🔥🎸 THIS WEEK ON HOGPOD WE GOT A LEGEND 🔥🎸Dr. Daniel Ivankovich (Part 1) — orthopedic surgeon by day, Chicago Slim & co-founder of Chicago Blues All-Stars by life, the man who uses blues to fund life-saving surgeries through The Bone Squad 🤯🎸Hosts Pete Jansons, Bongo Mike Orfanos, Chris “Rhodesy” Rhodes, and Mike Dermont dive into Daniel’s insane journey: fleeing Yugoslavia at age 5, becoming a top surgeon, and the night he missed the Rolling Stones jamming with Muddy Waters at Checkerboard Lounge because Killer Ray Allison called him and he thought Ray was bullshitting (he wasn’t 😭😂).Key Moments (Part 1):0:00 – Chicago Slim “Walking The Dog” cold open 🎷🔥9:07 – Erika Miner episode shout-out 🎤18:45 – Aurora Incident 😳29:47 – Mike Ostrenga update 🎸30:06 – Blue Bayou show with Tamara Woodruff 🎶33:33 – Turkey Ball update 🦃39:07 – Bongo Mike George Harrison tribute 🎸44:08 – Dr. Daniel Ivankovich joins 🤯45:15 – Born in Yugoslavia, arrived Chicago at age 5 🇺🇸48:30 – Parents escaped communism for the American dream 🇺🇸52:10 – First blues exposure & falling in love with the music 🎶1:02:20 – Learning guitar from Killer Ray Allison 🎸1:04:45 – Killer Ray: “Rolling Stones at Checkerboard tonight” → thought he was bullshitting → skipped it → Chicago Tribune front page next day 😭😂Connect with Dr. Daniel Ivankovich / Chicago Blues All-Stars:https://www.facebook.com/chicagobluesallstarshttps://chicagobluesallstars.comhttps://onepatient.orghttps://www.facebook.com/danielivankovichhttps://chicagoslim.com🎧 Loving the show? Support Hogpod on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/hogpodWant on the show? Hit up Beth Miller:Beth@hogpod.org | 708-287-3692#Hogpod #ChicagoMusic #DanielIvankovich #ChicagoBluesAllStars #TheBoneSquad #OnePatient #ChicagoSlim #RollingStones #CheckerboardLounge #MikeOrfanos #MikeDermont #PeteJansons #ChrisRhodesyRhodes #BethMiller

Welcome to The Hogpod! This week, hosts Pete Jansons, Bongo Mike, and Chris Rhodes are joined by the incredibly talented keyboardist and singer, Erika Johnston Miner, a key member of the acclaimed Guns N’ Roses tribute band, Sins and Roses.Erika shares her unique journey, starting with classical piano training as a child and struggling to master the guitar as a teenager. After a long hiatus dedicated to raising her three children, she details how the COVID-19 pandemic provided an unexpected opportunity to bring music back into her life. Hear about her first terrifying (but pre-recorded!) performance of an original song, the power of networking in the vast Chicagoland music community, and how a message from bass player Mick led her to take on the monumental task of recreating Axl Rose’s iconic piano parts for Sins and Roses.It’s a great conversation about overcoming self-doubt, the importance of band chemistry, and making a comeback after finding your passion again!Key Moments:11:04 – Guest Introduction: Welcome Erika Johnston Miner13:19 – Piano Beginnings and the Challenge of Learning Guitar19:22 – Returning to Music: The Impact of COVID and Motherhood22:14 – Overcoming Doubt: Performing an Original Song in a Live Stream Fundraiser24:40 – The Power of Open Mics and Networking in the Chicagoland Scene28:11 – The Call: Joining the Guns N’ Roses tribute band, Sins and Roses30:45 – Breaking down the intimidation factor and finding great band chemistryhttps://songwhip.com/erika-minerYouTube → @erikaminermusic326Facebook →   / erika.j.miner  Sins N Roses (Guns N’ Roses tribute) → https://sinsnroses.com/home | Shows → https://sinsnroses.com/showsBooked by Beth Miller – beth@hogpod.org | 708-287-3692#TheHogpod #ErikaJohnstonMiner #SinsAndRoses #GunsNRosesTribute #GNRTribute #ChicagolandMusic #ChicagoMusicScene #Keyboardist #Piano #Podcast #MusicInterview #LiveMusic #PeteJansons #BongoMike #ChrisRhodes

Ivy Ford “The Blues Kitten”: Buddy Guy, Fire Alarms & Last True Chicago Blues Clubs | Hogpod Chicago Local Music PodcastIvy Ford, Blues Kitten, Chicago Blues, Buddy Guy, Buddy Guy’s Legends, Rosa’s Lounge, Blue Chicago, Kingston Mines, Mad Cats, HogPod, Pete Jansons, Bongo Mike Orfanos, Rhodesy, live music ChicagoThe Blues Kitten just walked in and blew the doors off 🤯🎸🔥Ivy Ford sits down with Pete Jansons, Bongo Mike Orfanos, and Rhodesy (drummer for hire) and drops straight fire: the cold call that put a 21-year-old kid on stage opening for Buddy Guy at Legends, the night her shower steam set off a hotel fire alarm in France (yeah, she evacuated in a towel), and the real-deal list of the last authentic Chicago blues joints still standing in 2025.From 11-year-old blues brunches in Wisconsin (mom was a bartender, laws were… different) to accidentally taking over her own band at 20 to 8–9 gigs a week while homeschooling an 8-year-old — this woman lives the life.Plus cracked axles in Iowa, trading guitar licks for car repairs, and the JB Richie tribute jam at Mad Cats that had everyone ugly-crying on stage.If you love real Chicago blues, real road stories, and real humans who bleed this music — smash play.Book Ivy right now: ivyformusic.com 🎟️00:00 Sweet Home Chicago cold open 🎸09:27 Ivy Ford walks in18:10 12 years full-time pro24:36 The Buddy Guy phone call26:26 Birth of “The Blues Kitten”30:35 3–9 shows a week grind47:01 Last true Chicago blues clubs named52:49 Emotional JB Richie tribute at Mad Cats1:03:33 France shower fire-alarm chaos 🤯🔥1:09:04 Guitar for car repairs1:11:34 First big concert: Weird Al1:15:14 Upcoming shows + booking#IvyFord #BluesKitten #ChicagoBlues #BuddyGuy #BuddyGuysLegends #RosasLounge #BlueChicago #KingstonMines #MadCats #LiveMusic #BluesGuitar #FranceTour #FullTimeMusician #HogPod #RoadStories

HogPod Chicago Local Music Podcast went 100% LIVE and UNSCRIPTED with Pete Jansons, Mike Orfanos (Bongo Mike), Mike Dermont, Chris “Rhodesy” Rhodes, and Beth Miller behind the glass for a Q&A TAKEOVER! We opened the lines and let YOU drive the chaos — no prep, no filter, just real-time Chicago music talk. The crew laughed through first concert memories (Chris: Billy Joel at age 6?!), debated grandkids vs gigs, swapped war stories from the scene, and shouted out listeners from Portugal to the burbs. Beth kept the train on the tracks while the guys riffed on everything from studio glitches to parade waves. Pure HogPod energy — raw, local, and all yours.Key Moments:0:09 – Live Start & Parade Wave0:20 – “100% Live Right Now, Baby!”0:27 – Beth Joins (Wrong Side of the Glass)0:47 – Champ vs Chump Debate1:04 – Upcoming Shows & Shameless Plugs1:39 – Mike D: No 2025 Shows Yet2:19 – Friction Fest Returns October 17, 20263:00 – Bongo Mike Joins from California3:22 – No Pants, No Jumping Jacks3:52 – Last-Minute Guest Cancel → Live Pivot4:49 – Influences: Tom Jones, Elvis, Kermit5:22 – Sweet “Fox on the Run” & Columbia Records5:58 – Mosquito Final Show with Jack Tripper7:25 – Hairbangers Ball & Sins and Roses8:09 – Aussie Fundraiser at LiveWire Lounge10:58 – Rock & Roll Christmas + Concert for George (Nov 28-29)11:34 – Mosquito Next Show Jan 24, 202614:16 – Luminere Christmas (No Chicago Show)16:11 – Jacko & Midnight Calls + Anthony Gnomes16:54 – Dean Z Elvis Christmas (Dec 18, Rockford)17:39 – Infinity TSO Tribute18:08 – Gravity Productions Holiday Event (Dec 4)21:37 – Arctic Bar Winter Pop-Up (Nov 21-Jan)22:37 – Turkey Ball Festival (2 Weekends, 14 Bands)25:26 – Black Wednesday at Broken Oar (Nov 26)26:32 – “Pete’s Always That Guy”27:33 – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Debate29:43 – School of Rock vs Garage Bands30:19 – Dermont School of Rock30:42 – Illinois Rock & Roll Museum34:42 – Joliet Museum Inductees41:36 – How Did You Get Your Start? (Mike D, Bongo, Chris)49:25 – Favorite Part of Podcast?53:19 – Donna Joins Live56:36 – Wrap-Up & ThanksBooked by Beth Miller – bands/clubs/owners: beth@hogpod.org | 708-287-3692Subscribe: hogpod.org | Apple/Spotify/iHeartFollow HogPod Chicago Local Music Podcast:Facebook:   / hogpodmusic  Instagram:   / hogpogchicagomusicscenepodcast  LinkedIn:   / hogpodpodmusic  X (Twitter): https://x.com/HogPodMusicEmail Pete: pete@hogpod.org#HogPod #LiveQA #ChicagoMusic #Unscripted