Wet Chain, Casserole, one foot is the same
Wet Chain is a heavy psychedelic two piece that is loud and fast. The head bangers can head bang, and the booty shakers can shake their booties to our music. Casserole is a riff train with pocket grooves and solid energy. Our music is very catchy, engaging, and unique. We taste good. We perform hard! one foot is the same is like Black Sabbath if Tony lost more of his fingers, Geezer played RuneScape, and Bill went to school for Jazz guitar. They are an all-star trio of Chicago squatting suckers who wish to serenade you with the soothing sound of surrealist noise sludge. If you love genreless music that your mom rolls her eyes at, foot will certainly get them rolling. What’s the difference between a duck?
Soot, King Sans, Nüde
Following the release of their full album “Talons of Empathy” (2022) and amidst releasing their Split album “Idlewild”, Soot toured and played heavily in 2023, supporting bands like Dead Rider, Cloakroom, Kal Marks, Spoon Benders, and Mizmor. Soot’s unique cross-genre dabblings in all directions heavy are what allow them to lend their sound to such a vast array of shows. Borrowing from traditions of manic post-hardcore and southern metal to gentler ambient and experimental sounds, Soot is carving their way into the contemporary American musical zeitgeist. Jake Steven James and Izabella Rose deliver a powerful showcase of what Chicago’s tight noise punk can be. Amongst a sea of countless awe inspiring bands, King Sans paves a path of their own. Adopting a front of powerful altrock, they put a layer of sinister experimentation and melancholic lulls to deliver one delicious pie. NÜDE is an experimental duo composed of Chicago-bred musicians Ruby Lucinda and Luke Clohisy. Both multi-instrumentalists, Lucinda and Clohisy write music that pulls from indie rock, drone, no wave, and grunge. The duo seeks to write honest music, about what feels like to be home— comforts and complications alike.
Emily Jane Powers, Diagonal, Jessica Risker
Emily Jane Powers plays rock and roll music with her friends Alec, Ryan, and Dave. Over 20 years, her music has evolved from rough-edged bedroom pop, lushly orchestrated folk, searing guitar-forward rock, and back again. Diagonal is a psychedelic six-piece from Chicago. Their latest self-titled album, released via Little Cloud Records, is a mix of highly polished psych rock, contemplative moments, and angular krautrock jams. Jessica Risker makes dreamy autumnal, psychedelic folk music; a wistful, melancholic meditation on the importance of human connection.
Social Cig, Scam Likely, Ur Mom
Born & brewed in Wisconsin, Social Cig is the ‘Indie-Skate-Rock’ music project of Parker Schultz. Consisting of contagious authenticity, cheery live shows, and cultivating an original story with an attitude of gratitude, Social Cig is creating full-circle moments. While leafing through US music scenes with an ambitious DIY approach and writing songs that capture a genuine outlook from a modern-day Midwest cowboy, Social Cig has become a well-rounded grassroots venture. Scam Likely is on the move! After the raucous “chameleon rock” foursome released their ambitious sophomore album Yolk in April 2024, the band grabbed the closest mic and shouted “We’re moving to Chicago!” Just as Yolk explores new sonic territories for the group, coloring their signature vocal arrangements with acoustic guitar, odd percussion and lead bass lines, Scam Likely are exploring their a new city with the same mischievous curiosity. A passionate rock quartet from the suburbs of Chicago. These soulful suburbanites are eager to bring back the importance of raw rock & roll. Ur Mom doesn’t have backing tracks- just pure talent.
Living Thing, Captain Tallen & the Benevolent Entities, Claire Ozmun, Sara Geist
Living Thing is the solo project of Chicago-based songwriter Danielle Strautmanis. Their debut EP “Everything Is Green” is an introspective and uplifting piece that carried her through her darkest days. It is an exploration of self-care through the elements of nature, vivid imagery and soulful melodies. Danielle encourages all listeners to utilize powerful optimism as a guide through life’s turbulence. Captain Tallen & the Benevolent Entities are tender storytellers, weaving lyrics that sing of nostalgia and yearning with delicate and thoughtful instrumentation. They are based in Brooklyn. Claire Ozmun is soft and hard at the same time. Backed by COB (Claire Ozmun Band for census-takers), Ozmun’s music is jagged and immediate. The literacy and wit of her lyrics don’t glamorize the voice behind them (all lipstick, all pig). COB invites you to take your teeth out, all while feeling a little bit like you’re reading the journal entries of a 20-something Midwesterner-turned-New Yorker (because you are). Sara Geist makes fun indie rock music for scorned lovers and the chronically ill, inspired by artists like the Beths, Phoebe Bridgers, and Great Grandpa.
Pinkii, Melissa Brooks, Chichi
PiNKII channels her experiences as an underground idol in Japan to shape her distinctive sound. She brings a unique blend of hyper pop and bubblegum bass, with sweet vocals over deep, pulsating dance beats to keep you dancing all night long. PiNKII loves involving her audience, turning each show into a memorable experience for everyone, whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering her music for the first time. Join us for a night of infectious music and unforgettable moments!
Clickbait, STEEF, PAL, PROBLEMS
Clickbait pieces together shards of experience and lack thereof, rhythm and asymmetry, punk and dance, less and more. Contort yourself. STEEF is a solo project of New Orleans based artist, Stevie Spring. The STEEF sound is steeped in the playful, jittery side of 70s/80s New Wave and avant garde, drawing from the wonky grooves of groups like Oingo Boingo and XTC and fusing them with distorted samples and electronic beats with a Residents-like cursed energy. STEEFmusic is a freewheeling, eclectic aural experience complete with DX7 steel drums, sour guitarmonies, hypnotic basslines and manic vocal performances.Code Kilgo, Avery Legendre, and Cole Jones bring these fucked up tracks to life with their virtuosic musicianship and unhinged stage presence. The STEEF live band is known to dress up. They were originally chefs but have since then sold out. They now don suits to represent their evolution into scumbag salespeople. PAL is a hyper, woman-fronted punk band led by Maureen Joyce. She takes on the synth in this new minimalist, art punk project alongside Jake Schott (guitar), Adam Atkinson (bass), and Mario Slagle (drums). Based in Cleveland/Akron, PAL leans into its weirdo roots and takes inspiration from hometown heroes like DEVO and The Waitresses, writing songs with melodies that people are finding “dangerously addictive.” PROBLEMS Has toured Europe, New Zealand, and America. I have opened for Peaches, Dan Deacon, Lightning Bolt, and Many others. My new 12” LP “Enter The Annals” was released this year on The Record Machine. I make electronic music with live vocals that is sometimes very fun and is sometimes very beautiful and is always interesting.
And the Animal, MINKA, NÆ
And The Animal is an up-and-coming, female fronted, Cinematic Electro-Pop trio from Chicago, USA. During the span of eight years, they have evolved their sound and collaborated with musicians from around the world. They have infused their music with a versatile range of genres, going from the sonic hues of house beats, to synth pop and the rawness of some rock guitars. Their sound has taken them places; from Chicago, New York and Mexico City, to the lengths of Milan, Italy, and Perth, Australia. They just came back from their second European tour playing shows in Norway, England, Scotland and Hungary. Enter the captivating and clever world of NÆ, Chicago-based synth pop and electronic artist. Known for her high-energy live performances with bold visual props and sci-fi narratives, NÆ ignites her audiences with themes of inclusivity, self-expression, and finding one’s inner child. Her sharp wit and humor are balanced with levity, imagination, and a cosmic effervescence. Funky, electronic, rock…dance..jazz..sexy..Japanese inspired…well, there’s really no way to fully capture the experiences and sounds of Philly-born band, MINKA. But if you want to let your imagination run wild…let’s pretend some scientists got in the lab and crossed Bowie with Prince, and then sprinkled in some Talking Heads.
Cathedral Ceilings, Robot Civil War, The Hypnic Jerks
Sometimes, you don’t want fancy. A black coffee, a domestic beer, a slice of pepperoni pizza—sometimes, these basic staples are all you want and need to be happy. Same goes for rock and roll music; sometimes you just want the basic guitar/bass/drums to make you happy. New Jersey power trio Cathedral Ceilings understands that need, for they specialize in your standard, no-frills rock music. It’s clear that they’ve had Pleased To Meet Me and Grave Dancers Union and On The Mouth in their cassette decks for ages. Robot Civil War are proletaribots raging against capitalist machines. loud, hard, fast, & hopeful.proletaribots raging against capitalist machines. loud, hard, fast, & hopeful. The Hypnic Jerks are a fuzzed out garage/psych band that delivers a loud and energetic live show
Axel Brooks, Tommy Bravos, Abigail Arkley
Ethereal pop, meets trip-hop, meets soft alternative rock would be the best description of Axel Brooks’ music. It’s sort of dark, moody and sexy at times but alternatively can be very upbeat bright and vivid. Axel makes music that takes you in a journey – starting somewhere slow and rather melancholic but ending in a place where everyone’s dancing! Tommy Bravos is like no other. His music exists at the intersection of fantasy, nature, philosophy and reality, bringing audiences to deeper emotional experiences. Contemplative music taps into all the sources of energy that speak to him, including his Greek heritage, exploring what can be made through the factors from which humans form identity. His latest EP, Everything is Growing, Am I? which discusses the changing nature of human identity, was released on June 14th, its reflective lyrics woven together through lush chords and the allure of pop melodies. Abigail Arkley is a 24-year-old artist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from Minneapolis. Abigail started making music when she was just 6 years old, being classically trained as a pianist before branching out into jazz, songwriting, production, and learning other instruments. Drawing from her background in instrumental music, Abigail and her band combine soaring jazz pop melodies with bittersweet and complex alt R&B and indie folk soundscapes. Her next release is an EP set for Fall 2024.