Erik "Hi Fi" Kish Memorial Benefit Concert featuring Deal's Gone Bad

Taking the sounds of soul, rockabilly, doo-wop, and rock n roll, and bathing them in the cleansing waters of the punk rock they grew up playing, Tracer Bullet has created a sound entirely their own. Musically they are on top of their game, melding outstanding guitar work with an incredibly soulful rhythm section and the virtuoso tenor saxophone of Chris Watkins.

Tracer Bullet music debut started with their first self titled EP. From the soul ballad “Windblown World” to the band’s anthem “Dorrie”, they show their limitless range and cover the sound influences that make them inimitable. After fervently playing around the Chicago rockabilly and psychobilly scene, they released their second album, The Second Revival. The album’s influence ranges from the soul music of greats like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, the sounds of rock and roll from the ‘40’s and 50’s to the eclectic punk influenced sounds of The Clash. When all these sounds come together with phenomenal original songwriting, Tracer Bullet gives you something unique and unlike anything their audience has ever heard before.

Live they burn like napalm, with white hot energy, blistering horn playing, fat rhythms and huge harmonies, Providing one of the best live shows in the city of Chicago, bar none!

Tracer Bullet has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with the likes of: The Green Room Rockers, The Arkhams, Curtains!, The Massacres, The Chop Tops, The Strikers, The Koffin Kats, Al & The Black Cats, Deals Gone Bad, Hi Fi & The Roadburners, and The Creepshow to name a few.

From our recent show with Hi Fi & The Roadburners and The Creepshow, here's Mona I Moan!!

Born in Memphis, Tennessee to a school teacher and his young bride, Rockin' Billy was exposed to a wide range of musical experience. The family home was right around the corner from the "First Church of Deliverance." There, a young Billy started his career at age 14 playing music with the "Holy Rollers." At 16 his family moved to Chicago. Amidst the bustling city a young Bill formed his first band - a punk band called Sponge, after working with such luminaries as Big Black, Naked Raygun, The Effigies and a 3 month tour of New York culminating in a stint with the legendary Johnny Thunders at CBGBs.

From there Billy went on to college in Nashville and studied Political Science during the day, played country music on Lower Broadway at night. It was during this period that Billy returned to his roots and started playing Rockabilly. After a stint in Texas with Mac Curtis and Ronnie Dawson, Billy returned to Chicago and formed his own band, The Wild Coyotes. Their first recording, produced by Steve Albini, landed them critical acclaim and a successful tour of Europe. The second Coyotes album, Vive la Rock and Roll, features horns of Mr. Big Fine Daddy and Ireland Terry McFarlin.

The Coyotes are a unique blend of the Blues, country and a modern day energy that Ramones fans would admire. So listen up, America, it's Coyote time!

Lord Mike, where have you gone? It has been over a year since the legendary final Lord Mike & The Dirty Calypsonians show at Metro. And people worldwide have inquired whether the former Deal’s Gone Bad singer – and world’s dirtiest Calypsonian – would ever sing again. Some were generally concerned for his mental state…but most wanted to regain a sense of hope. What new band could fill the void and guarantee a night of drink and general stupor?

Never fear.

For the past few months, “Lord” Mike has been secretly plotting his new act – with former members of the Calypsonians – and they call themselves THE CROMBIES!

Are you missing that live 2 Tone sound? You're in luck. The dance craze sound has returned to Chicago!

Gerry McCandless and Austin Barrett became acquainted and had an interest in punk. Before long, and with bass player Vinnie ONeill, they began rehearsing songs. Covers by The Clash, Ramones, Buzzcocks, The Beatles and a few tunes that Gerry had penned. Vinnie had enough after a few weeks and a replacement was needed. In steps Jackie Hamilton, Gerrys younger sisters boyfriend. (Gerry and Jackie are two Beatle freaks - they hit it off straight away he was in.) In October 1978 and after a final rehearsal in Gerrys mothers kitchen, they played for the first time supporting The Undertones in an outdoor gig in the Bull Park Derry .

Chicago-based trio, The Dyes, infuse 60s inspired garage-rock with infectious 50s rockabilly undertones to create a punchy and melodic, yet raw rock n' roll sound. By digging up the roots of influences such as: Hank Williams, The Cramps, Wanda Jackson, and The Flat Duo Jets, this female-fronted trio is sure to catch the ears of a wide-spectrum of music lovers as they toss hints of punk, surf, blues, and country into the mix, and stir it up with their own unique twist.

In 2003, three long time vets of the Chicago Rockabilly scene got together to bust out Rockabilly as it occurs to them. Hillbilly Idle takes traditional Rockabilly, Country, Surf, and a little bit of Punk Rock - throw it all in to the blender with whole lot of Rum and they turn it on high! This ain't your Grandad's Rockabilly.

Over the years, musical credits include such bands as: Rebel Rousers, Sea Sick Crocodiles, Venus Flycats, The Bottletones, HiFi, and many many more...

You can catch Hillbilly Idles explosive sounds at Kustom Car events all over Chicago. Highlight Kustom car events have included: Hunert Car Pileup, Barnyard Boogie, World of Wheels, Voodoo Larry's Open house #2 & #3, #4 Route 66 Car Show, and for 4 years running, the fine people of The Orbit Room have had Hillbilly Idle at their Anniversary bash.

Hillbilly Idle is well known to perform at Charity events accross the city helping to raise money for charities like: JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes), Katie's Kids, JDRF. Camp I Am Me (IFSA's camp for child burn victims), Toys For Tots, ect.

Chicago based Three Blue Teardrops formed back in the fall of 1991 playing and helping invent American Psychobilly in the an age when most bands were trying to cash in on the Seattle grunge sound. Three Blue Teardrops were at the forefront of a stateside rockabilly and swing revival with their unique and energetic style. A three piece trio of drums, upright bass and guitar, the band began writing and performing original songs that combined elements of 1970s punk, 1980's Hardcore, gut bucket blues, jungle swing, gospel, garage rock, hillbilly jazz and country harmony to the 1950s style raw rockabilly sounds of our Rock-N-Roll forefathers to create their own contemporary sound that was not stuck in the trappings of rockabilly, psychobilly, punk, blues or any single musical sub genre. The bands appeal (and controversially to some strict rockabilly traditionalists disapproval) was its truly energetic and original genre bending and blurring take on vintage American AND modern musical styles as well as the trios desire to seek out and frequently play on all age musical bills that were non rockabilly, often do things un-retro and do a whole lot more than hold its own against punk, hardcore, ska, heavy metal, alternative and pop bands. This approach introduced and initiated a whole new generation of approving kids into the genre of rockabilly and has spawned countless imitators and influenced bands who were enamored by the trios loud emergence from the good time American roots rockabilly greaser punk cesspool.

Welcome to the Penthouse Playboys happy hour folks! Belly up to their on-stage bar, pour yourself a tall stiff cocktail, kick back and enjoy the show.

Their seven piece onslaught of big band sound will blow your lid off. With Sweet Pete on trumpet and trombone, Mike on trumpet, Digits Dobie master of 88 keys, and members Scat vocal and guitar, Shorty on drums who come from the mid-eighties jump swing band The Deacons, Dino on bass, and Dennis on Sax are also veterans of the Chicago's eighties swing scene. So you see they're no strangers to the rhythm and booze.

The Penthouse Playboys influences are those of the Vegas greats like Bobby Darin, Nat King Cole, and of course Frank. This is one act that prides itself on crooning to the smoothies like nobody's biz. At the same time laying down a swing'n groove of stomp'n rhythm and blues.

Their debut CD "In The Bag" blends the lounge sounds of Harlem, Ava, and Ladies of the Night with out and out stompers like Out like a Rock, and Booze. In short, these guys can do it all in one night, and still get up the next afternoon and look themselves in the mirror with a shaky hand and a clear conscious.

Now I know what you're thinkin'... rock n roll is dead.

Well, The Bama Lamas aren't going to sit around and wait to be placed in a nice tidy bucket - we play rock n roll - pure and simple. The kind of raunch you can feel deep down in your soul. Our love for scratchy R&B, Soul, and Rock N Roll 45's brought us together - became our blueprint for saving your sorry souls. The records that make you want to jump out of your skin and hit the dance floor happy just to be alive!

Yeah, we still believe in the power of rock n roll and want to shove it down your throat one gut bustin' howl at a time.

“We’re a Chicago-Irish band.” That’s how front man Kevin Flynn best describes the Celtic inspired sound of Kevin Flynn and The Avondale Ramblers. Based out of the Avondale neighborhood on Chicago’s north side, KF & The Ramblers bring a rollicking take on Gaelic music that reflects the working-class, religious, drunken, sometimes violent (yet always somewhat beautiful) aspects of their city. Though the band’s sound is steeped in the influence of traditional Irish music, their songs are anything but traditional…

“We kind of look at our music the same way Led Zeppelin looked at theirs,” says Flynn. “The basis of their sound was the blues – but they expanded on it. They took it into new and interesting areas. That’s what we try to do with Celtic/Gaelic music.” It’s certainly something they accomplish. Country, folk, gospel and rock seem to meld seamlessly with their Irish tunes. The lyrical perspective is also unique: “We’re from here – so our songs are about Chicago, not Ireland,” continues Flynn. “Instead of singing about Ireland’s pubs, rolling fields and characters we sing about the Harp & Shamrock, Michigan Avenue and Mayor Daley. We don’t sing with a brogue – we sing with our Midwestern accents.”

Along with lead singer/guitarist Kevin Flynn, the Avondale Ramblers are comprised of a stellar cast of veteran players from the Chicago music scene including members of MILLION YEN, NASH KATO BAND and MARY TYLER MORPHINE.

Kevin Flynn-Lead Vocals/Acoustic Guitar
Sean Mulroney-Ampeg Baby Bass/Vocals
Nils St. Cyr-Electric Guitar/Vocals
Andy Gerber-Mandolin
Fred Frey-Drums/Vocals

So grab your beer and your girl and get on the dance floor. Keep your eyes open for Kevin Flynn this year in Chicago and beyond!

Kevin Flynn & the Avondale Ramblers PDF

HIGHLIGHTS:

First show ever played to a sold out crowd at the Double Door on St. Patrick’s Day – March 17th, 2007
Opened several sold out shows in 2007 for Chicago’s legendary ‘The Tossers’
Played with ‘Cranky George’ – featuring James Fearnley of ‘The Pogues’ on June 8th 2007 @ Molly Malone’s in Los Angeles, CA (And were joined on stage by Fearnley for a rendition of Dirty Old Town!)
Opened for the Young Dubliners at Chicago’s House of Blues on Feb. 29th 2008
Opened for The Tossers at Chicago’s METRO for a SOLD OUT audience on March 14th, 2008
Were featured on Chicago’s WXRT 93.1 FM’s Local Anesthetic program
Were featured on Chicago’s WBEZ 91.5 FM’s 848 program on St. Patrick’s Day 2008
Opened for Murphy’s Law on 7/30/08

There once was a girl who loved Rock and Roll
And Swing, and Rhythm and Blues, and Soul
She never set for the woods to bring Nana her shortbread
Lil' Red brandished her axe and went Wolf hunting instead.
She snagged her some Hell-Hounds and saw they could jive
Now rev up your engines, come see them play live.

My!! what a stomping beat they have!
...The better to make you shake your thang.

My!! What a rippin' sound they have!
...The better to help you tear it up.

My!! What big teeth they have!
...The better to eat you with.

Lil Red and "The Howlin' Wolves"... the groove will eat you up!

Pearls Mahone & The One-Eyed Jacks combines strong heart wrenching vocals, rockin guitar riffs, a sexy bass line, and a rhythm that just won't quit. Embracing a passion for rockabilly music, moonshine, ratrods, rhythm & blues, bad boys, outlaw and traditional country, PBR, and good tattoos--their music tells tales of love, hardship, and vice. Unlike any other band out there, Pearls Mahone & The OneEyed Jacks, are undoubtedly one of the most exciting up and coming rockabilly bands out today.

Add the dark gospel of Pearls Mahone & The One-Eyed Jacks to your friends and your playlist today!