November 2023

It is only a long-lived singer-songwriter career that lets JAMES LEE STANLEY unite the unpredictable creative turns and the eclectic elements that make up his world. His remarkable ability as a vocalist and composer allow him to create songs, each recorded with a finely crafted with guitar orchestrations that enhance the lyric. But a whole new dimension is added when James Lee performs live. These incredible songs, coupled with his outragously hilarious repartee, make for an evening of hilarity and tenderness and one of the most entertaining concerts on the circuit. He has been hailed as one of the few all time greats and undisputed geniuses among singer-songwriters. Fi Magazine listed his FREELANCE HUMAN BEING as one of the finest recordings of 1998 and one of the Top 200 Recordings of all time -- FI Magazine March 1999.

JAMES LEE STANLEY has toured consistently since he returned from the USAF (as a Chinese linguist) and has performed up to three hundred dates a year since then, with such diverse acts as BONNIE RAITT, ROBIN WILLIAMS, NICOLETTE LARSON and even BILL COSBY. STEVEN WRIGHT chose James Lee as his opening act for three years in a row; a testament to his professionalism and talent.

Waldrup has been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, People Magazine, Netflix, The Hallmark Channel, Bravo TV, Facebook Artist of the Day, NASCAR ESPN Live, the NFL Experience Superbowl XLVII, CMT, Fox and hundreds of other outlets world-wide. She has scored 12 Nashville Industry Music Awards and won the 2019 Torch Award from the Keith Whitley Fingerprint on Country Music Awards

Waldrup's debut album JUSTIFIED, produced by multi-award winner Garth Fundis (known for his work with Trisha Yearwood and Alabama, among others) and funded solely through fan participation via an Indiegogo campaign, debuted on four of Billboard's

Album Charts (Country Album Sales, Heatseekers, Heatseekers South Central and Independent Albums). "Sometimes He Does," one of the songs featured on JUSTIFIED, was included in Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the Top 10 Country and Americana songs of the week immediately following its release. Music Row icon and historian Robert Oermann deemed the track a "Disc of The Day," adding that Waldrup is a "real deal country singer."

Throughout her career, Waldrup has played sold-out shows in such cities as London, Atlanta, Knoxville, Dallas and beyond. Waldrup currently hosts a weekly online series on Facebook page entitled "Waldrup Wednesday." The videos air every Wednesday at 5PM CT and can be accessed on-demand anytime via Facebook and YouTube.

In Summer 2022, Waldrup is releasing music from her new album including a song written with WW2 D-Day Veteran, Jim Martin, a feature with Wendy Moten on "Nothing Is Impossible," and produced by Grammy-award winning producer Paul Worley.

Waldrup is a BMI songwriter, a member of NARAS/The Recording Academy (the "Grammy" organization), the CMA and has partnered with Mission of Hope: Haiti.

Altered Five smokes, smolders and burns like a swig of good whiskey. The hip Milwaukee quintet is known for its strong brew of tough, original blues and hard-hitting live shows. Blues Blast raves that barrel-chested front man Jeff Taylor possesses a "smooth, warm-toned voice as monumental and undeniable as Howlin' Wolf with the finish and flourish of B.B. King." Downbeat declares stealth guitarist Jeff Schroedl "reaches the high bar of mixed invention and fluidity." Fueled by a rhythm section laying down the deepest grooves this side of the MGs, the five blues blasters hit the ground running 21 years ago and show no sign of easing up. Their sixth studio album, Holler If You Hear Me, debuted at #3 on the Billboard Blues Chart and received three Blues Music Award nominations, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year.

The new record kicks hard like the three award-winning records preceding it. Cryin' Mercy nabbed "Best Self-Released Album" at the International Blues Challenge in 2015. Charmed & Dangerous garnered "Song of the Year" at the Independent Music Awards and Wisconsin Music Awards in 2018. Guitar World magazine called the title track a "menacing, swampy blues" and it was in regular rotation on SiriusXM's Bluesville in addition to many other programs and playlists. In 2019, Ten Thousand Watts reached #10 on the Billboard Blues Chart, hit #1 on both the iTunes and Amazon blues charts, while "Great Minds Drink Alike" captured first place in the blues category of the International Songwriting Competition.

All band members contribute as a songwriting team to be reckoned with. Memorable, incisive lyrics run the gamut from slyly suggestive ("Ten Thousand Watts") to blues history tributes ("Three Forks") and inventive contemporary themes ("Urgent Care," "Back Button").

Altered Five have consistently checked all the boxes, making lasting, deeply expressive original blues for the mind and body. Up front and leading the big blues train, Taylor exhorts and cajoles while carrying the weight of the lyrical content. Neither imitating nor hiding his debt to the legendary blues singers of the past, he commands deserved attention on his own. Schroedl propels, embellishes, and adds palpable power through his varied rhythm accompaniment and riveting guitar solos. While inspired by, but not tethered to the kings and titans of blues guitar, he has found his own estimable path to personal expression always at the service of the song.

The muscular yet limber rhythm section of bassist Mark Solveson and drummer Alan Arber lock into the full range of blues grooves from classic slow Chicago drag ("Holding on With One Hand") and romping Texas shuffles ("Mint Condition") to soulful R&B worthy of Stax Records ("Gonna Lose My Lady"). In addition, returning keyboardist Steve Huebler always provides a rich pad of lush harmony along with his own and soaring solos.

Whether live or on record, Altered Five performs seamlessly as a powerhouse entity encompassing the timeless blues virtues of passion and unwavering commitment funneled through technical excellence.

Doubt, followed by discovery. Demos that ended up as finished tracks. New beginnings, rear-view reflections, and ruminations on the fluidity of time: Uncertain Country captures these feelings and so much more.

This celebration, 11-songs long, follows a prolonged period of collective anxiety. Though recorded in different locales--and with a variety of musicians--a theme of questioning runs throughout. Even before the world turned upside down, singer-songwriter Tony Dekker felt mired in uncertainty: from the climate crisis and the ever-changing political landscape to deep shifts within the music industry. The "uncertain country" Dekker chose as the album's theme is not a specific place. Rather, it's a territory we, as humans, inhabit in the 21st century -- a world that, more often than not, is confusing, unfamiliar and unsettling.

The long journey from there to here started more than three years ago, when Dekker took a 10-day trip to one of his favorite places: the north shore of Lake Superior. A pair of friends and collaborators: Adam CK Vollick (who filmed the experience) and Joe Lapinski (who co-produced Uncertain Country) joined him. On this immersive trip, the songwriter soaked in the beauty of the landscapes and learned the stories of the people who have inhabited them since time immemorial.

The two songs that open Uncertain Country, the title track and "When The Storm Has Passed," were recorded at the Oddfellows Temple Hall in St. Catharines, Ontario in September 2020. These jubilant sessions, following five months of unease, were a much-needed release for Dekker and his band. Both songs capture the album's themes of the elasticity of time and processing change.

Making this joyful noise together again set a tone--and direction--for the record. The music morphed from hushed and folky to a more comforting, curated listening experience, acting as a kind of salve. One hears echoes of some of Dekker's early 1990s influences: propeller-pop and indie lo-fi bands like Teenage Fanclub, Galaxie 500, and Buffalo Tom.

The rest of the songs on Uncertain Country were recorded in other acoustically distinctive locations close to Dekker's home in the Niagara Region. Locales included the Silver Spire United Church in downtown St. Catharines, Ontario and a pair of buildings in Ball's Falls Conservation Area in the village of Jordan Station: an old chapel that featured a pump organ and a historic barn on the same property.

Long-time Great Lake Swimmers member, multi-instrumentalist Bret Higgins is featured on many of the songs, as is keyboardist Kelsey McNulty. Guests include newcomers and old friends: the group Minuscule, an all-woman identifying choir based in the Niagara Region, led by choral arranger Laurel Minnes, and JUNO Award-winner Serena Ryder, who sings on a pair of songs: "I Tried to Reach You" and "Swimming Like Flying."

"Moonlight, Stay Above" epitomizes what Great Lake Swimmers represents. The 10-voice strong choir lifts the lonely-sounding and wistful song up. As with that addition, the band on each album is fluid and always evolving. It always starts and ends with Dekker, but the songs themselves suggest what players and instrumentation might fit best with each new recording and live touring band.

Twenty years since the first self-titled release, Uncertain Country shows a songwriter at the top of his craft with so much more to say. In a time of uncertainty, one thing is certain: the Great Lake Swimmers' first collection of new songs in five years is worth the wait.

For as long as he can remember, Ryan Montbleau's been a seeker. From the jungles of Peru to the volcanoes of Hawaii, from the beaches of Costa Rica to the streets of Brooklyn, from the backseat of a 16-passenger van to backstage at Carnegie Hall, the acclaimed singer/songwriter has spent much of his life crisscrossing the globe on a perpetual search for meaning, purpose, and understanding. It's a quest that's guided him both personally and professionally over the years, one that's come to define not only his music, but his very sense of self. And yet, listening to Montbleau's ambitious new multi-part album, Wood, Fire, Water, and Air, there is a profound sense of satisfaction in sitting still, a recognition that perhaps all those spiritual treasures he's been chasing for so long were closer than he thought.

"My whole adult life has been this journey of trying to figure out where home is," Montbleau reflects. "I think I've finally found it."

Set to roll out across four distinct EPs, Wood, Fire, Water, and Air marks Montbleau's first studio release since putting down permanent roots in Burlington, Vermont, where he recently purchased a house after more than two decades of living on the road. While much of the material here was written in fits and starts over the past several years, it's clear that the desire for stability was very much on Montbleau's mind even before he settled on the banks of Lake Champlain, and the songs reflect a maturity and self-awareness that can only come from the difficult work of rigorous self-examination. Montbleau is quick to credit therapy for his growth of late, but he sings about more than just himself here, mixing sly humor and deep revelations as he meditates on the ties that bind all of us perfectly imperfect humans together. Taken as a whole, it's a broad, insightful collection balancing boisterous rock and roll energy with intimate folk introspection, a sprawling, magnetic record all about listening, letting go, and living life.

"I've been through a lot over these past few years," says Montbleau, "and I've experienced some monumental shifts in my perspective. The only way for me to write about it was to just get as honest and vulnerable as I could."

Honesty and vulnerability have been hallmarks of Montbleau's career since the early 2000's, when he first began performing around his native Massachusetts. In the years to come, he'd go on to collaborate with artists as diverse as Martin Sexton, Trombone Shorty, Tall Heights, and Galactic, and rack up more than 100 million streams on Spotify alone. Along the way, Montbleau would share bills with stars like Tedeschi Trucks Band, Ani DiFranco, The Wood Brothers, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and Mavis Staples, but it was his ecstatic headline shows--often more than 200 of them a year--that solidified his reputation as a roots rock powerhouse and an inexorable road warrior. NPR's Mountain Stage compared his "eloquent, soulful songwriting" to Bill Withers and James Taylor, while Relix celebrated his "poetic Americana," and The Boston Herald raved that "he's made a career of confident, danceable positivity."

That positivity would serve Montbleau well on the long and winding road to Wood, Fire, Water, and Air. Work on the record first began in the summer of 2019 at the gorgeous Guilford Sound studio in southern Vermont, where Montbleau and producer Adam Landry (Deer Tick, Rayland Baxter) laid down basic tracks with a rotating cast of players. At the time, Montbleau had little idea what he was getting himself into.

"I honestly didn't know what this project was going to be for a very long time," he explains. "All I knew was that I had a bunch of songs I was really excited about, and that I wanted to take a new approach to recording them."

For much of his career, Montbleau had worked fast and loose in the studio, capturing music as raw and organically as possible. This time around, though, he found himself craving a bolder, more fully realized sound, and by the time he finished basic tracking in Guilford, it was clear that his work had only just begun. What followed was a yearlong odyssey of adding, subtracting, revising, and reimagining, as Montbleau and mixer/engineer James Bridges fleshed out the sessions with a broad array of instruments, textures, and colors.

"It took a long time for me to get to a place where I could trust myself enough to stretch out like this," says Montbleau, who experimented with synthesizers and drum machines and added piano and mandolin to his repertoire for the project. "I'd always kind of deferred to other people's expertise in the studio, but learning to trust my ears and get my hands dirty with the music was a totally empowering experience."

As the songs took shape, it became clear to Montbleau that there were discrete themes at work within the larger collection, both sonically and emotionally. Rather than release the entire 15-track record all at once, then, he decided he would unveil the album more deliberately over the course of four separate EPs, each inspired by an element of the natural world. First up: Wood, a rustic, earthy trio of tracks taking stock of just what it means to be human in these bewildering times. Songs like the playful "Perfect" and soulful "Ankles" wrap weighty ruminations inside deceptively lighthearted packages, and the spare, stripped-down arrangements make for an ideal bridge between Montbleau's earlier work and the more adventurous sounds to come on the album's second installment, Fire. Infused with an infectious energy and feel-good pop optimism, Fire showcases the rock and roll side of Montbleau's personality, celebrating the joy and liberation that comes with learning to live in the moment.

"The songs on Fire were a chance for me to just let loose and have fun," says Montbleau. "They were an opportunity to not overthink things for a change, to trust my gut and follow what felt good."

The arrival of Water quickly cools things down, though, bringing the music back to Earth with a more sober, meditative quality. Montbleau wrote several of the tracks while doing medicine work in Peru, and the healing, regenerative nature of that trip is obvious on songs like the dreamy "Forgiveness," which features extensive keyboard contributions from avant-garde icon John Medeski. By the time we reach the album's final chapter, Air, Montbleau seems to have found peace within himself, coming to terms with the transient, fleeting nature of our existence. "Just know that you are not alone," he sings on "The Dust," "and that's all you get to know now."

"Even though COVID kind of upended everything with my career, this past year has been a rare chance for me to stay put for a while and focus on what really matters," says Montbleau, who recently invited his girlfriend and her daughter to move in with him in Burlington. "I feel like I finally have a real family life now, and I'm living on stable ground for the first time."

That doesn't mean the hunt for purpose and meaning is over. Ryan Montbleau will always be a seeker, and that's alright. As Wood, Fire, Water, and Air so beautifully demonstrates, sometimes the search is its own reward.

One of the bands of all time.
Bastardane gives you music.

With high-gain riffs, groovy grooves and dissonant chord progressions, the boys in Bastardane supply an untamed concoction of sludge, thrash, progressive and melodic rock.

---

---

The Midwest's best Phish Tribute Band is returning to Shank Hall! PHUN continues to deliver you the Phish experience, with their own grooves and jams that will melt faces and get you on your feet!

PHUN has been blessed with the opportunity to share the music of Phish with crowds all over the Midwest for over ten years. Mike Scieszinski, guitarist, created PHUN 13 years ago, and the band aims to play the classics while tackling the new songs that have come out over the last 13 years.

The band is active on social media where songs and setlists are voted on by fans. It's a great way for the band and the audience to share the love of Phish that brought them together in the first place. Check it out on the bands Facebook page!

The band aims to create a safe space for any and all to enjoy the groove; good vibes, kindness and respect. Some sit, some stand, some dance, and some sway; but everybody is entitled to a little PHUN!

The best Nirvana tribute band is NIVRANA. Bringing the most authentic nirvana experience to crowds across the U.S. NIVRANA is the only tribute to Nirvana that gives you the original stage performance, gear and sound just as it was in the 1990s. Once again, you can hear the music that made the era special, because NIVRANA puts Kurt, Krist and Dave back on the stage together as though they never left. If you want the music performed by a band that defined an entire generation with their catchy melodies, energetic shows, torn jeans and flannel, hire the tribute band NIVRANA for your next live music event.

Jack O'Neill and Cary Pierce, the "Jack O" and "Pierce" who make up the seminal duo Jackopierce, are celebrating 30 years of making music that has amassed a loyal following of millions of fans across the country and the world with a super high-energy live show and what the Dallas Morning News has called "spotless harmonies."

Having just released their first studio project 'Feel This Good' in 5 years, Jackopierce is poised and ready to get back on the road full-time.

Jackopierce formed in 1988 in Dallas as theater students at SMU. The duo steadily made a name for themselves, especially with two of their signature tracks, "Vineyard" and their version of the classic "Please Come to Boston." They released ten studio albums (two for major label A&M), toured three continents, nine countries, and 45 states - amassing millions of loyal fans along the way . Over the years They have shared the stage with John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, Matchbox20, Counting Crows, The Wallflowers, Sheryl Crow, Toad the Wet Sprocket - to name a few. After a five-year breakup, the guys reunited in 2002 to test out the waters. They were very warm and city by city, Jack & Cary got back out there to play for grateful fans that thought they would never see them again. The two now have a totally renewed creative vigor, mutual respect and deep gratitude for their fans.

These good vibes shine through on their 25th anniversary live album "Live 25."

It's definitely been a creative time for the duo, and celebrating the past inspires the guys to move forward in new, inventive ways. To freshen up the live show, Jackopierce started creating uniquely intimate "Destination Shows." These shows are a whole new fan experience where people can enjoy gorgeous scenery, share delicious food & wine and have "campfire"- type access to their favorite band. It's a vacation and concert in one. Each Destination Show provides a unique experience dedicated to the local culture: Napa/Sonoma vineyards at sunset, a ranch in Austin Hill Country, high society in Dallas, a two-mile-high a private club in Aspen, amazing history at the Biltmore in NC, a 14,000 square foot hacienda in San Miguel de Allende, MX - and the list goes on. July 27, Jackopierce will host their first 7th Destination Show in Martha's Vineyard and they'll be back for their fourth annual Destination Show in San Miguel in April 2020.

"We have been doing destination events for 10 years now and they have been a huge hit with our fans and have allowed us to make so many great new ones along the way," said Cary Pierce. "I think these events continue to grow and sell out because people want more than "just a show" - they want an experience. They want to create lasting memories, explore a new place or visit an old favorite. In some cases, we're offering them a trip of a lifetime. We're finding there a lot of people that really value these experiences."

Jackopierce has celebrated numerous career milestones including the T-Bone Burnett produced A&M debut album "Bringing on The Weather," being a part of one of the world's largest live events with close to 400K people in attendance at the 1997 Blockbuster RockFest at Texas Motor Speedway alongside artists No Doubt, Counting Crows, and Matchbox Twenty, performing on Conan O'Brien in 1992 with the Max Weinberg Band backing them up and sitting in the chairs on the Rosie O'Donnell Show.

"Even after 30 years I feel like we're just getting started," said Cary Pierce.

It really doesn't take much...

With nothing more than a Gibson Les Paul slung over his shoulder, a warm amp turned all the way up, and a hot microphone on and ready, Jared James Nichols churns out the kind of rock that rips, roars, and rolls without filter or apology. The Wisconsin-born and Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist delivers a one-two punch of gritty vocals straight from the gut and incendiary fret fireworks. After earning widespread acclaim from the likes of American Songwriter, Guitar World, Relix, and more, tallying millions of streams, and packing houses at countless shows, he showcases every side of himself on his 2023 self-titled third full-length offering, Jared James Nichols [Black Hill Records].

"You have to strip yourself back so many times to figure out what you're trying to do," he observes. "For me, it was quite simple. As an artist, music is freedom; music is whatever you want it to be. So, I see it with the bumps, the bruises, the crashes, and everything intact. The album is a day in the life with the ups and downs, but it musically rings true to who I am as an artist."

Back in 2015, Jared emerged with his debut Old Glory & The Wild Revival. On its heels, the 2018 follow-up Black Magic yielded the fan favorite "Honey Forgive Me," piling up over 3.8 million Spotify streams and counting. In between showstopping solo shows, he performed alongside icons a la Slash, Billy Gibbons, Zakk Wylde, and even the late Leslie West, to name a few. Guitar World attested, "If you've never witnessed Jared James Nichols onstage, let us say right now: you're missing out, big time." Following the 2021 fan favorite Shadow Dancer EP, he collaborated with both Maggie Rose and Joe Bonamassa in 2022 for revised versions of his song "Threw Me To The Wolves."

Along the way, Gibson formally welcomed him as an official ambassador, plotting the release of several signature Jared James Nichols guitars. Blackstar Amps followed suit and Seymour Duncan also designed a signature pickup to his specification--due out in 2023.

Officially partnering with Gibson was a huge moment in the guitar aficionado's life. Nearly a decade ago, a Les Paul literally landed into the yard of a fan during the biggest tornado ever to impact Washington, IL. The fan shared a picture of the guitar with Jared. "It was one of the earliest known Les Pauls ever created from 1952," he explains. "It was battered and bruised with a broken neck from the tornado, but it was still salvageable." The fan offered to give it to Jared to restore and play. He sent it to one of the world's best luthiers, Joel Wilkins.

"It is a very important piece of musical history as it is a prototype--1 of 25--to the most important electric guitar shape in the world, the Gibson Les Paul," he smiles. "It is one of the most perfect instruments I have ever played. I play it every day, take it on tour, and make music with it all over the world. It's the best way to honor its legacy. I named the guitar 'Dorothy' after the tornado experience."

Fast forward to present time, and after weathering the Pandemic, Jared's long-awaited return to the road would be unceremoniously derailed. About two weeks into a tour with Black Stone Chery in the fall of 2021, he tried to help his band pack up the stage and upon grabbing a road case, he felt a pop in his right arm. What he thought might be a pulled muscle wound up being bone scraping inside his arm. Whisked away to the emergency room, the x-ray showed a chipped humerus bone due to longtime stress fractures. The only solution proved to be emergency surgery with a chance he might never play guitar again or even use the arm.

"After surgery, I found myself with a plate and 16 screws in my arm, completely sidelined, and back home in bed," he sighs. "I did not let this hold me down, and I found myself re-working how to use my right arm to play again within days. If anything, breaking my arm forced me right back to square one and to rebuild into the best possible version of myself I could be."

Busting his ass to restore a semblance of normalcy, he pushed forward and regained use of the arm and his storied guitar proficiency. Going into the next season, Jared made a decision to track his next body of work live, reflecting the spirit of his show on tape like never before. Joined by producer Eddie Spear, the album proudly preserves all of the grit and gusto from the rooms in Blackbird Studios and Sienna Studios where he first cut the tunes.

"It was made live with intention and zero fucks given," he notes. "It wasn't like we could fix the tempos. We didn't use a click track. I wrote a batch of songs to capture everything I'm about. I didn't hold back. I thought of what I listened to growing up, whether it was grunge or blues. We got a little heavier. I made a record to serve as the menu for the live show. There's an element of excitement and danger. It's my version of rock 'n' roll with a little more humanity."

Speaking of, he paved the way for the record with the 2022 release of the hypnotic and hyper-charged "Hard Wired." Born from a jam session with Tyler Bryant and Graham Whitford, the single bulldozed a path for Jared James Nichols with no shortage of raw and raucous six-string bravado.

"Sometimes, a song comes out of nowhere and basically writes itself, and that is exactly what happened with this one," he says. "I immediately knew it was going to be a song I wanted to incorporate into my live set and cut for this record. Lyrically, it comes from a place of self-destruction. You know something is bad for you, but you continue to do it anyway even though the result will be tragic. It's like a stick of dynamite ready to blow, and it encapsulates the mood and tone of this entire record."

On the follow-up single "Down The Drain," vulnerable vocals snake around melodic guitar in ominous fashion. Baring its fangs, it snaps into a chantable chorus punctuated by a wailing lead.

"It's easy to get addicted to a shitty relationship," he reveals. "You know it's going to end wrong, but you can't get out. You're going down the drain. The concept is relatable to everyone, whether it's about a friend or a romantic relationship."

From the jump, the record kicks into high gear with the bluesy wallop of "My Delusion." In between steady tambourine, distortion roars as he confesses, "Your body is my temple, and your heart is my ruin."

"'My Delusion' kept evolving," he recalls. "It was like water starting to boil. By the time you get into the solo and the riff, it's ready to go off the rails. When we stopped after the second take, we were sweating head-to-toe. We knew we got it!"

On "Hallelujah," a flurry of drums gives way to a thick and heavy battering ram of a blues riff only to crash into a rickety bass line and atomic shredding.

"It was recorded balls to the wall," he remembers. "We were like, 'Let's go'. I was channeling all of my heroes. Obviously, the first riff I ever learned was a Black Sabbath tune. It's a fist in the air song."

"Good Time Girl" pays homage to "going out, drinking, partying, and having a good time" over a hummable guitar groove. The record culminates on the emotionally charged "Out Of Time." Jared's Les Paul practically cries out as he says goodbye to his old man with a heartfelt and tearful tribute.

"I lost my dad, and it was the hardest thing I've ever dealt with in my life," he admits. "I wrote 'Out of Time' when I was thinking of him. It's a heavy song. I was crying when I was doing the vocals. It's a different vibe, but it's impactful for me."

By keeping it simple, Jared remains primed to leave his imprint on rock 'n' roll forever.

"I hope you listen to this record and connect to it," he leaves off. "Rock 'n' roll is not always about a throwback. It's fucking 2022, dude. I'm right here, and I'm ready to rip. I'm not trying to be anybody but myself and play the music I love for today. I'm giving you loud ass guitars and no fucks given rock 'n' roll, and I'm loving it."

---

Genre bending, Alternative Outlaw, Southern Rock artist Cage Willis breaks all the rules with his debut album, Who I Am. Like dynamite drenched in gasoline, Who I Am delivers an undeniably explosive listening experience.

Willis' powerfully honest vocal, attitude fueled guitar playing, and inspirational songwriting will have you immersed in an instant. The debut album, produced by hit songwriter Chris Robertson of Black Stone Cherry, will leave your soul overflowing. A beautifully balanced masterpiece of modern tones paired with classic southern flavor. Follow Cage on social media for updates on new music, tour dates, and more!

The R&B Cadets played their first gig shortly after New Year's in 1980 and their last in the summer of 1986. In that time they got a lot of folks out on the dance floor, playing a distinctive mix of of deep soul cuts from Paul Cebar's massive record collection and some sparkling originals, written by John Sieger, often in tandem with Michael Feldman, a friend and now longtime host of Public Radio's Whad'ya Know?

Splitting lead duties with Sieger and Cebar was the lovely chanteuse, Robin Pluer. Owner of one the lovelier voice heard in the midwest, Ms. Pluer was a dollop of sweetness at the top of the band's deep range. Rounding out the lineup was Mike Sieger, John's brother and vocal doppelganger, who played bass. Original drummer Cy Costabile, was later replaced by Bobby Schneider and the saxophonist Juli Wood was replaced by keyboard/sax man Bob Jennings.

In it's prime, the band had a large following in Milwaukee, where they were pretty much the house band at the late, lamented Century Hall. They travelled well too, with fans in the Twin Cities, Chicago, Madison and even New York where they played legendary clubs like CBGB's, The Knitting Factory and The Lone Star. Their only record, Top Happy, came out in 198-. It featured a song produced by Nick Lowe, a fan who had stumbled across them after playing a show in Milwaukee. The record got great reviews and could have been the start of even bigger things, but like many bands, people were pulling, and being pulled, in different directions.

The positive result of their breakup was two, then three very vital and entertaining acts. There was Semi-Twang, which concentrated on John's songs and did a record, Salty Tears for Warner Brothers that gathered more love than sales. John later moved to nashville and had many of his songs recorded by artist like Dwight Yoakam, Flaco Jimenez and The Bodeans.

Paul and Robin continued with the beefed up and ever-popular Milwaukeeans, releasing a record in the 1990s on Shenachie that got radio play around the country. That lineup stayed around until Robin bid adieu. Tired of touring and now married, she headed to New York for a while, before returning. She has carved out a special niche between soul, swing, standards and the French chanson that she loves, and is still performing today.

In 2009 Semi-Twang reunited and have released two CDs, both of which garnered raves. Paul has continued non-stop, his latest was out last year with his most recent moniker, Tomorrow Sound. The three headed beast has been in rehearsal, tightening up songs old and new. The crowd at their first reunion gig in many years was up and dancing at the first down beat, you probably will be too.

The R&B Cadets played their first gig shortly after New Year's in 1980 and their last in the summer of 1986. In that time they got a lot of folks out on the dance floor, playing a distinctive mix of of deep soul cuts from Paul Cebar's massive record collection and some sparkling originals, written by John Sieger, often in tandem with Michael Feldman, a friend and now longtime host of Public Radio's Whad'ya Know?

Splitting lead duties with Sieger and Cebar was the lovely chanteuse, Robin Pluer. Owner of one the lovelier voice heard in the midwest, Ms. Pluer was a dollop of sweetness at the top of the band's deep range. Rounding out the lineup was Mike Sieger, John's brother and vocal doppelganger, who played bass. Original drummer Cy Costabile, was later replaced by Bobby Schneider and the saxophonist Juli Wood was replaced by keyboard/sax man Bob Jennings.

In it's prime, the band had a large following in Milwaukee, where they were pretty much the house band at the late, lamented Century Hall. They travelled well too, with fans in the Twin Cities, Chicago, Madison and even New York where they played legendary clubs like CBGB's, The Knitting Factory and The Lone Star. Their only record, Top Happy, came out in 198-. It featured a song produced by Nick Lowe, a fan who had stumbled across them after playing a show in Milwaukee. The record got great reviews and could have been the start of even bigger things, but like many bands, people were pulling, and being pulled, in different directions.

The positive result of their breakup was two, then three very vital and entertaining acts. There was Semi-Twang, which concentrated on John's songs and did a record, Salty Tears for Warner Brothers that gathered more love than sales. John later moved to nashville and had many of his songs recorded by artist like Dwight Yoakam, Flaco Jimenez and The Bodeans.

Paul and Robin continued with the beefed up and ever-popular Milwaukeeans, releasing a record in the 1990s on Shenachie that got radio play around the country. That lineup stayed around until Robin bid adieu. Tired of touring and now married, she headed to New York for a while, before returning. She has carved out a special niche between soul, swing, standards and the French chanson that she loves, and is still performing today.

In 2009 Semi-Twang reunited and have released two CDs, both of which garnered raves. Paul has continued non-stop, his latest was out last year with his most recent moniker, Tomorrow Sound. The three headed beast has been in rehearsal, tightening up songs old and new. The crowd at their first reunion gig in many years was up and dancing at the first down beat, you probably will be too.

"I'm the king of Music Row," says Ike Reilly. Standing on the stoop of his recording studio with his arms wide open, the songwriter claims the whole street as his musical kingdom. For the former gravedigger and doorman, Music Row is just one house. It's the 100-year-old bungalow wedged between a nail salon and an insurance agency in Libertyville, Illinois. This is where Reilly now makes his records.

Libertyville is about 38 miles north of Chicago, and it's the hometown of Marlon Brando, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Adam Jones of Tool, Maureen Herman of Babes in Toyland, and many other successful artists and musicians. These folks have all fled town. Reilly never left. He has lived there his entire life, and he has churned out song after song, album after album, all the while maintaining a seemingly together family life and touring America both as a lone troubadour and while leading his greasy band, The Ike Reilly Assassination. While Libertyville certainly appears idyllic, the stories that Reilly mines from it, and from people and places all over the world, clearly are not. Tom Morello, also a Libertyville native, says, "These homogeneous Midwestern towns like Libertyville can forge rebels, and Ike Reilly is just that. He's somebody who sees through the veil of bullsh*t, and you can hear it in all his songs."

Since his explosive major label debut, Salesmen and Racists, Reilly has been creating rebellious punk/folk/country/blues-influenced rock 'n' roll records that are poetic and cinematic. Critical praise for his work has been plentiful, and he has garnered a wildly loyal fan base -- from faithful fans in the dirty bars and rock clubs in the middle of nowhere to legendary authors. Reilly's songs have a unique universality that affects people. Author Stephen King wrote that Reilly's travel band saga, "Boltcutter," was "the best new song to come out of the Trump era." The New York Times called Reilly's longtime band, The Assassination, one of the best live bands in America, and once again they show their dexterity and growth on Reilly's new offering, Because the Angels.

This compelling batch of new Reilly songs/tales required both a lighter touch and a ferocity that mirror the depth of Reilly's writing and the varied nature of his songs. On "Ashes to Ashes," the band slams away and yet still holds down the groove to this Ray-Charles-on-speed track. As the band rocks, rolls, and rumbles, Reilly sings of the cursed and the blessed, the loved and the hurt, and he assures us that nobody escapes death. Sure, it's dark, but ya might die trying not to move to this track.

Of his work, Reilly dismisses it and says, "My songs are either lies or apologies." Because the Angels may reveal more truth than maybe he would like. "Trick of the Light," the first single released off of the new album, is a dark-pop-celebration of family dysfunction. Here, we find Reilly ironically sharing lead vocal duties with three of his own children. There is a festive innocence and a wise resignation in the vocal delivery as Reilly and his boys trade lines and ask questions about faith, hope, family, money, and fate.

Reilly said, "My boys singing on this album with us came about for really no other reason than we were f*cking locked up together during this pandemic. I had to take to Internet hustling-busking-begging to make ends meet, and the boys joined me on The Ike Reilly Family Quarantine Hour. We got comfortable singing together, and when we cut some of these songs, it felt natural for them to sing with the band on many of them. Their vocals really helped shape this record." Like all related singers, there is a distinctive quality in the voices of Shane, Kevin, and Mickey Reilly -- similarly raspy to their father yet not as torn up. This genetic connection is even more compelling given the seeking nature of "Trick of the Light."

Like on all of Reilly's records, the imagery, the locations, and the characters are authentic, unique, and unforgettable. Because the Angels is home to racist girlfriends, killer cops, drunken candidates, swindled mothers, slandered brothers, and struggling lovers, all right here in the modern era. The locations are mostly American -- the police shooting and subsequent riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin inspired "Someday Tonight." In "The Muhammad Ali Museum," the lonesome main character, after searching unsuccessfully for weed in downtown Louisville, decides to go into the Ali Museum and is brought to new depths of anguish as he compares his own mundane life to the life of The Champ.

Blown-out speakers, marijuana shoes, tire fires, and abandoned driers all litter the suicide highways in the final track of Because the Angels, the epic "Racquel Blue." This broken-beat, dubstep-tinged folk song could be on the soundtrack to some lost spaghetti western, but the song itself is too powerful and majestic to take a back seat to any film. Once again, the band proves their agility in handling the space in this musical mystery. Guitarist Phil Karnats paints the sonic landscapes with his signature swells and runs and never gets in the way of the narrative. Is Racquel Blue a woman? Is Racquel Blue a drug? Maybe Racquel Blue is a mythical destination? Who knows. But within the mystery, there is a grandiosity and familiarity. An unlikely place for "hooks," "Racquel Blue" has one of Reilly's most timeless and memorable choruses, and a haunting group vocal "B" section, sung by Reilly's own children, that is certain to generate communal singing wherever "Racquel Blue" is performed or played.

Says Reilly, "'Racquel Blue' is our f*cking thing -- nobody else could do it. Actually, all of this music is our thing. This thing of ours! Cosa Nostra! Seriously, nobody plays like Phil. Nobody plays like Phil, Dave, Pete, and Adam. Ya take these stories and that band, and then throw my boys singing on top of it. F*ck, we know we made a great record. Don't need anybody to tell us that. Just listen to it."

The King of Music Row has spoken.

Dobie Maxwell began performing standup comedy on November 16th, 1983 in his hometown of Milwaukee, WI at the now defunct jazz club Sardino's on Farwell.

He has since gone on to headline many top comedy venues and has also appeared on national TV including CBS's "The Late Late Show" with Craig Ferguson.

He most recently performed in Las Vegas at Brad Garrett's Comedy Club in the MGM Grand Hotel which is one of if not THE top comedy clubs in America.

Maxwell has also been a successful morning radio personality in several markets including Chicago's 97.9 "The Loop" - a legendary station in broadcasting circles.

He currently appears as a regular guest on a number of stations across the country including 97.3 "The Game" with Drew and KB and WTMJ's Morning News in Milwaukee where he brings hometown humor aimed at his fellow Wisconsinites.

Dobie has created a funny one person show based on his life experiences growing up in Milwaukee called "Schlitz Happened! An Old Milwaukee Blatz from The Pabst" which was a hit at "Northern Lights Theater" at Potawatomi Casino.

"My life has been a lot harder than most," Maxwell says. "But I think I am THE world's latest bloomer, and after forty years I am finally starting to see results!"

Dobie's 40th Anniversary Show will be a performance of "Schlitz Happened!" but also a fundraiser for an injured dog named "Mr. Boots" who had his rear paws cut off by the Mexican Mafia and needs prosthetics. Info at: www.savingsadie.com.

The show will be hosted by Drew and KB from 97.3 "The Game" along with a special live appearance by Mr. Boots.

Seaside Zoo is a Madison, WI tribute to the Grateful Dead. We're comprised of longtime Madison musicians Jonas Pritzl, Tim and Sheryl Hall, and Rob Bloch (formerly of New Speedway Players) with the fresh new twist of Kyle O'Hara and Lucas Trilling (of The Bellybutton Club) and Zach Watson from Milwaukee.

The communal spirit surrounding this music is something special and brings joy to both the musicians and fans alike. We simply want to play the music we love and bring people together to share a smile....Peace.

In a town known more for generating pop country 'hat acts' and contemporary Christian music, there is a storm brewing. Small independent bands with no management, booking, record labels (or even local media support) are changing the way people think about Nashville Tennessee.

Now they've got three full length CD's under their belt. 'Sucker Punched', (Dec.2006), 'Three Step Windup' (April,2008) and 'Hang Your Stockings..... Say Your Prayers' the band's Christmas CD (Nov, 2008). Each one totally DIY, produced and engineered by Firebaugh and Dickson and recorded in Andrew Dickson's garage, lovingly known as 'Studio D'. Each CD blends elements of honkytonk, rockabilly, psychobilly, and straight up rock and roll. Every member of the Hillbilly Casino brings their own special flavor to the band, from Nic's background in hip hop and rockabilly, to Geoff's love of old school punk rock and ska, and you'll find elements of all of this in every Hillbilly Casino record and show. 2008 also saw the release of 'Buy-in' a full length Documentary by Doug Farrar at Rockstep Creative. Doug followed the band around for over a year, attending dozens of shows, and collecting performance, and interview footage, which he compiled into a revealing look at a band just trying to make a living and have fun.

While you'll see a lot of bands sitting around waiting to get 'signed', the Hillbilly Casino took a cue from bands like Black Flag, Fugazi, and Youth Brigade, booking their own tours, and producing and releasing their own CD's and T-shirts, and spending hundreds of hours in their old grey Econoline van getting the rock 'n' roll out to the people. From thirty minute opening slots, to 3 and 4 hour marathon sets, these boys are gonna bring their 'A' game, and you'll probably get tired before they do.

The Hillbilly Casino has performed along with the following national Acts...
Brian Setzer Orchestra (7 shows), Rev. Horton Heat, Rancid, Los Straightjackets, Southern Culture on the Skids, Th' Legendary Shack Shakers, The Horrorpops, The Blasters, The Supersuckers, Doyle Bramhall, 7 Shot Screamers, Koffin Kats, Flatfoot 56, Lonesome Spurs, Three Blue Teardrops.

The Hillbilly Casino has performed at these festivals and venues... Gibson Amphitheater (Hollywood CA), Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN), House Of Blues (Chicago, IL), Headliners (Louisville, KY), Exit/In (Nashville, TN), Mercy Lounge (Nashville, TN) Bergenfest (Bergen, Norway), Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival (Kilkenny, Ireland), Rockin' 50's Fest (Green Bay, WI), State Theater (Detroit, MI), Tractor Tavern (Seattle, WA), Rocketown (Nashville, TN), Rodeo Bar (New York, NY)
Members of the Hillbilly Casino are endorsed by King Doublebass, Gretsch Guitars, and Fender Amps.

---

Get ready for a GLAM good time! The 'quirky femme-fatale' Cynthia Starich leads the pack with her powerhouse vocals alongside co-writer and long time heavy-hitting guitar rocker Chris Hanson for a night of all-original blues-infused pop-rock tunes! This high energy show is taking off like a runaway train, full of wit and comedic realism with a western flare! From bluesy pop fusion to punk-rockabilly, this group is converse-stomping to the beat of only the most distinguished shenanigans. Bust out in laughter, leather, and lipstick and break all the rules with "Miss Behave".