Locals Only sat down with La Armada guitarist Paúl Rivera to talk about the band’s Dominican roots, the importance of diversity in hardcore, and what’s in store for the group in 2023. Continue reading La Armada’s Paúl Rivera on diversity in Chicago hardcore
Last weekend, fans of Chicago art, music, and skating flocked to Logan BLVD skate park for Shred Your Standards Fest. The first day of the fest was photographed by Zack Lewandowski, whose knack for capturing the energy of the crowd in his live music photography conveys the lively, buzzing atmosphere of Chicagoland DIY shows. Continue reading Shred Your Standards Photo Gallery
Whether you’re looking for an all-ages costume party or want to attend a metal fest at a 21+ venue, Locals Only has compiled a guide to Halloween shows going on around Chicagoland that features tons of festive, age-inclusive options. Continue reading Hall-O-Weekend Show Guide
When I’m angry at the state of the world, I’m always rudely reminded that no matter how pissed off I am, there are so few (socially acceptable) ways in which I’m able to release my bitterness and go unhinged. I find comfort in the local scene where there are bands who are setting out to relieve their own stress – bands like Aurora punks Mazard. … Continue reading Mazard: Bring it All Out
Chicago’s DIY scene has it all: tight-knit community, diverse individuals, safe spaces, and of course, amazing bands — and Atheena is one of the latest to be added to the city’s already impressive roster. Since they first started in November 2021, musicians Oscar Aviles-Romo, Joshua Beardsley, and Dom Malgioglio have begun to establish themselves by playing two to three shows a month. “I think we’ve … Continue reading Atheena: Everything to Gain and Nothing to Lose
$1 Beer Night at Sleeping Village in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood is already an alluring grab for any local venue, but booking illusion of choice, INSTILL, and BUGGIN on the three-band bill this past Monday made it an unforgettable night — that is, unless you took advantage of those cheap PBRs. Continue reading Chicago Hardcore Night at Sleeping Village
It’s been one year since X Will Mark The Place released Babble — an energetic four-track EP that attacks listeners’ ears with dancey punk grooves — but just three months since the band made their live debut. In this interview, vocalist/guitarist Eric Centeno discusses what was running through his head when he wrote the lyrics to the songs he released a year ago; the band’s … Continue reading X Will Mark The Place Celebrates The One-Year Anniversary of Babble
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
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
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
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