Archives:
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- Smoking Popes by Katie Hovland
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- Smoking Popes by Katie Hovland
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- Smoking Popes by Katie Hovland
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- Smoking Popes by Katie Hovland
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- Smoking Popes by Katie Hovland
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- Smoking Popes by Katie Hovland
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- Smoking Popes by Katie Hovland
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- Smoking Popes by Katie Hovland
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- Smoking Popes by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Naked Raygun by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jawbreaker by Katie Hovland
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- Jeff Pezzati of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Jeff Pezzati of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Bill Stephens of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Fritz Doreza of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Against Me! at Riot Fest by Katie Hovland
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- Against Me! at Riot Fest by Katie Hovland
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- Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Gwar by Katie Hovland
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- Jesse Hughes of Eagles of Death Metal
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- Psalm One by Katie Hovland
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- White Mystery by Katie Hovland
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- Pears by Katie Hovland
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- Skinny Lister by Katie Hovland
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- Eagles Of Death Metal by Katie Hovland
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- Elway by Katie Hovland
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- Jeff Pezzati of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Jeff Pezzati of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Fritz Doreza, Jeff Pezzati and Bill Stephens of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Fritz Doreza of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Bill Stephens of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Fritz Doreza, Jeff Pezzati and Pierre Kezdy of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Jeff Pezzati of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Jeff Pezzati of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Bill Stephens of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Jeff Pezzati and Eric Spicer of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Jeff Pezzati of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
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- Jeff Pezzati of Naked Raygun Photo by Katie Hovland
J. Robbins Talks Godspeed… A Tribute to Pierre Kezdy
This Friday, a compilation titled Godspeed… A Tribute to Pierre Kezdy will be released, with 100% of profits donated directly to the family of the late Naked Raygun bassist. The album features Hot Water Music, Face to Face, J. Robbins, Swingin’ Utters, The Methadones, Josh Caterer of Smoking Popes, and others, all contributing their own renditions of Naked Raygun songs. Kezdy sadly passed away from cancer in October of 2020 and this tribute album consists of cover songs from artists who were influenced and inspired by Naked Raygun.
Continue Reading…
Naked Raygun Plans Limited Edition Vinyl and Comic Book
Naked Raygun recently announced a Kickstarter campaign for a vinyl single and accompanying comic book. The 7-inch record will feature the song “Broken Things,” which comes from Naked Raygun’s 2021 album Over the Overlords, their first studio album since 1990. The record’s B-side will contain etched artwork by Eisner-nominated artist James Romberger and Ignatz-nominated artist Josh Bayer. Romberger and Bayer are also creating a 14-page comic inspired by the song, with the artists teaming up to work on separate sections of the same page.
The idea for this collaboration came about after Jason Mojica, (Xylophone Media) interviewed Naked Raygun singer Jeff Pezzati for his podcast The Modernist Society. During their conversation, the topic of comic books came up and the idea was born shortly thereafter. Mojica explained, “I interviewed Jeff in January of last year and that’s when he mentioned that Over the Overlords was coming out. Given that we talked a bunch about comics and that I’ve always seen comics in the band’s DNA, especially the covers for Throb Throb, Jettison, and Understand?, I pitched him on my crazy idea and to my surprise and delight, he said ‘yes’.”
The records will be available on black vinyl, limited edition pink vinyl, (500 copies) and limited edition blue vinyl, (1000 copies). Rewards for backers of the Kickstarter project also include original artwork by Romberger and Bayer, artist-designed Naked Raygun t-shirts and more. The Kickstarter campaign is live now through June 8th.
Naked Raygun
Photos by Katie Hovland
Earlier this month, Naked Raygun released their first album in over 30 years, titled Over the Overlords. We spoke with guitarist Bill Stephens and talked about the record’s writing process, which spanned several years. We also discussed what it was like recording at Transient Sound with producer Steve Gillis. Over the Overlords is a decidedly comprehensive album that employs a variety of influences, yet maintains a sense of cohesion throughout. Simply put, it retains the urgency of their early work and stands on equal ground with their most beloved records. Additionally, we conversed about their longtime bassist Pierre Kezdy, who sadly passed away from cancer in October of 2020. We addressed the various contributions that Kezdy made to the album, as well as what inspired some of the songs, their plans for future shows and more.
Continue Reading…The Addisons – “Vanilla Blue”
Earlier this month, The Addisons released a cover of one of Naked Raygun’s most beloved songs, “Vanilla Blue.” When Naked Raygun bassist Pierre Kezdy sadly passed away last month, The Addisons chose to put out this song, which Kezdy wrote, as a tribute to him. In terms of how they went about interpreting the song, bassist Rick Uncapher said “We really didn’t think about it too much. We just learned it, played it and recorded it pretty quick. Daisun DeRik, our old drummer, recorded it at his house in Brookfield. Tom, (singer/guitarist Tom Counihan) mixed it at his house in Aurora and Justin Perkins did the mastering at Mystery Room in Milwaukee.” He continued, “We’ve all been huge Raygun fans dating way back. Dave, (singer/guitarist Dave Lysien) and Tom’s old band, Not Rebecca, got to open for Raygun at the Riv in the early ‘90s, so we just wanted to pay tribute the best we could.” When asked about Pierre’s legacy, Uncapher added “Pierre was a really sweet guy. Super friendly, funny and humble. As a musician, we’ll remember his bass tone and his bold stage presence. And of course, we’ll remember his songs.” Check out The Addisons’ rendition of “Vanilla Blue” below and for those interested in helping out, there’s a GoFundMe campaign that was launched by Kezdy’s family.
Jawbreaker, Naked Raygun, The Smoking Popes @ Aragon, 11/4/18 [Photos: Katie Hovland]
All photos by Katie Hovland. Click on a photo to enlarge!
Smoking Popes
Below photos by Katie Hovland
Earlier this month, Smoking Popes released their latest full-length, called Into the Agony. We recently met up with lead guitarist Eli Caterer and discussed the new album at length. We spoke about the return of original drummer Mike Felumlee and how his involvement in many ways sparked the band to write new material. We also talked about the manner in which the album was recorded and their desire to capture more of a live feel. In doing so, there are moments on Into the Agony that are suggestive of the Popes’ first two LPs, but at the same time there’s a host of new influences present, including several political songs. Additionally, we addressed their upcoming show with Jawbreaker and Naked Raygun, their November tour dates and more. Continue Reading…
Sean McKeough Memorial Benefit
Riot Fest partner and Cobra Lounge/All Rise Brewing founder, Sean McKeough, passed away unexpectedly on November 29th, 2016. Through the All Rise Foundation that McKeough established in 2014, his family and friends strive to preserve his memory and have planned an event to celebrate his life next month. On Friday, January 6th, Naked Raygun and Deal’s Gone Bad will play the Concord Music Hall, and there will also be a silent auction with all proceeds benefitting the All Rise Foundation. The foundation is managed by Sean’s longtime partner, Erin Raymer, and aims to assist causes that McKeough supported, like underserved youth musicians, animal shelters and cancer research. The show starts at 7:00 PM, is 17+ and tickets are available here.
Textbook
Photo by Katie Hovland
In March of this year, Chicago’s Textbook collaborated with Paper + Plastick for the release of their album called On the B-Side. Containing 16 tracks in total, the record features songs from Textbook’s entire catalog and serves as a celebration of the band’s 15th anniversary. We recently spoke with singer/guitarist Dave Lysien and bassist Rick Uncapher to discuss the album in detail. We talked about how they teamed with Paper + Plastick, as well as the distinctive format that the record’s available on. We also conversed about the band’s experiences touring the UK, some of their favorite memories from the last 15 years, future plans and more. Be sure to check out a video for the song “Just One of Those Things” after the interview. Continue Reading…
Dillinger Four
Photo by Katie Hovland
Last month, Dillinger Four played the Double Door as part of a brief tour commemorating their 21st anniversary as a band. After the string of shows wrapped up, we talked with singer/bassist Patrick “Paddy” Costello about how everything went. We also discussed the band’s history, including some of the more noteworthy shows they’ve played in Chicago over the years. In addition, we conversed about D4’s most recent album, Civil War, and Costello touched on some of what they have planned for next year, which involves releasing new material and more touring.
Riot Fest, 2015
For its inaugural year in Douglas Park, Riot Fest continued to grow and expand, while still retaining its formula of legacy acts mixed with eclectic and emerging artists. Despite the change of location, Riot Fest felt right at home in its new digs, taking advantage of an open layout that made for easy navigation from one stage to another. There was a little rain and a fair amount of mud, but those that weren’t deterred by the elements were treated to a surplus of memorable sets from a genuinely diverse collection of bands. We recapped some of our favorite moments and observations from what was an eventful, action-packed weekend. Written by Jamie Ludwig, (JL) and Bill Denker, (BD). Photos by Katie Hovland.
Naked Raygun @ Wrigley Field, 8/29/15
All photos by Katie Hovland. Click on a photo to enlarge.
Textbook – All Messed Up
Torture Chamber Records – Release Date: 10/28/14
Last fall, Chicago’s Textbook released their fifth full-length, entitled All Messed Up. The album finds the band continuing to push the boundaries of the melodic Midwestern rock that they’re known for. Produced by Matt Allison at Atlas Studios, the recording packs a punch but also underscores Textbook’s meticulous songwriting. All Messed Up opens with “Everything I’m Not,” a catchy and concise song that’s loaded with impressive guitar riffs and a surplus of soaring backup vocals. “Looking After Me” is a mid-tempo tune that builds to an anthem-like chorus, which is anchored by a guest vocal appearance from Naked Raygun’s Jeff Pezzati. “Change My Mind” is one of the record’s more punk-leaning tracks and pleasantly reminiscent of ‘90s emo/punk act Walker. Further highpoints include “Just One of Those Things” and “We’ll Get Old,” both of which feature Dan Schafer, (Screeching Weasel, The Riverdales, The Methadones, etc.). All Messed Up is recommended for fans of The Replacements and Husker Du, as well as those that enjoy pop/rock bands like Gameface. Its lyrics often talk of heartbreak, but there’s also an underlying sense of optimism, thanks in part to a plethora of sunny-sounding melodies. Having been together since 1998, Textbook has spent many years honing their craft and this record is decidedly their strongest release yet. Take a listen to the album’s first song below, called “Everything I’m Not.”
[audio:http://www.jadedinchicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/01-Everything-Im-Not.mp3|titles= “Everything I’m Not”]
The Bomb
Photos by Katie Hovland
The Bomb is a long-running Chicago punk band that formed in 1999. Since 2003, their lineup has consisted of singer Jeff Pezzati, (Naked Raygun) guitarist Jeff Dean, (All Eyes West, Dead Ending, Noise By Numbers, etc.) bassist Pete Mittler, (The Methadones) and drummer Mike Soucy, (The Methadones). This fall, The Bomb plans to release a new, yet-to-be-titled EP on No Idea Records and we spoke with Pezzati about its songs. We talked about both their lyrical content and musical style. We also discussed recording, touring, the band’s relationship with J. Robbins and more. Continue Reading…
The Black Sheep
Eric Spicer, Gina Knapik, Herb Rosen, James Toland, Jeff Dean, Jake Burns, Dan Schafer. Photo by Katie Hovland.
The Arrivals
Photo by Katie Hovland
For over ten years, The Arrivals have been a mainstay of Chicago’s punk rock community. With each album they evolve and the latest full-length, Volatile Molotov, represents some of their most ambitious work yet. We discussed the new record with singer/guitarists Isaac Thotz and Dave Merriman, along with a variety of additional topics. Continue Reading…
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