Local Loft

A Progressive Punk, Metal, Acoustic Doom smorgasbord. You're always hungry for new music tastes. Local Loft will fill you up with another ear smacking menu of original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock & Power Pop.
This will go well with whatever food menu item you consume. But Tacos is the recommended bill of fare. The sixth and final Punk Rock Tacos is set for this Saturday, October 12th at Cemitas Poblanas in Villa Park. Punk Rock is not the only genre you'll experience. Noise Grunge duo The Human Trials from the Chicago South neighborhood of Bridgeport blends two to four different music styles in the course of one five-to-seven-minute song. I talk with singer and bassist John Gaetano about their diverse approach on the unpredictable and sparse debut album, Phase 1, before they lay it on a Punk Rock Tacos crowd Saturday.
He combines a ragged drunken Punk swagger with a traditional acoustic guitar driven country folk sound. Veteran singer, author and award nominated actor  Pete Berwick (out of McHenry) returns to a Dylanesque meets Johnny Cash unplugged flavor on his new album That's What I Think. A genuine story telling folk ballad about paying your dues and how hard work pays off to gaining an audience will be spun here.
With cinematic music videos about a murderous madam, and a haunting setting of slasher killers and futuristic witches, Black Road provided the perfect soundtrack for everyday horror movie life situations. They made their Local Loft premiere six years ago this week at Reggie's Music joint. We rock back to when I first met sinister but charismatic singer Suzi Uzi, and Doom Metal guitar virtuoso Tim Moreno. 
Crunch on this, another succulent soundtrack of original Chicago area music. On the menu:
The Human Trials-Derelict
The Human Trials-World War Me
Largemouth-For All I Care
Elbow Deep- Ruthless
Whut?-Day's Awakening
Pete Berwick-Heros And Bums
Space Age Zeros-My Brooding Friend
Black Road ( interview from Reggie's Music Joint 10/8/18 Local Loft Episode 88)
Black Road-Bloody Mary
Black Road-Red                                                                                                                                                                   

As we rock our way into a new season, don't FALL back on your support of the Chicagoland area's original Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock & Power Pop scene.
You'll always be caught up, with one listen to every Local Loft episode. From continuous all day mega band festivals like Punk Rock Tacos, to major album release shows, we cover the gamut. 
Singer Tony Engel and Drummer Ron Thomas have come a long way since the melodic hard powerhouse band they co-founded, Veilside. BlockChain Coalition is a much different sound that mixes progressive rock & 70s power pop (think Cheap Trick with a much more melodic and symphonic edge) BCC is working on their second full length album, the follow up The New Normal (which took the 2023 Best Original Chicago Area Rock Album during last year's Year In Review). To give the new record a more metal edge, they've invited veteran guitar shredder David Demon Shankle to wail away on at least one track. I'll discover this from all five BCC members, as I talk with them before they reveal a lot of new music during a Saturday night headline gig at Tony D's Sports Bar in Elmwood Park. Another revelation involves GraveReign, the progressive Metal band Tony and Shankle first unleashed on the world in 2021, with their debut album, Destination Aftermath. A second forthcoming album will feature not only Demon, but the drummer he played with on his debut for the 80s/90s New York national progressive Metal band, Manowar.
Continuing to rock into his mid 70s, Jim Peterik still is making his name known with the multi artist supergroup World Stage, as singer/frontman for the legendary Ides Of March, & as an acclaimed songwriter. A recent unused demo Jim gave to veteran Roseland Chicago rockers M & R rush becomes their new digital single next Monday, October 7th. But was first released on their 2018 album Between The Lines. I preview it for you, with a brand-new Ides Of Narch tune from the new World Stage album Roots And Shoots Volume 2.
Holly Smith continues to be one of the most prominent and versatile female singers in the Chicago original music scene. Her new duo, Pop Killers puts a hard-edge Rock spin on modern Top 40 music of Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and more. She began her journey with In 2 The Inferno, a grunge alternative band, who made a surprising return, seven years ago this week at Cullen's Pub in Oak Lawn. We rock back to it.
Rock ahead, don't fall behind with the most comprehensive coverage of the original Chicago music scene. The playlist this time around:
BlockChain Coalition-This Time (Live from Tony D's Elmwood Park 9/28/24)
BlockChain Coalition-Dirty Little Liar
GraveReign-Destination Aftermath
M & R Rush-Reckless Love (co-written by Jim Peterik)
Survivor-Rebel Girl (original 1980 Scotti Brothers 45 vinyl pressing)
Jim Peterik & Ides Of March-We Can Fly
The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club-I Saw A Ghost
In 2 The Inferno (interview from Cullen's Pub, Oak Lawn 9/28/17 Local Loft Episode 67)
In 2 The Inferno- To The City
Into The Inferno-Rescue (live from Cullen's Pub Oak Lawn 9/28/17)

Summer 2024 went out with a big bang!
There were surprise reunions, accidental fuse explosions, grass blades curdled and the earth shook a few times in a minute flat.
Kankakee's fourth annual Estival Festival was one hell of a way to go out. The veteran Southern Fried Metal band Redneck Remedy used the occasion to play their first reunion show in ten years. They never really went away. The Don Palzer Band Shell had its foundations shook like a severe earthquake. Singer and guitarist Big John David Daily, bassist John Tiny Mullikin, lead guitarist Chis Pancho Cirullo and drummer Nick Steele had a packed crowd mesmerized just like when they introduced themselves in 2009 with an intense self titled debut album. With the help of john's son John David Daily Jr., they kept the crowd moshing and awestruck. I interview all five for what is turning out to be the start of a big new road of tour dates and a long awaited second album.
The whole Estival Festival had moments rockin' and scary. From the blazing hardcore crunch of Ephinepic, I talk with all four of the Kankakee metal act (Travis & Cody Zupan, guitarist Drew Bitner, and bassist Dave Lohrbach), to the explosive free form jam session of Shaper (who rocked on despite a scary big smoky band and power failure). Newcomers Mothpoint mixed 60s British Invasion style vocal harmonies with free form 70s blues and progressive rock and the powerful singing of Lupe Carroll. And Local Loft 2023 Best Alternative Rock Band Carrying Torches fired up an exquisite set to close out the music filled fun.
This Saturday, September 28th, BlockChain Coalition provides an melodic link to a stellar night of live local music with a headlining show at Tony D's in Elmwood Park. Singer Tony Engel will again join forces with legendary guitar shredder David Demon Shankle for a second full length album of GraveReign. Including a surprise blast from Demon's Manowar past on the new record. I'll fill you in
Out of the home base of Tony D's, Elmwood Park's Racing The Sun first introduced their eclectic mix of 70s blues rock and 60s psychedelic acid rock at the Breaking The Silence Autism Benefit concert (Durty Nellies in Palatine). This weekend five years ago, they heated up the stage at Wire in Berwyn. We rock back to it.
Hell Yeah! it's another heavy hootenanny of original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock, and power pop. Crank it up and remedy a boring  non fun filled life crisis by jamming to:
Redneck Remedy- When It Rains, It Pours (Live from Estival Festival, Bird Park, Kankakee-9/21/24)
Redneck Remedy-War Or Silence (Live from Estival Festival, Bird Park, Kankakee-9/21/24)
Ephinepic-Dead (live from Estival Festival, Bird Park, Kankakee-9/21/24)
Mothpoint-Blue Lights
Carrying Torches-All Or Nothing (includes excerpt of Computer (Live)
Shaper-Task Paralysis
BlockChain Coalition-Never Really Meant To Say Goodbye
Racing The Sun (interview from Wire In Berwyn-9/28/19 Local Loft Episode 112)
Racing The Sun-Silver Streak
Racing The Sun-Surprise

"Don't let it end, baby we could have so much more." (Styx 1983)
 
All seasons have to change. But it's hard to change your frame of mind if you've been to one of many Summer 2024 shows with original Chicago Punk, Metal, Alternative Rock & Power Pop bands & artists. 
There have been so many. From Merchant Street Music Fest to Punk Rock Tacos. That multi band and multi genre showcase in Villa Park is truly one of a kind. I dropped in on the fifth outdoor PRT of Summer 2024 this past Saturday. Punk Rock wasn't only on the music menu. But it dominated. Nervous Tics, a four-man band from my home base of Stickney drowned out the excessive decibel level exceeding sound of passing freight trains with songs of happy moods and how everyday life routines (going to work) can cause major downer issues as one lives day to day. I talk with singer/guitarist Paul Van Cleef and the other three members after they rocked loud and seismic enough to scare nearby rash and itch inducing Cicada Mites away. Tractor Boy of the far Southwest suburbs came armed with highly political songs of government gold absconding conspiracies involving ants running amok in American soil.
Saving the best (and most surprising) comeback for last, Kankakee's Redneck Remedy will tear it up on the main stage of Kankakee Estival Festival for the first time in thirteen years. What can you expect, a pouring rain return to whiskey soaked good time. I'll get you pumped up for their return this Saturday in Bird Park.
Enuff Z'Nuff will have you flying high (even if your not named Michelle) when they touch down at W.C, Social Club on Thursday, September 26th. 
You won't get a crash course on how to mix genres (punk and progressive rock) from Supercollider, who blended the two strictly by accident eight years ago this week at Reggie's Music Joint. We rock back to it.
Fire up one last sizzling original Chicagoland rock Summer of 2024 soundtrack. Just hit the play arrow to point the way to:
Nervous Tics-Ultra Violent
Nervous Tics-Standard Issue Issues (live from Punk Rock Tacos 54 Cemitas Poblanas, Villa Parl-9/14/24)
Tractor Boy-Your Uncle Was Right
The Human Trials-Cross Upon Your Chest
Real Bad Real Fast-Don't Kill Yourself
The Selectones-Better Off Alone
Redneck Remedy-Bid You Farewell
The Rising Fall-Breaking The Chain
Enuff Z''Nuff-High
Supercolliders (interview from Reggie's Music Joint 9/10/16 Local Loft Episode 37)
Supercolliders-Ashes Of Lies
Supercolliders-Triple Crown

The following program is brought to you....in Living Stereo!
It will be crisp, clear and three dimensional at times. In between occasional railroad crossing signal bells, the roar of commercial jet airliners, and the hiss of cicadas, you'll hear loud and clear another thunderous, loud distinctive Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop soundtrack. You know where the volume knob is and which direction to crank it. 
Their name is futuristic, but Chicago's Satellite Union conjures up memories of a totally old school era. Songs about preserving a mix tape of familiar favorites between a girlfriend you had a crush on and her current steady boyfriend, which is no longer you. The mixture of heartwarming beginnings & sad partings of ways are very prevalent in the lyrics of Far Cry From The Place We Met, their debut EP. I talk with singer and guitarist Dave Whalley before they unite a crowd ready to rock at The Outtaspace in Berwyn.
The most horrific day in American history 23 years ago this Wednesday is remembered by Kankakee's Redneck Remedy (who will surprisingly reunite for the first time in 13 years at Kankakee Estival Festival, Saturday, September 21st at Bird Park). It's a heart warming and heart-breaking story of destruction but hope and faith.
With his high pitched, fiery vocal delivery, Taran De Pablos can adapt to any singing style in any genre. Before he joined The Midnight Calls bringing a bluesier, but raspy vocal quality, he could've drew comparisons to Ronnie James Dio, as singer for Fierce Atmospheres. Taran shook the foundations of The Forge in Joliet with his new metal crooning personality. We rock back to it.
Live it, know it, learn it! Crank up this educational and musical original Chicagoland music playlist of:
Satellite Union-Mix Tape
Satellite Union-Dirt Road
Ephinepic-Stumble, Still Standing
Redneck Remedy-War Or Silence
Full Of Moxie-Take Me Home
Smear Campaign-I Thought This Was A Punk Band
Tractor Boy-Make America America Again
Vaudeviliens-Lights Out
The Midnight Calls-The Neon Song (Live from The Forge in Joliet-8/31/24)
Fierce Atmospheres (interview from The Forge in Joliet-9/8/19 Local Loft Episode 111)
Fierce Atmospheres-Forsaken
Fierece Atmospheres-Easy To Fall         

"OH! have you not heard....it was my understanding that everybody heard."
So you haven't heard how diverse and rockin' the original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop scene is. You'll be a believer and supporter once you sample all this episode of Local Loft has to offer.
Doin' the stray cat strut onto the outdoor stage of the fourth Summer 0f 2024 Punk Rock Tacos outdoor show is Sex Dream. This Chicago Punk Pop trio has more of an obsession with cats than intimacy. Led by bassist/singer Maria Surfinbird (Any Family Guy would love that last name) they have excessive feline images in the new music video clip for their latest single Sprinkles. Including their drummer with kitty ears surrounded by a full plate of guitars & donuts! I talk with Maria, Drummer Andrew & guitarist Kurt after their purrfect candy coated set.
While you still can, get your summer plans in gear. The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club will shift you into a full party mode before the chill of an early fall with their revved up new single. Astro Circus clowns around at Kankakee Estival Festival on the first Fall weekend,. while bluesy singer Leigh Evin weaves a tapestry of music styles with her band The Lowdown.
A sign of the change of seasons, The Skies Are Shifting. Not just a weather pattern, but a band. This Berwyn four piece shifted the roof foundations of Wire in Berwyn five years ago this week. We rock back to it.
Feel the hiss and scratch of this non furry original Chicago area music soundtrack:
Sex Dream-Meow Mix
Sex Dream-Sprinkles
Grey Trash Aliens-Freak On The Side Dip
The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club-Gear Up 4 Good Times
Black Road-From Hell
How It Ends-Left Alive
Marquette-Semper Di
Astro Circus-Drowned Saffire (live from Kankakee Boat Club)
Leigh Evin & The Lowdown-I
The Skies Are Shifting (Interview form Wire in Berwyn-8/31/19 Local Loft Episode 110)
The Skies Are Shifting-Long Sleeve
The Skies Are Shifting-Cloudgazer

"When summer's gone...where will we be?" (The Doors-Summer's Almost Gone-1968)
Given the very active Chicago area's original music scene, from four outdoor Punk Rock Tacos shows, to a confused locating and relocating of the overhyped Riot Fest, the Fall that follows will be just as unpredictable.  Keep up with all the changes and new artists on the scene with Local Loft.
When you least expect it, Colleen Wild & The Haunted burst onto the original Chicagoland music scene with a powerful, intimate singing style and a tight melodic hard rock sound.  They rocked and won over a packed crowd during the Sunset Stroll Bike Ride and live music event at the Kankakee Farmer's Market in the heart of downtown K3. With serious lyric images of parents abandoning their children, and the anticipation of salvation, they were on top of their music game. I talk with Colleen & the Haunted after their stellar gig, which mixed tunes from their debut EP, Nest, with rare acoustic renditions of songs from the soon to be released second follow up album.
The following Midnight Calls show for the last weekend of August will be brought to you in Living Colour. The raunchy hard rock meets blues rock band fronted by fiery singer Taran De Pablos will open for the smash late 80's hard rock band known for their radio hits Cult Of Personality & Glamour Boys, Saturday At The Forge in Joliet. I have a new flowery single, which channel Midnight Calls inner AC/DC.
What passes for Country music nowadays is very vague (Luke Bryan & Florida Geogia Line are the biggest imposters) Righteous Hillbillies may look Country, they don't play like it, which the four man Joliet band fronted by Brent James, certainly proved at Hopstring Fest, eight years ago this week at Silver Cross Field in their hometown. We rock Back to it. 
An original Chicagoland metal, punk, alternative rock, & power pop soundtrack intense enough to act as a sonic spray which eradicates all cicada & cicada mites (and their gnarly rash skin bumps) when cranked loud includes:
Colleen Wild & The Haunted-Haunted
Colleen Wild-In The Crowd (live acoustic performance at The Kankakee Farmer's Market-8/23/24)
Mothpoint-Bloodsucker
Vang!-Let's Ride
TOFTS-Chicago Vampires
The Handcuffs-Dancing With The Dandies
Witchammer-Watch The World Burn
The Midnight Calls-Coming Up Roses
Skinwalker-Preacher With A Flare Gun
Righteous Hillbillies (interview from Hopstring Fest at Silver Cross Field, Joliet Local Loft Episode 35 8/20/16)
Righteous Hillbillies-Call Me A Doctor
Righteous Hillbillies-Throwing Stones
 

WHOA!.... give me a second to catch my breath.
It has been a very active Summer of 2024 in the Chicago area's original metal, punk, alternative rock and power pop scene...and it's far from over.
From three jam packed outdoor Punk Rock Tacos in Villa Park. Shaper commanding a lead spot, even over Zion, Illinois rock veterans, Local H, at Kankakee's Merchant Street Music Fest. The surprising announcement of Redneck Remedy's return in September, bringing back the Southern Fried Metal they invented. And Vaudevileins Illuminating the stage with their powerful new fifth album, Lights Out, with their late April release show in Lockport. We can now add a special homecoming show for Joliet Doom Metal powerhouse band Black Road.
Even the threat of drenching rains and aggressive wind and thunderstorms couldn't stop them from casting another dark, bewitching spell over the crowd at The Drunken Donut. I caught up with charismatic singer Suzi Uzi, guitarist extraordinaire Tim Moreno, and the band's new explosive rhythm section. Bassist Trey Wedgeworth & drummer Danny Garcia, who have put future plans of their own Doom Metal act, Faces Of The Bog on hold, as they help Black Road continue their gothic journey toward a follow up thire album, to Witch Of The Future, first released on Halloween 2019. I talk with all four outdoors in the back yard of Drunken donut.
Kankakee won't stop the music fests with its annual summer gathering in Harold & Jean Miner Square. Right at the official beginning of Fall is Estival Festival. Along with the surprise return of Redneck Remedy, eclectic Alternative Rockers Carrying Torches are back for an Estival Encore. Newcomers Colleen Wild & The Hunted are shooting for becoming the next big rock act in the K3 River Valley.
First with The Boyzz (From Illinois) then trying to be the rocking buzz of the 80s hair metal scene with The B'zz. Now reinventing his biker band rock late 70's Boyzz era with his trio Tafoya. Michael Tafoya is a journeyman guitarist with a legendary resume. He joined us on The Kat 105.5's local music showcase hour Homegrown Tones, fourteen years ago this week. We rock back to it.
Now that we're not winded anymore from over rocking at the onslaught of Chicago area original rock shows, breathe in this original Chicagoland music soundtrack:
Black Road-Never Enough (live from The Drunken Donut, Joliet 8/15/24)
Black Road-Witch Of The Future (live at The Drunken Donut, Joliet 8/15/24)
Faces Of The Bog-Weight
Zero Nada-Light Me Up
BlockChain Coalition-The Road
Gamma Goat-Get in The Trough
Carrying Torches-All For Nothing
Colleen Wild & The Haunted-Savior
Vaudevileins-Erase The Truth
Michael Tafoya (interview in The Kat 105.5 studio 8/19/10)
Tafoya's Lost Boyzz-Over Now
Tafoya's Lost Boyzz-Long Time Ago
Tafoya's Lost Boyzz-Life

The sizzle ain't over yet!
Not just the sizzle of August Summer Dog Days heat...The Sizzle of that heated combination of Original Chicago Punk Rock and ground beef with hard shells and tortillas.
The third outdoor edition of Tacos has music diversity all over its music menu. Sure there was punk in different varieties, especially Horace Pinker. This veteran Chicago 4-man band first unlaeshed their melodic Punk Pop during the peak of Grunge, 1994, when Power Tools, their debut album was released. I talk to original drummer Bill Ramsey, singer/guitarist Scott Eastman & bassist Bryan Jones, after they spanned three decades worth of thier music at Cemitas Poblanas in Villa Park.
13-Monsters tore it up on the Punk Rock Tacos stage and made believers out a mostly hardcore and pop punk loving crowd. Co-founders Deb Sonzo and Jaime Rianni brought along Good Vibrations with the use of a familiar electronic instrument with paved the way for all types of synthesizers. 
 From the smell of fried taco ground beef to the ear lobe exploding sound of Southern Fried Metal, the Kankakee band who invented the latter will have you two stepping with a vicious head bang. Redneck Remedy is back at the Kankakee late summer event that put the Estival back in Festival. You'll be Goin' Back To Whiskey with Fierce singer Joh David Daily and the original lineup when there's no going back to the sizzle of Summer. I've got the where and when.
With no chance to grab a can of hairspray or an Aqua net, you'll be headed back to the era of Hair Metal. Award winning Chicago hard rockers Down N Dirty weren't just a retro throwback. Their sound and image went in a more radical bluesy hard rock direction after they descended upon The Kat 105.5 studio thirteen years ago this week. We'll rock back to it.
Take a auditory bite into it. It's what you the true fan of original Chicago Punk, Metal, Alternative Rock and Power pop crave. Another scrumptious soundtrack from:
!3-Monsters-Hang Around (live from Punk Rock Tacos 52, 8/10/24 Cemitas Poblanas, Villa Park) 
13-Monsters-The Bessemer Process (Live From Cairo Bar 2016)
Horace Pinker-Punker Than G.B.H.
Horace Pinker-Lost (Live from Punk Rock Tacos 52, Cemitas Poblanas, Villa Park-8/10/24)
Rad Payoff-Series Of Excuses
Redneck Remedy-When It Rains It Pours
Black Road-Radiation
Wolf Rd.-The Ides Of March
Bullet To The Heart-Fawn
Down N Dirty (Interview In The Kat 105.5 Studio-8/11/11)
Down N Dirty-Taste Of Rock N Roll
Down N Dirty-Wild Child
Down N Dirty-Free & Young

Are you punk, metal, alternative rock or power pop? Pick a genre and bring along a hearty music appetite. 
I've scared up another crunchy great time. The Chicago area music menu is loaded and ready to nourish your diverse music tastes. Svengoolie won't drop in for a guest appearance, but the city whose existence he laughably questions on every one of his Saturday night classic horror film retrospectives, will (everyone say sarcastically, BURR-WINN!)
Acton's Dictum got a hometown crowd pogoing toward the highest rafters, with a Saturday Night bash at their hometown bar, The Outtaspace in Berwyn. They didn't hold back on an irreverent old school Oi Punk style. I talk with singer/songwriter & guitarist Matt Durica, guitarist Paul Crowe, bassist Dave Leffel and Drummer Rich Richert. This gig was a nice brash warmup, for their outdoor stage tear up, Saturday, August 10th at the third outdoor Punk Rock Taco's show in Villa Park.
That will also feature the surreal presence of 13-Monsters. Flamboyant singer Deb Sonzo will entice a mosh heavy crowd into an intimate trance. Sounding somewhere between 60s psychedelic jam band and 90s hardcore punk grunge act is MMB, Mike Michilak Band, whose latest single takes us all on a blazing space ship trip around the galaxy. 
With a name like Endostalgia, there was bound to be a trippy lava lamp mental image involved. The Chicago band combines the pastoral tye dye t-shirt nature of the Woodstock era with the sloppy guitar distortion of 90s grunge. They laid this mixture on a crowd of old and young music lovers at Wire in Berwyn, five years ago this week. We rock back to it.
Crank this one ultra loud, and drown out the excessive decibel, ear lobe shattering sound of the hum of the diesel engine of the Metra BNSF trains. It's the Berwyn and all points north, west and east sound of original punk, metal, alternative rock and power pop from:
Acton's Dictum-Racist Neighbors
Acton's Dictum-Propaganda
Lost Dead-Love And Hate
MMB (Mike Michilak Band)-Starshine
13-Monsters-Never Let You Go (Live from Cairo Bar in West Chicago)
Backlash-Sleight Of Hand
Advorsa-Blood Moon
Endostaligia (interview from Wire in Berwyn 8/6/19 Local Loft Episode 109)
Endosatalgia-Sign
Endostalgia-Rumbush