HOG POD: Chicago Music Scene Podcast

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HOG POD: Chicago Music Scene Podcast 🎙️ Chicago Music Scene Podcast 🎶

Covering the heart of Chicago's local music scene with exclusive interviews and live performances.

Welcome to the Heart of Glass page! 🎶

We are in an exciting transition phase as we work on reimagining our Blondie tribute band, bringing fresh talent and new energy to our performances. While the band is in the process of being rebuilt, our passion for music remains strong, and we continue to share our love for Blondie's iconic hits through engaging podcast episodes. Join Our Band:

Are you a talented musician with a passion for Blondie's music? We're looking for skilled individuals to join our new lineup. If you're interested in being part of a dynamic tribute band and bringing Blondie's legendary sound to life, we want to hear from you! Contact us for more details on how to apply. What We Offer:
Podcast Episodes: Tune in for behind-the-scenes stories, music insights, and discussions with special guests. Live Performances: Coming soon! We are excited to bring our new lineup to venues of all sizes. Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming shows. Studio Recordings and Videos: Enjoy recordings of our past shows and video content that captures the spirit of Blondie. Whether you're a die-hard Blondie fan or simply love great music, our tribute to Blondie's biggest hits—like "Heart of Glass," "Call Me," and "One Way or Another"—is something you won't want to miss. Stay Connected:
Follow us for the latest news, podcast episodes, and announcements as we work to bring the Heart of Glass experience back to life. Your support and enthusiasm mean the world to us, and we can't wait to share our journey with you. Thank you for visiting our page, and we hope to connect with you through our podcast and future live shows!

16/10/2026

Does Chicago make it easier to play someone else’s songs than your own?

On HOG POD, Zacky Manic talks with Pete Jansons and Mike 'Bongo' Orfanos about the pull toward becoming a cover band.

The conversation explores why musicians can feel pulled toward cover bands when that’s what bars are booking.

His take on Chicago?

Based on what he’s heard while networking with people outside the city, Chicago is really friendly to cover bands—and not friendly to original groups.

He believes that pattern is pretty standard elsewhere, too. But he thinks Chicago has a particular affinity for cover bands.

For musicians playing their own songs, that’s a tough reality to face.

Musicians, bookers, and fans: does that match your experience, or are you seeing original bands get a fair shot?

15/10/2026

“Butt Music”? Sorry—“Butt Rock.”

The question starts with a late-night burrito joke.
Zacky Manic’s answer starts with alternative rock.

On HOG POD with Pete Jansons and Mike 'Bongo' Orfanos, Zacky explains that “butt rock” was a term he’d heard used to describe alternative rock from the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Think Smash Mouth or Sugar Ray.

Then he played a chord progression and wrote the guitar part in about five minutes.

His reaction?
“Wow, that’s butt rock right there.”

And the name stayed.

He’d been calling the song “Butt Rock” for so long that he couldn’t retitle it anything else.

“It’s gotta stay.”

Which band comes to mind when you hear “butt rock”?

14/10/2026

Nirvana at two years old—and a feeling that never left.

Zacky Manic says he remembers hearing the chorus of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" at two.

Not just hearing it.
Feeling it in his chest.

"It was visceral, you know?"

That sound stuck with him.
That vibe stuck with him.

As he grew up, the darker messages and themes of the grunge scene resonated with what he experienced.

Eventually, listening became wanting to make something himself:

"I gotta join the ranks. I gotta make something that sounds like this."

And if someone called him a copycat?

"So what? Everybody copies something."

On HOG POD with Pete Jansons and Mike 'Bongo' Orfanos, Zacky talks about the sound that reached him early—and why he wanted to carry that influence into his own music.

What's the first song you remember feeling, not just hearing?

14/10/2026

Nearly ten years to make an album. Now comes the hard part: getting people to hear it.

Zacky Manic joins Bongo Mike and Pete Jansons on Hogpod to talk about what it's actually like trying to make original rock music in Chicago.

Zacky grew up listening to Nirvana and draws major inspiration from Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots and the grunge sound. He started writing young, learned guitar, bass and vocals, went back to school for audio engineering, built a home studio and spent nearly a decade turning all of it into Mood Swing.

Then he ran headfirst into the part nobody puts on the album cover.

The conversation gets blunt about the booking struggle:
Chicago's appetite for cover bands.
Zacky's difficulty getting original music booked.
Booking emails that typically get no response.
The Instagram presence and Spotify streams Zacky says venues check.

And making the music isn't enough anymore. The musician is also expected to be the producer, engineer, booking agent and social-media department.

We get into all of it: why grunge still works, artistry versus business, the greatest grunge singers, making a record mostly by yourself, seeing Korn as a kid — and, yes, why one of Zacky's songs ended up being called "Butt Rock."

This is exactly why we started Hogpod: musicians talking about what it's really like trying to make music.

Watch the full Zacky Manic episode of HOG POD with Bongo Mike and Pete Jansons.

Zacky's music and socials are in the first comment. Follow HOG POD for more Chicago music conversations.

When you go out to see a local band, do you want originals, covers or a mix?

13/10/2026

Make a song. Upload it. Sell out Madison Square Garden.
That’s the plan for a lot of new artists.

Casper Alexander consults with independent musicians on royalties, booking more gigs and the business side of music. For years people asked him how he landed shows. Now there’s demand for those answers.
His starting point: let me see where you’re at in your career, and let’s get you ready for what’s next.

Our full HOG POD conversation gets into what it really takes to turn independent music into a working career.
Watch the full episode.

12/10/2026

Biggie and Tupac defined a very different era of hip-hop feuds.

So what's the modern equivalent?

Casper Alexander points to Drake and Kendrick — but says what happens around those rivalries today is very different from the '90s.

11/10/2026

Stage management. Tour management. Content. Performing. Acting. Modeling.

Casper Alexander doesn't know exactly what next month will bring. His rule: take the work that fits, choose what's enjoyable — and don't forget you've got to get the money.

10/10/2026

As a songwriter, Casper Alexander was hugely against AI.

Then a client used it in a way that changed his thinking: not to replace the humans making the music, but to show them what he was trying to create.

09/10/2026

“I'll figure it out myself.”

Casper Alexander says that attitude kept him from asking for help. Producing his own events forced him to put his pride aside, build partnerships and ask businesses to support the local music scene.

08/10/2026

Casper Alexander had a regular job. Then COVID took it away.

His response: “I can't let that happen again.”

He went full-time freelance and built a career from the skills he'd already developed in music, events and production.

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