H.O.G. POD: Chicagoland Hyper Local Music Scene cover art

H.O.G. POD: Chicagoland Hyper Local Music Scene

H.O.G. POD: Chicagoland Hyper Local Music Scene

By: HogPod Chicagoland's Hyper Local Music Chat
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 Welcome to HOG POD: Chicago's Music Scene Unplugged! Hosted by Mike Orfanos, Mike Dermont, and Pete Jansons, we dive into Chicago’s vibrant music scene. From classic rock to indie vibes, we bring you exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and live performances. Discover local legends and emerging artists while exploring the city’s diverse music culture. Tune in for special episodes featuring tribute bands and live events!HogPod Chicagoland's Hyper Local Music Chat Music
Episodes
  • Dave & Remy Zeiger 🎸 School of Rock to Stage | Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast

    Dave & Remy Zeiger 🎸 School of Rock to Stage | Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast
    Sep 9 2025
    This week on the Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast, we welcome Dave & Remy Zeiger — a father–daughter bassist duo spanning jazz chops, funk grooves, and Chicago cover/tribute stages.Host Pete Jansons is joined by booker Beth Miller to talk with Dave & Remy about:🎸 Growing through Libertyville School of Rock and jumping to real stages🎤 Bass influences (Jaco, Victor Wooten, Geddy Lee) and learning theory vs tabs🔥 New music and gigs: Mudfish EP, Crossing Decades, The Big Chair, Alice in Payne🔗 Connect with Dave & Remy:Remy Zeiger FB: / remy.zeiger Crossing Decades: / crossing.decades.chicago Mudfish: / mudfishchicago The Big Chair (Tears for Fears tribute): / bigchairchicago Alice in Payne (Alice in Chains tribute): / mudfishchicago 🎧 Enjoying the show? Support Hogpod on Patreon and help us keep the Chicago music stories alive! / hogpod Are you a band, club owner, or booker and want to be on the show? Reach out to Beth Miller for booking:Beth@hogpod.org | 708-287-36920:00 Crossing Decades Band Clip with Special Guests Dave and Remy Zeiger • The Early Decades 1:45 Dave and Pete reminisce about their days in Libertyville School of Rock with Pete Dankelson and Jay MartiniPete Dankelson Show clip • Thanksgiving with Peter Dankelson: Music, ... Jay Martini Show Clip • HOG POD: Chicago Music Scene with Keyboard... 2:20 Five Acre Flight / 5afmusic Lake County Sky Band with Cindy Noonan5:31 Crossing Decades clip • 90 and beyond....... 7:57 How Remy got into music15:37 Mitch the Lip show clip • Mitch The Lip on Ska, Trumpets & Chicago’s... 20:58 Remy jamming NIB • Monster Jam - NIB 28:00 Music Theory vs Tabs37:00 What bass players influenced Remy39:50 Dave on putting a band together and keeping one together43:00 Where are Dave and Remy playing next / 665073896297218 52:59 Mudfish "Lost" / 370170292525000 Remy Zeiger FB / remy.zeiger Crossing Decades YouTube / @crossingdecades-vk3qd / mudfishchicago #Hogpod #ChicagoMusic #DaveZeiger #RemyZeiger #MikeOrfanos #MikeDermont #PeteJansons #ChrisRhodesyRhodes #BethMiller #SchoolOfRock #BassGuitar #CoverBands #TributeBand #Rush
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    59 mins
  • Francois Smit 🎸 From South Africa to Empress | Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast

    Francois Smit 🎸 From South Africa to Empress | Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast
    Sep 2 2025
    This week on the Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast, we welcome Francois Smit — guitarist for Empress and a rising force in Chicago’s rock scene.Hosts Mike “Bongo” Orfanos, Mike Dermont, Pete Jansons, and Chris “Rhodesy” Rhodes talk with Francois about:🎶 His journey from South Africa to Chicago’s music scene🎸 Life in Empress with Tamara Woodruff, Alex James, Bill, and Sean🎤 Carnival life stories, first U.S. impressions, and food discoveries🏟️ Chicago live music vs. South Africa’s scene🎧 Enjoying the show? Support Hogpod on Patreon and help us keep the Chicago music stories alive! / hogpod Are you a band, club owner, or booker and want to be on the show? Reach out to Beth Miller for booking:Beth@hogpod.org | 708-287-36920:001:10 Shout out to Prior guest Rob Stepen • HOGPOD Chicago Local Music Scene Podcast ... 2:50 Mike Dermonth Drum Circle5:58 Bongo Mike Explanation of Drum Circle10:21 Francois Smit joins the show11;28 Coterie Yacht Rock Sept 28 The Vixen13:13 Friction Reunion Oct 25 Broken Oar14:25 Mosquitos at Wheeling Town Center 9/11/25 / 2367935456955088 16:00 Francois Introduction17:45 Tamara Woodruff Empress Show Clip • Tamara Woodruff (Blue Bayou) – Linda Ronst... 18:05 Empress Band20:25 Francois first visit to America23:36 Francois was a carnie?27:34 Is it safe for Francois to go back to South Africa28:13 Whats the music scen liek in South Africa?29:55 How Does a South African get into Rock Music33:48 Food Experiences39:05 Chicago Scene Vs South African Party Scene43:02 Pete Dankelson jamming with the Struts47:51 Pete Dankelson show clip • Thanksgiving with Peter Dankelson: Music, ... 51:00 Doug Shoenbeck show clip52:10 Empress shows / 1843421552951368 Sep 6 DOcks Wauconda54:01 Coterie Event Sep 28 Vixen Yacht Rock54:56 Mosquitos at Wheeling Town Center 9/11/25 / 2367935456955088 55:42 Chris Rhodes playing Ozzy Celebration Charity event Oct 19 Vixen57:32 Bongo Mikes rapid fire question1:02:48 Do chicks dig the accent?#Hogpod #ChicagoMusic #MikeOrfanos #MikeDermont #PeteJansons #ChrisRhodesyRhodes #BethMiller #FrancoisSmit #EmpressBand #SouthAfrica #RockMusic #ChicagoBands
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Rob Stepen 🎸 Lost Tapes, Steve Albini & Joey’s Song | Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast

    Rob Stepen 🎸 Lost Tapes, Steve Albini & Joey’s Song | Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast
    Aug 26 2025
    This week on the Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast, we welcome Rob Stepen — Chicago rocker, storyteller, and frontman of The Generations. Rob’s story is incredible: in 1985 he recorded songs that sat forgotten for nearly four decades in his attic. Thanks to legendary producer Steve Albini, those long-lost tapes were restored and re-released as the album Alternate View.Hosts Mike “Bongo” Orfanos, Mike Dermont, Pete Jansons, and Chris “Rhodesy” Rhodes are joined by booker Beth Miller to dive into Rob’s journey — rediscovering his analog reels, working with Albini, honoring Flock violinist Jerry Goodman, playing iconic venues like the Des Plaines Theatre, and giving back through Joey’s Song, a nonprofit raising funds for epilepsy research in memory of Joseph Gomoll.Rob shares what it’s like to hear your teenage self on tape 38 years later, how much it really cost to restore the reels, and why passion and service fuel everything he does with The Generations.🔗 Connect with Rob Stepen & The Generations:Website: https://robstepenmusic.com/🎧 Enjoying the show? Support Hogpod on Patreon and help us keep the Chicago music stories alive!https://www.patreon.com/hogpodAre you a band, club owner, or booker and want to be on the show? Reach out to Beth Miller for booking:Beth@hogpod.org | 708-287-36920:00 Opening Clip WGN 2024 Interview with Rob and the band The Generations https://youtu.be/oY84UxwspXc7:04 Happy Anniversary Mike And Debbie7:39 Chris Rhodes playing with Focal Point in Buffalo Grove12:08 Shoutout to Anthem17:44 Special Guest Rob Stepen18:28 Rob Stepen Intro20:15 Joey’s Song Charity https://www.joeyssong.org/our-story Joey’s Song fights epilepsy with music in memory of Joseph Gomoll, who died in 2010 just shy of his fifth birthday after suffering a debilitating form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome.20:48 Rob tells the story of refurbishing his long-lost album with Steve Albini!23:11 Butch Vig25:42 The Flock Band https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flock_(band)26:51 Jerry Goodman violinist27:42 Des Plaines Theatre and Ron Onesti Hospitality28:54 Rob Interview WGN https://youtu.be/y04t-cyqPwA and Rob’s mastery of marketing plans38:35 Shout out to company Rob works for Insperity https://www.insperity.com/40:53 Coterie Yacht Rock event Sep 28 2pm The Vixen McHenry https://www.facebook.com/share/1K2so91vET/42:01 Sandy Gennaro https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Gennaro43:31 Rob, Beth Green Room Story44:53 Mike Gomoll Founder at Joey’s Song Story https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-gomoll/49:42 Shout out to Green Room Manager Jackie Des Plaines Theatre51:53 The Generations Band Story57:18 What was it like to go back and listen to yourself in high school on those tapes58:16 Steve Albini story on refurbishing the tapes the first visit59:35 How much was it to get refurbished?1:01:46 What would Steve Albini say about music and AI if he were alive today1:03:09 Joey DeMarco United Talent Corporation Booking shout out1:08:42 TUTS and other old school bars1:12:50 Differences today vs old school bands1:17:08 Bongo Mike Question Time1:21:48 How to book The Generations? https://robstepenmusic.com/#Hogpod #ChicagoMusic #RobStepen #TheGenerations #SteveAlbini #JoeysSong #DesPlainesTheatre #SandyGennaro #ChicagoBands #MusicPodcast #MikeOrfanos #MikeDermont #PeteJansons #ChrisRhodesyRhodes #BethMiller
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    1 hr and 37 mins
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