Desiree Starr Harris of Libido Funk Circus and Disco Circus brings the heat to Hogpod. She quit EMI with a one-year-old at home to bet everything on funk and disco. Pete nearly killed a disco ball mid-show. Basement laser parties. Peeps and Pop-Tarts hatred that became an AI song. Thirty years of Chicago disco that never dies..🎶 Album 5 — “Follow the Call of the Disco Ball” — 8 AI-generated tracks ripped straight from this conversation:https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/hog….🎧 All Hogpod AI Albums on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/2QtmZ….🎤 Hosted by Pete Jansons, Mike “Bongo” Orfanos (Bongo Mike), and Chris “Rhodesy” Rhodes.🎯 KEY MOMENTS0:00 Disco Circus live performance — opening sizzle reel   • The Disco Circus Sizzle Reel!  1:03 Hogpod Music Albums on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/2QtmZ…1:11 Rat Bastard Song   • RAT BASTARD 🐀 Punk Rock Groundhog Day | Ho…  3:01 Happy Birthday Beth4:37 Mindy Shulman Live Streamhttps://www.youtube.com/live/EBlo_LTK…5:49 Desiree joins9:40 Libido Funk Circus background — 30 years, Desiree 23 years15:45 Alliance Music17:50 Joey DeMarco21:39 The bands are Desiree’s number 1 source of income24:04 How did Disco Circus evolve26:45 Why is disco so special after all these years27:23 Debbie Harry/Blondie — punk or disco28:25 Disco ball Pete incident33:30 Mock Star show   • Mock Star 🎸 Full Band: Axl Watched, Bret M…  34:34 Rhodesy gives Desiree heads up on album creation35:08 Album for this week36:20 8 track players39:10 The magic of the disco ball48:10 Tour of Desiree’s basement48:39 Desiree worked at EMI — records on basement wall52:05 Coming out of college getting into music business53:42 Best places to play for a disco bandhttps://impactfuelroom.com/1:03:02 Jim O’Connell show   • Jim O’Connell (Anchors Away, Snapshot) | H…  1:03:05 Desiree sings Tears of a Clown with Jimmy from Coterie Motown1:09:24 Bongo Mike question time.📍 Topics in this episode:Chicago disco bandsChicago tribute bandsLibido Funk Circus historyDisco Circus bandChicago live music sceneBand booking in ChicagoWorking musician lifeAI generated music podcast.🎤 Guest Links:🎸 Libido Funk Circus:https://open.spotify.com/artist/4oha3…libidofunkcircus.com🕺 Disco Circus:discocircusband.com📘 Facebook:  / desiree.stephensharris  🎵 Desiree’s tracks:https://open.spotify.com/track/4k5RuD…https://open.spotify.com/track/40gn18…https://open.spotify.com/track/2M5X1S…https://open.spotify.com/track/40KOEQ….❤️ Support Hogpod:  / hogpodsupporters  .Hosted by Pete Jansons, Mike “Bongo” Orfanos (Bongo Mike), and Chris “Rhodesy” Rhodes..📞 Booking:beth@hogpod.org / 708-287-3692.#Hogpod #ChicagoMusic #LibidoFunkCircus #DiscoCircus #ChicagolandMusic #AIMusic #Disco #Funk

🎸 Welcome to the Hogpod Chicagoland Music Scene Podcast! 🎸Pete Jansons and Bongo Mike sit down with the FULL Mock Star lineup — Jack Kole (vocals), Phil Slate (drums), Diablo (bass), Stevie Starr (guitar), Nicky Neutron (keys), and new keyboard wizard Frank Lucas — for a deep dive into 80s arena rock, the Chicago music scene, and what it takes to bring 1985 back to life in 2026.🔥 In this episode:🎤 Mock Star opens for Bret Michaels at a sold-out Crown Point show🎸 Axl Rose & Slash watch from a window while Mock Star plays GNR songs outside in 115-degree heat🤝 The 2-year pursuit of keyboard legend Frank Lucas — and the one text that finally worked🥁 Phil Slate’s first concert: Elvis Presley with Dionne Warwick opening at the Cleveland Coliseum🎵 Why 80s arena rock is more popular NOW than it was 10 years ago🎯 Cover bands vs. tribute bands — why a cover band takes 45 min to book, a tribute band takes 30 seconds🏟️ Ron Onesti’s Arcada Theatre — 100 years of music, and the man who cooks for every band in the room🎹 Six-part live harmonies, zero backing tracks — what makes Mock Star different🎟️ Upcoming show: Hobart Theater, Hobart Indiana — Saturday March 14th⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 – Opening / Wolfie Jam recap13:03 – Mock Star intro — full band joins15:37 – Mock Star’s last Hogpod appearance    • Jack Kole of Mock Star Talks Chicago 80s R…  17:54 – What songs does Mock Star cover?21:30 – Why is 80s music so damn popular?24:32 – Concert ticket prices & why cover bands are winning35:45 – Marketing a cover/tribute/original band in 202642:50 – Ron Onesti, Bret Michaels & the Arcada’s 100th year46:21 – Upcoming show: Hobart Theater Sat March 14th   / 18bnhqtvcd  48:22 – Bongo Mike question segment (first concerts + Pop-Tarts)56:30 – Live chat with Mindy Shulman https://www.youtube.com/live/EBlo_LTKguA🎤 MOCK STAR:Website: https://www.mockstarrocks.comFacebook:   / mockstarrocks  🎵 HOGPOD AI ALBUM — “RON ONESTI’S MEATBALLS”8 AI-generated tracks inspired by this episode — on Spotify and all platforms!https://open.spotify.com/album/[Spotify Link TBD]✅ SUPPORT THE SHOW:👉 Patreon:   / hogpodsupporters  👉 Merch: https://hogpodmerch.creator-spring.com📅 NEW EPISODES every Tuesday!Want to be on the show? Contact Beth Miller: Beth@hogpod.org | 708-287-3692Hosted by Pete Jansons, Mike “Bongo” Orfanos, Chris “Rhodesy” RhodesBooking: Beth Miller — Beth@hogpod.org | 708-287-3692#Hogpod #MockStar #ChicagoMusic #80sRock #ArenaRock #CoverBand #TributeBand #ChicagolandMusic #LocalMusic #LiveMusic #JackKole #BretMichaels #RonOnesti #ArcadaTheatre #Chicago80sRock #HogpodMusicChat

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

🎙️ 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