Local Loft Episode 391

"Between floods and power failures"

That described from liner notes how Boston recorded and mixed Third Stage, their third studio album over an almost eight-year period following their second, Don't Look Back. From 1979-1986. The new episode was created and is airing only seven days after the last one, 390 which barely made it to airtime due to freezing up laptops, and a factory refurbished operating system, which wiped out the DAW I produced 390, and five-years' worth of new episodes. All equipment is back to optimal working order. Someday, I must do a live podcast. Given my busy schedule, I can't make that happen now.

 Two big live as they happened 2025 Summer events are showcased. The annual massive Merchant Street Music Fest in downtown Kankakee. Since the easing of the COVID Pandemic grip on the world, I've been to two more. This year's journey to Harold and Jean Miner Festival Square, at the intersection of Schyler and Merchant Street was an enjoyable but slightly painful one for me. I explain how I slipped on my way into the fest and skinned an arm in opening up this episode. Once inside, I meet up with Ur Mom. A diverse, eclectic rock and funk foursome from Park Ridge. Led by the intimate, powerful vocal of Maura Wolf, they had ages young and older in a stone groove. They will be releasing Shrinks For Suburbanites, their full-length debut vinyl LP, September 6th, with a release show at Martyrs Chicago. Their 30 plus minute set included a 12-bar blues number about life during COVID quarantine in May 2020. (Note: a slight equipment glitch from my normally reliable 2 mic PCM digital recorder caused a bit of overload, and part of the interview has garbled sound on my end, not so much from UR Mom's responses. I took the most audible, understandable excerpts from the interview that were not hard to understand. The background was also bass heavy from other bands playing the main stage in close proximity to where I talked with Ur Mom. A record VU level decrease has fixed this issue from happening again) It was fun to chat with this unique hybrid rock and soul band.

I motored up to Tony D's in Elmwood Park, 24 hours later for a bit of rock, roll and redemption. Moshing their way toward salvation is Legions Of Raum. This intense four-man metal band from Chicago goes down a not total dark path on The Decayed, their third full length album. I talk with growling, grunting singer Martin Kisel, Drummer Aseem Pandy, Guitarist Shaun Duran and Bassist Mike McKinney. They first unleashed The Great Beast Evolved, thirteen years ago in The Kat 105.5 studio. This is my first time talking to them in nine years, when Martin slayed the beast at Reggie's Rock Club during the release show for their second album, Fruition.

Carrying Torches lit up the Hill Stage at Merchant Street Music Fest with their new single of Opening Up and moving on from a closed relationship. I'll spin it. Six years ago this weekend back when Wire In Berwyn was still opening up its doors on Roosevelt and Oak Park Avenue in Berwyn, Synovial lays a gut busting slimy reptilian single on a crowd squirming their way to the mosh circle.

This ain't your Mama's ancient original Chicagoland Metal, Punk, Alternative Rock and Power Pop mix tape. This Is:

Ur Mom-Sushi (With Your Ex)

Ur Mom-Coronavirus Blues (live at Merchant Street Music Fest, Kankakee-7/25/25)

Vortis-COVID Blues

Carrying Torches-Opening Up

Slap Bunt-Coming of Age

Legions Of Raum-Primordial

Legions Of Raum-The Decayed

The Suffering-Under Attack

Synovial (interview from Wire in Berwyn-7/27/19 Local Loft Episode 108)

Synovial-Aliens

Synovial-525