Local Loft

"When others need your time, you say it's time to go. it's Your time." (U2-Like A Song. From the album- War-1983)
 
It soon will be 2025's time to go.  On this edition of Local Loft, the year will rock out with a grind
Texas Toast Chainsaw Massacre is a four-man Chicago hardcore metal band who has been slightly inspired by a classic 1974 hardcore horror film about a mechanical grinding weapon wielding lunatic. Fronted by Macho Frost (Josh Kandich), they started rocking in 2014 to complete a school project. Their namesake title track is a pissed off, we're not gonna take it anymore threat to the man behind the leather mask. They will slash their way onto the stage at Reggie's Music Joint, Saturday night, December 27th during Holiday Of Horror, the annual post-Christmas live Chicago area music bash thrown by the masters of Horror Metal, Macabre. Josh joins me, along with a story of how a famous film Terminator inspired a diss song about a favorite toy superhero.
I'll spoil the surprise, of which original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop bands and artists made the often-checked list of the best in the scene over the last 12 months. year in Review 2025.
Let the unwrapping and cheat sheeting begin. The final 2025 gift of original Chicagoland music is:
Texas Toast Chainsaw Massacre-Texas Toast Chainsaw Massacre
Texas Toast Chainsaw Massacre-Nobody Likes You, Booster (featuring Eddie Eskevel of Smash Potater
Macabre-Holiday of Horror
Ur Mom (2025 Best Original Chicagoland Alternative Rock Band)-In My Nature
Tyre Fyre(2025 Best Original Chicagoland Punk Band)-Feed Me (From The Totally punk Anti Government Celebration Of The People Party, Punk Rock Tacos, Cemitas Poblanas, Villa Park Local Loft Epiosde 388 7/6/25)
Four Horsemyn (2025 Best Original Chicagoland Metal Band)-Bang Bang (Local Loft Episode 395-8/24/25)
Wolfdozer-(2025 Best Original Chicagoland Metal Album-Volume 001) Down Home (Kankakee Estival Festival Local Loft Episode 399-9/20/25)
The Lunatic's Fringe-(live at A Celebration Best Original Chicagoland Live Show The Forge, Joliet 9/7/25 Local Loft Episode 397) Counterinsurgency
Colleen Wild And The Haunted-Hounded (Live at A Celebration Best Original 2025 Chicagoland Live Show, The Forge In Joliet 9/7/25 Local Loft Episode 397)
Solar-Frantically Calm (Best Original 2025 Chicagoland Rock Album-Frantically Calm and Best Original 2025 Chicagoland Rock Band)

"This here music smash up the nation. This here music cause a sensation" (Revolution Rock, from London Calling-The Clash. released 12-14-79)
 
Yes, original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop will cause a moving and grooving sensation in you once you first hear it. Whether you headbang, slam dance, mosh. break dance, pogo. The music will make you happy and sometimes, sad.
Holidays are joyful, well not for everyone. This festive time of year can also be killer, and not in a rocking good way. The four piece Chicago punk band Brainbleed has just released a new holiday tune which frowns upon being merry. Hung With Care does not mean be happy as you hang your stockings and wait for the jolly old fat man in the red suit to gift you on Xmas Eve. I talk with singer Kera Coleen and bassist November. Who will shed tears before and after the big presents under the tree distribution day. Brainbleed will be one of seven bands playing Macabre's annual Holiday Of Horror. Saturday, December 27th at Reggie's Rock Club and Music Joint in the South Loop.
If you're a gifted axeman, you may get the post-Christmas present of being Sinister Fate's new guitarist. I have all the surprise spoiling details. Plus, Hotlips Messiah is worshipped by the Chicago Reader as best punk band of the year.
No language barriers prevented Road's End from rocking a snow driven packed crowd from being rocked at Wire In Berwyn, nine years ago this week, We rock back to that.
Everyone, smash up your seat, and rock to this original soundtrack of Chicagoland music:
Brainbleed-Hung With Care
Brainbleed-Empty
Texas Toast Chainsaw Massacre-Nobody Likes You Booster (Featuring Eddie Eskevel Of Smash Potater)
Bones-Noose
Macabre-Your Window Is Open
BlockChain Coalition-Silent Night A Re-Imagination
Material Issue-Merry Christmas Will Do
Sinister Fate-Meet Mister Scratch
Lady Strange-Psycho Love
Won't Stay Dead-Lay Beside Her
Hotlips Messiah-Robotron 2084
Road's End (Interview from Wire in Berwyn-12/14/16 Local Loft Episode 45)
Road's End-The Descent
Road's End-S-21

"Two sides to every story. Somebody had to stop me. I'm not the same as when I began." (Public Image. From the album First Issue by Public Image Limited. Released 12/8/78. Virgin Records U.K.)
There are many sides to the story of how an original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop band began their musical journey. They have no intention of calling it quits. And you, the avid music fans have no intention of slowing down your search to find the newest and freshest music talent. Consider Local Loft your all access genre guide to the wide variety of bands and artists.
The Hyss are a Chicago progressive doom metal band with a lethal name.  They will slither onto the stage of Reggie's Music Joint in Chicago's South Loop this Thursday night, December 11th. With rocking tales of sinister tree men and scientists featured on their third album, Hyss 3-The Hyssening. Singer Pat Kennedy, guitarist Dave Fitzgerald and drummer Mike Scales join me to talk about the reptilian origin of their name, and the whole tree men inspiration.
While the anticipation of a new second GraveRegin album, Icon Of The Accursed continues, Veteran guitar shredder David Demon Shankle unleashes another awesome face melting set of axe solos with the power metal band Wings Of Destiny. This one links an apple bearing maiden with a chained-up lover (in its music video)
Ten years before joining his father and becoming part of the heaviest rock band from the Kankakee, Illinois area, Redneck Remedy, John David Daily Jr. introduced himself through the bluesy Southern Rock Band Sixty-Three from the Watseka region of K3. They rocked the roof off Star Bar In Chicago Ridge ten years ago this week.
Get a solid image that constantly relays in your brain (and reverberates through both earlobes) of this stellar lineup of original Chicagoland music.
The Hyss-Science Mountain
The Hyss-Gnome Ken Bone
Psython-Crack (H)orse
Wings Of Destiny (Featuring David Shankle)-Walking in Shadows
GraveReign-No More Yesterdays
Mimi Betinis-A Christmas Song
Cliff Johnson & Mimi Betinis-Christmas Everyday
Sixty-Three (interview from Star Bar, Chicago Ridge-12/12/15 Local Loft Episode 15 )
Sixty-Three-How I Roll
Sixty-Three-Outta Here
 

"The battle is getting harder" (Armgeddion Time-The Clash. B-side to London Calling single. Released 12-7-79)
The battle to find any radio station that showcases original Chicagoland Metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop is a no win battle. unless you're an established proven national act with a shitload of hits, radio will ignore your band's creative music output. But with Local Loft, the focus is always where it should be.
Old school thrash metal is far from dead. Those who crafted and introduced it to masses of fans are now handing their distinctive guitar power chords and thunderous lightning-fast drumming down to a much younger generation. The three members of Ottawa thrash trio Hero's End were not born for another two decades when Metallica, Megadeth, Metal Church and Exodus brought melodic progressive thrash metal to the mainstream. Yet, singer/guitarist Daniel Doloski, bassist Bryce McLaughlin and guitarist Brent McLaughlin play timeless melodic metal with a touch of unclean vocals so synomimus with modern day nu metal. They have just released their debut EP, Facade. I talk with all three of them.
Veteran Chicago rocker Danny Lynch rocks on without his longtime namesake band. He's put together two new mostly solo projects. Vacation Tree Killers follows Society Of Hooligans, and keeps an old school bluesy balls out rocking groove he first unleashed in 1983 going strong and proud.
Steve Eldrige began pounding away behind the drum kit at age 15 with Delightful Downfall in 2008. He's come along way, branching out into a multitalented singer and produced. Sky Machine was a radical chance to industrial metal. They rocked the rafters off Wire In Berwyn nine years ago this week.
 Thrashing though the never-ending way too early snow mounds are the heavy accumulation of original Chicagoland music. Piled up on this soundtrack are:
Hero's End-The Myth Of Hope
Hero's End-Facade
End Of Anarchy-The Ripper
Sushi-Transylvanian Vacation
The Effigies-No Love Lost (2025 remix)
Wolfdozer-Playing With Fire
The Elephant March-Big Adventure
Vacation Tree Killers (featuring Danny Lynch)-The Ballad of Homer Mudd
Lynch-Help Me
Prison City Brigade-Shitty Presents
M & R Rush-Heavy Metal Christmas
Sky Machine (interview from Wire In Berwyn Local Loft Episode 44 12/4/16)
Sky Machine-Liar
Sky Machine-Disgrace
 

"An amateur band rehearses in a nearby yard. Watching the telly and thinking about your holiday....That's Entertainment" (from Sound Affects-The Jam released 11-28-80 Polydor Records U.K.)
 
Many of the original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop bands you'll hear on this four hundredth eighth episode of Local Loft are indeed amateurs, but many are also seasoned professional musicians and singers, They're here to entertain you and have you rocking back for more.
A Year Ago Today has a proven over 12 month track record as local support for HED PE. The four-man newcore metal band from the Illinois/ Wisconsin state line. was also a co headliner for Solar's album release show for thier full length debut album, Frantically Calm back in March. Both bands will light up hte stage at Rockhaus in West Dundee on Black Friday with Indign and Strident Escape. I talk with A Year Ago Today guitarists Adrian Schupp and Jake Smith about the the lyrical inspiration behind their second  single, Mob Action. and the perfection of singer Bryan Selch.
Danny Lynch is one of rock's greatest storytellers. The story of his music journey was left unfinished and put on an extended hiatus. The band who featured his last name made a big comeback in 2010 with their new solid hard rock EP Window Of Your Soul. Since calling it quits with Lynch in 2019, Danny has formed Society Of Hoodlums, with ex Lynch drummer Frank Pace. I have their new highly visual and psychedelic second single. And I'm forever thankful that I captured though the magic of terrestrial radio airwaves, Lynch in The Kat 105.5 studio with a special totally electric set on Thanksgiving night 2010, It was the perfect ear watering music soundtrack to a, mouth watering turkey dinner. No turkeys on music menu on this night.
Feel it melt in your ear lobes as your face melts from the intense precision playing of original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop. Fully cooking and ready to rock off the poundage of a seven-course meal are:
A Year Ago Today-Waves
A Year Ago Today-Mob Action
Indign-The Final Hunt
Strident Escape-The Mute King (Song #5)
Extraction Point-Hold Fire
Avernus-Return To Dust
Macabre-The Black Night
Veilside-Crawl Back To You (with Danny Lynch on harmonica)
Society Of Hoodlums-Mirage
Lynch (electric set in The Kat 105.5 studio-11/25/10)
Lynch-M.A.D.
Lynch-Anymore
Lynch-Sister Mary

" I never thought it would come to this...another case of Hit or Miss." (The Damned-Black Album, released 11-17-80, Chiswick Records)
You aren't missing a thing, when it comes to extensive coverage of the original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop scene.
 
With a distinctive powerful voice, Stephanie Jennings is impossible to miss. Both intimate and authoritative, Stephanie powers Solar's futuristic, down to earth melodic blend of power rock and metal. The Rockford band's fourth album, Frantically Calm is their most ambitious, solid record. They blast off to West Dundee to rock Black Friday, November 28th, with Indign, A Year Ago Today, and Strident Escape. Stephanie joins me once again, with the story of how the track Convoy, was created in the raunchy, beers raised high rough style of the swamp rock four piece, fronted by Brian Corbin. It's not a tune about them.
 
David Demon Shankle has come along way, since contributing his masterful, virtuoso guitar shredding to American progressive metal act Manowar. He uses his six-string axe as a battle weapon, sculpting new futuristic images of Tolkien-esque warriors, in a new tune by Wings Of Destiny
The Southwest Chicago swamp metal band, Convoy first trucked into the Kat 105.5 studio, fifteen years ago this week. Even in a stripped down, acoustic jam, their hard hitting, beer-soaked hard rock lost none of its or swamp drenched nature. Singer. Guitarist Brian Corbin, and drummer Mike (Makalu Gee) Getz joined me to drop off a load of killer, boozy and bluesy swamp rock. 
You'll be rocked from your head to your Solar Plexus, as you headbang through the cyberspace cosmos to the original Chicagoland music soundtrack of:
Solar-Convoy
Solar-Shifter
A Year Ago Today-Mob Action
Wings Of Destiny (featuring David Shankle)-Masters Of War
GraveReign-Destination Aftermath
When We Was Kids-Ozymandias
The Flying Luttenbachers-ID:Vomit
Convoy (interview with Brian Corbin and Mike Getz in The Kat 105.5 studio-11/10/10)
Brian Corbin And Mike Getz-River Of Solo (acoustic in the Kat 105.5 studio)
Convoy-This I Know
Brian Corbin and Mike Getz-Flood Of the River (acoustic in The Kat 105.5 studio)
 

"Age, she's so afraid. Age, she's not the rage." (Age-X Ray Spex, from the album, Germfree Adolescents. Released 11-10-78, Virgin Records)
 
There are both established veterans and young up and comers in the original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop scene. How old or young they are doesn't matter. The music creativity they display is not based on seniority.
Leah Colette has been around in the scene over 10 years. I first saw her as bassist of the eclectic Joliet funk rock trio Catapult The Propaganda at a Saturday night Chicago Metal Alliance Summer 2013 local metal showcase in Downers Grove. Leah had a growling low vocal delivery that was as distinctive as her extraordinary bass jams. She's moved on from CTP to the more hardcore intense metal band All Outta Gum. Here she's front and center with her raspy high energy lead vocal. Th five-piece band rocks live at J.J. Kelly's in Lansing this Saturday night, November 15th. Leah joins to talk about the transition from Catapult to All Outta Gum.
On the same bill, veteran grunting hardcore singer Cody Zupan, In addition to grunting his way as singer of Extraction Point, and Kankakee based metal act, Ephinepic, Cody has fronted Dead And Buried over 10 years. A new not so human ripping single from them will be spun.
Chicago rock Survivor Jim Peterik turns 75 this Tuesday. Still in is 60s, 15 years ago, he put his first signature band, Ides Of March back together to rock back to those good old days from teenage yesteryear. A reunion that was witnessed by Kat 105.5 listeners in  the Joliet and Kankakee region.
Opening for a few very familiar U.K. Punk band of the 70s and 80s, The Vibrators, Voice Of Addiction has built an army of young and old Chicago fans with a fast and furious modern hardcore punk sound. They rocked Brauerhouse in Lombard for the last time, six years ago this week.
Expand your timeline of Chicagoland original metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop, with the good ol' and fresh new soundtrack of:
All Outta Gum-Sincerely Yours
All Outta Gum-Deceit
Catapult The Propaganda-Marked
Dead And Buried-Inhumane
Death From Within-Press The Red Button
Flatfoot 56-Winter In Chicago
Ides Of March-Still 19
Tyre Fyre-Slow Burn
Veilside-Wash, Rinse, Repeat
Voice Of Addiciton interview from Brauerhouse in Lombard-10/16/19 Local Loft Episode 115)
Voice Of Addiction-Eraser
Voice Of Addiciton-Rustbelt

NO A.I., but plenty of M.I. (Music intelligence)
A lot of intelligent lyrics will test your I.Q., and won't spy on you, or copy your voice, on this four hundredth fifth edition of the most extensive journey around the Chicagoland area's original metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop scene.
One close scrutiny of the lyrics to any Scarsin song, but especially Defrosting My Victim, and you'll be wanting to enroll in pre-med courses to become a heart specialist. A trip to the ER was not the inspiration for lyrics which name check capillaries and mention a cardiac arrest. The four-man thrash metal band from the Chicago/Gary, Indiana border line will have hearts moshing and bodies slam dancing when they rock J.J. Kelley's in Lansing, Saturday, November 15th. I talk with new bassist Aaron Felipe Skatch Alvarez.
All Outta Gum formed directly after the Joliet hard rock and funk trio, Catapult the Propaganda. Ex CTP bat r 15th 
Not just a punk band, a delicious beef confection. Evil Engine returns to take a big bite out of an hyperactive Chicagoland original punk scene. They play The Hub in Harvard, Saturday, November 15th. Ten years ago this week, they revved up a manic moshing crowd for the first time at the former Brauerhouse in Lombard. we rock back to when I introduced the 4 piece Punk act fronted by sarcastic Ed Debevic's waitress by day and prominent female singer anytime of day or night, Kryssie Ridolphi.
Sink your ears into this original Chicagoland music soundtrack. It will make your dental work pogo:
Scarsin-Defrosting My Victim
Scarsin-Failure of Being
All Outta Gum-Sincerely Yours
Vow Of Resonance-Excerpts from their first show at The Dunken Donut, Joliet-9/4/25
Catapult The Propaganda-Hollowed
The Time Beings-Nowhere To Dream
Indign-Autumn Storm
Dimitri The Unfavorable-The Hamburglar
Four Horsemyn-Bang Bang
Evil Engine (interview from Brauerhouse in Lombard-11/11/15 Local Loft Episode 13)
Evil Engine-Father (demo)
Deadman'swake-Far Be It From Me

"Curtain Call and lights go dim. Tragedy, love, all lie within. Each player takes his chance to play, and lives to fight another day." (The Damned-1980)
It's a final album curtain call for Goth rockers, Bullet To The Heart, but not an official final bow of the band. Saturday Night at Rookie's Rockhaus in West Dundee, they'll play, Echoes: The Final Chapter, live. After all is done, some members, including drummer Draven DC, will rock on in Seconds To Serenity. Both bands focus on death prominently in their respective new albums. On Seconds To Serenity's new effort, Nexus, released on Halloween, this Friday, singer Jake LaGuidace has recollections of how death will be for him, after living through the experience of a family member. I talk with Jake about The Void, and their upcoming show on Saturday, November 1st.
Mimi Betinis first got his chance to play Rock N Roll, with Cliff Johnson, in the early beginnings of Off Broadway. I have a never before heard track, featuring surviving drummer Ken Harck, and a throwback to a re formed 90s lineup of Off Broadway, who didn't totally Stay In Time, but later would reunite the classic band  lineup of their debut album, ON.
The Untold was telling new Stories Of Love And Death, in their one and only chance to rock a packed crowd at Wire In Berwyn, seven years ago this week.
In your 2025 Halloween Ear Candy Bag, these assorted treats of original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop. Open both ear canals good and wide:
Seconds To Serenity-The Void
Seconds To Serenity-Without You
Bullet To The Heart-Giving Up (Is Giving In)
The GMO'S-Rat Race
Tyre Fyre-Feed Me (Punk Rock Tacos Totally Punk Anti Government Celebration of The People-7/5/25 Cemitas Poblanas, Villa Park-Local Loft Episode 388)
Flying Heads-Ulther
Claw Toe-The Vampire
Mimi Betinis-Obvious (featuring Off Broadway drummer, Ken Harck)
Black And Blonde-Stay In Time (featuring Cliff Johnson and Mimi Betinis
When Night Falls-Darkest Days
The Untold-Cascadia
The Untold (interview form Wire in Berwyn, 10/20/18 Local Loft Episode 89)
The Untold-The Lowly Beggar Man
The Untold-Castaway 

"Because all this technology just brings me down!"
"I won't be a part of the machine. I won't work in tomorrow's dream." (The Wall-New Way 1980)
Technology let me down, a lot of lagging and crashing in the postproduction of this four hundredth and third episode. But, here it is, high tech warts N all. 
Sporting a true futuristic name, Northwest Indiana Doom Metal band Shadow Of Jupiter credits a forgotten British guitar legend as a major influence. One who wore his Hendrix influence on his sleeve. They have a progressive, melodic metal sound all their own. I talk with Shadow Of Jupiter guitarist, Colin Peterson, as they orbit Reggie's Music Joint, Saturday, opening for obscure Norwegian metal act, Kal El.
The sad news of original Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley's death last Thursday left a void for a veteran rocker whose free form playing style influenced a generation of rockers, including Brian Durbin. The former founding member and singer for Loveblast, was in the running to open for the makeup clad 4-man bunch in August 2010. A new single from the debut album, Roll Around With contains a high voltage reference to one of Space Ace's near deadly electric stage mishaps.
Cody Zupan grunted the way to a powerhouse metal band who spooked out The Forge in Joliet. Extraction Point, Cody supplies the distinctive thunderous lead vocal for five totally different bands. the second most prominent, Extraction Point, introduced themselves to a packed mosh heavy crowd at The Forge in Joliet for the annual Prison City Halloween Massacre. We rock back six years ago to the first lineup, with guitarist Rick Lancaster, and sonically explosive drummer Rob Odonrot.
Strap it in and prepare for another launching of original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative rock and power pop. Your in-flight music roster is all present and rocking for:
Shadow Of Jupiter-Raven
Shadow Of Jupiter-Fate Of Nations
HEX-Age Of Mystics
Burned In Effigy-The Racking
No Horse-Smoke Break
Suckerpunch-King Me
Brian Durbin And The Bangers-Wild Blood
Extraction Point (Interview at The Forge in Joliet, 10/19/19 Local Loft Episode 114)
Extraction Point-Skankgoat
Extraction Point-Best Served Cold (Featuring Holly Smith of Pop Killers and Hot Dang)