Local Loft

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)
 

"Bereft on deathly bloom. Alone in a darkened room. UNDEAD,UNDEAD." (Beal Lugosi's Dead-Bauhaus-1979)
There are acts in the original Chicagoland Metal, Punk. Alternative Rock and Power Pop scene who had a short life, and those whose longevity continues in short bursts.
The Bad Examples never went away, they just have gone into short hibernations and reappear when you least expect it. They made a signature anthem, Not Dead Yet, whose title still sticks (and was covered by a revitalized Styx in 1990). The veteran rock band lead by Ralph Covert continues to rock on thirty-eight years after they first formed. After the deaths of two co-founding members, John Duich in 1998, and Tom "Pickles" Piekarski in 2013. After their (initially) cassette only debut album, Meat in1987, they released two other albums, Bad is Beautiful in 1991 and the live album, Cheap Beer Night in 1992, then Smash Record in 2011. They return to rock a familiar stage, the legendary Fitzgeralds in Berwyn. I talk with Ralph, original guitarist Tom O'Brien, and keyboardist Brian James and new drummer.
There are good and bad examples of Goth Rock. Bullet To The Heart is An Excellent example. The dark, cinematic four piece, led by the flamboyant Audrey Queen is set to venture on a new tour, opening the day after Halloween at Rockhaus in West Dundee, Saturday November 1st. We spin a new track from their just released concept album, Echoes: The Final Chapter, about corruption in the music industry.
13-Monsters scares up a last-minute Punk Rock Taco Tuesday show in Villa Park, and a beer-soaked witching hour is about to strike, Saturday night at Miskatonic Brewing in Darien, courtesy of incomparable doom metal band, Black Road.
Lookin' for Trouble (Traci Trouble, that is), you found her at Wire in Berwyn puckering up a horror punk attitude with Hotlips Messiah, six years ago this week. We rock back to it.
More great examples of a never say die original Chicagoland music scene come alive:
The Bad Examples-Church Of Rock N Roll Guitar
The Bad Examples-Kill Amanda
Ralph Covert And The Bad Examples-Not Dead Yet (Live From Fitzgeralds in Berwyn-11/4/17)
The Hyss-Science Mountain
Black Road-Temple (live at Soundgrowler Brewing in Tinley Park 4/26/25 Local Loft Episode 378)
Seconds To Serenity-The Void
Bullet To The Heart-The End
Knoxious-Stuck In The System
13-Monsters-Maybe Tomorrow (live at Goat Stock,Got Village, Norridge-5/10/25)
Hotlips Messiah Interview at Wire In Berwyn-10/13/19 Local Loft Episode 113)
Hotlips Messiah-Theme From S.C.U.M.
Hotlpis Messiah-Scream Happy Screams 

"When we started, we thought we were great, but nobody would agree. But we're not giving up, we'll show them!" (Stiff Little Fingers-Wait And See-1980)
It's really difficult, as an original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock or power pop band, to get one listener, let alone a venue or club owner, to take your unfamiliar, non-cover music seriously. Way too many venue owners booking cover band. Make Local Loft your stage, an anyone around the world your audience. The many hours of effort you put in to your tunes will be appreciated, and will make foundations, ceilings and bodies of water tremor and ripple.
The mighty old, muddy Kankakee River will be rippling like a massive tidal wave with Chaos On The Kankakee. This Saturday, October 11th, The Office Bar & Grill features nine intense metal acts. From the Southern Fried guitar growl of Redneck Remedy and the Harmonica driven Sludge Metal of Wolfdozer, to the mostly instrumental free form Doom Metal of Levitating Giant, you'll be locked in a seismic headbanging groove. I talk with Aaron Langlois, singer and guitarist of Levitating Giant, whose extensive hardcore metal jam sessions are now including screaming lead vocals. Go to Chaos On The Kankakee's Facebook Page for more info.
Delivering a scarifying spoken word screaming vocal, Shock Rocker David Bates is a pioneer of Rap Metal. He incorporates synthesized hip hot beats and DJ scratches into Sinister Fate's fifth studio album, Profit Of Doom, inflicting a monstrous hurt on your listening pleasure. The Bad Examples come alive again at a legendary Route 66 Roadhouse, Fitzgeralds in Berwyn.
With a blend of 70s style Southern Rock, and classic Country, Hogtown Packing Company had sloshed bikers at the first Freakster's Roadhouse in Wilmington all revved up for more. They mosied on into our Kat 105.5 studio, fourteen years ago. We rock back to it.
Rivers will reverse flow, and speakers will tremor like crumbling canyons, as you chaotically test the sonic boundaries of your speakers by cranking up:
Levitating Giant-Nephilium (with new lead vocal by Aaron Langlois)
Levitating Giant-Untitled (with new vocal by Aaron Langlois)
Wolfdozer-Down Home
Sinister Fate-Scars Of The Monster
Dead And Buried-Perpetual Suffering
Vang!-WTH
The Bad Examples-Not Dead Yet (Cheap Beer Night Live version-1991)
Hogtown Packing Co. ( Michael LuBecke & Andy Ross Live in The Kat 105.5 studio-10/6/11 Homegrown Tones)
Hogtown Packing Co.-Send Me Back
Hogtown Packing Co.-Hogtown
Hogtown Packing Co.-Mexico
 

"Gotta get the message through, perhaps I should just Fade Away." (Stiff Little Fingers-1981)
Not if you get noticed by anxious, excited worldwide listeners, always looking for a new music sound that becomes an important part of their lives.
Music has the power to win people over. With another winning combination of original Chicagoland Metal,  Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop, you'll be assured someone is out getting in the groove to your music product.
Eyes Of Anguish has picked up a big fanbase of old and young with the Hobart, Indiana's aggressive blend of hardcore nu metal and progressive hard rock. Hoping the aggressive moshing at The Forge in Joliet, where they play Friday, October 10th, won't be painful like the feeling of their new single, Pain. I talk with bassist David Fishel about the upcoming gig.
From a not so painful weekend kickoff, to chaotic shaking of the mighty Kankakee River by a few of the K3 River Valley's prominent metal acts. Chaos on the Kankakee (Saturday, October 11th at The Office in Kankakee) brings Redneck Remedy back together for another earth-shaking set.  Levitating Giant is a five-piece instrumental metal band. They didn't need dark, morbid lyrics to convey a message that united the masses into the mosh pit.
Building up a religious following of fans, who rocked with through a significant switch from psychedelic acid rock to British Invasion style power pop, The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club revealed two different sides of Thier music personality.  I talked with singer/founder Bill Gircz and the five piece at the time lineup, ten years ago this week. Thye started to get praise for their incomparable vocal harmonies and catchy, crunchy guitar sound and lyrics, rocking Reggie's Music Joint in the South Loop ten years ago this week. 
Open your eyes, ears and subconscious. This original soundtrack of Chicagoland area's best and undiscovered metal, punk alternative rock and power pop. You'll be musically dilated by:
Eyes Of Anguish-Pain
Eyes Of Anguish-Atlas, Scorned
Premeditated-Misery/Imprisoning The Negative
Levitating Giant-Nephilim
 Redneck Remedy-Face Of Madness-Live at The Looney Bin, Bradley-4/18/25 Local Loft Episode 377)
The Human Trials-You're Welcome (live at The Bunker, Chicago-9/4/25)
FastPlants-Hookup, Hangup & Die
Johnny Monaco-Need Some Time To Grow
Brian Durbin-Roll Around With Me
The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club (interview at Reggie's Music Joint-9/25/15 Local Loft Episode 11)
The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club-Never Be Big Stars
The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club-Third Stage Rocket
        
 
 
 
 

ROCKIN' UP A RIOT!!!!!
In the down-home surroundings of Kankakee's Bird Park, the peaceful masses gathered, feeling right at home. There was no need to brave the scary location of Douglass Park.  The Chicagoland original metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop scene put on another history making Estival Festival. If you were there, you were rocked to the max. If you missed it, consider this new episode your official syllabus.
Rocking in with a howl and out with a sonic fire, Wolfdozer redefined a modern metal band with a growling, wailing lead harmonica, masterfully played by singer Lucas Theroux. No virtuoso guitar solos here. The combination of gritty rhythm guitar and mean blues harp is a unique blend. Lucas and the band join me after they made the Esty Festy stage and sky above it pulsate, playing their debut album, Volume 001, live before its official release date, Friday October 3rd.
Heavy to the core rockers Ephinepic has the skies thundering and stage earthquake tremoring was a blistering set of originals, featuring the growling, grunting vocal of Cody Zupan, the seismic jet fueled drumming of his brother Travis, and the ultra-fast guitar riffs of Drew Bittner, and the bone rattling bass work of Dave Lorbach.
From Harmonica Hardcore Metal to upbeat Punk Pop, Full Of Moxie got a big pogo dance generating in the dark, rain filled skies of Bird Park. Lead by the quick, quirky lead vocal of singer Marissa Fryfogle, the fast, distinctive rhythm guitar of Mike Bass, the four-piece group staged a rock n roll circus with their latest single, Sideshow. I talk with Marissa, Mike, bassist Nick and drummer Dan before they had the Estival Festival stage quaking and vibrating to beat of their pounding drum kit.
Kankakee free form rock quartet Shaper psychedelicized an slightly rain-soaked crowd, with less explosive results after last summer's fuse blowing glitch. All in all, Estival Festival was a a sonic punchy, fun filled, music drenched great time.
As fierce as the music atmosphere was at the fifth annual end of summer music bash at the mouth of the Kankakee River, six years ago this week, things rocked with more ferocity at The Forge in Joliet.  Lead by the multi octave high pitch incomparable singing of Taran De Pablos, Fierce Atmospheres put a modern spin on melodic progressive 80s style metal. I talked with Taran, guitarist/founder Eric Gosselin and the rest of the band, before they mesmerized a packed Forge crowd.
It's always a festival of diverse, distinctive, riffs, hooks and grooves from the original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop scene.  Raise the volume and pump your fist to the sonic blast of:
Wolfdozer-Burn
Wolfdozer-Stop, Drop & Die
Full Of Moxie-Sideshow
Full Of Moxie-Take Me Home
 Halo Moon-Brighter Than The Light Of A Thousand Suns
Shaper-Memory
The Suffering-Anneliese
Ephenepic-Hot Monster (excerpt from Kankakee Estival Festival-9/20/25)
Fierce Atmospheres (interview from The Forge In Joliet-9/13/19 Local Loft Episode 111)
Fierce Atmospheres-Forsaken
Fierce Atmospheres-Easy To Fall                        

"History repeats the old conceits
The glib replies, the same defeats
Keep your finger on important issues
With crocodile tears and a pocketful of tissues." (Elvis Costello-Beyond Belief-1982)
Repeating history is a very good thing this time around. On Local Loft the finger is on the important issue of many established original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop bands and artists being honored with an Illinois Rock Museum on Route 66 induction. We will move forward with new original Chicagoland music, but we must rock back to remember and honor an accomplished class of talent.  Blue Island Glam rockers Enuff Z'Nuff, South Suburban Chicago hard rockers Disturbed. Central Illinois veteran rockers Head East. Alternative Rockers extraordinare ,Smashing Pumpkins All are in the combined 2024 and 2025 class of inductees. As are an elite class of legendary Chicago radio stations and on air personalities (WCFL, Q-101, Bob Stroud , Mitch Michaels) 
I talk with Ron Romero, founder and CEO of the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum about the third gala ceremony, at the historic Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet.
In looking back on such a prestigious event, we look forward to the premiere Fall music fest, Kankakee Estival Festival, this Saturday, September 20th in Bird Park. With the intense sludge metal of Wolfdozer, and the sophisticated heartland alt rock opf Carrying Torches.
Two years ago this week, a special V.i.P. concert was held at The Forge in Joliet a day before the second Illinois Rock Museum Hall Of Fame second induction. Power Pop legend and Off Boadway frontman/singer Cliff Johnson was honored that night by some of his friends in music (Ralph Covert, Phil Angotti). I talked with John D. Kolonel of Cliff's other band The Raine, about a posthumous last single Cliff recorded a few weeks before his passing.
An always honorable, truly rewarding mix of original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop is a winning combination. The music envelope will open with:
Enuff Z'Nuff-Sanibel Island (First song I played on The Kat 105.5 during a fall 2003 interview with Chip Z'Nuff)
22 Down (featuring Ron Romero on Bass)-For Crying Out Loud
The Kind-I've Been Around (original 360 records 1982 vinyl LP pressing)
The Elephant March-These Vivid Dreams
Fool's Brew-Echoes (music video mix)
The Hyss-Are You Listening To The Hyssening?
Black Road-Ruthless (2016 demo)
Wolfdozer-Stop, Drop & Die (Live at top Fuel Saloon, Braidwood-4/16/25)
Carrying Torches-Opening Up
Illinois Rock Museum Hall Of Fame on Rt. 66 V.I.P. Concert The Forge, Joliet-9/16/23 Local Loft Episode 295)
Phil Angotti, Ralph Covert, Casey McDonough, & Brad Elvis-Stay In Time (live at the Forge in Joliet-9/16/23)
Off Broadway-Stay in Time (live at Fitzgeralds in Berwyn-April 1997)
 

"And everywhere was a song and a celebration" (Woodstock-Joni Mitchell-1969)
 
Personal issues such as suicide & drug abuse are nothing to celebrate, overcoming those issues are cause to savor life when all are conquered. When music is added to bring a person out of the clutches of an addiction or depression, it can cleanse the soul and raise the spirits.
The healing power of original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop united the masses for the second annual Celebration!, a one day gathering of music and messages at The Forge in Joliet.
The Illustrious storytelling rock persona, Mr. Fringe has had enough with constant spying from The Party Of No. With help from his band, The Lunatic's Fringe, this green faced individual rock any sighing of this set of rock destroying aliens. The battle between Party Of No and The Lunatic's Fringe reaches its stunning conclusion throughout Threatening The Order, The Lunatic's Fringe just released third album. After a blazing, rip rocking set, Mr. Fringe joins me to discuss the PON's intervention, and how Lunatic's Fringe has the power to crush the negative mutans sent to enforce the death of rock n roll.
Celebration was to feature veteran Chicago grunge and alternative rock band, Halfway To Zero. A medical emergency within the band forced them to cancel their gig. Three of their four members join me. We also get a jumpin' blast of Colleen Wild and The Haunted, here to unveil new tunes from a planned debut full length album (Colleen was voted best newcomer of 2024 of Local Loft's year in review)
Cancer has always been addressed by many a musician and band, at many benefit shows to raise money to fight the life-threatening disease. Punk Rock Tacos will put on a single day Cancer benefit at Cemitas Poblanas
in Villa Park this Friday. NightFreak, and Smear Campaign join a lineup of mostly Chicagoland
punk and goth rock acts for it. one who is helping to organize it, WHUT? is no stranger to reaching out with its intense, hardcore metal. Greg (Pervert Bastard Scum) Charles, Philly D and J. Keen united to help then bassist of the Chicago metal band, Rick Lancaster raise money for medical expenses following a few hospital trips for health issues, Twelve years ago this week, they reached out in our Kat 105.5 studio.
Original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop has the awesome power to rock away the afflictions. From Joliet to Jasper County, Berwyn To Bourbonnais, Local Loft maps out another music journey, that embarks through the wild cyber airwaves with:
The Lunatic's Fringe-Counterinsurgency
The Lunatic's Fringe-Switch (Live at Celebration, The Forge, Joliet-9/7/25)
Halfway To Zero-At Pace (live at The Drunken Donut, Joliet-12/18/23)
NightFreak-Mindfuck
Smear Campaign-Hulk
Enuff Z'Nuff-Heavy Metal
Phil Angotti,Ralph Covert, Brad Elvis-Stay In Time (tribute to Cliff Johnson, Illinois Rock Museum on Rt. 66 Hall Of Fame induction V.I.P. concert-9/23/23)
Leigh Evin & The Lowdown-In An Instant
Colleen Wild And The Haunted-Hounded (live at Celebration, The Forge Joliet-9/7/25)
Whut? (interview in The Kat 105.5 Studio-9/5/13)
Whut?-Punk Is Dead
A Silent Truth-Into The Sun
Habit OF Force-Alive Inside
 

"She wasn't much good at stickin' around but, THAT GIRL COULD SING." (Jackson Browne-1980)
We've got plenty of girls and guys in the original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop scene that not only can sing, but guitar wail, drum bash and get a headbanging crowd in the groove. 
From a legendary outdoor restaurant and beer garden in downtown LaGrange to a one-of-a-kind music store in Downtown Downers Grove, wherever the music takes you, you are there with every stream of this podcast.
Cheryl Rodey is a multi-voiced gifted singer with equally incomparable natural harmony and lead vocals. When she pairs up with the exquisite singer Colleen Wild, it's a pure joy to hear both trade off on lead and harmony singing. I talk with Cheryl after she puts on a stellar Saturday night one woman show at Palmer Place in her native LaGrange.
As for Colleen Wild, she will reassemble her rocking band The Haunted for a benefit show that addresses a few of life's struggles, Celebration, Sunday at The Forge in Joliet.
Kankakee Pop Punk band Full Of Moxie will have the masses pogoing at Estival Festival for the official start of Fall on Saturday the 20th in Bird Park. 
From the  state line border city with rock in its name, The Most Of Me worked up an intense rocking groove for downtown Downers Grove in excess during Labor Day weekend eight years ago at Evolution Music, an actual music store. We rock back to it.
 Tap into your wild youth and work up a moshing sweat as you slam dance to this original Chicagoland music soundtrack
Cheryl Rodey-Torture (2025 Remix)
Cheryl Rodey Band-Peaches
Colleen Wild And The Haunted-Appetite ( live at The Sunset Stroll, Kankakee Farmers Market-8/23/24)
Halfway To Zero-Masquerade 
Goatbelly-Black Ship
The Simsons-Pseudo Bossa
Full Of Moxie-Sideshow
Flagass-The Good, The Bad & The Fucked
The Rising Fall-Artificial (de)Generation
The Most Of Me (interview at Evoultion Music, Downers Grove (9/2/17 Local Loft Episode 66)
The Most of Me-Everlasting Part 2 (The Void)
The Most Of Me-Blue Mentality