Upcoming Shows

This is not your typical metal band. From hand claps to cow bell (yeayup, cowbell), Shifting Totem will leave you craving for more.

It became apparent very quickly that this garage band was going to be anything but yet another purveyor of tired suburban white-boy blues (although it was equally apparent that they were all pretty white). Drew could bang out the 1-4-5 12-bar raunch with the best of them, but infused that sound with technical abandon (not to say the abandonment of technique) and a never-ending search for the perfect overdrive pedal. Jeff, meanwhile, brings a pummeling fluency in the fine art of metal and hard-rock drumming (complete with double kick bass drum!), pushing Drew’s songs of love lost and money stolen to blistering extremes of tempo and volume. Finally, Brent finds a niche within the maelstrom with his experiments in noise, fuzz, and wah-wah, not to mention his extensive scholarship in free jazz and improvisation.

In an age when 90's music was becoming "classic rock", and boys of all ages started wearing girl jeans because "they look cool", three men set out on a mission to bring back just some good old rock and torn pants. Those three were none other than Evan, Jeremy (aka Bloodbath), and Brennen. All originally drummers in different bands of different times, they've come together like a jigsaw puzzle on top of a cardboard table in an old woman's living room to play some of their favorite covers and strum out some face rockin originals along the way. They are working on a new and particular sound that you will only be able to find here soon.

Pheta Morgana was formed in mid 2009 thanks to the modernized internet newspaper 'wanted' ads, aka Craigslist. With new original material, influenced by pop music created all throughout the 20th century, Pheta Morgana has a promising drive to keep creating a diverse assembly of songs. Although the band has recently released a live studio EP demo, they still insist on their fans coming to see them live.

You may already know The Fold. They had a very successful deal with Tooth and Nail records in the USA a couple of years ago but eventually decided to go solo so they could explore their creative side and make the kind of music they wanted to make, instead of spewing out the same style. The Fold has matured instrumentally and lyrically, yet they prove that it's not all seriousness with their rendition of Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA”. Their version, “Every Band in the USA”, along with its shamelessly silly video, actually offer some serious insights on how the music scene has become all about looks for rock bands, now that the "alternative" scene is in fact the mainstream... Armed with their creative independence, their loyal following and now the exploding success of their clever parody video, the Fold is now building their fan base by the hundreds of thousands by the day – and growing!

The Scissors started the band with the hopes to play music they love, but not give it a bad name. It is purely rock and roll, with no bull in between. 4 chords...a bunch of dudes and a gal! ENJOY

Most band bios are pathetic and bloated. Let's stick to the truth - this band started as a small thought in my head. I wanted a canvas to play the mellower stuff I wrote the way I'd imagined it. After years of collaboration, I needed to do something for myself. As most stories go, things started changing when members started getting added. The songs got a little louder and everyone started putting their input in and I liked it. Thus, the Insecurities. Come check out a show. By the way, we're insecure but we're still better than you.

Last Fast Action was started by three members of The Dog and Everything (Augie, Dan, Tommy) who started writing songs together with new members Ando and Joe. Following the release of their "Season 1" EP, they're starting to pick up momentum both in the Chicago scene and nationally. The "Season 2" EP is due out soon.

Just Left has been a very committed DIY band that was assembled in summer of 04. Storming right out of Chicago, the boys are currently looking for a larger label to help with all of the exciting hype. Just Left is a pop rock band that has been picking up fans with their warm sound, talented songwriting, and electrifying live performances.

A Kidnap In Color is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stagnant scene. The band's seven song EP, The Rumours Are Flying, is brimming with charismatic lyrics coupled with a sexy motif, backed by compelling guitar riffs, driving bass lines, and a dynamic array of infectious dance-laden beats. Top it off with a variety of catchy hooks, and Rumours is guaranteed to have you singing for hours after listening. And A Kidnap In Color can deliver what it promises: the live show is both energetic and robust and will have even the most reserved listener moving with the music. Indeed, A Kidnap In Color is the complete package- energy, looks, dedication, and, most importantly, a unique sound among a million bland ones- and promises to have people talking. For a band this good, the only way from here is up.

Threeville's sound is unique, to say the least, with driving riffs and heavily sardonic lyrics aimed at the music industry, accentuated by perfect vocal harmonies and an operatic feel making each song seem massiveturing 3 ex-members of The Evil Us's.

Cicada Face, let it roll off your tongue. Let it ooze out your ears.

After a nearly 10 year hiatus, Chicago-based Lophophora has reunited with a revamped lineup and all new original material. From Classic Rock to Grunge to Punk, Lophophora has always pulled something from their widely ranging influences and made it their own.

Rock bands and real Wrestling! holy crap!

People only say "rock 'n' roll is dead" to sell records. That way a label, PR hack or jaded journalist can proclaim some band "rock's salvation." It's a load of shit. Even in these harrowing times dominated by nu metal, vapid teen pop and cookie-cutter pop-punk, we must continue to believe in the power of rock.Cougars believe. They know that rock never went anywhere, even though culturally obtuse writers and bottom-line-watching label presidents have decided it's back. Each Cougars show is a testament to its vitality. Six guys (including former members of Big'n and Hot Stove Jimmy) thrust onto the stage for a multi-instrumental assault: dueling guitars, driving bass, manic drumming, ominous keyboards, beguiling vocals. Like a hurricane spinning into motion and laying waste to all that has not been boarded up and abandoned, Cougars are collecting wolf tickets.

Boots With Spurs do not need to rely on bizarre storytelling and imaginative plot devices to sell their music. You give this one listen, and you start to feel like a pathetic fly caught between the jaws of a Venus Fly Trap, caught helplessly in a rapid current of influences and guitar solos. The sound is like a drunken barfight between The Mars Volta, These Arms Are Snakes and Hella, all thrown into some kind of turbo blender that just will not stop for anything.

"Standing on the shoulders of giants" (Latin: nanos gigantum humeris insidentes) is a Western metaphor meaning "One who develops future intellectual pursuits by understanding the research and works created by notable thinkers of the past." The band Standing on the Shoulders of Giants was formed in 2007 originally as a hardcore band and after a few member changes the band developed into more of a "classic rock with a modern twist" sound. SOTSOG is comprised of founding members Jacob Taus,Alex Garibay and Christopher Foss,as well as former members of the band The Chemist vs. the Computer;Nick Raducha,Jimmy Wernes and the newest addition Tara Murphy. This band does not wish to classify itself under any specific genre but rather explore different options musically and have a kind of "no rules" attitude towards songwriting. Standing on the shoulders of giants' philosophy is simply "have fun" whether in music or in life,so we hope that you enjoy what you hear and we especially hope you "have fun" doing it.

With crowds chanting and Microphones flying these guys take the stage over and make sure you know rock isn’t dead. Far beyond the cry-baby-synth-pop that’s taken over what used to be called “punk”, you’ll quickly find yourself lost in the moment. Whisky soaked nights fueled by a crowd as energized and as true as the music, it’s easy to see why these guys are quickly becoming a staple in the Chicago music scene.

The newly formed outfit Sky We Scrape plays a hybrid style of hardcore and heavy punk rock. The band’s raw emotion is offset by interesting song structures and instrumentation. SWS display inventive songwriting and pay real attention to the soundscapes they create, pounding out 3 minute heavy novellas on the concrete walls of blue collar Chicago.

At the core of UNiVERSE is an ambitious guitarist, singer and songwriter, Jamie Miller, and his longtime music companion, drummer, Pierce Burke. The two had played in various groups together, but wanted to start something of their own with an all-star lineup.

Up from the Wormwood consists of one boy with a big heart and a lot to say about it. With his sandy blonde hair and emerald eyes he has the awe-inspiring vocals and strumming guitar to make girls fall from buildings. It's like the axe commercials except with music, and cuddling instead of cologne and wild sex.

"This Must Be the Band has a great catalog to draw from, mixing up rare Talking Heads songs with the more popular songs and throwing in a few Byrne solo songs for good measure."

We are a tribute to one of the greatest bands of the modern era - Radiohead. Based in Chicago, IL, we formed in March of 2009. The intention of our project has been to play the band's songs live - just as they play them... not to be a cheesy look-a-like cover band. We have been hard at work in the rehearsal studio for months, and are ready to rock out at a venue near you. We are KID A.

Wicked guitar riffs, light ‘em up solos, a fierce banshee howl on vocals, and lock tight drums & bass grooves mingle together to form the sinful ROCK EXPLOSION that is known as ‘The Black Saints’.

a special Dekalb record release for the new "THESE THINGS HAPPEN" by The J. Davis Trio. The j.davis trio is an all live hip-hop/jazz band from Chicago. Drums, bass, trumpet, congas and vibraphone make up the intstrumentation. With the help of alot of great people, the j.davis trio recorded 13 songs and released the debut CD in the fall of '99. I, stuart, front the band and play the vibraphone (a big, fancy xylophone with organ pipes), congas and various other percussion instruments.

Despite their blabbing moniker, BlahBlahBlah is very tight lipped. By remaining a mystery, their music can speak for itself. It does so in many tounges. The versatile group trades instruments throughout their set and plays with a style that jumps between indie rock, house and the sweetest moments of ambient downtempo.

In an oversaturated metal landscape where sub-genres spawn sub-sub-genres and the very definition of “metal” seems blurred by cross-pollinating madness, sacred are the bands who stay true to their roots. Goatwhore spew the sort of sinister, fist-clenching, speaker-searing sound that made metal so forbiddingly enticing in the first place

Enfold Darkness is a metal band from Nashville, TN. They formed in 2006, and were signed to Sumerian Records in 2009 for their debut full length, Our Cursed Rapture.

Dark Spectrum. A name quickly becoming synonymous with punishing, melodic blackend death metal. Formed in 2006 by guitarist and vocalist, Mike Navarro and drummer, Dave Kalman the band has steadily grown for several years and has earned a reputation among the Illinois underground metal scene as a band that puts on one hell of show! Having shared the stage with such bands as Cradle of Filth and Obituary they've proven themselves as future contenders for heirs to the death metal throne.

Primitive Evolution (Chicago, IL) is straight up in your face, three piece death metal. Members come from a variety of musical backgrounds, from traditional South American music to contemporary hip-hop to 80's rock. Satan has blessed them with the kiss of death. For lyrical content, please watch the movie Idiocracy.

Combine extreme music with an edgy, biting implacability, complement it with politically motivated lyrics that have a distinct tendency to point the finger at grievances and aren't afraid of exposing abhorrent facts, and you just might get a sense of the pandemonium of sounds on Hordes of Chaos, the latest recording by Germany's cult thrash metal act, Kreator, scheduled for release on Steamhammer/SPV on 19 January 2009 (Germany: 16 January, US: late January). Even in 2009, the band prove themselves to be unusually innovative and a step ahead of the game, always ready to pursue new ideas and treat themselves and their fans to maximum authenticity.Kreator are experts when it comes to pure, unadulterated thrash metal.

A new light and life has entered the Voivod camp. Snake has returned to sing after a seven year hiatus and the aborted Union Made project. Longtime friend and fan Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica) will be producing and filling bass duties on the sequel to Phobos. And this album will be the final chapter in the epic story of the vampire lord Away created in his mind as a child. The Voivod must go to war with his god before his final eternal rest. With new superstar member Jasonic in the fold, the possibilities for the future of Voivod continue to multiply. Too few bands continue to create such relevant music so far into their career. Lucky for you and I, Voivod is such a band.

Nachtmystium have existed since 2000. Formed by Blake Judd and Pat "Noctis" McCormick, the band started off as a primitive 4-tracker black metal band. Over the years, the band has progressed through many line up changes and the sound has constantly matured, stepping away from the typical black metal thematics and embracing different influences within the sound, while maintaining a raw and harsh edge that's unique to the black metal genre. The incorporation of other influences have helped the band create a sound that is unique to them specifically, and will continue to work as an ever-expanding unit with the ultimate goal to create metal music that pushes boundaries and walks into uncharted territories.

Evile are a Thrash Metal outfit from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in the UK. Founded by old school friends Matt Drake and Ben Carter, and after playing with different guitarists and bass players for a year or so, Matt's brother Ol was asked to join as lead guitarist. After a short search for a bass player The 3 were contacted by Mike Alexander via an ad in a local guitar shop, and the band was formed. With every member contributing to every aspect of the band they have a uniqueness and strength which gives them a cutting edge, influenced by bands such as Sepultura, Exodus, Metallica, Annihilator and Slayer to name but a few, Evile have created something that the metal world is crying out for.

THRASH OR DIE is the motto Lazarus A.D. have lived by since day one and their no holds barred attitude is equaled only by their will to become a leading force in modern metal. Their supreme level of creativity, musicianship and professionalism makes them an electrifying and engaging live act. Lazarus A.D. formed in the frozen tundra of southeastern Wisconsin in the spring of 2005. Dan Gapen (guitars/vocals), Jeff Paulick (bass/lead vocals), Alex Lackner (guitars), and Ryan Shutler (drums), redefine the phrase “alcoholism and aggression” in music. They subject metal heads to furious nights of head banging while drinking venues dry. Have no doubts that Lazarus A.D. is a thrash band, but merely in attitude as their sound is no simple throwback to the 80s bay area sound. They breathe a breath of fresh air into modern thrash with intelligent, memorable riffs, thrash breakdowns, mid-tempo grooves, and high-flying solos.

"The loudest, heaviest and most controversial music on earth can act as a universal language."

This local outfit, aside from being as heavy as a dextromethorphan trip, shows their mastery at conjuring that vertiginous sensation specific to doom metal, where each massive chord simultaneously sounds like the ending of one song and the beginning of another.

While so-called "pagan metal" bands seem to be popping up around every corner lately, trying to conform to current trends instead of coming up with ideas of their own, SUIDAKRA have stayed true to the sound that they have become known for. Reaching new heights in their fourteen year history, the German celtic metallers return full steam ahead with their 9th studio album, "Crógacht". Combining fast melodic death metal, Irish folk music, and a torrent of harmonies, they prove yet again the ability blend several different influences into their unique sound. To put a spin on things, new elements are introduced, like traditional instruments (bagpipes, banjo, tin whistles), a sixteen member choir and epic orchestral arrangements.

With dark themes of drowning, destruction and despair, A Storm of Light is a hard-hitting metal band with low slithering bass lines, rumbling guitar and bellowing vocals that come intricately together for an epic sound.

It's time for another one man showdown, in this case Shane Ocell a.k.a Via Vengeance the one man Progressive Sludge Metal project hailing from the sun baked Scottsdale, Arizona. As we all know one man outfits can tend to be a tid bit, well disastrous if were all being completely honest, so it's always nice to report on one that shows real talent and a great sound. But seriously, this is a one man punk band!

Since 1998, The Appleseed Cast have consistently altered their approach: mastering emo-core, exploring experimental space-rock and settling into a dense, punk-psychedelic groove that recalls the feedback loops and swirls of bands like My Bloody Valentine and Mercury Rev. The Lawrence, Kansas-based quintet takes its previous lessons and melds them into economically metered pop songs that retain a childlike sense of wonder while the aggressive rhythms go for the throat.

Dreamend is a band of immense beauty. From the soft, almost feminine vocals to the percussive fury, this band is a meditative discourse on sound, tone, melody, harmony, and texture. References to Mogwai, My Morning Jacket, and Cowboy Junkies suffice here, but they don't quite do the band it's own justice.

We formed The Chevelles in 1989 from the ashes of The Stems, Kryptonics and The Freuds. Over the past 18 years we have released 6 albums and have countless tracks on compilations all around the world. We haved toured around the globe from our hometown of Perth Western Australia to Brazil the US and throughout Europe playing over 800 shows in our lifetime as a band.

In a prefabricated, test-marketed and modulated world, this is a Midwestern band with grit, spirit, and musicality. Gidgets Ga Ga is the genuine deal! Imagine the Replacements getting jumped by the Beatles and Monkees then molested by the Who and Nirvana!

"OK, I'm not gonna beat around the bush, this is the single best Horror Rock record I've heard this year and it ranks among the best of the modern wave of Horror Rock (1990's-present). "Rock Fiend International

The Ugly are fugitives from the law, hellbent on spreading their musical propaganda before their next incarceration. Combining all the best elements of punk, thrash, psychobilly, and jazz swing set them apart from most horror music. Murder, madness, and fun; they took the self-proclaimed title of "Chicago's ONLY psycho-thrash horror band". Don't tell the cops.

The Afterdarks (Quad Cities, IL) have been around since 2003. With 7 cds under our belt, We pride ourselfs on being an All American, working class, PBR drinkin’, hot-rod wrenchin’, dirty drag-strippin’, graveyard diggin’ rock-n-roll band. If there is a drag strip and a graveyard in town, let us know if you need a sound track....

"The dream of Chops McClintock is finally becoming a reality! After several shows, people have labeled The Krank Daddies music as, Psychobilly, Cowpunk, hard drivin Rockabilly some have even called it worthless senseless shit! (what do x girlfriends know anyway) We just call it Raw Rippin Rock n Roll!"

From the fires of hell they rise with powerful guitar riffs, pounding bass lines, and intense drummming to make a permanent scar on the Chicago music seen. With influences such as The Koffin Kats, Mad Sin, Eddie Cochran, and Johnny Cash they're not here to tell you how to dress, who to be, or what to believe in. They sing of your nightmares and quiet possibly some of your dreams. Lifes to short to worry about money, politics, and religion so fuck all of that and lets have a good time!!

Serena Maneesh (sometimes spelled Serena-Maneesh or shortened to S-M) is an alternative rockband from Oslo, Norway. The team of musicians who each contribute to the band's sound is organized around its main protagonist and songwriter Emil Nikolaisen. Emil has previously appeared as a guitarist and songwriter in the indie band Royal, played the drums in Norwegian punk rock band Silver as well as in the retro-pop orchestra The Loch Ness Mouse. He even has a past as guitarist in the metal band Extol. "Serena-Maneesh make strangely beautiful and lushly noisy pop using guitars that are alternately washed out or shrieking, distorted samples, and breathy female vocals singing lyrics in broken English." -Village Voice

"The Depreciation Guild is two guys and a Famicom. That’s techno for a certain brand of gaming hardware — Nintendo. The result is an intoxicating swirl of dreampop and electro artfulness that leaves you swooning. ...Taking your beloved old school Nintendo Entertainment System to unexpected concert-hall packing potential." -lostateminor.com

If The Clientele were a punk band: people prone to fistfights with their brothers, with flicking light-switches til they break. If snowstorms shed sparks or cicadas caught fire. If you longed so much for something that you could never sleep again. Or if all your friends started playing electric guitars at once.

Our band is a group of extremely dedicated musicians who just want to create music that is driving, heart felt, energetic and heart pounding. We hope to create a new sound mixing all of our styles and influences in to one.

Metamorphic rock outfit RX Bandits will release their latest effort, Mandala, on July 14th 2009 via Sargent House. The much anticipated follow-up to 2006’s ...And The Battle Begun echoes the sentiments of a band who not only look to trump their previous efforts, but add a new chapter to the volume.

“Chock full of junk store percussion, is this to be considered inspired by call and response old time Gospel, or is it the Gospel for modern folk pop lovers? This lo-fi recording of strings, mandolin, drums, “whatever you can get your hands on” percussion, guitars, banjo, bass, organ, and open vocal harmonies, is deceptively loose-sound sounding on first listen. As the listener dives deeper into the record it becomes pretty apparent that this musical mongrel of a band is pretty precise, but feels like it was hewn from dirt of the land, and sounds ragged and burnt from a lifetime of tilling. The lyrics are slyly smart, artfully sinister, and built for audience participation… and while the rolling high end mandolin and banjo pluck their ways through countermelodies, there’s that perfectly tattered jumble of percussion that sets the knee to bouncin’ and the hands together to clap along.

Zechs Marquise formed in El Paso, Texas during the spring of 2003 when brothers Marfred and Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez came together with childhood friends Matthew Wilkson and Marcos Smith. The group soon named itself after a popular Japanese anime character and hit the studio to record its first album during the late summer months of 2004. That studio effort was later scrapped and in June 2006 the band instead released 34:26, a live improved set that showed its great range of talents and influences. By fall of 2006, Zechs was touring the west coast consistently, sharing the stage with such eclectic acts as Daedelus, Busdriver, The Album Leaf, (DJ) Nobody, Daddy Kev, The Gaslamp Killer, and Totimoshi.

When it comes to the definitive history of black metal, only one name has survived all the sensationalism. Through the church burnings, murder, imprisonments and myopic teenage nationalism, only MAYHEM has been able to channel the circus-like atmosphere, which surrounded a core of fanatical bands, into a sustained musical career, in the studio and more importantly, on stage.

Imagine King Crimson, Mr. Bungle, The Residents, Zappa, Fantomas, and a healthy dose of all things metal set to 11 (dang, this blender goes up to 11) and blended together.  This begins to explain the majesty of the prog-metal meets performance art of San Fran’s Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.  Many prog-metal bands seem to be a combination of heavy metal, symphonic prog and fusion. SGM is more like where heavy metal meets avant prog and dada. They use a large collection of homemade instruments in addition to drums, bass, violin, keyboards and (occasionally blisteringly loud) guitar.

For fun our real band learned a bunch of James Brown songs for a big Halloween bash, each time we got one down, we started another, before we knew it we had a long set, we had one trumpet player in Jerry, and found three more on the internet, now they are our drinking buddies and we do this for real now, nothing makes a room move like a bunch of James Brown tunes, and nothing is more fun than causing that unexpected dance party, now we are continuously learning more, we feature a balance of "the hits" and songs that make you say "damn, never heard that one, I need to buy whatever album that song's on" that's what it's really about, spreading the awareness of the most exciting entertainer known to man worldwide, ever arranging these in an extremely exciting way, we're all becoming better dancers and we are ready to rock your show!