What makes a mosh pit one of the friendliest rooms in music? Elise McLearen says metalheads are all show on the outside and soft at heart underneath — the same crowd that runs full speed into each other will drop everything to pick you up off the floor.Elise joins Hogpod with fellow Diva Lisa Orduna and guitarist and scene-supporter Adam of Lombardy Black to talk about the Ronnie James Divas: an all-women Dio, Rainbow and Black Sabbath benefit raising money for kids’ cancer care at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital.We get into why Lisa’s connection to this one runs deep, the Dio deep cuts nobody ever plays live, Elise’s signature “helicopter” headbang, and how a rock star by night runs a corporate brain by day. Then Bongo Mike opens the floor: when a band has zero original members left, is it still the band? Foreigner, Kansas, Queen and Chris Cornell all come up — and it turns into the best argument of the night.Plus the next benefit already on the calendar — Bark at the Moon, a Halloween show for a no-kill animal shelter — and, of course, a heated verdict on the Pop-Tart.KEY MOMENTS(Times are close but confirm against the final MP4.)00:00 Metalheads are soft at heart02:29 Meet Adam & Lombardy Black05:25 Who is Elise? Sabbatha, My Metal Heart & the Ronnie James Diva origin09:00 The Divas & the band behind them12:00 Raffle prize: a signed Vinny Appice “Heaven & Hell” package16:00 Dio deep cuts nobody plays19:30 The helicopter headbang22:00 Inside the mosh pit28:30 “Kill the King” is 235 BPM31:30 Rock star on stage, corporate brain by day38:00 Bark at the Moon: the Halloween animal-shelter benefit40:00 Branding the benefits: ALS Cooper & what’s next46:00 Lisa: why this one is personal48:00 What hard rockers actually wear50:00 When is a band still the band? Foreigner, Kansas, Queen53:00 The Pop-Tart questionTOPICS IN THIS EPISODEElise McLearen – Ronnie James Divas – Lisa Orduna – Lombardy Black – Dio – Black Sabbath – Rainbow – Lurie Children’s Hospital – Childhood Cancer Awareness – Chicagoland music scene – heavy metal – mosh pit – Bark at the Moon – One Tail at a Time – tribute bands – Foreigner – Kansas – QueenFEATURED LINKSElise McLearenhttps://elisemclearen.comBark at the Moon Benefit (Oct 31)https://elisemclearen.com/batmRonnie James Divashttps://elisemclearen.com/ronnie-jame…Lombardy Black  / lombardyblack  Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospitalhttps://luriechildrens.orgOne Tail at a Timehttps://onetail.orgSUPPORT HOGPOD  / hogpod  Hosted by Pete Jansons with Mike “Bongo” OrfanosBOOKINGbooking@hogpod.org#Hogpod #ChicagoPodcast #MusicPodcast #ChicagolandMusic #RonnieJamesDivas #Dio #BlackSabbath #HeavyMetal #EliseMcLearen #LurieChildrens

Can a Joliet museum really move Illinois’ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame into a downtown Chicago theater — and pull it off? Ron Romero — Founder, CEO & Board Chairman of the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 — is back on Hogpod with Rob Stepen to break the news: for the first time, the Illinois Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction leaves the Joliet Rialto for the Harris Theater in downtown Chicago on Sunday, September 27. Bob Sirott hosts a Class of 2026 that runs from Curtis Mayfield and Kevin Cronin to Terri Hemmert, WDRV/The Drive and Brunswick Records — with a special performance from Jim Peterik. We get into rebuilding after the 2024 Joliet storm, the relight of Gigantar (the 24-foot Route 66 guitar) the night before, Ron’s Eagles tribute + Hall of Fame house band, the new Amplify Illinois program, and the deep-cut history behind American Breed. And mid-show, Chicago music-media legend JVO (James VanOsdol) crashes the room — turns out he was the guy at the door. If you love rock & roll, Chicago music history, Route 66, or the stories behind the artists who built the scene, this one’s for you. ▶️ Watch the full episode: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19PYN6uXyC/ 🎟️ GET TICKETS — Illinois Rock & Roll HOF Induction · Sun Sept 27 · Harris Theater, ChicagoOpen Seating $75 · VIP Meet & Greet $75 (pre-show with Kevin Cronin, Jim Peterik & The Plain White T’s — extremely limited)Buy: https://my.harristheaterchicago.org/11006/11026Event details: https://roadtorock.org/event/2026-hall-of-fame-induction-ceremony/ 🎯 KEY MOMENTS00:00 JVO crashes the show — the guy at the door02:49 Terry Hemmert, XRT & the “way-back machine”04:30 How Ron landed Bob Sirott as MC06:27 Coco Taylor, the Cubby Bear & committing Hogpod to Sept 2707:36 The rider — malort, gyros & two cans of Pringles08:39 Inside the Harris Theater — “acoustically perfect”09:34 “The secret is a much bigger budget” — Rialto vs. the new house10:34 The sponsors — and how to become one14:22 Gigantar spoiler — relighting the 24-foot Route 66 guitar (Sat 9/26)15:42 Rebuilding after the July 2024 Joliet storm16:51 Ron’s band — Eagles tribute + Hall of Fame house band17:26 American Breed’s hidden history — Gary Loizo & Pumpkin Studios19:46 Amplify Illinois — recognizing regional & local bands20:28 The Generations lineup + upcoming shows24:38 Museum membership & the NARM pass — 1,800 museums29:17 Rob’s 6th-time “Too Sixxy” robe30:17 “The biggest handmade guitar in the world” 🎸 FEATURED LINKSIllinois Rock & Roll Museum — https://roadtorock.org/Insperity — https://www.insperity.com/The Generations — https://www.thegenerationsmusic.com/ ❤️ Support Hogpod on Patreon/ hogpod 🎙️ Hosted by Pete Jansons & Mike “Bongo” Orfanos🎤 Guest: Ron Romero, with Rob Stepen — plus a surprise drop-in from JVO (James VanOsdol) 📧 Booking — booking@hogpod.org #Hogpod #IllinoisRockAndRollMuseum #Route66 #ChicagoMusic #MusicHistory #Joliet #RockAndRoll #RonRomero #JVO #HallOfFame #Podcast

What happens when the powerhouse voice fronting three Chicago bands turns out to spend her days as a senior HR executive? Tamara Woodruff is back on Hogpod — and this time the biggest surprise isn’t a song. She fronts Pacific Sound Company (a West Coast tribute running LA to Seattle), sings lead in the country band Wildfire, and runs an acoustic duo on the side. By day? Thirty years in human resources, a master’s in the field, a senior HR business partner at a 900-person global firm. “People look at me funny when I say I’m in HR,” she says. Music is the alter ego. With Pete Jansons and Mike “Bongo” Orfanos, Tamara traces how her Linda Ronstadt tribute Blue Bayou grew into Pacific Sound Company — three lead singers, four-part harmonies, and a songbook running from Fleetwood Mac and Journey to Heart and Santana. She digs into the craft, too: the terror of a silent concert hall versus a loud bar, building a 40-song set in a spreadsheet, why some legacy bands should’ve hung it up, and the West Coast sound nobody else in the room is covering. Plus: Pacific Sound Company presents Blue Bayou — an all-Linda Ronstadt night — Thursday, September 11 at The Venue in Aurora. 🎯 KEY MOMENTS00:00 Cold open + intro03:22 Tamara’s back: the Wisconsin ranch gig & 40-song spreadsheet09:25 Summer gigs and sweaty stages10:19 Empress wraps after four and a half years11:05 Alex James joins — first lead: Hendrix’s “Fire”14:18 Blue Bayou becomes Pacific Sound Company (LA to Seattle)16:20 “We don’t need another Journey cover band”19:49 Building the four-part harmonies21:54 Wildfire — joining an established country band23:07 Opening for Corey Farley at Nico’s26:06 Headlining the Vixen + a three-show weekend31:15 Full-time job by day, gigs by night35:49 Wait — she’s a 30-year HR pro?38:41 Inside a 900-person global HR role39:09 Her music alter ego40:47 Harassment training & workplace culture44:28 The Goat Village co-bill with the Mosquitoes45:20 Blue Bayou returns: all-Linda night in Aurora (9/11)47:49 The Raue and the art of the concert hall48:37 Why silence is scarier than a loud bar55:38 Linda Ronstadt’s illness57:01 Should legacy bands hang it up?1:03:41 Worst concert ever: Aerosmith at Poplar Creek1:07:00 The night the car went in the pond 📍 TOPICS IN THIS EPISODETamara Woodruff – Pacific Sound Company – Blue Bayou – Wildfire – Chicago music – Chicagoland music scene – live music – cover bands – tribute bands – West Coast tribute – Linda Ronstadt – four-part harmony – concert halls – Fleetwood Mac – Journey – Heart 🎤 FEATURED LINKSBlue Bayou (Linda Ronstadt tribute)https://bluebayoutribute.com/ Tamara Woodruff  / tamarawoodruffmusic   ❤️ SUPPORT HOGPOD  / hogpod   🎙️ Hosted by Pete Jansons with Mike “Bongo” Orfanos 📞 BOOKINGbooking@hogpod.org #Hogpod #ChicagoPodcast #MusicPodcast #TamaraWoodruff #PacificSoundCompany #BlueBayou #Wildfire #ChicagoMusic #ChicagolandMusic #LiveMusic #TributeBand #LindaRonstadt

How do you save a historic theater, keep legendary artists coming back — and build a life around “music and meatballs”?Ron Onesti, President & CEO of Onesti Entertainment, joins Hogpod as the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary.Ron tells the story of driving out to the Arcada 25 years ago, finding a dumpster out front and discovering the theater was being gutted for offices. He had no money, started making what he calls “stupid offers,” and somehow began a journey that would transform the Arcada into one of Chicagoland’s most distinctive live music venues.Then he did it again — helping bring the condemned, fire-damaged Des Plaines Theatre back to life.But this episode is about more than buildings.Ron explains why relationships can matter more than money when booking artists, why George Thorogood calls the Arcada “home,” what really goes into an artist rider, and why one performer told him coming there was “like going to my aunt’s house for dinner.”And yes, there are meatballs.We also get into Neil Sedaka’s six pairs of black socks, Paul Anka rewriting “My Way” for Ron’s birthday, Brian Wilson’s years in St. Charles, the growing competition for touring acts, aging rock legends, tribute bands, and what it takes to keep live music alive.The timing couldn’t be better: the Arcada Theatre turns 100 on September 6, 2026, with a centennial celebration featuring Priscilla Presley, Chubby Checker, a Ferris Bueller’s Day Off parade recreation, thousands of people doing the Twist, and a History of Rock ‘n’ Roll show.🎶 NEW MUSIC”Ron Onesti’s Meatballs” — our Dean Martin-style tribute to Ron’s favorite combination: music and meatballs.https://open.spotify.com/album/2821lRz13s1pVxUpxf5AAV🎧 MORE HOGPOD MUSIC ON SPOTIFYhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/2QtmZydAIuDFTsbgOxqr7f🎯 KEY MOMENTS00:00 Music & meatballs02:00 Meet Ron Onesti02:42 A dumpster outside the Arcada changes everything04:14 The condemned Des Plaines Theatre05:38 Rebuilding during COVID09:18 Meatballs, Taylor Street & Sunday gravy12:20 George Thorogood: “I’ll always come back here”13:34 Neil Sedaka’s six pairs of black socks14:43 “It’s like going to my aunt’s house for dinner”15:46 “You set the bar”17:14 “My life is all about music and meatballs”20:40 Celebrating the Arcada’s centennial21:34 September 6: the 100th anniversary parade22:34 The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll26:32 The challenge of booking aging legends28:44 “The music has become bigger than the people”35:04 “It’s 150% relationship based”40:17 The artists Ron still gets excited to book41:04 “Uncle Paul” Anka rewrites “My Way”42:12 Brian Wilson in St. Charles49:48 The Onesti formula: make it feel like home📍 TOPICS IN THIS EPISODERon Onesti – Arcada Theatre – Arcada 100th Anniversary – Des Plaines Theatre – Chicago music – Chicagoland music scene – live music – concert promotion – George Thorogood – Priscilla Presley – Chubby Checker – Brian Wilson – Paul Anka – Neil Sedaka – music and meatballs🎤 FEATURED LINKSArcada Theatre 100th Anniversary + Eventshttps://www.arcadalive.com/eventsDes Plaines Theatrehttps://desplainestheatre.comOnesti Entertainmenthttps://oshows.comBackstage with Ron Onestihttps://www.arcadalive.com/blog/category/backstage-with-ron-onestiRegina Karma — Sunday Music with Regina KarmaSundays at 5 PM at Capri of Willow SpringsMike Dermont + FRICTIONFriction Fest — October 24 at The Broken Oar❤️ SUPPORT HOGPODhttps://www.patreon.com/hogpod🎙️ Hosted by Pete Jansons with Mike Dermont and Regina Karma📞 BOOKINGbooking@hogpod.org#Hogpod #ChicagoPodcast #MusicPodcast #RonOnesti #ArcadaTheatre #Arcada100 #DesPlainesTheatre #ChicagoMusic #ChicagolandMusic #MusicAndMeatballs