Authority Zero, the Mesa, Arizona skateboard punk group returned to Chicago on September 28, 2002, headlining at Reggie’s Music Joint. Playing in support were the Blue Island hardcore band Nightcap and the Second City ska/punk band Beat the Smart Kids. Chicago’s Beat the Smart Kids is patched together with former and current members of Waste […]
Authority Zero, the Mesa, Arizona skateboard punk group returned to Chicago on September 28, 2002, headlining at Reggie’s Music Joint. Playing in support were the Blue Island hardcore band Nightcap and the Second City ska/punk band Beat the Smart Kids.
Authority Zero, whose sound is a fusion of skate punk and reggae, has been around since 1994 and has cycled through lot of personnel changes. With its current lineup of Jason DeVore on lead vocals, Mike Spero on bass, Chris Dalley on drums, and Brandon Landelius on guitar, it continues to be fun to watch. The midweek show at the smaller of Reggie’s two music rooms provided so much entertainment it had the small but enthusiastic crowd dancing and singing along.
Chicago’s Beat the Smart Kidsis patched together with former and current members of Waste Basket, The Indecisives, Still Alive, and The Damn Tracks. The ska/reggae group features not one by two sax players who seem to be the engine of the band. However, the whole group works well in conjunction and is a good complement to this night’s headliners.
Nightcap, skate punk from southside Chicago’s Blue Island, kickstarted the show with a hard-charging set. Bass player Chris Cope (Copoulos) is a leader in the Windy City hardcore scene, and is often seen making the rounds at the local punk and rock clubs with Nightcap, Fighting For Scraps and Fear City. He and his bandmates powered through their set list with sans a trace of slowing down. Nightcap was a great choice to set the tempo for a the show looking to give fans a midweek respite to get them through to the weekend.
Harley Flanagan hit the stage at Reggies Rock Club, fronting New York hardcore legends Cro-Mags for a raucous and rainy Wednesday night. Cro-Mags was born in New York City’s Lower East Side during the Big Apple’s grimy 80’s heyday. Four decades later, founder and only remaining original band member, Harley Flanagan continues to grind out […]
Harley Flanagan hit the stage at Reggies Rock Club, fronting New York hardcore legends Cro-Mags for a raucous and rainy Wednesday night.
Cro-Mags was born in New York City’s Lower East Side during the Big Apple’s grimy 80’s heyday. Four decades later, founder and only remaining original band member, Harley Flanagan continues to grind out exhausting performances. Flanagan, compact and muscular, snarled and smiled and told of being one of so many who have dealt with post-traumatic stress disorder. Even as he repeatedly bumped fists with fans, he warned crowd members against grabbing at the microphone to sing. He was the one performing after all. Cro-Mags current lineup along with Flanagan, is composed of drummer Garry “G-Man” Sullivan, who has been with the band on and off since 1999, and two newer members Hector Guzman on lead guitar and Dom DiBenedetto (formerly of Boston hardcore group Slapshot) on Rhythm Guitar. This stop was just one in a grueling 2022 tour year. There were the same number of shows this past spring and summer as the years Flanagan has been alive, 55. December alone has the band performing 13 shows.
Nonetheless, band members appeared inexhaustible as they pummeled through the set list, which included “From The Grave,” “Down But Not Out,” “Street Justice,” “Life Of My Own,” “Hard Times,” and “Apocalypse Now.”
Si Dios Quiere is a newer Chicago hardcore band, having been founded in 2020. They also introduced a new vocalist, Ozzy, recently. The band is comprised also of brothers Roberto Velazquez and Ricardo Velazquez, and Louie Flores. The intense set included “Sacrificio,” “Desperate Measures,” “Sufriemento/End of Compromise,” “Sin Justicia,” and “Roll The Dice.” Si Dios Quiere is an exciting new voice in the Windy City hardcore community.
Insult To Injury was founded thirty years ago in Chicago, IL. On this night, it demonstrated it was still able to pound it out on stage. The band, led by vocalist Tim Kucharski, gave a hard-driving performance that kept the crowd moving.
Crime Spree, yet another member of the Windy City hardcore scene, was primarily active between 2014 and 2017. It reunited at the start of 2022 for two memorial performances for a late friend, and four additional shows. Getting this show started, Crime Spree played, what vocalist Jimmymack Jacquez described as, “most likely the last gig for a very long time.”
Jacquez, along with Jim Slattery, Calvin Mathis, and Fabian Arroyo, hammered through “Let’s Drink,” “South Side,” “Sick Fucks,” “Sock Full Of Quarters,” and “Violence Is The Only Answer.” Crime Spree might be over for now or for good, but at least a few members are still active in other bands. Cool.
Reggies Rock Club once against hosted the Sounds of the Street Festival. As the name of the 2 night event suggests, the lineup was dominated by street punk bands, with a dose of Oi! and other subgenres in the mix for good measure. There were nine bands on the first night’s bill. Here were some […]
Reggies Rock Club once against hosted the Sounds of the Street Festival. As the name of the 2 night event suggests, the lineup was dominated by street punk bands, with a dose of Oi! and other subgenres in the mix for good measure. There were nine bands on the first night’s bill. Here were some of the highlights.
At the top of the night’s bill was Piñata Protest out of San Antonio, TX. Partly through the use of the accordion and a Merenque Guira, the band fuses traditional Tex-Mex music with punk for its own unique sound. Though it had been a long evening, Piñata Protest’s highly spirited performance provided the crowd a much-needed shot of rhythmic adrenaline. The group whipped up the crowd and left exhausted fans, old and new in its wake.
Bay area punks Get Dead loaded up its set list, coming just short of 20 songs. Singer Sam King, with his very animated facial expressions, led the charge through said set list which included “Disruption,” “Fire Sale,” “Pepper Spray,” “Stick Up,” “Glitch,” and “This One’s for Johnny.”
Noogy, another group from the Lone Star state on the bill, may have a playful name but what it had to say was far more serious. The Dallas-borne band rumbled through a set list including “ACAB,” “Whatever,” “Studcounter,” “Robinhood,” and “2017.” Noogy will travel across the ocean this summer to perform at Rebellion Festivals and no doubt will garner more fans and wider attention.
On a lighter note, Sounds of the Street Fest has become known for being a weekend full of mohawks on both musicians and fans. Perhaps more of the classic punk ‘do percentage-wise than most other festivals. They were everywhere you turned, of all colors and variations. But Noogy bass player John Grefer sported one of the most majestic. Electric blue and seemingly skyscraper tall, it was certainly a nominee for best in show.
Chicago’s Shitizen has always had the ability to stand out in a crowded bill. Returning to the Sounds of the Street, was no exception, even as its performance was exceptional. Charismatic lead vocalist Claudia Guajardo, once again broke free of the stage. In one moment she roamed the floor like a tiger ready to pounce. A tiger in a puffy coat that is. The next moment she was standing still, one arm leaning against the stage with mic in hand, reminiscent of a college lecturer, discussing whatever came to her mind. It was, per usual, a dynamic performance by Shitizen.
The remaining bands on the night’s bill, Shitbag, Infirmities, Primitivs, Poison Hand, and The StickUps, each brought their own brands of energy, intensity, and fun to Friday night.
Check out more photos from Night 1 of Sounds of the Street Festival below!
Before this show started, Dr. Daryl Wilson of The Bollweevils aka The Punk Rock Doc, introduced me to Mike Wiebe of The Riverboat Gamblers as “the best front man in punk.” Coming from Wilson, a magnetic front man himself, this is high praise. The Riverboat Gamblers headlined a Reggie’s Rock Club, with support from The […]
Before this show started, Dr. Daryl Wilson of The Bollweevils aka The Punk Rock Doc, introduced me to Mike Wiebe of The Riverboat Gamblers as “the best front man in punk.” Coming from Wilson, a magnetic front man himself, this is high praise. The Riverboat Gamblers headlined a Reggie’s Rock Club, with support from The Mizzerables, Wrong Life, The Figbeats, and Publicity Stunt on December 17, 2022, and proved, again, Wilson knows of which he speaks.
The evening was more than just a regular Saturday night show. It was also a Zuma livestreamed celebration of the release of Starstruck: A Tribute to the Kinks. The album, from Wicked Opossum Records, showcases bands covering some of the Kinks’ most important and popular songs. This includes the five bands on this night’s bill. As the Kinks at Nassau Coliseum (during its “Come Dancing” hit song era in the 1980’s) was my first rock concert, this was especially nostalgic for me.
Mike Wiebe is, indeed, a dynamic frontman. The Riverboat Gamblers, comprised of Wiebe, Fadi El-Assad, Ian MacDougall, Rob Marchant, and Sam Keir, put on an electrifying performance. Wiebe was non-stop from the first note, climbing down from the stage, climbing up a side bench-like area to the side of the floor, Crowd surfing, and crouching down with fans only to have them all jump up in unison. On stage, he repeatedly jumped around and tossed the microphone in the air and twirling the cord like a lasso. He did not always catch the mic but that did not put a hitch in his step or cause a missed note. The rest of the group kept the music pulsating just as vigorously as their bandmate’s movements. The set list included: “Let’s Eat,” “Don’t Bury Me…I’m Still Not Dead,” “The Curse Of The Ivory Coast,” “Blue Ghosts,” “DissDissDissKissKissKiss,” and “A Choppy Yet Sincere Apology.” The band’s cover of “Father Christmas” was appropriately timed, even if the lyrics evoke a mood the polar (pun sort of intended, sort of not) opposite to the mood expressed by Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.” This is NOT a bad thing.
The Mizzerables released their record Whatever…This Sucks and then the pandemic hit. And things definitely did suck for a while for obvious reasons. It also prevented the band from touring in support of the record. Finally Joe Mizzi, Korey Brisendine, and Dave Vazzano are able to take to the stages to perform the infectious gem of a title tune and others off of Whatever…This Sucks and their other releases.
Mizzi and Vazzano were amped up at this show and Dan “Dan Precision” Wleklinksi (88 Fingers Louie) filled in last minute for Brisendine who, unfortunately, had fallen ill. The trio performed quite energetically, as they punched through a set including the aforementioned title tune, “Better Off Dead,” “FKI,” “Crabby Crab,” “Still Kickin’ ‘Round,” and a cover of Green Day’s “Basket Case.” The band also led a rousing edition of its contribution to the Kinks’ tribute album, “Lola.” If Mizzery (there are so many possible word plays on Joe Mizzi’s surname) loves company, surely The Mizzerables were as smitten with the crowd as the crowd was with them.
The Figbeats, a garage punk band out of Valparaiso, IN, are comprised of Brad Skafish, Felix Baeza, Jim Senderhauf, and Adam Hazlett. The group’s fizzy performance was quite welcome as it ripped through “Ultraviolet,” “Your Ghost,” “Bootstrap Paradox,” “Radio Killed Radio,” and “Phillip’s Lament.” Covering “Apeman” for the tribute album, The Figbeats dialed up the verve for a fun take on a classic.
Scotland’s Fraser Murderburger, formerly of The Murderburgers, now plays under the name Wrong Life. His intense, hard-driving vocals and guitar playing, backed by strong musicians (including Noelle Stolp of Tightwire) resulted in a powerful set that included “Talking/Talking,” “Digging,” “19 11 19,” and “New Sun,” all from Early Workings From An Idea (2022). Wrong Life’s contribution to The Kinks tribute album is “Strangers,” which was performed very solidly this night. Wrong Life might be in the early stages but is working from a great idea. Even greater ones no doubt on the horizon.
Publicity Stunt, another group on the bill hailing from the Hoosier state, is also where you will find Mike Paniccia, the founder and sole employee of Wicked Opossum Records, on drums. Starstruck: A Tribute to The Kinks is the first release from the new label and Paniccia is responsible for putting this show together. If this particular evening was a bellwether, the label has a promising and exciting future. Paniccia, and fellow Publicity Stunt members Adam Lingenfelter (vocals/guitar), Josh Claussen (guitar/vocals), and Dru Sheffer (bass) performed, with gusto, a set which included, “First Crush,” “Things To Think About,” “Tail Whip,” “Half-Way Written,” and “Pineapple Dandy.” Publicity Stunt’s entry on the tribute album was “Love Me Till The Sun Shines.”
Just over a week post-show, Mike Paniccia and I discussed the tribute record. He told me that,
“Starstruck is the first release. The Kinks were a big influence growing up and I knew a tribute compilation of a “bands’ band” was the type of thing I wanted to put out first — to get the interest of other musicians and show them what I can do.“
His take on how the event went off?
“Everyone seemed to have a great time, which is what it’s all about.”
Just as the Punk Rock Doc was spot on the money about Mike Wiebe, so too was Paniccia re: this show.
See more photos below!
Riverboat Gamblers’ Mike Wiebe serenades his friend Dr. Daryl “The Punk Rock Doc” Wilson of The Bollweevils.
Voice of Addiction, Torch The Hive, and The Last Great Riot took over Reggie’s Music Joint on Saturday, December 18, 2022. Whilst the stage was small, none of the trio of performances could be described as the same. Ian Tomele, founder, bass player, and vocalist for Voice of Addiction, could be known as “The Shoeless […]
Voice of Addiction, Torch The Hive, and The Last Great Riot took over Reggie’s Music Joint on Saturday, December 18, 2022. Whilst the stage was small, none of the trio of performances could be described as the same.
Ian Tomele, founder, bass player, and vocalist for Voice of Addiction, could be known as “The Shoeless Singer.” He’s been performing sans footwear since he was a teenager. The 6’2″ self-described “slouch” told me,
“I hurt myself a lot especially when performing haha so I think it started as a way to feel the stage and my surroundings better (so I would stop hitting my head!)“
This show was the band’s last set in what has been its comeback year. Tomele explained,
“We had not played since we were on a month-long southern tour in early 2020 when the pandemic hit. It was super surreal pulling into Chicago from tour as the sun was rising and the mayor was giving the stay-at-home order over the radio. Since we were already together we felt it was safe to still get together for rehearsals and started working on the new album Divided States. To coincide with this release we started playing a couple shows this summer as well as a Northeast run in August. Mainly to test the waters and see what was possible for future shows and tours.” [The band’s second show of the year was at the Dying Scene Chicago Resurrection Party. Tomele thankfully helped with the logistics of the event).
Tomele’s bandmates Tyler Miller on guitar and brand new drummer Kevin Amaro, closed out the year with zest. Amaro’s drum kit continuously lit up in a variety of colors adding a festive touch to the stage. The rip-roaring set included, “Unity,” “Modern Day,” “Shinigami,” “Rustbelt,” and “Wrecking Ball.” That last song also bears the name of Tomele’s booking and promotion company, Wrecking Ball Productions.
As 2022 closed out, Tomele was optimistic about the band’s plans for 2023. He told me,
“In my opinion winter is for writing. I have a handful of new songs to show the guys including one I wrote with the new drummer Kevin. We are back at Reggie’s on January 12th. And then we get back at it in March and April with our southern tour. Spreading the new full length all over the damn place!“
Looking forward to it!
I’ve covered Torch the Hive twice this year and it has been 2 for 2 in terms of fun. The highly energetic trio makes quick work of engaging the crowd. This night was one of a flurry of shows the band played as the year wound down. It blasted through its set which included “Copaganda,” “F.E.A.,” “Deku,” “Burn Me Out,” “Shame On You,” and “Molotov Trail.” Mike Fruel, on vocals and guitar, Tyler Sanders on bass, and vocals, and drummer Sergio Apanco put on a provocative show in both song and movement. Fruel played his guitar above his head, behind his back, sitting on the floor, lying on the floor, and of course in traditional stance. Sanders was such a whirlwind on stage, with frenzied head shaking. So frenzied that his mop of red hair and beard (which perfectly complemented his bass) caused him to appear in flames on top. Apanco looked ready to explode from behind his drum kit.
Post-show Mike Fruel reflected on the year that was and the year to come:
“This was a good year for us, we’ve played sold out shows at SubT and Reggie’s and made a ton of new friends in the DIY scene. We also released one new single this year ‘Seeds,’ and plan to release a bunch more music in 2023. Next year we’ll be on the road hitting the south reaching New Orleans and the west coast late next year.“
Hopefully the band members can catch their breath at the start of the new year so they can keep that excitement strong over the course of 2023.
The Last Great Riot, comprised of vocalist/guitarist John A. Beavers, bassist Mario Mazzone, and drummer Scott Durand, closed out the evening by pumping it up. As in Elvis; the capper of its potent set was “Pump It Up“by Elvis Costello & The Attractions. The rest of its set was dedicated to original tunes by the band including two new ones, “Immortal 30” and “Fluid Ounces,” in addition to “Happy When (Bad) People Die, and “Neighborhood Legend” from 2021’s Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Rough.
Beavers looked back on the year just concluded and revealed some of the band’s plans for 2023,
“As far as ’22, we just played shows. Finally hit Milwaukee for a show, a few at Burlington and Reggie’s and some other spots. For ’23 we’re starting the year on a “new baby break,” so nothing book[ed] so far. Just finishing up mixes at Squeezebox Recording Studio on two singles, be releasing this late winter or spring.”
Best of luck guys!
Please see below for photos from the show. Have a happy and safe new year everyone and thank you for joining us on the ride that was 2022!
The War on X-Mas continues. No, not the fictional War on Christmas some people peddle as a political weapon. Here we refer to the 8th Annual War on X-Mas weekend stand, held at Reggies Rock Club this year and featuring The Falcon, The Dopamines, Tightwire; and Won’t Stay Dead on night two. The second night […]
The War on X-Mas continues. No, not the fictional War on Christmas some people peddle as a political weapon. Here we refer to the 8th Annual War on X-Mas weekend stand, held at Reggies Rock Club this year and featuring The Falcon, The Dopamines, Tightwire; and Won’t Stay Dead on night two. The second night was a plugged-in evening with full bands but night one showcased singers performing alone with their acoustic guitars and a microphone.
Night One
As Sincere Engineer, Deanna Belos typically has a full band with her on stage. On a very chilly Friday night, Belos delivered a set full of warmth and humor. She set the tempo for the low-key enjoyable evening with a setlist including “Bottle Lightening Twice,” Shattering,” “Out of Reach,” “Overbite, and Trust Me.”
English singer-songwriter Sam Russo recently participated in our World Cup coverage and on this weekend, his own national football club was still in the hunt. As I write this, it still is. But his own performance was just as is strong, albeit on a smaller stage, as those of his fellow countrymen. Running through “Runaways,” “Letting Go,” “Small Town Shoes,” “Young Heroes,” Sometimes,” Russo most surely earned new fans. Oh and playing “Merry Christmas, Baby, I’m Sorry,” was a nice nod to the holiday known for its nog.
Josh Caterer performed a setlist mostly comprised of songs by his band The Smoking Popes. He started with “Simmer Down,” then followed it with “Let’s Hear It For Love,” “Rubella,” “Paul,” and “First Time.” Caterer ended his set with a cover of the Nick Lowe penned, made famous by Elvis Costello classic, “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.” He was joined by what seemed to be most of those in attendance. If it wasn’t quite Christmas caroling, it was close enough for this holiday season evening. It was also lovely.
Brendan Kelly, unlike years of X-Mas past, wasn’t fronting The Lawrence Arms. However, his X-Mas present to the crowd was a set full of the aforementioned group’s songs, including “The Devil’s Takin’ Names,” “Demons,” and “Quincentuple Your Money.” Kelly added “Suffer The Children Come Unto Me,” from another of his groups, Brendan Kelly and The Wandering Birds. In a tip of the hat to one of the night’s earlier performers, Kelly performed “Young Heroes,” by Sam Russo. Neil Hennessy, Kelly’s bandmate in The Lawrence Arms and in The Falcon, as well as a member of The Smoking Popes, joined Kelly onstage for “Old Mexico Way.”
Night Two
Won’t Stay Dead might seem well-suited for Halloween shows, with its spooky aura and members dressed in all black, in what might be called “punk rock semi-formal.” Not to mention the fact that the band page describes the group as “Grungy horror pop punk from Chicago.” However, the band composed of Saffron Lair, Violet Staley, Tyler Palermo, and Will Lange, fit in perfectly as the Saturday night kick-off band. After all, it was the War on X-Mas. They band was as sharp as a “Rivers Edge,” which was also the first tune they played. This was followed up in quick succession by the rest of the set, including “Wicked Plans,” “Hack To The Bone,” “Somebody Put A Cross On My Head (And It Burned)” and “Sink Your Teeth.” Won’t Stay Dead closed out its spirited set with “Damaged Brain.”
Tightwire from Minneapolis, MN delivered a fierce set including “Party,” “Six Feet Deep,” ”Body Language,” “Spell on Me,” and “Pentagram Tattoo,” “Bitter Pill.” Group members Tane Graves, Paul Mullaney, Noelle Stolpe, and Parker Thompson brought the energy and the fun as they tore the stage up. The crowd was there for it.
The Dopamines, from the Queen City aka Cincinnati, OH, had the weekend’s penultimate time slot. The band, comprised of Jon Lewis, Jon Weiner, Josh Goldman, and Michael Dickson, roared through its set, injecting the atmosphere with a heavy dose of adrenaline. Included in said set were “You’d Make A Good Horsecop,” “Straight Papers,” “Cincinnati Harmony,” and “Heads Up Dusters,” as well as “The King of Swilling Powers Part I, II, III,” “Ire,” and “Dan Teets Runs a Marathon.” Frenzied done right.
The Falcon closed out the weekend with a forceful set and a dash of cheeky humor. band members Brendan Kelly and Neil Hennessy were, on this night, joined by Joe Principe (Rise Against) and Kody Templeman (The Lillingtons). All four were sporting matching black t-shirts with The Lawrence Arms logo, except in this case, the logo was covered over by the iconic red “NO” symbol. A wink and a nod to the fact that The Lawrence Arms was unable to make this year’s show. The setlist included a collection of some of the most unique and colorful song titles you’re bound to come across over a stretch of time. The Falcon performed, among others, “The Celebutard Chronicles,” ”Huffing The Proverbial Line Off The Proverbial Dong Or The Blood and the Frog,” ”Hasselhoff Cheeseburger,” “The Fighter, The Rube, The Asshole,” ”Feed The Monkey, Drown The Worm Or Goin’ Home,” “Building The Perfect Asshole Parade Or Scratching Off The Fleas.” The Falcon surpassed the already-high expectations. So did the weekend as a whole. Looking forward to next year’s event already. Maybe The Lawrence Arms will be on the bill?
The second night of this year’s Sounds of the Street Festival was capped off by yet more Texas punks. In this case, the capital city’s Lower Class Brats. The Austin-borne legends were joined several popular Chicago groups, as well as bands from across the United States. (Check out our coverage of Night #1 here.) Lower […]
The second night of this year’s Sounds of the Street Festival was capped off by yet more Texas punks. In this case, the capital city’s Lower Class Brats. The Austin-borne legends were joined several popular Chicago groups, as well as bands from across the United States. (Check out our coverage of Night #1 here.)
Lower Class Brats, originally from Austin, TX, but presently based out of California, have been tearing up stages for nearly 30 years. The band brought its ferocity to 2105 South State, wasting no time demonstrating why it has such a devoted following. Lower Class Brats, with a song called “Ultraviolence,” takes some inspiration from “A Clockwork Orange.” One of the nods to the Stanley Kubrick film adaption of the Anthony Burgess novel, was the black Bowler atop Bones’ skull. Bones, one of the two remaining founding members in the band, was perpetually in motion throughout the set, He and his bandmates powered through their performance leaving throngs of fans sweaty and satisfied.
The Subversives, out of Minneapolis, MN, have been around since the 1990’s. However, with a new singer, there’s a renewed energy in the form of an intense young singer with the moniker Quinn T. Sensual. Sensual confidently led his veteran bandmates through their time on the stage with piercing confidence. It was a solid set, keeping the fans moving on the floor. The Subversives are back. And quite a few were glad to see it.
Killing Pixies, from Detroit, MI, came out full throttle. Buoyantly fresh sounding, the pop-punk quartet, delivered sweet sounding tunes which also serve as razor-sharp anthems. The band members are far from shy about calling out those who would deny them basic human rights; perhaps the biggest such targets being the men who work to end access to safe and legal abortions. Killing Pixies gave one of my very favorite performances during the weekend. I am excited to see what else they have for all of us in the future. I’m hazarding a guess it will sting in the very best way.
There are many different types of Rotten in the world, and two of them were on display during night 2: Rotten Stitches and Doc Rotten. The latter was up first. Its new lead singer, Johnny Douglas, alternatively scowling and smiling, was clad in an English football-looking Adidas t-shirt. But instead of an advert for a sponsoring airline or cell phone company, the words “Unite” across the front, and “Resist” on the back. Not only do those two words make up the title of band’s 2022 release, but they are a sort of mission statement for the Trenton, New Jersey crew as well. Known for politically charged tunes, this Rotten was relevant while honoring the spirit of the its street punk ancestors.
The other bands on Saturday’s line-up: Squared Off, The Oi!takus, The Decayed, Anti-Feds, and Fear City, all showed off their own brands of street punk, contributing to yet another exciting musical weekend here in Chicago, Check out more photos from Sounds of the Street Festival night 2 below!
The Arrivals and The Brokedowns helped a jampacked Reggie’s Rock Club crowd close out 2022 and ring in the new year. They were supported by Time Thieves, and a collective of musicians calling themselves C.O.M.A. for this specific event. There was sparkling wine, goofy New Year’s swag on fans, terrific performances, and a bit of […]
The Arrivals and The Brokedowns helped a jampacked Reggie’s Rock Club crowd close out 2022 and ring in the new year. They were supported by Time Thieves, and a collective of musicians calling themselves C.O.M.A. for this specific event. There was sparkling wine, goofy New Year’s swag on fans, terrific performances, and a bit of Auld Lang Syne.
The Arrivals is a pretty good band name to have as a headliner for welcoming the arrival of the New Year. Of course, the Chicago quartet, comprised of “Little Dave” Merriman, Isaac Thotz, Patrick Costello, and Ronni Dicola is not good in name only. In fact, they are pretty damn good and have been for a long time.
Merriman and his wife Lyndsey Anne Wollenberg-Merriman welcomed their first child, a daughter named Josephine, earlier in the year so 2022 was already one for his memory books. He told me post-show:
“It was the best one [year] yet“
The Arrivals helped add another entry in the memory books for those in attendance as well. Merriman described the event:
“The show was a hell of a lot of fun and all the bands were great.”
Leading the crowd with Auld Lang Syne as the clock struck midnight, the band then launched into a set including, “Two Years,” “I’m Sorry For Saying I’m Sorry,” “The Ballad Of Lon Stokes,” “Elise,” and “Last Lullaby.”
Chicago’s The Brokedowns finished their set shortly before the midnight hour, meaning they were the last band to play Reggie’s in 2022. So it was especially important that the band members Jon Balun, Kris Megyery, Eric Grossmann, and Mustafa Daka make it an unforgettable performance. They Brokedowns delivered with a frenzied set which included “Wizard Symptoms,” “I’m A Ritual,” “Life Is A Breeze,” “Pardon The Light,” and “Born On The Bayou Too.”
Mustafa Daka reflected on the show, not quite a fortnight later, and the meaning it held for him:
“The NYE show was very special to me because we all loved The Arrivals for more than 20 years and have lots of great memories touring with them and watching them play amazing sets night after night, especially at Fest! And all the bands were amazing and we’re all friends and friendly, it was a blast! To start the early hours of 2023 playing a show like that and with all the people there, I’m hoping for a year of fun and creativity! And travel!”
C.O.M.A. (Christy, Orion, Monica, and Austin) is actually a collective of two solo singers, Monica LaPlante, and Christy Costello, and their bandmates in Extraterrestrials, Orion Treon and Austin Cecil. All three acts are from Minneapolis and play in each other’s bands.
For their set, the musicians rotated the three identities, and in the combinations, performed “VCR Guy” (Extraterrestrials), “Compression” (Monica LaPlante), “Uranium Baby” (Christy Costello), among others. It was a unique and fun way to introduce themselves to Chicago.
Time Thieves is from Chicago and is comprised of Jonathan Pool, Tim Reynolds, Annie Saunders, and Mike Oberlin. The band played a more than solid set which included “Road,” “Night,” Message,” “Flicker Of Light,” and a lovely cover of the INXS classic “Don’t Change.” It was an enjoyable start to a night meant to mark the end of the year.
Reggie’s Music Joint played Friday night host to a terrific trio of bands. The Joint is the smaller of Reggie’s music rooms but the energy explosion was no less than that of the Rock Club. The all-Chicago show was also the official celebration of The Eradicator’s new album. The Eradicator was inspired by a classic […]
Reggie’s Music Joint played Friday night host to a terrific trio of bands. The Joint is the smaller of Reggie’s music rooms but the energy explosion was no less than that of the Rock Club. The all-Chicago show was also the official celebration of The Eradicator’s new album.
The Eradicator was inspired by a classic Kids in the Hall sketch. As such, The Eradicator comes to the stage armed with a squash racquet, in a tennis outfit, and wears a ski mask. The character of The Eradicator may have been inspired by a comedy troupe, but its performance is itself inspired.
Because The Eradicator is an unmasked member of one of the earlier bands on the bill, it came on like a “hot ball” (no, that’s not a vulgar term). It also failed to stay within the service box that is the stage. But sometimes failure can be a good thing, especially when it produces an unshackled set which included “I Am The Eradicator,” “I’m a Squash Man,” “I’mma Be Me,” “One Rung at a Time,” and “Peak Eradicator.” The Eradicator also debuted tracks off of its new album, “Forever the Eradicator,” which is also billed as his final album, including, “Squash Stomp,” “Squash Bender,” “You Can’t Play Me,” and “Can’t Play Well With Others.”
The Eradicator may call this its final album, but un-retiring is a popular past-time in the USA so perhaps we will see The Eradicator on the court…err stage once again for a rematch with its fans.
Bad Mechanics is another band in the sub-genre of what I call humor-punk. It was in its full glory this night, eliciting smiles, laughs, and cheers from the crowd. The core duo of Ryan “Daddy” Durkin on vocals and Andy “Candy” Slania, were backed by touring band members, Danny Walkowiak on drums, and Scott Thomson on bass. The band tore through the chuckle-worthy set list, “You Drink LaCroix,” “Social Obligation,” “I Collect Stamps,” “Zine Festival,” “Donut in the Park,” DiCaprio Hit A Baby,” (hmm, I hazard to guess that last one could edge close to defamation but does not quite meet its standards) “USA Foods,” and “Must Be The Suburbs.”
That was the entire Bad Mechanics set. Not always possible to list a set list in full but here we are. Short, sweet, and please do a near future hometown repeat.
Coronary kicked off the hometown trifecta. The Windy City hardcore group jammed through a performance so intense, it required some tables near the small stage to be pushed back by venue staff members. Included in Coronary’s set list was “Victim of Truth,” I Quit,” “Bricks,” “Violent Era,” and “Scene Cops.” Coronary is as serious as a heart attack when it comes to expressing its collective opinions. Coronary will also get your blood pumping so catch one of its shows when next you can.
The Queers returned to Chicago, headlining at Reggie’s Rock Club on December 7, 2022. Playing in support were Don’t Panic, Capgun Heroes, and Goodbye Sunshine. The midweek show was a high octane show from start to finish. The Queers is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. Joe Queer is the only founding member active in the group, […]
The Queers returned to Chicago, headlining at Reggie’s Rock Club on December 7, 2022. Playing in support were Don’t Panic, Capgun Heroes, and Goodbye Sunshine. The midweek show was a high octane show from start to finish.
The Queers is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. Joe Queer is the only founding member active in the group, but its spirit remains alive. Queer bounded around the stage, matching his younger bandmates’ energy as they zoomed through their set, including “Ursula Finally Has Tits,” “Fuck the World,” and “This Place Sucks.” The Queers also performed covers of Screeching Weasel’s “Like a Parasite,” and Ramones‘ “The KKK Took My Baby Away.” The 17+ show crowd tore up the circle pit and one even did literal backflips in tune to the music coming from the stage. The sheer number of The Queers logos on the younger fans’ clothes and even inked in their skin demonstrated that four decades on, the band, and its music, still strike a chord with many fans, old and new.
Don’t Panic, out of Stroudsberg, PA, brought a high level of enthusiasm to its time on stage. Lyrics such as, “Pretending to be someone else or lying to hide the fact she was afraid,” from “Ramona,” and the title/lyrics of their latest single, “Friends Make Better Enemies” delivered in an upbeat manner can be intoxicating. Certainly, sometimes more so than laments and wistful memories encased in equally mournful music. Don’t Panic remained consistent as the band members Ted Felicetti, AJ Larsen, Keith Slader, and Anthony Paesano continued through a setlist that also included “Watership Down,” “Woe I,” and “Fall of ’99.” The band connected with the audience and at one point took a group photo with the crowd. It’s apparently a regular part of its performances. Rather than seeming derivative, there was warmth to it not often enough associated with a punk rock show.
Since its founding in 2018, Chicago’s own Capgun Heroes has steadily been building a devoted fan base. The songs are short bursts of utterly infectious music and lyrics. “Judy” is a call back to the protagonist of the Ramones classic “Judy Is A Punk.” In this case, the assertion being that Judy is no longer a punk, nor does she even like Ramones. Indeed, Capgun Heroes makes no secret of its affection for the legends out of Forest Hills, Queens. Along with the aforementioned tune, Joe Capgun, Matt Cappy, Nick Nativo, Jimmy C, Scotty Lars, and Andy Hero zipped through “Back it Up,” “Lobotomy,” “Nuthouse,” “Wanna Go,” and “Operation Chaos,” among others. Name-checking bands and places from its hometown, the band got the heads of those in attendance bopping and their toes tapping. Every once in a while I caught myself joining in, even as I tried to document the set. It made for a few shots a bit too blurry for use, but I had a blast.
Goodbye Sunshine, is newer Chicago band whose debut EP, Keep Failing, You’re Doing Great! was produced and engineered by Joe Queer, who also contributed guest vocals. The band, comprised of August Fllr, Shane Shultz, Ryan Scaccia, and Brad St. Leger, did a fine job of starting out the night with a solid performance. The tight set included, among others, the entire five-song EP. Those five being, “Hide and Seek,” “Plugger,” “She Doesn’t Care Anymore,” “What You Don’t Know,” and “Outlaws In Charleston, Illinois.” If this night is any indication, they won’t start failing anytime soon.
