Local Loft

Local Loft Episode 266

No Exits here, just a lot of ways in. It's another all access pass into the always diverse, opportunity filled Chicago area metal, punk, alternative rock & power pop scene. The play button on your phone, PC or laptop is your paid toll, your electronic fingerprint identification. Proceed through cyberspace and rock on.
Soaked in depressing lyrics, but a happy, upbeat driving sound, Lifting Curses out of the northwest side of Chicago will lay its debut EP, Pistanthrophobia, on the world this Friday, March 3rd. Singer David Bovyn joins to talk about the records lyrical not so lovey dovey impact and melodic music before they headline Metal Monkey Brewing in Romeoville, Friday, March 10th.
You''ll be once again granted complete entry into Chicago's longtime ultimate Punk establishment, Exit on North Avenue. It gets the ultimate makeover, & grand reopening May 4th-7th. I'll share the band lineup that will grant you entry into the massive gathering.
Smoking their way onto the Wire in Berwyn stage, Pipe permeated the western suburban air with peaceful protests & a hard rocking soundtrack which had audiences dancing and tripping together in unison. We rock back to when this foursome had a packed crowd mentally & spiritually grooving out to a post hippy atmospheric soundtrack.
Along with these, you're firing February from your duty roster, and making it your priority to employ an original Chicagoland original music soundtrack for the daily mosh workout, as you March onward to another calendar month with:
Lifting Curses-Twominutesunderwater
Lifting Curses-Glossolalia
Machin-4leon
Pure Intention-Punk Rock Warlord
The Brokedowns-Osama Van Halen
Machete Moses- (Featuring Robert Bloodworth of Catapult The Propaganda) Blood Inc.
Catapult The Propaganda-Hollowed
Cliff Johnson-If You Can Live (alternative version)
John Condron & The Benefit-Blurred
Mimi Betinis-Romance Me
Vortis-Black Void
Pipe (interview from Wire In Berwyn 3/3/18 Local Loft Episode 76)
Pipe-Call You Out
Pipe-Down In The Smoke

Local Loft Episode 265

Phone this one in, to your home stereo, your car radio. Whatever source generates audio, more original Chicago area metal, punk, alternative rock, & power pop will be handed down from generation to generation. From baby boomers to space age lunatics on the fringe of slam dancing around a mosh pit. It's the musical stuff that fans are made of.
Fighting a never ending battle for Rock domination, The Lunatic's Fringe is picking up followers from all age groups who outnumber. naysayers of the band's out of this world musical vision. True to the cause of rocking audiences, nothing stands in their way, except the Party Of No. But even their negative reviews and threats can't stop a band on the fringe of spreading the gospel of rock supremacy. Their second full length album, Resurgence, has the band moving forward in their mission to make true believers out of their positive messages that rock conquers all demons. Mr. Fringe joins me, to discuss the ongoing, sometimes comical battle with the No Sayers, and even spreads the word, to those on the fringe of a music dry spell, to check out this very podcast for its attempts to let the music of the Chicago scene become the dominant soundtrack of their lives.
The distinctive frontman & drummer of Southwest Suburban power rockers Veilside will soon unveil their new band. I have the first new single from Block Chain Coalition. Forgotten Chicago metal band Paradoxx returns for a one off gig at Brauerhouse in Lombard in April. They pre dated even the king of the Devil's Horn Handsign. Nothing (Ronnie James) Dio about their sound, as they come out of a three-year hibernation. Discussion amongst their ever growing, soon to be large fanbase will be numerous, not just in their native Kankakee for Carrying Torches, as they burn their way through a set of new songs at a March release show. I've got the scoop.
He put a career as radio sales manager aside to cash in on his longtime plans to be a prominent singer, and guitarist. New Lenox's Dave Bellah blew minds and melted faces with his debut solo albun, Think Outside The Burning Box. We rock back to when he got all fired up to rock a packed crowd at Bruaerhouse four years ago this week.
Along with these, you're on the fringe of a total original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative and Power Pop pig out. Gobble it up, and ask for seconds, and thirds by:
The Lunatics Fringe-Hue...Awt
The Lunatics Fringe-By Hook Or By Crook
Block Chain Coalition-All That I've Known
Paradoxx-Don't Let Go
Vicious Circle-I Remain In Filth
Carrying Torches-Small Talk
The Evictions-Teenage On The TV
Material Issue-This Letter
The Bad Examples-Your Ex-Girlfriend
Dave Bellah 9Interview From Brauerhouse in Lombard (2/11/19 Local Loft Episode 95)
Dave Bellah-Pictures Of The Past
Dave Bellah-Say What You Gotta Say

Local Loft Episode 264

A win, win situation, not just September through February, but all year long. The roster of original Chicagoland & Illinois Alternative Rock, Punk, Metal & Power Pop contains most valuable players, those songs that form a lasting impression not just by one or two spectacular plays. When it's all over, you're rewarded with music you'll enjoy a lifetime.
The Feral Ghosts have a dark, gloomy progressive metal sound that goes back to when Bauhaus first reigned as kings of Goth Rock> The North side Chicago trio will play for the rewards of important food and shelter for needy kittens, Saturday, February 18th at Soundgrowler Brewing in Tinley Park. All three members join me to preview the Feed The Beasts fundraiser.
Kankakee's Carrying Torches has a distinctive shifting sound that burns a lasting impression in the back of your mind.  The unpredictable nature of their music makes them the biggest alternative rock band in the Southland's region. Next month, they'll reveal a melodic side of that is all big action and talk about their constantly changing style will be little but widespread. I've got all the details about a new single they'll talk up big at an upcoming homecoming release show.
For four years shy of a decade, Fist To The Sky had a punchy, fiery melodic hard rock sound that got away with murder, at least with the name of their singer. Mickey Murder and the band pumped their hard rock groove on stage one last time, five years ago this week at Wire in Berwyn. I was an ear witness to it. We rock back to it.
Along with these, you're hearing the victorious sound of original Chicagoland music that wins over your ears mind, heart and senses to its captivating melody and rhythm, as your pump up the volume and pump your fist in the air to:
The Feral Ghosts-Stranger
The Feral Ghosts-Nosfa
Blackcat Manor-Hammerclaw
Lifting Curses-2minutesunderwater
Boybrain-Scabs
From Ashes To Embers-The Masquerade
A Silent Truth-Voiceless
Carrying Torches-Wake Me Up
The Shiv-Short Order Crook
Fist To The Sky (interview from Wire in Berwyn 2/18/18 Local Loft Episode 75)
Fist To The Sky-Count Your Blessings
Fist To The Sky-Another Lesson Learned
 
 

Local Loft Episode 263

A full plate of original Chicagoland punk, metal, alternative rock, progressive rock & power pop, with a side of ketchup colored vinyl. Dig in.
On the music menu for this weekend, the annual Sounds Of The Street fest invades Reggie's Rock Club & Music Joint. Chicago is well represented by veteran & new undiscovered Punk bands. Squared Off has been speaking their political minds since 1996. From Anti Trump bashing to past mis treatment of Chicago police & firemen, they let the music venom fly. They play Saturday, February 11th. Singer and original founder Jose (Hoser) Villarreal joins me to get you all pumped up for two days of intense hardcore live punk. Shitizen adds a women's touch to the mostly male dominated mosh pit surroundings. I talk with singer Claudia Guajardo.
Convoy beats the daily clock by churning out another advance single ahead of the mid-March release of their long awaited fourth album, Some Gave All For Rock N Roll. A timeless track of out-of-date old school romance follows one of a lost parental love gone AWOL.
Breaking though language barriers and rocking through world boundaries, 4Without put themselves on the Chicago map with a stellar show at the legendary Metro seven years ago this week. Led by the precocious and versatile singer Jana Vox, they made a permanent mark with a performance that inspired a generation of rockers to follow. We rock back to it.
Along with these, you're craving a colorful rainbow of bountiful genres, by sinking your ears into:
Squared Off-Mutiny On Lasalle Street
Squared Off-Glory Days
The Decayed-The Dream Is Dead/A Better Way
Convoy-Just In Time
Heartsfield-Here I Am
Ignescent-Resist
Bullet To the Heart-Revenant
Striadum-Forsaken Flesh
Careless Sanctions-Cognitive Ability
Shitizen-Toxic Vibes
2 Minute Minor-Life Goes By
4Without (Interview at Metro 2/6/16 Local Loft Episode 18)
4Without-Kill Him First
4Without-Tonight

Local Loft Episode 262

Laugh without a tear, cold without the warmth. Some things go well without sharing the spotlight of life with others. Instrumental original Chicago area metal, punk, alternative rock & power pop doesn't need vocals to hook music fans. A great example is the totally chock filled melodic hard jazz rock fusion of Coyote Man. This Southwest suburban Chicago region trio has never felt the urgent need to hire a totally effective singer to draw huge crowds to their free form hard rock. Drummer Ian Wheeler joins me to psych crowds up as they rock the roof off a house filled with juiced up mostly Irish fans, St. Patick's Day night, March 17th at G Man Tavern, five minutes from historic Wrigley Field.
Since 1996, Chicago punk band Squared Off huge crowds pogo their bad times and desperate situations away. They're going to rock the rafters of Reggies off its foundations at the second annual Sounds of the Street Fest. February 10th & 11th at Reggies. I've got the details.
For the first time in their almost three decade run, Joliet's Dead Man's Hand adds a woman's touch to its lineup. Seven years ago this week, Laurence Dutch Devries was manning the vocal mic. He, along with award winning guitar shredder Tony Raygor fired up a subzero chilled crowd at the annual local metal showcase at Bada Brew in Crest Hill. We rock back to it.
In addition, you're rocking the shadowy hairs off a pesky unwelcomed ground hog rodent, as you blast old man winter's wrinkled wrath away with the sonic heat soundwaves of:
Coyote Man-Worthy Adversary
Coyote Man-Reaches Of The Universe
Sons Of Ra-Too Something For Someone
Squared Off-Agents Of Chaos
Fear City-Rats
Some Years later-In This Moment
The Feral Ghosts-Stranger
5 Step Drop-Solitude
Hi-Fi Superstar-So Into You
DeadMan's Hand (interview from Bada Brew, Crest Hill 2/4/17 Local Loft Episode 49)
DeadMan's Hand-Deep
DeadMan's Hand-Call Me A Saint

Local Loft Episode 261

Crunch on this! Your hunger for a nutritious podcast platter of original Chicagoland metal. punk, alternative rock and power pop is about to be fed. You'll hear it, if not smell or taste it. 
A good hearty meal and a full menu of music always go hand in hand at Punk Rock Tacos. Death in Memphis won't be travelling a long distance to rock you while that delicious concoction of hard shells, tortillas and ground beef slides down your throat to your stomach. Working double duty to whet your punk rock appetite is Steve Custer. He not only plays in Death in Memphis, but Space Age Zeros. Both bands join four others in the 22nd edition at Cemitas Poblanas in Villa Park, Friday, February 10th. Steve joins me to talk about it with scrumptious music selections from both bands.
If a liquid diet is for you, you can wash down the classic progressive metal sound of Plainfield's Endgame with a side of brand-new IPA. I'll spoil the secret identity of the beer, which a big Southland's rock radio station is helping to serve up Friday at Metal Monkey Brewing in Romeoville.
Threatening The Order posed a big threat to Mother Nature's plans to inflict sever frostbite on many Chicago local metal fans. The searing vocals of singer Melissa Radice fire up and warmed up the crowd at Reggie's seven years ago this week. We rock back to that.
In addition, you're lighting a sonic rock fire under the ass of the ice-cold psychotic Chicago winter wind as you whip it up to the red-hot sounds of:
Death And Memphis- X And Y
Space Age Zeros-Wishing Well
Tone Zone Skam-Skanky
Bumsy & The Moochers-Hey Margarita
Just A Mess-Surrounded By Wolves
Coyote Man-Worthy Adversary
Endgame-See How We Run
Thirty Pieces-Gun The Motor Super Soldier
Michael Rockert-After All These Years
Suckerpunch -(featuring Michael Rockert) Man Of The Hour
Threatening The Order (interview from Reggie's Rock Club Local Loft Episode 17 1/21/16)
Threatening The Order-Soul Inside
Threatening The Order-Something To Prove

Local Loft Episode 260

Festivals...for the most of us. There are far more of them in the Chicago area than just that overhyped Lolla thing in late summer. This coming week alone, two big ones in particular including Forever Deaf Fest at Beat Kitchen. We Killed The Lion, who captivated a worldwide Local Loft listening audience in 2022, being named Best Chicago Area Rock album with Boogie Shoe Blues, is one of over fifteen acts playing Saturday & Sunday. I'll give you the rundown.
Progressive Alternative Rock Trio Silvertone mixes hard edged 90s Grunge and free form Jam Band Jazz Rock. They will blow minds and maybe even column speakers, Co headlining two shows this and next week, January 19th at Reed's Local in Avondale, and January 29th at Liar's Club. I talk with singer Zach Gray and Drummer Tyler Crady.
Rebel Radio kept the Metal alive and kicking as grunge was all the rage starting 29 years ago at a low frequency AM radio station in Northbrook. Founder and head DJ Scott Davidson gets the ball crushing birthday salute show at Brauerhouse In Lombard this Saturday the 21st. Progressive metal act Aftermath will be one of four to rock the roof off, along with Davidson's own band The Suffering. I've got the scoop.
No one was even taking a five-minute nap at the annual Snuz Fest, five years ago this week at the former Wire in Berwyn. Guardrail had everyone pogoing till they hit the rafters. We rock back to when I talked to them before they raised all adrenaline levels past the breaking point.
Along with these, you're kicking the big chill of another Chicago winter to the heated curb by firing up the original Chicagoland metal, punk, and alternative rock soundtrack of:
Silvertone-Expectations
Silvertone-Lost On You
Bad Chemicals-It's Not San Andrea's Fault
Ricky Liontones-Dreamsicle
Cuddle Riot-The Storm
Aftermath-No Time To Waste
Misfire-No Offense
Sweet Cobra-Melted
We Killed The Lion-Rocket
Guardrail (Interview at Snuz Fest, Wire in Berwyn 1/20/18 Local Loft Episode 74)
Guardrail-2006
Guardrail-You're Fired
 

Local Loft Episode 259

Getting this podcast to air normally is a labor of love. This time it was a labor of frustration due to aggravating laptop disc cleanup crap. But here it is, another unlimited supply of original Chicagoland metal punk, alternative rock & power pop.  Not even half assed so-called state of the art technology can slow down the adrenaline rush of cranking up this tuneage.
On the local metal front, Chicago's Stolen Sun has a case of lead singer moonlighting. Thier new singer, Anthony Thomas also screams out his rage in Rose Of Demise. I talk with Stolen Sun guitarist Cooper Kleinke about the unique singing nature of Anthoiny, who you can hear in your face Saturday, January 21st at Brauerhouse in Lombard. and with Rose Of Demise, in the Southwest Suburb of Summit at Exit Saloon on Friday the 20th.
Evolving out of the remains of one of the biggest power pop bands of the early to mid 80s, The Romantics, The Handcuffs sound nothing like the Detroit act who gave the world What I Like About You, Original Romantic's drummer Brad Elvis has molded the new band into a hybrid of Texas bar blues, & 70s British Glam Rock. They play Reggies on Thursday January, 12th. A sexy struttin' blues rocker from The Handcuffs is one of many tunes they'll play as they co-headline with Vortis.
Dreams do sometimes come true. Not so, if you're an up-and-coming Joliet, trying to get their own superstar rock festival like Sleaze attempted nine years ago this week. Singer and founder Isaac Hare dropped by the Kat 105.5 studio in hopes of getting radio promotion and exposure for the event that never was. We rock back to it.
Along with these, the new year's soundtrack is exploding with excessive rock recoil in both eardrums as you groove to:
Stolen Sun-Cruel Joke
Stolen Sun-The Hound
From Ashes To Embers-A Lesson In Tragedy
The Handcuffs-Pretty Pretty
Vortis-Crisis
Convoy-Father
The King's Rising-Cain And Abel
Superkick-Tom's My Only Friend
Lever-Don't Wait For Me
Rose Of Demise-Jane Doe
Her Worst Nightmare-When The Lights Go Out
Sleeze (Isaac Hare interview in The Kat 105.5 studio-1/9/14)
Sleeze-Love To Hate
Sleeze-Hail To The Thief
  

Local Loft Episode 258

I've made a list....and checked it way more than twice. 
2022 was way more active in terms of live shows & new original Chicago area metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop music made. A three-day concert festival raised a lot of money to help well known venues close to debt because the ongoing Covid pandemic. Major summer events returned for the first time in two years since the lockdowns and cancellations took hold in the darkest grip of the virus in 2020. And a Chicago rock legend couldn't Stay In Time to keep rocking because time ran out on his living years. The music rocked through any major obstacle in its way.
We rock back through the last 12 months with a feeling of pure musical satisfaction, and a very promising optimism for 2023.
And the 2022 Year in Review soundtrack is:
Convoy-Father (new single-released 12-24-22)
Tafoya- (Best 2022 Chicago area rock comeback-Michael Tafoya) Boogie With Me (2022 Freedom album remake)
Won't Stay Dead- (Best Chicago area 2022 Punk band) Somebody Put A Cross On My Head (And It Burns)
The Righteous And Few -(Best 2022 Chicago area Alternative Rock Band) Wasting Away
Whut?-(Best 2022 Chicago area metal album-No Hope, No Soul) One Choice
Endgame-(Best 2022 Chicago area metal band) Broken
Pale Horseman-(Best 2022 Chicago area live show, Save The Rock Fest) Vimanas (featuring Suzi Uzi)
We Killed The Lion-(Best 2022 Chicago area rock album, Boogie Shoe Blues) Pick Me Up
Cliff Johnson-Stay In Time (acoustic demo)
Off Broadway-Full Moon Turn My Head Around (Live at Fitzgeralds, Berwyn 2002)
The Outfit-(Mike Gorman interview Local Loft Episode 224 5/2/22)
The Outfit-Monster
The Outfit-Viking

Local Loft Episode 257

Here it is again, the annual Christmas rush, and the overhyped start of the most heart wrenching, stressful season of them all, winter. Pay no attention to those scary Winter Storm Warnings & Winter Weather Advisories while you're locked in to rocking out to a widespread accumulation of original Chicagoland & Illinois metal, punk, alternative rock & power pop. It's a gift of music well deserved any time of year.
No Jethro Tull in Jethro Tull. And NO Eugiene Grey in Lombard based alternative band Eugiene Grey & The Bad Habits...well that's what I thought. Singer Patrick Goray (phonetic pronunciation sounds like grey! or gray!) proves me wrong. So what's the self-secret behind the band's name? He calls in to tell me. It's no secret that this band's 90s style grunge is somewhere between 70s Kiss style hard rock, and 90s Pearl Jam. They will join veteran swamp rockers Convoy in a post Xmas gig, Friday, December 30th at Brauerhouse in their native Lombard. 
There's something Dead-ly to the free form nature of Progressive hard rockers Wild Jesus & The Devil's Lettuce, who'll be Truckin' (Hint, Hint) to Liar's Club for a pre-Christmas show with Chicago doom metal band Wizzo (sounding more like Alice in Chains than Alice Cooper) Wednesday night.
Relatively unknown but starting to become one of the significant holiday music benefit events in the Chicago area, 20 Bands of Christmas at the former Wire in Berwyn showcased many different artists and genres. Six years ago this week, metalcore was front and center stage with Aurora's Known By Numbers. We rock back to that gifted night. 
In addition, you're leaving out a nourishing music plate for a jolly old white bearded bowl full of jelly toy giver to rock out of his red suit and boots to by cranking up:
Eugiene Grey & The Bad Habits-Eight46
Eugiene Grey & The Bad Habits -Altered Beings
Convoy-Knocked Down
Wizzo-Hollow Earth
Wild Jesus & The Devil's Lettuce-Dragon Acid
M & R Rush-Bring Some Love
M & R Rush-Heavy Metal Christmas
Known By Numbers (interview from 20 Bands of Christmas at Wire In Berwyn Local Loft Episode 46 12/22/16)
Known By Numbers-Aphex
Known By Numbers-Cracks