info@risebandchicago.com
BIOS
AXE
Trading his trumpet for the more girl-friendly guitar when heading to college "a few years ago," Axe was playing in local band competitions after only a few months. He has been a member of numerous bands throughout the years, playing in front of 4,000 people at the Illinois State Fair and also playing for 12 people next to an above ground pool in Wonder Lake. Most recently Axe enjoyed success with local favorite Trashcan Symphony.
Rise represents the next evolution of this musical journey. "This group will bring a new level of entertainment to Chicagoland with a lot of talent, high energy and many songs people love but rarely hear live."
Let's do this!
COREY
A relative newcomer to the band scene, Corey is far from green when it comes to the stage. Although a band geek growing up, Corey’s true passion was to sing. Starting out singing a few solos in elementary school he was hooked and hasn’t looked back.
Performing in various plays and musicals, Corey got his professional singing break with the Diego Lyric Opera. After a few years, Corey moved back to the Midwest and continued his performing career even landing an extra role in a locally shot horror film.
Corey moved on to the karaoke competition circuit and for a few years was one of the top karaoke singers in the Midwest, placing 3rd in the KWC World Finals USA. At that point Corey felt something was missing, and that was a live band to rock alongside him. The energy that everyone in Rise brings is the final blend of performance and entertainment that he has come to love. Corey can also be seen fronting prog rock Chicago based Porcupine Tree tribute band Cloud Zero.
ED
In the summer of 1982, a 13 year old boy spent his lawn mowing money at a record store to purchase an album that would change his world forever. With punchy, driving bass lines, Van Halen’s Fair Warning created another four string addict.
After days of practicing, Ed and his good buddy Bob formed a band and surprisingly named it Fair Warning. Quickly realizing they needed a singer and guitarist, they combed the detention room and rounded out the band. Fair Warning’s one and only performance at an annual talent show still lives in 8th grade infamy.
Ed has recently been on a tour of the far west...suburbs of Chicago with Trashcan Symphony. He went on to expand his horizons playing two tracks on the upcoming James Carratt Project album set for release in late 2017.
Now he holds down the low end with his partner in crime, Mike “Animal” Anselmo for the new hit band Rise. Catch them as they take Chicagoland by storm.
JESS
Jess joined Rise in 2022, rejoining some of her Trashcan Symphony band brothers.
Jess brings a lifetime of vocal training, fantastic energy and un-matched tambourine skills to the group! She also helps to keep Mike inline for which everyone is grateful.
KEVIN
Kevin first picked up a guitar after watching his older brother Mike and his friends play. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Either that, or he thought it might be really annoying. High school days were spent playing local mixers and then lots of Metallica and various other metal songs in friends' garages.
After trying an original prog rock project, he decided to join a gigging local cover band project just to keep playing. Twenty something years later, he is still at it. His most recent projects were Dawn Patrol, Backstage Pass, and Sonic 7.
Kevin has played at all kinds of venues, from dive bars to backyard parties to playing for several thousand opening for national acts. No matter the audience, it's always fun to play the right songs with the right people! Kevin is looking forward to playing the Rise set list, especially Metallica, Iron Maiden, GNR and Ghost!
MIKE
Mike's drumming career started at a very young age as his parents were constantly replacing toys that he had rhythmically beat into oblivion.
Fate, and the University of Illinois's housing department, strategically placed Mike and Axe in the same college dorm and the music started. From a second place finish at U of I's Battle of the Bands through many other memorable shows, Mike has been holding down the beat for hundreds of gigs.
Most recently with Trashcan Symphony, Mike is excited to take local music to the next level with Rise!
