The Last Great Riot has been playing their blend of melodic rock and garage punk since 2016. Guitarist/vocalist John Beavers and drummer Scott Durand began playing together when they both joined a “work band” at their shared place of employment that strictly performed at work events. The duo decided to jam outside of work and eventually recruited Durand’s friend, bassist Mario Mazzone, to complete the … Continue reading Q&A: The Last Great Riot
Now, Locals Only is back in the format I first envisioned it — an online print & media publication. With the time commitment of the radio show off my shoulders, I’m excited to return to writing feature articles and in-depth interviews. In addition to the content I personally plan to write & publish, I want this platform to be open and collaborative; any Chicago creative who wants to use their talents to help document the city’s vibrant rock, punk & metal communities is welcome to share this online space. Continue reading Letter From the Editor
Check out our NINE revamped genre-speific playlists featuring nearly 600 songs from Chicago-based artists! Continue reading Our Genre-Specific Playlists are BACK!
Chicago summer is finally here, and its arrival marks the end of cold warehouse shows and bundling up just to make the trek to see your favorite local bands . The arrival of summer means DIY yard shows, sweating through your shirt in mosh pits and reuniting with friends who always seem to disappear during the winter. To help jump start your summer, Locals Only … Continue reading June Show Previews
Virginia crossover thrash band ENFORCED is fresh off their spring run with Iron Reagan, Sacred Reich and Leeway, and are preparing to release their first full-length album this July. Before their set at Reggies Rock Club in Chicago on May 15, vocalist Knox Colby talked about the band’s most recent tour, his lyrical influences, and the Virginia Beach hardcore scene. You can read an excerpt … Continue reading Q&A: Enforced (VA)
All photos by Wolf Villalobos South side crossover band Through N Through played two back-to-back shows in Brooklyn, New York on February 15 and 16. Photographer Wolf Villalobos captured the band’s East Coast run. Continue reading Through N Through: New York City Gallery
Wiley Willis, usually recognizable by his signature page boy cap and the facial tattoos on both his temples, is hiding in plain sight at the Up the Pups benefit show at the Co-Prosperity Sphere in Bridgeport. A red bubble coat surrounds his bald, tattooed head and his heavily tattooed arms, leaving only the tattoos on his hands visible. Willis is the vocalist of two Chicago … Continue reading How one Chicago hardcore vocalist is using music to benefit pups in need
January 20th, 2019- Snuffed is one of the latest additions to Chicago’s impressive array of hardcore punk bands. Before their show at the Archer Ballroom, a DIY space in Bridgeport, Locals Only met up with the members of Snuffed. Sprawled across the worn carpeted stairs of the Archer Ballroom and bundled up in flannels and thick winter coats, guitarist Aaron Schmitt, drummer Joe Brandenburger, vocalist Karly … Continue reading Snuffed, the newest punk band on the scene, talks Chicago influences + goals for 2019
Southside indie rock band Crystal Killers will be releasing their latest single, “You Don’t Know Why,” on November 30. Hailing from the West Lawn neighborhood, Crystal Killers has performed as a four-piece for two years and draws inspiration from a variety of musical genres and local Chicago artists. “We have a variety of influences stemming from emo, pop punk, alternative, indie…to old-school Latin groups from … Continue reading Crystal Killers’ debuts new single, “You Don’t Know Why”
The fourth installation of Punx Not Disposable features photos taken on a disposable camera from the summer of 2018 and at Full Terror Assault Open Air. From shows in legitimate venues to moments captured outside of backyard DIY shows, these photos showcase the diverse settings that comprise Chicago’s music community. If you’re interested in obtaining a physical print of any of these photos, shoot us an email. Best Coast … Continue reading Punx Not Disposable 4
Locals Only 