The Curls, SJOD, BAUGS
The Curls are an experimental rock band hailing from Chicago, USA. Described by Stereogum as “acid-fried Talking Heads,” their immersive live shows are a psychedelic celebration of unhinged love, paranoia, absurdity, rebellion and artistic freedom. The band has performed on large stages like Pitchfork Music Festival and have toured extensively playing with artists like Tame Impala, Post Animal, Wombo, Sunburned Hand Of The Man, Rich Ruth and David Nance. They’ve received praise from Adrian Belew (King Crimson, Talking Heads) and R Stevie Moore while drawing comparisons to Boredoms, CAN and Minutemen. The group’s debut LP American Blood is expected out early 2026 on Truth Zone Records.“I don’t know exactly how to describe the art-pop nightmare conjured in this…weird Grateful Dead squiggles meet post-punk fatalism? Dril fronting Devo? I don’t know exactly what it is, but I know I like it” -Jason P. Woodbury, editor for Aquarium Drunkard “Bbanghin track wow. unexpectedly anthemic. idk. this should be huge wot do i fuckin know. masterpiece bro. man, i dont usually do this, but a lil toke, and i’m off to share this massive longsong on me FB & TW. mynde blowne. KTC”-R. Stevie Moore on Curls single KILL THE CRINGE SJOD is an electronic musician, bandleader, cofounder of Truth Zone Records and the self-proclaimed preeminent livetronica jam-adjacent dark horse of Chicago. SJOD makes high energy, varying genre, and improvised electronic music with all live analog & digital hardware. No laptop, just hardware creating original electronic music and experimental performances. Inspired by Sun Ra, Aphex Twin, and the genre of trance-fusion, SJOD performances are communions to another realm and prayers to various celestial entities. BAUGS brings a distinct brand of toe-tapping dark pop through lush synthesizers L, spacey vocals, and the more-than-occasional harp.
Kali Masi, Gonies, Raccoon Junior
Kali Masi is an American punk rock band from Chicago. They’ve been heavily touring and self-promoting for the last decade; steadily evolving the heavy, emotive, and urgent sound found on their 2017 LP ‘WIND INSTRUMENT’ and the much anticipated 2021 followup ‘[laughs]’ Gonies – Cincinnati garage punk outfit, all about having fun with your friends and eating a ham sandwich. High energy, loud and goofy. Raccoon Junior is a Chicago-based indie rock band of scrappy 20-somethings. Drawing from 90’s Emo, Alternative, and Shoegaze, they live somewhere between the slacker jangle of Pavement and wall of sound of Sunny Day Real Estate.
The 806, Los Black Dogs, Rotten Mouth
The 806 is not just a band, they are a mysterious musical force. Feel the euphoria of their harmonies, the raw energy of their guitars, and the hypnotic rhythm that binds us all together in rock and roll. Join The 806 on this journey of sound and soul, where the music becomes a ritual and the stage a sacred space. Let the magic of their performance transport you to a realm where only the devoted listeners can truly belong. Dive into the enigma. Los Black Dogs – We’re a Mexican Psychedelic rock band with influences of 70s rock but still feeling fresh and energetic. We bring a good stage energy with our uplifting music and mesmerizing moments when we let loose. Rotten Mouth is a 4-piece Dirty / Groove Rock band that guarantees to bring all of their jamtastic energy to every song they write and to every live performance. Through brain-liquefying guitar solos, earth-rattling drum rolls, and a deep, gritty tone that will eternally shake your soul, the band brings a unique twist to modern rock n’ roll music. Through the use of powerful, improvisational extended jamz, their music transforms into an avalanche of sound and emotion, and ensures that your body will undoubtedly feel like a wonderland.
Gatsbee, Pale Sommer, kt wheels
Gatsbe is a three-piece rock and roll band from Chicago. They blend the genres of punk, rock, and pop, all while bringing the energy of a house show. Pale Sommer I have a sound influenced and rooted in the 60’s but with a more modern alternative spin. We are a very energetic band and like to constantly put spins and improvisation into every song to give new life to songs and musical self expression that hopefully keep people wanting more. I put 100% of myself into every song I play and that is always visible for every show I play. To me, it’s not about playing the same sets over and over again to get people to fall in love with the songs. My goal with playing live for this project is to have people fall in love with the performance and come back for that reason. ktwheels is a new singer/songwriter on the scene in Chicago. Heavily influenced by powerhouse female guitarists and songwriters such as Madison Cunningham, Soccer Mommy, Courtney Barnett, and Snail Mail, ktwheels isdriven by cool syncopated riffs and alternate tunings. Best described as crunchy singer/songwriter indie rock with hints of folk, ktwheels will surely make you want to dance and maybe cry a little after.
PDA, Atta Guns, Superkick
PDA is an alternative rock band from Chicago. They draw influence from acts such as The Pixies, Interpol, and Grouplove. Atta Guns is 5 piece band from Chicago with an energetic sound that sits on strong rhythmic foundations and weeping leads. AG integrates influences from western garage rock bands such as The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys, as well as Japanese rock staples such as Asian Kung Fu Generation, The Pillows, and Tricot. The result is a sonic bridge between two worlds: a performance that is teeming with novelty and emotional depth. Superkick is Alternative PowerPop Trio from Chicago IL. Superkick is Vocalist and guitarist Mike Vaughn, Vocalist and Bassist Joey Youngs, and Drummer Tom Ruby. They bring together a wide range of influences from bands like Jawbreaker, The Strokes, The Cure, The Descendents, and more. The band name Superkick came to fruition when they realized they all shared a mutual love for ridiculous spectacles. They thought of no more beautiful of a spectacle than Sweet Chin Music, AKA a Superkick.
Bug Charmer, Horror Movie Marathon, The Violet Hearts
Bug Charmer is an indie folk-rock group based in Chicago. With comparisons to trailblazers like Big Thief and Weyes Blood, the group doesn’t shy away from their genre blending songs combining aspects of folk, indie rock and slow core to create their unique sound. They find inspiration in nature and their personal experiences. Their music is defined by Kristin’s haunting vocals and visual lyrics, Evan’s cozy guitar solos, and Dan’s sensitive drumming. The songs on Horror Movie Marathon’s new album, Discount Death Mask, paint a colorful swath of human emotion, but what solidifies their staying power is the synergistic magic produced by Will’s stripped-down guitar parts and Dash’s tender-yet-confident performance on the keys. The instrumentation presents as its own fraught family dynamic, while Rutledge and Flach’s vocal harmonies melt into one another with a palpable sense of trust, love, and understanding. The atmosphere of the records runs the gamut between speedy, tongue-in-cheek punk songs (“NYC Traffic” & “Crying & Laughing”), bluesy piano rags (“Did It Do Anything At All” & “Conners Color TV”) and hauntingly tender ballads (“Living Hard” & “Town Car Death Drive”). The Violet Hearts is a genre-bending collective of friends who love to swap instruments and try new things.
BAUGS, VNYTS, Local Memory
BAUGS brings a distinct brand of toe-tapping dark pop through lush synthesizers L, spacey vocals, and the more-than-occasional harp. VNYTS – experimental new wave band in chicago Local Memory is a six-piece indie/alt-country band from Chicago, Illinois. Led by songwriter Amy Myers and her pal and collaborator Matt Ciani (both with honky-tonk roots in Meg and the Wheelers). Guitarist Lucas Chamberlain, drummer Nico Ciani, pianist Nicole Murray, and vocalist Lydia Cash—who also shines as a solo artist—round out the project Their EP, Greatest Hits, dropped on May 30, 2025.
Crime in Antarctica, WOOF, Cherry Decay
Crime in Antarctica – Heavy post-punk. A Band Called WOOF is known for crafting emotionally charged, post-punk-inspired tracks with a raw and rebellious edge. With a passion for blending gritty soundscapes and reflective lyrics, WOOF creates music that explores both human and personal transformation themes. WOOF’s work reflects a deep connection to inner growth while staying true to a rebellious spirit. https://www.youtube.com/@abandcalledwoofThey’re all about showing people how to embrace their shadow especially if they’re outcasts, misfits and black sheep. Directly inspired by bands of the 90’s like Hole, Nirvana, and the Breeders, Cherry Decay is an alternative rock band from the heart of Chicago that slams with a fuzzy, grungy sound that takes you back.
The P.A.’s, bugoff!, Mourning Star, Pazzo
The P.A.’s are a Psychedelic rock band from Massachusetts. They are characterized by their raw energy, cryptic and mystical affect, with lyrics that follow a concrete and brutal fantasy narrative. bugoff! – we play punkish music Mourning Star – We are an indie shoegaze band from suburbs of Chicago. We specialize in dreamy guitar tones, flowy bass lines and emotional woman lead vocals. Pazzo is an alternative metal band from the suburbs of Chicago, who blends nostalgia and genres with each track they write. With an attempt to make every song sound fresh, you’ll be guessing the next step these young gentleman take with art.
PONS, TV Buddha, Model Living
IF YOU STOP YOU DIE -Rock n’ Roll will never be a lazy game. PONS is here to set the record straight.Following in the footsteps of the masters of the road that came before them, PONS’ takes a relentless, “NO MERCY” approach to DIY touring. Burning more calories on stage in one night than most bands do in one year, PONS is an undeniable first of sound heading for the throat of culture.No life is spared at a PONS show. Supporting notable acts such as Gogol Bordello, Lambrini Girls, Laura Jane Grace, Geese, Vundabar, and A Place To Bury Strangers, PONS leave it all to bear on stage; a deluge of smashed gear, contorting bodies, bright lights, throttling beats, and glam rock bravado.Taking cues from artists like Iggy Pop, Suicide, LCD Soundsystem, and Crystal Castles, PONS spew the digital bile of our dystopic, internet-fuled hellscape right at the listener; simultaneously embracing and deriding rock n’ roll’s most brash and over-the-top tropes.The “lost” PONS album “Heavens to Peter” is releasing on tape in September 2025 via Dedstrange Records (a new label run by Oliver Ackermann of A Place To Bury Strangers & Death By Audio). Recorded with a previous iteration of the band, Heavens to Peter is a righteous conclusion of the “old” guitar-driven PONS sound.BEAR WITNESS TO PONS. TV Buddha is an American rock band. Model Living are a Chicago-based post-punk quartet formed in spring 2023. Their angular songwriting & urgent-yet-poetic lyricism seek to capture life in Your City (USA) & the ever-encroaching doom surrounding them.