Radio One Chicago

Shawn Childress, who releases funky hip-hop tracks under the name Awdazcate, has a thing for waffles. It’s in the name of his loose collective (Waffle Gang), his online radio show (Waffle Season), and his annual festival, aka Waffle Fest, which celebrates this city’s underground hip-hop scene. Since its debut in 2011 the bash has showcased a multigenerational array of local acts, and Waffle Fest Four is no different: the bill includes Molemen rapper Astonish, long-grinding rapper Longshot, and Wogz, a youngster who raps, sings, and plays violin. – Chicago Reader

The Limbos have been playing “Intelligent lounge-rock with a decorative surf flair” in Chicago for the past 5 years. As they’ve evolved from a 2-piece to a now 5-piece outfit, their sound continually surprises listeners with it’s eclectic arrangements filled with brutally honest lyrics.

In 2012 after 2 years, 3 EPs and several national tours, Chicago’s Dastardly slowed down, turned the corner and parked. The band holed up in a coach house in Wicker Park and retooled their folk-based sound, dialing in a new vision that showcases singer/songwriter/producer Gabe Liebowitz’s darkly cinematic new songs. His love of lushly produced albums came into play, with the goal of using modern recording techniques to capture the band’s tight arrangements and traditional instrumentation.

Sugarcreek Road blends a modern potpourri of folk, country, bluegrass, and gospel to create a sound that is as raw and compelling as America itself. Original Americana, hint of bluegrass, a dollop of harmony, sprinkle of experimental, dash of humor, and a speck of the unexpected.

Scott Fischer’s brain is like a vast musical amusement park and he wants to take us all on a thrilling ride. Fischer’s Flicker is the latest brainchild of Fischer and marks the next step in a musical evolution that began over 15 years ago. While Fischer’s Flicker’s debut album, “Katmandon’t” is certainly more “mature” sounding than Fischer’s previous efforts, containing none of his trademark humorous rock tunes, it stays true to the core of Fischer’s music with big melodies and ambitious composition. This, coupled with live performances that include extravagant and imaginative video installations that sync up with the band’s live performance, will make you want to jump right back in line for another ride.

Rat Hammer and Absolutely Not drop by the studio to talk about the release of their album spilt!

We debut our new monthly series where we bring in the best Chicago has to offer and have them free style live on air! featuring: Walter J. Liveharder Pro Qwizzy West T-Y Green

Brontosaurus by Radio One Chicago

More Gorgeous by Radio One Chicago

Antenna is a 5 piece original rock band from Chicago with a powerful sound and Latin flare. Since 2005, Antenna has graced the stage at the Double Door, Joe’s on Weed Street, Toyota Park, Congress Theater and Concord Music Hall playing alongside Jarabe Depalo, Natalia Lafourcade, and Elefante among others. Antenna’s musical style can be traced back to diverse roots combining Mexican American culture with growing up in Chicago in the 70’s and 80’s. Influencers range from traditional Mexican music, modern Spanish rock, progressive rock, and American and British rock of the 1960’s-90’s. The band boasts a voting member of the Latin Grammies, guitarist Mario Roldán, who is originally from Guatemala City, Guatemala.

As the railyard bled into dark warehouses, the stranger found himself alone. Street after street he walked with night taking control of his senses until his ears perked at the music of sirens. The dulcet tones of violin, bass, and the female voice spiraled through the darkness from the sole source of warmth in sight. Helplessly drawn in, he found the last lit trailer in camp that seemed to have sprung forth from another time, and there–in the form of three women–was both the past and the future in one.

Ganser continues to explore themes of anxiety and desire and failure on their new single “Smelling Salts,” with an equally claustrophobic video directed by Kim Alpert, featuring model Jennifer Pham. The single shows an evolution in the band’s sound, incorporating brass and other new instrumentation with similar dissociative vocals. Alpert’s (aestheticengineer.com) work has been displayed in a variety of settings from underground experimental video showcases to the Modern Wing of the Chicago Art Institute.

This week, Joan Ranger drops by the studio to hang with us as we speak to goth rock band Ganser, the founder of Villapolooza, and hip hop artist Chris Crack.

Villapalooza is a non-profit, all-ages music & arts festival dedicated to creating safe spaces for arts and community engagement in Little Village.

Chris Crack is the “Jimi Hendrix of Rap”. Prevailing Chicago’s West Side scene, he combines prolific lyricism & sounds, with an infectious show. Chris Crack is the most enthralling artist in hip-hop.

Born and bred in Chicago, Marisol Vélez (also known as Pinqy Ring) has always had a passion for writing. She first shook hands with the mic at age 15 during her Sophomore year at Lane Tech High School when her love for learning Hip Hop songs turned into a curiosity to try it for herself. During her Senior year she became the first female student to rap at her school’s talent show. She vowed she would let herself feel that rush for the rest of her life…

Synth Pop act out of Chicago, IL. Loves Ableton, suckers, and neatly wrapped cables.

Mari V is a 21-year old aspiring artist from the suburbs of Chicago. She is also a member of ViceVersa, a collaboration of artists ranging from fashion designers, producers and musicians. She derives from a hip-hop/r&b background and has been working in the studio for the past three years with CBMIX, an engineer/producer and member of Chop Squad. She is currently working on Theobalance, a mixtape that is set to be released in Fall of 2015. Kieferrofresh, another member of ViceVersa, is a star contributor to this mixtape, not only supporting Mari V, but also featuring on many of her songs and even producing for “Gone” and “Coastin”. Mari is most inspired by aspiring artists like herself, such as Kehlani, Allan Kingdom, and Chance the Rapper. Theobalance is only the beginning of her journey, so stay tuned to see what she has coming next!

A group of self-described music nerds, Farkus has prided themselves students of the crafts of songwriting and musicianship during their ten years as a band–disciplines singer/guitarist Tony Maguire feels have fallen by the wayside recently. “There is so much more focus on musical and lyrical hooks,” he laments about today’s current pop/rock climate. “It was substance that made us all fall in love with music, and it’s heartbreaking to see that get dismissed.”

Jet-black, rebellious and compelling, THE ØRDER is a conceptually-driven collection of womenswear created to transcend the duality of spirit we all possess. So many of us seek, almost desperately, to define ourselves- but this brand was born out of a strong belief that there is beauty in ambiguity and that we are limitless. The garments of THE ØRDER are comprised of dichotomous textures and silhouettes, simultaneously monogamous in color but promiscuous in depth. Light meets shadow and stark meets sheer, visually manifesting the spiritual paradox that defines the collection’s core.