Dead Sun, Necromoon, Sleep Keeper, Edlear
Dead Sun are professional tshirt salesmen playing ballads of moodsludge and doomgaze Necromoon describe themselves as “corn fed shoegaze with slow core and post rock influences” Sleep Keeper creates a crushing, dreamy, and atmospheric live show with heavy distorted guitars, pummeling drumming, and doom-laden melodies. Edlear is a band from Chicago. Their debut singles, Dishes/The Lottery, move circuitously – never fully presenting themselves, forever dancing somewhere in the peripheral. Not quite spinners, not quite stoned, the music moves along at a workmanlike stumble. Always teetering on that precious edge of fuzzed out bliss and a crumbling internal monologue. The songs manage to pull you in with their lush distortions and sneak in the gut punches of a life squandered. The communal experience of losing the lottery becomes a solitary albatross and a quiet life of responsibility its sullen counterpart. There is loss in everything, even in not getting fucked up.
YUCK! Show: Spookie Dookie
YUCK! is a performance variety show for nasty little freaks who love to watch a tarp unfold onstage. A show beloved by all who can stomach it, YUCK! brings bodily fluids and other chunks to brave stages across Chicago. Cum git yr slop, you filthy hogs!!!
Zastava, Harvey Waters, Ira Glass, Sunshy
Equal parts scratchy, melodic, cold and guttural, Zastava is a post-punk/noise rock band from Detroit, MI. Harvey Waters describes themselves as Earth Tone Goth ira glass is a post-hardcore band from Chicago sunshy is a noise pop band from Chicago.
Young Wolf, Uncanny Snow, Corebot
Young Wolf is a dynamic and talented hip-hop artist known for his lyrical prowess and captivating stage presence. With a unique sound that blends modern beats with classic hip-hop influences, he quickly gained recognition in the music scene. His breakout single, “In Case You Didn’t,” featuring the legendary Jim Jones, has garnered widespread attention, showcasing his ability to collaborate with some of the biggest names in the industry. Young Wolf continues to make waves with his authentic style and dedication to the craft, solidifying his place as a rising star in hip-hop. Uncanny Snow is a dynamic artist known for his high-energy performances and unique blend of reggae-fusion and hip hop. With a commanding stage presence, he has captivated audiences across various venues, delivering an electrifying experience that blends rhythmic reggae grooves with the pulsating beats of hip hop. His innovative sound and infectious energy have made him a standout performer, earning him acclaim and a loyal following. Uncanny Snow’s music is a testament to his versatility and creativity, pushing the boundaries of genre and leaving an indelible mark on the music scene. Corebot mixes everything from early 90s rap/hip-hop up to current trap and rap hits. But he throws an exotic spin on his sets by also including downtempo dub, house music, and glitch. He takes the audience on a journey that usually begins chill and ends with some bangers and setting the mood for the acts to follow or setting up an act with “tweener” sets. He includes original mash-ups and un-released tracks in my sets as well.
The Paper Cups, Bike Thief, Naked Brunch
The Paper Cups are a local Chicago garage rock band with all original songs and a unique sound. This 4 member band brings together the unforgettable lyrics and melody of great song writing and fiery guitar shredding to create songs that with stick in your head for days. Bike Thief mostly plays indie rock, but will throw in some singer-songwriter, Brazilian, and dance vibes along the way. What can we say? We’re Italian (not actually), people are gonna love us. We like to have fun on stage and It shows through our music. Naked Brunch is a four-piece slut rock band from Chicagoland. Groovy, irreverent, and eclectic, this is body-bumping rock’n’roll that’s meant to be seen live.
Grady Drugg & The Kabong Band, Prathloons, Toosh
Grady Drugg has made a career out of playing multiple instruments across multiple genres, being a sideman for artists such as Willi Carlisle, Dylan Earl, Dreamgirl, and Ings. They are putting out an album with the help of Tape Dad (subsidiary of Gar Hole Records, label of Nick Shoulders, Chris Acker, the Local Honeys, etc), and they, as well as their whip ass band are incredibly excited to finally bring their own music to audiences across the country. Prathloons is the Chicago-based songwriting project of Collin Dall. His songwriting layers poetic, melancholic lyrics atop glacial arrangements on guitar, drums, piano, & violin. The songs reminisce on the mess of getting old, the woes of life-long relationships, & accepting that the meaning of our time on earth is simpler than we think: to love and listen, and to hope for the same in return. Toosh makes rock music that goes elsewhere. As one time signature bends into another, Toosh only plays at structure and repetition, wistfully changing keys and tempos like bees cuddling in flowers. Grounded in twisted rhythms, tonal ambivalence, and liberatory politics, Toosh’s recurring message is— change is constant and relentless.
Bora Bora, Lawrence Tome
Bora Bora is a trilingual band from Chicago that plays Tropical Space-Folk music, synthesizing the lush sounds of Brazilian AM Gold with crunchy Velvet Underground sonic tones. Lawrence Tome is the King of the River. Lawrence Tome will lull you into a trance before drenching you in lilting melodies and somber stories, packaged neatly in harmonic wrapping paper and taped shut with the sticky side of eras long gone. Lawrence Tome was born and raised in a Norman Rockwell painting. When startled, Lawrence melts into a puddle of tears.
Dick Texas, National Photo Committee, The Part Timers
Dick Texas makes Experimental Folk and is from Detroit, MI National Photo Committee describes themselves as “Interesting rock, the Chicago way”. The Part Timers formed in 2022 and began playing shows in 2023. The band had a rotating cast of members throughout the spring and summer, but settled into their current lineup in the fall of 2023 to record their debut EP ‘Clock In’. The EP was a stepping stone towards a sound which they are now honing in on – pulling from roots rock, 90’s alt country, and indie rock, The Part Timers form a musical palette which weaves its way in and around the expansive tradition of twangy rock n roll.
SCARY DRAG SHOW (a GAG! parody halloween drag extravaganza)
GAG! is Chicago’s most (in)famous comedy drag troupe! Known for terrorizing the city for four years, GAG! always brings the chaos, the beauty, and the bed bugs. Founded in the idea that life is a drag, so drag shouldn’t be, this is no ordinary drag show. Bring your dollar bills and have a light lunch… it’s GAG! featuring:Neutral Gena (IG: genderneutral_gena)Ari Gato (IG: the_ari_gato)Derry Queen (IG: derryqueenhaha)Rachel Slurrz (IG: therachelslurrz)
Edith Judith, Nelson Devereaux, Suko Pyramid
While the “folk” label certainly has plenty of validity on their album Bones & Structure, Edith Judith (a new venture by Chicago experimentalists Katie Ernst and Dustin Laurenzi) incorporate plenty of nods to other genres. Songs like “Heartbreaker” and “Hot Lava” bring in warm synths that imbue the tracks with an understated vaporwave vibe. Then again, the lovely “Sleeping Beast” embraces a more organic approach, with gauzy folk stylings bringing to mind vintage Nick Drake and Laurenzi’s reed swells, adding a breathtaking new dimension before the song crashes into an odd sequence of slashing guitar chords. Elsewhere, “Neon Sign” comes out of nowhere with an intoxicating blend of lo-fi folk and eloquent Beatlesque melodies, adding more and more subgenres to the duo’s stylistic arsenal.Ernst and Laurenzi could very easily keep things simple and predictable and still make an excellent record, but the bits and pieces that make Bones & Structure unique are part of what makes it essential listening. Edith Judith bring so much to the table, but never in a way that distracts from the inherent beauty and sophistication of every song. ” –Chris Ingalls, PopMatters 2022 Minneapolis resident, Nelson Devereaux, has played various wind instruments with bands like Bon Iver, Paul Cherry, Craig Finn, Mild High Club, Jungle, Lizzo, Magdalena Bay, This Is The Kit, among others.His upcoming solo record, “infinity” was released on November 7th on Brookyln-based record label Youngbloods and is streaming everywhere. Suko Pyramid is a Spanish musician going on tour for the first time in the US. He makes Bossa Nova, Folk, and Baroque pop music with a 60/70s touch! He’ll be playing his own songs in English and Spanish with an acoustic guitar and Nelson Devereaux accompanying him on woodwinds!