Defenders of the Faith
Just weeks before Chicago Powerfest 2008, its organizers are still banging their heads against the details.
Lake Zurich's Rob Such, bassist of Twelfth Gate, and Prospect Heights' Chris Lotesto, guitarist of Ion Vein, huddle around a table at the Woodfield Hooter's with friend John Coyne of Chicago. The long-haired trio discusses the festival's sixth incarnation, which takes place today and Saturday at The Pearl Room in Mokena, the Chicago 'burbs' current hotspot for metal tours.
Who's fetching the bands from the airport? When do sponsors receive their VIP packages? What kind of beer do they need backstage? Even though the guys started planning the fest one week after their last one in April 2007, building its biggest year yet means dealing with more factors such as these.
"We're trying to make sure everything is taken care of ahead of time," Such says. As a fan, he'd like to make sure he can actually watch some of the performers this year.
Desire brings
Powerfest began in 2000, when Ion Vein and Such's previous band, Syris, wanted to reunite with friends they met at Powermad, an East Coast festival that catered to the progressive and power metal niche. Chicago-area musicians Such and Lotesto had actually never met before that event.
"The idea was to bring something to Chicago and help the scene," Lotesto recalls. "Chicago needed a metal fest. It started as a grassroots thing, where bands that we were friends with from other states could get exposure here."
Lotesto notes that even though the first Chicago Powerfest was a one-day show with only five bands, it was enough to get the scene rolling. Soon, Lotesto was helping another fan secure a venue for the first ProgPower USA at the same club that once hosted Powerfest, JJ Kelley's in south suburban Lansing. That fest, at which Ion Vein performed, moved to Atlanta and continues as one of America's most popular "destination" metal fests.
The second Powerfest didn't happen until 2004, when it expanded to two days and broadened its focus to include doom/death metal. Then Coyne stepped in for 2005's edition, when he contacted Lotesto through a mutual friend about putting on a festival of his own.
Coyne admits he's not a "tech-head" or a musician, rather a lifelong metal fan, and the three decided to combine resources. Because of Coyne's contact with Swedes Tad Morose and Morgana Lefay, the fest became international, as both bands made their first U.S. headlining appearances at Powerfest in April 2005.
"We had Moe and Larry," Lotesto jokes. "We just needed Curly."
Trial by fire
The last time Chicago Powerfest broke even was in 2005. Although the organizers have lost money on the past two editions, they admit that they've gained experience.
"We never wanted to rely on sponsors," notes Such regarding this year's VIP upgrade options. "Then it dawned on us: we're forking over thousands of our own dollars, and for what? Because we love metal, we love the scene. And that's why someone would want to give us money. They want to be a part of it. They want to say they helped."
Coyne mentions the weak turnout for 2006's fest, which was held in Chicago Heights.
"I was truly disturbed, because that was as strong a lineup as any fest that caters to this genre can ever put together in this country."
"We learned logistics," Such says. "Location is huge. Having it 18 and over, not all ages, that hurt us."
"Band relevance is important," Lotesto adds. "It doesn't matter how great a band is or how much we love them. How relevant are they right now?"
Such remembers realizing that more fans came from out of state than from the area.
"We decided right then that we were putting together a Chicago fest, not a national fest," he continues. "We put together bands that people from Chicago want to see. This time, we went as far as to make the bold statement on one of our T-shirts: 'Welcome to the new Chicago metal scene.' This is when it starts."
The future is now
"Jon Schaffer from Iced Earth is geeking out about playing," Such says, regarding tonight's headliners, who are performing their first show since reuniting with classic-era vocalist Matt Barlow.
"He said that Chicago was the first city in the U.S. that really embraced Iced Earth," Lotesto says. "I think it's great that they can start this new phase of their career here."
As for Bay Area veterans Testament, who headline Saturday, Coyne is a longtime fan, noting their influence on many of today's young thrash metal acts. "They didn't have the sales Megadeth did, they didn't sell out like Metallica did, but Testament is a legendary band," he concludes.
The organizers warn not to get to the show late, as anyone unfamiliar with the rest of the bill will be surprised by bands from five countries playing eclectic styles ranging from melodic metalcore and thrash to gothic prog and folk-influenced death metal.
"These bands from Europe are sacrificing a lot when it comes down to financial matters, time off of work, missing their families," Coyne says. "Whether you've heard of them or not … show up, get educated, at least respect their sacrifice to come and play."
Regardless of how well Powerfest does this year, Such says seeds are already planted for an event in 2009, although "we realize that it's never going to be easy. No matter if it gets really big, you're still gonna see these three guys handing out flier at shows."
From seeing the three exchange friendly jabs, it's clear that building Powerfest has given them more than a few great concerts. The highs, lows and hard work of the experience have forged a joint venture that is most importantly a dedicated friendship.
"It comes down to quality control," Lotesto says. "If we want this to be a quality festival, one we would want to come to as fans, our hands are going to be dirty and we're going to be in the center of it."
Chicago Powerfest 2008
Where: The Pearl Room, 19081 Old LaGrange Road, Mokena
When: 6:30 p.m. today, 5:30 p.m. Saturday
Tickets: $27.50 per day, $50 two-day pass
Info: (708) 479-5356 or www.chicagopowerfest.com
Here's a look at this year's Chicago Powerfest performers.
Friday
Iced Earth (all over, U.S.): The fest's biggest coup in 2008? Scoring the first live performance by this veteran power thrash outfit since vocalist (and fan favorite) Matt Barlow returned last December. Expect masterful rhythm guitar triplets, anthemic choruses and maybe a taste of the impending second CD in their "Something Wicked" saga.
A Life Once Lost (Philadelphia, Pa.): These young chaos bringers used to play a weighty, mathy style, but their recent stuff focuses more on tough Pantera-style grooves.
Epicurean (Minneapolis, Minn.): Melodic death metal done the American way, with symphonic keyboards and some 'core elements to counter the onslaught of diddly-doo guitar wizardry.
Ion Vein (Chicago suburbs): The former traditional prog/power metal band emerges from a long hiatus with new vocalist Allen James and, judging from their new demos on MySpace, a much meatier power thrash sound.
Arise and Ruin (Ontario, Canada): Surging metalcore from north of the border that doesn't share the technical focus of many Canadian peers, opting for eye-popping Sepultura-esque energy and sprinklings of melody.
Saturday
Testament (San Francisco/Oakland, Calif.): Four-fifths of the classic lineup returns to the Chicago area for the first time since 1992. Considering their new album (see page XX), Testament remains one of the few old school thrash bands worth keeping up with today.
Darkane (Helsingborg, Sweden): Vicious deathly thrash favorites with screamed and sung vocals, astoundingly complex drums, rabid guitar riffs galore and a vaguely futuristic feel.
Suidakra (Düsseldorf, Germany): Making their live U.S. debut, this long-running pagan clan laces melodic death metal with pronounced folk influences for an über-European treat.
The Autumn Offering (Daytona Beach, Fla.): Polished metalcore for Trivium fans, with harmonic guitars and lots of clean vocals adding a vibe somewhere between classic metal and emo.
Twelfth Gate (Chicago suburbs): The underrated progressive thrash machine has fortified their chunky, rhythmic attack with the more diverse, aggressive pipes of new vocalist Aaron Broderick.
Chaoswave (Cagliari, Italy): Although the vocals are split between a male/female pair, don't expect the flowery style of their countrymen Lacuna Coil, because the singers' nocturnal velvet tones are fused to a techy prog-thrash frame.