Featured Artists

• The Webstirs

  
  Chicago indie-pop band The Webstirs have released five albums of catchy, clever songs in collaboration with longtime producer Matt Allison (Lawrence Arms/Split Single/Alkaline Trio). This Friday they will release their newest single, “For A Moment” and this fall they will release their sixth album, the self-titled “The Webstirs.”

  “Yeah, most bands self title their debut album,” said guitarist/vocalist Preston Pisellini, “but not us. The truth is we’ve evolved our lineup and sound over the years and this is a unique opportunity to re-introduce the band to the world.”

  Formed in 1994 by Preston Pisellini and childhood friend Mark Winkler (keys/vocals), their musical sensibilities have always been anchored in the strong melodies and rich harmonies of their 60s and 70s rock/pop influences. The current lineup includes former Redwalls drummer Jordan Kozer, who joined in 2009, as well as newest additions of bassist Gregg Juhlin and guitarist/vocalist Doug Bobenhouse. Gregg is a fellow veteran of the Chicago music scene, having played in the seminal 90s band The Slugs. “Gregg comes from a similar place musically and is an amazing addition,” says Winkler. “This is definitely our most cohesive lineup. It really shows on the new album and we’re excited for people to hear it.”

  Doug Bobenhouse was the vocalist for acclaimed St Louis’ pop-rockers The Sun Sawed in Half. “We actually originally started to write a solo Album for Doug,” said Pisellini. “But after a couple of songs, we realized we were actually working on a new Webstirs album”. In addition to guitar and vocals, Bobenhouse also contributed songwriting on the new album. “Adding another songwriter to the mix was challenging at first”, says Winkler. “But ultimately it led to some cool new directions and great three-part harmonies.”

  | |

  ---

• Theyrgy

  

  Theyrgy is a Post-Punk electronic band from Chicago who are releasing their second EP “Interrupteur” on August 21st.

  The songs that make up “Interrupteur” were recorded before and during the Covid 19 pandemic. Unable to collaborate together in the same space, the band put the finishing touches on the release while working remotely. Unlike the band’s debut release “Exit Strategies”, these songs did not form out of improvisation, but came forth through skeletal sketches members pitched to the band. In the center of it all, Justin K. Broaderick (Godflesh, Jesu, etc.) lent his immense talents to remix and reimagine the “Exit Strategy” track “Hiding Your Face In The Wall” into a hair-raising spiritual awakening gone wrong. Mastered by Howie Weinberg. Engineered and mixed by John Bomher at Berwyn Recording, the release was produced by the band.

  | |

• The King of Mars

  

  The King of Mars was born in Chicago in 2015 while the members were studying music at Columbia College Chicago. They’ve played notable Chicago venues such as The Metro, House of Blues, Bottom Lounge and Evanston SPACE. They’ve toured the east coast and Midwest US gaining tons of new fans.
  Their sound creates a modern twist on classic genres like grunge and hard rock, adding melodic hooks and insightful lyricism to their dark style. With influences like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Highly Suspect and Radiohead, The King of Mars strive to create an alt-rock sound all their own!

  | | |

• Human Trials

  

  Human Trials were created during the pandemic out of a Bridgeport attic of sound experimentation.
  A dynamic bass / drum duo that is rooted in a wave of loud – quiet- loud and ranging from creepy basement horror to noisy fuzz prog that can wonderfully accompany any bar, DIY venue, or the prom scene from Carrie. The 3-track Human Demo was recorded at Berwyn Recording and released July 16th, 2021. Catch the first show this August 20th at Liars Club…

  |

• Hudson Abadeer

  

  Hudson Abadeer is a husband & wife music project out of the Northwest Burbs. Tommy likes to tinker and build little music devices—effects, microphones, amps—and incorporate them into their songs. Tiger Tally is a new release up on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms.

  | |

• Gary Camaro

  

  As the self proclaimed Poet Laureate of Ashland Avenue, Gary
  Camaro has been kicking around on the local Chicago music
  scene since the mid-90’s in various rock, blues & country bands.
  Since breaking away from his last outfit, The Wabash Cannonballs
  in 2019, he has released his debut solo effort Wolf Ryot Star &
  has emerged from the pandemic with his sophomore solo release,
  In The Direction Of Travel. This new effort encapsulates what he
  defines as “Heavy Americana”. Blazing rock & roll music
  saturated with roots of country & blues while wearing the main
  influences of Izzy Stradlin, Son Volt, Keith Richards & Jack
  Kerouac loudly upon his sleeve for all to see & hear. Like his
  solo debut, he has once again stepped into the Producer shoes &
  recorded this album entirely on his own, including art direction
  from his home office, Black Jackal Studio in the Malt Row section of
  Chicago.

  |

• Fresh Hell

  

  TOMAHAWK SABBATICAL is FRESH HELL’S second release in under a year and marks a stylistic expansion and improved execution from their previous S/T EP. Recording in the band’s practice space afforded them the opportunity to experiment with different instrumentation and ideas in an effort to expand their sound. With lyrical topics like existential wonder, social critique and drug & alcohol abuse, TOMAHAWK SABBATICAL is the fruit of labor from a band who’s ambition is to avoid stagnation as we do our best to navigate through the 21st century.

  |

• Francis, & Her Fawn

  

  Francis, & Her Fawn is a Chicago-based artist making music that spans genres and emotions. Francis, & Her Fawn’s last major project – I Wrote You A Letter Today – uses elements of ambient music, indie folk, and IDM to document a person’s falling out from evangelical Christianity into a journey of self-discovery. The latest song, “Garden, IL” is a follow-up to the album, telling the story of someone losing a friend after forgoing faith.

  |

• Downcaste

  

  Downcaste is a death-doomed Northern Illinois power trio formed through online and IRL alliances. Thick riffs, thundering bass, powerful grooves, and guttural vocals create beguiling extreme metal for a pre-apocalyptic society.
  Downcaste’s debut EP “Pre-Apocalypse” consists of 5 songs over 29 minutes. The EP was written slowly but surely between the winter of 2019 and the spring of 2020. Recording took place summer and fall of 2020, while mixing and mastering occurred during the first few months of 2021.

  An abandoned concept album about a World War II fighter pilot named Dick Bong (seriously) morphs into a death-doomed meditation about legacy, mortality, and the futility of existence. Thick riffs, thundering bass, powerful grooves, and guttural vocals.

  Downcaste is a death-doomed Northern Illinois power trio formed through online and IRL alliances. Thick riffs, thundering bass, powerful grooves, and guttural vocals create beguiling extreme metal for a pre-apocalyptic society.
  Downcaste’s debut EP “Pre-Apocalypse” consists of 5 songs over 29 minutes. The EP was written slowly but surely between the winter of 2019 and the spring of 2020. Recording took place summer and fall of 2020, while mixing and mastering occurred during the first few months of 2021.

  An abandoned concept album about a World War II fighter pilot named Dick Bong (seriously) morphs into a death-doomed meditation about legacy, mortality, and the futility of existence. Thick riffs, thundering bass, powerful grooves, and guttural vocals.

• Chaometry

  

  Chaometry started in 2007 with Jeff Warzin (Drums) and Sally Freels (Keyboards) being the remaining founding members. Eric Drazner (Guitars) joined in 2012 and Bill Dockrey (Bass) in 2016. In 2017 the band released the all instrumental EP “Mental Projection”. In 2018 the band undertook the task of writing a concept album and added Craig J Martinez (Vocals). In 2021 “Skeletal Wish Part One” was released. The album features a narrative of the life and times of a guitarist who goes on a spiritual journey to find out what it means to have and use his musical gift. Each track is named after a major arcana tarot card, with the story and music fitting the respective card accordingly. The band is now in the writing stages for “Skeletal Wish Part Two”

  |

• Bandy

  

  Bandy is a power trio from Chicago who play a heavy blend of powerpop, psychedelic, postpunk styles and all around ROCK. Formed in 2016, we have just released their second full-length album Surf Down, on Bandcamp. We are dipping our toes into shows in this (post not post?)pandemic no man’s land, and hope to play out more often soon! We love always to play with kind, like-minded people who love what they do.

  |

• Artillery & Storm

  

  Artillery & Storm is an American rock band from Chicago, IL, formed by Eric Johnson (Writer, Producer, Engineer) during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020. Eric, being a multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer, is the only official member, and he produces all of the music himself. Limited by the Covid pandemic, Artillery & Storm has exclusively focused on recording and releasing music as opposed to live performance.

  Artillery & Storm’s music is commonly described as hard rock, modern rock, alternative rock, and nu metal. Combining some facets of classic rock, 90’s rock, and heavy metal, A&S carves a modern sound that is uniquely its own. Eric sings, screams, and employs complex vocal layering and effect schemes – always playing the vocals, lyrics, and the music to compliment one another.

  Artillery & Storm has released three studio singles to date: “Feed Me to the Wolves” (2020), “Stronger Than a Hurricane” (2020), and “Lioness” (2021).

  |