august, 2017
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Morry Sochat and The Special 20’s are bringing a fresh sound to the Chicago Blues scene. They mix classic Chicago Blues with Swing and Rock N’ Roll from the 1950’s. The band is influenced by the best in blues history. Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Louis Jordan, Junior Wells, and all of the Chicago greats.
Morry Sochat (pronounced Socket) moved to Chicago from Texas in 1990. He started playing harmonica in 2000, taking lessons from renowned teacher, Joe Filisko at the Old Town School of Folk Music. He played with The Shakes and Tongue & Groove before starting The Special 20s in 2005. Their first, self-titled release, recorded in 2006, was received with great reviews, taking the 20s from playing one or two nights a month to constant bookings all over the city. Morry has been playing around the city learning from the greats in Chicago, playing with Dave Specter, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Billy Flynn and Barrelhouse Chuck.
In 2007, Sochat took the next step and went out on his own. He hired some of the best musicians in Chicago to round out The Special 20s. In 2008, they returned to the studio to record a new CD. The recording Swingin’ Shufflin’ Smokin’ was produced by Nick Moss and featured Ted Beranis, Kenny Smith, Dave Ross, Nick Krebs, Shoji Naito, and Jim St. Marie. The CD was also met with rave reviews. This opened up doors for the band across the US.
In 2010 Morry took the band back to the studio to release Eatin’ Dirt. The CD was produced by Jimmy Sutton, and features 10 original songs. The band has grown in both skill level and size, adding a horn section on a lot of the songs. Eating’ Dirt was a sound expansion for the band. It was the first CD that brought in the horn section. The recording featured the line up of Marty Binder, Doug Corcoran, Shoji Naito, Chris Neal, Jim St. Marie and Ted Beranis. It has special guests Billy Flynn, Dave Hererro, and Brother John on the CD. The sound is vintage with a modern feel.
The new album, Dig In was released on November 24th, 2015. It was recorded with the same band as Eatin’ Dirt with the addition of Billy Flynn. Tim Bluhm, from the Mother Hips, produced the CD. It was a crazy recording session. We got 19 inches of snow on the first day. The album came out great!!!
The band is cooking on all cylinders so get out and see them live.
(Saturday) 8:00 pm
Frankie's Blue Room
16 W Chicago Ave. in Naperville, IL
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We are holding the 3rd Annual Comedy Night Fundraiser on Saturday, August 26th at Frankie’s Blue Room at 16 Chicago Avenue in Naperville. This night will be filled with both professional comedians as well as some local “celebrity” comedians. Erin O’Donnell and Richard Brink will both be performing again this year. Should be another great night of laughter….
All proceeds will be donated to the Edward Cancer Foundation!! We hope to see you there!!!!
(Saturday) 6:30 pm CST
Frankie's Blue Room
16 W Chicago Ave. in Naperville, IL
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Strawdawg plays lively, Boot Stompin’ Country Music They are fronted by songwriters Jim Hay ( lead vocals/bass guitar/rhythm guitar/bck-vocals) and Jennifer Ohlinger ( lead vocals/rhythm guitar/bck-vocals), Jim has toured the USA and Canada for over twenty years opening up for some major artists ( Vince Gill, Mark Chestnut, Kenny Chesney and Bryan Adams), along the way before moving to the U S permanently. Jenny has played the Chicago scene for many years and loves to write music. Together Jim and Jenny have a great vocal chemistry and are working on there first record together. Joining them are Lead Guiarist, John ( The Zigster) Ziganto, Lead Guitarist/Rhythm Guitar/bckvocals, Chris Colonna and Drummer/Percussionist Kevin Byrnes. John and Chris are two different guitarists who compliment each other with there different styles. Both are veterans of the Chicago music scene and are great player. Kevin ( S.K) Byrnes is another veteran of the Chicago scene and holds the fort down and along with Jim they supply a great groove for the band. If you like great country music, played the way it’s supposed to be played and with a kick ass beat, then these guys will not disappoint. Come on out and Stomp your boots or what ever you have on to this awesome band.
(Friday) 8:00 pm CST
Frankie's Blue Room
16 W Chicago Ave. in Naperville, IL
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Anthony & The Goodfellers named “Best Band” in Nashville 4 straight years by The Tennessean. Known for his electrifying live performances and strong ability to connect with the crowds, this is a must see event.
Country rocker and songwriter Anthony Orio has always had a passion for country music.
As an artist, Orio has performed twice at The Grand Ole Opry, and at the Ryman Auditorium alongside Kris Kristofferson, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, and many others. ASCAP has featured him at their “Hot On the Row Series,” designed to showcase Nashville’s top up and coming artists.
For Orio, the main draw to music, has always been connecting with a crowd through live performances. Currently, he tours with his band, performing his high energy groove-infused version of country music throughout the US and Canada. Orio spends a great deal of time on stage, averaging over 200 shows per year. His concerts have taken him everywhere from casino show rooms in Mississippi and Connecticut to 2,000 capacity clubs in Georgia and Alabama to venues in Ottawa and Toronto Canada, with many shows in between. He has performed as part of Spring Break festivities in Panama City Beach, FL and has been a headlining act for Thunder Beach Bike Ralley for the past 3 years. In addition to his tour schedule, Orio performs in Nashville at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, and was recently voted “Best Local Band” by The Tennessean’s “Toast Of Music City Reader’s Choice Awards” for 2012. “For me, there is no place I would rather be than on stage, sharing music with an audience. The energy that comes from a live show is the ultimate high,” says Orio.
As a writer, Orio has enjoyed success with cuts by Grammy winning country comedy legend Ray Stevens whose hits include “The Streak” and “Everything Is Beautiful,” and former RCA recording artist Andy Griggs whose hits include “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely” and “She’s More.” He also had several indie cuts in the past 2 years, including 2 cuts by newly signed Curb recording artist Tim Dugger. Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) showcased Orio in a round during 2010’s and 2011’s Tin Pan South songwriters festival. Sony Music, Universal Music, RPM Music, and Major Bob Music are a few of the companies who have published Orio’s songs. His songs “The Right Reverend Roadhog McGraw,” “Run Out Of Radio,” and his debut CD have all received national radio airplay.
In February of 2010, Orio released his first independent project. The CD featured 9 songs co-written by Orio. His new CD, “Between Home and The Bright Lights” was released in July of 2012 and is receiving rave reviews.
(Friday) 8:00 pm CST
Frankie's Blue Room
16 W Chicago Ave. in Naperville, IL
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David Gerald, the son of Rural Mississippi born and raised parents, grew up to the sounds of the blues and R&B music in his hometown, Detroit. He’s the youngest of 11 children, 6 of whom were born and partly raised in Mississippi. “Because segregation and racial discrimination were so bad in Mississippi at the time, my dad moved the family north to Detroit when he was 33, so we’d have a better chance at the American dream.
Gerald started playing guitar at the age of 15, influenced by Prince and 80’s rock guitarists. He rediscovered the blues and listened to the music of Albert King, ZZ Hill, B.B. King, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, to name just a few.
“I was lucky enough to have a neighbor who was a guitarist and gave me scrap guitars. I would piece them together and build ‘Frankenstein’ guitars,” says Gerald. “They were horrible to play and sounded bad, but I had to play music. It was and is my destiny. I finally scraped up enough money to buy an old amp and I was happy.”
Gerald performed in many local blues, R&B, and rock bands cutting his guitar and vocal chops live and in person. Finding it hard to keep a band together, Gerald learned to play guitar, bass, keys, and drums. Using two antiquated cassette recorders he would overdub each part individually until the song was complete. “The end result sounded horrible, and the songs would not end up in the same key they started in. But it got my songs recorded,” says Gerald. This was the beginning of his songwriting, most of which were pop and rock tunes during the 80’s. Around the age of 24, he began experimenting with computers to write and compose music, which he has done to this day.
Now in his 40’s, Gerald is playing nationally with his own band. Year round, he performs at clubs and festivals across the United States. Some notable appearances include: Riverdays Festival (formerly known as the International Freedom Festival) in Detroit, MI; Chrysler Arts, Beats and Eats in Royal Oak, MI. Springing The Blues Festival in Jacksonville, FL among many others.
Gerald’s blues have been receiving widespread radio play, along with recognition in the Blues and Rock communities. Recently Gerald was listed as #1 on the ReverbNation blues charts for Michigan Blues artists. His debut album “Hell and Back” reached #1 on Roots Music Report’s Blues Chart for Michigan based artists and remained in the top 20 for many weeks in a row.
Gerald’s follow up album ‘Blues Soul Rocker’ is slated to be released in the Winter of 2016. It will contain ten tracks of Blues infused Soul Rock. It is very anticipated by his supporters and music media alike. Gerald is looking forward to introducing his new music to them. He is also excited that he will get to share his experience with new supporters as well.
(Saturday) 8:00 pm CST
Frankie's Blue Room
16 W Chicago Ave. in Naperville, IL
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Alexandra Renee, a 16 year old singer/songwriter from the suburbs of Chicago, released her debut EP, Little Things, the summer of 2016. She has new singles being released monthly for the next few months, with the newest one, 3 Blocks, released on May 1st of 2017. Alexandra is active in several activities for her high school, including choir and show choir. In between classes, studying, school activities, and hanging out with friends, she writes songs with her guitar in hand.
Alex has always had a love for the arts, participating in ballet, choir and orchestra since she was very young. She began writing her original music when she was 12, before she even picked up a guitar. After a few years of writing and playing music, she was introduced to and started working with the producers of Sound Summit.
Alexandra’s music is a mix of many genres, so her style is hard to pinpoint. Alex has an Indi-pop, Indi-folk sound, with a touch of country flair. Her musical influences run the gamut, and are constantly changing. Currently she is listening to Ed Sheeran, Christina Perry, Billy Joel, Elton John, Taylor Swift, The Beatles, Sara Bareilles, and so many more great artists from whom she draws inspiration.
Alexandra Renee will spend the summer performing, writing, recording, visiting and applying to colleges, and working at Shedd Aquarium.
(Saturday) 8:00 pm CST
Frankie's Blue Room
16 W Chicago Ave. in Naperville, IL
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Charismatic singer and guitarist Erin Harpe, along with her band the Delta Swingers, have become favorites around New England, with a growing fan base around the world. Their unique brand of dance music is rooted in vintage 1930’s Mississippi delta blues, then shaken and stirred with other genres like soul, funk, and reggae, evoking a wild southern juke joint where the whiskey and gin are flowing and everybody’s dancing.
Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers features Erin on vocals and lead guitar, backed by Jim Countryman on bass, Matt Charles on harmonica and Kendall Divoll on drums. Their critically acclaimed debut album Love Whip Blues (VizzTone) has been very well received, getting 4 stars in DownBeat Magazine, and airplay around the world including SeriusXM’s Bluesville!
Love Whip Blues is a refreshing, rootsy take on the blues, with songs about trains, hard luck and good luck, and of course (in the vein of Harpe’s other band, Lovewhip) shakin‘ your booty. Ten swinging tracks include four originals, Harpe’s take on songs by 1930’s blues artists, and a very unorthodox version of the classic John Prine song, “Angel From Montgomery”, famously recorded by Bonnie Raitt. Produced by Dave Gross (Candye Kane, Chris O’Leary, Albert Castiglia, Gina Sicilia) at Fat Rabbit Studios, the album shows off the band’s signature Charles River Delta Blues – their own country blues/roots/americana cocktail – including an appearance by guest star guitarist Bob Margolin (Muddy Waters band).
“As a young girl, Annapolis, Maryland–native Erin Harpe learned the blues literally at the feet of the African American blues players of the Washington, D.C. acoustic scene. Her father, visual artist and guitarist Neil Harpe, was a mainstay at the famed Archie’s Barbershop where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Archie Edwards, John Cephas, Phil Wiggins and John Jackson. Erin grew up as a friend to all, picking up the true blues from early on. Her father, Neil, is internationally renowned among guitarists as a Stella expert and “purveyor of fine old time guitars.” –Frank Mathies, Living Blues Magazine
Erin’s soulful vocal style and accomplished finger-picking guitar playing has earned her many fans, including guitar great Ronnie Earl, and she is quickly becoming recognized on the international blues scene. In fact, Erin completed her first European tour in Spring 2014 and is planning to head back overseas in the next year.
(Friday) 8:00 pm CST
Frankie's Blue Room
16 W Chicago Ave. in Naperville, IL
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The Outfit is the ultimate classic rock cover tribute band from the Chicagoland area. Covering the bands, artist and their HITS from the 1950’s to the present. The Outfit has been rocking Chicago venues and fest for the past 25 years.
(Saturday) 8:30 pm CST
Frankie's Blue Room
16 W Chicago Ave. in Naperville, IL
