Discover Chicago’s Best Local Music on The HOG POD Podcast

The HOG POD Podcast

🎧 Stream Our Podcast on Spotify!

Discover engaging conversations, exclusive insights, and more on our Spotify podcast! Whether you’re at home or on the go, listen to our latest episodes and never miss out on the topics that matter most. Click below to stream and subscribe today!

  • Leaving Scarlet: High-Energy Covers & No-Dramas Rock | Hogpod Chicago Music

    🔥 This week on the Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast, we’re cranking it up with Leaving Scarlet — the Chicagoland cover band that’s pure high-energy rock + dance party magic! Two badass women, THREE lead voices, zero egos, and non-stop crowd interaction. 🎤🎸🥁Hosts Mike “Bongo” Orfanos, Mike Dermont, Pete Jansons, and Chris “Rhodesy” Rhodes sit down with the full squad to talk 16 years of drama-free rocking, getting everyone on the dance floor, and flipping the script on the old Chicago scene.Meet the crew:🎸 Jackie Settipani – Bass & lead/backing vocals – slays basslines while belting leads, channeling Nancy Wilson, Pat Benatar & Pink energy🎸 Cindi Inden – Guitar, vocals, percussion, drums, mandolin – multi-threat beast with drum corps roots and Heart-level power vocals🎸 Rick Olsen – Lead guitar, keys, vocals – the “Riff-man” with 34+ years shredding, Marine Corps vet, Beatles-to-Zep influences🥁 Randy Kobat – Drums & percussion – 2-year anniversary fire, drum & bugle corps precision, and epic drum-duet chemistry with CindiThey spill the tea on:🚀 The badass origin of “Leaving Scarlet” (ditching the Scarlet Letter-era BS for women in music)📣 How they pitch to club owners + why their massive setlist (male/female leads) keeps crowds moving🥁 Insane “Sympathy for the Devil” drum battles + guest sit-ins (Nick Sanzeri, Lou Farckasi, Gunnar Collins & more)🎤 Turning audiences into rock stars with tambourines, percussion jams & birthday shout-outs🇯🇵 Marine stories, Japan metal scene memories, suburb cover-band survival, and why danceable rock still rules🎉 Wolfie Jam prep (Tesla + Little Susie!), spam-text trolling, deadly tinsel cuts & pure Hogpod chaosKey Moments0:00 Leaving Scarlet – Shut Up and Dance (Walk On)    • LeavingScarlet Shut Up and Dance!  3:38 Chris Rhodes new gig at Gordiepaloosa https://www.facebook.com/events/13266… (Feb 15, 2pm Broken Oar)3:55 Chris Rhodes practicing Saturday in the Park for Gordipaloosa6:42 Bonnie Miske show clip    • HOG POD – Behind the Scenes at Broken Oar …  9:18 Nick Sanzeri show clip    • Nick Sanzeri 🎤 Singing Basslines, Bass Cam…  10:22 Nick Sanzeri Bruno Mars cover15:06 Randy Kobat joins15:21 Hogpod Swag plug https://hogpod.org/shop-merch/17:15 How Randy pitches the band to a club owner18:13 Leaving Scarlet Setlist https://leavingscarlet.com/setlist21:45 Rock You Like a Hurricane    • LeavingScarlet RockYouLikeAHurricane  26:28 Play That Funky Music    • LeavingScarlet Rochaus Funky Music  28:43 Sympathy for the Devil drum off    • Leaving Scarlet  Drum Duet Sympathy 4 Devil  34:10 Where the band name “Leaving Scarlet” comes from41:09 Upcoming shows https://leavingscarlet.com/upcoming-s…51:45 Has AI come into play?1:00:18 Thunder and Lightning Documentary and Song Sung Blue movie https://www.reelasdirt.com/song-sung-…    • Song Sung Blue – The Original Documentary …  1:07:10 Electronic Media Kits🔗 Connect with Leaving Scarlet:🌐 https://leavingscarlet.com/home📺    / @leavingscarletband  📘   / leavingscarlet  📅 Upcoming shows: https://leavingscarlet.com/upcoming-s…🎧 Love the pod? Support Hogpod on Patreon — keep Chicago music stories alive!  / hogpod  Booking your band, club gig, or want to guest? Hit up Beth Miller:Beth@hogpod.org | 708-287-3692#Hogpod #ChicagoMusic #LeavingScarlet #JackieSettipani #CindiInden #RickOlsen #RandyKobat #CoverBand #RockDance #ThreeLeadVoices #ChicagoCoverBand #HighEnergy #NoEgos #DrumBattle #MusicPodcast #WolfieJam #Rhodesy

  • Pete Durbin & Sons 🎸 Family Legacy, Dual Decimator & Tributes | Hogpod Chicago Music Podcast

    This week on the Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast, we’re joined by Pete Durbin — drummer for Jagged Little Pill (Alanis Morissette tribute), frontman for No More Tears (Ozzy Osbourne tribute), and proud dad whose twin sons Eric and Ian are already killing it with their own band Dual Decimator.Hosts Mike “Bongo” Orfanos, Mike Dermont, Pete Jansons, and Chris “Rhodesy” Rhodes chat with Pete and his sons about growing up in a musical family, starting a teen cover/original band, tribute gigs around Chicago, favorite concerts, Christmas movies, and keeping rock alive for the next generation.Topics include:🎸 How music was always around the house and inspired the kids🥁 Lessons at A Sound Education and building skills young🎤 Forming Dual Decimator for talent shows → block parties → originals soon🤘 Covers like System of a Down, Deftones, Dio, and pushing for Avenged Sevenfold🎸 Tribute life: Jagged Little Pill, No More Tears Ozzy, Superunknown/Chris Cornell projects📅 Upcoming shows, Rush reunion excitement, and passing the torch to young musiciansPlus: Holiday chats, Pop-Tart Bowl shoutouts, first concerts, Chicago food faves, Radiohead love, and classic Hogpod banter with the whole crew.🔗 Connect with Pete Durbin & bands:Pete Durbin:   / pete.durbin  Durbin Family Profile: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?…No More Tears (Ozzy & Black Sabbath Tribute):   / 1039299756269616  Jagged Little Pill:   / jaggedlittlepillband  Jagged Little Pill Website: http://jlpband.com/Band Members (Pete Durbin / Chris Bobrowski / John Braun / Brent Johnson)Upcoming Event:   / 2972642279602121  Dual Decimator (Eric & Ian’s band):    / @dualdecimatorband   Key Moments0:00 Intro chaos & holiday catch-up3:00 Roadsy joins, coat stories, Anchors Away6:00 Durbin family arrives, tech struggles9:00 Pete Durbin intro, bands (Jagged Little Pill, No More Tears, Superunknown/Ten)12:00 Eric & Ian intro, instruments, how they started16:00 Forming Dual Decimator, talent show to block parties20:00 Covers & setlist (System of a Down, Deftones, Dio interest)24:00 Voice changes, Brady Bunch style stories28:00 Influences overlap, concerts with dad (Metallica, AC/DC, Rush upcoming)32:00 Rush reunion thoughts, Linkin Park new era36:00 Deftones & modern rock appeal to youth40:00 Learning: A Sound Education shoutout, lessons + ear/YouTube44:00 Upcoming gigs: Jagged Little Pill at Fuel Room 2/13, No More Tears 1/24, Superunknown 1/2348:00 Dual Decimator future (originals, possible Hideaway Ozzfest-style show June ’26)52:00 Bongo Mike’s question segment: First concerts, Christmas movies, Chicago foods, Pop-Tarts58:00 Radiohead talk, young fans challenging OK Computer1:00:00 Wrap-up, thanks, happy new year🎧 Enjoying the show? Support Hogpod on Patreon and help keep Chicago music stories alive!  / hogpod  Are you a band, club owner, or booker and want to be on the show? Reach out to Beth Miller for booking:Beth@hogpod.org708-287-3692#Hogpod #ChicagoMusic #PeteDurbin #DualDecimator #JaggedLittlePill #NoMoreTears #OzzyTribute #AlanisTribute #YoungMusicians #FamilyBand #ChicagoTribute #RockPodcast #DualDecimator #A SoundEducation #BongoMike #MikeDermont #PeteJansons #ChrisRhodesy #MikeOrfanos

  • TD Clark 🎸 Guitar Virtuoso Poison’d Crue, Shredding & Mars Jams | Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast

    This week on the Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast, we’re joined by Brian “T.D.” Clark — guitar virtuoso, shredder, songwriter, sideman, and creator of kids’ music education tools, known for his fiery performances with Poison’d Crue (Poison tribute), his solo band, and collaborations across rock scenes.Hosts Mike “Bongo” Orfanos, Mike Dermont, Pete Jansons, and Chris “Rhodesy” Rhodes talk with TD about:🎸 His journey from piano at age 6 to self-taught guitar shredding in Chicago suburbs🎤 Influences like Black Sabbath/Zeppelin, early neighborhood jams, and no formal lessons📚 Marsh Jams kids’ books series, Funporium guitar packs, and teaching young learners🔥 Work with Poison’d Crue tribute, Dee Snider shows, and high-energy stage presence🎶 Upcoming gigs, Chicago scene stories (including James Iha ties), and pro mindsetPlus: Holiday vibes, Scarface quotes, old fashioned drinks, demonetization records, and classic Hogpod chaos.🔗 Connect with TD Clark:https://www.tdclark.com/  / t-d-clark-music-100070993790846  https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Uq1n…https://www.poisondcrue.com/  / pcrockband  https://rockintoolboxes.com/🎧 Enjoying the show? Support Hogpod on Patreon and help us keep the Chicago music stories alive!  / hogpod  Are you a band, club owner, or booker and want to be on the show? Reach out to Beth Miller for booking:Beth@hogpod.org708-287-3692Key Moments:0:00 Poison’d Crue Promo Video covering the bands of Poison, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, plus many more!     TD Clark @ Metal Monkey Brewing 9-24-22 TD with Mike Dermont onstage 0:00 Poison’d Crue Promo Video covering the bands of Poison, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, plus many more! https://youtu.be/wHjgGsIFP80?si=HLYSO-YgtTAdFXyU3:13 Rob Stepen Show Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk8ADmOYxZs8:20 Wolfie 21st bday jam https://www.facebook.com/share/16t8FqsQUb/10:49 TD Clark Joins17:40 TD Introduction20:37 Where did TD Grow up?41:43 Poison’d Crue TD Cover Band https://www.facebook.com/pcrockband https://www.poisondcrue.com/1:12:17 TD Clark @ Metal Monkey Brewing 9-24-22 TD with Mike Dermont onstage https://youtu.be/Ci-rzlNjnOg?si=x4WP9Yx1Fmdtkl431:29:10 TD Children books#Hogpod #ChicagoMusic #TDClark #GuitarShredder #PoisonDCrue #MarshJams #KidsMusicBooks #BongoMike #PeteJansons #MikeDermont #ChrisRhodesyRhodes #GuitarVirtuoso #MusicEducation #ChicagoScene #RockTribute #ShredGuitar

  • Duran Decade 🎤 EDM vs Live Bands, Booking Secrets (Pt 2) | Hogpod Chicago Music Scene Podcast

    Part 2 of our epic sit-down with Duran Decade — Wisconsin’s ultimate Duran Duran tribute — picks up right in the AI music debate and goes full throttle!Hosts Mike “Bongo” Orfanos, Pete Jansons, and Chris “Rhodesy” Rhodes continue the conversation with Danny Miller (guitar/vocals), Mark Uselman (lead vocals/keys), and Brian Wirt (drums/vocals) covering:🔥 EDM vs real bands: Laptop DJs, crowd vibe, and why kids boop for an hour🎸 Future of live music: Summerfest changes, streaming gigs, and vinyl revival💰 Pro booking & marketing tips every band needs in 2026🤘 Show production secrets + quick-fire first concerts & favorite 80s foodKey Moments:0:00 Picking up the AI debate0:36 EDM concerts, laptops & crowd energy4:54 Future of live shows & younger generations6:59 Summerfest changes + disappearing headliners8:15 Vinyl comeback & kids rediscovering albums10:35 Album listening vs single tracks18:14 Production details, video sync & no stopping27:39 Venue talk: Vixen, Bend Theater & crowd flow34:45 Supertramp tribute crossover & stage props40:26 Quick questions: First concerts & favorite 80s food44:36 Wrap-up & thanksWatch Part 1 here:    • Duran Decade 🎤 Duran Duran Tribute & 80s N…  🔗 Connect with Duran Decade:  / decadebandmke  https://dmiller5889.wixsite.com/duran…https://dmiller5889.wixsite.com/duran…   / @durandecade  Danny Miller:   / danny.miller.840953  Songsmith Records:   / songsmithrecords  Supertramp Tribute:   / thesupertramptribute  Upcoming Shows:Jan 30, 2026 – The Grand, Oshkosh WIApr 11, 2026 – Rally Point, Oconomowoc WIJun 12, 2026 – The Bend Theater, West Bend WIJul 18, 2026 – Brown County Playhouse, Nashville INMeet the Band: https://dmiller5889.wixsite.com/duran…🎧 Enjoying the show? Support Hogpod on Patreon and help us keep the Chicago music stories alive!  / hogpod  Are you a band, club owner, or booker and want to be on the show? Reach out to Beth Miller for booking:Beth@hogpod.org708-287-3692#hogpod #ChicagoMusic #DuranDecade #DuranDuranTribute #80sMusic #EDMvsLive #BandBooking #AIMusic #BongoMike #PeteJansons #ChrisRhodesyRhodes #MilwaukeeMusic #WisconsinBands