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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
  • Rob Stepen Returns on HOGPOD Chicago Local Music Podcast: Generations, Epiphany & Super Bowl 🎸

    Rob Stepen Returns on HOGPOD Chicago Local Music Podcast: Generations, Epiphany & Super Bowl 🎸
    Mar 3 2026
    Ever rediscover a lost cassette from the '90s Chicago scene and end up booking a Canadian musician by mistake? Rob Stepen is back on Hogpod Chicago Local Music Chat spilling all that and more in this must-watch episode! Dive into nostalgic tales like rotating gigs at legendary spots (Riverbend, Broken Oar, Monaco's in McHenry, Dark Crystal Lounge in Crystal Lake, Neighborhood Inn) while chasing bands like Joey and Sam DeMarco who packed houses back then. Hear the wild story of finding a 1990 Fugitive tape with a Joey DeMarco shoutout, and the hilarious Facebook mixup that led to booking the "wrong" Joey from Canada.Rob breaks down killer upcoming gigs: The Generations rock March 6 (Pete's crashing it too!), the jaw-dropping Epiphany Center — a renovated 1885 church turned 42,000 sq ft music epicenter in the West Loop with four venues, historic vibes, and top-tier sound/lights. We've got a tour video to show it off. Hogpod perk: Hit Beth's booth and drop "I saw the podcast" for free merch!Then it's legacy time with the Sons of Cream at Arcada Theatre on March 8 — Kofi Baker (Ginger's son), Malcolm Bruce (Jack's son), and Rob Johnson (Eric Clapton's nephew) fusing blues, psych, and rock like their dads. The Generations are special guests — it's in the DNA!Music news: Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl sparks our round-robin dream halftime picks (rock heavy, of course). Rob shares how he lands TV gigs nonstop, including Bongo Mike's Channel 2 spot on March 26 at 9:45 AM, timed perfectly before their Epiphany show. Wrap with the March 28 charity jam in Lansing, IL — a round-robin fundraiser for a domestic abuse shelter with heavy hitters like Elise and Luis (Pete's offering rides!).This episode is pure Chicago music energy — hit play and tell us in the comments: What's your ultimate Super Bowl halftime act?Timestamps:0:00 Intro (Surrender Lyrics Riff)1:01 Venue Nostalgia: Riverbend, Broken Oar, Monaco's, Dark Crystal Lounge1:44 Lost 1990 Fugitive Cassette Tape Story2:23 Joey DeMarco Mixup & Canadian Booking3:00 Generations Show March 6 - / 18v7w2uzwz 3:19 Bongo Mike on Channel 2 News March 263:57 Epiphany Center - https://epiphanychi.com/ and https://epiphanychi.com/tickets/4:44 Epiphany Tour Video - • Epiphany Center for the Arts - (Music Venu... 10:05 Hogpod Free Merch Shoutout - Say "I saw the podcast" at Beth's booth16:04 Sons of Cream Show - https://oshows.com/event/sons-of-crea...19:30 Music in the News: Bad Bunny Super Bowl & Round Robin Wishes39:35 How Rob Gets on TV All the Time - https://robstepenmusic.com/the-band/50:14 Lansing Charity Jam March 28Guest Links:Website: https://robstepenmusic.com/Facebook: / robstepenmusic Instagram: / robstepenmusic Linktree: https://linktr.ee/robstepenmusicSupport Hogpod on Patreon: / hogpod ($5 Buy Us A Beer)Want to be on the show? Contact Beth Miller at beth@hogpod.org or 708-287-3692#Hogpod #ChicagoMusic #RobStepen #TheGenerations #EpiphanyCenter #SonsOfCream #SuperBowlMusic
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    53 mins
  • Mark Molloy 🥁 Vegas Showrooms, 15 Drum Kits & Tesla Tribute | Hogpod Chicago Local Music Podcast

    Mark Molloy 🥁 Vegas Showrooms, 15 Drum Kits & Tesla Tribute | Hogpod Chicago Local Music Podcast
    Feb 24 2026
    🎙️ This week on the Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast — Mark Molloy is in the house! 🎉You might know him as the theatrical, stick-twirling drummer for My Metal Heart. Or maybe you've spotted him behind the kit for Members Only, the 80s band. But buckle up — Mark just stepped OUT from behind the drum set to front FiveMan, a brand new Tesla tribute band. 🎤🤘At 21, Mark went to Vegas on vacation, accidentally landed a casino showroom gig at an open mic jam... and didn't come home for 19 years. 🎰 Showrooms, studios, tribute bands across Vegas, LA, and Atlantic City. He played Kareem Abdul DeBarge IV and Reverend Jive in full costume funk bands. He wore an African dashiki as Michael Bland in a Prince tribute. He was fully on board with all of it.He came home for his kid — Nevada ranked 49th in public education three years running, and "these dummies are not teaching my child." Now he's back in Chicago with 15 drum kits (3 garage-built), a chrome Roto Tom set that causes "a spectacular light show or a seizure-inducing nightmare," and a brand new gig as a Tesla frontman.🎶 In this episode:🥁 19 years accidentally living in Vegas🎭 Costumes, showrooms & the Prince tribute dashiki🤘 How Rhodesy recruited Mark to front FiveMan after one Yacht Rock jam🍞 The full Rocky Horror Time Warp — maids, toast, the whole production🪘 15 kits, 3 garage-built, and a 35-pound steel snare drum🌆 Vegas vs Nashville vs Chicago music scenes🔗 Connect with Mark:📘 Facebook: / drummerboymolloy 🎸 My Metal Heart: https://linktr.ee/mymetalheart🕺 Members Only: https://www.membersonly80sband.com/📘 FiveMan Tesla Tribute: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...🎧 Support on Patreon: / hogpod 🎤 Book the show: Beth Miller | Beth@hogpod.org | 708-287-3692⏱️ Key Moments:0:00 Opening Video – Time Warp / 1ackbepijj 5:27 Generations Show March 6 @ Epiphany https://epiphanychi.com/events/the-ge...5:30 Rob Stepen Clip • HOGPOD Chicago Local Music Scene Podcast ... 8:19 Mark Molloy Joins the Show12:00 Mark Welcomed – Three Bands, One Insane Career13:00 FiveMan Tesla Tribute Debut @ Gordy Palooza22:07 Lisa Orduna Clip • Lisa Orduna 🎤 Members Only 80s Band | Hogp... 22:10 Elise Clip • Elise McLearen | My Metal Heart & Sabatha ... 22:25 Mark's Background – Mickey Dolenz, Grease at 14, Vegas at 2129:46 Chris Rhodes Joins the Show30:05 Mindy Shulman Clip https://www.youtube.com/live/EBlo_LTK...36:37 Digital vs Analog Drums – The Vegas Showroom Cycle39:39 Vegas vs Nashville vs Chicago Music Scenes55:15 Members Only Story – How He Joined the 80s Band1:02:09 Bongo Mike Questions – 15 Kits, Iron Maiden Backstage, Star Wars & Pop-Tarts📅 Upcoming Shows:🎸 Generations @ Epiphany Center — March 6 https://epiphanychi.com/events/the-ge...🎸 Generations w/ Sons of Cream @ Arcada — March 8 https://oshows.com/event/sons-of-crea...🥁 My Metal Heart @ Sideouts Island Lake — April 3🥁 My Metal Heart @ Broken Oar — May 17🕺 Members Only @ Shamrocks the Fox, McHenry — March 13🕺 Members Only @ Mickey Finn's, Libertyville — March 21#Hogpod #ChicagoMusic #MarkMolloy #MyMetalHeart #MembersOnly #FiveMan #TeslaTribute #ChicagolandMusic #DrummerLife #CoverBand #LasVegasMusician #ChicagoLocalMusic
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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Joe Dilillo 🎤 Solid Sound Studio & Chicago Recording History | Hogpod Chicago Local Music Podcast

    Joe Dilillo 🎤 Solid Sound Studio & Chicago Recording History | Hogpod Chicago Local Music Podcast
    Feb 17 2026
    This week on the Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast, we welcome Joe Dilillo — Chicago-area producer, engineer, songwriter, and owner of Solid Sound Recording Studio in Hoffman Estates for 25 years. Joe recorded Smashing Pumpkins, Smoking Popes, and Plain White T's before they blew up.Join hosts Pete Jansons, Mike "Bongo" Orfanos, Chris "Rhodesy" Rhodes, and Mike Dermont as they dive into:🎸 25 years running Solid Sound Recording Studio and the bands that came through🎤 AI in music — useful songwriting tool or threat to the craft?🔥 The death of the old record label model and what it costs to make a record today🎶 Chicago's legendary sound engineers — Chris Steinmetz, Doug McBride, Bruce Swedien, Ryan Freeland🎵 Joe's new music including "When It Comes to Us" and upcoming International Pop Overthrow FestPlus: Wolfie's 21st birthday recap, Chris Rhodes' new 5 Man Tribute Band project, and Valentine's Day wisdom from the fellas.Key Moments:0:00 Opening video Joe Dilillo - When It Comes To Us [OFFICIAL VIDEO] • Joe Dilillo - When It Comes To Us [OFFICIA... 3:32 Opening banter how was wolfie's 21st birthday?5:41 Whipping Post Chris Rhodes New Project / 1438232317670299 10:43 Wolfie plays bass too!11:49 Shout out to Chris "CBob" Bobrowski Show Clip • Chris “CBob” Bobrowski of Rok Brigade Supe... 12:45 ARRA band shout out show clip • Wolfgang Paul (ARRA, Tom Sawyer) | Chicago... includes wolfgang paul story part 113:05 Tony Mok Show clip shout out • HOGPOD Chicago Music Scene Podcast: Tony M... 13:35 Tavo Paul Shout Out video / 1gsshd5x3w 15:12 Chris Rhodes New Project 5 man tribute band https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...25:07 Coterie FB Page / 100063696872816 26:29 Joe Dilillo YouTube channel / @joedilillomusic 26:32 Valentines Day thoughts27:19 Joe Dilillo joins the show helps us to pronounce name29:25 TD Clark Show • TD Clark 🎸 Guitar Virtuoso Poison'd Crue, ... 31:17 Smoking Popes Mention https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking...35:20 Mike Dermont Joins the show and gives his own intro of Joe Dilillo39:38 Joe's thoughts on Sound Engineering42:20 Artificial Intelligence44:20 Jeff Anthony Show clip shout out https://travel.usnews.com/hotels/?src...45:10 Dan Peters Shout Out / daniel.peters.1656 45:40 Analog v Digital46:29 Autotune54:00 Session Musicians57:08 Who besides Joe are the best sound engineers in the area?57:28 Stan Doty Pravda Records https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/0...57:55 Chris Steinmetz sound engineer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_S...58:46 Doug McBride Gravity Studios https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity...58:53 Ken Sluiter https://soundbetter.com/profiles/5537...59:16 Bruce Swedien https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_S...1:00:10 Ryan Freeland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Fr...1:00:43 Al Jourgensen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jour...1:03:13 $1500 these days to make a record?1:05:27 How do you make money off your recordings?1:09:11 Technology Music Disrupters Napster1:13:49 Pino Farina Band Show clip • Pino Farina on Band Reunions, Original Mus... 1:16:00 Promotions and Niche Audiences1:23:10 Pop Music today1:26:50 Networking1:30:08 Joes contact info1:32:58 Ted Templeman Platinum Producer life in musicConnect with Joe Dilillo:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/joedilillomusic🎧 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 | 708-287-3692Hashtags:#Hogpod #ChicagoMusic #JoeDilillo #SolidSound #SmashingPumpkins #SmokingPopes #PlainWhiteTees #SoundEngineering #RecordingStudio #MikeOrfanos #MikeDermont #PeteJansons #ChrisRhodesyRhodes #BethMiller
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    1 hr and 35 mins
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