Joint Operation
Moon Medallion
Moon Medallion – post hardcore / punk / rock from Austin, TXhttps://moonmedallion.bandcamp.com/Head Change – melodic, heavy jam-rock band from Omaha/Lincolnhttps://www.facebook.com/p/Head-Change-Band-61573537634230/Moon Pigeons – goth rock / dark wave / alt rock band from Omahahttps://www.instagram.com/moonpigeonsomaha/Escape Goat – Omaha hard rock / metal https://www.instagram.com/the_escapegoatband/
Mr. Phylzzz
Formed in late 2015, mr.phylzzz (pronounced mr. flyzzz) has spent the last decade mutating, evolving, and cementing their reputation as one of the most blistering, uncompromising forces in modern noise rock. What began as a raw, multi-instrumental project has sharpened into a lean, mean, two-piece wall of sound consisting of Clinton Jacob (guitar/vocals) and Danny Sein (drums). Now anchored in the gritty musical landscape of Chicago, the duo crafts a chaotic, high-velocity sonic assault that balances punishing, heavy riffs with an undeniable knack for twisted, melodic hooks. The band’s rapid, jagged trajectory quickly caught the ear of Tom Hazelmyer, founder of the legendary underground imprint Amphetamine Reptile Records (AmRep). A badge of honor for any band pushing the boundaries of aggressive music, mr.phylzzz made their label debut on the prestigious Dope Guns ’N Fucking in the Streets Vol. 14 compilation. They followed that up with their first proper full-length album, Penitent Curtis, in 2019—a record that laid the groundwork for their signature blend of cranked amps, driving percussion, and volatile vocal delivery. When the pandemic brought the world to a standstill, the project underwent a metamorphosis. Operating in isolation, Jacob continued to write at a feverish pace. As restrictions lifted, a relocation to Chicago sparked a powerful new chemistry with the addition of drummer Danny Sein. The resulting synergy produced 2022’s Cancel Culture Club, a critically acclaimed record that showcased a tighter, more furious version of the band. The album drew well-deserved attention from noise rock royalty, featuring guest appearances from the Melvins’ King Buzzo and Kevin Rutmanis. Refusing to let off the gas, mr.phylzzz returned to the studio to track their next chapter, 2023’s Fat Chance. Captured in a rapid-fire, four-day session at Chicago’s iconic Electrical Audio, the album perfectly bottles the raw, frantic energy of their live performances. The songs are dense, blown-out, and hyper-focused, earning praise across the underground for keeping the historic flame of midwestern noise rock burning bright. While their records are masterclasses in controlled chaos, the stage is where mr.phylzzz truly becomes a monster. Renowned for their furious, tight, and unpredictable live sets, the band spent a grueling autumn tearing across North America as the main opening act for the monumental Melvins and Boris “Twins of Evil” tour. Playing to packed rooms and massive crowds night after night, the duo proved that two people can create an atmosphere just as heavy, loud, and mesmerizing as a five-piece band. Today, mr.phylzzz remains a relentless touring machine and a staple of the underground circuit, constantly writing, traveling, and pushing their gear to the absolute limit. They are modern torchbearers of heavy music—chaotic, cathartic, and entirely on their own terms.
Porch Light
Minneapolis five-piece Porch Light’s year ahead has a collection of big, unabashed rock tunes, full of riffs that announce themselves and choruses that reach and grab. All of them are songs meant to be played on stage, by five people without bells or whistles. It’s an approach that’s taken them far — the five-piece have reached over a million monthly Spotify listeners and sold-out headline shows across the country before their debut project hit the market. They are all over this year’s festival circuit playing Summerfest, Yacht Club, Hinterland, Lollapalooza and Shaky Knees. They also are setting out on the road this. Fall for the ‘Hush Tour’, spanning across 30+ dates including shows at the Troubadour, Bowery Ballroom and more.
Improvement Movement
Improvement Movement, the social betterment campaign/prog-rock quartet/non-denominational cult from Atlanta, GA, have made a new record just for you and your modern day malaise. It’s called Your Perfect Real Life, because, well, there’s a lot going right these days, right? Arriving August 21, 2026 via ATO Records, Your Perfect Real Life is prismatic, angular, jumpy, and eccentric. It’s sure to inundate your ears, corporeal form, and spiritual body with equal parts unadulterated bliss and realist catharsis, or, in other words, as much good as you can reasonably feel these days. Set in a world of chaos where the news seems to be perpetually recounting stories of planes falling out of the sky, urban wildfires, the uncanny nature of a southern snowfall, and schlepping ads that feel plucked from a sci-fi movie, Your Perfect Real Life makes an earnest case for embracing life’s relentless unpredictability. Animated by the band’s baroque take on the angular harmonies of grunge, the record’s eleven tracks sprawl and simmer, enlivened by the Improvement Movement’s novel employment of dynamics, sticky melodies, four-part harmony, and a treasure trove of experimental instruments. If you’ve ever found yourself enraptured by the lush harmonies of Fleet Foxes, the theatrics of early Genesis tracks, or the candid intimacy of Art Garfunkel, Improvement Movement may be for you. Improvement Movement is a democracy, and so they say, “things move slow.” That may be true for the internal machinations of the band, but their output has been quite regular. Each member of the band, who have largely been eschewing definition, are songwriters and instrumentalists who have spent the better part of a decade in the fertile DIY scene in Atlanta, GA. In that time they’ve been swirling, relatively undisrupted, in their own primordial ooze and rubbing elbows with folks from the no wave, punk, improv, and free jazz scenes. “Atlanta is about as DIY as it gets,” they say. “We’ve got some of the most killing musicians in the world all spread out on these kinds of islands of urbanization. There’s always something new.” That said, the band hasn’t been in Atlanta much lately; they were on the road relentlessly over the last two years, supporting Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Iron & Wine, Houndmouth, and Khurangbin. When it came to making a new record, the slog of touring had to be reckoned with. “It was a gauntlet, trying to live day by day. There was no room for anything with too much premeditation.” “We all have a disposition where we’d like to be positive,” they say, noting how their 2024 sophomore pursuit Slump focused in on the minutiae of personal friendships, relationships, and the noble pursuit of right relation. Your Perfect Real Life takes a wider view, reflecting on timely yet universal themes of mundanity, futility, fear, and acceptance. The band took a uniquely holistic approach to composing its songs, describing how they sought to write from their instruments in a way that could reflect the synergy they found playing live night after night. The collective effervescence of sharing and making art in community is one of the most life-affirming experiences we have. It makes sense that a band set on bridging our brutal realities and the catharsis of art-making is so plugged into that source. With Improvement Movement in our ears, we may as well keep pushing that rock up the hill, singing in unison. Don’t delay, join today!
Cheerleader Roadkill
Cheerleader Roadkill, a pop-punk band from the western Chicago suburbs, founded in 2022. Classmates Noel Kovac (guitar, vocals) and Jack Metz (bass), inspired by the sound of 90s pop punk bands like blink-182, Simple Plan, and Sum 41, they began writing songs in Kovac’s garage in July of 2022 and soon turned their attention to finding a drummer. After 6 months of rotating through a handful of drummers, fellow classmate Jesse Ortega (drums) was brought into the fold and solidified the current lineup.
Brother Ali
Brother Ali is a respected Hip Hop artist, speaker, and community leader. His two-decade resume includes ten critically-acclaimed albums, mentorships with iconic Hip Hop legends Chuck D and Rakim, and performances on late night shows with Jimmy Fallon and Conan O’Brien. His provocative and uplifting brand of Hip Hop has earned him coveted press features like Rolling Stone’s 40th anniversary edition and Source Magazine’s “Hip Hop Quotables”, while his outspoken social justice message has landed him on government watch lists. He’s also lectured at universities from Princeton to Stanford and delivered the keynote address at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. When he’s not rocking the mic at Coachella or being arrested for civil disobedience in support of marginalized communities, Brother Ali travels the world learning and teaching Islamic Spirituality under some of today’s most renowned teachers. In addition to leading worship services and classes, he co-founded The Gemali Project, an organization that helps Muslim converts and spiritual seekers access the beauty of the Islamic tradition. Brother Ali recently launched The Travelers Podcast from his new home in Istanbul, exploring life’s journey with cultural, spiritual, and thought leaders from across the globe.
Hot Freaks
Hot Freaks formed in Minneapolis in the early 2010s, releasing their self-titled debut LP in 2013—a collection of bright, danceable indie-pop tracks with a glossy disco sheen and disarmingly vulnerable lyrics. Blending the emotional openness of of Montreal and Voxtrot with flashes of MGMT’s playful charisma, the record captured the band’s tight-knit chemistry and earned them a loyal following in the Minneapolis scene. Though they rarely toured beyond the Midwest, the group—made up of longtime friends whose relationships stretched back over a decade—became a beloved local staple before amicably disbanding in 2015 as members moved on to new chapters. Years later, the internet gave Hot Freaks a second life. During the pandemic, their 2013 single “PUPPY PRINCESS” unexpectedly went viral on TikTok, introducing the band’s heartfelt, humor-tinged indie pop to a new global audience. What began as nostalgia among friends quickly turned into a full reunion as fans discovered the band’s earnest songwriting and infectious energy. Now reconnecting with listeners around the world, Hot Freaks are stepping back onto the stage with renewed momentum—releasing rare material, debuting new visuals, and turning a handful of hometown reunion shows into the start of a much bigger return.
Steely Dane: The Ultimate Steely Dan Tribute
IN 2010, CO-FOUNDERS DAVID ADLER AND DAVID STOLER (THE STEELY DAVES) THOUGHT IT’D BE A GREAT IDEA TO PUT TOGETHER A TRIBUTE “SHOW” FOR STEELY DAN, FEATURING THE BEST MUSICIANS IN THE MADISON, WI MUSIC SCENE. MADISON IS LOCATED IN DANE COUNTY, WI, THUS THE NAME. THE FIRST STEELY DANE SHOW FEATURED OVER 30 OF MADISON’S BEST ROCK AND JAZZ MUSICIANS, AND IT SOLD OUT THE HIGH NOON SALOON. NOT ONES TO WASTE A HERCULEAN EFFORT OF ARRANGING A FULL NIGHT’S WORTH OF THE DAN’S BEST STUFF, THE CREW DECIDED TO DO IT AGAIN, AND AGAIN,…..AND OOPS, NOW IT’S NO LONGER A SHOW, IT’S A BAND. SINCE THEN, THE BAND HAS TRIMMED DOWN TO THE CURRENT 14-PIECE FAMILY THAT FEATURES A FOUR-PIECE HORN SECTION, TWO FEMALE BACKUP SINGERS, TWO GUITARS, TWO KEYBOARDS, VIBES, AND PERCUSSION…AALL OF THE INSTRUMENTS NECESSARY TO RECREATE THE AMAZING MIXES OF THE DAN’S ALBUMS AND LIVE PERFORMANCES. THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND HAVE WON COUNTLESS INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS, AND THERE’S EVEN A COUPLE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS IN THE GROUP. THE BAND HAS WON MULTIPLE AWARDS FOR BEST TRIBUTE BAND, THEY’VE SOLD OUT THEATERS FROM CHICAGO TO MINNEAPOLIS, AND PACKED SUMMER FESTIVALS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT AS WELL. THEIR SONGBOOK FEATURES OVER 50 SONGS FROM BOTH STEELY DAN AND DONALD FAGEN’S SOLO CAREER, ALLOWING THEM TO PLAY DIFFERENT SHOWS NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, EVEN INCLUDING COMPLETE ALBUM SHOWS FOR THE ROYAL SCAM, AJA, AND GAUCHO.