Episodes

  • SAMMY DAVIS JR. COOKED FOR US: The 1970s Sunset Strip Bust That Ended Everything

    SAMMY DAVIS JR. COOKED FOR US: The 1970s Sunset Strip Bust That Ended Everything
    Apr 28 2026
    At 75, Debora Masterson is gigging on bass in Chicago — and her debut novel is about the Sunset Strip rocker she loved at 15, the federal drug bust that killed his band Freedom Quest, the bowl of chocolate mescaline on their coffee table, the Hawaii cult he joined when she left him, and the reunion thirty years later that became twenty beautiful years..Plus: the time Sammy Davis Jr. cooked dinner for the whole cast in his Chicago apartment with Jesse Jackson there, Debora warming up alone in a Lincoln Center rehearsal room when Mikhail Baryshnikov walked in, the bowl of chocolate mescaline on a Reseda living room coffee table at age 22, and how she finished her husband's book five and a half years after he passed..🎶 He Taught Me Bass — Hogpod Album #11 inspired by Debora's story:https://open.spotify.com/album/1ZRM23....🎯 KEY MOMENTS0:00 The love story tease — 1965, two kids, sex drugs rock and roll, Vietnam0:14 Why her story belongs in Chicago1:08 Meet Craig Ingraham — the real Mr. Jukebox1:46 Met at 15 and 18 — fake IDs in the San Fernando Valley4:01 Freedom Quest forms in 1973 — the monster band that almost made it4:48 The roadie was a fed — drug bust kills the band5:48 Grammy legend David Benoit's teenage start6:46 The bowl of mescaline on the living room table8:21 He vanished to Hawaii — and joined a cult9:30 Manson was in the Valley too9:57 Sammy Davis Jr. cooks for the cast (Jesse Jackson's surprise visit)13:30 Alone in a room with Baryshnikov17:00 North Beach Summer of Love (not stripper joints)22:00 The Catalina Island Chi-Chi Club summer23:00 Cat's Meow Supper Club, Fort Wayne, the road to Chicago29:30 He never made it to Chicago — he's here in spirit now40:09 The seizures that ended his music42:34 Where to buy Freedom Quest — Bookshop.org over Amazon46:33 Pop-Tarts, Valley Girl, gag me with a spoon46:35 The 420 surprise — a 75-year-old's viral reaction.📍 Chicago - Chicagoland - Music Memoir - Debut Novel - Sunset Strip - 1960s - 1970s - Freedom Quest - Sammy Davis Jr - Baryshnikov - North Beach - Catalina.🎤 Guest Links — Debora MastersonWebsite: deboramasterson.comBook on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GQ573WV4Atmosphere Press: https://atmospherepress.com/books/fre...Bookshop.org: bookshop.org (search "Freedom Quest Debora Masterson")Craig Ingraham music: craigingraham.com/musicApple Music — Freedom Quest album: / freedom-quest .❤️ Support Hogpod — patreon.com/hogpod.Hosted by Pete Jansons and Mike "Bongo" Orfanos (Bongo Mike)..📞 Booking — beth@hogpod.org / 708-287-3692.#ChicagoMusic #ChicagolandMusicScene #DeboraMasterson #FreedomQuest #HeTaughtMeBass #CraigIngraham #ChicagoAuthor #ChicagoPodcast #MusicPodcast #HogpodMusicChat #DebutNovel #MusicMemoir #SammyDavisJr #SunsetStrip #BassPlayer
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    48 mins
  • Crossing Decades: Jen Brown, Sgt Sparkles, Doc Zeiger | Hogpod Chicagoland Music Scene Podcast

    Crossing Decades: Jen Brown, Sgt Sparkles, Doc Zeiger | Hogpod Chicagoland Music Scene Podcast
    Apr 21 2026
    Jen Brown, Dave "Doc" Zeiger, and Damian "Sgt Sparkles" Thompson of Crossing Decades join Hogpod to break down what happens when six Chicago musicians decide to cover every decade from the 60s to today — in blocks, with costume changes, and one country song per show because the crowd demands it..Plus: the Sergeant Sparkles origin story, their 8-minute mashup built on AC/DC Back in Black, Dave's WSOP run sitting with Scotty Nguyen and Lane Flack, and why the bathroom at Penny Road Pub was the best green room in Chicagoland..🎶 Hogpod Chicago Local Music Chat on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2QtmZ....🎧 New album drops this week — "GAME FILM" — Hogpod Album #10.🎯 KEY MOMENTS0:55 Cheryl Scott weather love1:13 Big Head Todd at Rivers Casino2:37 Dave joins the show8:48 Kicked each other's ass at School of Rock10:00 413 origin story11:48 Jen and Doc join the band a week apart13:04 Meet the six-piece Crossing Decades lineup15:17 How Damian became "Sergeant Sparkles"17:06 Who books the band21:08 Rock Goddess nickname origin22:55 From 413 to Crossing Decades rebrand27:02 The fan-voted name change28:28 "We play a little bit of everything"33:09 The guitar-tuning challenge35:38 Opening for 7th Heaven38:37 The 8-minute Back in Black mashup breakdown40:48 Blank Space, Taylor Swift, fast42:21 Costume changes on stage45:37 Jen hates Save a Horse, but the crowd wins46:27 "If the crowd's into it, it's my favorite song"48:41 Mickey Finn's three-hour show math51:23 Dirty Nelly's catacombs and green rooms52:19 Penny Road Pub bathroom nostalgia53:41 Upcoming: Rookies in Elgin, Mickey Finn's56:26 First concert round — Rush Power Windows Tour57:56 Jen's Metallica Saturday detention skip58:48 Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Slippery When Wet59:43 Spider Mike's first Van Halen Sammy1:01:07 Dave's WSOP run with Scotty Nguyen and Lane Flack1:05:01 Best music movie — Casablanca and Adam Sandler soundtracks1:09:37 Pop-Tart with butter, Family Guy style1:12:00 Butter on a Pop-Tart changes everything1:12:22 Rookies in Elgin, end of June.📍 Chicago - Chicagoland - Cover Band - Tribute - Bar Band - Rock - Country - Pop - Metal - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 2000s - Today.🎤 Guest Links — Crossing DecadesFacebook: facebook.com/Crossing.Decades.ChicagoWebsite coming soon: crossingdecades.comContact: 847-302-6561.❤️ Support Hogpod — patreon.com/hogpod.Hosted by Pete Jansons, Mike "Bongo" Orfanos (Bongo Mike), and Spider Mike..📞 Booking — beth@hogpod.org / 708-287-3692.#ChicagoMusic #ChicagolandMusicScene #CrossingDecades #HogpodMusicChat #ChicagoLocalMusic #CoverBand #TributeBand #BarBand #ChicagoPodcast #MusicPodcast #413Band #RockGoddess #SergeantSparkles
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Joey De Marco on Writing Jazz, Windsor's Music Scene & AI | Hogpod Chicagoland Music Scene Podcast

    Joey De Marco on Writing Jazz, Windsor's Music Scene & AI | Hogpod Chicagoland Music Scene Podcast
    Apr 14 2026
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • She Cherry Bombed the Audition | Neala Dunn Cherry Bomb Chicago | Hogpod Chicagoland Music Scene

    She Cherry Bombed the Audition | Neala Dunn Cherry Bomb Chicago | Hogpod Chicagoland Music Scene
    Apr 7 2026

    She walked into an audition for a band that didn't want a female singer. Sang one Dorothy song. Walked out as their frontwoman. That's Cherry Bomb Chicago.🎧 Full episode: https://youtu.be/XHXP_I72c8U🎶 Cherry Bombed It on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/album/4YJmXoDncxnh867RCFWDH0?si=dE8zUJDERLmKhYq3AuqDVA📞 Booking — beth@hogpod.org / 708-287-3692#HogpodChicago #CherryBombChicago #ChicagoMusic #FemaleFrontedBand #ChicagolandMusicScene #MusicPodcast #Shorts
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    1 min
  • Chris "Bean" Weng: Chicago Drummer Who Drums AND Sings | Hogpod Chicagoland Music Scene Podcast

    Chris "Bean" Weng: Chicago Drummer Who Drums AND Sings | Hogpod Chicagoland Music Scene Podcast
    Mar 31 2026
    Chris "Bean" Weng has been drumming and singing at the same time since he was 12 years old. Now he does it every night as the drummer for Heartache Tonight, one of the Midwest's premier Eagles tribute bands — playing 35+ shows a year at theaters and festivals from Chicago to Michigan. Oh, and his first concert was Frank Zappa at the Uptown Theater in 1976. Yeah, Bean's been around.We dig into how Heartache Tonight was born, why New Kid in Town is the hardest Eagles song to pull off live, what happens when the guitar players won't stop at the end of Hotel California, and how Bean landed in Ralph Covert's Bad Examples after 20 years in the Chicago scene. Plus — Pacific Sound Company, the West Coast music project that's turning heads at Mickey Finn's..🎶 NEW KID IN THE WEST — The Hogpod AI Album inspired by this episode[HYPERFOLLOW LINK].🎧 All Hogpod AI Albums on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/6BN8V....🎯 KEY MOMENTS0:00 Opening — Heartache Tonight performs Take It Easy (live) • Take It Easy (Eagles Cover) - Heartache To... 5:31 Ralph Covert and the Bad Examples connection8:08 History of Heartache Tonight11:10 Bean's artwork — painted by JP and the Cats' Jim Tulk16:19 How hard is it to drum and sing at the same time?17:52 Best singer/drummer of all time? Henley, Levon, Karen Carpenter?25:17 Blue Bayou transition — Tamara Woodruff show clip • Tamara Woodruff (Blue Bayou) – Linda Ronst... 27:11 Mike Ostrenga show clip • 🎸 Bassist Mike Ostrenga from Empress Joins... 28:29 Pacific Sound Company — West Coast music comes to Chicago29:00 Playing three guitars together — how do you stay in your lane?29:47 The stink eye — what happens when you screw up on stage30:30 What is the hardest Eagles song to play live?31:45 The Hotel California ending — guitar players going for a day32:50 Has any Eagles member ever shown up to a Heartache Tonight show?35:48 Upcoming Heartache Tonight shows37:06 From originals to tribute — how the Chicago scene evolved41:22 Tom Carey and the Ghost Runners43:00 Sharing the stage with Joe Cocker, Kansas, and Slash46:00 Jimi Sohns shout out — RIP47:44 Jimi Sohns performing Gloria with Chick Norris at Joe's Live53:39 Bongo Mike question segment — first concert, favorite movie, pop tarts.📍 Topics in this episodeEagles Tribute - Heartache Tonight - Pacific Sound Company - Bad Examples - Ralph Covert - Drumming and Singing - Chicago Music Scene - Hotel California - Frank Zappa - Summerfest - Joe Cocker - Jimi Sohns.🎤 Guest LinksHeartache Tonight: https://www.heartachetonight.comHeartache Tonight Band: https://www.heartachetonight.com/the-...Heartache Tonight Calendar: https://www.heartachetonight.com/cale...Pacific Sound Company: / pacificsoundcompany Tom Carey Music: https://tomcareymusic.net/Bad Examples: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bad....❤️ Support Hogpod / hogpod .Hosted by Pete Jansons, Mike "Bongo" Orfanos (Bongo Mike), and Chris "Rhodesy" Rhodes..📞 Booking — beth@hogpod.org / 708-287-3692.#HogpodChicago #ChicagoMusic #EaglesTribute #HeartacheTonight #ChicagoMusicScene #TributeBand #ChicagoPodcast #MusicPodcast #DrummerWhoSings #PacificSoundCompany #BadExamples #RalphCovert #HotelCalifornia #ChicagolandMusic #LiveMusic
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Building Inspector By Day, Stapleton Tribute By Night | Hogpod Chicago Music Podcast

    Building Inspector By Day, Stapleton Tribute By Night | Hogpod Chicago Music Podcast
    Mar 24 2026

    Rich Sawyer spends his weekdays inspecting buildings in South Elgin — and his weekends channeling Chris Stapleton across the country. The guy went from frustrated Chicago-area musician complaining about not getting festival slots to flying coast-to-coast, doing meet-and-greets after 1,000-person shows at Joe's Live, and turning down the gigs he once begged for. This is that story..Tennessee Whiskey Chicago is widely recognized as the United States' #1 Chris Stapleton tribute act. Rich leads the band while holding down a government building inspector job since 1998 — and he's about 2 years from retirement. The music life and the day job life are about to collide..🎶 All Cattle No Hat — Hogpod AI Album #6:https://open.spotify.com/album/5DwLurfVwuDmFhJgGwRKS6.🎧 All Hogpod AI Albums on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/album/5DwLurfVwuDmFhJgGwRKS6.🎯 KEY MOMENTS0:00 White Horses from Matt's Barn https://youtu.be/SLtS3niaTko?si=ruuQR2XvS9lZ0VGX12:34 Chris and Amy Poboski Wedding Bash15:00 Happy Birthday Beth Miller Party15:20 Rich Sawyer joins the show17:38 Tennessee Whiskey Chicago intro19:53 Rich Sawyer's background29:57 Early vs late show start — why Rich demands the early slot36:20 Why Chris Stapleton — is country even country anymore?42:10 How COVID launched Tennessee Whiskey Chicago47:43 Ed Warm — Joe's Live / Joe's on Weed Street Country Force https://youtu.be/oZGIIOKiQKQ?si=U-oVlz8dTHxJcN3648:47 Has Rich been in contact with Chris Stapleton?52:14 Chicago country music up and comers — Justin Wallace https://youtu.be/Ne728N5YmSw?si=tkOTXtlnEsKBD6NZ55:28 Beard maintenance57:00 Rich Sawyer influences growing up59:24 Three Amigos1:02:50 Upcoming shows https://www.facebook.com/TennesseeWhiskeyBandChicago/events/?id=100085364674088&sk=events1:04:25 Bongo Mike question segment.📍 Topics in this episode — Chris Stapleton tribute - Tennessee Whiskey Chicago - building inspector - Joe's Live - COVID music scene - Chicago country - Justin Wallace - beard maintenance - early shows vs late shows - festival oversaturation - Seventh Heaven - Sundance Saloon - Mosquitoes band - Steel Drivers.🎤 Guest Linkshttps://tennesseewhiskeychicago.comhttps://www.facebook.com/RichSawyerMusic/https://www.facebook.com/TennesseeWhiskeyBandChicago/events/?id=100085364674088&sk=events.❤️ Support Hogpod — https://patreon.com/hogpod.Hosted by Pete Jansons, Mike "Bongo" Orfanos (Bongo Mike), and Chris "Rhodesy" Rhodes..📞 Booking — beth@hogpod.org / 708-287-3692.#HogpodChicagoMusicPodcast #ChicagoMusicPodcast #ChrisStapleton #TennesseeWhiskeyChicago #ChicagoCountry #TributeBand #ChicagoMusic #HogPod #PeteJansons #BongoMike #ChrisRhodes #CountryMusic #ChicagoMusicScene #JoesLive #SundanceSaloon
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Desiree Starr Harris 🎤 Libido Funk Circus & Chicago Disco Scene | Hogpod Chicago Music Podcast

    Desiree Starr Harris 🎤 Libido Funk Circus & Chicago Disco Scene | Hogpod Chicago Music Podcast
    Mar 17 2026
    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
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Mock Star 🎸 Full Band: Axl Watched, Bret Michaels & 80s Rock | Hogpod Chicago Local Music Podcast

    Mock Star 🎸 Full Band: Axl Watched, Bret Michaels & 80s Rock | Hogpod Chicago Local Music Podcast
    Mar 10 2026
    🎸 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
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    57 mins