The Lawrence Arms are an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999 and currently recording for Fat Wreck Chords. They have released five full-length albums and toured extensively. Their music and lyrics juxtapose references from history and literature with American pop culture.

How does one gauge the success of a band pushing the envelope of a genre that receives little to no credit by the mainstream media? In the case of A Wilhelm Scream, the answer is “Who cares?” – As a band playing punk rock for over a decade, members Trevor Reilly, Nuno Pereira, Nick Angelini, Brian Robinson and Mike Supina haven’t focused on success, image or whatever bandwagon a group can jump on to get their music into the ears of listeners: It’s the ideal of music from an honest place, playing to the kids who want to hear more than a simple love song, or want an opinion rammed down their throats. Despite operating just below the radar A Wilhelm Scream have carved out a reputation as one of the best live bands around, bolstered by their staggeringly rich albums of ultratechnical melodic punk rock firestorms.  Playing 250+ worldwide shows each year, the band posses a work ethic best described as ‘heroic’.    A Wilhelm Scream is: Nuno Pereira – Vocals Trevor Reilly – Guitar, Vocals Brian Robinson – Bass, Vocals Mike Supina – Guitar Nick Angelini – Drums

Canadian Rifle is a three-membered punk/rock outfit from Chicago, Illinois. They have been recording and touring constantly since their conception in 2007 – continuously covering the United States and Canada, along with a sole European tour in 2009 in support of their first LP, Visibility Zero (Residue Records).   Canadian Rifle plays melodic punk music and have been compared to bands such as Leatherface, Jawbreaker, Husker Du, Hickey, and Wipers. However, they infuse their own unique Midwestern sound into this realm of music. The lyrical content is bleak and abstract, but relatable – dealing with social interaction, removing yourself from reality, struggling with truths and regret, and pushing forward while running on fumes.   Their discography includes three EP’s, two split 7″s (one with American Cheeseburger and one with Zapiain), three LP’s, and a handful of tour tapes. The labels involved have been Dirt Cult, Residue, Taken by Surprise, Squirrel Heart, Criminal IQ, Rock Bottom, All in Vinyl, and Lucky Gator. They have had interviews in Maximum Rock n’ Roll as well as several other DIY zines and local publications, as well as being featured on the cover of Razorcake. They are very hard working and take what they do seriously while never forgetting that everything is actually a joke.