Local Loft

Local Loft Episode 288

Live-r Than You'll Ever Be!
 
That title of a 1969 Rolling Stones live concert bootleg album describes many podcasts worldwide.  While this extensive coverage of the original Chicagoland area's Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop scene is mainly pre recorded, you'll notice something different sounding about this episode.
I go Southwest from the Chi Town on location at Perry Farm Park in Bourbonnais. The Kankakee River Valley region's biggest Alternative band Carrying Torches joins me after they rocked an oppressive, and very steamy outdoor stage. This is the first in person (non phone) interview I have done in over three years, and it, along with their awesome mix of funk, new age synthesizer driven pop & pop punk was another groundbreaking live set. Singer/guitarist Justin Daniel, Drummer Jon Paul Gray, Synthesizer wizard Misty Okroi, Bassist Mike Bass & Rhythm Guitarist Taylor Smith had a big weekend ahead of them. After this Bourbonnais Township Park District Summer Concert gig, they braved a wicked tornadic thunderstorm to rock a Merchant Street Music Fest after show at On The Roxx. They'll be spending a lot of time in August recording a follow up to their 2018 second EP, Strangers.
Chicago hardcore Metal band Repentance releases their fourth full length album, The Process Of Human Demise in September. Kankakee veteran guitarist Michael Rockert draws on a sexy Canadian 80s Elvis influence for a track off his new EP due out this Friday. And Luna In Sanguinem is sick to death over the media's overblown fear mongering scare tactics & fake news of the COVID  pandemic in their new second full-length album, dropping this Saturday.
The force is once again with Deepspacepilots as they we rock back to an earth galaxy not so far, far away to a not so long time ago (five years ago this week) when they jammed at Reggie's Music joint.
Listen... you can hear the speakers sizzle like ribs on a Weber kettle grill, as you fire up the sounds of:
Carrying Torches-Small Talk
Carrying Torches-Stupid
Bleed For The Fallen-Chapter 13
Full Of Moxie-To You
Michael Rockert-One Track Mind
Luna In Sanguinem-Path Of The Skinwalker
Skinwalker-For The Kill
True Love Devil-Solitude
Repentance-All The Misery
Deepspacepilots ( Interview from Reggie's Music Joint-8/4/18 Local Loft Episode 84)
Deepspacepilots-Nebulizer
Deepspacepilots-Planet Fading

Local Loft Episode 287

Here we go again!
Another week leading up to the most ginormous summer music festival of them all. You want a cheaper & more rocking alternative to the ever over hyped Lollapalooza. Crank up this GPS soundtrack , which will lead you to all roads that map out the way to steer clear of an always traffic nightmare in Grant Park.
Merchant Street Musicfest is one journey that out rocks Lolla. It will again this year at Harold Miner plaza in downtown Kankakee. K3's biggest alternative rock band Carrying Torches won't headline the fest but will play a Friday night after show at On The Rox nearby. Joliet's Vaudeviliens will close out the second night. I'll give you the scoop on both bands.
AS you motor on down there or try to survive the traffic jam nightmare on DuSable LSD, Chicago Thrash metal veterans Bloodletter will steer you to a Different Kind Of Hell. Their new third length album was just released on Friday July 21st, & is chock full of gory stories of a space age warrior's possession of dark demons in his soul. Bassist Tanner Hudson joins me to preview the new record.
It's a busy out of captivity weekend for Joliet Punk rockers Prison City Brigade. They'll provide the punchy soundtrack to a crunchy dinner at Punk Rock Tacos 32, Friday in Villa Park, then open for space metal giants Powerman 5000, Sunday at Top Fuel Saloon in Braidwood. I've got the scoop.
There will never be another Pantera, but Joliet groove metal trio Habit Of Force came close. Rich Truck Collins & the band had a rocking (not too vulgar) display of power on Cleansing Of Hands. Truck trucked his way on down to The Kat 105.5 studios to share their second record with our mass generation of listeners, ten years ago this week. We rock back to it.
It's the Cure for the common lame neo nerdy poseur fake rock soundtrack. Crank up the adrenaline rush of:
Bloodletter-His Will Be Done
Bloodletter-Lord Of Pain
Toxic Ruin-Ritual Rebirth
Carrying Torches-Small Talk
Vaudeviliens-The Fall Will Probably Kill You
Beat The Smart Kids-Munchies
Prison City Brigade-Mirror Games
Oblivion Zero-Omega
Ditchwater-The Way You Are
Habit Of Force (Rich Truck Collins interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-7/25/13)
Habit Of Force-Cleansing Of Hands
Habit Of Force-Death Threat

Local Loft Episode 286

"It pulls you closer...with best intentions." (Hot Dang-Death's Intentions-2015).
 
Music which draws you into enjoying it from the first note has that attractive power. Any kind of music. A catchy vocal style, and face melting guitar solo. You'll get a lot more riffs, vocals & drum shots which will draw you into the original, compelling soundtrack of Chicagoland metal, alternative rock, punk, & power pop in the next 67 minutes.
Are you a grunter of a clean singer?  We've got both kinds in one band. Nequient from the southwest Chicago burbs doesn't stick to one style or genre. They'll lay a metal smorgasbord of sound on you, this Saturday, July 22nd. Co-headlining with Bloodletter, during their release show for their new third EP, A Different Kind Of Hell at Reggie's Rock Club. Nequient singer Jason Kolkey joins me to preview the gig.
Keep sacred the (Black) Sabbath tribute band. Or in this case, the Sabbath inspirational band. WEst Suburban band Slugwurth admits to being inspired by the heavy distorted guitar feedback drenched sound of classic 70s BS, but are not, by any means , a direct copy. Slugwurth will wear (or won't) their doom metal influence on their sleeve at htier new self-titled EP release show, this Saturday the 22nd, at Brauerhouse in Lombard.
She didn't only create her own trademark grunting singing, she had the best intentions of helping any Chicago area metal band get serious about playing shows & getting their music discovered. Holly Smith was an all around incomparable performer & mentor. She cruised into The Kat 105.5 on air studio ten years ago this week to share he duties as a female pioneer of the Chicagoland metal scene fronting and singing in Hot Dang and providing total support for up and coming and established Metal bands as one third of Chicago Metal Alliance. We rock back to her second coming on our local music showcase, Homegrown Tones.
We intend to rock into a scorching face melt. Turn up the volume, and burn through the sonic assault of this original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop soundtrack:
Nequient-City Killer
Nequient-Minotaur
Bloodletter-Flesh Turned To Ash
Slugwurth-One High Bid
Backlash-False Flag
BlockChain Coalition-Better Life
GraveReign-Destination: Aftermath
Holly Smith (Warbrigade) (Interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-7/18/13
Hot Dang-Death's Intentions
Hot Dang-Take Cover

Local Loft Episode 285

The following program is brought to you.. IN LIVING STEREO.
Actually, in this day and age of overhyped modern technology, it's living surround sound. So psych yourself up to be surrounded by a multichannel soundtrack of original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop. How much of discrete sound field it comes with depends on what kind of state-of-the-art car stereo or home theatre receiver you feed it through.
Vaudeviliens have been a regular headliner at Merchant Street Musicfest, Kankakee's Woodstcok (Its humungous Summer live music extravaganza) since 2012. They return to wow a hill stage crowd with another blast of high energy Foo Fighters ish rock. Singer and founder Jeff Julian joins me to preview their July 29th set.
Cliff Johnson was the distinctive voice of Off Broadway. But, he didn't lay the legendary Oak Park band's mix of power pop & arena rock on audiences by himself. I have a rare cut of guitarist Rob Harding taking the vocal mic.
Lockport power rockers A.D.D. will out rock the criminal presence of Wes Scantlin & Puddle Of Mudd Thursday in Addison. 80 Proof Preacher got a big following of punk disciples as they rocked live at Wire in Berwyn five years ago this week. We rock back to it.
No more leftover 4th of July fireworks will follow a sonic blast of original Chicagoland rock. So crank it up and feel the recoil of:
Vaudeviliens-When Will Then Be Now?... Soon
Vaudeviliens-SWP #1
Shaper-Robot Pirate Ninja
Off Broadway-Something's Got A Hold Of My Heart
Black & Blonde (featuring Cliff Johnson)-Stay in Time (1992)
Tyre Fyre-Illuminati
Oracles-New Tattoo
Heartsfield -(with Jim Peterik)-Lost In A Daze Dream
Of Wolves-Legal Lies
A.D.D.-Open Your Eyes
Glasshouse Owl-The Divide
80 Proof Preacher (interview from Wire In Berwyn-7/14/18 Local Loft Episode 83)
80 Proof Preacher-Them
80 Proof Preacher-Butthurt

Local Loft Episode 284

Freedom, there ain't no f*%#ing freedom!
We'll, that's not 100 % true. you always have the independence to choose what music is an important part of your life. You have the freedom to choose all year long, not just on the 4th of July, So turn it up & create the sonic blast that will explode speakers, if nothing else. There's a lot of sonic power in the original metal, punk, alternative rock & power pop soundtrack. Every episode of this podcast which extensively covers the scene ignites an explosive music soundtrack.
Music & food is sometimes a nutritious combination. It always is at ever Punk Rock Tacos. Preying on the stage at the 31st edition, Saturday, July 8th, at Cemitas Poblanas in Villa Park is  The Larvettes.  The 4-man Chicago garage punk band will supply a punchy mix of incomparable harmony vocals& melodic guitar chords as a headliner. Bob Towne & Chip Medema join me to preview the upcoming show.
Bullet To The Heart sinks their teeth (actually fangs) into a few big live gigs, opening for Gemini Syndrome, this Sunday at Top Fuel Saloon in Braidwood, & as opener for legendary 80s shredder Yngwie Malmsteen on the west coast & south in late August. I've got the new vampirish single whose music video has the band evoking a gothic Dracula scenario.
Audacity, from the northwest suburban Roselle area, had every right to have the nerve to win over followers of Kat 105.5 listeners when they dropped by our studios to ignite a pre Fourth of July hardcore metal sonic blast on our local show Homegrown Tones, ten years ago this week on Independence Day 2013. We rock back to it.
Leave the sonic music explosions to the professional air personality, as I fire up a booming set of tuneage from:
The Larvettes-Before You Come In
The Larvettes-Happy Go Lucky Times
Conciencia Total-Mexico Despierta
The Kind-Bad Dream
Off Broadway-U.S. Girls (Live at Fitzgeralds in Berwyn-1997)
Bullet to The Heart-Revenant
The Everscathed- The Dark Comes To Life
Survivor-Summer Nights (1981 45 RPM radio edit vinyl pressing)
Shoes-Now And Then (1979 45 rpm pressing)
Awdacity (interview in The Kat 10.5 studio-7/4/13)
Awdacity-Origins Of Extinction
Awdacity-Anthem Of The Fallen
 
 

Local loft Episode 283

Are you Funky or Punky?
We've got examples of both, in just one band. As we pogo our way through the wide map of original Chicago area Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock & Power Pop, Oracles combines a old school blues & 70s funk with the class of CBGB's punk rock legends with a trashy ultra-fast sound.  With the seductive, intimate vocals of Ms. Lynch & the gritty, but grungy guitar work of Rev. Dracula, who is actually Mike Allen. Mike as kept this winning combination going for 12 years, ever since he was singer * front man of Cutthroat Split Tail. Mike will talk to me about the highly danceable nature of Gitcha, Gitcha, the just released debut album of Oracles.
Teaching the Foo Fighters how to rock out with a very aggressive Punk swagger, Naked Raygun gets a heartfelt tribute album by many of the Chicago area's up and coming punk bands. I preview the salute compilation record for late longtime bassist Pierre Kezdy, to be released July 28th.
Futuristic & fierce, Orion Nine is truly a one-of-a-kind progressive Metal act. Seven years ago this week, I talked with singer & founder Frank Horvath, who pulled double duty, throwing the biggest local outdoor metal concert fest, Revival.
Feel the sonic recoil, without lighting a pre Fourth of July fuse, as you blast the smoking original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative rock & Power Pop of:
x.Oracles.x-Summer
x.Oracles.x-Viagra Song
Cutthroat Split Tail-Chicago
Grey Trash Aliens-Punk Rock Girl
Naked Raygun-Amishes
Fire Follows-Finally Home
Violet Kill-Shattered
Sarah Longfield-Paradoxos
Crusadist-The Unholy Grail
Orion Nine (Frank Horvath interview at Brauerhouse in Lombard-7/1/16 Local Loft Episode 29)
Orion Nine-Kiss The Sun
Orion Nine-Rick & Burt-The Muscatine Incident
Horvath-Magnus Prime
 

Local Loft Episode 282

It's almost summertime, & the taco eating will be easy.
So will be finding the appropriate original Chicago area metal, punk, alternative rock & power pop band that will supply the groove to help you work off a hearty meal of ground beef & hard shells. The Neighborhood Threat won't instigate a riot, but they will incite you to slam dance to work off the crunchy dinner meal with punchy punk tunes. The four-piece Southwest Side Chicago band plays Punk Rock Tacos in Villa Park July 8th.
Punching their way like transparent ghosts through a luminescent gothic nighttime setting of a new music video, Joliet's Beneath The Hollow bask in the glow of another person's misery. I talk to singer Jesse DeGroot for the first time in 11 years. about the making of their new EP, Misery Loves You, released this Friday, June 23rd.
Aeraco didn't totally resurrect the punchy power metal groove of Pantera. They came very close in bringing back the dominant mid 90s period when metal reigned supreme, in rocking Reggie's Music Joint, six years ago this week. We rock back to when I first discovered a blazing debut in the making.
Spring into another action packed, summer of original Chicago metal, punk, alternative rock & power pop, by firing up your mobile or PC device with the burning sounds of:
Beneath The Hollow-Misery Loves You
Beneath The Hollow-Our Own Hell
Bless The Martyr-The Deep End
Repentance-Blood On The Floor
Burned In Effigy-Doomsayer
Dead Living-Smoking Gun
The Neighborhood Threat-Vixen
Blockchain Coalition-Walked This Road
Phosphene-Michael
Aeraco (Interview from Reggie's Music Joint-6/22/17 Local Loft Episode 61)
Aeraco-Baptized By Fire
Aerco-This Life

Local Loft Episode 281

Radio, someone still loves you.
 
Even though it's not as diverse & unrestricted as in the 60s through the early 90s, radio can still be used an educational & entertaining experience to discover new music & learn about new artists. Too bad there's no simple way to make conventional radio great again. Which is where this independent podcast steps in. Go ahead & discover & learn about the new original diverse soundtrack of Chicago area metal, punk, alternative rock & power pop. You have the freedom to choose your favorites, you won't be spoon fed & brain controlled. 
Metal heads, this one's mostly for you. Four Horsemyn feel your frustration. Being controlled by media over brash politics, & even brasher, destructive pandemic period. The four-piece Southwest side Chicago band touches on both issues in their second full length album, The Cost Of War. Singer Nick Smoots joins me to talk about how their soon to be released third album doesn't tread in the same political water as the second, as they let the frustration spew during a three-band punk gig Friday night at Brauerhouse in Lombard.
Jolet's Beneath The Hollow develop luminescent x-ray vision on their colorful new music video. It's a new miserable but totally rocking experience. Ralph Covert sets a lot of good (not Bad) Examples of putting on a big children's rock show at the legendary Ravinia.
 
Oblivion Zero of downstate Pontiac will be set sailing for future worlds unknown, opening for Powerman 5000, July 16th at Top Fuel Saloon in Braidwood. Five years ago this week, they rocked their way into a not so space aged future at The Forge in Joliet. We rock back to that.
 
Are you moshing comfortably? Pump up the volume & a naked blood pumping fist of hand skin to:
Four Horsemyn-Chipper
Four Horsemyn-Unhinged
The G.M.O's- You Suck! 20
Ravensthorne-Lust For A Vampire
Witchcross-Mistress Of Darkness
Beneath the Hollow-Misery Loves You
3 Years Hollow-The Other Side (featuring Morgan Rose of Sevendust)
The Bad Examples-Sammy The Dog Has Learned To Play Trombone
Ralph Covert & The Bad Examples-Church Of Rock N Roll Guitar
Oblivion Zero (Interview from The Forge in Joliet-6/13/18 Local Loft Episode 82)
Oblivion Zero-Catalyst
Oblivion Zero-Daylight

Local Loft Episode 280

"It's what you do in between the records that counts most".
Superjock Larry Lujack once said that during a TV interview in the mid 80s. I've always followed that advice as a method of doing good radio as an air personality for 30 years. I also apply it to every episode of this weekly journey into the Chicagoland area's original metal, punk. alternative rock & power pop scene. My compelling trivia & interviews are not, however, the reason you listen. But it adds to the compelling & rocking content of the records. Yes, even music on digital files, just like physical CDs, vinyl LPs or cassette tapes are records. And we've got a whole more to spin in this next hour & a half.
You'll hear the story of how a near death experience, led to a positive outcome to go out and captivate fans of Bullet To The Heart.  Singer Audrey Queen & drummer Draven D.C. again join me as this dark, yet powerful melodic hard rock band will captivate fans of a forgotten 80s legendary guitar shredder, Yngwie Malmsteen, as they open for his summer tour in August. They will rock The Forge in Joliet this Thursday night before that, with songs from their third EP, Death, Oddities & Romance.
You'll hear it first, on how the trio who provided complete support to any local metal band, The Chicago Metal Alliance, will return to give more for the first time in seven years. There's also the sexiest band on the planet, I Love Rich, who won't resort to NC-17 rated debauchery to exude their sex appeal when they play Livewire Lounge Thursday night.
There will be bands who play the numbers game (4 Without & !3-Monsters). Both featured two of the most prominent female singers in the Chicago area, Jana Vox & Deb Sonzo. It all adds up to comprehensive & extensive coverage of a Chicagoland music scene that's always growing, thriving & rocking. 
You'll be swooning to the grooves, with no margin of a big June losing streak, as you groove to the winning combination sound of:
Bullet To The Heart-Post Mortem
Bullet To The Heart-Graveyard Lovers
Hostages-Rot
Oblivion Zero-Death Of Me (featuring Joe Focht of Consume The Divide)
Dust Biters-This Was A Love Song
I Love Rich-Rock N Roll Is Gonna Burn
Spare Change-Crash & Burn
Simplistic Urge-The Reluctant Hero
Fool's Brew-The Parade
Voodoo Monkey Child-Eyes Of Love
4 Without-Sweet Bite
13-Monsters (Interview from Wire In Berwyn Local Loft Episode 60-6/9/17)
!3-Monsters-Overlook
!3-Monsters-Water's Edge

Local Loft Episode 279

The wild, the local, & the ageless. Experience & seniority play a big role in shaping & creating the soundtrack of original Chicago area metal, punk, alternative rock & power pop scene that rocks this last episode of the 270's on Local Loft.
In a music, film acting, political, & book writing career of almost five decades, Pete Berwick has done it all, but especially music. Pete combines a hard hitting, brash punk sound with outlaw country & 70s style blues based Southern Rock. He's an influencer & one who has been influenced. The legendary cult forgotten biker bar rock band The Boyzz (From Illinois) was a huge influence on his rock swagger. So big that he wrote a comprehensive tall all biography on them. Pete joins me to extensively share his storied music career (including selections from his seventh album The Damage Is Done) , & his real-life experiences on The Boyzz that got the book written.
 Chicago punk band the Handcuffs can't unchain the spooky surroundings of Halloween, at the start of June, as they come alive & unleash a famous monster at a headlining gig, Friday night at Liar's Club. While swamp rockers Convoy truck onto Brauerhouse in Lombard for a Saturday night high beer raising bash.
Combining a fierce angry screaming vocal style with a laid back, intimate & melodic vocal delivery made Genotype singer Kadie Kirby a force in the local Chicagoland metal scene. She unleashed her dual personality on listeners of The Kat 105.5 in the Joliet & Kankakee region, ten years ago this week, before screaming the rafters off of Bada Brew in Crest Hill at the first ever Queens Of Metal thrown by Chicago Metal Alliance. We rock back to it.
Keep both hands of the cyber reigns. You'll buck along with fists high in the air, & headbang severe enough to slice thin air in two, as you pump up the volume to:
Pete Berwick-Finger Down My Throat
Pete Berwick-Timeclock On The Wall
The Boyzz- Too Wild To Tame (from original 1978 Too Wild To Tame LP pressing)
Chains Over Razors-Broken Home
Convoy-Hero
The Handcuffs-Big Fat Mouth Shut
Complacent-Hostile
Genotype (Kadie Kirby interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-5/30/13)
Genotype-Screaming Yellow Sunset
Genotype-Oblivion