Chicago Music Scene Podcast: Bob Cozza, Rookies Rochaus, and Boneshaker Insights

In this electrifying episode, we welcome Bob Cozza 🎤—the dynamic General Manager and Talent Booker at Rookies Rochaus in West Dundee, and drummer for the powerhouse band Bone Shaker 🥁🔥. Bob shares insider secrets about running a top-notch music venue, the evolution of live music 🎸, and how original bands are shaking things up in a cover-band-dominated world 🎤🎵.

🕵️‍♂️ What's inside:

📜 Behind-the-scenes stories from legendary venues like Penny Road Pub
🎤 Tales of the vibrant Chicago live music scene
💡 Tips for musicians on landing gigs at top venues
📅 Sneak peeks at Bone Shaker's latest tracks and upcoming benefit shows 🎉
🎸 Insight into what makes Rookies Rochaus the go-to spot for live music lovers
🤝 Hosted by Pete Jansons, Mike Dermont, and Mike Orfanos, this episode is packed with energy, laughs, and priceless advice for anyone who loves live music!

Key Moments:
0:00 Bed of Stones BoneShaker Opening
• Boneshaker - Bed Of Stones Official L...
2:37 Preshow
6:46 Bob Cozza General Manager of Rochaus in West Dundee and Drummer for Boneshaker
11:55 Rochaus history
13:05 Dirty Dead band
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
13:50 Younger people getting into the live music scene
15:40 Thirsty Whale days
16:20 It's tough being an original band; it's currently a cover band scene but trending back
18:43 Smoking Popes
https://smokingpopesmusic.com/
19:15 Green Room Rochaus
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?...
24:38 Bands Bob booked into Penny Road Pub
26:00 Doug Shoenbeck Mention and Clip
• HOG POD: Doug Schoenbeck on Kreative ...
27:15 There has been a shift in the last year; people aren’t buying tickets in advance, heavy walk-up
29:03 Bonnie Miske Shout-out and Clip
• HOG POD - Behind the Scenes at Broken...
29:20 RIP Gordie Pokorney
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29:46 Live music attendance down 25–30% this year
30:19 Music festivals drive club owners crazy
32:25 Midnight Calls Clip
• The Midnight Calls: Chicago’s Local R...
33:03 Mike Dermont wants to do Chicago native band cover fest with Coterie
34:40 Boneshakers background
https://www.boneshakerofficial.com/
36:05 Bob’s favorite go-to Boneshaker song: Bed of Stones
• Boneshaker - Bed Of Stones Official L...
Get the album:
https://www.boneshakerofficial.com/?f...
40:40 Boneshaker doing benefit Jan 12
41:40 Boneshaker Song: Screw It
48:18 Who are the other principals in Rochaus? Kevin Krak
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2016/1...
50:04 Bob Karas rookie Rochaus ownership
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/0...
52:00 Pressure in the early days to make money with the bands?
54:05 What is the Rookies Brand?
https://foxvalleymagazine.com/2024/04...
https://www.rookiespub.com/
57:03 Parking at Rookie's Rochaus
58:34 Clubs that didn’t make it—what happened? (e.g., BrauerHouse, Empty Barrels [Pockets], Penny Road)
1:02:30 Joey DeMarco United Talent Shout-out
1:10:07 What new things Bob would like to see in the music industry
1:11:48 Headliner bands aren’t pulling their weight or having attendance like they used to
1:14:30 What does Bob Cozza need to see from a band to book them?
Send an email to: bob@rochauscom
1:18:38 Upcoming shows at the Rochaus
1:31:35 Christmas and Holiday Wishes

#ChicagoMusicScene #LiveMusic #RookiesRochaus #BoneShaker #BobCozza #OriginalBands #MusicVenues #PennyRoadPub #PeteJansons #MikeDermont #MikeOrfanos #ChicagoBands #MusicIndustry #BehindTheScenes #RockMusic #MusicLovers