Cold Waves Festival

Cold Waves Festival Chicago-based live-music promoter group In the summer of 2012, Chicago lost one of its most loved and respected sound engineers and musicians, Jamie Duffy.

COLD WAVES is a celebration of Chicago’s relationship with industrial music, the memory of a fallen brother, and a fundraiser for suicide prevention charities. His work ethic and ingenuity in the local music scene was a gift to many musicians. His abrupt passing had a profound effect on the electronic and metal music communities he meant so much to. In need of healing and hope, we brought 14 bands

together for one magical night that year to raise money for Jamies family and say goodbye. But in the end, it was more of an awakening... a rebirth... a breaking wave. The success of the show pushed us to build it into an annual event, stretching over a weekend and moving it to Chicago's iconic Metro. Over the years we have hosted the return of many iconic industrial bands, as well as introduced people to a new set of innovators. Bands like Front 242, Severed Heads, Godflesh, Front Line Assembly, Fear Factory, Prong and Pop Will Eat Itself brought back fond memories and old school vibes to long awaiting fans, while other bands like High Functioning Flesh, Youth Code, 3Teeth and Author & Punisher have all made new, passionate fans on our stage. We hope to continue this co-mingling of forward-thinking, ground-breaking, classic acts alongside brand new talent, putting music and experimentation before fashion or scene, celebrating the sounds of industrial while connecting and supporting those suffering from depression, addiction, suicidal tendencies and other mental health issues. Looking forward to our fifth year, COLD WAVES aims to shake the pillars of heaven by collecting the bands, styles, sounds and attitudes that Jamie held dear, and cement the sound of a Chicago institution alive and well. From Wax Trax! and Medusas to Uncle Al and Chicago Trax, this is our history and our future, the melding of man, woman and machine, the sound of melody, muscle and hate, basking in the glow of attack ships on fire down the shores of pluto.

HBDJD❤️🤘. Tatonka 4 Lyfe. Tripskies Pitsticles… Picklz n Knobbs.
05/29/2026

HBDJD❤️🤘. Tatonka 4 Lyfe. Tripskies Pitsticles… Picklz n Knobbs.

05/22/2026

All on sale now, link in bio!

The CW Trifecta: Stabbing Westward + + 16volt + Acumen Nation at Metro , Mohawk and Pacific Electric this September! Ch...
05/22/2026

The CW Trifecta: Stabbing Westward + + 16volt + Acumen Nation at Metro , Mohawk and Pacific Electric this September! Chicago, LA and Austin tickets on sale NOW, links in bio.

Cracknation Raymond Watts PIG Tiffany Trezzo Dildox Spike Hellis Chalk - Band .wav .worldwide

COLD WAVES XIV: LOS ANGELESFriday/Saturday September 11+12Pacific Electric. Doors 7PM. Show 8PM.Discount 2-Day passes on...
05/20/2026

COLD WAVES XIV: LOS ANGELES
Friday/Saturday September 11+12
Pacific Electric. Doors 7PM. Show 8PM.

Discount 2-Day passes on sale NOW!
Single-Day GA tickets on sale Friday May 22 @ 10AM PT
(Links at bio and first comment)

The Black Queen Stabbing Westward 16volt Raymond Watts Forever Grey Houses of Heaven Tiffany Trezzo Grizz Cll

COLD WAVES AUSTIN: Friday September 18 @ Mohawk AustinTickets on sale FRIDAY, MAY 22 @ 10AM CT. Link in comment and bio...
05/19/2026

COLD WAVES AUSTIN: Friday September 18 @ Mohawk Austin

Tickets on sale FRIDAY, MAY 22 @ 10AM CT. Link in comment and bio!

https://www.facebook.com/stabbingwestwrd/posts/pfbid02vLbYaA4BH9RMWiXJnEuj8EW4KoaxYxeBtYmkk63hkL5kNPASKqtzTDq2ruteC5H2l
05/14/2026

https://www.facebook.com/stabbingwestwrd/posts/pfbid02vLbYaA4BH9RMWiXJnEuj8EW4KoaxYxeBtYmkk63hkL5kNPASKqtzTDq2ruteC5H2l

Thirty years ago, Wither Blister Burn & Peel marked a turning point for Stabbing Westward. Released in 1996 on Columbia Records, and produced by John Fryer, the album became their first Gold-certified record in the U.S., propelled by defining singles like “Shame” and “What Do I Have to Do?”. It didn’t just elevate the band—it helped cement industrial rock’s place in the alternative mainstream of the era alongside acts like Nine Inch Nails.

At the time, critics praised its emotional weight and melodic edge. Alternative Press highlighted its “dark romanticism and cathartic intensity,” while Rolling Stone noted the band’s ability to fuse aggression with vulnerability—something that gave the record lasting resonance far beyond its initial release cycle.

Now, three decades later, the band isn’t interested in a nostalgia lap.

To mark the anniversary, Stabbing Westward return with Wither ReWired—a complete re-recording of the album. Not a remaster. Not a remix. A ground-up reinterpretation.

The original will always exist, untouched and essential. But this version reflects who the band is now.

Revisiting a record this iconic is a high-risk move. It demands more than technical precision—it requires emotional honesty and a willingness to challenge your own legacy. Christopher Hall and Walter Flakus have done exactly that, reshaping these songs with the weight of 30 years behind them.

Christopher Hall explains:

“The idea of reimagining Wither triggered equal amounts of excitement and trepidation for me. I know the powerful effect music has on young people. The music we hear in our youth imprints on our brain and our souls, forever merged with the memories that accompanied it. When you hear a song, it takes you back to that party or that lonely time spent in your headphones where the music was your only friend. The crazy makeout session to your best mix tape and the other mix tape for the inevitable heartbreak that followed. How could we ever hope to improve upon those memories? Well, we can’t. And we didn’t try. We chose to create new ones. I hope everyone makes some new memories to these new songs.”

Walter Flakus adds:

“It’s amazing how powerful these songs still stand up 30 years later. I had a very tearful evening while working on ‘Sleep’ and the gravity of the song. These songs feel aligned with where we’re at as a band today while embracing our original industrial foundation. Some of these songs never hit the way they were intended. They do now!”

That last line says everything.

This isn’t a fresh coat of paint on a catalog classic—it’s a full reconstruction. The edges are sharper, the emotional core runs deeper, and the performances carry the lived experience of decades.

Production and mastering are in their final stages, and while the finish line is in sight, the band wanted to share this moment early.

Because this one matters.

Proud to present Venjent in Los Angeles and Chicago this September! Drum n Bass like you've never experienced live, trus...
05/13/2026

Proud to present Venjent in Los Angeles and Chicago this September! Drum n Bass like you've never experienced live, trust us. Support from Oktae.

Tickets on sale FRIDAY 5.15 @ 10AM local time, including a very limited amount of VIP meet n greet tix. Links in Linktree bio.
1720 Outset Chicago

12/31/2025

From Darkest Before Dawn:

Greetings friends. We wanted to do a quick annual update and wish 2025 a good riddance (!) and a big, warm HNY to you all as we open our arms and hearts to the promise of a better year in 2026. It has been an exceptionally difficult year for anyone in need, anyone struggling, as we’ve literally seen billions of dollars and countless support programs disappear before our very eyes. We had an uphill year ourselves, but wanted to give thanks and appreciation for those who stepped in and stepped up to help others by helping us. We were able to raise $7,000 this year and disperse to the following:

- CAWC Chicago Connections for Abused Women and their Children
- GoFundMe campaigns for Charles Levi & Panther Almquist
- Nourishing Hope (formerly Chicago Lakeview Pantry)
- The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth advocacy and protection)
- Greater Chicago Food Depository
- The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)
- KT's Kids (Chicago disabled childrens support group)

Thank you to our supporters at the Cold Waves Festival shows, for your generous silent auction and raffle participation. We have to also thank Marc LaCorte and Schecter Guitar Research, Novation/Focusrite, our friends at Half Acre Beer and the lovely Jim Semonik and Distortion Productions.

We are also grateful to David Gasper, who’s employee-assistance and coping meetings this year were a small but important step in our hopes to provide more direct outreach to Chicago.

Finally, we are incredibly appreciative of the support and donations we received via the Neo Chicago Alumni group and Suzanne Shelton along with Eric Richter as we all worked to create the Blu-Ray re-issue of the “2350 Last Call” Neo documentary. Anyone still looking to purchase a copy can find the link in the first comment below (now that all costs have been covered, all proceeds go to further DB4D fundraising).

Our love and respect to everyone out there fighting to stay sane, stay available to others in need, and stay strong. Happy New Year and thank you for your support. - The DB4D Team

Address

4610 N. Clark #1007
Chicago, IL
60640

Telephone

+17735494140

Website

https://linktr.ee/cracknation

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