The Witzard

About two weeks ago, we recieved an email from Esquire Classic editor and fellow music aficionado Alex Belth emailed us with a tip regarding an upocoming mix. We've previously showcased features on a number of hand-crafted mixes constructed by Belth, sometimes, known as Al Dente, and his music-making parter-in-crime, Alan "illchemist" Friedman. illchemist is a self-described audio provider, sound designer, editor, mixer, composer, musician, producer, voice-over, mash-up artist. Alan Friedman has previously worked with or remixed C + C Music Factory, Depecche Mode, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Steinski, Vitamin C. However, in more recent years, Friedman has been tediously creating and reelasing mixes of his own, all the while, running his own studio/hub, Audiolifer.


Somewhere along the way, Alan Friedman met Alex Belth and they've been meticuliously mashing up and releasing music together since the early 2000's. Alex Belth & illchemist's mixes include, but ar…

Poison Boys is a Chicago-based Glam Rock/Punk band, who have actively been touring, releasing music, and glamming it up since 2014. Poison Boys' current line-up includes Matt Dudzik, Steve "Stevie Poison" Elfinger, Josh Mitchell & Matt "Chainblaster" Chaney with touring/part-time members "Sleepy Doc" Julius & Nico "Bonesy" Bones. Stevie Poison & The Boys have previously released material on No Front Teeth Records, White Zoo Records, Dead Beat Records, and most recently, Hobo Wolfman Records. Following their 2019 full-length debut, Out of My Head, Poison Boys have joined forces with Hobo Wolfman to unveil their latest single, "Mean Queen" B/W "Take A Chance." We would compare Poison Boys' body of work to something along the lines of New York Dolls, Diamond Dogs-era David Bowie, The Darkness, The Struts, and one of our personal favorites, Hammered Satin. As a matter of fact, the B-side to "Mean Queen&q…

Birdman: or The Unexpected Virtue of A Tony Hawk Pro Skater Cover Band (CREDIT: Dallas Maurer)

"'Birdman: or The Unexpected Virtue of A Tony Hawk Pro Skater Cover Band..." the ridiculous name parodied off one of greatest and most ridiculous films of the last decade says it all. What started off as a novelty idea amongst six friends with an undying passion for the greatest video game soundtracks of their teens, has now morphed into an out-of-control nostalgia joyride, shared with an army of like-minded gaming and music fans. Packing an epic arsenal of tunes from the likes of Goldfinger, Bodyjar, Millencolin, RATM [Rage Against The Machine], CKY, Dead Kennedys, Ramones, Sex Pistols, and Motorhead to name just a few, they've started mosh pits at some of the best festivals in the country, including headlining the sold out Secret Garden, headlining the (also, sold out) OktoberWest with guest appearances from Frenzal Rhomb & Totally Unicorn, headlining (you guessed it—…

Andy "The Undertaker" Cooper (CREDIT: Miff Morris)
Andy Cooper is an actual factual skilled (never) ill-willed hyper-fast rhyming emcee originally hailing from North Carolina, who now calls Long Beach, California home. Although, it appears as though Cooper has an extremely dedicated following Overseas, rather than here in The States; known primarily for his work with European artists The Allergies, DJ Format, Baronski, Shawn Lee, DJ Yoda, Marc Hype & DJ Suspect, The Funk League, Djar One, Smoove (Smoove & Turrell,) and more. However, Andy Cooper is, likely, best know amongst Underground Hip-Hop heads for his work with Rap troupe Ugly Duckling formed in 1993 with friends "Dizzy" Dustin McFarland & Rodney Pleasant AKA DJ Young Einstein. Trusty fans of The Witzard may be familiar with Cooper's solo work, more specifically, "The Perfect Definition" from his 2018 album, The Layered Effect, released on Rocafort Records. As you may recall, we ra…

Ian Shelton is the driving force behind Seattle-based Hardcore Punk/Fastcore/Powerviolence troupe Regional Justice Center. Shelton has spent time playing with like-minded bands Bully, Clarity, Drug Culture, Habitual Offender, Hiding Place, New Gods, Stress Relief, and most notably, Self Defense Family. Earlier this year, Regional Justice Center unleashed an awesoely-titled EP dubbed Regional Jurtice Center assisted by Justice "Jurtice" Tripp (Angel Du$t, Trapped Under Ice) and a one-track digital single/7-inch EP for "KKK Tattoo." Now, Ian Shelton has returned with yet another new project, Militarie Gun. Shelton's latest project clearly draws inspiration from 90's Melodic Post-hardcore and was first announced back in April with a 2-song Demo EP. Militarie Gun has now been revealed as a full 5-piece band, which, according to Stereogum Senior Editor Tom Breihan, appears to feature Drug Church guitarist Nick Cogan, Modern Color drummer Vince Nguyen, two addit…

Since re-launching Cold Rhymes Records a few years back around the time of the release of Mind Moves The Mountain (2017) Dan "Height" Keech has stayed extremely busy. Cold Rhymes' roster now includes 83cutlass, Ardamus, Darko The Super, Emceein' Eye Height Keech, ialive/Donovan Days, Jack Toft, Kate Ferencz, MISTER, Off The Meat Rack, P.T. Burnem, Param Anand Singh, (rapper) andrew. Shark Tank, Speak N' Eye, Trauma Lavern, Vans_Westly, and Wounds. The bulk of said recent releases having been produced by Height Keech himself, along with ialive (together, as Necessary People,) art direction provided by Height's sideman MISTER AKA CoolGuyBry, and mastered by C$ BURNS. Earlier this year, Height produced the entirety Ardamus' Astro Blocks with the exception of one beat, "Tunnel Light," produced by Necessary People. Plus, Necessary People made their proper production debut across andrew.'s second Cold Rhymes offering, W.O.T.W. Additionally, I BET…