft. 
The discovery is sometimes through a special benefit show. The Ed and Jan Kost Cancer Benefit Punk show at Tivoli Bowl in Downers Grove brought a great mix of veterans and beginners. Death in Memphis has been rocking fast and furious since 2014. Their name comes from veteran 80s punk rockers turned college radio staple band The Replacements. I won't give away the secret as to how a lyric in their biggest tribute tune was the basis of Death And Memphis' name. I talk with singer/guitarist Paul Garcia, guitarist Steve Custer, who moonlights for the last time as Steev Zero in Space Age Zeros, also headlining tonight, and drummer Elijah Garcia backstage at Tivoli.
A solid successful live show can lead to a disastrous after party. Tractor Boy found this out after a gig south of the huge college city, Champaign, on their new single.
A change of a rebirth of the illustrious metal band Central Disorder hasn't yet come, after nine years ago this week, when the Southwest Suburban four-man band, lead by Rob Peto, released their biggest album, Eradication, their full-length debut with a killer release show at Sullivan's Pub in Midlothian. We rock back to it.
From first chord to last rocking shred solo, the note-by-note soundtrack of original Chicagoland music consists of:
Death & Memphis-Your Own Worth
Death & Memphis-Solidarity
Space Age Zeros-Cheryl Scott (live at Tivoli Bowl, Downers Grove-1/10/26 The Ed & Jan Kost Cancer Benefit)
Tractor Boy-Carnage In Rantoul
Disrobe-TV Weakly
M & R Rush-Ya Don't Wanna Mess With A Hungry Bear
Sonic Motel-Crazy
Dissona-The Prodigal Son
Next To Eternity-Among The Waves
Central Disorder (Eradication CD release show, Sullivans Pub in Midlothian 1/20/19 Local Loft Episode 94)
Central Disorder-Consumed
Central Disorder-No Salvation